Chapter Thirty: Escorting Under the Moonlight

  The sky had completely darkened, and the Lord and Lady of Lingxi County arrived too late to return to the city, so they stayed overnight at the Dajue Temple.

  Fortunately, the Da Jue Temple was a royal temple with vast assets, many houses and rooms, and the main residence of Lingxi County. The courtyards, houses, and household items were all readily available, and there were many maidservants who quickly settled everything in no time.

  Feng Shaochen ordered someone to tidy up a room for Yao Yanyu, but Yao Yanyu stood up and apologized to the Lingxiang County Master: "County Master, please forgive me, my daughter still needs to listen to the master's lecture tonight and must return."

  The Lingxi County Master did not insist on keeping him, nodded and said: "You sincerely believe in Buddhism, this is good. Ci Xin An is not far from here, after dinner I will ask the guards to send you to Ci Xin An."

  Having dinner with the county master can be said to be a suffering. Yao Yan didn't want to, but since the county master had already said so much, she couldn't decline anymore and had to agree.

  Monks emphasize not eating after noon, but the people of Lingxiang County couldn't bear it. Master Kongxiang ordered someone to prepare a vegetarian meal: stir-fried greens, tofu salad, stir-fried gluten, and pickled cucumbers and mustard greens made by the temple's chefs. After being arranged by the personal maids of the Lingxiang County mistress, they were brought to the table, looking quite exquisite.

  After dinner, Yao Yanru sat for a while before getting up to bid farewell and leaving the house of the Lingxiang County Master's wife, secretly letting out a sigh.

  Madam Feng knew that Miss Yao was exhausted, so she hurried forward to support Miss Yao's arm and asked in a low voice: "Miss, are you okay?"

  Cui Wei shook open her cloak and draped it over Yao Yanyu's shoulders, muttering in a low voice: "Miss must be exhausted."

  Yao Yan said at this time that her waist was sore and her back ached, her legs cramped all over, and she couldn't bear it. She could only softly sigh: "Let's go."

  Several people came out of the temple, just about to leave, when someone behind them shouted: "Miss Yao, please stay a moment."

  What's wrong? Yao Yan furrowed her brow and endured for a moment before turning around with a smile.

  "Miss Yao." Feng Shaochen hastily came forward, smiling and saying: "Grandmother ordered me to see you off, Miss."

  "The old lady was being polite and didn't dare trouble you, sir. Please stay a while." Yao Yan hastily bowed her head slightly.

  "I'll see you off." Feng Shaochen smiled and raised his hand: "Miss, please."

  "Sir, please." Yao Yan looked at Feng Shaochen, the moonlight was hazy, the mountain temple was quiet and secluded, with a beautiful woman in front of him. Her face was like jade, her skin was like spring flowers, her eyebrows were like ink paintings, and her eyes were like autumn waves. The corners of her mouth were slightly raised, and she had a hint of a smile before speaking. She stood tall and slender, exuding an elegant charm, even the red mark on her forehead from being stung by a horsefly only added to her playful beauty, without any signs of dishevelment.

  Yao Yan muttered to herself, this little brother is really good-looking.

  Feng Shaochen and Yao Yanyu walked side by side, Yao Yanyu was so tired that she didn't even want to talk. Feng Shaochen also remained silent, just accompanying Yao Yanyu on the way. Cui Wei, Cui Ping, and Old Lady Feng followed behind them.

  A group of people slowly walked out of the gate of Dajue Temple, which was built on the waist of a mountain. It was said that two hundred years ago, Emperor Taichu, the founder of the Great Cloud Dynasty, ordered people to pile up stones and build the temple according to the shape of the mountain. Although there was an empty space in front of the gate, it was not possible for horse-drawn carriages to come up. The carriages stopped at the open space below the 108 steps, and people had to step on the stone stairs to go down.

  Yao Yan's footsteps paused, and she turned sideways, saying: "Young master, please stay."

  Feng Shaochen looked at Yao Yanyu's face, his eyes drifting away as if he was lost in thought. After a while, he suddenly smiled and said, "Let's go, I'll see you off to the carriage."

  What's with you, a half-grown kid, playing so deeply?! Yao Yan silently rolled her eyes and continued walking.

  Yao Yan said that during the day, she climbed mountains and ran on roads, her legs were already sore and swollen, almost cramping, when she was walking on flat roads it was okay, but now that she's going down the mountain, every time she goes down a step, her knees and thighs are unbearably sore and soft, she has to grit her teeth tightly to persevere.

  She had to maintain her dignity and couldn't let the wet nurse and maids carry her around like a burden.

  After walking down a dozen or so steps, Feng Shaochen, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up: "Miss Yao?"

  "Hmm..." Yao Yan suddenly lost her footing and her whole body lost balance. She subconsciously cried out: "Ah——!"

  "Yao Niang!" Feng Shaochen suddenly became spirited, and with one pull, he pulled Yao Yanyu into his own arms. Yao Yanyu subconsciously grabbed the hem of Feng Shaochen's clothes, her legs went soft, and her entire body weight was pressed onto Feng Shaochen's body.

  "Miss!" Cui Wei also subconsciously stretched out her hand, but found that she was half a beat too late.

  "How are you, girl?" Old Lady Feng hastily stepped forward to grab Yao Yanyu's arm, trying to pull her own daughter out of this young man's embrace. This young couple was embracing each other like this under the moonlight in the mountains and woods... what a scandal!

  Feng Shaochen didn't let go, but instead hugged Yao Yanyu and asked in a low voice, "Miss Yao, are you okay?"

  Yao Yan has come back to her senses, struggling out of Feng Shaochen's arms and leaning against Old Lady Feng, patting her chest with a lingering fear: "Young Master Feng, you suddenly spoke up and scared me to death."

  "Sorry, I wanted to talk to you about something." Feng Shaochen hurriedly bowed his head in apology, but there was no apologetic expression on his face. Instead, he smiled and looked at Yao Yanyu's face: "Miss Yao, what are you thinking about that makes you so absorbed?"

  "What does Lord Feng have to say? Just say it." Yao Yan smiled self-deprecatingly, she hadn't thought of anything just now, and was almost asleep from exhaustion.

  "How long do you plan on staying at Ci Xin An?"

  "This... is hard to say." Yao Yan hesitated on purpose and leaned into Old Lady Feng's bosom, continuing on their way.

  Feng Shaochen nodded and didn't say anything else. He thought that Yao Yanyu must have done something wrong or said something wrong at the Ding Hou Mansion, so her sister sent her to the Ci Xin An. He planned to ask around when he got back and figure out what happened, then get Old Lady to put in a good word for Yao Yanyu, so she could return to the city sooner.

  Yao Yan didn't know what was on Feng Shaochen's mind and since he wasn't speaking, she naturally didn't bother to say much either.

  Down over a hundred steps, she finally saw the carriage. Yao Yanyu seemed to have seen a loved one as she climbed onto the carriage, lifted the curtain and bid farewell to Feng Shaoceng: "Young Master, please return. Farewell." Never to meet again.

  "Take care, young lady." Feng Shaochen bowed his hands towards Yao Yan and watched as the guards escorted the carriage out of sight before turning to head back.

  "Master." A pretty young maid hurried down the mountain steps and came to Feng Shaoyan's side, slightly bowing her head.

  Feng Shaochen smiled and reached out to grab Da Yutou's hand, asking warmly: "Qing Xuan, how did you get here?"

  "The old lady saw that her grandfather had been out for so long and hadn't returned, so she wasn't at ease. She called the servant girl to come out and take a look." Qingxiang tried to pull his hand back, but was tightly grasped by Feng Shaoceng, causing him to blush and ask in a low voice: "Has Miss Yao left?"

  "Hmm, gone." Feng Shaochen turned his head to look at the face of Qing Xun, who was born with a lovely face under the moonlight, and suddenly thought of Yao Yanyu's small round face, and his smile deepened.

  "The old lady likes Miss Yao very much." Qingxiu said with a light smile.

  "Hmm, I see." Feng Shaocen nodded.

  "What a pity." Qing Xiao sighed softly again.

  "What a pity?" Feng Shaochen released Qing Xuan's hand and stepped onto the stone stairs under the cool moonlight.

  Qing Xiao covered her mouth and smiled lightly: "It's a pity that Miss Yao is born out of wedlock. Otherwise, Old Lady would probably have sent a matchmaker to propose marriage."

  Feng Shaochen, who was walking ahead, stopped in his tracks and turned around to look at Qingxiu with a superior attitude. He suddenly raised his hand and flicked Qingxiu's forehead: "Let's go! If we don't head back now, even your mother will send someone to fetch you."