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Mrs. Luo nodded and said, “Yes, everything has been clarified. I will report back to the Madame.” With that, she headed towards the drooping flower gate.
Under the moonlight, Tangyuan was no longer shrouded in mystery to outsiders. Like all wealthy families, it had flying eaves, pavilions, winding streams, and beautiful landscape. However, it had a distinctive feature: an abundance of crabapple trees. Apart from the four-season crabapple and autumn crabapple, almost all the crabapple trees were laden with fruit, filling the air with a pleasant sweet and sour fragrance.
Mrs. Luo went to a delicate courtyard and knocked on the door, which was answered by a thirteen or fourteen-year-old young nun. She whispered, “Madam Huang has arrived, and the abbess is reciting scriptures.”
Mrs. Luo smiled and followed her into the main room. The hall was filled with the scent of sandalwood. The furnishings were very simple, unlike a regular hall—it felt more like a meditation room. In the innermost part was a high table, where a jade Guanyin statue was enshrined. In front of it was an incense burner, two trays of offerings, and further ahead, on both sides were four armchairs, each with a grey embroidered cushion.
From the side room on the right, the sound of a wooden fish being struck could be heard.
Mrs. Luo respectfully waited just outside the hall.
After about a quarter of an hour, a nun who was nearly forty years old emerged from the Buddha’s hall. She was Abbess Liao Chen.
Abbess Liao Chen did not use makeup, her skin was fair and clear, with delicate eyebrows and almond-shaped eyes. Although there were fine lines at the corners of her eyes, one could still discern her exceptional beauty from her youth. She sat on an armchair and gestured for Mrs. Luo to sit as well.
Mrs. Luo sat down on a brocade stool brought from the wall, showing her respect. Even though her Madam had become a nun, she still habitually used worldly etiquette with her.
Liao Chen asked, “Have you found out?”
Mrs. Luo smiled and said, “Everything has been uncovered. Ms. Feng from that family had a much more severe condition than young miss, but she has been cured. I am certain young miss will also get better.” She then relayed all of Mrs. Wang’s words to Liao Chen.
Upon hearing this, Liao Chen’s eyes reddened with excitement. She joined her hands together and said, “Amitabha, little Yan finally has hope. I dare not hope that she will be as intelligent as Ms. Feng from the Chen family, but as long as she can be a normal child, I will be content.”
Mrs. Luo smiled and said, “You are too humble, madam. Yan’er’s father is so capable and intelligent. If her illness is cured, she will surely be exceptionally bright.”
Liao Chen said, “I hope so.”
Mrs. Luo added, “Have you met the mother and daughter? Until now, Mrs. Wang still speaks highly of you.”
Liao Chen looked surprised and said, “Oh?”
Mrs. Luo then recounted the incident of Mrs. Wang taking the little Feng to Yingshuan Monastery to seek medical advice from Abbess Liao Chen.
After pondering for a moment, Liao Chen smiled and said, “Oh, I remember now. That child was only a few years old at the time, and her condition was severe. However, her appearance was extremely endearing, especially her eyes. Despite their vacancy, they were remarkably beautiful. I not only felt compassion for her but also liked her. Ah, her mother asked me to help with her intellectual disability, but apart from minor ailments like colds and headaches, where was I capable? The Chen family is a kind one. If they encounter difficulties in the future, help them if you can.”
Mrs. Luo nodded in agreement.
Liao Chen asked, “I wonder which monk from Lingyin Temple Mrs. Wang was referring to?”
Mrs. Luo replied, “I asked Mrs. Wang, but she didn’t know. She only mentioned that the monk had white hair and a big mole in the center of his left eyebrow.”
Liao Chen nodded and said, “I know who it is. It must be Master Wuzhi. Unfortunately, Master Wuzhi left on a wandering journey three years ago and has not yet returned to the temple.” Ever since learning about Yan’er’s intellectual disability, she had been thinking of seeking Master Wuzhi’s help. Now, upon hearing this, her determination was further strengthened.
She then instructed Mrs. Luo, “Retrieve the folk remedies mentioned by Mrs. Wang, and visit the clinics where Ms. Feng received treatment. Describe my granddaughter’s symptoms and compare the prescribed medicines with what she is currently taking…” Pausing for a moment, she added, “Also, have Luo Xiao and Xuan clear out the people around little Yan. At the very least, Xu Pozi is absolutely inappropriate. Whether or not little Yan is ill, she is just a four-year-old child and should not be constrained to oppress others or even engage in forced transactions. Not to mention, if little Yan’s illness truly improves, and she is influenced negatively…”
Mrs. Luo was taken aback. “Are you saying that person could extend their influence this far?”
…
The next morning, eight horse-drawn carriages and over twenty strong men on horseback emerged from Tangyuan. Two carriages and five men headed towards Honglin Mountain, while the rest went towards the capital city.
The second household of the Chen family had gained numerous benefits from the Tangyuan master’s short stay.
Chen Dabao, along with Qiqi, Gray, and Zhui Feng, not only accompanied Chu Hanyan in playing but also enjoyed a variety of delicious foods they had never eaten before. They earned a lot, enough to cover study materials for themselves and Chen Lu for a long time.
The family also acquired a small chest of fine satin, which they currently dared not use, but it would definitely come in handy at some point. Unexpectedly, they also made a substantial amount of money, forty taels of silver.
There was also some unknown silver, the money from “selling” the ten embroidered birds. It was unclear how much the Chu family would eventually provide.
Another advantage was establishing a relationship with the steward of Tangyuan, which they intended to maintain in the future.
So, as soon as they left, Chen Dabao began looking forward to their return, just as he looked forward to Golden Treasure’s return.
The daily life of Chen Feng’s family had returned to normal.
In the morning, Chen Feng prepared breakfast in the old courtyard, and after their meal, they returned to the new courtyard. Chen Lu cleaned the courtyard and the house, while Chen Dabao fed the birds and the chickens. Then, Chen Dabao went inside to study, and Chen Feng went to fetch water and tend to the vegetable garden.
Upon completing these tasks, Chen Feng brought out some beautiful blue and brown-yellow satin. She cut several pieces for the main household, one in the bright blue for Chen Ye, and one each in brown-yellow for Old Lady Chen and Mrs. Hu, and a two-foot piece of bright blue for Chen Daya.
She reluctantly cut a piece of brown-yellow satin, just over two feet, for Chen Jue. It was just enough for a single item of clothing, and she was not willing to give Chen Jue so much. She had originally thought of cutting a piece for Mrs. Gao but decided against it. Mrs. Gao was likely to be taken away by Mrs. Hu to show respect to her family or to satisfy Chen Jue.
She then cut four and a half feet of crabapple red satin for Chen Lan. Later, she would claim that this was something given to Mrs. Wang and her daughter to please the master of Tangyuan and was a reward for them in the form of this red satin.
Chen Lan was to be married at the end of the year, and wearing such bright and festive clothes would not only make her look beautiful but also respectable.
Although Chen Lan and Chen Feng were not very close, she was gentle, hardworking, and kind-hearted. Under the influence of Mrs. Hu, she had never bullied little Feng, which was already commendable. Marriage only happened once in a lifetime, and Chen Feng still hoped that she would be a beautiful and happy bride for the rest of her life.
Compared to the delicate and charming crabapple red satin, the brown-yellow satin, more suitable for middle-aged and elderly women, appeared old-fashioned and overbearing.
Thinking of Chen Jue’s selfishness, Chen Feng smirked, hoping that this piece of red satin would fulfill its purpose. Not only would it make Chen Lan a beautiful bride in the future, but it would also provoke Chen Jue.