Suddenly, Caixue tightened her grip on Zhao Luoning's arm, her expression tense.
Zhao Luoning was solely focused on getting to their destination and didn't share Caixue's cautious nature. She simply tried to console her.
"We're almost there. Hold on a little longer."
Caixue shook her head and stopped walking altogether, grabbing Zhao Luoning.
"Miss, I really heard something. It's... it's a woman's crying!"
Zhao Luoning didn't pay much attention at first, but to her surprise, even the coachman seemed nervous.
"Second Young Mistress, there really... really is a woman's crying. It's... it's back there."
The coachman didn't dare to go and check. He pointed at a large boulder and spoke to Zhao Luoning.
The faint sobbing gradually reached Zhao Luoning's ears.
"Give me the torch."
The coachman was confused but handed over the torch. Zhao Luoning held it up and slowly approached the boulder.
"Second Young Mistress, you..."
"Miss, don't go over there."
Caixue and the coachman stood to one side, extremely anxious but too scared to step forward.
Zhao Luoning walked around the boulder. Summoning her courage, she stretched out the torch.
There, they saw a pregnant woman in coarse clothes lying beside the boulder. Her leg was cut, and blood was gushing out. Trapped in a crevice of the boulder, unable to move and with no one to turn to, she could only sob.
"How are you?"
Zhao Luoning stuck the torch into a crack in a nearby rock and crouched down to help the woman. When the woman saw someone coming, she quickly grabbed Zhao Luoning's sleeve.
"Miss, please save the child in my belly. Please, you must save my baby."
Only then did Zhao Luoning notice that the woman's water had broken. It seemed the baby was about to be born.
"What are you standing there for? Come and help!"
Caixue and the coachman snapped out of their daze and rushed over to assist. They were shocked when they saw the woman's condition.
The three of them managed to carry the woman out.
Just then, a burst of torchlight appeared, and the noisy sound of footsteps came, clearly audible in the mountains.
Someone was coming!
"I'll go find help. You stay here and take care of her."
They were at the intersection of a small path and a main road, so it was just a short walk to the main road.
As soon as Zhao Luoning stepped onto the main road, she saw a group of people carrying torches and wearing the uniform of the Ji family's servants not far away. It seemed they were about to go down the mountain.
"Help!"
Zhao Luoning shouted loudly, and her voice caught their attention.
"It's the Second Young Mistress's voice."
The leader recognized Zhao Luoning's voice and was overjoyed. The group rushed towards her. Seeing her covered in blood, they were greatly startled.
"Second Young Mistress, you..."
Zhao Luoning didn't have time to waste on idle chatter. She quickly made way and said,
"I'm fine. Hurry up and come help."
...
With the help of the servants, the woman was quickly carried up the mountain.
However, after Zhao Luoning sent someone to explain their situation, the mountain gate was slammed shut.
The monks guarding the gate actually said, "This is a sacred Buddhist site. It cannot be defiled." and refused to let them in.
Who would have thought that these people, who always chanted "Amitabha" and "All is well" on a daily basis, could be so cold - hearted.
Was this how the Buddha saved the suffering?
Zhao Luoning knew that further stalemate would only waste time. She had no choice but to order the servants to carry the woman and force their way in.
"If I really anger the Buddha, I'll take all the consequences."
Zhao Luoning's words gave the servants, who had been hesitant, the courage to act. Just as everyone was about to charge in, the door suddenly opened, and an old, white - haired monk stood in front of them.
"Benefactor, please calm down. I've already ordered someone to prepare a side room. Quickly bring this benefactor in."
Zhao Luoning recognized this old man. He was Abbot Kongliao.
Seeing Abbot Kongliao, Zhao Luoning felt relieved. She knew that the abbot was kind - hearted and would never turn a blind eye to someone in need.
It was just that the young novice monk had made a hasty decision without even reporting the situation. It was really too much.
In fact, she didn't really want to break in and offend the gods.
She just wanted to make a big fuss so that Abbot Kongliao would hear about it and the problem could be solved.
...
The woman was placed in a side room close to the kitchen for easy access to hot water. Zhao Luoning sent someone to deliver a message to the Ji Mansion, simply saying that she had arrived at Zhaoming Temple. She dispatched the others to look for a midwife.
After a night of chaos, in the early morning, a loud cry from a baby woke everyone up.
Everyone finally felt relieved.
Zhao Luoning let out a sigh of relief and sent everyone back to the mansion.
After all the Ji family members had left, and after informing the temple people not to disturb her,
Zhao Luoning returned to her side room and changed into men's clothing.
The gentle young lady Zhao Luoning transformed into the elegant young master Zhao Luojing.
After all, this was someone else's territory.
After changing into men's clothes, Zhao Luoning climbed out of the side room through the back window and went to see Abbot Kongliao first.
Zhao Luoning knocked on the abbot's door. Hearing a "Come in" from inside, she pushed the door open.
"Abbot."
Abbot Kongliao was meditating in the room, holding the red sandalwood Buddhist beads that symbolized his abbot status. His eyes were slightly closed. Even when Zhao Luoning sat cross - legged in front of him, he didn't open them.
"Benefactor Zhao, coming to see me so early in the morning, do you have good news to tell me?"
Zhao Luoning knew he was referring to the mother and child, so she replied,
"The mother and child are safe. Luoning is grateful to the abbot for saving their lives."
Although she was dressed as a noble young man now, in front of the abbot, she had nothing to hide, and there was nothing she could keep from him.
"Benefactor Ye is a blessed person. After getting through this difficult time, her future will be smoother."
"Benefactor Ye? Does the abbot know this woman?"
Zhao Luoning asked curiously. If the abbot knew her, why did the gatekeeper still refuse to let the woman in?
"I've only met her a few times. Benefactor Ye has an aura of good fortune. She is truly a blessed person."
A blessed person?
Would a blessed person fall by the roadside and almost lose both her and her baby's lives?
However, the abbot was a transcendent figure. He could see things more clearly than ordinary people. She was just a mortal and had no idea about the future.
The abbot was a master of the spiritual world, and Zhao Luoning respected him greatly.
"Luoning has a question to ask the abbot."
"Please go ahead, benefactor."
"Clearly, there's no fateful bond between me and the second young master of the Ji family. On the Qixi Festival, I even drew a blank marriage fortune stick. It seems that even the heavens are hinting that this marriage is just in name. But why do I feel a sudden increase in pressure on my shoulders recently, and it's becoming harder and harder for me to leave?"
"Benefactor, a blank fortune stick is a rare occurrence, but it doesn't mean it's nothing."
"Could it be that the fortune - teller was right when he told me to work hard?"
"Amitabha, the answer is already in the benefactor's heart."
In her heart?
Zhao Luoning was getting more and more confused.
She didn't have high hopes for marriage. It was just that Ji Shisu had been pestering her these days. She was worried that this would affect her future plans to leave.
She now felt that the Ji Mansion was like a quagmire.
Unconsciously, she was getting deeper and deeper into it and couldn't extricate herself.
No, she had to stay sober!
She couldn't have any expectations for this playboy just because Ji Shisu had protected her a few times recently.
Zhao Luoning, wake up!
No man would like a girl who had lost her innocence.
Ji Shisu would be no exception.