The place where you go to fulfill your vow is called Guanyin Temple, and it is located in the imperial city.
Xiaocao also knew that place, having been there twice. The second time, the place was cleared out, and it was unclear which family's family members were there. Since then, Xiaocao has never been there again.
Guanyin Temple is located on Zhouqun Mountain next to Tianshui Lake. Tianshui Lake is very big. Standing here and looking at the other side, everything you see is hazy. There are three larger hills and seven or eight connected small hills in the entire Zhouqun Mountain. The total area is not large, of course, it is not small either. The mountain is not very high. Xiaocao estimates that the vertical height between the highest point and the ground will not exceed 100 meters. The three major temples are located on the three larger hills. In addition, there is also a small temple on each small hill. There are more than 30 Zen temples on the hills. Speaking of it, according to the prosperous incense of Guanyin Temple, more than 30 Zen temples are really a bit too few. However, because Guanyin Temple is in the imperial city, except for those who worship Buddha, usually no one lives there, so there are actually more Zen temples than not.
Zhou Qun Mountain is located on the west side of the imperial palace, very close to it, separated by a moat, a street, and three rows of residential courtyards that extend to the foot of Zhou Qun Mountain.
The location of Zhou Qun Mountain is very advantageous. Standing on Zhou Qun Mountain, you can have a panoramic view of the entire imperial palace. On the other side, it faces the lake. It has to be said that it is actually an excellent viewing point. People come and go in an endless stream every day.
It is said that Emperor Xuanren liked to take a stroll in Zhouqun Mountain occasionally, and the Empress Dowager would go to Guanyin Temple to worship Buddha every year, staying there for at least half a month and sometimes up to three months. Compared with the Empress Dowagers of previous dynasties who had to travel hundreds of miles to worship Buddha, it was indeed much more convenient.
In Guanyin Temple, images of Guanyin Bodhisattva are enshrined in all the large and small halls. In addition to statues of various sizes, there are also many portraits, which show the many images of Guanyin Bodhisattva vividly.
To show their piety, Han took Xiaocao and the others out of the carriage at the foot of the mountain and walked up step by step. Although the climb was not high and the temple could not be built on the top of the mountain, it was still a big challenge for the ladies in the inner house. Of course, for Xiaocao, it was just a piece of cake and not challenging at all. She could run back and forth a few times without even taking a breath.
Seriously speaking, these years were just child's play compared to the time when my adoptive father traveled all over the country. Not every place had a professional herbalist, and my adoptive father disliked that ordinary people could not do it well, so he often did it himself. When Xiaocao was still in his infancy, he took him over mountains and ridges, and he had never missed any cliffs. He climbed up and down with just a rope and some simple tools. At first, Xiaocao was so nervous that he wanted to yell - Dad, do you know you are carrying a baby? Later, Xiaocao was completely calm.
My adoptive father's old body, really, is too strong. He can beat ten of those pale-faced scholars and weak young masters. It's not too easy. It's also because he is in good health, old and single, that Xiaocao didn't worry too much. But that was many years ago. Xiaocao hoped that he would settle down, but she didn't know his whereabouts, so all her thoughts were in vain.
Han's goal today is to worship at every "Guanyin Temple" and burn a stick of incense, and everything will be done on foot.
Wen Renying looked up at the nearby temple, and then at the temples looming on the two hills in the distance. Was she going to walk all the way there? She was really desperate. She didn't dare to say "go home" because her mother would definitely beat her.
Wen Renying was in tears!
Xiaocao found it funny, but didn't say anything.
Although the Wen family was powerful, it was not enough to clear the area, but there were still quite a few servants and maids in the family, so they still blocked the situation within a certain range to avoid conflict. Ordinary people were accustomed to this kind of thing, and usually would take the initiative to avoid it when they saw it from a distance. If something really happened, they would not be able to take the responsibility.
Fortunately, the slope of the stone stairs was built relatively gently, so it was not too tiring at the beginning.
The burning of incense started from the main hall. Xiaocao looked at the three-meter-tall statue of Guanyin Buddha and followed her mother to burn incense and kneel down devoutly. Belief is one thing, faith is another. Xiaocao was more for Han's motherly love.
They bowed in every temple one by one, donating incense money. When they were really tired, they took a break. Not to mention Wen Renying, even Han's face was flushed, and her makeup was even slightly smudged. But as soon as they rested and recovered, Han was full of energy again, feeling like a warrior who never retreats. This cycle repeated itself over and over again.
Xiao Cao saw it all and felt mixed emotions. She wanted to persuade her but couldn't say them out loud. She could only follow silently. When Han got tired, she reached out to support her and fanned her from time to time.
At the rate they are going, it would probably be late afternoon by the time they finish worshipping everyone.
"Don't even mention it's late in the afternoon. Even if it's too late to go back, just stay in the temple for one night and go back tomorrow."
It can be seen that Han's attitude is firm.
"Mom, the goddess of fertility is enshrined on this mountain. Do we have to go up too?" Wen Renying said weakly, panting.
Now I'm not just feeling tired, my soles of my feet, calves, and even my waist and back are all aching, okay
"Go up, why not? I gave birth to five of you, shouldn't I worship Guanyin, the Goddess of Childbirth?" Han said with confidence.
Wen Renying was speechless. There was really no point in arguing with her mother. Wen Renying had gone there once or twice, but usually to accompany her elder sister. She was still a girl, so naturally she would not go to burn incense.
"Or, Seventh sister, don't go up. I will accompany mother up." Xiaocao saw that Wen Renying was really tired. In fact, Han was not much better, but she insisted and there was really nothing she could do.
Wen Renying nodded hurriedly, but said, "Fourth sister, you are so strong that you haven't blushed or breathed in for such a long time. Weren't you the same as fourth brother the last time we went out for a walk? Why do you seem like a different person now?"
"The nature is different. Just like you were full of energy and fighting power at that time." Xiaocao said with a smile.
Wen Renying curled her lips, "Fourth sister, you are really a weirdo."
"What are you talking about? Shut up. - Xuan'er, let's go and leave her alone."
"With the fourth sister, I am the one who is disliked." Wen Renying muttered, "Go away, go away."
"Don't run around, okay?" Han warned.
"Got it. Look, I'll be waiting for you in the pavilion over there." Wen Renying pointed to a place not far away.
It is a small "viewing pavilion" on a protruding rock halfway up the mountain.
"Okay." Han waved her hand and left half of the people she brought out to her.
While waiting, Wen Renying didn't see any acquaintances. She was bored, so she took her maid to enjoy the scenery. She would comment on every tree, flower, or stone.
But at some point, Wen Renying paused, looking at the mighty procession coming down the main road below, the extremely luxurious carriages, followed by maids and attendants, guards wearing uniform soft armor, who looked tough, and there were hundreds of them. These people were not just random soldiers, they looked well-trained, and who could usually only see these people around? The emperor, the prince, the duke, of course, the number of people was definitely not of the same level.
However, in the imperial city, in addition to these people, there was another person who was also accompanied by such a group of guards, the emperor's sister, Princess Fukang, who was conferred the title of eldest princess after the emperor ascended the throne.
Wen Renying naturally had no chance to witness the last battle for the throne. It had already been settled when she was born. But later she heard about it by chance and it was said to be quite dangerous, especially at the last moment. It happened that the late emperor was basically unable to manage affairs at that time, and there were blatant assassinations among the princes. The emperor had encountered such an incident once, and it happened in his own palace. On that occasion, Princess Fukang, who had just given birth a few months ago, blocked the attack for the emperor. Unfortunately, she was stabbed in the abdomen and lost her fertility. Fortunately, she had given birth to her eldest son, but the child was physically defective and incomplete.
But the prince consort needs normal and healthy offspring. It goes without saying what will happen next.
Even Emperor Xuanren had no way to suppress the son-in-law, so he could only try his best to compensate Princess Fukang. He gave her the highest respect, the greatest tolerance to the imperfect child, and even gave him a duke title. You have to know that his father was only an idle position as a son-in-law commander, and his rank was only equivalent to an earl.
No matter how much a father dislikes his son, there is nothing he can do about him.
Even though this young master was discriminated against and despised due to his disability, he was doted on by his uncle, the emperor, and his mother felt sorry for him being alone, so she indulged him in everything. As a result, the discriminatory eyes of others made him become bad-tempered, irritable, gloomy, and moody. He was truly the number one bully in the entire imperial city. When the princes saw him, they had to take a detour, for fear that he would suddenly go crazy and suffer a loss, and would not be able to seek justice from their fathers.
Fortunately, this young master also knew his limits, and every time he would just beat someone up or tease them, and Emperor Xuanren would just scold them or give them a small punishment. If there was anyone who could be infinitely tolerated by Emperor Xuanren, this young master was one of them.
Princess Fukang is a low-key person. She usually stays in the princess residence. Apart from palace banquets, she basically does not attend other banquets. Even the prince’s coronation and wedding, whether she will attend depends on her mood.
The young master has his own duke's mansion, which is right next to his mother's princess's mansion. He simply got in touch with her and stayed in the princess's mansion most of the time. As for the prince consort? Haha, he stayed in his own home all year round. He just wanted to see the eldest princess, but the eldest princess didn't want to pay attention to him. No matter what he wanted to do, he wanted to take advantage of her, but sorry, it's impossible.
The eldest princess also didn't want to find another one, otherwise she would have divorced long ago.
The ceremonial processions of princes and dukes are usually accompanied by ordinary guards, and there are only a few such elite troops.
Therefore, apart from that young master, no one else would think of such a swagger in the streets.
Actually, Wen Renying had never seen this young master.
There are two larger hills in Zhou Qunshan, and one is relatively far back. More than half of the small hills are also distributed in the far back. At this moment, this group of people seems to be heading straight for the third larger hill. The area in front is quickly cleared or even blocked. Not to mention ordinary people, even those with a certain status have to avoid it as quickly as possible. Even those coming down from the front have to change routes quickly, and if they don't encounter a fork in the road, they will turn back and prepare to go down from the other side of the mountain.
This shows how powerful this "deterrent" is.
Wen Renying was not blocking their way, so of course there was no need for her to move. She was lost in her memories at the moment.
This young master's arrogance and domineering behavior is not comparable to that of Ming Zeyue, but all his confidence comes from Emperor Xuanren. When Emperor Xuanren died, he instantly fell to the bottom. In fact, Prince Dun suffered a lot from him. It stands to reason that after Prince Dun ascended the throne, this young master should be among the first group of people to be dealt with. However, it seems that no news about this person was heard in the previous life, just like he disappeared when Emperor Xuanren passed away.
Or it is possible that Princess Fukang arranged a way out for him at the first opportunity. After all, it was really chaotic at that time, and other people could not take care of her son. It is very likely that she sent him away in the chaos.
I just don't know why he came to Guanyin Temple? There is nothing for him to do here, so he is not allowed to be presumptuous.
Princess Fukang seems to be a devout Buddhist. Although the young master is very eccentric in front of other people, he is very filial in front of his mother and his uncle the emperor. So, maybe he came here for Princess Fukang.
However, when Wen Renying was staring at the carriage absent-mindedly, the people in the carriage were also looking at him.
The carriage looked like it was tightly covered, but in fact it was not. The windows were covered with a layer of gauze, so one could not see too far away, but could see far away even if one was close.
The young master in the rumors was lazily leaning on the couch at the side, supporting his head with one hand and holding a wine glass with the other. His clothes were loose, revealing his chest. He was only about sixteen or seventeen years old, but looked like a complete playboy. However, judging by his exposed arms, he seemed to be quite strong.
He was wearing a mask with a black background and golden patterns, leaving only a pair of eyes, chin and mouth. It was unknown what material was used for the mouth, but it fit perfectly and did not affect his eating and drinking.
He kicked the wooden wheelchair that occupied the main seat and said, "Wei Tingyu, what are you looking at?" He stood up halfway and looked outside. "Oh, you short-lived guy who can't even stand up, and you're still thinking about the young lady? Don't tell me that she will be a widow after getting married." He spoke, but the voice seemed a little wrong.
That's right, the one looking at Wen Renying was Wei Tingyu. After knowing that Xiaocao was the daughter of the Wen family, he had a thorough understanding of everyone in the Wen family, including the servants. How could he not know this sister-in-law