Qixia Mountain is located on the outskirts of Jinling City. It is the most beautiful in spring and autumn, especially in autumn. At that time, the mountain is covered with red maple leaves, clustered next to each other. When the wind blows, they flutter like a giant, and when the wind blows away, they fall to the ground and turn into mud.
Winter has come, although the flowers and leaves have withered, but the snow last night made the dead branches covered with ice crystals, which has a unique flavor. However, the sun that emerged this morning slowly melted the ice crystals, and fell drop by drop, making the road a little slippery, which made the Luo family
Both the driver and the Jin family's coachman were extremely careful.
The carriages of the two families arrived at Qixia Mountain one after another, where the Jin family paid homage to Buddhism, and the meeting place was Qixia Temple at the foot of the mountain.
Qixia Temple was built only fifty years ago, and was presided over by Master Liao Chen who moved to the south. The aristocratic families in the south loved Buddhist teachings, and the Jin family was no exception. Gradually, Qixia Temple became the first choice for Buddhist teachings among the wealthy families in the south.
Two cars came from the Jin family. After they stopped, a man got out of the front car. He came to the back car and helped the eldest princess Yi'an to get out of the car. Perhaps it was because the meeting place was a Buddhist temple. Today the eldest princess was wearing plain clothes and had a simple bun.
, without any hair accessories, looking like a loving elder.
Luo Qingzhi then got out of the car, came to the eldest princess, saluted respectfully, and said hello: "Hello, eldest princess."
The eldest princess smiled and nodded, and took her hand affectionately: "Aluo, last time I was in the Queen's Palace, I didn't have time to catch up with you, but I want to have a good chat today."
Then the eldest princess patted the man beside her and said with a smile: "Aluo, this is my Dalang, Ziji."
Although Jin Ziji has nothing to do with the fairy-like portrait in the study, he is indeed a talented person and has a civilized attitude.
"I've met Princess Anning," Jin Ziji said.
Luo Qingzhi returned the gift and said: "Goodbye, Mr. Jin."
The eldest princess smiled and said: "My second son insisted on riding a horse, but I don't know if he was delayed on the way, but he hasn't arrived yet. Ignore him, let's go in first."
Luo Qingzhi nodded, Jin Ziji supported the eldest princess and walked in front. There were three monks standing outside the temple. Seeing the eldest princess arriving, the leading monk immediately stepped forward to greet her.
"The road was slippery in the snow, and the eldest princess had a hard time along the way."
The eldest princess smiled lightly and said, "It's okay, Master Chen Xin. It's such a cold weather and it's hard for you to come out."
After exchanging a few pleasantries, the group finally entered the temple. As far as the eye could see, the temple had three courtyard buildings, built along the mountain. The layers were getting higher. The sound of reciting from a distance was heard, making people feel...
An inexplicable sense of relief.
"Princess, let me take you to offer incense." Chen Xin said.
The eldest princess nodded, turned to Luo Qingzhi, and said, "Aluo, go to the toilet and wait for me for a while. I'll be back soon."
Then he said to Jin Ziji: "Don't follow me, stay with A Luo."
"Yes, mother."
The young monk led the two of them to the banquet hall, briefly served them refreshments and prepared to leave. Just as he was about to close the door, before Luo Qingzhi could stop him, Jin Ziji said, "Little master, don't close the door."
Luo Qingzhi looked at him, thinking about the information that Feng Zinan had found. Jin Ziji had attended Baili Family School since his enlightenment, and formally entered the Imperial Academy after the provincial examination. He was quite famous among the younger generation of southern aristocratic families, and later participated in
After passing the scientific examination, passing the exam, and becoming an official in the court, for many years, both the northern and southern families who moved south wanted to marry him.
"The princess has just returned to Beijing, is there anything you are not used to?" Jin Ziji asked.
Luo Qingzhi said: "Everything is fine."
Jin Ziji added tea to the teacups of the two of them, raised his own teacup, and said, "Ziji brings tea and wine, and thanks the princess for guarding the border."
Luo Qingzhi rubbed her tea cup and said, "I am a military general, and it is my duty to guard the border. This thank you is really embarrassing."
Jin Ziji put down his teacup, laughed at himself, and said, "The princess is trying to trick me. Without the princess's hard work on the battlefield, how could Jinling be as stable as it is today."
Luo Qingzhi didn't answer immediately. She raised her eyes and looked at Jin Ziji, pondering his words.
"I know what my mother and father are planning, but Ziji also made it clear to the princess that I will do my best to get the top spot. If the princess doesn't want to marry me at that time, Ziji will never force her." Jin Ziji said.
With.
Luo Qingzhi said: "Sir, are you sure that you must be at the top of the list?"
Jin Ziji smiled, as if he was confident, and said, "Ziji has never lost."
"Where is my brother?"
The noise outside the house interrupted the conversation between the two people inside, but Jin Ziji seemed to know who the person was outside the house and looked outside the house with a frown.
"Brother, brother!"
People outside the house shouted and walked into the hall. When they saw Jin Ziji, they said angrily.
"Brother, did you know that I met a bastard on the road? He..."
Jin Ziji coughed a few times and lowered his voice and said, "Zijue, Princess Anning is here, don't talk nonsense."
Jin Zijue turned around to see Luo Qingzhi and saluted in a panic to say hello.
At this time, Luo Qingzhi also saw Jin Zijue's face clearly. It was not good-looking, just delicate, and the bruises at the corners of his mouth affected his appearance even more.
Luo Qingzhi said: "Captain Jin encountered something on the road. Do you need help?"
Jin Zijue seemed to have thought of something, and his face darkened, but he still maintained his etiquette.
"No, no need, Your Highness the Princess...it's just an ordinary thief, I can deal with it."
While they were talking, the eldest princess came in with a smile and looked even happier when she saw the three of them chatting.
"It seems that I came at the wrong time."
Listening to the eldest princess's voice, Jin Zijue stood up first and called: "Mom."
"Ah, Jue'er, who caused the injury on your face? Damn it, someone is here." the eldest princess said.
Jin Zijue held the eldest princess's right arm and said, "Nothing, nothing, Mom. It's just a minor injury. I can handle it myself."
Luo Qingzhi observed and thought, "It seems that the eldest princess likes the youngest son Jin Zijue more than the eldest son."
The eldest princess was still observing Jin Zijue's wound, her tone full of distress. Jin Ziji stood up and said, "Mother, Zijue's injury doesn't look serious. Today we are going to have an appointment with the princess, so why not."
As if she suddenly realized the original intention of today's trip, the eldest princess looked at Luo Qingzhi with a smile and said, "As a mother, you really can't bear to see your children get hurt. I think when the princess is injured on the battlefield, the parents must be worried too."
"Mother!"
"Mom!"
Luo Qingzhi lost her mother in her early years and her father later in life, so there is no need to worry about her parents.
The eldest princess suddenly realized that her words were inappropriate, took a breath, said "Oh", her eyes panicked, and said: "Aluo, I, I'm not..."
Luo Qingzhi said: "It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter." Then she took the initiative to ask: "When I was young, my father also took me to Qixia Mountain, but it has been too long and I have forgotten it. Her Royal Highness the Princess is willing to lead the way for me.
."
The eldest princess immediately said: "Of course, of course, oh, please."
Although the scenery was different when traveling in the snow, it was still very inconvenient. The eldest princess chose the safer road and went to see the cliff carvings.
With Jin Zijue, he was the one holding the eldest princess, and Jin Ziji was by Luo Qingzhi's side, paving the way for the beauty of the stone carvings.
"It is said that this stone carving was carved by Master Liaochen, who built the temple. The inscription is the Heart Sutra. I heard from the master of the temple that Master Liaochen carved it for the people to pray for three months. Unfortunately, after carving the Heart Sutra,
The master then passed away."
After Jin Ziji finished speaking, he sighed deeply and slowly turned his head to look at Luo Qingzhi, as if he wanted to get a response. However, Luo Qingzhi didn't understand calligraphy or Buddhist hair, so it was difficult to resonate with him, so he had to nod in agreement and said
: "Yeah, what a pity."
Jin Ziji added: "I have always liked to collect calligraphy and paintings. There are also other ink paintings by the master in the study room at home. If the princess likes it, she can also come to the mansion to have a closer look."
Luo Qingzhi sighed inwardly, "It turns out we are digging a hole here."
"Brother, be careful!"
While the two were talking, a masked man in black suddenly jumped out, pointing his sword directly at Jin Ziji.
Jin Zijue drew his sword and stepped forward to block it. Then he raised his voice and said, "It's you again, you bastard."
Jin Zijue obviously couldn't beat the man in black, and he was already defeated after ten moves.
The eldest princess shouted: "Come here, come here."
The man in black kicked Jin Zijue away, and turned to attack Jin Ziji again. Luo Qingzhi was at his side, and there was no danger at all. But at this time, Jin Zijie suddenly took a step back, and Luo Qingzhi became the nearest
The goal.
"Arlo, be careful!"
A man stood in front of Luo Qingzhi. The man in black had already retreated, but Jin Zijue attacked from the right again. In the chaos, the left arm of the man standing in front of Luo Qingzhi was scratched.
The man in black no longer struggled, and with a whistle, a horse galloped towards him. The man in black turned over, straddled the horse, and fled in the opposite direction. Jin Zijue had no horse, so he could only watch the man running further and further away.
Luo Qingzhi checked the man's injuries. It was just a scratch, not serious. She looked up at the man and saw that it was Gao Zhen after disguise.
"How did you get here?" Luo Qingzhi asked in a low voice.
Gao Zhen whispered, "I know you are coming to see the Jin family today, so I'll come and take a look."
Jin Zijue had already walked over, and Luo Qingzhi turned around and asked, "Is that the person Captain Jin met on the road?"
"Yes, it's him, let him run away again." Jin Zijue was annoyed.
Luo Qingzhi said: "Then Captain Jin should pay more attention when traveling from now on."
Jin Zijue looked at the injury on Gao Zhen's arm, scratched his head, and said, "I'm sorry, sir. I didn't stop it just now and accidentally hurt you."
Gao Zhen shook his head and said, "I couldn't dodge myself."
Jin Ziji also helped the eldest princess forward. The eldest princess immediately showed concern for Jin Zijue and asked, "Jue'er, are you injured?"
Jin Zijue said: "Mom, it's okay."
Luo Qingzhi said: "I don't know if the man in black will leave and come back. Why don't we go back to our homes first?"
The eldest princess nodded immediately and said: "Yes, I didn't greet you well today. I will invite the princess to my home another day."
"What about this gentleman?" Jin Ziji asked.
Luo Qingzhi said: "This is a guest in my house, I will take care of him."
Back on the carriage, Luo Qingzhi checked Gao Zhen's wound again. It had closed slightly and was no longer bleeding, but she still asked the coachman to hurry back home.
"How did you get here?" Luo Qingzhi asked.
Gao Zhen said: "After leaving the mansion, I met a pilgrim who came to Qixia Temple to offer incense, and he took me here along the way."