Yanzhou, Mount Tai.
The foot of Mount Tai was bustling now. The shrine of Great Emperor Yu Qing was thriving, with a steady stream of worshippers coming to offer incense.
Verdant Green Maiden had secretly taken a few pastries from the offerings to eat.
"Mmm!"
"These taste good. As expected of my temple!"
Verdant Green Maiden nodded as she ate.
She sat quite brazenly beside the entrance to Great Emperor Yu Qing's shrine. None of the passing worshippers would have imagined that the pastries in her hands had been stolen from inside.
Old Yellow Ox lay beside her.
Anyone who saw her would have taken her for an ordinary cowherd girl.
Besides, Verdant Green Maiden wore a veil over her face. Without her peerless beauty to draw their eyes, she attracted even less attention.
She was talking to Old Yellow Ox when something suddenly caught the corner of her eye.
In the distance, someone was walking slowly toward them.
When he reached Great Emperor Yu Qing's shrine, he looked up at the plaque and murmured to himself, "Great Emperor Yu Qing..."
He stood at the entrance, gazing upward, completely unaware that someone nearby was watching him. Verdant Green Maiden had already recognized him, and that only made her more puzzled.
Wasn't he in Hangzhou?
Why had he come to Mount Tai now?
Why was an official running all over the place?
Indeed, this man was Su Shi.
He had just been transferred to serve as prefect of Mizhou that year and was on his way to take up his post. Passing Mount Tai, he naturally could not resist coming to broaden his horizons, having long heard of the mountain and Great Emperor Yu Qing.
His young servant followed behind him.
"Sir..."
"Why are we visiting this temple?"
"Wouldn't it be