Chapter Thirteen: Friends in a Meeting

  Lin Zhaoyan returned to the chamber just in time to run into Liu Shi, who was being pulled out by Lin Ruoyan.

  Zhou Jingyu and others were also walking towards the door of the next room.

  A group of people bumped into each other, and Lin Ruoyan and Zhou Jingyu immediately drew their swords, but because Liu was present, they didn't dare to make a move.

  "What's going on? Didn't you say your leg was broken?" Liu furrowed her brow, looking at Lin Zhao Yan with a hint of worry in her eyes.

  Lin Zhaoyan was stunned for a moment, and when she looked back, she only saw coldness and impatience. She couldn't help but smile wryly to herself - how could Liu be worried about her?

  "It worried Mother, but Zhao'er is fine. It was just that the snowy road was difficult to walk on and she slipped and fell, thinking she had broken a bone. Fortunately, Zhou Mama from the Chengnan Bo Fu household knew some medical skills and treated Zhao'er in time."

  Zhou Ayi was stunned, she didn't expect Lin Zhaoyan to use her as a shield, but she couldn't say that it was because of the fight between my family's third daughter and your younger daughter, so your older daughter deliberately made up lies.

  So he could only nod and smile: "Miss Lin Si just dislocated her bones, it's fine as long as she corrects them in time. It's a trivial matter, if I didn't save her, it would be bad for a good girl like her to hurt her leg."

  Liu repeatedly thanked him and then scolded Lin Zhao, saying: "I always teach you to be careful, why are you so careless?"

  "Yes, Zhao'er knows she was wrong." Lin Zhaoyan lowered her eyelids and replied calmly.

  Lin Ruoyan and Zhou Jingyu both bit their lips and remained silent.

  Zhou Ayi had a few more points of goodwill towards Lin Zhao, feeling that this young girl could be humble and accommodating, although she had her own ideas, but was an extremely kind person.

  Later, Auntie Zhou reported this matter to Old Lady Zhou, who was also very pleased. From then on, she often invited Lin Zhaoyan to visit the Chengnan Bo Mansion as a guest. Over time, Lin Zhaoyan developed a close relationship with Old Lady Zhou, like that of a grandchild.

  Of course, all of this is just a later story, at this time Lin Zhaoyan was sitting in the wing room drinking tea with nothing to do.

  The legendary Buddhist master from the Western Regions has arrived, and both Old Lady Lin and Old Lady Zhou have gone to the main hall to listen to his sermon. Lin Zhaoyan, due to her injured leg, was arranged to rest in a side room.

  "The fifth girl is really thick-skinned, she's the one who's hot-tempered and wants to fight with others, but in the end, Miss Lin admitted her mistake, while she didn't say a word and accepted it calmly!" Man Shuang pouted, feeling very indignant on behalf of Lin Zhao.

  "Also, what about Miss Zhou from the Zhou family? She wouldn't be interested in Xiao Changjun, would she? Otherwise, why would she suddenly pick a fight with Fifth Young Lady for no reason?"

  Lin Zhaoyan lost his smile and handed over the tea cup in his hand while joking, "Miss Man Shuang, calm down."

  Man Shuang's face turned red with anger and she scolded: "Miss, you always have such a good temper, enduring all kinds of grievances!"

  "That's not it." Lin Zhaoyan withdrew his hand, tilted his head and drank the tea in one gulp, astringent but with a sweet aftertaste.

  She said slowly: "That depends on what kind of grievance it is, matters of principle, I never back down. Moreover, you also understand the temperament of Fifth Miss, she's not Seventh Miss, who can do bad things with a clear conscience. This time, on the surface it seems like I helped her, but in fact, she owes me a favor. Don't worry, it will be repaid."

  Man Shuang knew that since the fourth girl contracted a cold and hung by a thread eight years ago, her temperament had changed. On the surface, she was still quiet and obedient, but the strong endurance in her bones was something that the original Fourth Girl did not have, and as a result, Fourth Girl had never been so downtrodden again.

  "Alright, go take a look at the main hall and see if they've started yet?"

  Man Shuang lowered her head in thought and retreated out of the room.

  She came back soon and reported: "It has already started. The main hall is quiet now, and it seems that it won't end for a while."

  "Uh-huh." Lin Zhao nodded in satisfaction, then winked and said with a playful tone: "So I'll have to ask you to stay here and keep watch for me. If someone comes, immediately go around the back mountain to notify me."

  "I know." Man Shuang said helplessly, "It's rare for you to come all the way here, so you'd better go see Jing Yi Shitai quickly!"

  Jingyi Shitai was also a monk of Lingyun Temple, living in the plum forest behind the temple. She usually wouldn't go to the front hall, only doing chores in the backyard. However, there was once when Lin Zhaoyan got lost on the back mountain and accidentally ran into her.

  The two of them chatted happily and felt like they had known each other for a long time, so they became close friends despite their age difference.

  All these years, whenever she came to Lingyun Temple to pray for blessings, she would always find a way to talk to Jingyi Shitai.

  Sometimes chatting with her for a few sentences is like drinking the sweet dew of jade, refreshing and transparent. Even the most troublesome things can be enlightened under her guidance, as if the four bodies are clear and bright.

  Lin Zhaoyan felt that Jingyi Shitai was the only one who could be called a high monk, and was much stronger than Mingyi Shitai, who only knew how to curry favor with the powerful.

  All along the winding path, I walked through the dense forest of plum blossoms. Before long, I arrived at a secluded spot deep in the forest, where plum blossoms were indeed blooming profusely. The vibrant flowers, like blood-stained tears, proudly unfolded on the branches, while a few scattered ones fell to the ground, adding a touch of color to the monotonous snowy landscape.

  A cold wind blows, a burst of plum fragrance hits me in the face, the fragrance is intoxicating, and I feel as if I am in a paradise on earth...

  As soon as the nun stepped out of the door, she saw a slender figure standing alone in the plum forest, wearing a white dress and having a plain face with delicate features and a gentle temperament. The contrast between this beauty and the cold, elegant plum blossoms created a strange sense of beauty that made it impossible for people to look away.

  She had always known that this girl was beautiful, only too good at hiding her beauty. At this moment, she suddenly found out that she could also be so stunningly beautiful.

  The old lady's eyes sparkled with amusement as she curled up the corners of her lips, and from then on, it was a matter of waiting to see which young man had sharp eyes and could discover the precious gem, and bring home a treasure!

  "Where did this charming girl come from and get lost again, mistakenly entering my plum forest?"

  The sound of Wan's gentle and melodious voice echoed through the quiet plum forest, Lin Zhaoyan came back to his senses and saw Jingyi Shitai standing not far away.

  Although she was only in her thirties, despite dressing up as a nun, she couldn't hide her extraordinary temperament. With bright eyes and white teeth, she looked like a beautiful peach blossom. Standing in the middle of the plum forest, she was even more charming than the plum blossoms themselves, stunningly beautiful.

  Perhaps it's because of having a face that's too beautiful that she was abandoned in this mountain.

  "It's me." Lin Zhaoyan smiled and raised her skirt, walking a few steps to her side, "What, doesn't the master recognize me?"

  Jingyi waved her hand and said with a proud tone: "Don't know, don't know. I have a very bad memory, if I haven't seen someone for ten days or half a month, I won't remember them!"

  Lin Zhaoyan knew she was joking, so he shrugged and said: "Alright then, actually I just came to see the red plum blossoms anyway. Since that's the case, I won't disturb Master Tai anymore, I'll be on my way."

  "It's been many months and you're still as glib as ever!" Jingyi poked her forehead with a finger, not in a good mood.

  Lin Zhaoyan smiled and leaned into Jingyi's body, coquettishly saying: "It's been many months since we last met, I've missed you so much."

  If the servants of the Hou Mansion were to see this scene, they would surely be shocked and their eyes would widen in surprise. Could it be that these four young ladies, who are normally so quiet and reserved, also have such a lively and lovely side?

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