Chapter 3, Who Understands a Daughter's Woes

Old Lady Gui performed a grand salute and said, "Master Yuhua, this is Miss Ruowei!"

In a moment of distraction, a female Taoist priest emerged from within. She wore a pure white robe that reached her knees, with a stone green silk sash tied around her waist. Her long black hair was elegantly gathered at the top of her head, secured with a jade hairpin, styled into a high bun

Then, Master Yuhua suddenly smiled and said, "If you can think this way, it is the best!" After saying this, he raised his eyes to glance at the young boy standing beside him. The boy immediately picked up two volumes of scriptures from the desk and presented them to Ruowei. Upon receiving them, Ruowei looked and saw that they were indeed the "Nanhua Zhenjing" and the "Chongxu Zhenjing," and inwardly lamented in despair.

No matter how Xiangting and Ziyan called out, the sound of the wind whistling past her ears drowned them out, and it seemed as if she could hear nothing at all. The last time, it was also on this Qixia Mountain that she had accidentally slipped, and at that time, Xu Bin had suddenly come to her rescue, so it was a close call without any real danger. But this time, who would come to her aid again

No, it is not.

It is! Under the gaze of the two, there is only obedience.

At this moment, she walked back with a joyful expression, feeling quite pleased. She thought to herself that earlier this morning, when she went to the fire room to fetch hot water, she had heard the young acolyte mention that the most troublesome thing in the mountains was fetching water. The San Yuan Temple, located at the mountain's peak, has no water source, and one must go to the Qixia Temple halfway down the mountain to fetch water. Qixia Temple has wells and lakes with abundant water supply, but even at the fastest pace, a round trip takes at least half an hour. Moreover, the temple is filled with young and delicate women, so in order to conserve water, they rarely bathe or wash their hair. Even the vegetables are only briefly dipped in water before being cooked, as they dare not wash them multiple times. It is no wonder that every meal has a hint of earthy flavor.

Soaking in a bathtub that exudes the fragrance of natural wood, Xiangting asked for some ginger from the front fire room, sliced it, and placed it in the tub. While gently pressing on the acupoints and meridians all over her body, she felt a surge of warmth and comfort as her blood and energy flowed smoothly.

If Wei was perhaps drawing water from the cave, and the shoes underfoot got wet, just as he was about to traverse that small stretch of the cliff and step onto the smooth path, his foot slipped, his body tilted, and he rolled down into the ravine.

It turns out that the silk of the fish evokes a thousand sorrows

Yes, thank you, Yuhua! Ruo Wei was immediately filled with joy. Oh my, this means that after seven years away from home, she has finally regained her freedom. Although it was only a brief hour from afternoon to the hour of Shen, for her, it seemed like a tremendous blessing

A young child ran out, shaking a whisk in hand: "Please, esteemed guests, come in!"

"No, no!" Ruowei responded repeatedly, "This cliff is too steep; you cannot go!"

The entire morning was spent quietly in the main hall, listening to a group of Taoist nuns expound on the teachings of Laozi's "Tao Te Ching," which was dull and uninteresting from the very beginning. If Wei could only turn a deaf ear, she silently recited musical scores in her heart, trying to find something interesting to occupy herself and avoid dozing off. After enduring until the lecture concluded, she followed the crowd to the dining hall to receive her meal. After returning to her small room, finishing her meal, and tidying up, she finally flew out of the San Yuan Temple with Xiang Ting and Zi Yan, like a little bird from a cage. After enduring until the lecture concluded, she followed the crowd to the dining hall to receive her meal. After returning to her small room, finishing her meal, and tidying up, she finally flew out of the San Yuan Temple with Xiang Ting and Zi Yan, like a little bird from a cage.

"Miss, how could you scare me like this for no reason!" Ziyan was so angry that she stamped her feet and began to wipe her tears while standing aside

Indeed, young lady, the atmosphere here is too heavy with negative energy; there is likely something unclean present! Xiangting was even more terrified, as she reached back to tightly grasp Ruowei's robe, preventing her from approaching.

Upon entering, I was taken aback

Master Yuhua shook his head: "However, she is still just a child. You must not be too strict with her. At such a young age, she has left her parents to enter the palace, and just as she is about to come of age, she is separated from the one she loves. It is already tragic enough. Now, being relegated to this place, which is not unlike a cold palace, it is commendable that she still knows how to adapt and find joy in hardship. We might as well turn a blind eye to it all."

If Wei Chong and the others made a gesture, "Shh, listen!"

Only the gentle breeze does not enter my dreams, I rise from my bed and sit up to gaze at the moon alone

As dawn broke, Xiang Ting opened her eyes and glanced over at the opposite bed, only to find it neatly made, as if no one had ever slept there. She immediately nudged the purple smoke beside her: "Purple Smoke, wake up quickly, where is the girl?"

Miss

Ah, it's so hot! Xiangting, are you going to pluck the feathers from the chicken?" Ruowei exclaimed with a hint of concern.

Looking at her silhouette, Master Yuhua smiled sadly, and Granny Gui stepped forward to help her sit down: "Your Highness, are you thinking of Princess Baoqing again?"

After everything was tidied up, the three of them finally walked out of the small courtyard and arrived at the west wing, where they found Granny Gui, who led them to the outside of a hall.

If Wei has practiced dancing since childhood, she can sway gracefully on the narrowest part of her palm as if it were level ground, thus she can traverse this path while others can only watch in envy.

"Yes, my Baoqing, she is of the same age... It has been so many years since we last met, I wonder what she has grown into?" Yuhua Zhenren leaned against Grandma Gui's embrace, at this moment she was no longer the dignified and ethereal female official, but merely a sorrowful woman: "Grandma, how is it that the women of the emperor end up in such a pitiful state?"

"You may take these two volumes of scriptures back and study them carefully. If you have any questions, feel free to come and ask me!" It seemed that Master Yuhua's demeanor changed to a more amiable one in an instant, "Go ahead. Although the San Yuan Temple is a royal Taoist temple, it is not a cold palace or a forbidden place. You are allowed to leave the temple every afternoon, but remember not to wander too far. You must return before the hour of Shen!"

Now that we have found a water source, it will be convenient to use water

Leaning my head against the edge of the barrel, I was on the verge of dozing off, yet my mind was exceptionally clear

Your Highness!" Granny Gui's eyes revealed a sense of reluctance: "Princess Baoqing is the most cherished princess of the late emperor. Although she is not by Your Highness's side, she must be well taken care of in terms of food and clothing. Your Highness, please do not worry too much! However, now that we have unexpectedly brought in a Sun Ruowei, I am truly afraid that she may bring us trouble.

A horse may stumble, and it is the same for others

Just as I let out a sigh of relief, the dry branch I was holding suddenly snapped with a "crack." This time, I was so terrified that I forgot to even close my eyes, thinking to myself, "It's over, it's really over this time"

This room is not large, with one side bright and the other dark, consisting of an outer hall and an inner chamber

The two rushed to the edge of the barrel, extending their hands to lift Ruowei's head out of the water. Ruowei then spouted a jet of water from her mouth, looking at the two of them with a grin: "What are you doing? I want to soak a little longer!"

The hall is sparsely furnished, with a few tables and chairs, a bookshelf, and a chess table. It is simple and old-fashioned, yet kept impeccably clean and free of dust.

"This is not acceptable, Your Highness is mistaken. The current Emperor's thoughts are not like yours, so I must keep my eyes wide open and closely watch these girls. We cannot allow them to cause trouble and disturb our peaceful days!" After saying this, Granny Gui walked out of the room

If one were to bring their hands together, cupping a handful of spring water, and gently sip it with their lips, they would immediately feel its sweetness and deliciousness, bursting into joy and exclamations of delight.

The two individuals quickly put on their clothes and hurriedly rushed outside. They saw Ruowei coming from the door, straining to lift a bucket of hot water with both hands. Upon seeing them come out, she immediately shouted: "Come and help me quickly. In the past, it was you who took care of me. Today, I am fetching water to assist you with your washing!"

If Wei stands with her hands on her hips, breathing slowly: "I have made up my mind. Since we are here, we should make ourselves comfortable. Currently, the small courtyard lacks a kitchen, making it inconvenient for water and meals. It is manageable now, but once autumn arrives and the weather turns cool, it will be quite difficult. Therefore, I need to find a way to renovate this small courtyard, making our living conditions more comfortable, and I also need to find some proper work to do!"

Miss

This time, Xiang Ting no longer assisted Ruo Wei, her cheeks puffed up, her face tense, and she remained silent, only lifting the hot water bucket with force and pouring it into the bathing tub.

Zhu Di is not Emperor Ming of the Tang Dynasty, the northern border is restless, the remnants of the Yuan Dynasty are stirring, and the undercurrents in the court are surging. Today's Yongle reign cannot be compared to the prosperous Kaiyuan era, therefore, his arrangements today must have deeper significance and cannot simply be for the purpose of separating himself from Zhan Ji.

As Ziyan pushed open the door with a bucket of hot water, what she saw was the black hair scattered above the wooden tub and the jade-like body submerged in the water, which immediately frightened her into exclaiming: "Miss, Miss, you cannot think of ending it all, you cannot leave Ziyan all alone!"

Like a monstrous creature with its mouth wide open, dark and chilling

Upon exiting the temple, I did not venture far, but instead began to survey the surrounding terrain of this Daoist temple. To my pleasant surprise, I discovered that there are many natural beauties outside the San Yuan Temple. I was particularly astonished to find a large dragon cave located at the edge of a cliff, just a hundred zhang away from the back door of the temple.

The vows and sweet words he spoke this morning still linger in my ears, and it seems I can still sense his presence from last night. But now, where is he? Is he embracing his beautiful wife and concubines, playing music and drinking, living a life of joy

Am I really going to die here, just like this

If Wei suddenly opened her tightly closed eyes, she would see herself falling rapidly and also the cliff not far away. She reached out her hand and grasped fiercely, regardless of whether it was a branch or something else. Immediately, a sharp pain shot through her hand, but she could only grit her teeth and endure it. With a firm grip and a slight pull at her waist, she kicked her legs and, like a monkey, climbed onto a section of the cliff face.

Hearing the shout, Xiang Ting hurriedly pushed the door open and entered the hall

If Wei could not comprehend, she simply curled her body up, held her breath, and slowly submerged her head into the water

"Miss, let us return!" Ziyan looked at Ruowei as she walked towards the cave entrance, unable to hide her astonishment, her voice trembling slightly.

If she slightly nodded her head and smiled, she would say: "Whether it is suitable or not, all lies within a single thought; the wild geese mourn in the clouds, and the high mountains disperse the sorrow of separation"

A single tear falls silently onto the pillow, who can understand the daughter's sorrow?

If Wei Daxi was overjoyed, she released Xiang Ting's hand and slowly walked over to the tree roots at the edge of the cliff. After traversing a short stretch of the cliff face, she arrived at the entrance of the large cave.

Ziyan opened her eyes and was immediately stunned

Her beauty is graceful, her demeanor dignified, embodying the elegance of a beauty in her twilight years, exuding a transcendent and solemn beauty. Her gaze is cast upon Ruowei, scrutinizing her from top to bottom.

Is it not said that this place is indeed a realm beyond the ordinary, where everyone speaks of equality

Who is this person? Looking at her appearance and demeanor, as well as the exquisite decor in this inner hall, she certainly does not seem like an ordinary female Taoist priest. Moreover, this is the Royal Guan Guan; who exactly is she? She appears to be fully aware of her own matters. If Ruo Wei cannot figure it out for a moment, she simply does not bother to guess and replies straightforwardly: "What if I go back? What if I cannot go back? I only know that I am currently ordered to cultivate myself here. As for everything in the future, I hope that Master Yuhua will take good care of me!" After saying this, she solemnly performed a deep bow.

After Wei and Xiangting, along with Ziyan, performed their greetings, they withdrew

The water outlet surprisingly resembles a dragon's head, with the uneven rocks appearing as its nose and eyes, creating a strikingly realistic image

The arrangement of the room does not resemble that of a traditional study; it is more akin to the boudoir of a talented woman

"Miss, what happened? What is in that cave? Do you want us to come over?" Zi Yan shouted

Longing makes it hard to sleep, do not resent the lingering pain of parting

Oh? The Real Person Yuhua furrowed her brows slightly, her beautiful eyes fixed intently on Ruowei. Observing her calm demeanor at such a young age in the face of this upheaval, she felt a sense of doubt. Thus, she decided to test her by asking: "Is it merely a passing wild goose? A wild goose can still be hoped for to return year after year, but can you still go back?"

However, the saying that excessive joy leads to sorrow seems to be a truth

However, what exactly is his purpose in doing this

"Miss, what are you doing?" Ziyan complained, but her legs immediately ran over to take the hot water bucket from Ruowei's hands

The only time we see each other is in dreams

If Wei waved her hand to urge, "Hurry up and wash up, change your clothes, we still need to go meet that Yuhua Zhenren ahead, and listen to what she has to teach us about the true teachings"

She nodded slightly, her voice somewhat ethereal, her cold and aloof eyes fixed intently on Ruowei, unable to express whether it was like or dislike, only opening her mouth to ask: "Having just arrived at this temple from the palace, you must be feeling quite uncomfortable, right?"

Horizontal is silk, vertical is silk

Xiangting and Ziyan both smiled again at the same time

"Yuhua Zhenren, if Miss Ruowei has arrived!" Granny Gui spoke with utmost respect, her demeanor clearly resembling that of someone waiting outside the palace gates of the East and West Six Palaces for the summons of the esteemed lady.

Focusing and calming the mind, I listened intently and surprisingly heard the faint sound of flowing water, as if it were barely there.

Thus, following behind Granny Gui, Ruo Wei entered the hall along with Xiang Ting and Zi Yan

If Wei turned over and fiercely pinched her thigh with her hand: "You must not slander Zhanji like this, Zhanji is not like that, and Zhanji would never do such a thing!"

After three people finished taking a shower in succession and tidied up the eastern room, they returned to the western room. Lying in bed, Ruo Wei tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. As soon as she closed her eyes, it seemed as if she saw Zhan Ji leaning against the headboard, his pair of handsome eyes fixed intently on her, his warm hand gently brushing her cheek, softly calling her name: "Ruo Wei, Ruo Wei"

As my gaze swept into the inner hall, I was struck by a stark change in style; the furnishings in this room were exceedingly elegant. Against the eastern wall stood an ancient guqin, and beneath the window was a writing desk, fully equipped with the four treasures of the study. To the north was an embroidered couch, with a deep-hanging hibiscus curtain.

Miss! Xiang Ting was astonished and asked repeatedly, could it be that you are truly determined to stay here?

To go is to worry, to come is to worry

Oh my!" Ruo Wei exclaimed in surprise. From this side of the mountain, one cannot see the situation inside. However, after walking past a section of the cliff, one will discover that just a few steps beneath the stone wall at the entrance of the Great Dragon Cave, there is unexpectedly a cool spring, gently bubbling and flowing through the crevices of the stone wall, cascading down into the mountain stream, forming a hidden little brook