The door opened. Nan Zhi and Su Yue came back. Hua Sui stood timidly at the door, not daring to enter.
She was a maid of the Ning family. When Miss Song came to stay for a while, she was specially assigned to serve in the Plum Shadow Pavilion. Unexpectedly, on her first outing with the young lady, when the young lady asked her to take care of the luggage, she made such a big mistake.
If the young lady's reputation were to be ruined because of her, even if she died ten thousand times, it wouldn't be enough to make up for it!
Nan Zhi and Su Yue also looked dejected.
"Miss, we searched everywhere but couldn't find it. Hua Sui cried all the way, and we couldn't console her no matter what," they said.
Only then did Song Wanchu come back to her senses and forced a smile. "I rummaged through the luggage just now and found that the package was wrapped in the quilt. I made you worry for nothing and suffer from the cold all night."
Only then did Nan Zhi and Su Yue notice that the brocade - wrapped package was placed on the couch.
They opened the package and checked it. Not a single item of clothing was missing.
The two heaved a huge sigh of relief.
Song Wanchu waved to Hua Sui. Only then did Hua Sui relax and come to Song Wanchu.
"This was just a misunderstanding. You didn't do anything wrong. Don't mention it to anyone in the future. Do you understand?"
Hua Sui stopped crying and nodded.
Song Wanchu rewarded her with two taels of silver, and the little maid left happily.
...
Liang Yuzhou returned to his courtyard. To his surprise, Taoist Qiu hadn't left yet. He circled around Liang Yuzhou, sniffing like a dog looking for a bone.
"The fragrance of a woman!" Taoist Qiu's eyes sparkled. He grinned and said, "You lucky dog. Come on, did you have a reunion with your wife? Like dry wood meeting fire, and then enjoyed some tender moments afterward?"
He had been gone for quite a while.
Taoist Qiu was itching with curiosity and was almost about to ask for details.
Liang Yuzhou's eyes were as deep as a dark pool. "I told Wanchu that it was you who stole her undergarments. Wanchu was very angry and said she would tell Old Madam Chu tomorrow. Old Madam Chu dotes on her. If she gets angry, you won't get a single cent of reward."
Taoist Qiu's scalp tingled instantly.
He was the abbot of the Pine and Crane Temple, a highly - respected Taoist in the eyes of the people in Yunzhou, a celestial being from the outside world. He admitted that his serious and solemn appearance was all an act, but he only put on a show in front of the noble families to get some rewards...
If the news that he stole women's clothing got out, his reputation would be ruined!
No one would be willing to invite him to perform rituals anymore. Wouldn't this cut off his source of income?
Taoist Qiu's face wrinkled into a ball. He looked at Liang Yuzhou pitifully.
"Look, I did it for you. Go and say some nice words to your wife. I'm willing to share half of my rewards with her..."
Zhou Sheng, Zhou Yan, and Yaoguang beside them couldn't help laughing.
Sharing rewards with the mistress? What was this old Taoist thinking? Did he really think everyone was as short of money as he was?
"Tomorrow when Shi Luohan and Wanchu come to you to draw a fortune - telling stick, if you dare to say a single good word about them, I'll tell all the Taoists in the temple what you've done."
"Don't worry, Master Qingzhou. I guarantee I'll say that they are an ill - fated couple with incompatible horoscopes. If they stay together, they'll be punished by heaven!"
Taoist Qiu promised solemnly.
Liang Yuzhou gave him a cold look and then went into the house.
The next day, the sky was clear and the air was fresh.
Old Madam Chu, still full of vigor, led a group of descendants up the mountain.
When coming to Misty Hidden Mountain, one had to climb the mountain to watch the magnificent sunrise and complete the final prayer on the mountain to make the trip perfect.
The Pine and Crane Temple was built halfway up the mountain, about an hour's journey from the summit.
As soon as the sky turned grayish - white, the Chu family set off in a grand manner.
When they reached the summit, the red sun was just breaking through the clouds, shining a brilliant light.
Standing on the summit, one felt the vastness of the world.
Song Wanchu truly understood what it meant by "All other mountains appear dwarfed beneath my feet."
Shi Luohan stood shoulder to shoulder with her. He took off his fox fur cloak and put it on Song Wanchu. His eyes were full of tenderness.
"It's windy. Don't catch a cold."
Song Wanchu gave him a sweet smile.
She was naturally bright and charming. The golden light shone on her face, making her look like a lotus in full bloom. She seemed like a fairy descending to the mortal world with the glow of the morning sun.
Shi Luohan was momentarily stunned.
Not far away, there was another pair of eyes staring at her.
"Brother, I have something for you," she said.
She took off the purse from her waist and held it high, swaying it in front of Shi Luohan's eyes.
"Isn't this the one you've always carried with you?" Shi Luohan was stunned.
Song Wanchu lowered her eyes slightly. Her long eyelashes fluttered. "I want you to carry it with you."
A huge wave of ecstasy, like a volcanic eruption, hit Shi Luohan's mind.
Wanchu had given him many things before, such as swords, writing implements, cups, plates, and tea sets... but never something that she had carried with her.
He knew better than anyone what this purse embroidered with a lucky knot meant.
Wanchu was expressing her feelings for him.
He had waited and hoped for so many years, and finally, he got Wanchu's response.
His fingers trembled as he reached out to take the purse.
Wanchu smiled gently. "Let me tie it on for you."
Saying that, she bent down and tied the purse to Shi Luohan's belt.
It was such a simple action, but it made Shi Luohan breathe rapidly and his muscles tense. He was like a person taking a major exam and didn't dare to move at all.
Shi Luohan held Song Wanchu's hand tightly.
Song Wanchu didn't pull away.
Liang Yuzhou was standing not far away. From his perspective, Song Wanchu's head tilted slightly towards Shi Luohan's shoulder, as if she were snuggling up to him.
He watched as Wanchu tied the purse on Shi Luohan with his own eyes.
Everyone was immersed in the grandeur of the sunrise, but he was shrouded in darkness.
The cold wind pierced through his chest, messed up his hair, and made his gloomy and cold expression even more profound.
The beast in his heart was roaring, twisting, and swelling. It was about to jump out of his chest and tear Shi Luohan to pieces.
It would be good to push him down and let him taste the feeling of falling into the abyss.
"Wanchu, let's go and draw a fortune - telling stick," Shi Luohan's voice came to his ears with the cold wind. Liang Yuzhou shifted his gaze imperceptibly. His eyes were as calm as a stagnant pool.
Taoist Qiu had already interpreted the fortune - telling sticks for many people.
They were all excellent sticks, and even Chu Yueying was no exception.
Taoist Qiu said that she would surely get a response from the person she loved. Due to Old Madam Chu's presence, she didn't dare to talk to Liang Yuzhou. She shyly glanced at him, blushed, and happily hung her wish note on the ancient locust tree.
Shi Luohan and Song Wanchu also shook the fortune - telling sticks.
Surprisingly, they both got the worst sticks.
Taoist Qiu held their sticks and stroked his white beard. His expression was solemn.
"Do you two have any plans to get married recently?"
Shi Luohan remembered Wanchu's promise. There was a smile in his eyes. "It's not urgent."
"Forgive this old Taoist for being blunt. Miss Song seems to have an unresolved knot in her heart. There is a bane following her closely in her fate. And your astrological sign, Young Master Shi, is not bright enough. You can't cover up the light of the bane, nor can you drive it away. Instead, you will be gradually forced back by the bane," Taoist Qiu observed their expressions and then concluded, "You two are not a good match."