Ji Wushang nodded, thought for a moment, and asked, "Is Abbess Jingni in the main hall?"
"I was giving a sermon in the main hall just now. I wonder if the nun is still here now."
"Then, please lead the way. I'm going to the main hall to offer incense and pray for peace and safety for my Ji family." More importantly, it would be even better if I could run into Abbess Jingni and have a chat with her.
"Since you are so kind, the Bodhisattva will surely bless you." The little nun chanted Amitabha and then led Ji Wushang toward the main hall.
As the warm sun rose, Ji Wushang felt its rays shining on the earth, onto the main hall, and casting shadows, as well as the shadows of the flowers and plants, all of which were lovely. Ji Wushang was in a good mood, so he followed them into the main hall.
At this moment, the worshippers were either silently reciting scriptures, offering incense and praying, or drawing lots for interpretation, creating a peaceful atmosphere. Ji Wushang was just about to ask the little nun a question, but then he realized that she was nowhere to be seen. He could only shake his head and think to himself, "That little nun left without even calling me."
Tie Feng followed behind Ji Wushang, warily watching the people around him. Seeing how vigilant he was, Ji Wushang couldn't help but feel more appreciative and reassured.
They stepped forward, took a few sticks of incense, lit them, and knelt together on the prayer mat. They closed their eyes and silently prayed, "May the Bodhisattva protect our Ji family and ensure its safety. I also hope that the Bodhisattva can make my journey, Ji Wushang's, smoother..." They said many words, but in the end, their voices grew softer and softer. In their hearts, they prayed, "May Cong's legs be able to stand up again, may he not suffer from the cold or be frightened, and may his journey be peaceful from now on." After finishing their prayers, they kowtowed several times.
Stand up, and then place several incense sticks into the incense burner.
The area was still bustling with worshippers. Ji Wushang smiled silently, then turned and led Tie Feng out.
At this moment, a young nun stepped forward and asked, "Are you Miss Ji, Benefactor Ji?"
“Exactly.” Ji Wushang nodded.
"Miss Ji has invited you to this hermitage. She says she's suddenly feeling unwell and would like you to come and take a look," the young nun said earnestly.
Ji Wushang looked at her, her delicate brows furrowing slightly. "Please lead the way!" This Ji Meiyuan, is she always trying to cause me trouble?
But she couldn't refuse, since she had sent this little nun to invite her.
The young nun led the way, with Ji Wushang and Tie Feng following along. After passing through several corridors, they still hadn't reached the so-called hermitage. Ji Wushang couldn't help but ask, "Excuse me, little nun, where exactly is this hermitage you're talking about?"
"Reporting to you, benefactor, she is just ahead. Miss Ji, who was just here, is right ahead. Please be patient."
Ji Wushang glared at her, then had no choice but to follow. But the further they walked, the more deserted the place seemed. What kind of courtyard was this? Why was it so desolate?
Even Tie Feng became nervous. He stepped forward and whispered in Ji Wushang's ear, "Miss, something seems off about this."
"Almost there!" the young nun shouted, instantly drawing their attention. "It's just ahead." She pointed to a row of monasteries in front of them. There, a young nun was sweeping the courtyard, picking up fallen yellow leaves.
Ji Wushang looked at the surrounding exquisite houses, but his steps faltered in place. Tie Feng, seeing this, immediately fixed his gaze on them as well.
“Please, benefactor!” the young nun stepped forward and said in an unquestionable manner.
Ji Wushang proceeded cautiously, looking at her suspiciously, but the little nun smiled and said, "Benefactor, why do you look like this?"
"Looking at these autumn leaves, I feel a little lost," Ji Wushang said. "I wonder what scripture was recited in the main hall today? Does little master know?"
"Of course I know, all of them are listening to the scriptures in the main hall." The little nun immediately replied when she saw Ji Wushang's suspicious look.
"But that scripture?"
“The Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Sutra,” the young nun said, clasping her hands together.
"Then, is there a line that goes something like this: 'At that time, in the immeasurable worlds of the ten directions, all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas Mahasattvas of ineffable capacity gathered together.' I wonder what the next line is?" Ji Wushang asked.
"Um, the next line..." The little nun struggled, but at that moment, the little nun in the distance probably saw the three of them and immediately came forward, "Junior sister, why haven't you led the benefactors inside yet?"
"Yes," the little nun immediately confessed.
Ji Wushang nodded without changing his expression, "Then please lead the way! I'm afraid Second Sister has been waiting for a long time."
"Please," said the young nun who came with the broom, extending her hand in a gesture of invitation.
Ji Wushang turned his head and gave Tie Feng a subtle wink, which Tie Feng immediately understood.
What? That sentence I just recited was from the Tibetan Buddhist canon, not the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Sutra at all! And this stammering is clearly suspicious! Does this mean Ji Meiyuan is planning to kill me here?!
Two young nuns led the way, while Ji Wushang and Tie Feng followed behind.
After walking only a few steps, Ji Wushang signaled to Tie Feng, and immediately the two of them turned around and ran back!
"Quick! Someone come here! Ji Wushang has escaped!" The little nun turned around and shouted loudly. Instantly, dozens of assassins dressed in black jumped out of the monastery, all holding long swords and looking fierce, and rushed towards Ji Wushang and Tie Feng.
Ji Wushang suddenly ran up the mountain and down the mountain, but he already saw that someone was blocking his way!
Tie Feng shouted, "Miss, run up the mountain!"
Ji Wushang turned around in shock, "No! Tie Feng, run!" He actually abandoned her and went to entangle those little nuns and those dozens of assassins!
"Miss, run! Hide in the mountains!" Tie Feng roared, snatching the assassin's sword and unleashing his fierce swordsmanship.
Damn it, am I going to die here? Ji Wushang couldn't think too much. If he did, Tie Feng's presence would become worthless! He had to find reinforcements quickly! But where could he find reinforcements? Ji Wushang groaned inwardly. After thinking for a few seconds, he still ran towards the mountain.
If Tie Feng and I don't descend the mountain by the appointed time, someone will surely report to General Ji's mansion. I just hope Tie Feng can hold on and escape!
Ji Wushang ran up the mountain, and several people had already caught up with him.
——
In his study, Nan Xuzong took out the calligraphy and painting he had treasured for a long time. It was a landscape painting that Ji Wushang had painted in front of everyone when they went to a banquet together last time. It was magnificent and grand, and there were words that Nan Xuzong had written on the side.
After looking at it for a long time, Nan Xuzong finally put it down. "Gong Shu."
"Master," Gong Shu stepped forward and greeted him with a cupped hand.
"Is my father at home?" Nan Xuzong glanced at the painting and calligraphy a few more times, then touched the painting with his hand.
"Reporting to you, sir, the Marquis is not here."
"Never mind, prepare the gifts. Go to General Ji's residence to propose marriage." Nan Xuzong's lips twitched slightly, his face beaming.
"Yes!" Gong Shu exclaimed excitedly and immediately went to carry it out.
☆、112 Miss Ji has disappeared!
Has today finally arrived? It really has. Nan Xuzong was so excited that his hands trembled slightly. He reluctantly rolled up the painting and carefully put it away. After a short while, Gong Shu walked in happily, "Master, the gifts are all prepared, just waiting for your word!"
"Alright." Nan Xuzong nodded. He hadn't told his father, the Marquis, about this marriage proposal yet! He wondered how his father would react. Would he laugh at him for overestimating himself? Or would he think he was a toad trying to eat swan meat?
Nan Xuzong chuckled coldly a few times before shifting his attention to Nan Jinxue, "Is the Second Young Master at home?"
"Reporting to you, sir, the second young master is not here! I heard from them that he went to take care of the crown prince's affairs."
“Very good. Let’s go!” Nan Xuzong nodded.
Before long, they arrived at General Ji's residence. Nan Xuzong's palms were sweaty, and he sat somewhat uneasy in the modified carriage. Gong Shu noticed this but didn't say anything and could only follow along.
He attracted a lot of attention on the road, with people pointing and whispering about where this disabled Prince Nan was going, wondering if he was planning to propose marriage.
As a result, many ordinary people followed Nan Xuzong's group, and when they saw Nan Xuzong walk into General Ji's mansion, everyone around was stunned.
"I never expected that the Prince of Nan would be interested in the daughter of General Ji! I wonder if it's the eldest daughter or the second daughter of the Ji family!"
"Yes, I heard that the third and fourth young ladies have already been betrothed, leaving only the eldest and second young ladies!"
"I've heard that young lady is extraordinary, with both talent and beauty being top-notch! If this Prince Nan were to propose to her, he would be indulging in wishful thinking!"
"Exactly! In my opinion, Prince Nan should find a girl from a peasant family!"
"..."
Nan Xuzong had exceptionally good hearing, and as he listened to these people's words, a surge of anger rose within him. Why did some people have to ridicule him? Why couldn't others give him blessings? Thinking this, Nan Xuzong suddenly turned cold, emanating a murderous aura. His deep, black eyes swept over the group of people, and instantly, they seemed to feel a chill run down their spines!
They dared not speak further, for Nan Xuzong was already touching the gold thread. These people had also heard of the Prince of Nan using gold thread to inscribe words on paintings; this was not to be underestimated, and it was best to be careful and save their lives!
Gong Shu stepped forward and shoved the crowd away, shouting, "Disperse! There's nothing to see here! Disperse!"
“Gong Shu,” Nan Xuzong said.
"Master!" Gong Shu immediately returned, respectfully.
"Let them be!" Nan Xuzong shook his head gently. "Go and ask if she's at the manor. Also, have them announce that I, Nan Xuzong, have come to pay a visit." He really wanted to tell her, in front of her and in front of her grandmother, that he wanted to marry her and treat her well for the rest of his life. He had already said yesterday that he would come to propose today, but at least he should ask first and give an announcement.
A hint of anxiety finally crept onto Nan Xuzong's face, which had remained unchanged for a thousand years.
Finally, Gong Shu stepped forward and said, "Master, the eldest young lady is not at home. I heard that she went to the Yuanyue Nunnery to pick up the second young lady and bring her back to the mansion."
"Oh?" A hint of disappointment flashed through Nan Xuzong's mind. "When did you go?"
"We went up the mountain at sunrise."
Nan Xuzong frowned deeply. It was already past 3 PM (Beijing time). Logically, if they were going to bring the Second Miss back to the manor, they should have already returned. Could something have happened on the road?
At this moment, the newly appointed steward of General Ji's mansion, Lin, came out. He looked quite amiable and greeted Nan Xuzong with a bow, saying, "It's Young Master Nan! I've heard so much about you. The old lady is still recuperating in Jingyuan. Please come in and wait in the front hall while I go and inform her."
"No, thank you for your trouble." Nan Xuzong's eyes flickered. Ji Wushang wasn't here; perhaps something had really happened. He had just heard that she had been assassinated on her way back to the manor. How could he not be worried? The most important thing now was to find her!
"Master." Gong Shu asked immediately, his voice filled with doubt.
Nan Xuzong waved his hand and apologized to Butler Lin, saying, "I have urgent business to attend to right now. I will visit you another day."
“In that case, please.” Butler Lin then gestured for him to walk slowly.
Nan Xuzong nodded, and Gong Shu obediently pushed his wheelchair away.
"Gong Shu, have someone take the gifts back. Then, send someone to Yuanyue Nunnery right now. They must find the young lady's whereabouts. Then, you come with me to follow her."
"Yes!" Gong Shu nodded immediately.
——
Ji Wushang felt like he was going crazy. What kind of world was this?! Not a single day had passed without him being on the run? It was all fighting and strife. It seemed he had been too soft-hearted! He'd make them taste what it meant to be on the run! No, he wouldn't even give them the chance to escape!
Ji Wushang's legs felt like they were about to break, but he still kept running forward.
In his panic and confusion, he stumbled upon an inconspicuous little cave. Ji Wushang's eyes darted around for a moment, then he entered. The cave was practically useless for hiding, but it had to be made to look like one! It was just a jumble of rocks; with a little planning, it could be used to kill! As for how many people he could kill, that was another matter!
Ji Wushang filled the hole with a lot of weeds, making it look like a person and casting a shadow. Only then did he step out of the cave. Seeing that the people had almost finished searching, Ji Wushang immediately covered the cave entrance with some weeds, leaving some gaps so that people could see the hole if they looked closely.
Then, he gently shook the tree that was holding the stone in place, and seeing that the soil had loosened, he immediately ran away. It had rained in the autumn, so the soil was a bit loose and muddy.
Ji Wushang, instead, ran down the mountain. Her route involved going up the mountain, making a large detour, and then going down again. This was a roundabout strategy.
Hiding in the shadows, Ji Wushang saw several people running up the mountain. After they passed, he slowly moved down the mountain.
The five assassins in black went up the mountain and searched carefully. They finally found the cave that Ji Wushang had gone into. The five men immediately pushed aside the weeds and saw what appeared to be a figure inside. They shouted, "He's in there!"
The five men rushed in, intending to kill, but when they swung their swords, they missed! Enraged, they cried, "That bitch! She tricked us!"
"Let's go!" The five men went out, and just as they reached the cave entrance, several large rocks rolled down, instantly killing three of them. The remaining men were injured and cried out in agony, wanting to kill Ji Wushang.
However, at this moment, they clearly outnumbered the others. A dozen or so people who had come up saw the five people acting this way and immediately cursed them before quickly running up and down the mountain.
Ji Wushang frowned a few times and immediately walked towards the exquisite residence over there.