Chapter 345

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Granny Xiu Yan came over to remind them that dinner was ready and told them about Yu Sheng’s visit today.

Yu Niaoniao replied without thinking.

Granny Xiu Yan said, “Then I’ll get someone to send a message to the Yu family.”

After she left, Xiao Juan asked Yu Niaoniao why she did not go home to pay respects to her ancestors.

The Dayan Dynasty emphasized filial piety. Worshiping their ancestors was a very important thing.

Yu Niaoniao said, “Have you forgotten? Tomorrow, we’re going to the Ten Thousand Buddha Temple to burn incense for our mother and stepfather. We don’t have time to return to the Yu family to pay respects to our ancestors.”

Compared to the ancestors of the Yu family, her feelings for Madam Xie and Feng Lianghan were much deeper.

If she had to choose between the two, she would naturally choose the latter.

Of course, Xiao Juan would not forget that he was going to the Ten Thousand Buddha Temple tomorrow. He just did not want Niaoniao to be criticized.

He suggested, “Why don’t I return to the Yu family to pay respects to your ancestors in your behalf?”

Yu Niaoniao understood Xiao Juan’s concerns.

She walked forward, took Xiao Juan’s hand, and gently pressed her forehead against his arm.

“Thank you for your kindness, but there’s no need. Many of the Yu family’s descendants went to burn incense and pay their respects, but Mother and stepfather only have you and me. You have to go.”

Xiao Juan’s heart ached for her. His voice involuntarily became gentle and low.

“I’ll listen to you. I’ll go to the Ten Thousand Buddha Temple with you.” Yu Niaoniao raised her face and smiled sweetly at him. “Okay!”

After dinner, Yu Niaoniao went to the kitchen to prepare the offerings she needed tomorrow.

Because she considered that it was a memorial in the temple, she prepared all vegetarian food, such as peach blossom crystal cake, brown sugar glutinous rice cake, sesame peach pastry, spring rolls, and so on.

Feng Lianghan loved to eat soybeans when he was alive. He definitely had a bowl of hot spicy soybeans for breakfast every day, so Yu Niaoniao specially soaked soybeans in advance.

The next day, Yu Niaoniao woke up before dawn.

Xiao Juan asked her why she was up so early.

Even if she wanted to go to the Ten Thousand Buddha Temple, she did not have to get up so early.

Yu Niaoniao said as she dressed.

“I have to grind tofu.”

Xiao Juan’s heart ached that she had to start working early in the morning, so he followed her.

“I’ll grind it for you.”

They dressed and washed up briefly before going to the kitchen.

At this moment, the servants in the kitchen had just woken up. They were boiling water. When they saw Duke Lang and his wife, they hurriedly put down their work and went forward to greet them.

Yu Niaoniao rolled up her sleeves. “Go about your business. Don’t worry about us.”

She picked up the wooden bucket containing soybeans and was about to walk out when Xiao Juan reached out to take it for her.

He asked, “Where are we going?”

Yu Niaoniao pointed to the backyard. “The stone mill is over there.”

They went out to the backyard.

Yu Niaoniao was in charge of pouring beans, and Xiao Juan was in charge of grinding.

He was strong and it was not difficult for him to push.

Milky soy milk flowed into the wooden basin continuously.

The servants secretly looked out of the window. They were quite surprised to see Duke Lang and his wife working together to grind soy milk.

They did not expect the noble duke and his wife to work together like ordinary farmers.

Yu Niaoniao divided a portion of the filtered soy milk. After boiling it, she added some white sugar. Coupled with the fresh meat buns that had just been cooked, it was very delicious!

Now that Lo Pingsha was also living in the Langjun Imperial Palace, not only did Yu Niaoniao eat it herself, but she also did not forget to leave a portion of soy milk for Lo Pingsha. He could have it when he woke up later.

By the time the tofu pudding was out of the pot, the sky was already bright outside the window.

Yu Niaoniao placed the prepared food into a food box.

She had especially worn a plain-colored dress today. Xiao Juan was still wearing the black clothes he usually wore, but from the brand-new fabric, it could be seen that these should be his new clothes. He had made ample preparations to see his parents-in-law.

It was drizzling outside. Xiao Juan held the oil-paper umbrella in one hand and held Yu Niaoniao’s hand in the other.

The two of them happened to meet Lo Pingsha on the way out.

Lo Pingsha was also wearing plain clothes today and carrying a food box.

He greeted Duke Lang and his wife.

“It’s Qingming today. I want to pay my respects to my parents. Are the two of you going out to pay respects to your ancestors?”

Yu Niaoniao nodded and replied, “That’s right. Where are you going? If it’s on the way, let’s go together.”

Lo Pingsha said, “My parents were buried on Tianyin Mountain outside the city.”

Tianyin Mountain was in the west, in a different direction from the Ten Thousand Buddha Temple.

The two of them did not go in the same direction, so they separated after leaving the door.

Yu Niaoniao and Xiao Juan took the carriage out of the city and walked along the official road for a while before arriving at the Ten Thousand Buddha Temple.

The two of them arrived at the place where the eternal light was worshipped. When they found Madam Xie and Feng Lianghan’s memorial tablets, they

realized that there was a vase of beautiful peony flowers in front of them.

The weather was still relatively cold now. It was not the time for peony flowers to bloom.

However, not only was the bottle of peony flowers in front of them blooming enthusiastically, but the color was also very gorgeous. There were dewdrops on the layers of petals. It was obvious that they had just been plucked.

Yu Niaoniao found it very strange. “Where did these flowers come from?”

Xiao Juan looked at the incense still burning quietly in the incense burner and said.

“Someone must have just paid respects to Parents-in-law.”

He called the little monk in charge of guarding the lamp over and asked if anyone had come here to pay their respects just now.

The little monk answered truthfully, “A gentleman did come just now. He brought this peony flower. He even offered three incense sticks and donated a sum of money to the temple. He instructed us to take good care of these two memorial tablets in the future.” Yu Niaoniao asked, ‘What’s that person’s name?”

“He said his surname is Shen.”

Yu Niaoniao immediately reacted. “It must be Shen Junzhi! He shouldn’t have gone far. I’m going to find him!” With that, she ran out.

Xiao Juan quickly pulled her back. Xiao Juan asked, “Why are you looking for him?” Yu Niaoniao blurted out without thinking.

“I want to ask him why he lied to me. Who the hell is he?”

Xiao Juan held her wrist tightly and asked in a low voice, “What happens after you ask? What else do you want?”

His gaze was a little scary now. Yu Niaoniao could not help but lower her voice. “I just want to ask. I don’t want to do anything.”

Xiao Juan asked, “Since you don’t want anything, why chase after him?”

Yu Niaoniao was speechless.

Xiao Juan turned her body over and softened his tone.

“We’re here to pay our respects to our parents today. Don’t be distracted by irrelevant people, okay?”

In front of the Ten Thousand Buddha Temple’s Mahavira Hall was a hundred-year-old peach tree.

This tree was also called the marriage tree. Unmarried men and women often came here to pray for marriage.

In early spring, the peach branches were filled with pink and white peach blossoms.

When the wind blew, petals fell like a peach blossom rain.

Shen Junzhi, who was dressed in white, stood under the peach blossom tree with one hand behind his back. His wide sleeves fluttered in the wind, and his eyebrows were lowered. His face was handsome and gentle, like an immortal who had walked out of a painting..