Because Xiao Yun was coming to pick up Wang Qingyao, the Bai family and others postponed their departure. After Xiao Yun arrived and everyone had exchanged greetings, they boarded the carriages.
Wang Qingyao had told Xiao Yun early in the morning that Yin Zhu and the others also wanted to go, so Xiao Yun thoughtfully prepared two carriages.
Yin Zhu was so touched she almost cried.
Wang Qingyao still shared a carriage with Xiao Yun.
Once in the carriage, she looked Xiao Yun up and down.
Xiao Yun was wearing a light green ice-silk robe today, with a dark yellow-brown auspicious cloud patterned jade belt around his waist. His long hair was half-tied with a light green ribbon. As the weather was gradually warming, he held a paper fan in his hand. He was truly elegant and dashing.
Wang Qingyao was more and more pleased as she looked at him. She took a cloth bag embroidered with silver patterns from her waist and handed it to him: "Here, this is for you, congratulations on becoming the Minister of Revenue."
Xiao Yun smiled: "What's there to congratulate? Is the Minister of Revenue higher in status than a prince like me? It's just more tiring work."
Although he said this, his hands didn't stop. He put the fan down on the small table, opened the bag, and poured out the contents.
It was an ivory comb with five colors.
Pale yellow and lustrous, it was undoubtedly valuable.
Xiao Yun was stunned. She actually gave him a comb?!
The meaning of giving a comb...
He felt a little embarrassed even thinking about it. His future princess was too bold.
He coughed lightly, carefully put the comb back into the bag, and kept it close to him.
"Um, do you know what it means to give a comb?"
Ah, there were rules to giving a comb?
Wang Qingyao was annoyed. She didn't know what gifts were appropriate to give to men in ancient times. She had asked Yin Zhu and a few others. Some suggested hairpins, some suggested belts, and the comb was suggested by Nian Momo.
Nian Momo was an elder with rich life experience, so Wang Qingyao had listened to her.
Who would have thought that Xiao Yun would accept the gift and then question her?
She couldn't expose her ignorance in front of her boss again, having already exposed too much.
She cleared her throat and said with a composed expression: "Yes, I do."
She knew!
Under her clear and calm gaze, Xiao Yun's cheeks flushed, and he showed a proud yet shy expression. Ah, his future princess was too enthusiastic!
His expression was not quite right, and Wang Qingyao felt a hundred claws scratching at her heart, but she couldn't ask.
When they finally arrived at the Grand Xiangguo Temple, she immediately went to find Nian Momo as soon as she got off the carriage.
Nian Momo said with a serious face: "Miss, a comb represents longing, meaning you miss the other person very much and wish you could be with them every day."
Wang Qingyao was shocked. Nian Momo, at her age, knew so much about these frivolous things!
But it made sense. She breathed a sigh of relief.
Nian Momo was a traditional woman. Although she tried her best to maintain her composure, her old face still couldn't help but blush after saying these words.
According to propriety, she shouldn't be telling the young lady these things...
The weather was clear and warm. Pomegranate flowers stretched over the courtyard walls of the temple, and tender buds had emerged from the willow trees by the pavilions. The calls of birds summoning each other echoed in the air, a scene of spring's radiance everywhere.
Wang Qingyao was in a good mood. Zhizi and the others followed behind her. Yin Zhu pointed to the northwest and said, "Miss, look."
It turned out to be Mrs. Tian and Tian Yu.
Mrs. Bai, along with Wang Qinglin, went forward to greet them. After a few words, Mrs. Tian and her son joined Mrs. Bai and the others.
Old Madam Wang no longer thought much of the Tian family. Out of consideration for the in-laws, she didn't say much, only giving Mrs. Bai a dissatisfied glance.
Mrs. Bai pretended not to see it.
Everyone entered the temple. There were many people, but it was orderly.
Wang Qingyao saw many familiar faces.
They went to worship Buddha first, and then to the main hall to watch the bathing ceremony.
Six monks carried the Buddha statue from the scripture hall to the main hall. The abbot placed the statue in a golden basin filled with fresh flowers and spices, from which a fragrant scent wafted.
The Buddha statue was not large, about thirty to forty centimeters tall, shining with golden light. One finger pointed to the sky, and the other to the earth, it was Shakyamuni Buddha.
Afterward, the abbot took a small, equally golden ladle and scooped water, pouring it onto the Buddha statue.
The monks chanted Buddhist songs and recited scriptures, and the pilgrims knelt down devoutly.
Wang Qingyao did not believe in Buddhism, but as she prostrated herself on the ground, with the chanting resonating in her ears, she felt a peace she had never experienced before.
In her heart, she made a wish: "May my work go smoothly!"
Xiao Yun helped her up, and everyone lined up in the side hall to receive the blessed water.
Wang Qingyao asked, "Is this water for drinking or bathing when we take it back?"
"Either," Xiao Yun replied.
Wang Qingyao dared not drink it.
There were many people in line. Xiao Yun, fearing Wang Qingyao would get tired, suggested she rest in the meditation rooms behind, but Wang Qingyao shook her head: "It shows more sincerity to queue up in person."
There were many elderly people in the queue, like Old Madam Wang, who insisted on queuing up herself despite her age.
Many people received the blessed water and drank it on the spot.
By the time it was Wang Qingyao's turn, it was already noon. The temple had prepared vegetarian meals. This was where the privilege of the nobility was evident.
Ordinary people ate collectively in the main dining hall. Xiao Yun, being both a noble and wealthy, directly rented a small courtyard with four or five meditation rooms, even providing resting places for the maids and servants.
Yin Zhu was once again moved to tears.
Monks brought the vegetarian dishes, and Wang Qingyao and Xiao Yun sat opposite each other to eat, then took a nap.
As she was drifting between sleep and wakefulness, she suddenly heard a scream pierce the air.
It came from the adjacent courtyard.
Wang Qingyao woke up completely. Zhizi and Yin Zhu came in to help her dress and wash.
"What's happening outside?" she asked.
Zhizi and Yin Zhu exchanged glances, neither of them knowing what had happened.
Wang Qingyao tidied her clothes and hurried out, meeting Xiao Yun, who had also heard the scream.
"I've already sent someone to investigate."
A moment later, the investigating guard returned with a complex expression. He glanced cautiously at Wang Qingyao, hesitating to speak.
Xiao Yun said, "Just say it."
It turned out that the people resting in the adjacent courtyard were from the Wang and Tian families. Bai Junzhu, the eldest daughter of the Bai family, had come to talk to Wang Qinglin. Hearing that Tian Yu was to take up his post in mid-April, she, out of kindness and remembrance of their acquaintance, had come to see him off. Unexpectedly, Tian Yu suddenly lost his beastly nature...
Wang Qingyao's interest was piqued: "How did he lose his beastly nature?"
The guard hesitated for a moment. Seeing that his master showed no reaction, he pondered for a moment and chose more elegant words: "He forcibly took her, and the deed is done."
Wang Qingyao exclaimed, "Wow!" Yin Zhu and the others were simply stunned.
Tian Yu was Wang Qinglin's fiancé!
Was this what they called karma?