Tun hexagram, lower-lower hexagram
Chapter 3 Tun Hexagram - The Short-Lived Xie Chengzhi
Even Granny Li was surprised to find that the document in black and white stated that Rong Yan was the new abbot of Hebai Temple, and a letter from the Street Office was attached.
Not only did Granny Li not expect this, but even Rong Yan did not anticipate it.
Rong Yan: ...
Gouxiang Taoist had always wanted Rong Yan to inherit his identity and manage the Taoist temple for him, but given Rong Yan's personality and laziness, it was impossible for him to agree.
Although, over the course of those ten years, he had used the excuse that he would soon die to hope that she would take over out of compassion and sympathy.
Unfortunately, Rong Yan's divination skills were too accurate, repeatedly exposing his lies.
Unexpectedly, this time the Taoist priest from Gouxiang gave her the Taoist temple in such a way.
Rong Yan's lips twitched slightly. Everyone was both shocked and disbelieving. Only she knew the true purpose of Gouxiang Daoist.
Hebai Temple is not as famous as Lingyun Temple on the opposite mountain, not to mention that Lingyun Temple has produced as many as three Taoist officials in the past ten years.
Chongming Daoist was also a Daoist official in this area. It is said that the year he took the Daoist examination, he broke through the encirclement of more than a hundred Daoists and made a name for himself for Lingyun Temple.
And what about Hebai Temple? It's not very famous, so naturally, no worshippers come. No worshippers, no money for incense offerings. No money for incense offerings, and naturally, it will soon have to close down.
Ke Gouxiang Daoren took the exam five times, and even the eldest sister took it seven times, but they failed repeatedly.
Clearly, the Taoist priest from Gouxiang felt there was no hope left and completely gave up!
"But I heard that this Taoist temple just laid out its coffin and kept vigil for the son of a family in the west of the city. Is it appropriate for this young lady to be a new disciple?"
"Shh, it's not even a hundred days yet, there will be bad luck, keep your voice down."
"Stop talking, the Lady Hou's face has turned dark. She was ignorant, she gave a Taoist temple that had just held a funeral as part of her dowry on her wedding day."
Using the gesture of touching her handkerchief, Granny Li concealed the shock on her face and frequently glanced at the Hou Madam, whose expression was grim.
Rong Yan was aware of the funeral arrangements that everyone was discussing.
Originally, the Zhang family in the west of the city wanted to go to Lingyun Temple to perform the ritual, but Lingyun Temple refused to accept them, so they had to change their plans and go to Hebai Temple instead.
The Taoist priest of Gouxiang always shared the same fate in life and death. He also felt that the traveler had been tired from his journey and had pity on the deceased, so he agreed to the funeral arrangements.
More importantly, the Zhang family contributed a considerable amount of money, enough to sustain Hebai Temple for over a month.
Rong Yan was also in charge of the search for the dragon's lair at that time.
Lady Hou looked displeased, so Granny Li quickly gave the maid of honor a wink, "Send her to the bridal chamber."
At this moment, ceremonial music began to play inside the house, the joyous sound filling the air, and Rong Yan was escorted into the bridal chamber.
Upon entering, one is greeted by a faint, refreshing fragrance mixed with a strange, smoky aroma.
She sat down on the bed as required, and there lay a man on the bed, her husband—Xie Chengzhi.
The person on the bed was tall and slender, dressed in a red wedding gown. He had a narrow face, a sharp and defined jawline, a high nose, and thin, rosy lips. Even in his sleep, he possessed a striking and elegant appearance.
His striking silver hair made his features stand out even more; he breathed evenly, but his complexion was a little sallow.
The nuptial wine was served in a gourd made of auspicious wood, and the wine had a faint reddish hue under the candlelight.
Bai Qiong naturally didn't need to drink, Rong Yan drank alone, and had to drink two portions herself, one upright and one inverted, and put them away herself.
There is a screen with cranes in front of the bed. Cranes symbolize longevity. A mirror hangs on it, facing the bedding.
She glanced at the mirror a few more times.
Bronze sparrow lamps were lit in all four corners of the room, making the room quite bright.
In the position of the Southern Dipper, a seven-star lamp was lit.
The wick of the Seven Star Lamp is made of smokeless candle, which requires the finest craftsmanship to produce; it appears to be the work of a master.
After all, in Taoist beliefs, the Southern Dipper governs life.
The room has a very simple layout and no side rooms, which makes the room seem much more spacious. A large bookcase stands against the wall, filling the entire wall.
The room was filled with books, followed by aquatic plants; water hyacinths even lined the windowsill.
She pursed her lips, feeling a little tired. Even though there was a stranger lying next to her, no different from a dead person, she didn't mind. Just as she was about to lie down and take a nap, the door opened again. This time, Granny Li came in, "Young Madam, this old servant has brought in relatives to perform the blessing ceremony."
Rong Yan had no choice but to get up and straighten his clothes before saying, "Come in."
Granny Li led in more than a dozen elderly people within five degrees of kinship from the Marquis's household. They chatted for a while, and Granny Li even took the opportunity to throw red dates at her face.
She quickly said, "Oh dear, young mistress, I'm so sorry. It's a custom, please bear with it. Let's get rid of the bad luck and welcome the new year."
So what if she has a father who is a vice minister of the Ministry of Personnel? She is just a concubine's daughter, and her status is indeed not worthy of our young master.
They actually dared to include a Taoist temple as part of their dowry; they truly don't know what's good for them.
Thinking of this, she grabbed the longan and red dates and threw them at her.
Rong Yan glanced at Li Mama, then lowered his eyes, appearing very docile, and remained silent, letting her smash things.
Tsk, how come the people in the Marquis's mansion are so vicious...
She unintentionally raised her hand to block the red date, but it bounced towards Xie Chengzhi's face.
Rong Yan found it somewhat amusing, so he blocked it a few more times, which was noticed by Granny Li.
For a moment, Li Mama was speechless. Seeing that she had the upper hand, she took the couple's hair in a knot and said some flattering words, "Young Madam, this old servant is here on the orders of the Lady of the Marquis to wish the eldest son and the young madam a harmonious and loving relationship and that they will soon have a son. Tonight, we would appreciate it if the young madam would be able to do her best. This old servant and the others will take our leave now."
While Li Mama spoke of doing her duty, she secretly wanted her to consummate their marriage.
If the eldest son is truly unable to survive, at least we should leave behind his bloodline to ensure the continuation of the Marquis's lineage.
Otherwise, Lady Hou wouldn't have been in such a hurry to arrange a marriage for him, partly to bring him good luck and partly to have a child.
"Madam...did you understand?"
Rong Yan looked up with a smile, nodded, and handed out a small red envelope from his sleeve pocket. "Here you go, a lucky envelope. Come on, everyone come forward, everyone gets one."
Granny Li: ……
After the wedding gifts were distributed, Granny Li remained in the same spot.
Rong Yan was somewhat puzzled, but then, as if suddenly realizing something, she nodded and asked, "Is it Granny Li?"
"Ah, it's this old servant."
Seeing that she was watching intently, a light breeze blew into the room, stirring the candlelight. The swaying shadow of the bed frame was reflected on Rong Yan's face, making Li Mama feel a little uneasy. Only then did Rong Yan speak, "Li Mama, you have been in this mansion for more than forty years, haven't you?"
Huh? How did she know?
"Oh, this isn't a secret at all; you could find out with a little inquiry," she nodded. "Yes."
Rong Yan nodded in agreement, smiling as he stared at her. Suddenly, Granny Li felt a little flustered. "Why is the young mistress looking at me like that?"
Rong Yan didn't respond to her question, but instead said something unrelated, "Have you ever heard of the art of wind divination, Granny?"
"The art of wind divination? Do you mean the divination art that can discern events by listening to the wind, predict good and bad fortune, and foretell the future? Many years ago, Lord Zhao of the Imperial Observatory mentioned it to Lady Hou, but unfortunately it has been lost. I wonder what you want to say, young mistress? Please speak frankly."
"Lost in the art? That's a shame. It's nothing, I was just asking."
The art of wind-based divination has indeed almost disappeared nowadays. She originally thought that this lineage still existed among the connections of kings and generals, which is a pity.
Granny Li wanted to take her leave, but Rong Yan reminded her.
"By the way, the cinnabar in the brocade pouch at Li Mama's waist has become damp. Since it's damp, it won't be effective in warding off evil spirits and plagues. It would be better to take it off and place it in the north to await the first rays of tomorrow's sun, which would be very beneficial."
As he spoke, he pointed his index finger at her waist.
Granny Li gave a dry laugh, her expression dismissive, but she replied perfunctorily, "This old servant didn't expect the young mistress to be so meticulous, able to spot at a glance that my cinnabar bag was damp. Thank you for your concern, young mistress. I'll change it as soon as I get back."
After Granny Li left, Huali helped Rong Yan undress.
"Why did you say these things to that old woman, Madam? During the banquet, she repeatedly spoke rudely and showed no respect or affection for you. Why bother with such trivial matters?"
Rong Yan looked somewhat dejected, having been exhausted for half a day. She covered her mouth with her hand and replied casually, "After all, saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda, but she doesn't have much good fortune, so it depends on her fate."
Hua Li and Yu Ling couldn't understand, so after tidying up the blankets for her, they saw that Rong Yan had turned over and seemed to have fallen asleep, so they had no choice but to quietly leave.
After they left, Rong Yan got up, took a blanket, and lay down on the chaise lounge.
A person's destiny is already set; if one has abundant blessings, one can turn misfortune into good fortune. If one speaks ill of others every day, blessings will not enter the home, and even if one knows that great misfortune is coming, one cannot avoid it.
A gentle spring rain lingered outside the tent, pattering softly to the ground. The sound of the rain flowing into my heart and into my dreams, eventually lulling me to sleep.
At this moment, Rong Yan's door was quietly pushed open, and a figure quietly appeared in front of the bed. It glanced at the person on the bed, then circled around the bed a few times before curling up on the floor and falling asleep.
The next day, just after dawn, Rong Yan suddenly realized that he had only just rested when he heard people whispering outside the door, but no one dared to push the door open.
The reason is simple: something really did happen to Granny Li yesterday!
"Make way! What time is it? Why aren't you going in?! This is ridiculous, a bunch of cowards!!"
The door opened heavily, and when Madam Fang came in, she was still complaining, "Last night, Granny Li was just drunk and did something stupid, and you're all so afraid of her."
When the mother saw the bed curtains sway and then heard the sound of claws hitting the ground, the people in the room suddenly raised their voices and screamed, "Ah!"
"Ah! You scared me to death! How come Bai Qiong is in the room?"
Bai Qiong's eyes shone brightly in the night. Suddenly, when you pushed open the door, you bumped into those eyes. Coupled with its bared teeth, even the well-informed Mrs. Fang was quite frightened.
"Who brought Bai Qiong in? Doesn't it have its own room? Go, quickly take it back."
Bai Qiong let out several sharp and high-pitched warning sounds from his nostrils, deterring everyone from trying to pull him away.
With no other option, Mrs. Fang carefully moved into the room, her face pale with fright.
"Why isn't this young mistress up yet? How dare she be so ill-mannered, sleeping so late! Go and wake her up!"
When Fang's mother came to the bedside, she lifted the bed curtains and saw Rong Yan sleeping soundly on his side.
The old woman's voice rang out above her head as she reached into the blankets, "She's so ignorant of etiquette, how come her veil for her first night is still white?"
As the voice rose in pitch, Rong Yan was forced to wake up and open his eyes.
The housekeeper's mother had a mean and thin face, with angry eyes and brows. Today's house rounds were none of her business.
That good-for-nothing Granny Li, despite having work to do today and being repeatedly told not to overindulge in alcohol, still drank a full pound of strong liquor.
She could have drunk it all; she could drink a pound of liquor without being unable to get up. But last night, she must have been possessed by some evil spirit. After drinking, she became delirious and ate the cinnabar from the brocade pouch she was carrying. Fortunately, she was discovered early, and because the cinnabar was damp, the amount she accidentally used was small, which saved her life.
As a result, she ended up serving the two of them today. It wasn't her job to begin with, but now it's in her hands. Madam Fang is extremely unwilling, especially since she's also afraid that Rong Yan's bad luck will taint her.
She put on airs and said to Rong Yan, "It's good that the young mistress is awake. This old servant was just about to get a handkerchief to report, but why is it white? It's hard to say whether there's any blood. If there's no blood, how can you prove your innocence? How will you explain to the Lady of the Marquis?! Heh, people will think that the young mistress doesn't know how to respect herself and has lost her chastity!"
Mrs. Fang looked to be around fifty years old, with a solemn expression. Her puffy eyes scrutinized Rong Yan, who was now fully awakened by her scolding.
She looked at the handkerchief in Fang's mother's hand; it was made of white silk, a specialty of the Wu and Yue regions.
White silk is something that money can't buy; it's a royal gift from the palace.
The mother kept calling her unclean, clearly determined to ruin her reputation.
Rong Yan pulled the corner of the blanket up to her chest, her hair disheveled, clearly still a little sleepy.
Seeing her weak and frail appearance, Fang's mother didn't take her seriously at all. She immediately straightened her back, about to utter a sarcastic remark.
Just then, someone pushed open the door and entered. Everyone turned to look and found that it was Qiu Shi, the maid of Qu Shen Courtyard.
Everyone tensed up. Although Qiu Shi was fifty years old, she was still very energetic and decisive, which made her a favorite of Xie Chengzhi. All the maids in Xie Chengzhi's courtyard were trained by her.
At this moment, she walked in calmly, glanced around at the people in the room, and said, "Aunt Fang has quite the presence."
She looked around in disbelief. Several pairs of eyes in the room were fixed on her, but Rong Yan covered his mouth and yawned.
Fang's mother: ?
She frowned, her face cold, and remained silent.
His imposing expression, though not angry, sent chills down the spine of Mrs. Fang.
Since the eldest young master fell into a coma, she has been the one to handle most of the affairs inside and outside the courtyard. Apart from Qingzhu, who is his tutor, she is the one who takes care of him personally, and her status is even higher than that of Mama Fang.
Mrs. Fang looked terrified and quickly bowed, saying, "I spoke without thinking, please forgive me, Mrs. Qiushi."
“Mama Fang, you are an elder in this household. You must speak more politely in the future. The young mistress is, after all, your mistress.”
Faced with Qiu Shi's admonition, Madam Fang nodded obediently, not daring to refute. After all, the two were of similar age; she was a favorite of the Lady of the Marquis, while Qiu Shi was currently the de facto head of Qu Shen Courtyard.
Today, Rong Yan had barely entered the door when he didn't even acknowledge her, which naturally made her somewhat dissatisfied. Even the Lady of the Marquis treated her with deference.
Although she was dissatisfied, she responded very tactfully.
“What Qiushi’s mother said is true, oh.”
Madam Fang carefully folded the white silk and placed it on the red wooden tray. "Young Madam, you should wash up early so you can pay your respects to the Lady of the Marquis. All the sisters-in-law from the various households are waiting. You must get up quickly and help the Master get dressed."
She didn't hold back at all when she spoke; even a servant dared to give orders to her master.
Rong Yan looked at Xie Chengzhi in silence. He was a person who couldn't move at all. Did he have to change his clothes in the morning and before going to bed like an ordinary person?
Although she had just entered the family, she was still the principal wife.
Although I don't want to get involved, if I don't establish my authority properly, I'm afraid I won't be able to live a peaceful life in the future.
Thinking this, Rong Yan stood up, straightened her clothes, and turned her head, a slight smile playing on her lips, like a ray of warm sunshine softening her features. She said to Mama Fang, "Mama Fang, although you are the eldest young master's wet nurse, I am still your mistress. It's only been one day since we married, and you've already acted so presumptuously, overstepping your bounds. Is this the kind of talk a servant should speak?"
Rong Yan's voice was not loud, and his tone was not high. He even had a slight smile on his face when he spoke, but every word he spoke firmly reached the ears of everyone present.
Especially the word "lackey".
The maids who filed in were all watching Rong Yan make a fool of herself, but who would have thought that the usually authoritative and unquestionable Fang Mama would be severely reprimanded by this young mistress whom everyone looked down upon.
This was the first time they had ever seen something like this, and Mrs. Fang's face turned extremely pale.
Everyone in the room was silent with fear. The maids all secretly glanced at the housekeeper's face, only to see her face flushed with embarrassment.
Qiu Shi's mother didn't speak, but only slightly raised her eyes to look at Rong Yan before lowering her head.
Madam Fang's chest heaved violently. Her reprimand was a setup orchestrated on behalf of Lady Hou. Even a wet nurse like herself wouldn't dare be so disrespectful; it was clear that it was Wang Shi's doing.
Her thoughts were similar to Rong Yan's; they both wanted to make a show of force, but unexpectedly, they were outmaneuvered instead.
She was both angry and anxious. She had planned everything, but she never expected that this young lady would not be as timid and submissive as she had been when they first met yesterday.
“This, young mistress, this servant would never forget that I am a servant, nor would I be arrogant because of your favor. Today’s matter is just a matter of fact. When we go to the Lady of the Marquis later, young mistress… you must explain things properly.”
Fang's mother's words pointed out whose favor she relied on and whose power she depended on, and also hinted that she was sent by her mother-in-law to deal with her.
She can use her status to pressure her, and she can also use her status as her mother-in-law to pressure her.
Rong Yan, with a look of concern for her, said softly, "Mother Fang, you just said that I didn't bleed, which damaged my reputation. Isn't that also ruining my identity and disgracing the Marquis of Runan's mansion? If this gets out, according to the rules of the Marquis's mansion, those who cause trouble will be beaten to death."
Mrs. Fang was startled. She had intended to make things difficult for Rong Yan today and give him a warning, but she didn't expect to actually give him a reason to criticize her.
No, that's really inappropriate, especially with Qiu Shi standing right there. What if she goes to the Lady Hou and gossips about it? She immediately lowered her head in fear and admitted her mistake, "Young Madam, this old servant was truly wrong this time. I shouldn't have spoken so recklessly."
Rong Yan's voice wasn't loud, and his expression wasn't stern, but the words he spoke startled not only Mama Fang, but also the maids in the room.
After all, if Madam Fang is truly guilty, then all of them will certainly be implicated as well.
She didn't move, but slowly asked, "Shouldn't one speak ill of someone?"
After a long silence, Madam Fang finally said, "This old servant shouldn't have spoken so presumptuously about the young mistress."
Today, she merely used a principle to tell Madam Fang that husband and wife are one, sharing both glory and honor. By ruining her, she is also ruining the eldest son's reputation.
Unexpectedly, her nominal husband could actually be used by her.
If her reputation is ruined today, it will also affect him. If he gets involved, he will become a laughing stock.
The white handkerchief showed no bloodstains, which made it obvious to anyone that the marriage had not been consummated. Who told the madam to say that on purpose, trying to establish her authority and threaten to ruin her reputation?
Although she didn't mind, it was related to whether she could run the business properly in the future!
"Since you are wrong, I do not know how to punish you. I have no say in matters of the inner courtyard; it is up to Lady Hou to decide."
Punishment? Still want to be punished? Everyone then realized that although she said this with a smile, her voice was cold.
On a frosty morning, Fang's mother was so frightened that she broke out in a cold sweat. Her legs went weak, and she immediately knelt down facing Rong Yan.
"Young mistress, this old servant truly knows his mistake. Please forgive this old servant for the sake of this being my first offense. And please do not tell the Lady of the Marquis about this matter."
Although Lady Hou intended to instruct her to establish her authority, she did not teach her to use the eldest son's reputation as a pretext. If Lady Hou, who doted on her son, were to find out about this, she might be forced to pack her bags and leave immediately.
Madam Fang came here today to give Rong Yan a hard time on behalf of Madam Wang, but unexpectedly, after a few words from her, the situation reversed, and she was given an opportunity to establish her authority. Madam Fang became the one who was put in a hard time.
Rong Yan remained silent for a moment before saying, "This is Nianfang's first offense in front of me, so I'll let it go this time. In the future, you must know to be careful with your words and actions. Get up now."
Bai Qiong, who was lying at Rong Yan's feet, suddenly stood up when he saw Fang Mama trying to get up. He bared his teeth and glared at Fang Mama with a fierce look, "Hiss!"
Upon seeing this, the maid in charge of taking care of Bai Qiong hurriedly said, "Mama Fang, Mama Fang! Don't move! It means you have to keep kneeling and won't get up!"
Rong Yan: ?
Fang's mother: ?!
Everyone: !!!
The expressions on everyone's faces were quite interesting, but Rong Yan remained calm.
She blinked, ignoring the question that had just surfaced.
—How did she become one of Bai Qiong's people? She didn't seem to have done anything... How did she win its favor and gain its approval?
Rong Yan was unaware that Bai Qiong had indeed bitten people in the mansion in the past, which is why Madam Fang was trembling with fear at Bai Qiong's fierce gaze.
Her legs buckled, and the sound of her kneeling down again was very heavy. With a pained expression, Fang's mother secretly reached out and touched her knees.
After all that commotion, Rong Yan was completely sober.
The maid was straightening her shoes. Through the thin screen, she could see that Qingzhu was the eldest young master's personal guard. He was serving Xie Chengzhi medicine, and the strong, bitter smell of the medicine filled the room.
She had already discovered yesterday that this person had a strong will to survive.
She has always consulted fortune tellers and has never missed a single one.
He was still that short-lived fellow.
However, there are people in this mansion who want him dead.
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