Encounter

"Sour for a boy, spicy for a girl; I've been craving spicy food lately."

Having received a reward from Lin Yunwan, and seeing that it was a beautiful sunny day, Zhu Qing came over specifically to express her gratitude and chat.

It's not easy for a woman to be pregnant, Lin Yunwan said, "I told you, you don't need to come over to pay your respects."

He added, "Since you like spicy food, I'll have the Kitchen make you a few more slightly spicy dishes in the future."

Zhu Qing smiled happily.

She wasn't showing yet, but she couldn't help touching her lower abdomen.

If it really is a daughter, that would be wonderful; she'd be a sweet and caring daughter.

If it's a boy...

She stood up, curtsied, and said, "Young Madam, if this child is a boy, I will rely entirely on your upbringing. I am willing to leave the child with you!"

She humbly pledged her loyalty. "Young Madam, to be honest, I don't care how successful this child will be in the future. I will never let him compete with Young Master Chang Gong for anything. I only wish for him to live a peaceful and safe life."

These are truly a mother's heartfelt words.

Lin Yunwan helped her up and said, "I understand you."

He gently comforted Zhu Qing, "You're pregnant, don't think too much. The most important thing is that you and your baby are safe and healthy."

Seeing that Lin Yunwan very magnanimous, Zhu Qing felt much more at ease.

"Young Madam, this is a letter sent by Madam Lin."

Ping Ye came in carrying a thick letter, without hiding it from Zhu Qing.

Zhu Qing readily agreed, saying, "Young Madam has something to attend to, so I'll head back now."

She yawned and said somewhat embarrassedly, "I've been feeling sleepy a lot lately."

Lin Yunwan sent Tao Ye to deliver Zhu Qing.

Tao Ye, being thoughtful, carried a hand warmer and an umbrella as she went out.

Lin Yunwan opened the letter and read it. Upon seeing the handwriting, she exclaimed, "It was written by Yun Yi!"

It's a bit messy; you can tell it was written in a hurry.

Ping Ye glanced at it as well and said, "Young Master Yi is studying at the Academy; he probably only managed to reply to your letter in his spare time."

Lin Yunwan nodded and read the letter in one go.

She put down the letter and said sadly, "So it was Prince Huan who was helping the Lin Family."

She remarked that there had suddenly been many more people in the court joining in the denunciation of the Wuding Marquis Residence.

"Prince Huan?"

Ping Ye said in great surprise, "Although our master taught Prince Huan, that was many years ago!"

People forget you when you're gone. Even though Grand Tutor Lin has been gone for so many years, the Lin clan still Pure Stream themselves noble and disdains currying favor with the imperial family.

The Lin Family and the Prince Huan's Residence had long since ceased to have any real contact.

Lin Yunwan was also puzzled. "I wonder why Prince Huan has suddenly remembered the Lin Family..."

But she remembered this kindness.

Perhaps the fact that the events at the Wuding Marquis Residence didn't implicate her was also due to Prince Huan's help.

Soon it was time for Lin Yunwan to go to Red Elephant Temple. Accompanying her in her carriage was the Purchasing Steward from the Wuding Marquis Residence.

Before boarding the carriage, Lin Yunwan instructed Ping Ye: "Go and tell them that if they dare to skim money off Chang Gong's goods or try to fool me with inferior products, don't blame me for not giving them face later."

"Yes."

Ping Ye was outspoken, and with her handling things, Lin Yunwan felt at ease.

The servants of large families are often servants who have been raised in the household for generations, making them very difficult to manage.

When she was in charge of the household, they knew she wasn't easily fooled, so they were naturally much more meticulous.

Now that he's the Wei Shi's steward, things are hard to say.

She couldn't control anything else, but Chang Gong would soon be going to the Clan School to study and learn martial arts from his Master, so she had to make sure he had all the necessary things.

After the masters were seated in the carriage and everything was settled, Tao Ye said to the people outside the carriage, "We can go now."

The convoy from the Wuding Marquis Residence headed towards Red Elephant Temple.

It wasn't a grand affair, but there were still more than twenty people in total, including the coachman, guards, Matron.

Upon arriving at Red Elephant Temple, Lin Yunwan and Lu Chang'gong settled into their guest room.

"Please have Buddhist Meal, Young Madam and Eldest Young Master."

The Guest Reception Monk brought them their meal, Lin Yunwan and Lu Chang'gong ate a Vegetarian Buddhist Meal together. Feeling a bit full, she wanted to go for a walk to digest, so she said to Lu Chang'gong, "Where are the murals? Take me to see them."

Lu Chang'gong coughed lightly and said, "There are no murals."

"No?"

Lin Yunwan frowned, but quickly understood. She chuckled and asked, "Are you trying to coax me out for a walk?"

Lu Chang'gong smiled and said, "It's quiet here, I think Mother likes it very much."

His features had matured, and his smile suddenly had the delicate charm of a young man, unlike when he first came to the manor, when he was still a child.

Lin Yunwan immediately felt relieved.

Like a carefully nurtured flower, it bloomed unexpectedly.

"You dared to lie to me. Now you're punished by accompanying me to apologize before Buddha."

Lin Yunwan pretended to be serious, as if she really wanted to punish Lu Chang'gong.

He wasn't afraid at all, and touched his nose, saying, "My son accepts the punishment."

The mother and son went together, leaving the Lu family's maids and servants to tidy up the rooms.

The Buddhist temple is truly serene. The mother and son, unlike their restraint at the Marquis's Marquis's Residence, chatted and laughed on their way to the Main Buddha Hall.

Lu Chang'gong said, "The tranquility here is far superior to anything in the manor."

Lin Yunwan nodded. In the distance, there was still snow on the branches that had not completely melted, hidden behind the red temple, a scene that could not be seen from the Wuding Marquis Residence.

"Young Madam, this way please."

The Guest Reception Monk led them into the Main Buddha Hall, where clean brocade cushions were laid out and several sticks of incense were burned.

Just as Lin Yunwan was about to accept the incense, a Novice Monk came over and said, "Eldest Young Madam Lu, there's something I'd like to ask you."

She turned around and asked, "Master, what is it?"

He also put his hands together in a gesture of respect to the other person.

Like his mother, Lu Chang'gong held Buddhists in great reverence.

The novice monk bowed his head and said, "The Abbot composing couplets for the New Year. I heard that Eldest Young Master Lu is also a scholar. The Abbot asked me to come and ask Madam if Red Elephant Temple is fortunate enough to receive a few pieces of Eldest Young Master Lu's calligraphy today?"

Lin Yunwan smiled.

These monks are really shrewd.

Having received Chang Gong's calligraphy, she was bound to praise it to the skies, and she would inevitably have to give him a reward.

But that's alright; if it were actually posted in a temple, it would be an honor for Chang Gong.

She said, "Chang Gong is still a child. It's nothing for him to write a few words, but we shouldn't pamper him too much."

The novice monk smiled, "Young Madam is right."

Lin Yunwan patted Lu Chang'gong on the shoulder and said to him, "Go."

Lu Chang'gong followed the novice monk to the abbot's Abbot.

Lin Yunwan accepted incense before the Buddha, knelt on the prayer mat, and closed her eyes.

It was cold, so the novice monk closed the door behind Lin Yunwan and then went out himself.

Lin Yunwan heard light footsteps. Because the steps were steady and didn't sound like a woman's, she opened her eyes.

A handsome man emerged from behind the Buddha statue, accompanied by a young eunuch dressed in palace attire.

"You..."

Lin Yunwan got up from the prayer mat, her brows furrowed.

She had seen this person before at Red Elephant Temple! She smelled the fragrance on him and said there were three kinds, but he said there were four.

Qi Lingheng walked over slowly.

A Fu bowed slightly and Lin Yunwan, "Madam, this is Prince Huan."

Prince Huan?

Lin Yunwan's eyes widened.

He is Prince Huan!

Qi Lingheng smiled faintly at her.