Hаn Yаn smilеd. "Nеw Yеar's Eve mаrks thе start of а new yеаr. А сhаngе of attirе is to court good fortunе. Вesidеs, I'm a уеаr оlder nоw аnd nо lоngеr a сhild, so naturallу, I сan't drеss like one."
Тhese wоrds were full оf сhildishnеss, аnd Маdаm Zhou naturаllу didn't beliеvе thеm. Yet, shе felt shе wаs being ovеrlу suspiсious. She cаst a doubtful glanсе аt Hаn Yan, only tо sее her саsuаllу sizing uр thе cаrriаge аt the sidе, seeminglу uncоnсеrned. Аt this, hеr hеаrt eased slightlу. Zhuang Shiyang said, "In that сase, let's gеt into the сarriаgеs quicklу. The journey is long, so the sooner we leave, the sooner we can return."
Han Yan tilted her head to look at Zhuang Shiyang, then stretched out a hand and pointed to the two carriages. "Father, aren't Yu Shan and I riding in the same carriage?"
Madam Zhou glanced at Zhuang Shiyang and said in a gentle voice, "The last time Fourth Miss went to the palace banquet, she said she wasn't used to sharing a carriage with others. Besides, Fourth Miss also needs to bring her own maids, and one carriage might not be enough for everyone. Two will be much more spacious."
She had smoothly brought up the matter of the carriage from the last palace banquet. Anyone hearing this would only think that she, Zhuang Hanyan, was ungrateful and putting on airs, preferring to ride with her maids rather than share a carriage with the manor's concubine-born daughter. It was utterly arrogant and a case of bullying her half-sister.
As expected, after hearing this, Zhuang Shiyang's expression darkened. He said coldly to Han Yan, "Don't you prefer to ride in a carriage alone? What are you making a fuss about now!" Then he turned to Zhuangshan, his tone becoming incomparably gentle. "Yu'er, be careful. The journey is long. When we get back, you can watch the city's firework display with Father."
Zhuangshan smiled. "Yu'er will definitely pray to the Bodhisattva to bless Father with success in all things and to grant my aunt good health."
Only after they had finished their admonitions did Han Yan lift her foot and board one of the carriages.
Inside the carriage, Ji Lan leaned close to Han Yan's ear and said, "Miss, the manor has dispatched a lot of guards."
Han Yan lifted the curtain for a look. Sure enough, each carriage was surrounded by six guards in tight-fitting attire. She couldn't help but give a cold smile. Dropping the curtain, she leaned back against the soft couch inside the carriage.
These guards had probably all been bought by Madam Zhou. In her past life, she never understood how twelve of the manor's most skilled guards couldn't handle a gang of disorganized bandits. What's more, thinking back on it later, that gang of bandits' martial arts skills weren't particularly high; it was all just a mess of undisciplined punches and kicks. These guards weren't here to save her, but merely to ensure that things proceeded without a hitch—to keep an eye on her.
Shu Hong untied the ribbons of Han Yan's cloak. The carriage was warmed by a stove, making it much cozier than outside. Wearing the heavy cloak, Han Yan's cheeks were flushed from the heat.
Ji Lan whispered, "Miss, can you tell us now why you wanted us to dress like this?"
The previous night, Han Yan had told Ji Lan and Shu Hong that when they accompanied her up the mountain to pray for blessings today, they must wear light green blouses. Although they didn't understand, the two did as they were told. Having followed Han Yan for so many years, the two of them shared a tacit understanding with her that others couldn't compare to. Han Yan was leaving the manor to go up the mountain today, so she must be plotting something. But what could it be?
Han Yan glanced at the carriage curtain, then pulled Ji Lan's hand over, turning it palm up. She extended a finger and wrote a few characters on it.
At first, Ji Lan and Shu Hong watched intently. When they understood what the characters said, they both gasped in unison.
The characters were: Madam Zhou means to harm me, wants to ruin my innocence.
Shu Hong looked up abruptly, her gaze filled with worry for Han Yan. Han Yan continued to write: Colluding with mountain bandits to abduct me, will pretend to report it to the authorities.
The two maids were dumbfounded. Although they had seen many things during their years in the manor, they still found it incredible that such a venomous scheme was being used against their own miss. They felt both panicked and helpless. Shu Hong was the first to react. After a pause, she looked at Han Yan and mouthed silently, "What... do... we... do..."
Han Yan gave them a reassuring smile. Pressing her finger down firmly, she wrote four characters, stroke by stroke: Substitute a plum for a peach.
Fengdi Temple was a famous temple in the capital. However, not many people came to offer incense. The reason was none other than Daoist Master Qingfeng of the temple. Daoist Master Qingfeng was a capable man, but he rarely saw visitors. The mountain path to Fengdi Temple was difficult to walk, and devotees who came out of admiration but were unable to see Daoist Master Qingfeng would leave disheartened. Gradually, they stopped coming.
Although very few people came to offer incense, Fengdi Temple had not fallen into ruin and become a desolate temple. Even the fruits offered were fresh and rare. Han Yan calculated in her mind that there must be someone backing Fengdi Temple, someone with the financial might to afford such enormous incense offerings.
Han Yan's impression of Fengdi Temple was extremely poor, to the point of deep loathing. It was because in her past life, she had been abducted by mountain bandits precisely because she had come to this place. It was a case of misdirected anger, perhaps. In this new life, standing before the temple gate and looking at the architecture that was identical to her memory, Han Yan's heart was filled with a hundred emotions. From the past to the future, it seemed she had walked this road for a thousand, ten thousand years.
Zhuangshan had already instructed the servants to move their things—some grain and cotton quilts they were donating to the temple. These were the things the monks lacked most on a daily basis; anything else was unnecessary.
A middle-aged nun came over and led Han Yan and Zhuangshan into the temple's main hall. When she saw the golden dharma body of the Bodhisattva enshrined in the center, Han Yan sneered inwardly. For an ancient temple in such deep mountains to have the wealth to build a golden Bodhisattva, they were truly ostentatious.
Zhuangshan knelt on a prayer cushion, and Han Yan followed suit, looking directly into the eyes of the central Bodhisattva. She didn't believe in Buddhism. Her mother had believed in heaven, earth, and the Bodhisattva, yet she had ended up murdered. In her previous life, she herself had sought no conflict with the world, yet her marriage had been schemed against and her life ruined. Weren't Bodhisattvas supposed to save people from suffering? Then why, when she was struggling in a sea of misery, did not a single Bodhisattva come to save her? But... did she not believe? Her own rebirth was the result of fate being reversed. Could it be that even the Bodhisattva couldn't bear to see her bullied by wicked people and had granted her this chance to change everything, to start over?
Han Yan bent down and bowed deeply. As her head touched the prayer cushion, she closed her eyes and recited silently in her heart, "Bodhisattva, oh Bodhisattva, if you are truly divine, then bless me so that I may kill my enemies with my own hands, so that the wicked receive their just deserts, and so that Ming'ge and those dear to me may live well. Even if it requires my life in exchange, I, Han Yan, am willing."
After three respectful kowtows, Zhuangshan was already at the side with a bashful expression, drawing a fortune stick for marriage. Han Yan glanced over. Once Zhuangshan had drawn a top-tier fortune stick to her satisfaction, Han Yan went outside with her. The nun who had led them in earlier came over and invited them to stay for a meal at the temple.
The Zhuang Manor had brought many supplies to the temple this time, so Han Yan wasn't afraid they would be stingy. She called in the guards and several maids from outside. The monks were short-staffed, so the maids went to help.
The temple's vegetarian meal was extremely simple, just plain congee and side dishes, but Han Yan found it had a unique flavor. Zhuangshan, however, could hardly swallow it. Seeing Han Yan eat so naturally, she felt even more contemptuous. She reluctantly moved her chopsticks, took a few bites, and then set them down.
After finishing the vegetarian meal, Han Yan naturally bid farewell to the temple's monks, got into her carriage, and began to doze off against the soft bedding. After an unknown amount of time, the carriage suddenly stopped. The entire carriage lurched forward, nearly throwing Han Yan out. Her eyes flew open, perfectly clear, without a trace of sleepiness left in them.
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