"Abbot Uncle has gone to the opposite mountain pass to meditate and cultivate. If you really have urgent business, please allow me to pack up and lead the way to the mountain together." The head monk was also an easy-going person. He saw that Ji Dingbei was a kind-looking person. Moreover, he had heard that Ji Dingbei led troops to guard the border and was a good official who cared for the people. So he naturally had more respect for him.
Upon hearing this, Ji Dingbei said, "The sooner the better. I'm not afraid to tell you that I will be leading troops to the southeast at sunset to wipe out the Japanese pirates and restore peace to the southeast. Therefore, I ask that you do me the favor, Master." As he spoke, he bowed to the monk in charge.
The presiding monk nodded, "I'll be back shortly after I've finished explaining some things." With that, he left for a while.
Seeing this, Ji Dingbei went over to Ji Wushang and the others to explain some things so they could rest there.
"Mother, I will accompany the head monk to the opposite mountain pass to visit the abbot. You rest here for a while, I will be right back. The Iron Guard will protect you." Ji Dingbei bowed to the matriarch and said.
"Yes, you may go!" said the matriarch.
Seeing that she looked tired, Ji Wushang stepped forward and said, "Grandmother, why don't you rest in the Buddhist temple for a while? When Father returns, we can go back to the manor together."
"That's very good." The old lady nodded, and Granny Guo nodded in agreement. "Old Madam, please walk slowly."
Aunt Xie looked at Madam Yuan and was about to step forward, but Madam Yuan said, "Tian'er, you've always stayed by my side and become estranged from Wu Shang and the others. You don't need to serve me now. You can play with them!"
"Yes." Aunt Xie nodded and watched as Madam Yuan and Granny Guo went to the simple Buddhist shrine to rest.
Aunt Nangong looked Aunt Xie up and down, and the wariness in her eyes made Aunt Xie flinch. But then she bowed to her and said, "Sister Nangong."
"Sister Xie?" Aunt Nangong seemed to be chewing on these three words, her words revealing a hint of disdain. However, she still looked at her and said, "I'm tired. You two should enjoy your stroll. I won't accompany you any longer." After saying that, she walked towards Ji Dingbei, who was sitting there drinking hot water and waiting for the monk in charge.
Ji Wushang stepped forward and pulled Aunt Xie, "Just looking at you makes me feel comfortable. You take care of Grandmother every day; it must be so hard for you, Aunt Xie."
"Not at all." Aunt Xie looked Ji Wushang up and down, and smiled as she looked into her bright eyes. "I've long heard that Miss is very intelligent, and seeing her today, I can confirm it's true."
"Auntie is really making fun of Wushang." Ji Wushang only wanted to chat with her for a few minutes and probe her background. This Auntie Xie is not a good person either.
"Big sister, what are you talking about?" Ji Yinxue stepped forward.
"It's nothing," Ji Wushang said. Then he saw the monk in charge walk in from outside. Ji Dingbei stepped forward, said goodbye to everyone, and the two of them went up the mountain together.
After the two left, Ji Wushang noticed that there was no one left in the room. Aunt Nangong, seeing that Ji Dingbei had left, did not stay there but went to rest in one of the Buddhist temples.
Aunt Xie preferred quiet, so she made an excuse and took a few people to stroll around somewhere else.
Ji Yinxue sipped her tea with great interest. Ji Wushang stayed with her for a while, but he didn't want to sit there any longer. He felt that it was a good time to go out for a walk.
"Fourth Sister, I'm going out for a walk. You can rest here for a bit!" Ji Wushang stood up and straightened her clothes.
Ji Yinxue looked at it and said, "Okay. Be careful on the road, eldest sister."
"Mm." Ji Wushang nodded and took Zhu'er out. Two iron guards accompanied them.
The scenery here is refreshing and soothing. Ji Wushang gazed at the mountains and listened to the birds chirping in the trees. Zhu'er was overjoyed; seeing Ji Wushang happy made her happy too.
I've heard that there are precious white birds on that mountain, perched atop the clouds and waters. Ji Wushang also hopes to see them, as he's heard that only this Buddhist temple has such birds. Hearing one sing would fulfill his wish.
When Wu Zi returned a few days ago, he told Ji Wushang that he hoped to see the white bird one day. He originally planned to go to the Buddhist temple together, but Ji Dingbei ordered that the school not be left behind, so Ji Wusi was unable to come.
"Wouldn't it be great if I could catch one?" Ji Wushang thought happily. If he caught one, Ji Wusi would be completely satisfied and happy!
As the weather grew warmer, Ji Wushang tried to walk in the shade. Seeing some rocks ahead, he turned back and noticed the two guards were drenched in sweat, and Zhu'er was panting heavily. He said, "Let's rest for a while!"
“Miss, you know, this mountain and water are beautiful, but why does the back mountain feel a bit deserted?” Zhu’er said, looking around.
☆、089 Wu Shang went up the mountain and narrowly escaped being poisoned!
Ji Wushang listened and looked around. There were indeed many mountains and rivers, but this was also a major feature of the Foque Temple. The Foque Temple had stood for more than 500 years. What storms had it not weathered? Zhu'er's worries were not wrong. She had also brought two Iron Guards with her, so she was safe.
The two guards wiped their sweat, but they stood there, not daring to slack off.
“This is just a mountain, it’s alright,” Ji Wushang said. “I was just thinking of finding a white bird.”
"White bird? What is that?" Pearl asked, and the two guards were also extremely curious.
"There is a kind of bird, all white, that can be seen in the clouds and waters of this mountain peak. Its song is extremely melodious. Although it is a white bird, at night, when it is happy, its snow-white feathers will turn into a full spectrum of colors," Ji Wushang described.
Pearl found it all magical and longed to see the white bird.
"Miss, is the white bird really here?"
"Hmm." Ji Wushang said, seeing that it was about time, "Let's keep going. If we can't see it, so be it. It's still a kind of pursuit. Having this process makes the trip worthwhile."
"Yes," the three replied.
After walking for a while, Ji Wushang finally saw a lake in the distance. It wasn't very big, only about two or three hundred square meters. Ji Wushang went up and looked around. "What is this place?"
“I didn’t know,” Pearl said.
"Let's go take a look; maybe the white bird is in these places!"
——
Ji Yinxue was drinking tea when Feng Yun ran in from outside, "Miss."
"Hmm? What is it?" Ji Yinxue looked up slightly at her.
"Aunt Nangong requests your presence."
"Oh, okay." Ji Yinxue was then led by Feng Yun to Aunt Nangong's place.
As soon as she entered, Aunt Nangong stood up. "You silly girl, why are you only coming now!"
"Auntie, what is it?" Ji Yinxue asked timidly as she stepped forward and bowed gracefully.
"No need for formalities." Aunt Nangong was also a quick-tempered person, especially when there were no outsiders around, and she was even less likely to show the expected gentleness and virtue. "You may all leave and stand guard outside."
"Yes." All the maids and servants left.
Aunt Nangong dismissed them and then asked, "How was it?"
"What do you mean, how?" Ji Yinxue looked at Aunt Nangong with innocent eyes.
"You..." Aunt Nangong was speechless. "You, you tell me yourself!"
Ji Yinxue looked at Aunt Nangong and said, "Why are you in such a hurry, Aunt? Didn't my eldest sister go up the mountain? I didn't stop her."
"What was she doing up the mountain?" Aunt Nangong asked, her eyes fixed on Ji Yinxue, hoping to glean something. "Was it because of her that you cried this morning?"
"No." Ji Yinxue's tone turned slightly cold, but then warmed up again. "It's Grandmother. It's nothing."
"Alright, answer me, what is the young lady doing up in the mountain?"
"What white bird? My maid happened to overhear it when she passed by her courtyard." Ji Yinxue said absentmindedly, looking at her, "Why are you in such a hurry? The one you should be wary of isn't her, it's Aunt Bai, Aunt Qin, and Aunt Xie!"
Aunt Nangong's expression changed slightly after hearing what she said, and she said softly, "You're right."
"Don't be fooled by Bai Yinniang's current state of bed! You'd better be careful." Ji Yinxue's words were sharp as she looked at Nangong Yinniang with a fierce glint in her eyes. "The baby in her belly is a bargaining chip, and you know what that means! And Qin Yinniang, she hasn't stepped out of the West Garden for a whole month. When she gives birth to a young master, her position will be in danger."
"Yinxue, what do you think Auntie should do?" Auntie Nangong turned to ask Ji Yinxue.
Ji Yinxue smiled. She used to scold and beat herself, so why did she only realize that she was a brand name now?
"You tell me, are you trying to drive your auntie crazy?" Aunt Nangong looked at her and glared at her.
“This cursed star…” Ji Yinxue said slowly.
At this moment, Aunt Nangong realized that this daughter was different from the one in front of her. Ji Dingbei was already overwhelmed by the matter of the cursed lone star, and she still wanted to get involved herself.
"Didn't Second Sister move to the Round Moon Nunnery because she was cursed by the Lone Star?" Ji Yinxue said seriously. "Auntie, you just need to be careful. Who knows, maybe that Lone Star will strike, and it'll happen to someone else!"
Aunt Nangong was startled. "What, what are you saying?"
"Don't you understand, Aunt?" Ji Yinxue smiled, her previous playful teasing gone. Her eyes were fixed on Aunt Nangong. "Father rarely comes back, so you should seize the opportunity. You should at least give me a younger brother! Other courtyards have a son, but ours doesn't. It's so heartbreaking!" Ji Yinxue said, immediately pretending to cry.
Upon hearing this, Aunt Nangong suddenly felt enlightened, but then she thought about how Ji Dingbei was about to go to the southeast, and what chance did she have left! She immediately became discouraged again.
Looking at her, Ji Yinxue felt that she was a hopeless case. Where had the usually gentle and weak but very shrewd Aunt Nangong gone?
Fortunately, Aunt Nangong quickly said, "It's alright, just watch your aunt come!"
"Oh?" Ji Yinxue looked at her questioningly, then changed the subject, asking before Aunt Nangong could speak, "Do you know what will happen to my eldest sister on the mountain?"
"How should I know!" Aunt Nangong muttered, but then she immediately sensed something, her delicate eyebrows arching. "What did you plant in there?"
"It's nothing." Ji Yinxue shrugged, gently moved her lips, and drank the tea.
Two guards led the way, and Ji Wushang and Zhu'er went ahead. Before long, the four of them were standing by the lake.
Looking around at the lush greenery, Ji Wushang felt a sense of calm.
Along the lakeshore were some bushes and shrubs, as well as some flowers and grasses. Some of the trees were very large, towering into the clouds. Two guards stood watch on one side, while Pearl played here with Ji Wushang.
Ji Wushang looked at the water, which was crystal clear. He scooped up a handful of water, and it was cool and refreshing. It was indeed refreshing and invigorating at this time of day!
“Miss, this water is so refreshing.” Pearl said, scooping up the water and taking a sip.
The two guards also felt their mouths dry just looking at it. Ji Wushang said, "You two should have a sip too."
"Yes." The two guards accepted the order, hung up their swords, and then bent down to drink the water.
Looking at the three of them, Ji Wushang felt a little dizzy.
What happened? Was he too tired from walking? Ji Wushang pinched his philtrum and saw that Zhu'er and the two guards had already collapsed!
Ji Wushang was immediately alarmed. Could there be something wrong with the water? No, he hadn't drunk any water! But he didn't dare to think any further and immediately took out some medicine from his pocket. Regardless of whether it would work or not, he stuffed a few antidote pills into his mouth.
Supporting himself, Ji Wushang leaned against a rock and slowly sat down.
His mind gradually cleared up. Ji Wushang shook his head a couple of times to become more alert, and then pinched his thigh to calm himself down.
Ji Wushang propped himself up and looked at the two iron guards who were fidgeting and moving their hands and feet, as if they were talking about something. They were even starting to take off their clothes.
Ji Wushang was instantly jolted awake and rushed to the two guards. He glanced at them from a distance and saw that their faces were flushed. Both of them were tearing at their clothes as if they were unconscious.
Ji Wushang was so frightened that he took a step back, turned his head, looked at Zhu'er, and found that Zhu'er had started to do the same thing!
A cold sweat broke out on Ji Wushang's back. A sliver of relief washed over him; thankfully, he hadn't drunk the water, otherwise… he might have been defiled here…
I can't even imagine!
Is the water truly naturally problematic, or was it poisoned beforehand? Ji Wushang was more inclined to believe the latter!
But the most important thing is not this, but to help them solve their current problem... Ji Wushang took out various medicines from his pocket, looking at them, this one is not right, that one is not right. Ji Wushang was sweating profusely. The gauze on his forehead had just been removed this morning. The small wound was covered by his bangs, which were now soaked with cold sweat!
Finally, a medicine appeared that could clear away heart fire and leave a cool feeling. Ji Wushang poured out three pills, put one into Zhu'er's mouth, and then, trembling, stuffed the other two into the mouths of the two guards. He really didn't dare to get close!
If I lose my virginity, I might as well sink into this lake!
Ji Wushang was somewhat frightened. He slowly stayed by their side, constantly watching to see if the medicine was working. Finally, he hardened his heart, found some more medicine that looked like it, and shoved it into their mouths.