Early the next morning, when everyone gathered in the courtyard, Meng Xu was already waiting in front of the whiteboard.
A new line had been written on the whiteboard today: Yue Lao Temple mission.
"Cloud-Hidden Town has a Yue Lao Temple that's very effective at granting prayers."
Meng Xu got straight to the point. "It's on Cloud-Hidden Mountain and supposedly has several hundred years of history. Not just people in Cloud-Hidden Town-people from several neighboring towns have great faith in this temple, too."
Shen Yuzhou raised his hand. "Is it the temple we saw yesterday?"
While picking mushrooms yesterday, they had passed the Yue Lao Temple that Pei Yubai had seen on his morning run.
At the time, they had simply thought the temple was beautiful.
It seemed that Cloud-Hidden Town and the small towns around it all had a temple like that.
Meng Xu shook his head. "That isn't the main temple. It's just a small temple in town. The main temple is on Cloud-Hidden Mountain, and it's much larger."
He opened the folder in his hands and continued his introduction. "People around Cloud-Hidden Town have worshipped Yue Lao since ancient times."
"The locals have a saying, 'joining the threads.' It means that when Yue Lao joins two people's red threads together, it makes a good marriage. So before getting married, everyone here visits the Yue Lao Temple to pray. The temple has always drawn plenty of worshippers."
Cheng Yanqiu asked, "So today's mission is to visit the Yue Lao Temple?"
Meng Xu nodded, but he wasn't finished.
"The Yue Lao Temple stands on Cloud-Hidden Mountain. At the foot of the mountain is a village called Fated Marriage Village. Supposedly, it was originally built to protect the Yue Lao Temple, and gradually developed into a village."
"The buildings there are very well preserved, with plenty of old-world charm and character. So we'll pass through Fated Marriage Village before heading up the mountain."
He paused, a slight smile on his lips. "To help everyone experience the local cultural atmosphere, the production team has prepared some clothes for you."
Shen Yuzhou's eyes lit up. "What clothes?" He loved beautiful clothes most of all.
Meng Xu beckoned to the side. Several crew members came out carrying a clothes rack, with a row of hanfu hanging from it.
Shen Yuzhou was the first to rush over and touch them. "Wow, is this silk?"
Cheng Yanqiu went over too, looked through them, and nodded. "Nice fabric."
Ji Shiyu stood nearby, watching quietly. Lin Yanru went over and chose a plain-colored outfit.
Jiang Wantang didn't need to deliberate. Standing before the rack, she looked over the clothes, her gaze landing on the aqua-green top at the far end, and reached out to take it down.
Meng Xu said, "Pick one outfit each. We'll set off once you've changed. You'll be wearing these all day."
The barrage was already getting excited.
[Period costumes??? The production team really splurged]
[I want to see what Shen Yuzhou looks like in period costume]
[Cheng Yanqiu will definitely look gorgeous]
[Jiang Wantang is a dancer to begin with, she'll look absolutely stunning in period costume]
[Where's Pei Yubai where's Pei Yubai Pei Yubai in period costume]
Everyone went off to change.
Pei Yubai stayed where he was, looking at the clothes hanging on the rack.
Meng Xu came over and said quietly, "Your Lordship Pei, do me a favor and change into one. This one suits you."
He pointed to the one at the very end.
It was white. Not snowy white, but a cool, frosty white, with flowing fabric and hardly any pattern, save for a band of subtle designs around the collar and cuffs.
Beside it were a matching belt and a wooden hairpin.
Pei Yubai glanced at it, said nothing, and took it away.
Once they had changed, everyone returned to the courtyard one after another.
Shen Yuzhou came out first. He wore a sky-blue long robe, half his hair tied up with a matching ribbon and the rest left loose. He spun around and asked with a grin, "Do I look good?"
The barrage was very enthusiastic:
[Yes yes yes]
[Shen Yuzhou looks like a page boy]
[Not a page boy, I think he looks more like a young master from a wealthy family]
Cheng Yanqiu came out next. She had chosen a goose-yellow, chest-high ruqun with a sheer gauze shawl draped over it. Her hair was already long, and she had put it into a simple bun with a jade hairpin.
She walked out at an unhurried pace, her skirt swaying slightly, like someone stepping out of a painting.
Ji Shiyu wore a moon-white straight-cut robe, all his hair tied up and secured with a wooden hairpin.
He looked as fresh and clean as a pool of clear water as he stood quietly in the courtyard.
Lin Yanru had chosen a pale mauve outer jacket, with a white bandeau underneath and a matching skirt below. She had piled her hair high, revealing the lines of her neck and shoulders. She looked dignified and elegant.
Jiang Wantang came out last. She wore the aqua-green top with a white skirt, her hair left entirely loose except for a green silk ribbon tied around the ends.
Her steps were light, and her top fluttered slightly with her movements, as though a gust of wind could carry her away.
The barrage could no longer keep up with looking at everyone.
This group was simply too easy on the eyes.
Pei Yubai still hadn't come out.
Shen Yuzhou looked around and asked, "Where's Brother Pei?"
Just as he finished speaking, Pei Yubai walked out of the house.
The courtyard fell silent for a moment.
He wore the frost-white long robe. He had let all his hair down, loosely twisting some of it into a bun at the back of his head with the wooden hairpin, while the rest fell down his back to his waist.
He was tall to begin with, and the fitted robe made him look even leaner.
There were no extra accessories. No jade pendant, no fragrance pouch, nothing at all. Just a white robe of the utmost simplicity.
But his features carried it. A high brow ridge, deep-set eyes, a straight nose, and thin lips pressed lightly together.
In modern clothes, he looked refined and distinguished. In period costume, he gave an entirely different impression.
Like snow on a mountain peak. Like frost beneath the moon. Like an immortal venerable untouched by the mortal world, without emotion or desire.
He simply stood in the doorway, sunlight falling on his white robes, as cold as a newly unsheathed sword, yet as pure as a freshly brewed cup of tea.
Everyone else watched Pei Yubai, their eyes filled with awe.
After three seconds of silence, the barrage went completely out of control.
[??????]
[Ahhhhhhhhh]
[Immortal venerable!!! This is an immortal venerable in the flesh!!!]
[I can't, I feel like I'm about to stop breathing]
[He already looks good enough in suits, but in period costume he ascends straight to godhood]
[Please can my husband film a period drama looking like this, I'm seriously thirsting so hard]
[Pei Yubai look at yourself, wouldn't it be a crime against that face not to film a period drama]
[I'm dead I'm dead I'm dead]
Pei Yubai rarely appeared in period costume in his films-practically never, in fact.
His fans usually saw him in modern styling, so suddenly seeing Pei Yubai dressed like this, they simply couldn't get enough.
With everyone watching him, Pei Yubai's expression barely changed. He glanced down at his clothes, straightened his cuffs, then looked up at Meng Xu.
"Let's go."
Just two words.
Meng Xu came back to his senses and coughed. "Let's head out."
The group left the guesthouse and headed toward Cloud-Hidden Mountain.
Cloud-Hidden Mountain lay east of town. It wasn't tall, but mist shrouded it, making it look from a distance like a green hat set on the ground. At its foot lay a stretch of flat land, covered with old buildings.
That was Fated Marriage Village.
Only as they drew closer could they make out what the village looked like. The houses were in the style of the Ming and Qing dynasties, with blue bricks, gray tiles, and upturned eaves.
The lanes were narrow, lined on both sides with tall fire walls covered in lush green vines. The stone paving had been polished shiny by the years and felt slippery underfoot.
Occasionally, an old well appeared beside the road, its rim covered in moss, its water so clear they could see their reflections.
The village was small but quiet. A few elderly people occasionally sat sunning themselves outside their doors. They weren't surprised to see the group in period costume and simply watched them with smiles.
Shen Yuzhou walked in the middle of the group, looking around and murmuring, "This place would be perfect for filming a movie."
Walking beside him, Cheng Yanqiu reminded him, "Watch your step. Don't fall."
Pei Yubai walked at the rear. His pace was unhurried, his gaze sweeping over the old houses in thought.
This place really would be perfect for filming a movie.
Somewhere they hadn't noticed, beside a second-floor window, a red sleeve stirred in the wind.