Yuxi just finished a set of punches when she came out of the room with a rush for fresh air. She smiled as she gazed at the ceaseless golden lights on the far horizon.
Kufu also smiled as she took the towel from Yuxi's hand and stated, "Miss, the weather is pretty good today. It's a nice day for travelling." It was still a bit chilly at the end of the second lunar month, but it was much warmer when the sun came out.
Yuxi looked at Kufu's happy appearance and inquired with a smile, "We're just offering incense sticks. Why are you this delighted?" It was Yuxi who suggested going to Lingshan Temple today. It was because Qiu Shi had always been quite upset these last few days, and she also wished to go out for a walk to clear her heart, so she agreed with Yuxi's suggestion.
Kufu smiled as she replied, "Naturally, I'm delighted. It's already rare for us to get out of the main door." Any young miss who didn't like to go out usually wanted to stay in the study all day long. Kufu believed that it was useless for a girl to learn so much when she couldn't be the number one scholar or physician. Of course, she only uttered these words in her heart. She would never dare to speak them out loud.
Yuxi dressed herself up, then went directly to the Master Courtyard. She accompanied Qiu Shi out of the main door after their breakfast and went together to Lingshan Temple to offer incense.
As Yuxi looked at the anxious-looking Qiu Shi, she smiled and teased, "Eldest Aunt, don't look like this when you go up the mountain later on. Otherwise, Buddha will certainly be in a bad mood when he sees you."
Qiu Shi poked Yuxi's forehead with her finger and scolded, "You, this naughty girl, even dare to play with Buddha's name."
Yuxi immediately hugged Qiu Shi's arm and consoled her, "Eldest Aunt, don't worry. It's not easy for us to come out together today, so we should be happy and stop thinking about those worries." She had never been a mother, but she could understand the depression of Qiu Shi's oppressed heart. For the sake of the family benefit, her son even dared to betray his blood brother. How could she, as his mother, not be so upset!
Qiu Shi's expression eased a bit when she said, "Well, then, I'll listen to you. Today, I don't want to think about anything. I just want to burn incense."
When they arrived at Lingshan temple, they kowtowed and offered incense to various Buddhas and then donated some 'sesame oil money'. After a long ordeal, it was time for them to have their lunch.
Vegetarian food in Lingshan Temple was extremely well-known. Many of those accustomed to lavish meals also felt that these dishes had a special flavour after trying these vegetarian dishes.
Qiu Shi had gotten aged and used to live like a prince. Today, when she started walking in the main hall and bowed down to so many Buddhas, she became exhausted. If it weren’t for Yuxi's earnest advice, she wouldn't think of taking her lunch. As a matter of fact, she would have used this lunchtime to have some rest.
Yuxi was in good spirits, which was also attributed to her continuous daily exercise. "Eldest Aunt, why don't you have a rest. I'll go and have a look at the scenery around Lingshan Temple." Looking at the scenery was just an excuse. What she wanted to look at was a person.
Lingshan Temple had an outstanding reputation. Thus, Qiu Shi was not worried about what would happen to Yuxi while still in the Lingshan Temple compound. "Go wherever you want to go, but you must come back after half a shichen. If you're late, it will be dark when we're going home." A young girl like Yuxi was at the age of playfulness. Since Qiu Shi also had gone through this period, she thought she could understand Yuxi very well. If she knew that Yuxi was going to meet Miss Lu at this time, it was unknown whether she would still have this kind of feeling or not.[+]
Yuxi took Zisu and Kufu directly to the back of Lingshan Temple. There, she saw a stone tablet engraved with 'Clear Spring Water Pond' characters, which made her not want to leave. She found a stone nearby and sat down on a handkerchief that she just put on it. She felt drained after walking for such a long distance.
Zisu looked at Yuxi's posture like she was waiting for someone, and her eyes flashed with doubts. Kufu lacked in terms of her background; for this reason, she did not have enough tacit understanding of Yuxi. Zisu advised, "Miss, it is a bit cold here. Why don't we change to another place?" Next to Yuxi's seat was a spring water pond surrounded by tall trees; hence, the sun couldn't shine in, so how could it not be cold?
Yuxi unhurriedly said, "I'm tired of walking, so let's take a seat back here." Han Jianming told her that every time Fourth Miss Lu came to the Lingshan Temple to offer incense, she would go to the spring water pond at the back of the mountain to take a bit of the spring water back. It wasn't like the Lu family had suddenly wanted to mingle with the cognoscenti by using it for tea making, but rather because Old Lady Lu liked to drink the water from the spring water pond. The old woman was really superstitious as she felt that since the spring water in the temple had some benefits from Buddha, it would also be good for her health.
Duijin Ao (front buttoned Chinese jacket)
Image Credit | To rightful owner and Shopee
Image Credit | To rightful owner and Shopee
Lu Xiu did not know who Yuxi was because she had been in a lousy mood regarding the broken engagement. This time, her trip to Lingshan Temple had been proposed by her San Ge, who recommended her to go to Lingshan Temple to offer incense to chase away her bad luck and have some fun, by the way.
Lu Xiu was not surprised when she saw strangers there. Many women in the capital would come to Lingshan Temple to offer incense and take a walk around the temple after dinner to see the scenery. She had met many strangers every time she went to fetch the spring water. She nodded to Yuxi and was prepared to cross over to fetch some water.
Yuxi noticed the water bag in Lu Xiu's hand, and she shifted her sight towards Lu Xiu. "Jiejie, are you here to fetch the water?"
Lu Xiu nodded and responded with an 'uh-huh'. She seriously did not wish to chat.
It was not easy for them to see each other; thus, it was natural for them to chat. Yuxi was quite experienced in this kind of situation, as she asked, "I heard that this spring has a history of hundreds of years. Jiejie, do you think it's true?" It was natural for her to do homework on this place before she came. She had read all the information regarding the Lingshan temple and asked her people to inquire about all kinds of rumours about the site. She actually used this information for this kind of situation.
Lu Xiu nodded and elaborated, "Well, this spring has a history of more than 360 years." For this reason, her grandmother felt that the spring had a spiritual nature, so every day, her grandmother would send someone to bring the water back for her to drink.
Yuxi's face was full of smiles as she exclaimed, "Really? Then, I must drink too." Once Yuxi finished saying that, Kufu intervened, "I didn't bring any cups. What should I do?"
Lu Xiu did not hesitate to offer, "I have brought a cup. If you don't mind, you can drink it using my cup."
The maids around Lu Xiu looked somewhat hesitant, but they did not dare to raise any objection when they noticed Lu Xiu's expression.
Yuxi smiled so much that even her teeth were exposed, "I don't mind it. Why should I mind? Then, thank you, Jiejie." In such a short time, she had seen many things. First of all, Lu Xiu's temperament was excellent, and secondly, she was not lacking in managing her people.
Once Yuxi took the cup from the maid's hand, she gave it praise, "This cup is lovely. If it were me, I wouldn't be willing to take it out. If it breaks, it will be no more."
When Lu Xiu saw that Yuxi liked the cup very much, she stated, "This cup comes from a pair. If Meimei likes it, then I'll give this one to you."
Ah, how generous! Yuxi smiled and replied, "It's okay. I was just expressing my opinion. By the way, Jiejie, what's your name?"
Zisu was the most familiar with Yuxi. Just by looking at Yuxi's warm appearance, you would know that something fishy was going on. Her Miss was not a warm person, let alone being so warm to a stranger.
Yuxi had done a lot of homework on Lu Xiu before and roughly knew what she liked. Just opened any topic with her, and one wouldn’t have to worry about having anything to talk about.
Until Lu Xiu's maid reminded her, she was shocked that she had unconsciously been talking to Yuxi for more than a shichen. "Yuxi Meimei, I have to go back, or my mother will be worried. When you have time, come to my house and play!" Although her age was significantly different from Yuxi's, she could still get along very well with her.
Yuxi smiled as she accepted the invitation, "Okay!"
After Zisu watched Lu Xiu walk away, she reminded Yuxi, "Miss, we should also go back." Just now, Kufu also wanted to remind Yuxi, but Zisu stopped her.
Yuxi's face looked relaxed. "Let's go home!" She didn't come here for anything today.
When they returned to the temple, Qiu Shi caught sight of Yuxi and said, "You, this child, I have reminded you to return in half a shichen. Why did it take you so long to return? If you didn't come back by now, I would have sent someone to find you." [+]
Yuxi replied with a smile, "I met a Jiejie on the road and got along very well with her. We started to talk till I overlooked the time."
Qiu Shi casually asked, "Who was that girl?"
By now, Yuxi had no intention to hide it from Qiu Shi anymore. "She was Lu Jiejie." When she saw Qiu Shi stared blankly at her, she sincerely explained, "It was Lu Xiu, the Fourth Miss Lu."
Qiu Shi's temper was straight, but she was not a foolish person. What else did she not understand now? Her anger immediately flared up. "Did your Dage put you up to today's incident?" She had been told to burn incense in the temple on the mountain, but it was a plan to let her see this Lu girl.
Yuxi thought of a way to explain so that Qiu Shi would not be so angry.
Since Yuxi didn't say a word, Qiu Shi thought that Yuxi agreed with her. She was so angry that she scolded, "That evil creature. Even you have figured it out. What was he thinking?"
Yuxi hurriedly said: "No, it was not Dage who ordered me. It was I who asked Dage. I really wanted to see Miss Lu."
Qiu Shi looked at Yuxi and noticed that her face was calm. Thus she asked, "What is your opinion on her? Did she have any good things for you to see?"
Yuxi had gotten along with Qiu Shi for so long that she clearly understood Qiu Shi's temperament. "I had noticed that Eldest Aunt had been worrying about this matter for several days, so I asked Dage. I thought Miss Lu must have been a bad girl. Otherwise, Second Master Ye would not have withdrawn from his marriage just to marry an orphan girl such as Ke Minjie! How could a crooked melon and cracked jujube person be worthy of Er Ge? So I told Dage that I wanted to meet her first so that, by that time, there would be enough reasons to ask him to give up his thoughts on this marriage."
Qiu Shi felt a little more comfortable after hearing Yuxi's words, but she was still impartial, "For Second Master Ye's broken engagement, he did it himself. It has nothing to do with that girl." That girl was also such a pity. Both families had already fixed the wedding day, and she was going to get married. As a result, the groom ran to the door to withdraw from the marriage. Now, that girl had to suffer eight lifetimes of bad luck before she could come across another marvellous fiance.
When Yuxi heard this, she felt relieved and added, "Eldest Aunt, I just saw Lu Jiejie. You know what? Lu Jiejie is very good-looking, and she has a curvy figure, with a nice chest and a big hip." Well, although these words were somewhat rough, her Eldest Aunt loved to hear them.
Qiu Shi's eyes brightened at these words from Yuxi, as to her, having a good figure was the material for giving birth to a son! However, as soon she thought of Lu Xiu's broken engagement with the Ye family, this newly-emerged interest immediately suppressed.
Yuxi didn't know what Qiu Shi's expression represented, as she continued, "Eldest Aunt, Lu Jiejie is not only good-looking but also has a gentle temperament. She is outstanding in needlework and cooking. Every side of her is perfect. So Er Ge is going to be blessed for having such an excellent wife."
Qiu Shi sighed, "However, she has just withdrawn from her recent engagement, and the family that she withdrew from was the Ye family." If she married into their family, how would Ye Shi get along well with Lu Shi after that?
Noob Translator's Musing
1. I don't know if this meaning is correct since I'm not a Buddhist, but isn't 'sesame seed money' a donation for the monk to burn incense on behalf of the patron? Correct me if I'm wrong.
2. What do you think of Lu Xiu?
3. Since Covid-19 is still spreading worldwide, please be careful if your place has this case. Wear a mask if you are around so many people, especially those who have weak heart.
2. What do you think of Lu Xiu?
3. Since Covid-19 is still spreading worldwide, please be careful if your place has this case. Wear a mask if you are around so many people, especially those who have weak heart.
Image Credit | As stated in the picture
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The Rebirth of Han Yuxi