Su Zeqian never expected to run into people from the Yongguo Duke's Mansion here, especially Mo Shi and Su Yuanyuan.
After his initial surprise, he subconsciously stepped forward to shield Su Qingyu behind him. He bowed to Mo Shi and said, "I wonder why the Duchess of Yongguo is here?"
Mo Shi replied, "What? Are only you allowed to come up the mountain to pay respects to the Buddha, while others are not?"
Su Zeqian said, "I didn't mean that."
The Marquis of Pingyang had planned to visit the Yongguo Duke's Mansion today with generous gifts to apologize. But if Mo Shi and Su Yuanyuan weren't in the mansion, would the Marquis of Pingyang's apology go smoothly?
The Yongguo Duke's Mansion had only given the Pingyang Marquis's Mansion three days. Today was already the third day. If the apology couldn't be made smoothly, the Yongguo Duke's Mansion would surely not let it go easily.
But how could he say such things? Mo Shi could go wherever she wanted. Who could stop her?
Seeing Su Zeqian looking so frustrated, Wei Linlang felt extremely delighted. She said, "You still say you didn't mean that. You've occupied this whole pavilion and won't even let others get close. I never thought the Pingyang Marquis's Mansion would act so domineeringly."
Su Huaisheng was playing with a nine - linked puzzle. He said, "If they weren't domineering, how could they have bullied our Yuanbao like that at the Empress's birthday banquet? They almost drowned our Yuanbao and even tried to frame her."
When Tong Shi heard Su Zeqian speak, she immediately knew the identities of the people opposite. Before she could react, the people from the Yongguo Duke's Mansion spoke one after another, leaving her speechless.
She felt a surge of qi and blood in her chest and couldn't help covering her lips and coughing. Her gaze fell on Su Yuanyuan again.
So this beautiful little girl was the young miss of the Yongguo Duke's Mansion who had been pushed into the water by Yu'er?
Mo Shi had been in a great mood when she came up the mountain to pay respects to the Buddha and pray today. But seeing Su Qingyu again ruined her good mood. She snorted and said,
"Su Qingyu, you really don't have a good memory. It's only been two days since the incident at the Fine Food Restaurant, and you're already so impatient that you've managed to get out again. It seems the Pingyang Marquis's Mansion has no intention of correcting their children's mistakes. No wonder we waited for two days but didn't see the Marquis of Pingyang come with generous gifts to apologize. Truly, birds of a feather flock together."
"Yuanbao, Sheng'er, Linlang, let's go." After saying that, Mo Shi took Su Yuanyuan's hand and led her youngest son and eldest daughter - in - law away neatly.
"Duchess, Duchess..." Su Zeqian wanted to catch up with Mo Shi to explain why he and Su Qingyu were here, but Mo Shi had already walked far away with her people.
Looking back and seeing Su Qingyu standing silently behind, Su Zeqian felt a bit annoyed. "Yu'er, why didn't you say a single word just now?"
Su Qingyu looked innocent and said, "The Duchess of Yongguo hates me so much. No matter what I say, she won't believe me. Why should I make a fool of myself?"
Neither of them noticed Tong Shi, but for some reason, Tong Shi's gaze couldn't leave that plum - red figure.
Seeing the young girl so dependent on Mo Shi beside her, and hearing the word "mother" floating from afar again and again, Tong Shi tightly clutched the handkerchief in her hand. For some reason, her heart ached as if being cut by a knife.
The people from the Pingyang Marquis's Mansion didn't stay in the pavilion for long. After Tong Shi drank some hot water and regained some strength, they continued their journey up the mountain.
The people from the Yongguo Duke's Mansion, who had set off earlier, had already arrived at the Buddhist temple on the mountaintop.
The majestic mountain temple stood on the mountaintop. The solemn atmosphere rushed towards them. The sound of the bell washed away the worldly noise from below. No matter who stood outside the temple gate, a sense of awe would arise from the bottom of their hearts.
Gusts of mountain wind blew from all directions, but it didn't feel cold. Instead, it was as gentle as a spring breeze, extremely comfortable.
Mo Shi paid special attention. Everyone who entered the temple gate had more or less a sad look on their faces, but those who left the temple gate looked extremely relaxed, as if their inner confusion had been resolved. It seemed that the Foxing Temple really lived up to its reputation.
Facing this solemn Buddhist temple, Mo Shi suddenly had an idea.
At the Empress's birthday banquet that day, the Empress had planned to ask Cang Xuan to tell the fortune of her Yuanbao, but it was inexplicably interrupted by a little dog, so it couldn't continue.
If she was lucky enough to meet the abbot, Master Kongwen, of the Foxing Temple today, she must ask him to take a look at her Yuanbao. Maybe they could find a way to help Yuanbao become more intelligent.
...
In the Hall of Longevity in the Foxing Temple, Cang Xuan, wearing a jet - black robe with his ink - colored hair half - tied and half - loose, was standing with a middle - aged monk.
Cang Xuan's fair and slender fingers pinched the paper strip sealed with beeswax and lit it with the flame of the main lamp. He let go of his fingers, and the paper strip was devoured by the tongue of fire. As if guided by something, it fell into a lamp below.
Normally, when the paper strip fell into the lamp, the wick would be ignited by the remaining heat on the paper strip. However, the eternal lamp below showed no change.
Cang Xuan looked thoughtful.
Beside him, Master Kongwen said, "Amitabha. I often hear Taoist Min mention Young Master Cang. I've always wanted to have a game of chess with you. Since we're fated to meet today, how about we sit down and have a game?"
Cang Xuan raised his eyebrows and said, "Why not?"
The two walked side by side towards the meditation room in the back hall.
...
Mo Shi led her children and daughter - in - law to the Main Hall of the Foxing Temple.
Following the little novice's guidance, they stepped forward to place the offerings, then each lit three incense sticks, knelt on the futons, and bowed devoutly to the golden statue in front.
Mo Shi closed her eyes and silently prayed in her mouth for the gods and Buddhas to bless the Yongguo Duke's Mansion to thrive, the family to be harmonious, and all the people in the mansion to be safe, successful, and have a prosperous career.
Beside her, Wei Linlang blushed slightly when praying. It was obvious that she was praying for a child.
Even Su Huaisheng was extremely serious, muttering something. Maybe he was praying that he could achieve good results in the imperial examinations next year.
After Su Yuanyuan's gaze swept over her family one by one, she thought of the plan she had hidden in her heart for a long time. She tilted her head slightly and looked directly into the eyes of the statue that was looking down on the world with lowered eyes in front of her. She also began to silently pray in her heart.
All the gods and Buddhas are above. I, Su Yuanyuan, was the second legitimate daughter of the Pingyang Marquis's Mansion in my previous life. I was framed by my elder sister, which led to being betrayed by everyone and ended up being thrown into a mass grave.
But heaven and earth can testify. Although I really didn't like my elder sister in my previous life, I never thought of harming my sister. I don't know why my elder sister always targeted me. My family members even lost trust in me and discarded me like trash regardless of the years of upbringing.
Since I've been favored by heaven in this life and been reborn in this body, and received the love and protection of these family members around me, I, Su Yuanyuan, will surely live a good life on behalf of Su Yuanyuan and become the most dazzling pearl in Shengjing City. I'll expose Su Qingyu's true face and seek justice for Su Yuanyuan in my previous life.
After silently finishing this speech in her heart, Su Yuanyuan held the incense and bowed three times. Just as she was about to get up and insert the incense into the burner, she felt a sudden heat on her collarbone, and an extremely abrupt voice suddenly rang in her ear:
[Su Yuanyuan, the Buddha has received your wish. The Buddha saw how miserable you were in your previous life and has specially allowed this god to come down to earth to help you. Amitabha.]
This strange - toned voice scared Su Yuanyuan so much that she jumped up from the ground.
Who? Who's talking?!