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Chen Feng went to the meditation room, where a meal had been set on the table. Abbess Liao Chen and a few children were already seated. She joined them at the table and partook of the meal.
After the meal, as the children went to rest, Chen Feng stayed to chat with Abbess Liao Chen. She learned that Abbess Liao Chen had been unwell, often suffering from insomnia. So, she took out a stick of Swallow Leaf Agarwood incense and gave it to Abbess Liao Chen.
Upon hearing that it was Swallow Leaf Agarwood incense, Abbess Liao Chen was astonished, her eyes widening in disbelief. She exclaimed, “Heavens, does this world really have such a rare fragrance?”
Chen Feng then answered, “It was sent by Master Wuzhi, so it must be real.”
Accepting the incense, she sniffed it, closing her eyes and savored the scent. Opening her eyes, she exclaimed joyfully, “Truly exquisite and lingering, with a subtle and elegant fragrance, it’s a wondrous scent like none other.”
Seeing her reaction, Chen Feng was somewhat stunned. Swallow Leaf Agarwood incense, as the name suggested, contained leaves from the Swallow Agarwood Tree. If she hadn’t provided it, the old monk couldn’t have produced such a fragrance. However, from Abbess Liao Chen’s words, it seemed that this world should indeed have Swallow Leaf Agarwood incense, albeit quite rare.
She inquired, “Abbess Liao Chen, is this Swallow Leaf Agarwood incense very rare?”
Abbess Liao chuckled, “It’s no wonder you don’t know the value of this fragrance. Even I only read about Swallow Leaf Agarwood incense in an ancient book, which mentioned that it’s necessary to find a tree called Swallow Agarwood to use its leaves in making this fragrance. However, this tree grows in remote and uninhabited places, making it nearly impossible for ordinary people to find. Previously, I thought that this kind of fragrance didn’t exist because neither this nor the previous dynasty had heard of anyone producing such a fragrance. Master Wuzhi is truly an enlightened monk, incredibly talented to have found these leaves and created this extraordinary fragrance.” Smiling, she took Chen Feng’s hand and said, “Ms. Feng, you are highly regarded by the Master, as he has generously given you three sticks. You are truly blessed.”
So, the ancient books did contain such records, cleverly portraying Swallow Agarwood as growing in remote mountains. Therefore, this fragrance wouldn’t be as feared by others.
Pretending to be surprised, Chen Feng laughed and said, “So, Swallow Leaf Agarwood incense is really so precious. Next time, I’ll definitely offer Master Wuzhi more salted meats to thank him for his generosity.”
Abbess Liao Chen chuckled, “This fragrance should be used sparingly. If it’s wasted, it truly would be squandering a precious resource. The ancient texts also mention that it has a unique and pleasing fragrance and can prevent and treat various ailments. It’s also very durable. Even without being burned, it exudes a faint scent, which can purify the air in the room or freshen clothes in the wardrobe. After a month, the fragrance slowly dissipates, and it must be burned to release its scent. Therefore, only a small piece is used each time, lasting over a month. The rest of the fragrance should be stored in a sealed copper container to prevent it from dissipating.”
So, two sticks of the fragrance could last for several days.
Abbess Liao Chen solemnly placed the fragrance in a copper box, covered it, and then held Chen Feng’s hand as she shared some personal stories. Her manner was gentle, her tone tender. Sitting beside her, Chen Feng felt warmth akin to that of being embraced by her own mother.
Chen Feng was also moved, leaning against her and sharing various amusing anecdotes about Chu Hanyan. This brought laughter to Abbess Liao Chen’s eyes, which finally reached the depths of her soul, reflecting genuine joy.
When the children woke from their nap, everyone prepared to return home. Chu Hanyan, tears in her eyes, held onto Abbess Liao Chen’s robe and said, “Grandma, come home with me.”
Abbess Liao Chen’s eyes welled up, and she said softly, “Grandma can’t go home with Yanyan because Grandma has become a hermit and must stay in the temple.”
Chen Feng also comforted Chu Hanyan for a while, then lifted her into her arms before they all boarded the carriage.
As the carriage traveled a certain distance and turned to descend the mountain, Chen Feng lifted the curtain and saw Abbess Liao hen still standing at the gate of the temple, gazing after them.
In the vast temple gate, her and the two young nuns’ slender figures seemed to accentuate her solitude and desolation.
She had such a powerful maternal and paternal family, yet due to her husband being coveted by others, she had ended up with such a result.
Chen Feng felt a pang of sadness, audibly sighing heavily, and holding Dabao’s hand a little tighter. She hoped that Master Wuzhi could truly avert the disaster looming over Dabao.
Recalling some words spoken by Master Wuzhi last time, mentioning Dabao being extraordinary, with a unique destiny, and advising him to keep a low profile, avoiding certain people and not leaving the area within a hundred miles of home for two years…
Chen Feng had long felt that Dabao couldn’t have been born into an ordinary family. Now, it seemed not only were they not ordinary, but there was a deeper reason for his abandonment than just the inner conflicts of the family.
A child like this, if faced with a disaster, would surely cause a great deal of trouble. As a simple commoner girl, or rather, the illegitimate daughter of the magistrate, could she protect him from harm?
It was easier to manage if the Golden Swallow is always outside, but she feared something happening to the Golden Swallow during the winter.
Deep in thought, Chen Feng silently watched the children play and frolic.
Upon arriving at the doorstep, everyone disembarked from the carriage.
Zhui Feng, Wangcai, Qiqi, and Gray were waiting at the front gate. The children ran to play with them, immediately enlivening the atmosphere.
Upon hearing their return, Mrs. Wang came out and said, “We’ll have dinner at the Luyuan tonight, and I’ve made lamb dumplings.” She then turned to the steward Luo and added, “I’ve also invited Mrs. Luo and a few others to come over and have dumplings with us tonight.”
Steward Luo nodded and thanked her with a smile.
After freshening up the children in the Fengyuan, Chen Feng went to the Luyuan.
She quietly informed Mrs. Wang about her inquiry to Master Wuzhi regarding her uncle. The old monk’s response was that they could reunite with her uncle, but the timing was uncertain.
Mrs. Wang was also visibly moved, her eyes reddening. She clasped her hands together, thanking the Buddha, “If Mother can truly see her younger brother again, she can depart from this world with no regrets.”
That evening, Chen Feng had Autumn and Summer entertain the children, while she made a beautiful thumb doll to present to the Golden Swallow.
Later, she entered the space and brought in two lamb dumplings. As the Golden Swallow wasn’t under the agarwood tree, and since it hadn’t left, it must be sleeping in one of those golden houses.
Chen Feng placed the plate of dumplings and the thumb doll on the ground, then started sorting through the jewelry. She planned to visit Dingzhou Prefecture in a few days, sell the jewelry, and buy a larger shop for the “Fengyunlai”.
Apart from the stolen jewelry in this world, there remained an emerald, three pearls, three sapphires, three carved jade and jadeite pieces.
Perhaps from spending a long time in the space, the luster of these jewels was exceptional. They seemed to be worth much more than jewels of similar size and quality.
Chen Feng speculated that the pearls and sapphires combined could fetch at least over two hundred taels of silver. The emerald was even better, the last emerald had sold for three hundred and twenty taels of silver, so this one could fetch at least five hundred taels of silver or more.