Although Prince Cheng's Mansion is not always crowded with guests, it does not stop coming.
First of all, a few princes will always come, like Prince Jing, who will say hello in advance.
Like King Jin, he often arrived quietly with Yuan Jing in tow. The two of them would come to have dinner four or five times in ten days.
Even Lin Zhixiu himself entertained several waves of guests.
Fang Qunqun came here often, and Princess An was looked down upon by the royal family. But she had Prince An's unconditional favor, and she was even more indifferent to those people.
So just like before in the Lin family, he would often come to Lin Zhixiu's place, or else let Lin Zhixiu go.
Whenever Fang Qunqun came back, King An would personally send him off and pick him up again.
Fang Qunqun is pregnant, her belly is not visible yet, but her whole body is as plump as a white steamed bun... glowing!
It looks so delicious!
Lin Zhixiu was frightened when she saw it, so she told her not to come. "If you miss Xiu'er, Xiu'er will come to see you!"
Fang Qunqun said, "My body bones are not that delicate, but they are strong! Hey, have you heard? Yan Jun's eldest son has been sent to Mrs. Yan!"
Lin Zhixiu said, "I heard it, it seems that my aunt has got the power of housekeeping again!"
"Don't we have to pay her back? She agreed that her son would bear her name. Tsk tsk, the situation forces me to bow my head!"
"Where are Xiaoxiao and Yaoyao?" Lin Zhixiu smiled lightly, thinking to herself: This is her retribution.
Fang Qunqun said, "I hired a master for them and they are taking lessons at home! They always want to follow me out to play, but my father is very strict! If you see them again, you won't recognize them! Oh, that little airs...
…The neck is straight and fake!”
"hehe……"
The two people laughed: Fang Yu, that's a typical example of climbing high and forgetting low...
The days passed leisurely, and in a blink of an eye, the anniversary of her parents' death came. After returning to the capital, she lived in the Lin family. There were many people who harbored ill intentions towards her, and she always felt uneasy, and she had not even paid tribute to her parents properly.
Now, we are married...
Looking at the pig head that never leaves home...
Finally I have someone who cares about me and takes care of me.
No matter what happens in the future...he hopes that his parents' spirits in heaven can see his sincerity towards himself at this moment!
The Baoxiang Temple where I was going to perform a ritual this time was not close to the capital, so it would take more than half a day to travel by horse carriage.
The preparation was to arrive on the first day, have a half-day ceremony in the morning of the next day, wander around the nearby mountains in the afternoon, eat fast food, and then return early in the morning on the third day.
That day, Lin Zhixiu took Dongyun and Nanyan in the second car.
Wu Dong took Wu Hao and sat in the first car.
There were four guards in front and behind her, and Li Cheng rode a big black horse to accompany her.
As a result, after leaving the house, the group had just taken a few steps when several people rushed towards them. They stopped Li Cheng with anxious faces and said something to him.
After hearing this, Li Cheng thought for a while, brought his horse over and said to Lin Zhixiu, "Axiu, I'm in a hurry and have to go take a look. Why don't you go back home and wait for me for a while?!"
Before the car curtain was lowered, Lin Zhixiu looked at him and said, "Otherwise, I'll take the first step! Just wait until you finish your work and chase me."
Li Cheng closed his mouth and made no sound, apparently unwilling to do so.
"Look, the carriage moves slowly. If you ride a horse and run out of the city, you will catch up quickly. Just hurry up and do your work!"
"Then... let them all follow you. You walk slowly..." Li Cheng was obviously worried.
Lin Zhixiu said, "I will take two people with me, and two more will follow you."
Li Cheng said, "I'll just call Pang Liu. Let the four of them follow you."
Wu Dong smiled and said, "Your Majesty, you can catch up with us very quickly after finishing your work. This journey is pretty easy! I'm here, don't worry!"
Li Cheng looked at Lin Zhixiu and said, "Then I'll go first! I'll chase you as soon as I finish my work. You guys, protect the princess."
The four guards agreed, and Li Cheng left in a hurry.
Lin Zhixiu and his party left the city gate and headed west.
I thought Li Cheng would arrive soon, but it was almost noon and there was no sign of anyone.
Passing by a large town, the group got off the car and ate some food and drank tea at a clean restaurant nearby.
Worried about missing out, I specially arranged for someone to wait at the roadside.
After resting for a while, it was time to leave, but Li Cheng hadn't arrived yet.
Lin Zhixiu stood in front of the car, looking at the road as he passed by, thinking about him a little in his heart.
It seemed that in a short period of time, I got used to having this person around me.
During the day, he kept buzzing in his ears and couldn't get any peace for a while.
At night, he slept beside me, his body hot. His heartbeat was pounding and his breathing was even.
She quickly got used to this environment and felt safe and secure.
This time I came out without him, which was really awkward!
He was really hopeless... She blamed herself.
Wu Dong came over and said with a smile: "My dear, don't worry. Let's go first. It's all uphill and it's not easy to walk. In any case, the prince will be able to arrive before night. Even if something is delayed,
, the prince will also send someone to give you a message!"
Lin Zhixiu responded and was about to get in the car.
Suddenly there was dust flying over there, and I couldn't help but feel happy, thinking that Li Cheng was chasing me.
When I got closer, I saw a team of more than ten people.
The first person, wearing a black cloak, a fiery red brocade dress, and black leather boots.
Wearing a black leather hero hat on his head, his face cannot be seen, only his chin is exposed.
When the visitor was still seven or eight steps away from Lin Zhixiu, he felt a carriage blocking the road in the middle of the road. He raised his chin and squinted his eyes to look ahead.
But at a glance, he caught sight of Lin Zhixiu wearing a big cloak.
The feeling that hit him in the face and penetrated directly into his heart made him tense up and tighten his grip on the reins.
His eyes widened suddenly, and it turned out to be her...
He reined in his horse and stopped, and the people behind him also stopped.
He silently looked at Lin Zhixiu and his party, then dismounted, flicked the reins, and stepped forward.
A man like Yuxiu Zhonghua came over... Qi Erlang?
I saw him step forward and bow, "Lin... Concubine Lin..."
This man is so eye-catching! Even if you meet him in the wilderness, you will feel like a green pine under the scorching sun, handsome and tall.
Lin Zhixiu's heart was beating like a drum, and she cursed secretly that she had no future.
"General Qi!" she said softly.
"You... Why are you, Concubine Lin, here?"
Lin Zhixiu said, "Tomorrow is the death anniversary of my parents, and a ritual ceremony has been scheduled at Baoxiang Temple."
Qi Erlang nodded, "Oh, that's right... I have official duties and it's inconvenient to go to worship, so I'll ask Concubine Lin to help Qi Xuan to Lord Lin and his wife, put up incense sticks, and wish them eternal happiness!"
Lin Zhixiu said, "Thank you, General Qi!"
Qi Erlang looked at it... the dog-skin plaster was not there, which was strange, so he asked, "Why don't you see His Highness King Cheng?"
Lin Zhixiu said, "When I was leaving, Your Highness came down on official business. I guess I will catch up with you soon."
"Are you going forward?"
"yes!"
"Then, do you want... let me escort you?"
"Thank you, General Qi! That's not necessary. I brought my bodyguard and maid, and Uncle Dong is also following me!"
After Wu Dong paid the money from the restaurant, he asked someone to fill two pots of boiling water for use on the road. As soon as he came out, he saw Lin Zhixiu talking to a man, and he quickly stepped forward and saluted, "Is it Prince Qi!?"
He didn't show it on his face, but he was murmuring in his heart, Qi Erlang, why are you talking to your empress here?
Qi Erlang nodded slightly, "Mr. Wu!"
Wu Dong smiled and asked, "May I ask where Prince Qi is going?" He calmly took two steps forward and blocked Lin Zhixiu's path, which was not obvious.
"I'm going to Xingping, I have something to do!" Qi Erlang felt a little guilty and smiled, "Then I'll... say goodbye first!"
After that, the three of them saluted, and Qi Erlang took a few steps forward, passed Lin Zhixiu's team, then got on his horse and rode away.
Lin Zhixiu felt a little sad when she saw his black cloak fluttering and his retreating figure.
Wu Dong quickly said, "Mother, let's go too?!"
Lin Zhixiu looked at the way back and forth again, "Your Highness doesn't know what's going on. Why did it take so long?"
Wu Dong said, "Let's walk slowly! We still have to walk for a while!"
Lin Zhixiu got in the car. The road was always uphill.
After walking for almost two more hours, as the sun was setting, Lin Zhixiu and his party arrived at the mountain gate halfway up the mountain.
Baoxiang Temple is built on the mountainside, surrounded by woods and a stream next to it. You can watch the sunrise and sunset. The scenery is quite beautiful.
It is not large in scale, but it is well designed. During its construction, very sophisticated wood was used, and it is famous for its mortise and tenon structure.
Because the terrain is steep and far away from human habitation. It is cold in winter and the roads are difficult to walk, so not many people come here on weekdays.
There are not many monks in the temple, but the people this temple receives are basically from rich or noble families.
With strong financial resources, the surrounding mountains, forests and land are the temple's property.
Families who need to perform religious services usually book the temple directly, and their accommodation is located outside the temple.
Lin Zhixiu got out of the car and stretched her legs and feet. Nan Yan supported her and walked towards the temple.
Outside the mountain gate, there are more than a dozen families, and people cutting firewood and hunting can also be seen on the paths.
Therefore, no one noticed that a figure disappeared in a flash.
The man was hiding in the dark and saw Lin Zhixiu and his party, with a smile on his face... Everything went as planned!
As soon as Lin Zhixiu and his party entered the mountain gate, they were greeted by several monks.
Walking at the front was an old monk, smiling and clasping his hands, "Amitabha, Abbot Yuan Yuan of Baoxiang Temple, welcome the donor!"
Wu Dong first came over and said, "Master Yuanyuan, how are you always?" He put his hands together and saluted.
The old monk had a compassionate smile on his face: "Bodhisattva bless you, everything is going well for Lao Na. Donor Wu, you have worked hard all the way!"
Wu Dong said, "The weather is good today, and the journey is going smoothly! I'm afraid I will have to trouble the abbot in these two days!"
"What are you talking about, donor!? It is our honor to go to Baoxiang Temple to perform rituals in your mansion. All food and accommodation have been prepared!"
Wu Dong said, "Excuse me, Abbot. Regarding accommodation, I want to go check it out first! When our master comes, we can discuss the arrangements for tomorrow."
The old monk said, "Everything depends on the benefactor's arrangement." Pointing to a disciple, he said, "This is my disciple Mingkong. Let him take Donor Wu to have a look."
The old monk glanced at Lin Zhixiu and said, "At this moment, the sunset is just right and the scenery is infinite. Donor Wu, this female donor, would you like to go to the platform above first, sit for a while and look at the sunset scenery?"
Convenient to arrange everything.”
Wu Dong asked, "Madam, look..."
Lin Zhixiu didn't talk to the old monk. At this moment, she felt the air was fresh, the scenery was beautiful, and she felt very comfortable. When Wu Dong asked, she nodded, "Okay, let's go and have a seat!"
The old monk pointed to a little monk who was about six years old and said, "Female donor, let the old monk's disciple Xiao Wuhen take you to sit on the platform above. The view is the best there! We have prepared water for soaking in the mountain spring.
Tea!"
Upon hearing this, Lin Zhixiu was very satisfied, "Dongyun, follow Uncle Dong and clean up the room. I will take Nan Yan to sit for a while. If I come, let him go up to find me!"
They did not occupy the temple as a royal palace, so they are now called madam and lord.
Wu Dong asked one of the guards, "Xiao Tiezi, you guys go around the yard and make sure there are no mice or anything on the road!"
It’s true that I’m afraid of rats, but I definitely want to walk around the temple without seeing any outsiders.
The young monk was not angry. When he saw such a beautiful woman, his ears turned red. He solemnly made a gesture of invitation, "Female Bodhisattva, please come with the young monk!"
Lin Zhixiu said goodbye to the abbot and followed the young monk.
Next to the old monk, stood a middle-aged monk with his eyes lowered and a smile on his face. At this moment, he turned his face and looked at Lin Zhixiu's back with a complicated expression.
The young monk walked in front, followed by a guard. Nan Yan accompanied Lin Zhixiu and walked along the path to the platform mentioned by the old monk.
There are some ginkgo trees planted in the mountain temple. At this time, the ground is covered with golden color.
The Buddhist temple on the roadside has red walls and gray tiles. It has wooden doors and stone roads, a gurgling stream, winding paths, and red and yellow everywhere.
The scenery is very beautiful.
At this moment, the weather is not too cold and the wind is not too strong. After riding all the way here, it is very comfortable to walk here.
The little monk walked with him for a while, went up a flight of steps, turned a few turns, and walked to a platform.
The guard looked around and found nothing out of the ordinary, "Madam, I'll go check somewhere else."
Lin Zhixiu nodded and walked along the platform. The temple was indeed prepared. Parasols were set up, wooden tables and chairs were prepared, and a small charcoal stove was placed beside the flowing mountain spring to heat water.
There were teapots, teacups, a few small plates filled with peanuts and melon seeds, and a few fiery red persimmons.
The chairs are covered with thick cushions.
Very attentive!
Nan Yan walked around again and said, "Mother, are you tired? Sit down for a while?!"
Lin Zhixiu said, "I'm tired on the road. After walking for a while, I feel more comfortable."
She slowly walked to the edge of the platform and looked into the distance: the dusk was heavy and the sun was setting in the west. The clouds, mountains, trees, and fields under the mountains were all reflected in red...
Looking at it, feeling...
The young monk had already brewed the tea and stepped forward to bow, "Two female Bodhisattvas, please drink some tea!"
Nan Yan looked at him, feeling very cute, and said with a smile, "Thank you for your hard work, young master! Madam, would you like some tea?"
Lin Zhixiu hummed, but stood there without moving.
Afraid of inconvenience along the way, Nan Yan didn't drink much water. Now she was really thirsty, so she picked up the teacup and drank it all.
The little monk said obediently, "Female Bodhisattva, Master Mingjing said that new chestnuts have been roasted in the kitchen. Let me go and bring some now!"
Nan Yan smiled secretly. Judging from the young monk's appearance, she must have been greedy. She took out a small whitebait from her purse and gave it to him, "Then go and come back quickly!"
The little monk took it with a blushing face, thanked them politely, and ran away.
Nan Yan looked at his bouncing back and suddenly felt dizzy.
Tired on the road? Quickly find a chair and sit down.
As a result, as soon as I sat down, everything went dark in front of me. I couldn't scream even if I wanted to, so I just leaned on the chair.
Lin Zhixiu didn't know that she was still looking down the mountain. Such a beautiful scenery, how wonderful it would be if her parents were still here?
On Wu Dong's side, he and Mingjing quickly arranged the house and food. Several guards also checked around and came back, "Mr. Wu, I checked everything and asked questions. There are no outsiders today!"
Wu Dong said, "Okay, let's go. I'll go to the platform and ask the queen to go back to the room to rest for a while! Xiaotie, you went down the mountain to greet the prince, why haven't you arrived yet?"
While talking, Wu Dong took Wu Buhao and a guard to pick up Lin Zhixiu.
The three of them walked to the platform, only to find that Nan Yan was leaning on the ground, motionless.