CHAPTER 36: CHAPTER 36: SOLUTIONS

She laughed and looked elsewhere, but discovered that from here, not only could one see the entire back mountain, but also the mountain gate at the foot of the mountain.

About a dozen horses were rapidly approaching the mountain gate, all ridden by men, raising clouds of dust from afar...

These people were stopped by a young nun at the mountain gate, and one person raised a whip, ready to hit the young nun, who was so frightened she sat on the ground.

The young man with the whip dismounted arrogantly, saying something unknown, while the young nun cowered and backed away repeatedly.

A typical display of a rich, spoiled young master!

Puji Temple does not shy away from male guests, especially those of esteemed status, but generally, unless they have urgent business, men would avoid going up the mountain to prevent disturbing the women coming and going, instead resting at the courtyard halfway up the mountain.

Such behavior, however, is rare!

Xiqiu sneered and turned away, not seeing that the young man with the whip had it snatched by another companion, who threw it away. Not only that, but the dozen or so people even apologized to the young nun and sat under the shed at the mountain’s base, waiting for the gate to open!

"Sixth Sister, come and have a look." Tong Xiyan came over to pull Xiqiu, pointing to a copper coin, "My copper coin sank. You try it."

Several maidservants stood opposite, throwing coins into the water.

The ground was littered with sunken copper coins, making it impossible to tell whose was whose: "I’ll just watch, I won’t try!" It’s normal for them to sink, but it’s also fine if they don’t. The water here is hot, who knows what metallic elements it contains, or perhaps it’s a temple gimmick.

Tong Xiyan wouldn’t give up and forced one into her hand: "Since you’re here, try it once!" Xiqiu couldn’t refuse her, so she casually tossed the coin inside.

They saw the coin spin and gradually sink down.

Tong Xiyan looked disappointed: "Who is truly the destined one?"

Xiqiu pursed her lips and smiled, teasing her: "Elder Sister, are you seeking the Buddha’s destined one, or your own?"

Tong Xiyan’s face instantly turned red, she glared at her and stomped up the stairs in a huff.

After taking a tour of the back mountain, the three of them had a vegetarian meal with Madam Chen and the lady, then each retired to their rooms to rest.

The guest room was simply furnished, and Sixing and the others had tidied up earlier. Xiqiu lounged on the heated platform reading, while Chunyan came in with a calm expression. Xiqiu shook her head, indicating they’d talk later to avoid the possibility of eavesdropping. Chunyan nodded and sat with Sixing on a chair by the side.

The three of them chatted casually, and suddenly someone knocked on the door: "Sixth Miss!"

Sixing opened the door and saw two young nuns standing with wet pots in their hands, water dripping outside.

"Sixth Miss, this is from some young masters at the bottom of the mountain. They caught them in the pond there, saying they looked nice, and wanted to bring them to the misses for novelty."

Xiqiu got off the platform, peeping to see the pot, which was filled halfway with water, and inside, three chubby little fish swam cheerfully, very cute.

She looked at the little fish and casually asked, "Do only I have them, or do the other misses have them too?"

The young nun replied neither humbly nor haughtily, clearly used to dealing with noble ladies: "To answer Miss, this humble nun and senior sister delivered to Third Miss and Fourth Miss before coming here."

Xiqiu laughed, taking the fish personally: "Thank you, little sister."

Sixing and Chunyan went to see the two young nuns off. Xiqiu sat cross-legged on the platform, stretching her head to look at the swimming fish in the pot. Suddenly, she discovered a strangely shaped jade green stone inside, which she hadn’t noticed before due to the light refraction.

She reached in to pick up the stone, discovering it was transparent, irregularly shaped but notably pure in color, holding it made one feel a cool clarity...

Her fingertips felt its fine texture, noticing shallow lines like patterns. As she scrutinized it, she found a character lightly engraved on it, a neatly "Qiu" character written in Yan style.

Deliberately engraved?!

She raised an eyebrow, her mind racing with thoughts. She quickly slipped the stone into her pocket as footsteps approached outside, and looked back at the little fish.

"How did the First Young Master think of sending fish?" Chunyan also peered in: "Miss, look, this fish is so cute, chubby with big and bright eyes, just like the Seventh Young Master."

Xiqiu laughed, thinking of Tong Minzhi’s chubby, bun-like face, unable to hold back a smile.

As the three gathered together discussing, Zijuan came to notify them to prepare for departure in half an hour, and they began to hurriedly pack up, tea sets, dishes, copper mirrors, washbasins, soaps, towels, and so on. After a while of bustling about, they finally boarded the carriage.

Madam Chen descended the mountain first, and the lady also left the temple. The carriage stopped as they reached the foot of the mountain.

Xiqiu, along with Tong Xiyan, Sixing, and Xinzhu, sat in the fourth carriage, hearing a man speaking lowly at the front, his voice magnetic. Xinzhu curiously lifted the curtain a little, and Xiqiu also glanced out.

The man stood in front of the lead carriage, speaking with the lady behind the curtain. He wore all black, a black long gown embroidered with silver patterns, a black belt, and black riding boots. Such attire would typically appear mature, but he didn’t. The mountain wind lifted the edges of his clothes and ribbons, giving off a slightly rebellious aura. From this angle, only his profile could be seen, with a high nose bridge, narrow phoenix eyes, and thin lips pressed into a line without a smile, coldly courteous at best.

Not far behind him, about a dozen young men gathered, one wearing a deep red long gown holding a horse whip. Xiqiu recognized him as the one who had earlier used the whip on people.

So they were all together.

Tong Xiyan also leaned out, glanced briefly, and then quickly reclined onto the cushion, her tone somewhat peculiar: "It’s Fourth Master from the Xuanning Marquis Mansion, the elder sister’s brother-in-law."

Xinzhu immediately curled her lip in disdain, dropping the curtain at once.

Xiqiu raised her eyebrows, so that’s the notorious Fourth Master Xiao known throughout the Capital?

She didn’t know why he was famous but had heard it was not good reputation. It was said that he lived alone even before marriage, returning to the mansion only once or twice a year, spending most of the time at his own residence indulging nightly with a group of rakes. Even the Marquis Mansion Dowager had to come to his house to see her son, blocking the door to meet him.

Soon the group left amidst laughter, and the Tong Mansion carriage started moving as well. Xiqiu dozed off during the ride and woke up by the second gate of the Tong Mansion.

After a bumpy day, they each returned to their courtyard. Xiqiu asked Siliu to keep the fish in a transparent glass tank. She then carefully placed the stone in a box, when Chunyan entered, sitting on the embroidery stool: "After the Third Miss returned to her room, she sent Nanny Qiu to the front yard, but did not come out herself. I secretly went to the front yard to look and saw Nanny Qiu playing cards with a few carriage-driving matrons from the Minister Mansion." Her tone betraying a slight tension that even she hadn’t noticed.