Quarrel

After seeing the Eternal Light Lamp, Lin Yunwan went to the Main Buddha Hall to pray for blessings and draw lots.

Xiruo complained softly, "There are so many people praying for blessings today..."

Lin Yunwan said, "You should have thought of that sooner."

Xiruo quickly realized that the Second Miss had also come to pray for blessings because Prince Huan was here.

If the Lin Residence got the news, then everyone else did too, and they were all eager to bump into the Prince.

Lin Yunwan and Xiruo were waiting in the corridor.

Xiruo looked at the people standing in front of her and said, "It'll be a long wait! I'm afraid your legs will get tired, Miss. How about we skip the prayer today and come back another time?"

That won't do.

Who knows when she'll be able to go out again? Zhu Qing is almost due to give birth. What's the point of her praying after the baby is born?

Lin Yunwan said, "It's alright. I can stand."

Xiruo stopped talking and waited with the girl.

After an unknown amount of time, not only Lin Yunwan but also Xiruo's legs were aching. She breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Finally, it's our turn. Miss, please go quickly."

Lin Yunwan stepped into the Main Buddha Hall, knelt on the prayer mat, shook the divination tube, and drew a divination stick.

With the bamboo slip facing up, she knelt on the ground and could already see that it was a "very auspicious" fortune.

Xiruo bent down to pick it up, but someone beat her to it and took Lin Yunwan's fortune slip.

Thinking she had picked up the wrong item, she stood up and said, "Miss, you've picked up the wrong one..."

They saw Lin Yunjiao and her maid, along with other noble ladies from Jiangqian.

The maid handed the fortune slip to Lin Yunjiao, saying, "Miss, it's an extremely auspicious slip."

Lin Yunjiao looked at those three words and felt somewhat angry.

She prayed several times today, but each time the fortune was bad!

How come this country girl got such a lucky fortune slip all of a sudden? Could it be that she was also asking about marriage? That would be terrible!

But it doesn't matter, now that the fortune slip is in her hands, it's hers.

Lin Yunjiao said pitifully, "Sister, I want this fortune stick, can you get another one?"

Xiruo's face immediately turned cold.

This Second Miss is far too spoiled! She even tries to snatch a fortune stick! It's not like she asked for it herself, what's the point of snatching it?

Lin Yunwan calmly stood up from the prayer mat and looked at Lin Yunjiao indifferently.

He also glanced at the noblewoman beside her.

This younger sister, who never used to call her "sister," is now doing so, which means these noble ladies must be from prominent families in Jiangqian!

Lin Yunjiao knows how to put on an act in public, so why can't she?

This method is still too naive.

Lin Yunwan smiled and said, "It's not that I'm unwilling to give it to you, but you can't force me to take what I'm asking for."

Lin Yunjiao was displeased upon hearing the words "forcibly taken".

She could only pretend for a short while, clutching the bamboo skewer, and said with a long face, "Who forcibly took it from me! You owe me so much, what's wrong with me wanting one of your skewers?"

Lin Yunjiao then said with a smile, "Sister, you almost got me into trouble... and I didn't even blame you. Aren't you even willing to give up this draw?"

Watching her switch between a long face and a smile.

Lin Yunwan felt as if she were seeing Lin Huabin.

That's why they're said to be father and daughter; Lin Yunjiao has half of Lin Huabin's blood in her veins!

The noble ladies nearby couldn't stand it any longer. One of them, with a straightforward temper, stood up and said, "Miss Lin, no offense, but you should give this fortune stick to your sister! She's tried several times and failed. You're lucky, you can just try again!"

Some people said, "It's just a single stick, why be so stingy?"

Lin Yunjiao looked extremely smug.

Lin Yunwan sighed.

These young girls are so naive and easily misled; they believe whatever they're told.

He didn't even realize he was being used as a pawn by Lin Yunjiao.

She asked the girl, "Is this how your parents raised you to meddle in other people's affairs? Have you ever read 'Lessons for Women' or 'Admonitions for Women'? Did these books teach you to be gossipy and cause trouble outside?"

The girl's face turned red.

Miss Lin has quite the sharp tongue; she actually said she was ill-mannered!

She probably didn't have much experience arguing, and after being accused, she stammered, "I... I... you've been cruel since you were little, almost harming your sister. Can't you just let her have a draw?"

People who don't know the whole story have already started pointing fingers and making pronouncements.

Outside the Main Buddha Hall, other strangers, who were also watching the spectacle, remarked, "... I heard she's the eldest daughter of the Third Branch of the Lin Residence."

This was the first time Lin Yunwan had been laughed at by so many people.

She sneered, "Did you see me hurt someone with your own eyes?"

The girl stammered, "How could I have witnessed something that happened more than ten years ago!"

Lin Yunwan ignored her and asked Lin Yunjiao, "Is this how you talk about me to others?"

Lin Yunjiao confidently, "Everything I said is true!"

"Then kneel down and swear an oath before Buddha."

Lin Yunwan finished speaking, Zheng Shi arrived.

Zheng Shi was unaware of what had happened, but seeing the situation was amiss, she frowned and looked at Lin Yunwan: "What are you and your sister arguing about? Aren't you ashamed?"

Lin Yunwan curtsied. "Madam..."

Zheng Shi angrily retorted, "Nanny Fan, what are you still standing there for!"

Without saying a word, Nanny Fan, along with her servants, chased away the onlookers.

Who are the Lin family? How dare they be laughed at in Ci'en Temple!

Several noble ladies with maids also greeted Zheng Shi and hurriedly fled.

Zheng Shi left with Lin Yunjiao, leaving Lin Yunwan and Xiruo alone in the empty Main Buddha Hall.

That extremely auspicious fortune slip is gone.

Lin Yunwan drew another fortune stick, and it was still the best possible one. She then went to a monk to have it interpreted.

"Your request has been fulfilled perfectly."

Lin Yunwan felt a little better; Zhu Qing... should be safe with her daughter.

"Let's go back first."

He left with Xiruo very unwilling. "Miss, are you just going to let it go like this?"

Lin Yunwan said calmly, "How could that be?"

"Doesn't the Second Miss like to make a big fuss and enjoy being laughed at by everyone?"

"Let her experience this feeling soon too."

The mistress and servant left the Main Buddha Hall together, Lin Yunwan put on her veil.

On the Covered Walkway, among several people dressed as scholars, one looked at Lin Yunwan with a lost and dejected expression.

Someone tapped him on the shoulder. "Brother Xia, what are you looking at? Do you recognize that girl in the veiled hat?"

Xia Jin was a little dazed. His face was pale as he said, "No, I don't recognize him. I just feel that his figure looks somewhat familiar."

It's a ghost!

He seemed to see Madam Lu, no, now he should call her Miss Lin.

Why are there so many people at Ci'en Temple today?

Who knows?

"Brother Xia, you said you wouldn't come with us to pray to the gods and Buddhas, but what do you think? Coming to Ci'en Temple isn't bad, is it? You can see lots of beautiful women..."

Xia Jin lowered his head, frowned, and muttered, "I must have seen wrong."

The person is dead. The Prefect of Shuntian has already investigated. Miss Lin is dead.

The world is vast and full of wonders...

They just look alike!