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The next day, the weather was clear with a vast blue sky.
After breakfast, Shen Tang took Yin Xing to Pine Crane Hall to pay respects to the old lady. By the time she arrived, Shen Juan, Shen Ran, and Shen Luo were already there.
After waiting for a quarter of an hour, a maid came in to report that the carriage was ready. Shen Tang and the others then rose to head to Dazhao Temple.
Dazhao Temple was located outside the city and was a royal temple of the Great Qi dynasty. It was usually bustling with visitors, and today, being the fifteenth day, there would be even more pilgrims coming to offer incense and pray.
The temple was nestled within the misty green mountains, and at the foot of the hills, one could barely see a hint of yellow walls and green tiles. The deep, resonant sound of the temple bell drifted through the air, calming even the most restless hearts.
The mountain path was difficult to traverse, but the beautiful scenery of Dazhao Temple made the journey worthwhile. Shen Tang lifted the carriage curtain, finding it refreshing rather than stifling.
After the carriage stopped outside Dazhao Temple, they walked for a bit and climbed over a hundred steps, finally reaching the Hall of Great Hero, where the fragrant incense wafted through the air.
Just as Shen Tang and the others were about to enter to pray, they unexpectedly encountered the wife of Changping Marquis coming out, with the heir of Changping Marquis accompanying her.
As they met, Shen Tang and the others bowed to the wife of Changping Marquis.
The wife of Changping Marquis scanned Shen Tang and the others with a smile. “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Old Lady Shen. Is she here today?”
Shen Juan replied, “Grandmother is unwell today, so it’s just us sisters who came.”
While Shen Juan spoke with the wife of Changping Marquis, Shen Tang stood aside, feeling uncomfortable under the heir of Changping Marquis’s lingering gaze. His eyes were too sticky and brazen, and combined with his overly indulgent expression, it was quite nauseating.
The Changping Marquis’s household was the maternal family of the favored concubine, Concubine Ye, who had enjoyed the emperor’s favor for many years, elevating the status of the marquis’s family. The heir of Changping Marquis, being the only son, had a notorious reputation for bullying and indulging in all sorts of vices.
In her previous life, he had even audaciously tried to seduce Xie Guimo’s wife when he overheard an argument between them. In the end, he faced his own retribution and was left unable to harm any young ladies for the rest of his life.
Fortunately, the area outside the Great Hall was not a place for conversations, otherwise, Shen Tang didn’t know how long she would have to endure that disgusting gaze.
Once the wife of Changping Marquis left, Shen Tang and the others entered the hall to offer incense and pray sincerely.
After handing over the copied Buddhist scriptures to a young monk in the temple, along with some oil money, they finally exited the main hall.
Not far from Dazhao Temple, there was a bustling market, filled with all kinds of goods and lively shouts from vendors.
Shen Luo and Shen Ran were having a great time, while Shen Tang, now of similar age to them, had experienced enough in her previous life that she wasn’t as enthusiastic about exploring markets. She preferred to stroll around Dazhao Temple and enjoy the scenery instead.
As Shen Luo eagerly pulled Shen Tang down the steps, Shen Juan, who had come to the market, noticed Shen Ran and Shen Luo but didn’t see Shen Tang. She asked, “Where’s Shen Tang?”
Shen Luo replied, “Second Sister thought the market was too noisy and went over there.”
Shen Juan looked in the direction Shen Luo pointed and immediately signaled to her maid with a glance.
Meanwhile, Shen Tang was walking away from the market, finally enjoying some peace and quiet. The ancient trees around Dazhao Temple provided a cool shade, and as she walked along the bluestone path, a gentle breeze brought a refreshing chill.
Yin Xing said, “It’s a bit chilly here, Miss. The carriage isn’t far. I’ll go get a cloak for you.”
It was indeed a bit cool in the mountains, so Shen Tang replied, “I’ll wait for you at the pavilion ahead.”
Although this area was quiet, there were still people around, so she wasn’t too worried about safety.
Shen Tang walked leisurely to the pavilion, waiting for Yin Xing. However, after quite a while, Yin Xing still hadn’t returned.
The carriage was not far, and it should have taken Yin Xing just enough time to make a round trip. A hint of unease flashed through Shen Tang’s mind, and she stood up.
She walked back toward the market and, after a few steps, spotted a maid from the marquis’s household. She asked, “Have you seen Yin Xing?”
The maid replied, “I saw Yin Xing go that way about half a tea’s time ago.”
Where was she going over there?
Shen Tang didn’t think too much of it. There were many paths winding through the mountains, and there was another pavilion in that direction, just a bit farther away. She followed the maid’s directions.
After walking for a while, she saw a pavilion but found it empty, so she continued onward.
The further she walked, the quieter it became, and her unease grew. Just as she hesitated whether to return and call for help, she suddenly spotted Yin Xing lying on the ground, clutching Shen Tang’s cloak.
Seeing this scene made Shen Tang’s heart leap into her throat. She rushed over in three steps and two strides, squatting down to call for Yin Xing, but no matter how many times she called, Yin Xing didn’t wake up.
Just then, she heard footsteps approaching. The quiet surroundings made the sound of those footsteps particularly heavy.
Shen Tang looked up in a panic, only to see the heir of Changping Marquis walking toward her.
As soon as she laid eyes on him, Shen Tang knew she had been set up, and her heart raced even more.
In her previous life, she had been the princess consort of Prince Jingyang’s, but the heir of Changping Marquis had dared to dig into Xie Guimo’s territory. In this life, with no ties to Xie Guimo, he would have no reservations about her.
The heir of Changping Marquis approached step by step, and Shen Tang, frightened, quickly stood up. She had no time to worry about Yin Xing and turned to run.
But after only a few steps, she found her way blocked by the heir’s young servant.
Shen Tang’s face turned pale. She turned to the heir of Changping Marquis and said, “If you want to pursue me, you can come to my family to propose marriage. What is this?”
The heir of Changping Marquis smiled. “This prince wants you, but I don’t want to marry you.”
How shamelessly explicit.
He advanced closer while Shen Tang retreated.
With each backward step, she found herself cornered against a rockery. Shen Tang’s heart trembled with fear as she pulled out the gold hairpin in her hand, aiming it at the heir of Changping Marquis. He laughed, “I’ve never met such a fiery young lady before. It’s a pity, Second Miss Shen, that for the sake of your so-called sisterhood, you refuse to marry Prince Jingyang’s, yet you don’t know that your elder sister has sold you to me for the position of his wife.”
Shen Juan?!
Shen Tang felt a surge of rage toward Shen Juan.
This place was secluded, and even if she yelled for help, no one would hear her. Shen Tang’s hands trembled as she gripped the hairpin tighter.
The heir of Changping Marquis continued to approach, his throat moving as if he were impatient. Shen Tang’s hairpin aimed at him, but no matter how reckless he might be, he wasn’t someone fragile. The hairpin was snatched from her hand before it could touch him.
He threw the hairpin to the ground and moved closer, leaving Shen Tang with nowhere to hide. She had never felt this scared in either of her lives.
Just as the heir of Changping Marquis’s hand reached for her face, someone suddenly grabbed it.
The force was strong, and the heir of Changping Marquis was startled. He turned to see a masked figure, and before he could react, he was kicked away, rolling down the slope after two spins.
This all happened so quickly that Shen Tang only saw the heir of Changping Marquis being kicked away, disappearing from her sight. A familiar voice drifted to her ears, “It’s okay now.”
That familiar voice made Shen Tang’s body stiffen.
She looked up to see a silver mask and the angry yet worried eyes behind it.
It was him!