Baima Temple used to be a royal temple.
Behind the temple was a scenic garden, where the most beautiful chrysanthemums of Luojing in the greatest variety were in full bloom. In autumn, when all other flowers withered and leaves fluttered down, it was a sight rarely seen on earth. The Empress Dowager couldn't bear to let such a beautiful view be enjoyed only by the royal family, so she opened Baima Temple to the public. Now, the high - ranking officials and nobles in the capital could also come to the temple to offer incense and have fun.
Lan Miao held Xue'er's hand and carefully walked on the mountain path, following the people from the Marquis's Mansion.
Before long,
The group arrived at the main hall of Baima Temple.
The magnificent temple housed solemn and gorgeous Buddha statues inside.
The old matriarch was most particular about ostentation and face. Mrs. You had spent a lot of time in advance to meet the abbot of Baima Temple. At this time, there was only their group offering incense in the main hall, so they were spared the trouble of being disturbed by others.
Before offering incense, one had to wash hands and kowtow...
Lan Miao first untied Xue'er's cape behind the others, and then took off her own. Mrs. You had been staring at Lan Miao's actions. It was not until now that her eyes lit up. She deliberately mentioned in front of the old matriarch, "Sister - in - law, your clothes are really beautiful. The color also suits your complexion..."
Before she could finish, her voice suddenly faltered.
She suddenly found that this dress didn't seem to be the one she had sent. The color was similar, but the style and pattern were different, and it was even more luxurious. The old matriarch also looked over. She frowned and sized up Lan Miao in silence, with all her dissatisfaction written on her face.
Others didn't know, but Mrs. You was well aware that the late Marquis had once praised the old matriarch for looking good in this blue dress. After the late Marquis's death, anyone who wore this color in front of her would be scolded, let alone Lan Miao, whom she disliked the most.
It seemed that the old matriarch was about to scold someone.
Unexpectedly, Lan Miao calmly lowered her eyes and replied gently, "This dress was bestowed by the Empress Dowager in the palace. I thought that since we're coming to Baima Temple to offer incense, and Baima Temple has a connection with the Empress Dowager, wearing the dress bestowed by her is also a good omen."
The old matriarch stared at Lan Miao with her deep - set eyes, as if trying to see through her.
She opened her mouth but said nothing for a long time.
Mrs. You, feeling tricked by Lan Miao, murmured, "If it's the Empress Dowager's dress, why didn't she show it earlier? What's there to show off?"
The old matriarch gave her a disdainful look and said sharply, "Shut up."
Mrs. You never expected to be scolded herself. Her face flushed red at once, but she immediately realized that she had been so angry that she had lost her wits.
Lan Miao wearing the dress bestowed by the Empress Dowager to Baima Temple left the old matriarch with nothing to say. Even though she hated Lan Miao, she had to take the Empress Dowager's face into consideration and endured it forcefully.
She glanced at Lan Miao.
She had thought Lan Miao was a timid and bullied person, but unexpectedly, she was quite scheming.
She had evaded another trouble this time.
Mrs. You's eyes were red with anger.
After this small commotion, the old matriarch was in a bad mood. She gave Mrs. You two disdainful looks and completely ignored Mrs. You who was about to support her. She knelt on the central cushion. Lan Miao and Mrs. You stood on either side respectively. They all knelt before the Buddha statue, offered three sticks of incense, and the blue smoke in the hall gathered and lingered for a long time.
After offering incense, the old matriarch said seriously,
"I'm going to the side hall to listen to the Dharma lectures by Master Cihang. You all wait in the side - wing halls. Don't go too far away, and don't go to any improper places."
"Yes, Mother."
Watching the old matriarch leave, Lan Miao openly told Mrs. You that she and Xue'er were going to the side hall to light candles for her late husband. Mrs. You couldn't refuse this reason, so she could only watch helplessly as Lan Miao and Xue'er left.
Without others around, their steps were extremely light.
In the temple, the corridors were deep and quiet.
The mountain air was especially moist, yet mixed with a strong smell of sandalwood, as if it seeped into one's bones with every breath. The white pagoda stood tall. When getting closer, one could seem to hear the faint Buddhist chanting from afar.
"Mother, can I ask for two amulets for peace?"
"Of course you can. Can Mother ask why you want to ask for two?"
"I also want to ask for one for Yu Jia. I'll go to the palace to give it to her in a few days. Yu Jia is very kind to me. I hope she'll be safe and sound too."
A princess in the palace would surely have a smooth and peaceful life.
Lan Miao didn't want to dampen Xue'er's enthusiasm, so she agreed with a smile. She told Shuang Xi to take Xue'er to the side hall where people asked for divination lots, while she walked to the pagoda. Guided by a young novice monk, she came to the memorial tablet of her late husband.
For some reason, the pagoda was empty today.
She was the only one there.
After the young novice monk left, she lit the candles alone. Looking at the strange yet familiar name on the memorial tablet, she felt empty - hearted. All the indescribable hardships of the past five years welled up in her heart and turned into an almost inaudible sigh.
She mustn't think about it...
On the right side of the pagoda was a thick wall of Buddhist prayer flags. The colorful prayer flags as tall as a person were overlapping. When the gentle breeze blew, one could hear the distant ringing of bells, making this place seem mysterious and holy.
Lan Miao was in a daze looking at the prayer flags. Before long, her gaze shifted to the approaching person.
Mrs. You came without her maid. With heavy steps, her still - pretty features were twisted into a knot. Anyone could tell that she was in a very bad mood. She walked up to Lan Miao angrily and raised her hand to give her a slap.
The person behind the prayer flags trembled with the hand that was lighting the incense.
However -
She missed.
In mid - air, Lan Miao calmly blocked Mrs. You's hand.
Her strength was so great that Mrs. You couldn't break free for a moment.
"You... Let go..."
"Why are you so strong?"
Lan Miao was naturally strong. In the past five years, how many times had she been punished and how many heavy tasks had she done? Her strength and energy had been trained. Moreover, as a jade carver, she needed a steady hand.
Mrs. You used all her strength but still couldn't break free from Lan Miao's grasp. Her originally pale face turned red. In contrast, Lan Miao remained motionless, and her face was still as clean as a smooth piece of jade.
The next moment, Lan Miao casually let go.
Caught off guard, Mrs. You lost her balance and fell directly to the ground. The stone slab was cold, making her shiver. She almost let out a scream.
"Be quiet. This is a sacred Buddhist place. You shouldn't disturb the souls resting here."
"You heartless bitch. You've set me up again and again..."
Suddenly, a gust of wind blew straight in from the door. All the memorial tablets and incense candles in the pagoda seemed to have a reaction and were on the verge of falling.
Mrs. You quickly shut up.
She got up from the ground in a hurry, put her hands together, and kept muttering, "Forgive me, forgive me. Please forgive me, Buddha..."
It was completely different from her aggressive look just now.
Lan Miao calmly looked at her. "Let's talk outside."
She didn't seem to be afraid of what Mrs. You might do to her.
Her back was slender, and her peaceful aura carried a touch of Buddhist nature, unexpectedly in harmony with this quiet Buddhist place.
Mrs. You gritted her teeth and followed Lan Miao's steps.
After they left, the prayer flags fluttered in the wind, faintly revealing a tall and thin figure behind them.
Emperor Jingxiang walked out from behind the prayer flags. Looking at the distant and blurred graceful figure, he sneered slightly.
This sneer was full of mystery. An He beside him couldn't figure out the emperor's mind.
"Look, she's really a little fox. She deliberately wore that jade pendant on her body."
"I was also deceived by her."