Madam Fang was furious at the sight, but since Wang Ran had already spoken, what more could she do? She could only set down the teacup she was holding and say sternly, "Since it was a mistake, there's no need to discuss it further here. There's no point in letting others laugh at us. Let's go."
The group had arrived in full force, and now they left in disappointment.
After they had walked some distance, Qin Yi spoke up with grievance: "Mother."
Madam Wang rebuked her sharply: "Enough. I've already indulged your foolishness long enough."
"Since you don't have that kind of ability, just obediently prepare for marriage. Your father's decision can't be swayed by anyone, anyway. You should be content—even for Qiong'er, I never went to such lengths."
Qin Yi's face was full of sorrow, but she dared not argue further, only answering meekly, "Your daughter understands."
Madam Fang, however, spoke up leisurely: "Judging by today's situation, that scholar surnamed Wang is quite clever. It's hard to say what he might have discerned. After all, it was you who sent for him to come here. If he reports this to your father, there will likely be more trouble. You'd best make preparations early."
Qin Yi gritted her teeth and replied, "Yes."
She had misjudged that scholar before—she never imagined he had the ability to twist black into white. Though he hadn't exposed her just now…
On this side, Qin Liangyu watched Wang Ran's straight-backed figure and, thinking of his actions just now, called out to stop him.
"Today's performance must have made everything clear to you, Young Master Wang, which is why you went along with my words just now. My eldest sister is not a suitable match. It would be better for you to find someone steady and family-oriented—then whether in your official career or other matters, things will go more smoothly."
Wang Ran heard her words, halted his steps, and finally nodded.
Later in the day, Lu Yi returned, saying that Madam Fang had called her to the front to help.
Qin Liangyu understood this was a tactic to keep Lu Yi away, but she said nothing.
The next morning, the temple bells rang, and the place that had been silent through the night began to stir with sounds again.
Qin Liangyu had made Madam Fang suffer a quiet defeat yesterday, which filled her with satisfaction. She had slept soundly and refreshingly through the night, and now hearing the commotion outside, she felt energized and decided to rise.
After washing up, she stepped out of her guest room. Since this was where the pilgrims stayed, there weren't many people about—only the monks sweeping the grounds.
The morning air in the woods was fresh, and it had been a long time since she'd been here. Feeling inspired, she left a message for Lu Yi and headed toward the back mountain.
Green stone slabs paved the steps, and unknown wildflowers lined the path, lush and verdant—still the same spring scenery as before. But times had changed, and standing here now, she no longer felt the same ease and lightness she once had.
After walking another half hour, sunlight gradually streamed in and dazzled her eyes. Just as she raised her sleeve to shield them, she heard footsteps approaching from beside her.
It turned out to be an old servant woman from Madam Fang's side, who had come looking for her. Upon seeing her, the woman smiled a false smile and said, "Fifth Miss, this old servant has been searching everywhere for you. The Madam is looking for you."
Qin Liangyu didn't waste words—she had wandered enough anyway, and having not eaten breakfast this morning, she was feeling hungry. So she followed the old woman back to the temple.
Upon returning to the temple, Madam Fang had already finished her meal and gone to rest. Qin Yi was in the middle of eating pastries, and when she saw Qin Liangyu, she immediately spoke in a sweet, affected voice: "Fifth Sister, it's as if you've never seen anything in your life—running off without a trace at dawn, not even bothering to come accompany Mother for breakfast."
Tsk. If anything, Madam Fang would probably lose her appetite even more at the sight of her. Though that's what she thought, Qin Liangyu maintained a smile on her face: "It was Liangyu's fault. Thank you for the reminder, Sister."
Qin Yi gave a snort, then, leaning on her maidservant's hand, sashayed away with graceful, swaying steps.
Though the temple fare was rather plain, to Qin Liangyu it was the most delicious meal she'd had in days, and she finished every bite. Just as she'd sipped a cup of tea to moisten her throat, Madam Fang's people came to fetch her for the daily prostration before the Buddha.
Though the purpose of this trip was far from pure, Madam Fang had always been one who valued karmic ties with Buddhism. Since she'd come, she dared not treat it lightly, and so she never missed a day of worship.
When Qin Liangyu met Madam Fang, the latter chose to let the morning's incident pass lightly, only putting on the air of a kind mother to offer a word of advice: "You girls were raised and carefully nurtured in the inner quarters. Now that you're here, don't go wandering about."
Qin Liangyu obediently nodded and said she'd remember, not bothering to argue with her.
As yesterday, after offering incense, Madam Fang went to make her donation for oil money, and Qin Yi returned to her own room on her own.
At a loss for something to do and not wanting to return to her quarters too early, Qin Liangyu went to the side hall accompanied by a monk. Few people came to this side hall, and it was always quiet and serene—most visitors simply came to sit in meditation and drink tea.
After she sat down and looked around, she noticed that in the northwest corner, someone was conducting a ritual service. Among them was a man whose face she found extremely familiar—she'd seen him at the Prince Regent's mansion before. He was a guard held in high regard by Shen Weiyi.
The scale of the ceremony was grand, yet it didn't look like an ordinary ritual service. There was something quite unusual about it.
Having recognized them as people from the Prince Regent's mansion, and driven by the desire to know one's enemy, she asked the monk beside her, "Whose ritual service is that? It looks rather different from the usual ones."
The monk followed her gaze, scratched his head, and seemed somewhat puzzled. He pressed his palms together and said, "Benefactor, you wouldn't know—those are people from the Prince Regent's mansion. This ritual service will continue for three full months. They send someone here every day to oversee it."
Three months?
For ordinary households, a ritual service lasted at most half a month. Had Shen Weiyi committed so many guilty deeds that he needed such a long one?
A cold laugh rose in her heart, but then she heard the monk add, "It seems to be for the late Princess Regent. Alas, the departed has passed on, and the living are left grieving."
He then intoned a prayer of Amitabha.
Qin Liangyu found it utterly absurd. A moment ago, she'd been wondering whether Shen Weiyi had committed too many guilty deeds—and now, in the blink of an eye, the ritual turned out to be for her!
What a hypocrite! A false gentleman, two-faced to the core!
Did he not know what he himself had done? Was he now trying to use her name to win himself some reputation? Or did he harbor yet more unspeakable schemes!
In that instant, her heart burned as if tormented by fire. She felt as though her slain father and brothers of the General's Mansion were here in this very temple, struggling in agony and weeping without end.
And their heroic souls—was anyone performing transmigration rituals for them?
The entire General's Mansion had been loyal unto death. Her father, in particular, had won countless victories for Great Yong—only to be beheaded in a single stroke.
How laughable that now traitors and rebels held sway, wrongfully killing the loyal and righteous while seizing control of the court. The world was truly blind!
That night, she had just lain down to sleep when she heard a knock at the door.
Qin Liangyu threw on her robes and rose, pushing open the door. Lu Yi stood outside, looking as though she too had just woken. Seeing her, she wasted no words and stated her purpose.
It turned out that the head of the Qin household—her father, Qin Cun—had sent people to the temple in the dead of night, demanding that they return home.
Qin Liangyu was greatly astonished. She glanced at the surrounding night and asked in disbelief, "What happened? It's already this late—can't we leave tomorrow instead?"
Lu Yi also felt somewhat helpless.
"Miss, the master has always been firm in his decisions. Since he said we must return tonight, it cannot be delayed until tomorrow. As for what happened, this servant does not know either. The house boy came in a hurry, and the madam and the eldest young miss are already packing their belongings."