Early summer is the perfect time for spring outings.
Just then, Hanshan Temple enshrined a Guanyin statue that grants children, which was said to have been personally consecrated by Master Jinghui.
Master Jinghui was a revered monk even by His Majesty, but unfortunately he lived in seclusion for many years and no one could find his whereabouts. The Buddha statues he personally consecrated were extremely rare.
This news caused a sensation not only among ordinary people, but also among many women from wealthy families.
That day, Jiang Wan instructed someone to prepare a carriage early in the morning, saying that she was going to Hanshan Temple to offer incense.
The matriarch of the Yuan family had also heard about the Guanyin Bodhisattva who grants children. It was fine for others to go, but when she heard that Jiang Wan wanted to worship Buddha, she couldn't help but feel strange.
Jiang Wan's mind was clearly not on Song Ziyu. They had never even slept together once, so why would she want to go and pray to Guanyin for a child?
During the greeting, she deliberately asked a couple of probing questions.
Jiang Wan smiled and said, "After the general drank the medicine from that itinerant doctor, his health has improved, and he has also taken in two new concubines. As the mistress of the house, I should personally burn incense and pray to Buddha to pray for the prosperity of the Song family's offspring."
The elder's wife gave a forced smile.
Given Jiang Wan's personality, would she really pray for Song Ziyu's well-being?
Even if you were to actually beg him, you'd probably be begging him to be childless and without descendants.
However, although she was unhappy, she couldn't stop Jiang Wan from going out, so she could only let her go.
Song Yu was a little worried, so he waited for her at the entrance of Luhe Hall.
“Recently, bandits have been rampant in the mountains, and people often encounter them blocking the road. If Mother insists on going out, please allow me to ask for half a day's leave from the army to accompany you.”
Jiang Wan smiled, but then brought up another matter: "How is your swordsmanship instruction in the army going?"
Song Yu replied, "Everything went smoothly."
Seeing that Jiang Wan was still staring at him, he couldn't help but chuckle: "You really can't hide anything from your mother."
"When the Chenxing Sword Manual was brought out at the martial arts test, it attracted many people to join the army. However, most of them were wanderers from the martial arts world, and their habits were different from those of the soldiers in the Song family army. There were bound to be frictions when they got along, and there were even a few disputes."
"I have already submitted a memorial to His Majesty, proposing the establishment of a separate 'Star Camp' for soldiers who study swordsmanship. I hope they can integrate into the army as soon as possible."
Jiang Wan said, "You did very well. The reason why the camaraderie in the army is so profound is because we fight side by side and entrust our lives to each other. Now that there is no war, we naturally have no chance to share life and death."
But perhaps this opportunity will come soon.
“The Chenxing Camp has just been established. It’s not appropriate for you to take leave at this time. Although we are living in a peaceful and prosperous era, we cannot neglect training.” Jiang Wan said to Song Yu, “I will take more people with me. Go quickly, there will be no danger.”
She insisted on this, and Song Yu had no other choice but to personally select a few guards to watch Jiang Wan's carriage leave the city gate.
Jiang Wan leaned against the carriage window: "Have you found out?"
“Yes,” Biluo said. “The Shang and Sun families went out together early this morning to offer incense at Hanshan Temple. If they go now, they will surely make it in time.”
The wheels rolled on, and after about half an hour, we finally arrived at the foot of Hanshan Temple.
Master Jinghui's great reputation proved effective, attracting a constant stream of pilgrims, most of whom were women.
Jiang Wan walked up the stone steps toward the main hall where the Guanyin statue that grants children is enshrined.
A long line of female worshippers formed as she waited at the entrance. After a short while, she heard a woman's voice behind her, tinged with surprise.
"Madam Jiang?"
Jiang Wan turned around and saw Madam Shang approaching gracefully, accompanied by a noblewoman dressed in a dark green gauze dress with lotus patterns.
She then feigned surprise: "Madam Shang? I never expected to meet you here. What a coincidence!"
"What kind of formality is this, calling me 'Madam'?"
Mrs. Shang smiled warmly and pulled her close.
The celebration banquet at the General's Mansion a few days ago was so grand that even the Empress and the Crown Prince graced her with their presence, and she couldn't hide her enthusiasm for Jiang Wan.
"Since we've already said we're kindred spirits, I've shamelessly taken the liberty of treating you like a younger sister. You're so young and already a second-rank noblewoman, calling me 'elder sister' is quite an honor!"
Jiang Wan readily agreed: "Sister is joking."
"Look at my forgetful memory, I forgot to introduce you to my sister." Madam Shang pushed the lady beside her forward and said with a smile, "This is the wife of the Minister of Personnel, Madam Sun."
After exchanging greetings, the three of them, along with their maids, sat down on a stone bench to rest.
"I should have come another day. I didn't expect there to be so many people worshipping Buddha today."
Mrs. Shang wiped the sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief and sighed.
"I left home early in the morning, but there was nowhere to park my carriage. When I arrived at the palace gate, I had to queue up."
“It’s worth the trip to consecrate the Buddha statue by Master Jinghui,” Jiang Wan said with a smile. “Moreover, I heard that the Buddha statue is temporarily enshrined at Hanshan Temple. Master Jinghui has calculated the dates carefully, so it may not be possible to worship it later.”
"really?"
This time it was Madam Sun who spoke, her concern barely concealed. She waved her fan and sighed, "Luckily we came today. If we had missed this 'Child-Giving Temple'..."
Meeting Jiang Wan's gaze, he felt a little shy and stopped talking.
Jiang Wan smiled, pretending not to hear, and gestured for Biluo to step forward.
"It's the height of the sun, and you two must be feeling hot. This is a tea I brought from home, chilled with ice all the way, and it's refreshing now."
Upon hearing this, both the Shang and Sun families nodded in agreement.
The early summer heat and the long hike had left the two parched. Upon hearing this, they no longer held back and accepted the cups offered by Jiang Wan.
After taking only one sip, Mrs. Shang praised the excellent cooking skills, and Mrs. Sun also drank two more cups.
After drinking tea, the number of people in the hall decreased slightly. The two went to the hall to worship Buddha together, and then agreed to return to the city with Jiang Wan.
The carriage stopped suddenly halfway through its journey.
"What happened?" Shang asked.
The servant rushed over in a panic: "Madam, something terrible has happened! I heard there are...bandits robbing the road ahead!"
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