The Great Strength Hexagram (Middle to Upper)
Chapter 34 The Great Strength Hexagram - Upper-middle level - Surrounded by tigers and wolves
Rong Yan bowed respectfully to the old lady, "Greetings, Grandmother, I haven't been here long."
Both of them were clearly lying through their teeth. Old Mrs. Xie smiled and nodded, then slowly found two more prayer mats and placed them on the ground.
The Buddhist hall has wooden floors, so even sitting on them in the chilly morning doesn't feel cold.
The old lady gestured for Rong Yan to sit down as well, and she sat cross-legged on the cushion, carefully observing Rong Yan.
"Yes, sit down."
The maid had been sent away by her earlier, but a mother was still standing in a corner of the room.
After the old lady had the woman make her a pot of tea, she also asked the woman to leave.
The old lady took a sip of tea and looked up at Rong Yan reproachfully, "Hmm, drink up, don't be so polite with your grandmother, try this tea, it's new tea from the south. In our climate, it's not so quick to have a cup of new tea. Look, isn't it a bit bitter? I heard it's buckwheat tea, it's bitter at first, but it has a sweet aftertaste."
Grandma Xie talked to her about the new tea, so she lowered her head and tasted it. It was brewed a bit too strong, and it was not only bitter but also very astringent.
Looking at the satisfied expression on Grandma Xie's face, she was right; the tea had a pleasant aftertaste.
"This bitter tea is good for your health. Thank you, Grandma, for letting me taste such a good tea."
Grandma Xie smiled kindly at her with her wrinkled face, and she nodded happily, "That's right, in the South this tea is also called bitter tea, you even know this tea."
"I am not very knowledgeable about tea."
"Oh? What a clever and bright girl!" Grandma Xie praised her with a smile, and even took her hand and patted it gently.
She then asked slowly, "Is there any progress on the matter of the concubine in the music industry? I heard that you finished reading the confessions a few days ago and even went to see Ning Ling."
Rong Yan was meticulous. Thinking of Xie Ningling's uneasy expression earlier, he wondered how much information she had been tricked into saying.
It's best not to hide from people like this old lady.
"I am not very capable. I have spent so many days trying to figure out the reason, and I have disappointed my grandmother."
The old lady's smile held a deeper meaning. "It's not your fault. It was indeed a bit difficult for you."
From the moment Rong Yan entered this Buddhist hall, she knew that Old Madam Xie was the most unassuming mastermind in the backyard of the old mansion.
She seems to care about nothing, but she knows everything.
The old lady was indeed very shrewd. If she hadn't been unwilling to get involved, I believe that with her abilities, no one would have dared to cause trouble.
"How have you been since you married into the household?"
"Thank you for your concern, Grandma. Everyone has been very kind to me, and I feel fine."
"How old were you when you started learning?"
Nine years old.
"Oh, that's a bit late. Children from ordinary families usually start learning around eight years old."
Grandma Xie seemed more interested in her affairs, asking mostly everyday questions.
Just as Rong Yan was answering obediently, she suddenly changed the subject and said, "Being a person is like tasting tea. You should be low-key but have inner beauty. But sometimes, if you take inner beauty too far, it's not a good thing."
Rong Yan nodded obediently, "Grandmother is right."
Grandma Xie narrowed her shrewd eyes and slowly shook her head. "You do look quite intelligent. Do you really not know who did this?"
Rong Yan smiled and said, "Thank you for your kind words, Grandmother. I am foolish and truly do not know who did this."
After hearing this, she looked at Rong Yan quietly and smiled as well. "Why did you help keep Ning Ling's matter a secret?"
"It is my duty not to interfere in other people's affairs. Besides, I am not capable enough, and I am afraid that I might say the wrong thing, do more harm than good, or even cause more trouble."
"You keep saying you don't know who did it, aren't you afraid that person will turn around and accuse you?"
"Grandmother is joking. Neither the eldest son nor I were home that day, so even if we wanted to, we couldn't. Everything has a motive. I have no grudge against her, so I would never harm her."
The old woman stared intently at her with her shrewd eyes. "Let me guess. I bet you already know the real culprit, but you just don't want me to think you're exceptionally capable."
Rong Yan smiled and shook his head, "Grandmother is too kind in that regard. I am just a little clever, nothing special. To say that I am exceptionally capable is too much of an honor. The matter of the real culprit will be decided by the authorities."
Grandma Xie chuckled. "If we're talking about the younger generation, I think you're the most intelligent. I've been observing you for a long time, and you don't need to deny it. After all, the person you need to persuade isn't me. So tell me, who do you think is the mastermind behind this?"
Rong Yan remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking, but avoided discussing the murderer and instead brought up tea with Old Madam Xie.
"Grandmother loved tea so much, but did you know that there is a place where fog lingers for 104 days a year? There, a tea is produced that is light in color, refreshing on the palate, leaves a lingering fragrance on the lips and teeth, and is very smooth to drink."
Grandma Xie suddenly opened her eyes wide. "You mean, it's Shu brocade tea?"
Rong Yan nodded firmly, "Yes."
Grandma Xie withdrew her hand from the cup and gently stroked the handle of her cane, which was leaning against the side.
The handle of her cane gleamed with a smooth, oily sheen, a habit she seemed to have developed from handling it so much that it had become greasy.
The old lady nodded knowingly, "I understand. How could someone so young know about Shujincheng tea?"
"I'm sorry to have made you laugh, Grandmother. The Taoist priest from Gouxiang in the temple treats me like his own son. He always hopes that we can broaden our horizons and gain more knowledge. Whenever he goes to a new place, he always brings me a cake of old tea. As a result, I have been able to taste teas from all five capitals. Among them, the teas from four capitals have ambiguous and unclear aromas, but the teas from Jincheng are carefully selected, and there is not a single flaw to be found. They are impeccable when you drink them."
"So, in your heart, you consider Shu brocade tea to be the best?"
"To be honest, Grandmother, I dare to say that the more impossible something seems, the more likely it is to be done. Jincheng is shrouded in mist all year round, and no one thinks it's impossible to grow top-quality tea. Although the other four cities may seem to be able to grow decent tea, none of them can match Jincheng."
Rong Yan and Old Lady Xie exchanged questions and answers, discussing the matter of tea in a lively and engaging manner.
Grandma Xie nodded with satisfaction. She had intentionally wanted to probe her background and test her.
She certainly didn't disappoint her. If she had been so eager to take credit for her, she probably wouldn't have been suitable to be the head wife.
“Girl, there’s something else I need to tell you. You’re already surrounded by wolves and tigers, how can you have time to worry about Ling’er’s affairs? You don’t need to concern yourself with her messy affairs.”
"Yes, Grandmother is right. I will remember this." Rong Yan slowly lowered her head. She found out about her visit to Xie Ningling's courtyard so quickly. Did she not hide Xie Chengzhi's injury from her either?
However, since she didn't mention it, let's just pretend we don't know.
"You may return now."
Rong Yan stood up and bowed deeply to her. As she was about to take her leave, Old Madam Xie suddenly whispered to her, "Some things can't be rushed, but some things need to be done urgently, otherwise it will be too late if something goes wrong."
What?
What does Grandma Xie mean by that?
Rong Yan turned to look at her, but she was looking down at her confession, waving at her as if she had said all she needed to say.
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