Chapter 43: Guanyin Mountain

  Yuan Dai raised her hand and pulled up the collar of the white fox fur coat she was wearing, shivering slightly.

  That day's snow, suddenly it was the second day, but it wasn't until this morning that it finally stopped. After the heavy snowfall, the entire Chunhui Garden was covered in a thick layer of powder and jade for a time. Looking around, it was a vast expanse of crystal world. However, the saying "frost before cold, snow after cold" is not an exaggeration. Although today was sunny and windless, the chill still lingered. Far away from the house, I felt that I had worn enough thick clothes, but when I went out, my body still felt chilly and damp.

  Xiao Chengxian glanced at her expression and couldn't help but smile, saying: "Sister is so afraid of the cold, really not like a person from the north!" Although the weather was cold, she didn't add more clothes, only wearing a golden red velvet cloak on the outside, which made her look even taller than usual. Standing in the snow, the white and gold colors complemented each other, making her appearance seem even more beautiful and noble.

  Yan Dai pursed her lips and smiled, but didn't say a word. She simply withdrew her hand and hugged the warm stove in her arms tightly. - The Medical Consort Yan Dai 43

  Ling Yuexian wore a large red fox fur cloak with white fox skin trim, which set off her small face as clear and transparent as ice jade. She looked like a living doll. At this moment, she heard these words and looked at Yuanxi with a pair of dark, shiny eyes, mischievously smiling: "If Ninth Sister is so afraid of the cold, she should really marry into a family in the south. It's warm there, I've heard that it doesn't snow even once in ten or eight years!"

  Her father, Ling Yun, had served as the Two Huai Salt Transport Commissioner, and she also lived with her father in the Two Huai border area for several years. The Two Huai region is quite close to the south, so Ling Yuexuan knew a lot about some things in the south.

  Suddenly hearing this, Yuandai was slightly startled, but the surprise on her face flashed by in an instant, as if it had never appeared: "An unmarried girl who hasn't even left the boudoir yet dares to make jokes about these things, tenth sister is indeed number one under heaven!"

  Ling Yuexuan pouted and said with a tone of dissatisfaction: "I said these words, originally for Ninth Sister's consideration, but Ninth Sister doesn't even acknowledge this favor!" As she spoke, she reached out to pull Xiao Xian: "Xiao Sister, are you just watching Ninth Sister bully me?"

  Xiao Chengxian let out a cold laugh and slipped away, saying: "Forget it, forget it! This is your own family's sisterly affair, don't drag me into it! If I were to be foolish and seriously argue for the two of you, establishing what's right and wrong, I'm afraid that once you've made up, you'll still say it's my fault!"

  Yuan Dai smiled and said: "Sister, these words you speak are quite vivid and lifelike, as if they were really true!"

  "It's really so! Fortunately, everyone here is family, if there were outsiders present, they might think we're ganging up to bully our sister!"

  Xiao Chengxian burst out laughing and pointed at Yuanyuan and the two maids, Wenping and others, saying: "Look, I was right! They are indeed sisters from the same family! Just now they were still quarreling with me to preside over justice, but as soon as they turned their heads, they immediately joined forces and united against outsiders!"

  At this, several maids also couldn't help but laugh. Xue Lan continued to smile and said: "Miss has already seen through it, why say it out loud? We are now in a weak position, be careful not to let the young mistress and her maid gang up on us two!"

  Yan Dai smiled and shook her head directly, then pointed at Qiao Lan: "Indeed, there is a master for every servant!"

  Three people walked and talked, and it was quite lively. Looking ahead, they had already arrived at the Yanhui Study where Xiao Lao Taijun lived. Before the three of them took a step forward, someone with sharp eyes inside had already seen them and came out to greet them, inviting the three to enter.

  Ling Yuexuan had just entered the door when she saw Luo Shi sitting at the lower seat of Xiao Lao Taigong, smiling and looking at herself. She was startled and called out in surprise, Ling Yuexuan hastily stepped forward two steps and asked: "Mother, when did you come? Why didn't you tell me to come together?"

  Luoshi couldn't help but glance at her with a hint of annoyance, scolding: "You child, you're getting more and more unruly as you grow up! Hurry up and pay your respects to the old lady!"

  Ling Yuexuan suddenly remembered that she had come to pay her respects to Elder Madam Xiao, and hastily turned around to greet her. On the other side, Xiao Chengyan and Xiao Zhen also paid their respects separately. Elder Madam Xiao chuckled and saw that Ling Yuexuan looked a bit nervous, so she comforted her by waving her hand: "Alright, we're all family, no need to be so formal. Please sit down!"

  Ling Yuexuan heard this and finally put her mind at ease, then sat down beside Luo's mother, after all, she repeated the question: "Mother, what time did you come today? Why didn't anyone tell me?"

  Luoshi was at a loss for words when questioned by her, shook her head and sighed before saying: "Now that you sisters live together in Xinfang Pavilion, it's only proper to come and go together. Besides, I came today to discuss with Old Lady about going to Guanyin Mountain to burn incense and fulfill a vow in the next few days."

  Almost without thinking, as soon as she heard this, Ling Yuansen immediately asked: "Can you take the three of us together?"

  Lu smiled and glanced at Xiao Chengyan: "Your ninth sister will naturally go with us, as for your sister Xiao, if she is willing to go together, it would be even better!"

  Xiao Chengxian heard this and couldn't help but feel a stir in her heart, immediately opening her mouth to ask: "I don't know when Third Aunt plans to go to Guanyin Mountain?"

  "Let's just wait for the snow to melt and then go! As for the specific date, it hasn't been decided yet!"

  Xiao Chengyan smiled and said: "In that case, I don't dare say whether I can go with you or not!"

  Ling Yuexuan heard this and couldn't help but feel anxious, hastily calling out: "Xiao Jiejie..."

  Xiao Chengxian could only shake her head and smile at Ling Yuexuan, saying: "Tenth sister, listen to me first!" Ling Yuexuan had no choice but to stop talking and look at her gloomily. Xiao Chengxian then turned to Old Lady Luo and said: "I'm not hiding it from you, Old Lady, or Third Aunt, but yesterday a messenger came to our house with a letter asking when I would return! Because earlier I had mentioned that after the winter plum blossoms opened, I wanted to go live in my family's villa on Green Jade Ridge for a few days to enjoy the plum blossoms. The letter ended by mentioning that the wax plum blossoms on Green Jade Ridge have already bloomed."

  Xiao Lao Tai Jun heard this last sentence, and suddenly a strange color flashed in her eyes. She then sighed and said slowly: "Speaking of Qing'e Ridge, I just suddenly thought that it's been many years since I went there to admire the plum blossoms!"

  Xiao Chengyan heard this and smiled: "Since that's the case, why don't you, Madam, come with us to another courtyard for a few days? It'll be good for clearing your mind!"

  Xiao Lao Tai Jun was silent for a moment, and finally shook her head: "Forget it, forget it. Now I'm old too, and it's better to be quiet and not move around. It's okay to just look at the plum blossoms in Chunhui Garden!" She said, looking at Yuanyuan and Daiyu with a benevolent expression: "I know you brought this up today because you've already thought it through and want me to let Jiu Meizi and Shi Meizi go live with you for a few days..."

  Xiao Cheng pursed her lips and smiled, saying with a hint of coquetry: "Those who gave birth to me are my parents, but the one who understands me is actually Auntie!"

  Xiao Lao Tai Jun couldn't help but laugh and gave her a glance, saying: "You little girl, just use that Soul-Confusing Broth to pour bowl after bowl on me!"

  At this, everyone burst out laughing. Ling Yuexuan stood up with a smile and pulled Xiao Chengyan's hand, saying: "Sister Xiao, I'll go to your house's other courtyard with Ninth Sister for a few days. You come with us to Guanyin Mountain too, it'll be more lively!"

  Xiao Cheng smiled and said: "This is hard to say, just look at when you go to Guanyin Mountain, if I'm still here, of course, I'll go with you!"

  Ling Yuexuan wanted to say more, but Luo's family had already smiled and said: "The two families are close by, so it doesn't matter if we go back a little later! Speaking of which, the Guanyin on Guanyin Mountain is most effective for marriage. The other day I mentioned this to your sister-in-law, and she was very interested, saying that she wanted to go together to worship!" As she spoke, she couldn't help but glance at Xiao Xian with a smile.

  Xiao Chengxian's face had always been smiling, but when she heard this, her smile suddenly froze, but soon returned to normal, and she didn't say anything. Far Di, who had been sitting silently on the side, quickly swept a glance at everyone in the room with a subtle movement of her eyes, and saw that Old Lady Xiao and Ling Yuanshuang both had smiles on their faces, seemingly unaware of anything, while Luo's expression was as usual, and it was unclear whether what she said earlier was intentional or unintentional, or if there was another reason.

  The room was quiet for a moment, but then Old Lady Xiao seemed to remember something and spoke up again, saying to Xiao Xian: "Xian'er, have you thought about when you'll go to Qingyuan Ridge for a short stay?"

  "This matter is related to Xiaochengyan's lifelong event, she had already thought about it long ago. At this moment, when the old lady asked, she quickly replied: 'I plan to go over on the first day of the twelfth lunar month and stay for a few days, returning around mid-month. I don't know what Miss thinks?' The twelfth lunar month is followed by the New Year, and there are many sacrificial rituals at the end of the twelfth lunar month, so Xiaochengyan's words were particularly cautious."

  Xiao Lao Tai Jun nodded and said: "Since you've gone, there's no need to come back in the middle of the month. Staying a few more days is fine too!"

  She said, but suddenly turned her head and looked at Yuanyan with a concerned expression, asking: "The other day, Du Ruo's maid came back from your place and mentioned that the only people serving you were Wenping and another little maid you bought yourself. What's going on?"

  She suddenly asked about this, and after a moment's pause, she said: "I originally had four maids by my side. The old lady kindly let me stay in the Quanfang Pavilion for the winter, but after all, the Huicui Pavilion was the place arranged for me by the mistress, and it wasn't good to leave no one to guard it. Moreover, someone was needed to clean up on the west wing side, so now I only have Wenping and two others by my side!" She said this, then quickly smiled again, saying: "The old lady heard Du Ruo say that I had few people by my side, but actually there isn't much work at my place, and two people are already enough!"

  "Those words are just nonsense!" Old Lady Xiao shook her head and said, "Our family is a noble one after all. A young lady from a good family like ours only has two attendants, if this gets out, won't people laugh at us?"

  Yan Dai opened her mouth, intending to say something, but seeing the old lady's resolute expression, she knew it was useless to speak, so she stood up with a bitter smile and said: "I understand! I'll call for someone to take care of this later and pick out a few more maids!"

  Xiao Lao Tai Jun slightly waved her hand and said, "This hastily chosen maid, what good can she be? Your body is not very well, yet you still worry too much. Let me take a look later, I'll choose two more maids from my house for you to use."