Chapter Five, The Ingenious Heart of the Seven Treasures

Before she finished speaking, Ziyan immediately crawled a few steps, her expression a mix of sorrow and anger: "Why would Granny Gui say such a thing? Why would our young lady run away? She truly had good intentions, thinking about how inconvenient it is for us to fetch water in the temple. We walked to the edge of the cliff in the back garden and heard the sound of water flowing in the stone cave. She ventured over to find a water source for everyone, saying there was a spring inside the cave, looking as happy as could be. That’s why, on her way back, she accidentally slipped down the mountain. Now, we must quickly find someone to search for her down the mountain, perhaps..."

Oh? It is not only Granny Gui, but also Master Yuhua, Ziyan, and Xiangting who have some doubts.

If Ruo Wei raised her head and saw Master Yu Hua, she immediately walked over and deeply bowed in greeting: "Master Yu Hua, it was Ruo Wei's fault, causing everyone to worry!"

With a smile, I comforted Ziyan and Xiangting, turning around in front of them: "It's nothing, I just grabbed a dead tree stump when I fell, which cut my hand. Later, a kind person rescued me and found some herbs to help bandage my wound, and that's why I was delayed."

Yuhua Zhenren just nodded, while Granny Gui beside her exclaimed: "Still mentioning your dragon cave, you went back and forth empty-handed, and almost fell off the mountain. If you were carrying a water bucket, who knows how many would fall to their deaths in a day? Little ancestor, just calm down a bit.

If Ruo Wei nodded slightly, facing a woman as serene as Yu Hua Zhen Ren, it seemed impossible to refuse. Initially, she thought she would certainly face punishment and provoke new troubles upon her return, but unexpectedly, she was cared for with the tenderness of a family member, which left Ruo Wei feeling somewhat at a loss.

"It’s alright, good child. You are so clever and quick-witted, yet not by your mother’s side. I wonder how sad your mother must be at this moment?" Master Yuhua gently brushed her hair and said, "Go on, rest at the back for a while!"

If Ruo Wei gazed at her somewhat foolishly, her beauty was not inferior to that of the concubines in the palace, and her demeanor perfectly matched her Daoist name, as graceful as jade and flowers, gentle and noble, serene and virtuous. It seemed that Xu Bin spoke the truth; she must have originated from the palace, but why had she fallen to this place? Ruo Wei was very curious, yet she held back. Which woman in the palace was ordinary? Each seemed to bear unknown secrets and stories, and how could one possibly inquire about them all? What had happened in the past was of no concern to her; what mattered was that she believed this Yu Hua Zhen Ren was harmless to her.

May the Buddha bless us, may the Celestial Sovereign bless us, and thank you to all the deities and Bodhisattvas on Qixia Mountain! Zi Yan bowed four times towards the four cardinal directions of the main hall.

The face of Master Yuhua slightly darkened: "Is it possible that we can no longer trouble the old lady now?"

Master Yuhua shook his head, turned, and walked into the inner chamber, picked up a scripture from the desk, and began to recite it silently

Due to his entry into the palace, with his son being strong and his concubine being few, he had to avoid suspicion, and thus he was sent out of the palace to spend his days alone on Mount Qixia. Every day he was tormented and eroded by the pain of missing his daughter, longing to see her yet unable to do so

If I were to elaborate in detail, while speaking and gesturing, I would have said a great deal, yet everyone remained perplexed. When Wei glanced over and saw the writing desk by the window, she smiled slightly at Master Yuhua: "Master Yuhua, may I borrow your brush and ink? I can draw a diagram that everyone will understand at a glance"

If I were to raise a smiling face: "I can't just be scared for nothing and then fall down. I've thought it through; when we install this bamboo flume tomorrow, everyone working inside will be tied at the waist with a rope, the other end secured to a tree. This way, we won't have to worry about slipping on the wet ground and falling down the mountain!"

Zi Yan immediately stepped forward: "I will grind it!"

However, ... ... Granny Gui looked at Ruo Wei as if she were a monster

Yuhua, the reality show host, furrowed her brows slightly and fixed her gaze intently on the two of them. Meanwhile, Guimama, who hurriedly entered from outside, clearly could not contain her anxiety: "Look, what did this old servant say? This girl looks strange; we need to keep a close watch on her. She has only been here for one day, and someone is already missing!"

This, of course, does not have

She suddenly stood up and hurried a few steps into the hall

Yuhua Zhenren? Ruowei did not know why she suddenly felt sad, but just looking at her sadness made her feel sad as well

Master Yuhua glanced at Ziyan and Xiangting, who were kneeling in the hall, and sighed: "Regardless of the circumstances, both of you cannot escape blame. Kneel here for now!"

Master Yuhua nodded

Yuhua Zhenren glanced outward in the direction of her gaze and said: "Is it Wei?"

Xiangting also stopped her tears and chimed in: "Yes, if it were hanging on some tree branch or rock wall, perhaps it would still be possible to save it now!"

"Really, how can one say such things? Isn't this just humiliating the old servant?" Granny Gui's face was filled with indignation as she glared fiercely at Ziyan and Xiangting before hurriedly walking out of the hall

In a few years, when the emperor passes away, what other path is there for the young concubines besides being buried alive? Is this not a form of sin? Thinking of this, I became even more troubled and simply cast the scriptures aside.

"Mamma!" The Jade Emperor's expression was extremely calm: "Send a Taoist boy to Qixia Temple to request the abbot to send someone to search carefully in various places at the foot of the mountain, by the stream, and at the bottom of the cliff. If they find anything, they should first assist us!"

Three girls were seen huddled together, weeping uncontrollably

"Indeed!" Granny Gui took a small box from the topmost layer of the shelf, selected a jade-green medicine bottle from within, and handed it to Master Yuhua: "This is the Jade Fat Condensing Skin Ointment!"

"Miss, how are you? Where are you hurt? Let Ziyan take a look!" Ziyan pulled Ruowei over and examined her from top to bottom

Xiang Ting stared with her big eyes, biting her hand fiercely at the edge of her lips: "Heavens, it's true! Miss, are you alright?"

With a slight tilt of her head and a smile, she said: "Rest assured, Aunt Gui, as people say, one learns from adversity. After experiencing such a perilous situation today, I will certainly not allow the sisters in the courtyard to encounter danger. Just on the way back, I thought of a good plan that guarantees absolute safety!"

An hour later, Granny Gui entered the inner chamber and saw Master Yuhua calmly reciting scriptures. She couldn't help but start nagging beside her: "Your Highness, I believe that Sun Ruowei cannot be found. We should now consider how to report this to the palace!"

Zi Yan and Xiang Ting knelt in the hall, weeping as they recounted the events that had transpired

"Children are playful and reckless; if they lose their footing on the mountain and cannot be found, what does it have to do with us?" Yu Hua, the True Man, felt a surge of anger within. If it were not for Zhu Di's initiation of the Jingnan Rebellion, forcing a palace coup and causing the fate of the Jianwen Emperor to remain uncertain, he would still be happily living in the palace, guarding the treasures of Baoqing.

As she slightly raised her pen and focused her thoughts, she began to write. In no time, a vivid depiction of the Long Cave in the back mountain sprang to life on the paper. She then drew another illustration for water collection, using a long bamboo as a water pipe, with one end placed at the spring's mouth in the cave and the other end positioned on this side of the cliff, also installing a small valve on the bamboo pipe near the water outlet. While she drew, she explained: "Look, whenever we need to collect water, we lift the valve, and the water will flow continuously. When not in use, we lower the valve, and the water will stop flowing. This way, it is clean and convenient. Unfortunately, we do not have a vegetable garden; otherwise, we could channel the spring water to flow around as a stream, making it even more convenient!" While she drew, she reiterated: "Look, whenever we need to collect water, we lift the valve, and the water will flow continuously. When not in use, we lower the valve, and the water will stop flowing. This way, it is clean and convenient. Unfortunately, we do not have a vegetable garden; otherwise, we could channel the spring water to flow around as a stream, making it even more convenient!"

Upon hearing this, Master Yuhua was overjoyed and embraced Ruowei, saying: "Good child, you are truly the lucky star bestowed upon the San Yuan Temple by the Celestial Sovereign. With this, we can be self-sufficient in water and vegetables, and no longer need to travel down the mountain every day to fetch them. How did you come up with this idea?"

Yuhua nodded slightly, lowered her head to lean closer to Ruowei's hand, and took a sniff: "This herbal medicine is just right!" She then opened the medicine bottle again, poured some onto her finger, and gently applied it to the palm of Ruowei's hand: "This is a medicine from the palace. After applying it, it will take no more than two or three days to restore to its original state. A young lady's hands are incredibly precious, and they must not be left with scars!"

Is this feasible? Granny Gui almost leaned over the paper, scrutinizing it for a long time, yet she could not comprehend it.

As Wei looked at her, a wave of emotion surged in her heart unknowingly, as if they were very close. She wanted to express her gratitude but momentarily did not know what to say. Master Yuhua walked to her side, gently took her hand wrapped in cloth, and while unwrapping the cloth, instructed: "Guimama, bring me my medicine box!"

Xiangting and Ziyan exchanged a glance, and Ziyan raised her face: "Thank you, Master!"

Now, another perfectly fine young girl has been sent here. Sun Ruowei appears innocent and pure, her temperament reminiscent of his own in those days. What does he intend to do with such a young girl? Is it possible that even in his old age, he still wishes to take her for himself? If that is the case, Ruowei would become yet another Zhang Meiren.

"Mother." The Real Person Yuhua said: "If Wei is also for the convenience of the people in the audience."

Alright, having encountered this calamity, you must be both startled and frightened. It would be best for you to return and rest early! Master Yuhua carefully wrapped up Ruowei's hands and then reached out to tidy her hair: "It is likely inconvenient to wear ordinary clothing on this mountain. Tomorrow, I will have Granny Gui send you two sets of Daoist robes, which you can wear when going out, making it more convenient and neat!"

If Wei nodded slightly, she then returned to her small courtyard with Ziyan and Xiangting

It is good to have you back; this time, you have come through without any danger. If it is indeed so, it seems you are truly a fortunate person! Master Yuhua smiled faintly, finally feeling relieved.

"Indeed!" Granny Gui still has more to say

After being lost in thought for a while, I suddenly remembered an idea: "Master Yuhua, today we discovered a dragon cave on the rock wall in the back garden, which contains a spring. This will make it convenient for us to access water!"

"Ruo Wei, good child, it is commendable that you have thought of everything so thoroughly!" The real person Yu Hua embraced Ruo Wei, and through her, it was as if he could see his own daughter, Princess Baoqing. Was she as clever and considerate as Ruo Wei? As he pondered, a layer of mist gradually formed in his eyes. For a mother, if her own child is not by her side, the most unbearable sight is to see someone of similar age to her child. Each encounter would evoke endless sorrow, difficult to quell for a long time. As he pondered, a layer of mist gradually formed in his eyes. For a mother, if her own child is not by her side, the most unbearable sight is to see someone of similar age to her child. Each encounter would evoke endless sorrow, difficult to quell for a long time.

Inside the San Yuan Guan Yu Hua Hall

Old Lady Gui shot a fierce glance at Ziyan and Xiangting, then leaned closer to Master Yuhua: "Master, what a coincidence this is, to fall into the ravine just after a trip to the back garden. Who are you trying to fool? In my opinion, that little girl must have sneaked away and colluded with these two little rascals to deceive us. There is no need to make such a fuss to seek help. All we need to do is capture these two little rascals, interrogate them rigorously, and we will surely get to the bottom of this... In my opinion, that little girl must have sneaked away and colluded with these two little rascals to deceive us. There is no need to make such a fuss to seek help. All we need to do is capture these two little rascals, interrogate them rigorously, and we will surely get to the bottom of this..."

"What did he say?" Master Yuhua smiled slightly, "He brought the person here and only mentioned that they would stay temporarily. Did he ever instruct us to keep a close watch and not allow them to wander off?"

"What you say sounds true, but if it were really the case, there would be no need to search. Such a high mountain, if one were to fall, the body might not even be whole!" Granny Gui still did not believe it

Your Highness! The old maid Gui seemed to have seen a ghost, letting out a loud cry, her eyes staring blankly at the hall. Could it be that her old eyes were deceiving her? She rubbed her eyes vigorously.

Yuhua Zhenren stood up and said: "Mother, hurry up! No matter what, we must do our best and leave the rest to fate!"