Chapter 193: Keep That Woman Away

The next day, the family rose at the early hour of the rabbit (5-7 AM). After breakfast, they all dressed neatly.

Chen Lu and Dabao were dressed in round, puffy outfits, with a short jacket inside and a thick cotton robe on the outside. Chen Feng wore a padded cotton vest to protect her chest and a fine green cotton jacket over it, along with a dark green horse-faced skirt, and a pair of warming ear muffs. It was her warmest outfit, providing her with ample warmth.

Mrs. Wang specifically handed Chen Feng fifty taels of silver, and Chen Feng herself also took fifty taels of silver, which was to be used as an offering for the temple.

At exactly 7:00 AM, a carriage arrived at the gate of Luyuan. Chen Feng, carrying two food boxes, boarded the carriage with Lu and Dabao.

When the carriage reached the gate of Tangyuan, they were asked to disembark, and Chen Feng, with Dabao boarded the second carriage, a luxurious canopy carriage, with Chu Hanyan inside. Since Mama Song was also in the carriage, it could only accommodate four people, so Chen Lu was asked to board the first carriage, where the old marquis was seated.

Chu Lingxuan rode on horseback. Seeing Chen Feng wearing only a light cotton jacket, she looked frail in the morning breeze. He then called for Mrs. Wei to come over and whispered a few words to her. Mrs. Wei nodded and hurried into Tangyuan.

At that moment, two birds appeared in the sky, circling low and calling out “ga-ga.”

Dabao and Hanyan simultaneously exclaimed, “Qiqi and Gray.” then eagerly opened the curtains to look outside.

These two little imitators, Chen Feng had warned them not to follow, but although they had listened at home, they were now chasing after them again.

The old marquis laughed heartily, opened the curtains, and welcomed them inside.

After waiting for a good half hour, Mrs. Wei emerged with a small package and headed straight for the second carriage. She lifted the curtain and handed the package to Chen Feng, saying, “Ms. Feng, you’re not dressed warmly enough. This is my lord’s old cape, put it on when you enter the mountains.”

Chen Feng thanked her and accepted the package. In reality, she wanted to say that she wasn’t feeling cold and didn’t need it, but since it was already offered, she accepted it out of politeness.

After Mrs. Wei departed, Chen Feng smiled at Mama Song and said, “Sister Luo is very warm-hearted.”

Mama Song smiled and said, “Yes, indeed.”

Chen Feng noticed Mama Song’s meaningful smile and then realized, belatedly, that Mrs. Wei had no right to take their master’s clothes. Thinking about Chu Lingxuan’s instructions from the previous night, she blushed. That person really was a good leader who cared for her subordinates. Was this similar to the ambiguous relationship between superiors and subordinates in the workplace in a past life?

The carriage began to pick up speed, gradually moving faster.

After about half an hour, the carriage entered the mountains. Unexpectedly, the temperature dropped sharply upon entering the mountains. Even with a hand warmer, she felt icy all over. Chen Feng had to take out the cape from the package. It was a stone-blue brocade cape embroidered with bird patterns and lined with white sable fur. It was a Zhaojun fur cape of the same color, embellished with a large thumb-sized ruby, exuding an air of luxury.

Seeing such a magnificent fur garment, Chen Feng was delighted. She put on the cape, then the Zhaojun fur, and immediately felt warm.

Mama Song smiled and remarked, “Ms. Chen, you look quite elegant after dressing up.”

Dabao, elated, wide-eyed, said, “My mother looks so beautiful.”

Hanyan, buried in the thick cape, straightened up and praised, “Auntie looks… elegant.”

Before long, they arrived at the entrance of Lingyin Temple. Everyone disembarked from the carriage and horses. Their plan was to first visit Master Wuzhi. Old marquis Chu had met the master in his earlier years, and Chu Lingxuan had seen him once in his childhood.

Master Wuzhi had a peculiar temperament and wasn’t always available. If he wasn’t available, they’d have to leave the food and visit the Buddha’s hall, and then proceed to Yingshuan Monastery. They would have their meal, rest, and then return home.

As the group entered the temple gate, old marquis Chu seemed to see something he didn’t want to see and his face immediately darkened. Chu Lingxuan was even more extreme, not only were his eyes as cold as ice, but his fists were also tightly clenched.

Old marquis Chu halted and said coldly, “Xuan, let’s go see your mother first.” Then, he turned and left the gate.

Chu Lingxuan stooped to pick up Hanyan and said to Chen Feng, “We’ll go to Yingshuan Monastery first, and then come back here later.”

While Chen Feng was still in a daze, a young monk around eleven or twelve years old approached. He clasped his hands together and asked, “Excuse me, madam, are you here to see Master Wuzhi?”

Chen Feng nodded and said, “Yes.”

The young monk said, “Please, madam, follow me.”

Chu Lingxuan knew it was not easy to see Master Wuzhi, so he sent someone to welcome Chen Feng, not wanting her to miss this opportunity. He said, “Go, we’ll wait for you at Yingshuan Monastery.” He then lowered his voice and added, “Stay away from the woman in the yellow cape.” He then asked two guards from Tangyuan to accompany them, and led the others out of Lingyin Temple.

As they walked, they could still hear Chu Hanyan’s cries, “Auntie, Dabao…”

This time, the Chu family did not compromise and hurriedly left with her.

Chen Feng was puzzled. What was going on?

She looked at the worshippers in the main hall, walking around, looking around, burning incense, and kowtowing. There were at least a dozen people, from all walks of life, but she didn’t see the woman in the yellow cape.

They followed the young monk to the back of the temple. After walking through a corridor, passing through a bamboo grove, and crossing a stone bridge, the view opened up. There were rows of meditation rooms, and in front of them were several plum trees, their blossoms exquisite and vibrant.

However, there were several people standing at the entrance of the meditation rooms, one of them was a young woman wearing a bright yellow brocade cape with embroidered phoenix tails, and a Zhaojun fur of the same color.

Chen Feng was taken aback. Although she could only see the woman’s back, she felt a sense of grandeur. Thinking about Chu Lingxuan’s words, she didn’t want to move forward.

The young monk noticed Chen Feng’s hesitation and said, “It’s okay, madam, follow me.” He then said to Lu and the two guards, “Please, go to the pavilion over there and rest for a while.”

There was a pavilion about ten meters away, with a few people inside.

Chen Lu didn’t seem too pleased and pouted, “Sister.”

Chen Feng thought that nothing would happen outside the master’s door, so she whispered, “Behave, sister is going to take care of some business.”

Chen Feng watched as Lu and the guards went to the pavilion, and then noticed a man in a black cape who was staring at her in surprise. He was tall and handsome, with a fair complexion and short beard, and seemed somewhat familiar. When he noticed Chen Feng looking at him, he quickly turned his head away.

The young monk, carrying the food boxes from the guards, said, “Both of you, let’s go.”

Suppressing her thoughts, Chen Feng followed the young monk with Dabao towards the meditation rooms.

As they approached the door of the meditation rooms, they overheard a young monk who was blocking the woman at the entrance, saying, “The master asked me to pass on a message to the lady, ‘What is destined will eventually happen, and what is not will not be forced.'”