Chapter 008: The Visitor

Jiang Li said: "This is not a dream, but now..." As she listened to the voices getting closer, a smile crept onto her lips, and she no longer cared about her earlier confusion. She said: "Let us go kneel in the Buddha hall."

However, after Ji Shuran entered the door, Lady Liu could no longer visit Jiang Li, and gradually their relationship faded. The Peony Festival that Jiang Li mentioned should have been the last time Lady Liu saw Jiang Li. Now that Jiang Li brings it up, the image of her deceased friend Ye Zhenzhen immediately appears before Lady Liu's eyes

Madam Liu, the wife of Liu Yuanfeng from Chengde, was very close to Ye Zhenzhen, the biological mother of Jiang Li. When Ye Zhenzhen first married into Yanjing, she often interacted with Madam Liu. After Ye Zhenzhen passed away, leaving behind Jiang Li, Madam Liu, out of concern for her dear friend, frequently visited Jiang Li.

Jiang Li stared at the lady who had spoken to her first, hesitated for a moment, and then said: "Madam... are you the Lady Liu from the residence of Lord Liu of Chengde?"

The lady was taken aback and asked, "Do you recognize me, young lady?"

Then, a group of people gradually approached from behind this person, including ladies and gentlemen, all dressed in luxurious attire. The "madam" referred to by the old woman was a gentle woman with fair skin and a slender figure. Upon seeing Jiang Li, she was momentarily taken aback, and then shook her head at the old woman, saying: "She is not a nun; she still has her hair, and the one beside her is probably a maid."

Madam Liu, upon hearing this, pondered for a moment and then said, "Indeed." Her gaze towards Jiang Li softened a little, "It is commendable that you still remember."

How is this possible? The young lady appeared to be even younger than Jiang Li. She hesitated and said, "I only know that the Jiang family has a third young lady, Jiang Youyao, but I am not aware of a second young lady."

Upon finishing this statement, the group of men and women before me displayed a variety of expressions, seemingly finding it difficult to speak up

Perhaps out of pity for her young age, the lady softened her voice when speaking to her and gently asked, "Little girl, it's so late, what are you doing here?"

Jiang Li looked around but did not see any nuns in the nunnery, and thus asked in wonder: "May I ask, where have the little masters in the hall gone?"

Jiang Li slightly nodded her head

Tong Er was equally astonished, rubbing her eyes, and said: "Could it be that I am dreaming?"

You are the legitimate daughter of the Jiang family in Yanjing, the biological daughter of Lord Jiang. How can you live in such a place? It is early summer, and kneeling here all night long, what will happen if you fall ill? It is clear that someone is deliberately making things difficult. Miss Jiang Er, come back to Yanjing with me tomorrow.

The group of men and women who arrived were extremely astonished. Someone indignantly exclaimed, "At such a late hour, what crime could warrant a young girl kneeling in the Buddhist hall? What if she injures herself? Is it not said that those who have renounced the world are compassionate? How could they be so cruel?"

Tong'er, kneeling on the ground, brightened her eyes; Lady Liu's words were clearly meant to support Jiang Li. Jiang Li had been abandoned on Qingcheng Mountain for so many years, neglected and forgotten. Now, Lady Liu, being a lady of the official family, when she speaks, even if it seems insignificant at the moment, once they return to Yanjing and she says a few words among the other ladies, it is likely that the news will reach Jiang Yuanbai's ears, and he will naturally remember this daughter who had been left in the nunnery.

Suddenly, someone burst into the Buddhist hall, leading the way was an old woman holding a lantern. She seemed taken aback to find two people kneeling in the hall, especially at such a late hour. She turned to the person behind her and said, "Madam, there are still two nuns here."

However, after Lady Liu finished speaking, she did not receive the response she desired. The girl in front of her looked up with a surprised expression, as if a fleeting joy had crossed her face. Yet, she immediately became hesitant and then firmly shook her head, saying: "Thank you for your kind intentions, but I am afraid this is not possible."

When the name "Miss Jiang Er" was mentioned, the young ladies remained quiet, while the matrons each had their own thoughts. Eight years ago, the incident of Miss Jiang Er causing the miscarriage of Lord Jiang's second wife was known throughout Yanjing. However, so much time had passed that since then, it was heard that Miss Jiang Er had been sent to the family temple for education in propriety, and she had not returned to the capital for many years. Naturally, they had not seen her and could not recall her.

Madam Liu carefully examined the ginger pear before her. Perhaps feeling a twinge of guilt towards her friend, Madam Liu found the girl in front of her increasingly endearing and gentle. She said: "Is it Lord Jiang who brought you here?"

Jiang Li looked in surprise at a group of people who had barged in. Her long black hair framed her pale face, and her frail body was wrapped in a gray robe. Despite her weak complexion, there was a serene and peaceful expression between her brows. Under the statue of the Bodhisattva, she appeared even more beautiful and uncontentious, exuding a gentle purity that easily elicited affection from others

At this moment, Tong'er, who had been in a daze, couldn't help but respond with a puzzled question: "... Flower Fairy?"

My young lady is the second Miss Jiang of the Jiang family from Yanjing

I did not expect to see you here

This person is as beautiful as a fairy or a celestial being, with an aura and elegance that are exceedingly dazzling, indeed leaving one in a daze

Tong Er's eyes darted around, and at that moment, she quickly adopted a pitiful expression, saying: "It was me, the servant. Yesterday, when I was serving the vegetarian dishes to the young lady, I accidentally broke a plate. Master Jing'an said that the young lady and I should kneel here in the Buddhist hall." She wiped her tears again, "I am fine, but our young lady, our young lady hasn't eaten all day."

The gentle woman who first spoke to Jiang Li looked at her and tentatively asked, "This young lady does not seem to be from the temple."

His smile carries a hint of wickedness, yet it is difficult to discern whether he is an enemy or a friend, embodying both righteousness and malevolence

Jiang Li said: "I made a mistake, and the master asked me to kneel here in order to calm my mind"

However, the current Miss Jiang Er, Jiang Li, does not resemble the malicious figure rumored to have plotted the death of her younger brother's biological mother. Kneeling in the Buddhist hall, her frail and submissive appearance hardly seems capable of poisoning her biological mother. Who would believe such a thing if it were said!

Jiang Li lowered her head, appearing somewhat bashful, and smiled gently as she said, "Many years ago during the Peony Festival, the lady came to our residence to admire the peonies, and I still remember it well."

It is only heard that someone said: "No wonder, no wonder such a disgraceful act could be committed; it is clearly the work of a wicked-hearted demoness."

Before Jiang Li had the chance to speak, she suddenly heard a commotion outside. A chill ran down her spine, and when she looked up at the roof again, the handsome young man was already gone, leaving only the gently swaying branches of the peach blossom tree, as if he had just experienced a long, beautiful dream in the spring chamber.

"Jiang family?" Another younger lady's gaze shifted upon hearing this, and she inquired, "Is it the Jiang family of the esteemed Prime Minister Jiang Yuanbai?"

Indeed! Tong Er answered affirmatively

The sound of knocking startled the nuns in the convent. Someone went to open the door, and the lanterns in the convent lit up one by one. The voices of the people outside grew louder, while Jiang Li remained calm and knelt with Tong Er.

People are always more inclined to believe what they see with their own eyes

Beneath the peach blossom grove, atop the roof, a man of striking beauty, adorned with the essence of romance, cast his gaze downwards towards Jiang Li.

Not bad

Tong Er is now filled with many surprises and doubts, so she does not ask further questions. Instead, she kneels in front of the clay Buddha in the Buddhist hall with Jiang Li, having returned the plate of offerings. Just as the two of them have settled into their kneeling position, they hear lively voices coming from outside, accompanied by someone forcefully knocking on the door of the nunnery

As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of these individuals immediately turned to one of angry questioning. Since they had come to the temple to worship Buddha, it was only natural that these people were all "kind-hearted individuals"; upon seeing the young girl being oppressed, they would undoubtedly feel compelled to express their anger.

No one spoke