Simply put, how could anyone believe that such senseless behavior is not muddled?
But Cui Cui definitely dared not say this, so she had to suppress it hard in her heart and resignedly followed her along.
They eventually arrived at Qing Shui Temple, where Yi Ling was already waiting.
As soon as Song Ya Lan got off the horse carriage, she disdainfully looked at the temple and asked, "What kind of dump is this?"
Yi Ling laughed, "Miss, don’t mind these little things. All in all, it’s just a place to rest for a while. You won’t have to stay here for long."
These words somewhat comforted Song Ya Lan. She coughed lightly and replied, "Let’s make do with it for a few days."
After entering the chamber in the backyard, Song Ya Lan immediately dismissed Cui Cui and the other maids. Holding Yi Ling’s hand, she urgently said, "I hurried here today because I wanted to see him. I wrote him a letter telling him that I was coming to Qing Shui Temple, but he still hasn’t replied. I’m anxious and I’m afraid something happened. You have to think of a way, I need to see him today!"
Yi Ling felt troubled and said, "I don’t know where Master Mu is either. It is difficult, why don’t you wait for his reply? Considering how much he cares about you, he surely won’t let you suffer here."
Song Ya Lan responded reluctantly.
As they were speaking, Cui Cui entered in a hurry and reported, "Miss, a letter came from him!"
Song Ya Lan’s eyes sparkled. "Give it to me quickly!"
Song Ya Lan quickly opened it. She frowned, scowled angrily, and threw the letter away. "He said he needed to go out on business today and won’t be back for half a month! Does that mean I have to endure being here in Qing Shui Temple during that time!?"
After throwing the letter, she pointed at Yi Ling’s nose and cursed loudly, "You should have found out earlier and informed me before I came! Now, guess what? I’m here, and he’s gone on business! Do you even have a brain?"
Yi Ling sneered silently: the girl who should be asked if she had a brain was Song Ya Lan. As soon as she arrived, he made an excuse to leave, obviously trying to avoid her and stall for time, and yet, she still believed him!
Throwing the letter didn’t satisfy Song Ya Lan, she was so angry that she wanted to smash the tea set on the table.
Even though she was confined to the Ancestral Hall at home, she at least had delicious food and good uses delivered to her by her mother’s side, so she didn’t feel too wronged. However, after coming to this shoddy temple, the food was so poor and simple without even a bit of grease, it was almost impossible to swallow. As soon as she thought about having to endure this place for half a month, she felt murderous!
Yi Ling promptly stopped her, "Miss, please mitigate your anger."
Seeing Yi Ling dare to stop her, Song Ya Lan retaliated with a slap, "Who do you think you are to stop me?!"
A trace of grimness flashed in Yi Ling’s eyes after the slap, yet disappeared quickly. She lifted her tear-brimmed eyes and said, "I only have your best interests at heart. Breaking these items might injure your hands when you get cut by sharp shards, isn’t it better to hit me?"
Song Ya Lan hmphed coldly, turning her head without even giving Yi Ling a glance.
Only then did Yi Ling console her, "Miss, don’t worry. Send another letter to Master Mu, expressing your bitter feelings, and how hard it is to endure the temple. Given Master Mu’s affection for you, he may come back sooner. Wait for three days. If he doesn’t come back after three days, I’ll think of another way for you, forcing him to return."
Hearing this, Song Ya Lan’s expression eased a bit. She looked sideways at Yi Ling with cold eyes and asked, "Are you telling the truth?"
Yi Ling quickly replied, "Of course it’s true, I wouldn’t dare lie to you."
Song Ya Lan let out a cold hump, "Fine, I’ll believe you one more time."
——
When it came to delivering the letter to Song Ya Lan, Xin He had asked Xiaochai Hu to help out as soon as she woke up in the morning. Unexpectedly, as soon as she finished breakfast, the reply was delivered. The speed demonstrated how impatient Song Ya Lan had already become.
Xin He clenched the envelope, a profound smile appeared at the corner of her mouth, "It’s really not interesting to catch the fish all at once. It’s much more entertaining to watch it struggle and being unable to avoid getting caught."
"Wouldn’t madam like to see what was written inside?" asked Shulan.
Xin He snorted lightly, and casually threw the letter to Shulan, "What can it be? It’s naturally the delicate daughter crying about not being able to bear the hardships of the temple."
Shulan opened the envelope for a look, and it was indeed as such!
Shulan mused, "Madam is spot on."
"This matter of sending one to the family temple to cultivate virtue is like releasing an arrow from a bow with no turning back – there’s no way it could be repealed within a year or two, and that’s only if she behaves well. If she doesn’t, there’s a chance she might never be able to return for her whole life," Xin He said, before laughing, "Knowing Song Ya Lan’s temperament, how can she possibly behave well?
Therefore, why is being sent to the family temple seen as the worst punishment for daughters of nobility?
Under the guise of ’cultivating virtue’, but realistically, how is it any different from being kicked out of the house? Being sent to a temple merely maintains the girl’s reputation and avoids bringing shame to the family."
"She might be starting to get scared now. After all, she has no way to turn back, and her only hope is her lover. But her lover is avoiding her right now, how can she not be afraid? She’s hoping and praying that her lover comes to pick her up and marry her," Xin He chuckled and shook her head, "I really don’t know whether to say that Song Ya Lan is inherently foolish, or that all women who are blinded by love are foolish."
Xiaoyu interjected, "But while Song Ya Lan is a fool, Yi Ling certainly isn’t."
Xin He snorted, "Then let’s wait for her to make her move. When she does, it’s bound to kill two birds with one stone. She’s probably keeping a big move up her sleeve, so we have to be extra vigilant."
Xiaoyu nodded, "Madam, don’t worry, I’ve already arranged for someone to watch Qing Shui Temple in secret."
"Hmm, that’s good," Xin He replied.
A little maid appeared timidly outside the door. Shulan went out quietly, and the little maid whispered something in her ear, after which Shulan nodded and said, "I understand."
She then went back into the room after lifting up the curtain.
"What happened?" Xin He asked.
Shulan then informed her, "Ah Lian’s side sent someone to relay a message, saying that the great prince will go to the prefecture city today to speak with the Song family about cancelling the marriage arrangements."
Xin He raised an eyebrow, "Oh?"
"The scout we sent to keep watch has also confirmed this. The great prince is probably getting close to the prefecture city now."
"That’s good, let’s take this opportunity to observe the reaction of the main branch of the Song family." Xin He lightly tapped on the table, seemingly in deep thought.
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