"Miss, Madam has sent several sets of new clothes for emergencies. She said that if the Marquis's Mansion agrees, although it's the Second Miss's happy occasion, you shouldn't dress too simply."
The maid, Su Mo, held the dresses in both hands respectfully.
Su Hele was still dressed in a moon - white gown, loosely holding a bamboo slip in her hand.
Hearing this, she stared at the dresses in Su Mo's hands for a while, then sighed softly:
"Vulgar. I won't wear them."
Su Mo whispered, "The colors may not be to your liking, Miss, but Madam said we should consider other people's opinions."
"Alas, being burdened by these worldly trifles all day long. I'd rather live in seclusion in a mountain corner, light a blue lamp, and be accompanied by books.
How's Ah Sheng? It's been several days, and there's still no news from the matchmaker. I'm afraid she'll be crying and throwing a tantrum again. She's still so willful."
Su Hele asked faintly.
Su Mo shook her head:
"The Second Miss seems to be in a good mood. She's been going out to play every day these days."
Su Hele paused in her book - flipping, and a barely noticeable smile appeared on her face.
In a good mood? It's just putting on a brave face.
With Su Nansheng being so unpredictable, the Lady of Anshun Marquis's Mansion will probably be annoyed. Maybe this marriage will fall through.
Even if she finally marries into the Marquis's Mansion, she'll surely suffer from the mistress's persecution and lead a hard life.
Su Nansheng is so lucky. She can always win others' favor effortlessly.
When they were kids, she was clearly more intelligent and well - behaved than Su Nansheng, but those young ladies always preferred to play with Su Nansheng. Even the servants liked her more.
Although Su Nansheng was always naughty and causing trouble, their father specially bought a maid skilled in martial arts to protect her.
Even though her reputation was better than Su Nansheng's, the Marquis's Mansion chose Su Nansheng as a concubine.
Sure enough, lofty art has few appreciators.
...
Outside the Hanguang Temple, Su Nansheng walked gracefully with a wooden box in her hands.
"Second Miss, let this servant carry it for you. It's just a Buddhist scripture. It's not worth you making a special trip."
Bi Tao's voice was a bit loud, attracting the curious glances of others.
"Don't be rude. The 'Nan Zang Jing' hand - copied by Master Wuming is a unique edition. It's a priceless treasure to some people. I want to donate it to the Hanguang Temple to find someone who will cherish it."
Su Nansheng said as she walked inside. Just as she was about to enter the temple gate, a female voice came from behind:
"Miss in front, please slow down."
A faint smile curled up on Su Nansheng's lips. The fateful person had come.
When she turned around, there was a look of confusion on her face:
"Madam, are you calling me?"
Facing her gaze was a beautiful woman. She was dressed in a light - blue ruqun embroidered with auspicious patterns of passionflowers. She had a square forehead and a broad chin, willow - like eyebrows, and a jade - like face.
Her black hair was coiled into a phoenix - shaped headdress, with a golden and silk - wrapped ruby crown in her hair. She looked noble and elegant. It was Chen Wanrong, the Lady of Anshun Marquis's Mansion.
Chen Wanrong smiled amiably, "Since we're both here to pay homage to the Buddha, why don't we go together?"
Su Nansheng nodded with a smile and then took a step back to wait for Chen Wanrong.
"May I ask your name, miss?"
Chen Wanrong glanced at the wooden box in Su Nansheng's arms and asked casually.
"My name is Su Nansheng. Madam, you can just call me Nansheng."
Su Nansheng's voice was gentle, with a natural sense of intimacy.
Hearing this, Chen Wanrong was slightly taken aback. She turned her head and carefully sized up Su Nansheng, who was half a step behind her.
Su Nansheng had her hair in a flying - fairy bun with a half - blossomed white magnolia in it. Her neck had a slender and graceful curve. Her lips were as red as if painted, and her bright eyes were full of radiance.
As if sensing Chen Wanrong's scrutiny, Su Nansheng gave her a faint smile, docile yet charming.
Chen Wanrong couldn't help but smile softly. What a charming girl. No wonder...
"Madam, do you have any instructions for me?"
Su Nansheng didn't know what was on Chen Wanrong's mind, but she had to use this encounter to make Chen Wanrong like her.
Chen Wanrong pointed at the wooden box in Su Nansheng's arms:
"Miss Su, where did you get this scripture? Are there any more copies?"
Of course, she knew the meaning of a unique edition, but she couldn't just ask the girl for it directly.
Sure enough, Su Nansheng shook her head gently:
"I accidentally saw it in a dilapidated bookstore. Although I don't understand the profound meaning of the scripture, I can tell it's precious from the elegant calligraphy.
I also heard from the shopkeeper that it's a unique edition. Naturally, I couldn't let it be neglected. But there was only this one copy in the bookstore."
Chen Wanrong nodded. Although Su Nansheng didn't understand the scripture, she knew how to cherish it and even brought it here specially. She was a kind and well - behaved girl.
Just as she was thinking about how to ask for it, she heard Su Nansheng say again:
"Since Madam asks like this, I assume you can understand this scripture. Since we've met, it's fate. How about I give this scripture to Madam?"
Chen Wanrong couldn't help but stop. Her eyes lit up, and her smile widened:
"Thank you very much, Miss Nansheng."
She could understand the implication. She was truly a smart girl.
Her son had good taste.
...
"Second Miss, how did you know the Lady of Anshun Marquis's Mansion would definitely like that scripture?"
On the way back to the mansion, Bi Tao finally couldn't hold back and asked.
These days, they had been running around like crazy to find this scripture but had been unsuccessful.
Bi Tao wanted Su Nansheng to choose another scripture, saying that all scriptures were the same, but Su Nansheng disagreed.
"Only the 'Nan Zang Jing' will do. Only it can make that lady like it."
That's what the Second Miss had replied at that time, and now it turned out that the Lady of Anshun Marquis's Mansion was clearly overjoyed.
Su Nansheng, who had successfully gained recognition, was in a good mood and finally let out a sigh of relief.
Seeing Bi Tao's question, she decided to satisfy her curiosity:
"Because it was her son's amulet."
Previously, He Xun had been seriously injured on the battlefield, and even the imperial physicians said there was nothing they could do but wait for fate.
Chen Wanrong knelt in the ancestral hall and recited the 'Nan Zang Jing' over and over again, praying for Buddha's blessing.
She knelt for five days. On the sixth day, the scripture suddenly caught fire and turned to ashes in an instant.
Just when Chen Wanrong was at a loss looking at the ashes, a servant ran over to tell her that He Xun had woken up.
Since then, Chen Wanrong had sent people everywhere to look for this scripture.
It had to be the 'Nan Zang Jing' and had to be hand - written by Master Wuming. Not a single detail could be wrong.
She learned this from Chen Wanrong when she went to send the scripture in her previous life.
At that time, she had accompanied Su Hele to marry into the Marquis's Mansion not long ago. Su Hele was so arrogant that she didn't please Chen Wanrong, the mistress. So she asked around about Chen Wanrong's preferences.
She learned that Chen Wanrong was looking for the scripture but couldn't find it. So she searched every bookstore and study in the capital inch by inch and finally found it from a peddler.
But when she took the scripture to Su Hele and asked her to give it to the mistress, Su Hele refused.
She said she couldn't do such a thing of groveling to please others.
Helpless, Su Nansheng had to go and give it herself. Naturally, she learned why Chen Wanrong was so determined to find this scripture.
Thanks to this scripture, Su Nansheng hardly suffered any persecution from Chen Wanrong in her later life, except for one time.
...
Back at the mansion, Su Nansheng immediately asked Bi Tao to find out if anyone had come to propose marriage.
It had been several days. Those who were interested should have taken action by now.
If not...
She would continue to lay more baits. As long as there were enough baits, there would always be fish biting.