Allure of a Country Maiden-Chapter 352 - 350

As Xiao Yue’er moved into recovery following her confinement period, she encountered a bloody mishap. Mrs. Lu felt uneasy, so Mrs. Liu suggested a visit to Guofu Temple.

"I’ve heard that seeking divine guidance at Guofu Temple is highly effective. Since arriving at the Imperial Capital, I haven’t had the chance to offer my prayers. The ninth day of next month, will you be available Xiao’er? If so, you could join us," Mrs. Liu suggested after dinner, contemplating Mrs. Lu’s thoughts and asking Xiao’er’s opinion.

The ninth day of next month marks the Double Ninth Festival, a time when many people would visit the Guofu Temple. Xiao’er decided to accompany them and nodded in agreement.

"Mother, my elder brother and I will not accompany you; we are planning to go to the Kuixing Tower!"

Mrs. Liu turned towards Shen Chengyao.

Shen Chengyao shook his head, "I have duties at the Government Office that day, and I won’t be free. After finishing work, I will come collect you all."

Yun’er, being spontaneously insightful, also declined going.

"Very well, the rest of us ladies will go on our own. Rui’er and Hao’er, you must be cautious when you go to the top scorer peak. Avoid conflicts with others, you understand?"

The two brothers nodded in response.

Guofu Temple is located midway up Yueyun Mountain. At the very top of the mountain stands Yueyun Tower, which is found amidst fog all year round, generating a sense of mystery.

Xiao’er had the desire to visit.

Yueyun Tower was built by the founding emperor for Master Yunfa’s master, Master Yuanhui. Following Master Yuanhui’s ascend to immortality, Yueyun Tower became Master Yunfa’s residence in the Imperial Capital. Given his wandering nature, the tower was often vacant.

The vacant Yueyun Tower, as Master Yunfa instructed, was open to the public on the day of the Double Ninth Festival, inviting everyone to enjoy the excitement of a panoramic view.

However, Yueyun Tower was built quite high, which dissuaded many from visiting.

Furthermore, the regular visitors were typically royal or noble, which made commoners deliberately avoid going. Consequently, over time, average folks stopped visiting altogether.

Fortunately, there were plenty of spots for people in the Imperial City to climb mountains.

Yueyun Mountain has Guofu Temple, Xiangshan has Guanyin Temple, Dafu Mountain has Medicine King Temple, Xiyue Mountain has Yuelao Temple, and the top scorer peak has Kuixing Tower.

Kuixing Tower is a place of worship dedicated to Emperor Wenchang, Wenquxing, and Kuixing, hence it is a hotspot for students during the Double Ninth Festival.

All these temples are located halfway up the mountains, fulfilling both the people’s desires to climb high for a view and to worship.

Which temple to visit depends on each individual’s needs.

Many young ladies visit Guanyin Temple as there is a golden statue of Guanyin who endows children.

Some girls would specifically go there a month before their wedding to pray for an early birth to a noble child after marriage.

On the day of the Double Ninth Festival, although Xiao’er and her family set off for the countryside at dawn, the foot of Yueyun Mountain was already filled with carriages by the time they arrived.

Yueyun Mountain was crowded with people that day, causing Mrs. Liu and Mrs. Lu to regret coming on that day.

Observing the densely crowed mountain path, Mrs. Lu glanced at her young daughter in her arms and proposed, "Maybe we should come back on the fifteenth."

"But we’ve already come to the foot of the mountain. If we don’t go up to offer some incense, will the Buddha take offense?" a devout Mrs. Liu wondered, looking troubled by the sea of people on the mountain path.

At a loss for words, Mrs. Lu did not know how to respond. Whether the Buddha would be offended, how would she know?

Not mentioning it was better, yet Mrs. Liu’s words also caused Mrs. Lu to worry.

"All the temples in the Imperial City are very busy on both the first and fifteenth of each month. Since we’re already here, let’s follow the crowd and go up the mountain," suggested Xiao’er, seeing the situation.

Ruan Weizhen was also accompanying her mother to climb the mountain that day.

Her mother asked her to come and express gratitude to the Buddha for sparing her from marrying the First Prince.

As soon as she got out of the carriage and saw Xiao’er and her companions standing to one side, she and Mrs. Ruan came forward to greet them.

Xiao’er had a favourable impression of her and there was a hint of warmth in her voice: "Is Mrs. Ruan and Miss Ruan also here to climb the mountain? What a coincidence."

"Yes, what a coincidence indeed. Lady Rui’an, shall we walk together? I have some things that I would like to ask you about."

"Certainly," Xiao’er replied with delight.

Upon seeing this, Mrs. Liu suggested: "Let’s all walk together then, it would be nice for us to have some company."

The group arrived at the Guofu Temple, where Mrs. Lu, Mrs. Liu, and Mrs. Ruan finished offering incense, drew fortune sticks, and filled up lamp oil. Afterward, they hastily joined the queue to have their fortune interpreted.

In a show of sincerity, Mrs. Liu waited in line herself rather than letting her maid do it for her. Seeing this, Mrs. Ruan also decided to queue up personally.

Xiao’er and Ruan Weizhen found a spot under a tree to talk while waiting for them.

"Does Lady Rui’an grow a lot of medicinal herbs at home?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao’er nodded: "Quite a lot. I bought two mountains in the city at the beginning of this year exclusively for growing herbs. There’s also a barren mountain back in Shengping County filled with medicinal herbs."

Her family now has medicine shops in various provinces across the country. How could they not grow a lot of herbs?

"What does Miss Ruan usually do at home?" Xiao’er asked.

She was considering finding a female master for the charity school, and perhaps Ruan Weizhen would be suitable.

"I spend most of my time learning medical skills at home."

Xiao’er thought she would hear about practicing the guqin or calligraphy, she didn’t expect it to be studying medicine.

Noticing Xiao’er’s surprise, Ruan Weizhen explained: "My maternal grandfather is Doctor Luo. I probably inherited his passion, so I was interested in medical skills from an early age."

Of course, Ruan Weizhen is the granddaughter of Doctor Luo. How could she forget!

Seeing Xiao’er’s sudden realization, Ruan Weizhen smiled, "My grandfather mentions your family a lot since he returned to the capital. So I unconsciously feel a bit more familiar with you. Please don’t mind my abruptness. And thank you for taking good care of my grandfather!"

"Miss Ruan, you’re too kind. Doctor Luo is the one who saved my life."

"Lady Rui’an, you can call me Weizhen. Helping others is simply what a doctor ought to do. It is our duty to save lives." Weizhen replied with a calm smile.

"Lady Rui’an, can I ask you how to grow medicinal herbs? It might sound strange, but nothing I plant seems to survive." Weizhen blushed embarassingly as she confessed.

She heard from her grandfather that medicinal herbs in Lady Rui’an’s garden grow exceptionally well. It was for this reason that she wanted to learn from her.

"Absolutely! If you have time, you are welcome to visit the Marquis Shengping residence to find me. Don’t worry, I will tell you everything I know. You can also call me Xiao’er!" Xiao’er said playfully.

Weizhen nodded with a smile.

"Make way, make way, let my lady go first for a fortune reading. If my lady’s fair skin gets sunburnt, none of you would be able to handle the responsibility!" A maid was shouting menacingly in the queue not far away at an old woman who had just got her chance to interpret her fortune.

Xiao’er frowned at the sight.

Mrs. Liu had been standing behind the old woman the whole time. Everyone had been waiting under the sun for half the day, sweltering and uncomfortable.

Moreover, the old woman, who had been standing for a long time, seemed unsteady. Upon hearing the maid’s words, she fearfully glanced at the maid and at the young lady standing behind her with a canopy overhead. Not wanting to offend a noble, she sighed quietly and stepped aside.