Jiang Jiaran seemed to have a vague impression of it, though she was not particularly familiar with the matter.
She had casually invented the story about a Great Immortal Physician from the heavens gifting her medicine. She knew they would not believe her and would come up with their own explanation, but she had not expected them to construct such a specific story overnight and even invent a highly skilled physician for her.
Still, it saved her some trouble.
Jiang Jiaran coughed lightly.
“The matter of me giving you the medicine must absolutely not be mentioned to outsiders.”
As she spoke, she deliberately leaned closer and lowered her voice mysteriously.
“That gentleman dislikes it.”
First Madam immediately wore an expression that said she understood.
Old Master Jiang had also mentioned that the physician was an extremely low profile individual.
“Also, I don’t know who currently has possession of my dowry. Could Mother help me retrieve it?”
She addressed her as “Mother” in a purely businesslike tone.
There was not the slightest warmth in it.
First Madam frowned briefly before quickly nodding.
“Forget about the dowry. I’ll have another set prepared for you with thirty percent added on top. The residence still has the dowry inventory list as well. I’ll send that over so you can verify everything.”
The dowry was most likely in the hands of the Second Branch of the Ying family.
But she disliked the Jiang family and had no interest in arguing or explaining matters on their behalf. Besides, she did not want anyone learning about Jiang Qin’s severe illness.
If the Jiang family had not shamelessly shown up with the marriage contract back then and deliberately spread the news, none of the subsequent troubles would have happened.
Her Xian’er would not have disappeared either.
Jiang Jiaran’s original dowry had not been substantial to begin with.
First Madam had no interest in chasing it down.
Preparing another one was far more convenient.
That worked too.
Jiang Jiaran pulled her wrist free from First Madam’s grasp and tossed both bottles of medicine to her, explaining how they should be used.
The Jiang family’s First Madam had once again come unannounced.
By now, the Second Branch had learned of her arrival and had already sent people to invite her over.
Clearly, however, First Madam had no interest in staying for pleasantries. The moment she received the medicine, she hurried away, leaving the Second Branch completely confused.
None of that concerned Jiang Jiaran.
Chun Zhi had accompanied First Madam and had been waiting outside the courtyard the entire time.
Only now did she finally hurry inside and bow respectfully.
“Third Miss.”
Ah, no.
She should be calling her Young Madam now.
Upon learning that she would actually be allowed to serve Jiang Jiaran personally, Chun Zhi had been so excited that she had not slept all night.
Jiang Jiaran had chosen Chun Zhi because she worked in the outer courtyard and was unfamiliar with her original personality and habits.
That meant she would not notice anything unusual.
At the same time, Chun Zhi was familiar with the Jiang Residence, making her convenient for errands.
The only problem was the bright, enthusiastic look in Chun Zhi’s eyes.
It felt as though she had applied several extra layers of admiration to her image of her mistress.
“Yu’er, take her to her quarters and help her settle in first.”
Yu’er acknowledged the order.
Before leaving, Chun Zhi did not forget to swear her loyalty.
“This servant pledges her life. I will definitely serve Young Madam well!”
Jiang Jiaran: “…”
That was completely unnecessary.
…
The lantern she had bought at the end of the festival was extremely beautiful.
Jiang Jiaran thought it would be a waste to put it away, so she climbed onto a stool and hung it beneath the eaves outside her room.
Afterward, she called Chun Zhi over and handed her the medicine intended to ease Old Madam Jiang’s condition.
She instructed her to deliver it to Aunt Shen at the Jiang Residence.
Without asking any questions, Chun Zhi immediately set off.
Later that day, the silver and jewelry that First Madam had promised as compensation for the dowry also arrived.
It appeared that Jiang Qin was now out of danger.
While Yu’er sorted everything, Jiang Jiaran flipped through the inventory list.
It was not especially substantial, but at least her personal finances no longer looked so pitiful.
Having money felt wonderful.
If transportation in ancient times were not so inconvenient, if she knew more about the areas outside the capital, and if she knew where there was good security and a comfortable place to live, Jiang Jiaran might already have packed up her money and run away.
Then again, it was only a matter of time.
From the moment she arrived here, she had known she would not remain trapped within this small residence forever.
Not long after the Lantern Festival at the end of the month, time slipped into the next month.
Jiang Jiaran had completely forgotten about it until Chun Zhi, who had been keeping track of the dates, mentioned that today was the third day of the month.
Only then did she suddenly remember that Fang Qi had said there would be an event at the temple today.
She had promised to thank him properly.
Even though she would probably have found her way back eventually, she had been unfamiliar with Changdao Mountain at night and undoubtedly would have stumbled around quite a bit.
His kindness still deserved thanks.
Jiang Jiaran had Yu’er prepare some gifts and set out for the temple.
At times like this, she realized that being a married woman whose husband ignored her and whose in-laws did not dare interfere was actually quite convenient.
If she were an unmarried young lady, things would be very different.
Simply leaving the house would be difficult.
She might even be locked up every day doing embroidery.
The journey to Changdao Mountain was not far.
Before long, Jiang Jiaran spotted crowds of orderly villagers and peddlers gathered at the foot of the mountain.
Knowing there would be a Jiao ceremony at the temple today, many people had come carrying goods to sell.
This must be the temple fair and market Fang Qi had mentioned.
Resting one arm against the carriage window, Jiang Jiaran looked around curiously at the various stalls.
Then she turned her head and once again spotted that familiar, well worn Daoist robe.
Fang Qi was slightly bent forward with his hands behind his back.
Several children surrounded him.
They appeared to be the children of vendors from the nearby area.
One child bit his finger and pointed to Fang Qi’s left side.
“It’s here!”
Fang Qi opened his left hand.
A piece of candy lay in his palm.
The child happily accepted it and jumped with excitement.
The others immediately erupted into cheers and demanded their turns.
Each child guessed once.
Some were right, some were wrong.
The lucky winners happily received candy.
One child who failed to win looked on the verge of tears as he watched the others eating.
Fang Qi shook a clenched fist in front of him.
When he opened it, a sweet and sour preserved plum appeared in his palm.
The children grabbed their treats and ran off happily.
A nearby woman laughed.
“Those little brats are troublesome. Daozhang Fang shouldn’t indulge them.”
Fang Qi smiled.
“Not at all. They’re all good children.”
At that moment, a carriage rolled past.
Someone poked their head out from inside.
“Any preserved plums left?”
Fang Qi turned around and saw Jiang Jiaran, dressed much the same as the first time they had met.
Smiling, he spread his hands.
“None left. Why not come to the temple for some tea instead?”
Though Changdao Mountain was large, it was not particularly tall.
The temple sat on the mountainside, and the carriage ride took only a short time.
After the carriage was led away outside Changdao Temple, Fang Qi invited Jiang Jiaran into a quieter hall to rest.
“There are quite a lot of people,” Jiang Jiaran observed as she looked around.
Both the temple and the area below the mountain were crowded.
A young Daoist acolyte brought over tea.
Hearing her remark, he nodded eagerly.
“Yes, yes. Much more than usual.”
Jiang Jiaran took a sip before addressing Fang Qi.
“These are a small token of thanks.”
Hearing this, Yu’er immediately brought over the prepared gifts.
Fang Qi was about to decline.
Jiang Jiaran pushed them toward him first.
“Take a look before you decide.”
After hesitating, Fang Qi examined them.
None were particularly valuable.
Most were practical daily necessities.
There were even several books among them.
The two young Daoist acolytes serving tea craned their necks curiously.
Unlike the children outside, they remained well behaved, though they could not hide their interest.
Ah.
Everything here could be used in the temple.
Fang Qi looked surprised.
After considering it for a moment, he thanked her and accepted them openly.
“Madam is the one at a loss.”
The scholars staying in the cottage only needed to leave behind a single book after their examinations.
To his surprise, Jiang Jiaran replied with equal seriousness.
“After all, I’m a good person too.”
As they spoke, Jiang Jiaran suddenly noticed several small baskets beside their feet.
“What’s this?”
She leaned closer to look.
“Mushrooms. They’re very fresh.”
There were quite a lot of them.
Were they all for use within the temple?
The young acolyte noticed her confusion and explained.
“They were purchased from Auntie Chen.”
Another acolyte added,
“Auntie Chen is very pitiful. Her husband died, and she still has children to raise. Her youngest son is even younger than us.”
“That’s right. She goes out before dawn every day to gather mushrooms. Every time Senior Brother Fang Qi sees her, he buys all of them. The only problem is that it’s a little difficult for us to finish eating them all.”
The acolytes chattered away.
Jiang Jiaran was not surprised.
It sounded exactly like something Fang Qi would do.
“You said I was the one at a loss, so share some with me.”
They really did look fresh.
Little Lier would probably enjoy cream mushroom soup.
Fang Qi mentioned there were several more baskets of vegetables in the back.
Chun Zhi and Yu’er followed the young acolytes to help carry them.
After they left, Jiang Jiaran joked that his Daoist robe was still so old because he spent all his money this way.
Knowing she was teasing him, Fang Qi spread his hands and replied seriously,
“I’m not entirely a good person.”
He possessed all the ordinary selfishness and flaws that any person would have.
Even the things he did came from selfish motives.
“When helping others, I feel satisfaction. When people thank me, I feel vanity.”
“When I help scholars, they give me books. Some books are difficult to obtain. When I help poor villagers, they smile at me and treat me kindly. I gain something too.”
Jiang Jiaran was momentarily stunned.
What Fang Qi described was perfectly ordinary.
Most people felt those things.
Very few simply admitted it openly.
Yet it was obvious that when he performed those acts of kindness, his first thought was not what he might gain from them.
Jiang Jiaran shook her head and laughed.
“You’re surprisingly honest.”
Although they had only met a few times, she felt remarkably relaxed when talking with Fang Qi.
Like speaking with a friend.
She had arrived in this world entirely alone.
She had no friends.
Yu’er and Chun Zhi viewed her as their mistress.
Little Lier, no matter how mature he acted, was still a child.
As for people like First Madam, there was even less reason to mention them.
It was rare to meet someone with whom she could speak so naturally and equally.
Someone she could joke with comfortably.
Like a true friend.
Just as she was about to say something else, unusual commotion suddenly arose outside.
Looking out, Jiang Jiaran saw the crowd near the temple entrance parting to make way.
More and more people gathered, obscuring the scene.
Fang Qi rose first to investigate.
A Daoist hurried over and whispered in a tone filled with surprise and unease,
“The Grand Secretary has arrived.”
Jiang Jiaran also stood and moved closer.
Standing on tiptoe, she finally caught sight of the man striding through the temple gates after his attendants cleared the path.
The Grand Secretary was a middle aged man.
His appearance and presence perfectly suited his position.
Though dressed in ordinary green satin robes, his facial features were hard and resolute.
His back remained perfectly straight as he walked.
Without displaying any anger, he still radiated authority.
Simply standing there created an undeniable sense of pressure.
Jiang Jiaran heard people murmuring nearby.
“Grand Secretary Zhan? Why would he come here?”
“Could something have happened?”
Changdao Temple was not particularly famous.
It was not the sort of place regularly visited by powerful nobles.
The sudden arrival of the most influential official in the empire naturally made people uneasy.
Especially since, after Emperor Xuchang ascended the throne, much of the administration of the empire had been entrusted to Grand Secretary Zhan.
He stood second only to the emperor himself.
By then, the Temple Master had already rushed out to greet him.
Hurrying forward, he nervously exchanged greetings and invited the Grand Secretary inside.
Their conversation appeared polite and cordial.
There was no sign of conflict.
The onlookers could make no sense of it.
Had he simply come to observe the ceremony?
Only after both men disappeared inside did the crowd gradually begin moving again.
Jiang Jiaran silently thought that people like this looked extremely troublesome.
In the future, she should stay as far away from them as possible.
Because of Grand Secretary Zhan’s arrival, the atmosphere throughout the temple became noticeably more subdued.
Yet he did not remain long.
After only the time required to drink a cup of tea, he departed under the Temple Master’s escort.
Several curious Daoists immediately approached the Temple Master.
“What did Grand Secretary Zhan say?”
The Temple Master frowned thoughtfully and shook his head.
“Nothing.”
Truly nothing.
He had simply drunk a cup of tea and said that he happened to be passing by.
Seeing how lively the temple was, he had come in for a look.
“I see.”
Since nothing had happened and he had left shortly after sitting down, the matter was quickly forgotten.
Yu’er and Chun Zhi soon returned carrying large amounts of vegetables and fruit.
They loaded everything onto the carriage first.
Fang Qi still had temple duties to attend to.
After telling her to make herself at home, he departed as well.
Jiang Jiaran wandered around the temple on her own.
Without realizing it, she eventually arrived at the rear gate.
After asking a Daoist about the area, she learned that continuing beyond this point would lead to the back mountain.
Beyond a small hill lay a large waterfall.
Since she had already finished exploring the temple, and the scenery sounded even better behind the mountain, Jiang Jiaran decided to take a walk.
Unlike the front paths with their stone steps and leveled roads, the trails behind the mountain remained largely untouched.
The scenery, however, was beautiful.
The air was sweet and refreshing.
Simply breathing it improved her mood.
After climbing for roughly fifteen minutes and taking several winding turns, she finally heard the unmistakable roar of water.
Following the sound, she discovered a river running through the back mountain.
In the distance, it connected to a massive waterfall.
The crashing water thundered downward, feeding a broad and fast flowing river below.
Jiang Jiaran was slightly sweaty by now.
She crouched beside the river and washed her hands.
The mountain water was clear and refreshing.
To her delight, she also spotted several plump fish.
They looked as though they had spent years growing in the mountain waters.
Large, fat, and lively, they darted happily through the river.
They looked delicious.
Jiang Jiaran stood and searched nearby.
After some picking and choosing, she snapped off a long, sturdy branch and sharpened one end against a rock.
She planned to spear a fish.
Unexpectedly, despite being so fat, the fish remained extremely agile.
With her crude spear, she tried several times and caught nothing.
The tools simply were not suitable.
A fishing net would have been much easier.
Jiang Jiaran found herself amusing.
Not everyone transported to ancient times could casually spear fish.
She was no expert.
Someone like Ying Zhaolou, on the other hand, probably could.
Perhaps he could catch fish with a single leaf.
Or maybe the fish would leap onto the shore by themselves.
Leaning on the wooden spear, Jiang Jiaran let her thoughts wander.
Then her eyes gradually widened.
Something had just fallen from above the waterfall.
No.
Not something.
A person!