Chapter 114: The Eldest Princess's Benevolence

Page 1 of 3

“Huaguang Temple is indeed very famous. I heard people mention it more than once back in Jiangzhou. We really must go and have a look!” The Old Madam had always been a devout Buddhist. Hearing this, she nodded repeatedly.

“Grandmother, are you going too?” Qin Wanyu asked, seizing the opportunity.

“I shall stay behind for now. There are suddenly so many matters in the residence, and much remains unsettled. Let Zhaozhao and Ruolan go first. Once I have some free time, you can accompany me there.” The Old Madam smiled.

“Mother, then I shall stay behind as well. The residence is in such disorder; someone must take charge of putting things right.” Shui Ruolan had indeed wanted to go. She was fond of quiet places, and Huaguang Temple’s reputation was extraordinary. “Mother and Wanyu should go and have a look. I can go another time when there is an opportunity!”

Qin Huaiyong had already made it clear that she would be responsible for the affairs of the inner residence. Now that everything was in chaos and so many matters remained unresolved, this was hardly the best time for an outing.

“This...” The Old Madam hesitated, realizing that it was not an ideal time for Shui Ruolan to leave either.

“Grandmother, Mother and I will only take a brief look around and familiarize ourselves with the route. We will not stay long. I have already made inquiries: the entire trip should take no more than an hour. If we leave early and return early, we may even be back in time for the midday meal. It will not delay anything.”

Qin Wanyu pleaded from the side.

If it truly was that close, then the excursion would indeed cause little inconvenience. Seeing the eager look in her granddaughter’s eyes, the Old Madam relented. She smiled at Shui Ruolan and said, “Ruolan, take her with you. Otherwise, this little monkey will never be able to sit still. Go early and return early; it truly will not delay anything. Once you are managing the household, it will not be so easy for you to leave the residence whenever you wish.”

There was considerable meaning in those words. After thinking it over, Shui Ruolan realized that they were true. They had only just arrived in the capital, and once she formally took charge of the household, she would indeed be unable to get away. Winter had already arrived, and before long it would be New Year, when gifts would have to be exchanged and matters would multiply. She would not even be able to steal half a day of leisure.

She might as well take advantage of this moment, while the Old Madam was still organizing things, to enjoy a brief respite.

With that thought, Shui Ruolan was tempted. “Then... Mother, Wanyu and I will return as quickly as we can.”

“Tomorrow I must first meet with some of the former household managers and inquire into old affairs. The two of you may stay out a little longer; it will not matter.” The Old Madam smiled warmly.

The group chatted and laughed, leaving Lady Di and her daughter coldly neglected to one side.

Lady Di had originally intended to come over, first to assert her authority over everyone and then to curry favor with Qin Wanyu—using alternating severity and gentleness to lead them all by the nose. Her anger now made her secretly clench her teeth.

Suppressing the resentment in her heart, she arranged her features into a calm smile. “Mother, Yuru and I would like to pay a visit to the Yongkang Earl’s Residence. Now that we have arrived in the capital, we have not yet gone to see my father and mother.”

“You should go, then.” The Old Madam nodded.

“Would the General like to accompany me?” Lady Di asked again.

“Of course he will. Go and prepare the gifts shortly. Tomorrow, you and Huai’er can go to the Yongkang Earl’s Residence together.” The Old Madam considered this before answering.

“Yes, Mother. It is only that I have been away from the capital for many years. Do you think these gifts may be somewhat too modest?” Pretending embarrassment, Lady Di took out a gift list and walked over to hand it to the Old Madam.

She had deliberately drawn up the list, and had deliberately kept it sparse.

The Old Madam accepted it and glanced over the contents. Her brows drew together. “This is too little. Add several more items.”

“Mother, regarding the money from the shops...” Lady Di began, looking troubled.

“I shall have Nanny Duan add several more things for you shortly.” The Old Madam cut off her complaint about lacking money.

“Thank you, Mother! Then tomorrow I shall return to my family home with the General.” Triumph gleamed on Lady Di’s face. She turned and smiled at Shui Ruolan. “Sister, I had originally hoped to accompany you tomorrow, but it seems I shall not be able to after all.”

She was flaunting the fact that Qin Huaiyong would accompany her rather than Shui Ruolan.

“Then Sister should attend to your own affairs,” Shui Ruolan replied calmly, as though she had not noticed Lady Di’s deliberate display of superiority.

Page 2 of 3

Early the next morning, both Qin Wanyu and Shui Ruolan rose before dawn. They traveled in the same carriage, each bringing a maid, and set out for Huaguang Temple.

By the time they arrived, the sky had only just begun to brighten, yet there were already quite a number of worshippers.

Huaguang Temple truly deserved its reputation as the largest temple in the capital. After their carriage stopped in the parking area outside the mountain gate, they discovered that a lively marketplace had already sprung up there.

There were vendors selling incense and candles, vendors selling food, and vendors selling flowers. Every sort of thing could be found. Even bolts of silk and satin were displayed in makeshift stalls. Visitors to Huaguang Temple could not only worship the Buddha but also stroll through a bustling market. It was extraordinarily lively.

It was the first time Qin Wanyu and Shui Ruolan had seen such a bustling temple entrance. They looked up at the towering gate behind them and could not help marveling once again. As the foremost temple in the capital and an imperial temple besides, Huaguang Temple was truly extraordinary—far more impressive than they had imagined.

The two decided to climb the mountain by way of the main gate.

Beyond the main gate, the path consisted entirely of steps. A seemingly endless flight rose into the distance, and only after climbing it would one reach the true grounds of Huaguang Temple.

With so many tiers of steps between them and the world below, the former noise and bustle gradually faded into the distance. Looking back, the liveliness remained beneath their feet, while from above came the distant, resonant tolling of bells, washing away the restlessness in their hearts.

Even before reaching the temple itself, one already felt cleansed of worldly concerns.

The mountain path was long. It was said that this stretch was called the Path of Self-Inquiry. Qin Wanyu had come here once in her previous life and had climbed this very path. Now, standing before the mountain steps and gazing upward, she was overwhelmed by the sensation of having crossed through time.

It was still early, and there were not many climbers. From where they stood, they could see only an elderly woman far ahead, making her way upward with a maid and an older servant.

The woman wore no particularly splendid brocade, only the plain attire of a prosperous household. Perhaps tired from the climb, she had stopped to rest upon the steps.

At the sight of her, a surge of excitement flashed through Qin Wanyu’s eyes. Her hand tightened around her handkerchief.

She had known this elderly woman in her previous life. More importantly, she was precisely the person Qin Wanyu had come to seek this time: the Grand Princess Rui’an.

The Grand Princess Rui’an was the Emperor’s paternal aunt. She had married General Xi, who had accompanied the late Emperor in conquering and expanding the realm. Unfortunately, General Xi had died on the battlefield, leaving her to raise their daughter alone. After her daughter grew up and married, the Grand Princess devoted herself to Buddhist observances.

Her favorite place to visit was Huaguang Temple. Yet she did not come merely to worship the Buddha. She also arrived early to climb the Path of Self-Inquiry leading to the temple’s main gate. To inquire of one’s heart was to seek one’s true nature—the Buddhist question of where the original mind truly lay.

For the first three days of almost every month, she would come here. Today was the third day of the month.

In her previous life, Qin Wanyu had also met the Grand Princess here. She had watched the older woman climb more than half the steps without pausing for breath, and the Grand Princess had taken an immediate liking to her. She had once invited Qin Wanyu to visit the Grand Princess’s residence.

Afterward, the Grand Princess had indeed sent several invitations to the Qin family, asking Qin Wanyu to come. Unfortunately, Lady Di had refused each time under one pretext or another. In the end, it was Qin Wanyu who was invited, but Qin Yuru who usually went in her place.

Page 3 of 3

After this happened several times, the Grand Princess gradually lost interest, and no further invitations arrived.

A scene from her previous life suddenly surfaced in Qin Wanyu’s mind: Qin Yuru, dressed in exquisite finery, standing before her on the day she was to attend a banquet at the Grand Princess’s residence.

“The Grand Princess invited a young lady from the Qin household. Look at you—if you go out with a reputation like that, you will only bring shame upon our family. After everything that happened in Jiangzhou has reached the capital, how can you still have the face to appear in public?”

Qin Yuru’s face was filled with arrogance and contempt, as though Qin Wanyu were nothing more than the vilest patch of mud.

“If you go out and let people speak about you, even the servants will feel ashamed!”

“Exactly. You should look at the sort of reputation you have. You are not even as respectable as a servant with a clean record!”

The shrill voices belonged to the maids accompanying Qin Yuru. One by one, they looked down their noses at Qin Wanyu, never considering that they were merely servants while Qin Wanyu was the true young mistress of the household.

In her previous life, Qin Wanyu’s position in the Qin family’s inner residence had been lower than that of a servant. Qin Yuru, meanwhile, had received several invitations from the Grand Princess. Out of deference to the Grand Princess, people thereafter took the initiative to send Qin Yuru invitations to every banquet. In the end, she became one of the capital’s celebrated talents, renowned throughout the city.

Qin Wanyu drew a slow breath and suppressed the chill in her eyes. When she looked up again, her gaze fell upon the Grand Princess Rui’an’s kindly face, and warmth gradually returned to her heart.

In this life, she would never squander the Grand Princess’s goodwill. Nor would she allow Qin Yuru to use that goodwill as a stepping stone into the circle of the capital’s noble young ladies.

“Mother, let us hurry up.” Once she had made up her mind, Qin Wanyu spoke softly to Shui Ruolan. “I heard that this is Huaguang Temple’s Path of Self-Inquiry. It is meant to test one’s true heart. The longer one perseveres, the more deeply one can understand it.”

“All right.” Shui Ruolan looked up at the steps stretching so high that their end was almost impossible to see, then nodded as well.

Her own heart was burdened with layer upon layer of worries. She did not know whether the path she had chosen was right or wrong. Perhaps using these endless steps to question her own heart was exactly what she needed.

The two women began climbing together with their maids. When they passed the Grand Princess Rui’an, Qin Wanyu deliberately smiled at her. Yet she did not stop, continuing upward without pause.

The girl was as delicate as a painted jade figurine. Her limpid eyes were captivating, and only upon closer inspection could one appreciate her exquisite features, long lashes, and small, pink, cherry-like lips. She looked like a porcelain doll.

The Grand Princess Rui’an gave a soft cry of surprise as Qin Wanyu passed by. Though the girl was so small, she not only climbed on her own but also turned back from time to time to pull along the young woman following behind her.

The Grand Princess’s personal senior servant, Nanny Gao, was climbing the steps with her. Hearing the note of surprise, she hurriedly asked, “Your Highness, what is the matter?”

“What a beautiful girl. Which household is she from?” The Grand Princess watched Qin Wanyu’s retreating figure with a pleased smile and asked curiously.

A girl so beautiful, so young, and yet so considerate—she was truly lovable from the heart.

“This... I have never seen her before either.” Nanny Gao narrowed her eyes and thought for a moment, but still could not recall which household the girl belonged to. “Perhaps she is not from the capital.”

That was the only guess she could make.

“She is such a beautiful and well-mannered child.” The Grand Princess sighed softly.

Having served the Grand Princess for many years, Nanny Gao immediately understood what she meant. Fearing that the older woman had been reminded of the past and would grow sorrowful, she quickly changed the subject and teased her, “Your Highness, I have rested enough. Shall we continue now?”