Madam Qian asked Song Jiyun, "Are you really letting Young Master Yuan go too!"
Originally, she had started calling Yuan Yunzhong "Lord Yuan," but during his last meal with them, with just a few words he had her switch back.
Song Jiyun smiled, "Let him go! Perhaps he’s quite curious about these affairs!"
It was a perfect opportunity to fulfill a promise she had made in the past so that neither would owe anything to the other anymore.
Madam Qian stopped fretting and called over Nanny Zheng and a few close attendants to discuss what everyone should wear on that day.
Their clothes could neither be too plain, which would seem disrespectful to the Xiong Family, nor too bright, which would appear irreverent towards their late father.
A few of them chattered away in the room, rummaging through boxes and trunks of clothing and jewelry. After two or three days, they finally made a decision.
On the day of departure, Yuan Yunzhong bumped into Song Jiyun in the sedan hall and was startled, "You, what happened to you?"
Song Jiyun from head to toe was as plain as could be, with only a few silver hairpins in her pitch-black hair, dressed just like Madam Qian.
She spread her hands and said, "Today’s main character is my second sister, and we are all just the supporting cast, so the plainer the better."
Only then did Yuan Yunzhong notice that among the Song Family ladies, only Song Jiyu wore a shallow jade peach blossom hair accessory, which added a touch of tranquility to her already tender face. Even so, when he glanced over, his eyes would find Song Jiyun first.
Song Jiyun smiled at Yuan Yunzhong, "Today we are the supporting cast, so we must be the green leaves."
Yuan Yunzhong was clearly aware of this too. He wore a very ordinary bamboo-green fine cloth Taoist robe, a Xiangfei Bamboo hairpin in his hair, and dark green shoes embroidered with cloud patterns. It was a pity that he was too handsome; even though he tried to keep a low profile, he still shone brightly.
She smirked and said, "Later, you should come with me to the tea room of the Nameless Temple’s abbot for tea! The abbot is a master of Go. You two should be evenly matched and can discuss the game over a few rounds."
Yuan Yunzhong was indifferent, instead, he accompanied the Song Family ladies out.
What he did not expect was to run into Eleventh Grand Master Song and his wife the moment they stepped outside.
Wasn’t it said that he wasn’t going?
He glanced at Song Jiyun.
Fortunately, Song Jiyun remembered what she had said before and quickly explained in a low voice, "Later, he changed his mind. He said after all he represents the Song Clan, and for such a significant event, if he didn’t attend, it would be bad if the Xiong Family thought the Songs were neglectful towards us sisters."
"He finally gets it!" Yuan Yunzhong sneered coldly, obviously very dissatisfied with him.
Song Jiyun flashed a look of embarrassment.
It seemed she needed to restore Eleventh Grand Master Song’s reputation with Yuan Yunzhong!
She boarded the carriage with a sheepish expression and they set off for the Nameless Temple.
The Nameless Temple was a bit quiet today.
Though there were people who came to offer incense, they were sparse, not at all reflective of a renowned ancient temple.
Song Jiyun was curious, "Is there some event in Liang County today?"
Only such an occasion could draw people away.
Yet, being one of the prominent households in Liang County, there was no event unknown to her.
Yuan Yunzhong, however, said, "Isn’t it better that there are fewer people? It’s a great opportunity for everyone to enjoy some peace."
Song Jiyun did not think much of it, but when she saw the abbot coming out to greet them cheerfully, she guessed that the Nameless Temple’s incense money should be fine and today’s quietness was probably an occasional coincidence.
After exchanging courtesies, the abbot accompanied them to offer incense, with Madam Qian donating incense money on behalf of the Song Family.
Normally, a donation would be expected from each family that came. Yuan Yunzhong should have also donated some incense money, but he remained indifferent, following Madam Qian as they stepped back, allowing Eleventh Grand Master Song’s Family to come forward and donate the incense money.
Song Jiyun was thinking of covering for Yuan Yunzhong.
But the abbot, a bit excitedly, invited Madam Qian to tour the Scripture Pavilion, "A few days ago, Benefactor Yuan donated a page handwritten by our venerable master, the ’Infinite Life Sutra.’ I have instructed that it be preserved in camphorwood. Please, madam, take a look."
"What, what?" Madam Qian exclaimed in shock, turning to look at Yuan Yunzhong.
Liang County, being closer to Jiujiang and under the influence of the Pure Land Sect’s ancestral temple Donglin Temple on Lushan Mountain, meant that almost all temples followed the Pure Land Sect. And Master Fazhao was the fourth generation patriarch of the Pure Land Sect. One could only imagine how precious his manuscripts were.
Yuan Yunzhong smiled at her and nodded warmly, "Madam has always taken good care of me; I am only repaying Madam and worshiping the Buddha on your behalf, as well as praying for the safety and smooth fortune of the sisters, and that all may be as they wish."
In this context, no one knew how appropriate it was—other than the gift being too expensive, there was no fault to find.
Madam Qian still didn’t know what to say for a long time.
Yuan Yunzhong laughed, "I certainly didn’t plan to give the carriage back to you."
Madam Qian was immediately relieved.
Yes! She was just a bit too kind-hearted.
When her husband was alive, he often told her that.
She had treated Yuan Yunzhong sincerely without knowing who he was.
He obviously was a person who treated others with sincerity as well.
"Good!" Madam Qian laughed, "I’ll accept your gift. I hope all the sisters, as you say, will have a smooth and fortunate life and each marry a husband of their choice."
As she spoke, she specifically glanced at Song Jiyun.
Because once their sham marriage was revealed, Song Jiyun would become the least marriageable among her sisters.
If Yuan Yunzhong could make such a promise, even if he could say a few good words for Song Jiyun when leaving, her life would be much easier.
But Yuan Yunzhong’s expression became grave upon hearing this and he said earnestly, "Madam’s heartfelt care has always been in my memory. The Buddha above can bear witness to that."
Song Jiyun felt that something was off about his words.
But Madam Qian was already so moved that she was tearful, repeatedly saying "good" and happily following the abbot to the Scripture Library.
Song Jiyun intentionally lagged a few steps behind and asked Yuan Yunzhong in a low voice, "Your words just now were too ambiguous. Was there any need to mention the Buddha above? Be careful if a passing Bodhisattva hears you."
Yuan Yunzhong’s expression cooled slightly, and he said, "Did I say anything wrong? The Madam is truly one of the rare people I’ve met who has a soft and pure heart."
He also said, "Don’t think I don’t know, you told the Madam I was a famous actor!"
Song Jiyun closed her mouth.
When they emerged from the Scripture Pavilion, they "just happened" to run into Old Master Yan and his wife, who were accompanying Old Master Xiong’s family on a visit to the Nameless Temple.
Old Master Xiong’s family had clearly also put effort into their attire, striving for luxurious understatement, yet the most eye-catching of them all was the eldest son of the Xiong Family, Xiong Wenqing. The fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy, who bore the forthrightness of his father and the handsome and refined features of his mother, was dressed in a plain water-blue brocade robe, giving him the appearance of fresh, stand-out bamboo, truly a rare sight of a beautiful young man.
Song Jiyun thought that, in terms of appearance, he matched Song Jiyu quite well.
She sized up Song Jiyu.
Song Jiyu was already blushing too much to lift her head.
Song Jiyun whispered to her sister, "This is about your own marriage, the person you’ll spend your life with. If you can’t even get past the first glance, it won’t do."
Everyone has different tastes, and what she found good might not be to Song Jiyu’s liking.
Song Jiyu’s voice was as thin as a mosquito’s, her face red as if dripping blood: "I, I’ll listen to Mother and Sister."
She must have taken a liking to him.
Song Jiyun smiled faintly, and after everyone had exchanged greetings, Old Master Yan invited everyone to sit in the pavilion on the hill behind the Nameless Temple, claiming the view there was the best and offered a view of the whole temple.
Everyone naturally agreed.
Song Jiyun intended to have a few words with Xiong Wenqing upfront to see how adaptable the boy was and what kind of temperament he had. Who knew that just as she took a few steps towards Xiong Wenqing, Yuan Yunzhong grabbed her arm and said, "Didn’t you say we were going to the abbot’s tea room to play chess?"
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