Chapter 5: The Road Encounter with the Demonic Boy

  The next day was a fine day with sunshine and no clouds in the sky.

  Madam Fan's condition has slightly improved.

  In the quiet garden, Spring Apricot was combing Xu Mingjin's hair in front of her dressing table. Mrs. Xu was busily packing things up. Xu Mingjin looked at the large and small packages of luggage that Mrs. Xu had packed and asked in surprise: "We're just going to burn incense, why pack so much luggage?" Mrs. Xu said: "Miss doesn't know, White Cloud Temple is half a day's journey from our Liu City, we can't rush back within a day. We have to stay there overnight and come back the next morning." Xu Mingjin felt extremely bored when she heard this. She was not very enthusiastic about burning incense in the first place, and now she was worried about Lady Fan's illness. This time it was her mother who had asked her, so she could only go reluctantly. Now she would have to spend the night there, which made her head ache.

  "Miss, what hairstyle is good?" Chun Xing asked, holding a comb.

  "Whatever." Xu Mingjin said lazily.

  "Then I'll braid a double bun for the young lady." Chun Xing said patiently, "Young lady, don't be unhappy, going out for a walk is good too." Xu Mingjin responded with a snort from her nose.

  "Miss, how about wearing this dress?" Qiu Yun shook out a soft silver gauze lily dress in front of Xu Mingjin.

  Xu Mingjin glanced over and said, "Wearing that won't be cold, will it?" Autumn Cloud heard this and smiled, saying: "It won't. If Miss is afraid of the cold, then wearing that Eight-Team Auspicious Encounter thick brocade with silver fox fur cloak on the outside would be good, right?" Xu Mingjin nodded in satisfaction at this.

  With a gentle smile, Xu Mingjin stood in front of the dresser inlaid with mother-of-pearl and colorful shells, gazing at himself.

  I still remember the scene five days ago when she woke up and stood here dazed, she was bewildered. It feels like all of this is just a dream. Especially looking at the dazzling face in the mirror, it's even more unreal. She couldn't help but reach out to touch again. Chun Xiang, however, was afraid that her hand would smudge the carefully applied rouge, and hurriedly pressed her back into the chair to sit down, carefully reapplying her makeup. Xu Ming Jin turned her eyes, looking at Qiu Yun who was laughing heartily while holding an eight-team auspicious reunion thick brocade with silver fox fur cloak. And felt the softness of the powder puff on her face as it gently rotated, as she watched Yu Niang hurry to instruct the maids to move the luggage outside. It all feels too unreal, like a bubble that will burst at the slightest touch.

  Until she got out of the house, out of the courtyard, and into the carriage, Xu Mingjin's daze finally dissipated. Moreover, she felt that it wasn't just her worrying that would make Lady Fan's illness better. Rather than worrying, it was better to let go and check on her properly tomorrow. Lady Fan's sudden illness made her feel like something was off, could it be related to the situation in the capital? After thinking for a while, she couldn't figure out any leads, so she had to put it aside for now. Having finally come out for a trip, she didn't want to waste this beautiful spring day.

  The horse carriage rattled forward, and inside, Xu Mingjin suddenly became spirited again. She lifted the curtain to take a look, but was stopped by Mrs. Xu. She didn't understand why, and Mrs. Xu disapprovingly said: "Miss, if outsiders see you, they'll say you're being too casual." Xu Mingjin said: "Nanny, now is the time when the mountain flowers are in full bloom, it's not often that we get to come out, wouldn't it be a pity if we didn't take a good look?" Mrs. Xu smiled and said: "Miss wants to appreciate the scenery, that's fine too, just wait until we're outside the city where there are fewer people."

  Xu Mingjin nodded, sitting quietly without making a sound. Chun Xiang and Qiu Yun saw this and smiled: "Miss wants to admire the flowers, Baiyun An has a large peach blossom forest, because every year the blooming period is very late, it hasn't withered yet!"

  Xu Mingjin asked excitedly, "Really?" The two nodded frantically and rushed to say; "In previous years, when the lady went to Baiyun An, she also rewarded peach blossoms. We heard it from Dongxi, who was beside the lady." Qiu Yun said again: "In previous years, we only envied others, but now, finally, it's our turn for others to envy us." Xu Mingjin smiled and joked: "It seems that today, just for you two little maids, I should go to the peach blossom forest to take a look." Qiu Yun and Chun Xing looked at each other, and Chun Xing said: "Obviously, Miss wants to go, but uses us two as an excuse." Xu Mingjin said: "Alright, don't argue anymore. When the time comes, I'll bring you two along." The two clearly had something to say, but because of Xu Mingjin's words, they could only swallow it back.

  Xu Mingjin looked at the two gloomy faces and finally smiled happily.

  At this time, Mrs. Xu said: "Miss, we have already left the city." Upon hearing this, Xu Mingjin hastily lifted the window curtain and looked up to see that the carriage was traveling on a small mountain road, with lush greenery along the way, and occasionally some pink, purple, yellow, and small wildflowers blooming. The scenery had a unique charm, and as her gaze rose higher, she saw several small hills lined up in the distance, with a few wisps of pale pink mist visible far away. She couldn't help but say: "The fragrance of April is gone from the world, but the peach blossoms are just beginning to bloom in the mountain temple." As soon as her words fell, she heard a voice praising her poem: "Good poetry!" Xu Mingjin was startled and saw a young man riding a strong black horse galloping past the window. As he passed by, he glanced at her sideways, and their eyes met just right.

  The moment their eyes met, sparks flew.

  Xu Mingjin's little heart was racing wildly. Anyone who saw such a beautiful and stunning face would be stunned for half a day. Xu Mingjin was no exception. Just as she was stunned, the young man flashed her a faint smile and rode his horse away. Xu Mingjin immediately understood what it meant to say that one smile could make the world lose its color. Because this was it.

  "Miss, are you okay?" Chun Xiang asked worriedly. Xu Mingjin shook her head, still not recovering from the intense visual stimulation. My goodness, that man is too devilishly handsome.

  "Alas, it's all my fault," said the old nurse regretfully. "If I hadn't reminded Miss that you had gone out of the city, you wouldn't have lifted the curtain to look, and this wouldn't have happened. Ugh, just look at my mouth, it really deserves a slap!" As she spoke, she stretched out her right hand to slap herself in the face, but Xu Mingjin quickly grabbed hold of it. "Nurse, how can you blame yourself?" he comforted. "This would make me lose sleep and appetite! Besides, what's the harm in being seen by someone? It won't cause any loss."

  Madam Xǔ finally stopped.

  Next, Xu Mingjin lost interest in looking at the scenery and just sat quietly.

  No words all the way.

  At noon. The horse carriage arrived at Baiyun Temple.

  The White Cloud Temple is located on a peak of clouds, about ten miles west of Liu City. It's quite large in scale and the largest temple within dozens of miles, with a thriving incense fire. Every first to fifteenth day of the month is when pilgrims gather. The carriage arrived at the entrance. Xu Mingjin got off the horse-drawn vehicle and before he could take a good look at this ancient temple, he was led by Madam Xu to the side hall. A young nun came forward with her hands clasped together and paid respects. Then she said to Madam Xu, "Donor, you're safe. It's been a while since you accompanied Madame Fan here to burn incense. How is your body?" Madam Xu replied, "This old servant is still strong! Unfortunately, my mistress is ill. This time, I'm accompanying our young miss to burn incense." The young nun heard this and again clasped her hands together in respect. She said, "Donor Xu, please follow me." Leading the group into the grand hall where Xu Mingjin's great-grandmother was enshrined, watching as Xu Mingjin respectfully lit three sticks of incense. "The poor nun will take you to rest in the back house." Leading them out of the grand hall and walking towards the back house.

  "Venerable nun advised everyone, if there's nothing going on, please don't move around randomly." The little nun said while walking.

  Xu Mingjin heard this and his mind moved, asking: "May I ask, young master, has some extraordinary big shot come to the temple?" As he spoke, he gave Chun Xiang a glance.

  Spring apricot meeting, busy digging out a heavy purse stuffed into the little nun's hand. Seeing that she did not refuse, Xu Mingjin knew there was a way in.

  "Master Lai is currently receiving Princess Pingxi in the main hall." The little nun led them to a side room, pointing west with her hand, "It's just over there." Then she said, "Please, Master, don't wander around randomly, lest you bring trouble upon yourself. I'll take my leave." With that, she bowed and exited.

  Xu Mingjin sent Granny Xu to investigate. On her way back, she couldn't help but turn her head to take a look and found that the other side had indeed been heavily guarded, with strong troops stationed all along the way. Xu Mingjin entered the room, leaned against the couch, and fell into deep thought.

  After a while, Xu Ayi returned with a puzzled expression: "Miss Hui, I went to investigate and found that the doors of the wing rooms are heavily guarded, and it's impossible to enter. The young master in the hut refused to talk about why he came to offer incense to Princess Pingxi." Xu Mingjin nodded upon hearing this: "In that case, we shouldn't pry into other people's secrets. Let's be careful not to run into them. After all, we're only staying for a day." She looked at the two young maids and smiled: "Let's have some tea now and take a good rest. After lunch, we'll go for a stroll in the peach blossom forest and digest our food." Xu Mingjin thought that as long as she didn't try to curry favor with those noble people, they would coexist peacefully. Of course, she wouldn't compromise herself by hiding in this wing room just because of others; she still wanted to see the peach blossoms.

  So by then it was late afternoon and Xu Mingjin took Chun Xiang and Qiu Yun to the Peach Blossom Forest with great enthusiasm.

  Xu Mingjin had not yet arrived, still a distance from the garden, when he saw the peach blossom forest, like clouds and mist falling from the sky. His nose seemed to have already caught the scent of the peach blossoms' refreshing fragrance, which was intoxicating. This peach blossom indeed bloomed later than rumored. Now was its most resplendent time. Xu Mingjin walked closer, admiring it for a while, saying: "This trip is not in vain." He then turned to ask Madam Xu: "I don't know if there's a rule in this temple, I love these flowers dearly, can I cut a few branches to take back to my room?"

  "Only a few peach blossoms, Miss wants them, I'll go pick some. It's allowed in the cottage." Xu Mingjin shook her head and said, "No need to trouble you, old lady, just call two little maids to pick them up. But we didn't bring scissors, would it be okay if Nanny Xu goes back to get one?" Nanny Xu agreed and instructed Xu Mingjin not to go too far before she left. Xu Mingjin and Chun Xiangyu slowly walked into the peach blossom forest, admiring the view.

  "Miss, would you like to wear this Eight Tuan Xi Xiang Jin thick brocade with silver fox fur cloak?" Autumn Cloud pointed at the package she was carrying.

  "I don't feel cold yet, I won't wear it for now." Xu Mingjin turned his head to look at Qiuyun, who had been respectful and courteous since he woke up, taking care of him with meticulous attention and being considerate of others. Although she hadn't spent as much time with him as Chun Xiang, she had gradually gained his trust.

  "Yes, miss." Qiuyun released her hands which were about to untie the bundle on her back and retied it instead.

  Xu Mingjin was admiring the flowers when Chun Xing pointed to a branch with several splits, looking very beautiful, and said: "Miss, look at this one! Let's cut it back!" Chun Xing had a bright smile and a charming expression. Against the peach blossoms, this scene made Xu Mingjin suddenly think of the phrase "people are more delicate than flowers". He also thought of the poem "human face and peach blossom reflect each other in red". Among all the maids, Chun Xing's appearance was outstanding. Xu Mingjin thought to himself: I wonder which turtle grandson will be lucky enough to get her? Thinking that this was a curse, Xu Mingjin burst out laughing.

  Chun Xiang was puzzled, she only said one sentence, "Miss, why are you smiling like that, so... infatuated?" Chun Xiang didn't want to describe her mistress like that. But her mistress's infatuated expression seemed to be getting more and more severe? She kept staring at her, staring until she felt embarrassed? Why was Miss still staring? Hmm, why did her face look increasingly ugly? Chun Xiang thought: Miss's ghostly expression was too exaggerated! Wait, ghostly? Chun Xiang seemed to understand something, immediately turning her head.

  Xu Mingjin stared blankly with a stunned expression at Xuan Yuan's solemn oath, his face full of smiles.

  "Ah, isn't this... isn't this the young master who passed by our carriage this morning?" Chun Xiang hastily retreated and ran to Xu Mingjin's side with Qiu Yun, opening her arms to block Xu Mingjin and shouting at Xuan Yuan Qi: "You scoundrel! What do you want to do to our young mistress?!"

  Xuan Yuan Qi's eyes were fixed on Qiu Yun Chun Xing, who was staring at him with a fierce gaze. He smiled and said to Xu Ming Jin: "We meet again! Miss, I am Xuan Yuan Qi." Xu Ming Jin's face twitched, just as she was about to respond, Xuan Yuan Qi politely said: "Miss, your peach blossom has fallen off." As he spoke, he handed her a peach blossom.

  Xu Mingjin only felt a loud thunder. She remembered a joke she had read in modern times, which was about a girl walking on the road, and a boy who wanted to flirt with her picked up a brick from the ground and said: "Miss, your brick has fallen off." The situation is exactly the same! If Xuan Yuan Qi said that he would thunder her, then he had already succeeded. Unfortunately, the joke didn't have a sequel, otherwise she would definitely counter-thunder him back.

  Xu Mingjin said: "It's your peach blossom." Xu Ayi's scissors haven't even been fetched yet.

  "No, it's your peach blossom." Xuan Yuan Qi corrected.

  "It's your peach blossom." Xu Mingjin was somewhat impatient.

  "Your peach blossom." Xuan Yuan Qi vowed.

  "Alright, my peach blossom." Xu Ming said hastily. He reached out and grabbed the peach blossom branch, saying: "You can leave now."

  She was shocked! The conversation just now reminded her of the dialogue between Zhang Wei and Yu Mo in "Love Apartment", as well as that disgusting line: "My Yida". Could this guy also be a time-traveler? Xu Mingjin looked at Xuan Yuan Qi with suspicion.

  Xuanyuan Qiyue was startled by her rough movements, seemingly having never seen such a ferocious woman before. He looked at her in surprise.

  "Last year today at this gate, human faces and peach blossoms reflected each other in red?"

  Xuanyuan Qiji exclaimed: "Good poem, Miss has great talent. But why are there only two sentences? What about the rest?"

  Xu Mingjin only recited the poem to test her. Seeing that he was just constantly praising himself, she couldn't help but feel disappointed and thought: It turns out this guy isn't. So she repeated again: "You can leave now."

  Xuanyuan Xiwang said with a strange tone: "I just arrived, and I haven't had a good look at the scenery of this peach forest. How can I leave without achieving anything?"

  Xu Mingjin took a deep breath and desperately told himself in his heart: I'm not angry, I'm not angry... After muttering to himself three times, he opened his eyes with a smile: "You don't leave, I'll leave." He didn't even glance at the flowers again, and turned around swiftly like autumn clouds and spring apricots, walking away quickly.

  Xuan Yuan shouted behind her: "Why don't you reward me? Didn't you just arrive? Ah, don't leave so quickly! I still don't know the young lady's name..."

  Xu Mingjin walked even faster, his footsteps swift as flying arrows.

  Chun Xiang and Qiu Yun followed behind, panting: "Miss, slow down, we're almost at the pavilion. Running so fast doesn't look good to others." The implied meaning was that she didn't look like a proper young lady this way. This was Chun Xiang's unspoken words. Xu Ming Jin understood and stopped. She waited for the two of them to catch up before walking slowly with light steps.

  At this time, Mrs. Xu hurried over from the wing room with scissors in hand, and after a brief collision, she asked in confusion: "Zheng Shang was fine just now, why did he come back?" Xu Mingjin replied indignantly: "Ran into a pig, ruined the scenery." Pig? Mrs. Xu was bewildered by this, but it wasn't convenient to say anything at the moment, so she followed Xu Mingjin back to the wing room.

  Xu Mingjin returned, still fuming, and drank three cups of tea before calming down. She asked Nanny Xu, "Is it true that the surname Xuan Yuan is a royal surname? And isn't Princess Pingxi also surnamed Xuan Yuan?" Nanny Xu was taken aback but remained expressionless, replying, "Yes, Miss, you are correct. Princess Pingxi indeed bears the surname Xuan Yuan." Xu Mingjin nodded, feeling her anger dissipate somewhat. She thought to herself: It seems that Xuan Yuan Qiyue's background is not simple; he might have some connection with Princess Pingxi from the western wing of the palace. I'll avoid him from now on.

  Xu Mingjin asked Nanny Xu, "I really like those peach blossoms, but I don't feel like going there right now. Would you be so kind as to pick a few branches for me?" Nanny Xu smiled and said, "What's the big deal? If Miss wants them, I'll go pick some." Xu Mingjin was worried that Xuan Yuan Qiyue might still be in the peach grove, and if he were to tease the two young maids again, what would happen? She thought it best to send Nanny Xu instead, as she didn't believe even someone as perverted as Xuan Yuan Qiyue would dare to tease Nanny Xu.

  Madam Xu quickly picked some peach blossoms and brought them back. Xu Mingjin was excited to show off his skills in traditional Chinese flower arrangement, which earned him admiration from Madam Xu and several others.

  In the carriage, Xu Mingjin chatted with the two maids for a while before instructing Chun Xiang to take out the four treasures of the study that she had brought from home. She wanted to practice her calligraphy. Madam Xi advised, "It's better to rest for now, tomorrow you'll still be jostled around in the carriage for an entire morning."

  Xu Mingjin shook her head, it's not dark yet, she can still practice for a while. If she rests now, won't she be insomnia at night? So she opened up and started practicing calligraphy.

  Madam Xu looked at Xu Mingjin with a mix of heartache and comfort, thinking that the young lady was indeed a talented and diligent person. She thought to herself that Miss Xu would definitely be happier than her in the future, but hoped that she wouldn't suffer the same hardships as her. As Madam Xu thought this, her gaze towards Xu Mingjin became even more gentle. Suddenly, she remembered the strange expression on Xu Mingjin's face when they met halfway earlier. Madam Xu knew that something must have happened that she wasn't aware of. Seeing that Xu Mingjin was focused on her practice, she exchanged a glance with Qiu Yun and they both retreated quietly.

  After listening to Qi Yun's account in the ear house, Madam Xi looked at the inner house with some worry, she also felt that Xuan Yuan's coming was not simple. How could she advise Miss to stay away from him? Madam Xi thought anxiously.

  At night, after finishing dinner, Xu Mingjin had just finished washing up and was about to go to bed when he heard a large number of footsteps approaching, followed by the sound of someone pounding on the door of his room.

  Digression

  Today, when I went to photocopy something, I saw an aunt holding a 3-meter-long cross-stitch embroidery, which was extremely beautiful! It suddenly reminded me of the one I embroidered three years ago, which is still lying at home. I really admire the aunt, and she even made it as a wedding gift for a friend. She spent only 11 months on it, and it's amazing that she could spare time to do it! I'm truly ashamed. Okay, hope you all enjoy reading this!