Chapter 397 - Chapter 397: Greetings To The Young Lady
Chapter 397: Greetings To The Young Lady
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Yuan Jiaqi sighed, “So many changes in such a short time. The world is indeed unpredictable.”
“I can’t watch over them for their entire lives; everyone has to walk their path.” “Wife, will you still enter seclusion?”
“No, I’m leaving the household to you. I plan to visit Taihang Mountain and then the Holy Dark Temple. This debt must be settled.”
Yuan Jiaqi pouted, “I want to go too.”
“You can go to Taihang Mountain, but you can’t go to the Holy Dark Temple.” “How about we go to Taihang Mountain, and then I’ll return on my own?”
“You’re clingy.”
Qiao Mai gave him a playful glare and shook her head helplessly.
She had planned to stay in the capital and take care of Ling’er until after her postpartum recovery, but in her anger, she returned home. Now, she wouldn’t need to worry about it.
The four servants rushed to Qiao Mai when they heard their master was leaving.
“Master, can we come along?”
“Taihang Mountain is full of old Taoists. What’s there to see?”
“I heard their internal martial arts are exceptional.”
“The techniques I taught you are the best.”
“Following Master, we can learn a lot.”
It seemed these four servant girls were determined to follow. Qiao Mai was speechless and had no choice but to agree.
Three days later, six fast horses left Lucky Garden. Instead of taking a carriage, they rode a horse and set off on the official road heading south before dawn. This journey was not for leisure, so they took the fastest route, selecting a path they hadn’t traversed before.
These four young servant girls had developed skills beyond their years since following Qiao Mai, each with ten years of internal strength.
Xi Yu was the eldest, focusing on agility and medical arts. The other three specialized in formation techniques, poison, and crafting, each with their own unique skills.
They were intelligent, resourceful, and perceptive despite their young age. Especially Xi Yu, who seemed like a grown-up, took care of everything along the way.
Six days later, they arrived at the foot of Taihang Mountain in Taihang Town.
Though called a town, it looked bigger than a county town and even more lively.
“Master, it’s bustling here.”
“It’s a martial arts center. People come from afar.”
Xi Yu spent some silver inquiring with the locals and then led them to the busiest street, where they checked into a guesthouse called Saint Martial.
The inn was surprisingly spacious, covering about a hundred acres.
From the outside, it didn’t look like an inn, more like a large mansion. Xi Yu stood at the counter.
“Innkeeper, we need the best rooms for six.”
The innkeeper smiled, looking at her. “Young lady, we don’t have rooms; we only have courtyards.”
“Oh? Then the best courtyards, please.”
“It’s one hundred taels of gold per day.”
Xi Yu didn’t seem surprised. Instead, she looked back at Qiao Mai, who nodded.
“We’ll stay for ten days.”
“Alright.”
It only happened once or twice a year to receive a wealthy guest like them. The innkeeper happily handed them the keys and led them to the back.
It was indeed the best inn in the small town. The scenery was comparable to Lucky Garden. As they walked further, it became even more beautiful. The courtyard that cost a hundred taels of gold was located at the end.
It was exceptionally elegant. The courtyard is connected to Taihang Mountain, offering not only a breathtaking view but also a path leading up the mountain.
It was much faster and less strenuous than an average person would take to climb.
Qiao Mai nodded in satisfaction, heading straight to the main house on the second floor. Inside, all the furniture was made of sandalwood. The fragrance was so pleasant that there was no need for incense.
The innkeeper led them inside and then asked with a slight bow.
“If guests stayed here, we were supposed to arrange six servants for them. If you need them, I can bring them over.” “No need.” “Alright, if you do, you can find me up front.”
“Sure.”
As soon as the innkeeper left, Xi Yu and the others closed the courtyard gate and arranged their accommodations.
“Master, do you need to freshen up? We saw a natural hot spring in the backyard.”
“You go first. We’ll follow later.”
“After we’re done, we’ll reserve a table for the local vegetarian feast. It’s said to be famous.’
“Okay.”
With the servant girls gone, Qiao Mai went upstairs. Upon reaching the second floor, she saw a large bed and lazily sprawled herself on it. Yuan Jiaqi checked the tea set. “Wife, are you thirsty?”
“No, you rest too.”
“I’m not tired. Don’t underestimate my martial skills. Did you notice that the shopkeeper is quite skilled?”
“In this small town, those who can’t fight are rare. Without any foundation, would they dare to open an inn here?”
“Let’s explore this place properly.”
“As long as those two aren’t following us, it’s up to you.”
As they spoke, Qiao Mai involuntarily closed her eyes and started to doze off.
The efficiency of the servant girls was impressive. After an hour, they set up a vegetarian feast downstairs.
Qiao Mai took a deep breath and was led to the table by her husband.
“The smell is decent.”
Seeing the master pick up the chopsticks, the servant girls began devouring their food.
“Master, this tofu tastes as good as meat, or even better.”
“Enjoy as much as you like.”
Qiao Mai also became interested and took more bites of the dishes on the table.
On the mountaintop, an old Taoist sat in meditation on a central cushion in a large hall.
Suddenly, he opened his eyes and counted on his fingers.
“A distinguished guest has arrived, an honored one.”
The old Taoist’s eyes flashed with a sharp light before closing again to resume meditation.
At the same moment, Qiao Mai hooked her lips and smiled.
Although she couldn’t count like the old Taoist, her spiritual power had circled Taihang Mountain. She paid no mind to the Taoist’s words.
Destiny is merely a precalculated orbit. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be sayings like “man proposes, God disposes.”
It provides many paths, but your choices determine where you end up.
Don’t lament about the unfairness of destiny because you have choices but decided to accept your fate.
The next day, Qiao Mai and her party didn’t rush to climb the mountain. Instead, they roamed the small town with her husband and servant girls.
Qingfeng Temple was thriving, with many pilgrims buying incense and ascending the mountain devoutly. Some even kowtowed every step of the way.
There were many vegetarian restaurants, mainly serving vegetarian dishes and some alcohol, tailored for ordinary people.
Most visitors abstained from alcohol and meat for three days before ascending the mountain.
Qiao Mai and her group followed the local customs, having vegetarian meals from morning till night. They did drink a few sips of wine.
Drinking a few sips of rice wine made from grains is nothing. After all, even monks endorse the idea of enjoying wine and meat.
After three days in the guesthouse, planning to climb the mountain on the fourth day, Qiao Mai didn’t expect Qingfeng Taoist to arrive early in the morning when they planned to climb the mountain the next day.
He came with two disciples, appearing at the back of the guesthouse.
The two disciples respectfully knocked on the door. Xi Yu and the others walked out.
“Greetings to this young lady.”
“Who are you?”
“We are from Qingfeng Temple. Qingfeng Taoist requests an audience with the Duke of Blessings and his wife.”
Qiao Mai was in the living room. Upon hearing this, she went out with Yuan Jiaqi to greet them.
“I was just about to go up the mountain to visit you.”
“I am ashamed.”
“You lack skill, that’s all.”
“I will need guidance from you, Royal Consort.”
“Exorcising demons and suppressing evil are your duties, but don’t be blind. People have good and bad sides. When they are bad, they can be worse than demons. Demons, too, have good and bad ones. Acting recklessly will lead to bad consequences. Isn’t your Taoist school known for emphasizing cause and effect?”
“This Taoist is indeed lacking in skill. I almost caused a disaster. I apologize.”
“Let’s discuss inside.”
Entering the living room, Qiao Mai looked at Qingfeng Taoist.
“Did anyone ask you about me when you left the capital?”
“At that time, I spent a few days recovering from my injuries in the palace. After that, I left the city. On the way, I encountered several princes traveling together. I noticed abnormalities on their foreheads and even advised them.” “Did you tell them about the demons in Lucky Garden?”
“No, it was their speculation. I told them not to overthink and that it was not a demon but a type of beast. That’s all..”