Chapter 15: Qingming Festival

Bai Jinxi sat in a carriage with Banxia, while Zhang Ze was responsible for driving.

Yun Moyi and Lu Yian were in another carriage, the two carriages traveling one after the other towards the city outskirts.

Gurgling…

A strange sound echoed inside the carriage.

Lu Yian frowned and looked at Yun Moyi. “Mother, I’m hungry. Is there any food in the carriage?”

Lu Yian, who hadn’t eaten breakfast, was now regretting it. This trip to the city outskirts to pay respects would take at least two hours to go and return. He should have just eaten something…

“Alas, An’er, just bear with it for a while. We’ll have some vegetarian food at Luoyun Temple after we’ve paid our respects.”

Yun Moyi comforted him gently. This was the first time they had traveled outside the city by carriage since they moved into the Bai Mansion. They had forgotten to have someone prepare food.

“Vegetarian food again? Mother, let’s just go back to the city after paying respects. I want to eat ginger and scallion chicken from Qiao’s Restaurant.”

Lu Yian was not happy at all about having to eat vegetarian food.

“Mother has arrangements at Luoyun Temple. And their vegetarian food is famous in the area. Especially the vegetarian chicken prepared for pilgrims. Although it’s made of bean products, it’s tender and juicy, even better than chicken.”

“Alright, stop. Don’t say anymore. I’m even hungrier now. Fine, let’s go. I hope we can finish paying respects quickly.”

Meanwhile, in the other carriage.

“Miss, what do you think Qingdai meant?”

Banxia frowned and looked at Bai Jinxi with confusion.

When they met Qingdai at the entrance of Xi Lin Yuan just now, Bai Jinxi casually asked if Yun Moyi had finished breakfast. Qingdai replied with a long string of words.

“Replying to Miss, Madam Yun only ate one vegetarian bun and a few sips of porridge. Mister Lu disliked the vegetarian bun and didn’t eat a single bite. He said he would go to Qiao’s Restaurant to eat something good later.”

This couldn’t help but make Bai Jinxi think more. Was she trying to show her loyalty and curry favor?

Although Qingdai was Bai Jinxi’s mother’s maid, she wasn’t a close servant, so Bai Jinxi didn’t have much of an impression of her.

As for whether she was trustworthy, Bai Jinxi decided to observe her further.

After all, she still had nightmares about the tragic consequences of trusting the wrong people in her previous life!

Bai Jinxi didn’t really care whether Lu Yian came to pay respects or not. But hearing Qingdai say that he hadn’t eaten breakfast and was going to eat a big meal at a restaurant, she decided that she couldn’t let him have it easy!

That’s why she used a little trick to force Lu Yian to go out and pay respects on an empty stomach.

Since you don’t want to eat vegetarian food, then go hungry. It’ll make you seem more pious, hmph!

When they arrived at the entrance of the ancestral hall, everyone got out of the carriages. Bai Chongwu was already waiting at the entrance. He took Bai Jinxi inside the ancestral hall.

After paying respects to their ancestors, Bai Chongwu pulled Bai Jinxi aside and quietly asked about her recent situation…

Not far away, Lu Yian looked at the two of them talking with a face full of impatience. He was so hungry that he was restless and impatiently kicked at the bushes by his feet.

Bai Jinxi noticed this and quickly ended her conversation with Bai Chongwu.

Although she wanted to let Lu Yian starve, this was the Bai family’s ancestral hall after all. She didn’t want him to destroy anything here, not even a blade of grass…

“Let’s go pay respects to my parents…” Bai Jinxi said expressionlessly, calling out to Lu Yian and Yun Moyi.

The group walked further into the ancestral hall. From a distance, they saw a new grave that was particularly eye-catching in the outer circle of the ancestral graves—the tomb of Bai Chongwen and Bai Linrong.

Kneeling down in front of her parents’ grave, her expression was solemn, even with a hint of killing intent.

“Father, Mother, I’ve brought two people today. These two people have a deep connection with our Bai family. I believe you’ll understand when you see them…”

She emphasized “connection” and “understand,” implying something…

Yun Moyi frowned, looking at Bai Jinxi’s back, pondering those two sentences.

These words sound a bit strange. What does she mean by “deep connection” and “understand”?

Does this little brat know something?!

But after carefully thinking about everything that had happened since she came to the Bai Mansion, she was sure that she hadn’t said anything about that matter. Even when she was alone with An’er behind closed doors, she had never mentioned it.

Heh, maybe I’m being too sensitive!

Yun Moyi mocked herself in her heart. Maybe she was getting old and soft-hearted. Unconsciously, she was feeling guilty about that matter?!

The gaze from behind made Bai Jinxi feel like she was being watched. She slowly got up.

When she turned around, her expression was already seven parts sadness mixed with three parts shyness, as if she was embarrassed to have brought Lu Yian to pay respects to her parents.

Yun Moyi caught the shyness on Bai Jinxi’s face and secretly laughed at her own overcaution. She had clearly overthought it. This little brat was just embarrassed when she mentioned her “future husband”!

Seeing that Bai Jinxi was looking at Lu Yian, Yun Moyi gently nudged him, signaling him to step forward.

“I’m Lu Yian, your junior. I pay my respects to both elders. In the future, Sister Xi will be my person. I will definitely take good care of her!”

After saying that, he also solemnly kowtowed three times.

Bai Jinxi looked at his back and sneered in her heart.

Although Lu Yian is not very cunning, when it comes to his own interests, he’s really willing to go all out…

After paying their respects, the group left the Bai family ancestral graves.

Bai Jinxi was about to get into the carriage, but Yun Moyi stopped her.

“Sister Xi, it’s rare to be out for a trip. Let’s go to Luoyun Temple to burn incense and pray for blessings. It’s almost noon, and it’s time to eat. I’ll take you to try the famous vegetarian chicken at Luoyun Temple.”

Hmm? Why would she suddenly take her out for a walk and a meal? Could Yun Moyi be so kind?

Something must be going to happen!

Bai Jinxi lowered her head and pondered. She frantically searched her memories. Did anything special happen in her previous life at this time and place?

Qingming Festival…

Luoyun Temple!

She actually remembered!

It was just that it had nothing to do with her, so she couldn’t remember it for a moment!

In her previous life, on Qingming Festival, a group of bandits near Luoyun Temple were wiped out!

At that time, she was on her way home after paying respects to her ancestors. She heard it from a passerby outside the carriage.

They said that a bandit, covered in blood, had run to Luoyun Temple for help. The monks at Luoyun Temple temporarily took him in and reported it to the officials.

When the soldiers brought the bandit back to the bandit camp, no one was left alive!

At the time, the passerby was telling it as a joke. Bandits encountered trouble and chose to seek help from monks and report it to the officials? It was truly ironic.

Wait! Bandits again?!

Could this be Yun Moyi’s doing?

But weren’t the bandits working for her? Why were they all killed?

Unless…

It was a cover-up!

Thinking of this, Bai Jinxi felt a little excited. She felt like she was suddenly one step closer to the truth!

If she could see the bandit who escaped, wouldn’t she have a chance to know if they were the ones who killed her parents?!

Bai Jinxi felt her hands tremble. She tried to control her excitement and pretended to be curious.

“If that’s the case, then let’s go to Luoyun Temple. I also want to try that legendary vegetarian chicken!”

Hmph, you shallow little girl, you’re so happy just hearing about food.

Seeing her expectant expression, Yun Moyi nodded in satisfaction and got back into the other carriage.