Upon learning that Su Yuanyuan had "gained wisdom" and was no longer a silly and dull girl, the people in the Yongguo Duke's Mansion were overjoyed.
Remembering that this was the grace of the "Buddha", Mo Shi and the others didn't rush to leave. Instead, they took Su Yuanyuan back to the Daxiong Baodian, lit three incense sticks, and bowed again.
"Thank all the Buddhas and immortals for your mercy. You have sent back the lost soul of my little daughter, Su Yuanyuan, allowing her to gain wisdom smoothly today. I, Su Mo Shi, vow to be a vegetarian for life and do more good deeds to repay this kindness. Amen."
After the worship, Mo Shi didn't forget to donate a large amount of offering money to Foxing Temple. As a result, every little novice monk would beam with smiles when seeing the people from the Yongguo Duke's Mansion.
After doing all this, they finally planned to go down the mountain.
However, after walking out of the Buddhist temple, Su Huaisheng scratched his head and said to Mo Shi, "Mother, did we forget something?"
Why did he always have the illusion that they had missed something important?
Mo Shi was holding Su Yuanyuan's hand and smiling from ear to ear. Hearing this, she was also taken aback. Frowning, she thought, "Now that you mention it, I also feel that we've forgotten something. Yuanbao, do you have any impression?"
Su Yuanyuan also shook her head blankly.
The mother and her two sons thought for a long time but couldn't figure it out. It was Wei Linlang who was quick - witted. She clapped her hands and said,
"Mother, we forgot to thank that Lord Cang!"
Mo Shi suddenly realized, "That's right. Thanks to him for saving Yuanbao in time just now. Otherwise, the flames of those everlasting lamps might have burned Yuanbao."
Su Yuanyuan also belatedly remembered that she had left with her family just like that without having the chance to thank this "benefactor" who had saved her several times.
However, when they looked back at the towering Buddhist temple, all they saw were the pilgrims coming and going. There was no sign of Cang Xuan.
Mo Shi stroked her chin and said, "Well, let's just leave it at that for today. Another day, we'll invite your father and visit him with gifts."
Everyone agreed and happily went down the mountain.
After leaving Foxing Temple and reaching the halfway up the mountain, the people from the Yongguo Duke's Mansion passed by the sugar - painting stall again.
Su Huaisheng felt his sleeve being tugged. Looking back, he saw Su Yuanyuan's pitiful little face.
She took out the sugar - painted little rabbit with a missing corner, which she had used to save Tong Shi, from her bosom. Holding it in her palm, she said to Su Huaisheng, "The little rabbit that Third Brother made for Yuanbao just now is missing a piece of its tail."
Su Huaisheng thought it was something else. Fondly pinching her nose, he smiled and said, "Yuanbao couldn't resist and ate it, right? Wait. Third Brother will make another one for you."
Giving a silver ingot to the stall owner of the sugar - painting stall, Su Huaisheng sat down in front of the stall again.
To make it up to Su Yuanyuan, this time Su Huaisheng drew the rabbit one - third bigger than before. It looked even fatter and cuter than the previous one.
Getting the brand - new sugar - painted little rabbit, Su Yuanyuan was extremely satisfied. Her eyes curved into crescent moons, and she said crisply,
"Thank you, Third Brother!"
Receiving praise from his sister, Su Huaisheng was so elated that he felt like he was floating in the air. He was extremely proud.
Sure enough, it was right to follow his mother and Yuanbao up the mountain to worship the Buddha today. He was the first among the three brothers to know that Yuanbao had "gained wisdom". He had really made a great profit!
Just this matter today, he could brag about it in front of his brothers for three years. His elder brother and second brother would surely be envious.
After buying some "local specialties" on the mountain path, they really planned to leave. Before leaving, Su Yuanyuan looked up at Foxing Temple on the mountaintop again and was immediately stunned.
Was it an illusion? She actually saw a figure in black standing on a high place, looking down in their direction.
The mountain wind blew up the man's sleeves and long hair. Faintly, one could see the bright golden patterns on his fluttering robe, making him look like an immortal descending to the mortal world.
"Yuanbao, what are you looking at?" Wei Linlang noticed that she was in a daze and followed her line of sight.
However, all she saw were the empty rocks and the temple gate.
In the blink of an eye, the figure had disappeared. Su Yuanyuan withdrew her gaze and smiled, "It's nothing. Let's go back."
But she couldn't help thinking in her heart: Why did they always run into this Prime Minister wherever they went?
Moreover, she had been saved by him again.
Was it a coincidence or on purpose?
Back at the foot of the mountain, Su Yuanyuan followed her family onto the carriage of the Yongguo Duke's Mansion and headed towards Shengjing City.
Out of curiosity about what had happened between Su Yuanyuan and Tong Shi, in the carriage, Su Huaisheng couldn't help asking, "Yuanbao, what exactly happened in the Changsheng Baodian just now? Why did you go to the side of the Lady of Pingyang Marquis for no reason? And what did you feed her? Why did she hold on to you after she woke up?"
Wei Linlang also said, "Yes, Yuanbao. What's going on?"
Facing three pairs of eager eyes, Su Yuanyuan quietly swallowed her saliva and forced a dry smile.
She had saved Tong Shi entirely because of Xiaoba's advice and to relieve her dear mother.
But such an inside story must never be known by her family, or she would be regarded as a monster.
Clearing her throat, she said, "At that time, I only heard someone say to me that she was so hungry, so hungry that she was about to die. I followed the voice and saw the unconscious Lady of Pingyang Marquis. So I broke off a piece from the sugar - painted rabbit and fed it to her."
"So Yuanbao didn't eat the sugar - painting because she was greedy, but used it to save someone." Su Huaisheng sighed and reached out to touch Su Yuanyuan's hair. "Our Yuanbao is really kind - hearted. Even though the Pingyang Marquis Mansion has bullied you so much, you can still save the Lady of Pingyang Marquis without bearing a grudge."
Mo Shi said, "That's right. Master Kongwen said that as long as Yuanbao has a kind heart, her lost soul will return. I think it must be because Yuanbao showed kindness that she was able to gain wisdom."
"By the way, that old monk also praised our Yuanbao for having a good face and being a lucky child!" Mo Shi's eyes curved into two lines with a big smile.
Wei Linlang said, "Naturally. Yuanbao. Just hearing this nickname makes one feel that it is both wealthy and auspicious."
Su Huaisheng hooked his lips and said excitedly, "I wonder how Father, Elder Brother, and Second Brother will react when they learn that Yuanbao has gained wisdom?"
"Speaking of which, your second brother said he was going to fight someone today. I don't know how it ended?" Mo Shi remembered that Su Huayuan had issued a challenge today, so he couldn't go up the mountain with them. She couldn't help but be concerned about the result of Su Huayuan's challenge.
"Let's go and take a look. If it's already over, we'll just go back home. If the competition is still going on, we can cheer for our second brother." Wei Linlang said.
"Then let's go and take a look." Mo Shi nodded. "I hope he didn't disgrace our Yongguo Duke's Mansion."