Chapter 64

On the eighth day of March, Duke Ying’s family travelled outside the capital to burn incense in worship at a temple.

The sky was clear and a favorable wind blew today. It was suitably good weather for traveling. Wei Luo saw that Wei Chang Hong had been feeling stuffy at home the past few days, so she also brought him with her to stroll around and breath in the fresh air. Wei Chang Hong’s injury had already improved a lot under Wei Luo’s meticulous care. The wound had already scabbed. Once that piece of scab came off, he would be considered completely healed.

Wei Chang Yin had also come on this trip with first madam. He hadn’t shown his face in a long time. Now, that he suddenly appeared in everyone’s sight, it felt strange and rare.

Wei Chang Yin was sitting in a beech wheelchair. He was wearing a black and green robe with a flower pattern. His graceful and handsome figure looked clear and pure. He didn’t seem to have changed during the past several years. His eyebrows were still elegant and simple. There was still a gentle smile on his lips. His gentleness was the same towards everyone. The servant boy behind him pushed his wheelchair outside to the entrance and stopped at the carriages. First madam came out of her carriage and whispered something to him. He looked down and the side of his face was handsome as he seriously listened.

It was truly a pity. If his leg wasn’t damaged, he would look so magnificent.

Liang Yu Rong lifted the embroidered curtain to look outside and couldn’t help sighing, “Ah Luo, is your oldest cousin’s leg not healed yet? Is there a possibility that his leg can be treated?”

A few days ago, Liang Yu Rong had heard they were going to a temple, so she said she also wanted to come. Liang Yu was preparing to participate in next year’s military imperial exam. Liang Yu Rong wanted to help him by praying to Buddha for him to score first place in the exam. At the time, Wei Luo didn’t think anything of her request. It was only adding another person, so she easily agreed.

Now, she was somewhat regretful. If she had known that Wei Chang Yin was also going, no matter what, she wouldn’t have let Liang Yu Rong come too!

She vividly remembered their endings in her previous life. If Wei Chang Yin’s leg didn’t heal, they wouldn’t have any good outcome. Rather than have a painful ending, it would better if those two didn’t interact to begin with, so they wouldn’t develop any feelings that they shouldn’t have.

In this life, Wei Luo had done her best to prevent them meeting and had done a good job during the past few years. Wei Chang Yin normally didn’t come out to meet people. As long as she was careful, Liang Yu Rong wouldn’t even have the chance to see his face. Until now, the two of them didn’t have much interaction with each, so Liang Yu Rong would naturally not fall in love with Wei Chang Yin.

It was really beyond her expectations for the two of them to go to the temple to burn incense together today.

Wei Luo had her put down the curtain and responded, “He probably won’t get better… I heard from eldest aunt that she’s already looked for many doctors and none of them of were able to treat his leg.” After saying this, she picked up the peanuts on the small vermillion lacquered table, then she stuffed them into Liang Yu Rong’s hand, “Don’t look. Eat peanuts. After we arrive at the bottom of the mountain to Qian Temple, there will be a long mountain path to climb.”

Qian Temple was outside the capital and was on a high mountain. That mountain was very steep and the carriages wouldn’t able to go up. If they wanted to go to Qian Temple, they would have to personally climb up the mountain. In spite of this, there was still an endless stream of people going to Qian Temple. The worshippers were as numerous as the clouds.

It was probably because the Buddha there was very effective. There was also a senior monk that achieved enlightenment. According to rumors, this highly intelligent senior monk was very experienced and knowledgeable. If you were fortunate enough to get pointers from this senior monk, then your path would be smooth regardless of the path you later decide to take.

Unfortunately, this senior monk had poor health and would only meet with one worshipper each day, so it wasn’t easy to meet with him.

——–

When the group of people arrived at the foot of Qiao Temple’s mountain, they didn’t have any other choice than to leave their carriages and walk up the steps.

Wei Chang Yin’s leg made it unsuitable for him to walk. He could only have a servant carry him up the mountain. Initially, Wei Chang Yin didn’t feel anything. When they had walked halfway up, Liang Yu Rong enviously looked at Wei Chang Yin’s back and sighed with regret, “There’s an advantage to not being able to walk.”

Most of the people here were women and children that were raised in boudoirs. They rarely left their homes and seldom walked such a long mountain path. The majority of these people were already exhausted and it was only stubbornness that allowed them to continue walking. Seeing Wei Chang Yin’s being carried by someone, it was normal for people to feel envious.

It was only that this girl’s words were too heartless.

Wei Luo looked at her in rebuke, then she shook her head and continued walking, “If eldest aunt heard your words, she would definitely be angry.”

This was the truth. First madam’s hair had turned white over worrying about Wei Chang Yin’s leg. Liang Yu Rong had actually said these words out loud. It was truly a fortunate person not being aware of her good fortune.

In front of them, Wei Chang Hong stopped walking. He waited until Wei Luo had reached him, then he lifted his sleeve to wipe the sweat on her forehead, “Ah Luo, are you tired? Do you want me to carry you?”

Wei Luo was really tired, but she cared more about not exhausting Chang Hong, so after a moment of struggle, she still shook her head.

After walking the time it would take an incense to burn, Wei Luo’s sore legs were limp and she walked slower and slower. When she looked up, there was a towering stairway in front of her. She still couldn’t see Qian Temple. She walked forward with a bit of despair. She had already walked an hour and she still wasn’t there. How much longer would she have to walk?

Wei Chang Hong saw that she was exhausted. Without saying anything, he crouched down in front of her, “Get on, I’ll carry you. I’m not afraid of being tired.”

This time, Wei Luo didn’t refuse. No longer being polite, she climbed onto his back, wrapped her arms around his neck, and smilingly whispered, “Chang Hong, you’re really good.”

Wei Chang showed a faint smile, raised her up a little bit higher, and walked forward while carrying her.

Behind them, Liang Yu Rong was admiring and jealous. She blew out her cheeks. Unwilling to admit defeat, she said, “If I had known earlier, I would have told my older brother to come here too…”

Two hours later, the group of people finally arrived at the top of the mountain. There were two monks standing at Qian Temple’s entrance. They good-naturedly led them into the center of the temple. First madam had ordered people here in advance, so their rooms were already prepared in the temple. Each person had a room that had been thoroughly cleaned.

This time, first madam had come here for Wei Chang Yin’s leg. She wanted to ask the senior monk for advice. Was there a method to fix Wei Chang Yin’s leg? If there was, where should she go to seek medical treatment or what method should she use? Unfortunately, the senior monk already had someone he was going to meet today. If she wanted to meet the senior monk, she would have to wait until tomorrow. In addition, even if she waited until tomorrow, she still might not see him. She would have to go to the main hall to draw lots tomorrow. Only the person who drew the winning bamboo stick would have the opportunity to meet the senior monk.

In other words, they might not be able to meet the senior monk even after the long trip here.

First Madam probably already knew this rule before she came here, but she still persisted with coming here. She probably made the determination that she wouldn’t leave here until she met the senior monk.

At the back Qian Temple, Wei Luo and Liang Yu Rong’s rooms were adjacent and only separated by a wall.

Liang Yu Rong had gone to main hall to burn incense. Wei Luo returned to her room to rest.

She didn’t know why. Her entire body had felt a bit uncomfortable and weak since this morning. Her waist and legs ached. She couldn’t raise her energy levels no matter what she did. She lied down on the bed to rest for a while. Not much later, Jin Lu brought her a cup of tea. The discomfort in her body was somewhat alleviated after she drank the tea. Seeing that Liang Yu Rong hadn’t returned yet, she sat up, and wanted to go the main hall to see what was happening there.

Logically, burning incense in worship didn’t take much time. Liang Yu Rong had already been there for an hour. Why hadn’t she returned?

Could she have met Wei Chang Ying? As soon as she thought of this possibility, Wei Luo wanted to rush over there to stop that from happening.

Wei Luo left the room with Bai Lan. After they passed through a long verandah and detoured a moon gate, they would see the main hall in front of them.

The hallway they were passing through had many doors. Each door was decorated the same way. If there weren’t a different word written on each door, it would be difficult to differentiate the doors. After they passed the door marked “Earth”, and had just walked in front of the door marked “Sky”, the door was pushed open from the inside. A person leisurely walked out.

It was a monk wearing a kasaya. He looked about sixty years old. He had a round face and an especially bright pair of eyes. Although he was old, his vitality was hale and hearty. A single glance would show that he was different from ordinary people. Wei Luo greeted him. He held up his palm and good-naturedly bent his waist to salute her. Wei Luo followed by repeating his actions. When she looked up, another person came out of the room. After she clearly saw his figure, she was slightly surprised for a moment and blurted out, “Big brother?”

Zhao Jie was wearing an indigo robe with a python pattern as he walked out of the room. He and Qian Temple’s senior monk, Abbot Qing Wang, had a somewhat friendly relationship. He had come here today because he had some misgivings that he was hoping Abbot Qing Wang could answer for him. They had sat inside the room for almost an hour. After he finished asking his questions, as he was preparing to leave, he unexpectedly met this girl here.

He lifted his lips and faintly smiled, “Ah Luo, why are you here?”

Wei Luo pointed at the main hall, “I came here with first aunt and fourth aunt. First aunt had something she wanted to ask Buddha.” As she said this, her eyes turned and saw Abbot Qing Wang who had already walked far away. She curiously asked, “Is he this temple’s senior monk? How was big brother able to meet him?

Zhao Jie held back his laugher and answered her question with another question, “Do you also have something that you want him to solve?”

She shook her head and frankly said, “First madam wanted to meet the senior monk to ask about older cousin Wei Chang Yin’s leg.”

Zhao Jie already knew that her oldest cousin was suffering from an illness in his leg. He calmly nodded without any changes in his emotion.

Wei Luo knew that it wasn’t easy to meet the senior monk, so she didn’t put Zhao Jie in a difficult spot. She casually asked, “Is big brother staying in a guest room? When did you come? When are you preparing to leave?”

Zhao Jie had originally planned on leaving the mountain after talking to Abbot Qing Wang. Now, hearing her asking him, he immediately changed his mind. He smiled and said, “I’ll leave here tomorrow.”

She didn’t have the slight suspicion about his reply and even kindly reminded him, “Oh. I heard there’s a peach tree grove behind Qian Temple and it’s currently the time for the peach flowers to blossom. If big brother isn’t busy, you can go there to look at the peach blossoms.”

Seeing that she had been delayed for too long and worried that she wouldn’t be in time to stop Liang Yu Rong and Wei Chang Yin from starting their mistake, she said, “I’m going to go look for first aunt and fourth aunt. Good-bye, big brother.” Then she turned around and walked forward.

After saying this, she didn’t wait for his response and walked away.

Zhao Jie stood there for a while watching the back of her figure. Today, she was wearing a moon white jacket with Sustyle embroidery and a skirt embroidered with white butterflies. Bright red peony flowers were also blooming on her skirt. The flowers slowly and elegantly swayed from the movement of her steps.

As Zhao Jie continued looking, he suddenly frowned.

On the back of Wei Luo’s skirt, there was a hidden patch of blood. Although the blood wasn’t obvious because it had blended with the surrounding flower petals, he had been carefully looking and it wasn’t difficult for him to notice.

His expression froze. Walking forward with long strides, he reached her in a few steps, “Ah Luo!”