Chapter 72

Chapter 72: Half-Day Tour at Guangji Temple (2)

Translator: Iris

Proofread by DragonRider

Seeing a pretty girl inside, the three sisters became hesitant to walk in. Molan took a glance at Rulan who squared her shoulders and stepped in. Molan and Minglan followed up. They sat down on a Luohan bench (a long coach) near the window, then girl and woman servants flooded in, taking out the tea and refreshments they brought on carriages and putting them on the tea table. They then went out again to fetch hot water for making tea.

The girl made no reaction to this scene and just enjoyed her own tea. Minglan examined her closely, finding that she was wearing a peach-red slanting gown made of Hangzhou brocade belted at waist. Around the sleeve and collar was grey-mouse fur. The gown was fully-embroidered with intertwining flowers of gold line. Above her feet, a moonlight-white skirt could be seen. Near her chest hang a huge pure gold auspicious lock, the brilliance of which made people dazzled. On her head was a pair of gilded jade hairpin with pearls. The girl also examined the three sisters when she lowered her head and she found that all of them wore luxurious clothes and a pure gold yingluo-patterned necklace with three jade locks which displayed top quality. The behaviors of the three sisters were also well-mannered and graceful.

After some tea, Molan stepped forward to talk with the girl, who quickly revealed her family background, in a restricted way, “My family name is Rong; alias name is Feiyan. My father is Earl Fuchang.”

Molan paused for a second and smiled, “You must be the niece of Imperial Concubine Rong.”

Rulan and Minglan showed different expressions because a family like this sounded cheerful but in fact was miserable. One of the daughters of the bricklayer family had been chosen to be a concubine of the Emperor and the family got entitled. However, it was known to all that unless the daughter could give birth to a son that could be entitled as crown prince or imperial lord, otherwise this kind of entitlement couldn’t be inherited. The luckier ones could inherit the entitle for three to five generations while the less lucky ones could only maintain the title for one generation and degraded as folks. Therefore, usually a family like hers would waste no time trying to forge marriage or nurturing talents in order to prolong the wealth and prosperity of the family.

Though Imperial Concubine Rong was most favored by the Emperor, who was too old to be capable, so she had no children for now and forever, leaving the family with a question mark regarding its road to marriage building.

Rong Feiyan smiled, saying, “My brother and sister-in-law took me here. There are too many people in that room and the noise gives me headache, so I find this quiet room to take a rest. I apologize if I’ve bothered you.”

Although the words were polite, her expression obviously looked overbearing. Rulan had always hated those who were better than herself, so she just enjoyed her own tea and didn’t joined the chatting. Minglan, on the other hand, was reminded that the man on horseback whipping folks called Rong Xian was her brother, so, feeling disgusted, she didn’t want to talk with her either. Only Molan was there trying hard to socialize. Her cautious and pleasing manner intrigued Rong Feiyan and the two gradually touched on Sheng family’s life in Deng Prefecture.

“You have kinship with Qi family?” Brilliance burst out from Rong Feiyan’s eyes. She immediately felt herself having overacted, so she held back a little and asked cautiously, “Have you met with their second young lord?”

Molan smiled, “Of course we have. Back in Deng Prefecture, he went to school with our eldest brother. We were also invited to the birthday party of Marquis Xiangyang before the Spring Festival…We also met with Sixth Princess and her daughter, Xianzhu Jiacheng.”

Rong Feiyan snorted a bit and said unhappily, “Shouldn’t a family member of a locally-inhabiting imperial lord stay in their own land? Why did they keep coming to the capital? Our ancestral rules would be broken in this way.”

Molan looked calm and seemingly comforted her, “Stop saying that. Nowadays, Sixth Imperial Lord is most trusted by the Emperor. It’s very likely that he will make something in the future!”

Rong Feiyan’s face turned sullen, she crashed her hand into a fist and heavily thumped down upon the table. The pure gold with diamond pomegranate flower ring made pitching noise against the table. She sneered, “Something? He’d better not make a joke of himself.”

Molan’s smile was very pleasing. Only a person like Minglan who had lived with her for many years could tell that Molan actually hated Rong Feiyan. Molan then chose some popular topics among young ladies in the capital to share with Rong Feiyan.

The Sixth Imperial Lord and Rong family was in fact the two sides of a same coin. One was emerging while the other was degrading with power and privilege that could be deprived easily in the future. Minglan lowered her head, picking snacks in the plate, and took a random look at Molan.

The capital was that big where gathered a group of seemingly solemn but gossipy underneath females of high-class families. The fact that Rong family was interested in Qi Heng wasn’t a piece of news. Rong family’s several attempts to forge marriage with Qi family had been turned down and now with a Junzhu Jiacheng, the situation became two dogs fighting for one same bone. How interesting!

With a few more words, a girl servant from Rong family came in to pick up Rong Feiyan, and a Mama of Wang shi also came to inform the three girls back to have vegetarian meal. After such a morning, the three sisters were already starving, so even Molan, who had been an elegant eater, had a full bowl of rice. Minglan herself ate up half basin of stir-fried cabbage and Rulan held a plate of oiled bamboo shoot and didn’t let it go. After lunch, they all took a cup of fresh tea that Guangji Temple fried and sipped slowly. The warmth of tea in the stomach made Minglan feel comfortable.

It was time to go, but Hai shi was considerate to find that Old Madam Sheng looked tired, so she said gently, “We just had lunch. It’s not good for health to get on bumping carriage right now. Why don’t we rest for a moment before setting off? Old Madam, Madam, what do you think?”

Wang shi was tired too, so she readily agreed. Old Madam Sheng also nodded. Minglan, seeing that seniors approved, at once turned to You Mama for blanket and pillow to take a nap.

Unexpectedly, Molan walked up to Old Madam and Wang shi, smiling, “Grandmother, madam and sister-in-law, I’ve long heard that the Dewdrop Pavilion at the backyard of Guangji Temple is a relic from the previous dynasty. The pillars are inscribed with a poem by late Scholar Gao. Besides, the Nine-Dragon Shielding Wall is also a unique scene which is very exquisite. Since I’m here today, I want to take a look myself to broaden my eyes.”

Rulan didn’t want to stay indoors and was intrigued by what Molan said. She ran to Wang shi, shaking her arm, “Mother. You said we should discipline ourselves in the capital, so we were under high pressure. This is a rare opportunity, please allow us to hang around.”

Wang shi was moved by Rulan’s request. She turned around to look at Old Madam Sheng who was leaning on the back of a luohan bench and said, half closing her eyes, “Send some Mamas to accompany them and watch them closely.” Wang shiknew this was a sign of approval, so she turned back and told Rulan seriously, “You have only two hours; be back immediately afterwards!”

Rulan was overjoyed, bowing like a monkey to Wang shi and Old Madam and then turned around to drag Minglan. Minglan wasn’t interested, sticking to You Mama, “I’d rather not go. Let me take some rest. You guys go without me.”

Rulan stared at her, “You just had lunch. Without walking around, you will throw up again later in the carriage!” Then she lowered down to Minglan’s ears, bellowing, “I hate to go with her. You must be there!” Her fingers squeezed and gave Minglan a nasty pinch in the arm.

Minglan had no choice but to go with them.

At the back of the third main hall of Guangji Temple was a spacious lot paved with bricks. It could be used for religious rituals. In the middle of it was a clear pond behind which was a lengthy arch wall. One end of it extended towards the Dewdrop Pavilion and the other directed to the plum forest at the other side of the mountain. It was tranquil in the yard with only a few little monks gently sweeping fallen leaves.

In the early spring, sunshine didn’t bake but was rather warm and soothing. The three sisters, accompanied by several female servants, wandered at a low pace along the pebble trail. The first site greeted them was the Nine-Dragan Wall. A ferocious mighty dragon hovered in the middle as if it was about to come out from the wall. The colored glaze on it was still vivid after wind and rain.

Molan seemed to suddenly have great interest in folk relief art, praising while watching from the scales of each dragon to the faded colored glaze. Rulan didn’t like to be disciplined, so she demanded the servants to remain at the yard and was now jumping and running and chirping and laughing cheerfully. Minglan followed her languidly and struggled to hold back yawning. As they walked, she suddenly smelled a subtle wave of plum fragrance. Looking up, she saw more plum trees coming up. Minglan paused for a second and stopped at once, saying, “Forth elder sister, let’s stop here. We should head for the other end to take a look at the Dewdrop Pavilion.”

Molan was moving forward with great enthusiasm. Hearing the words, she looked back, “We haven’t finished this side yet. Let’s go further.”

Seeing her innocent smile as sincere as real, Minglan also smiled, “The Nine-Dragon Wall is symmetric. Watching this side is the same as watching all of it and we’ll save a lot of time and energy.”

No matter how Minglan tried to persuade her, Molan just didn’t agree and insisted on watching the rest of it. Rulan didn’t get it at first, but judging from Molan’s soft and seducing expression, she was reminded of the scene of Molan grooming her hair. By now she could infer something, so she said loudly, “Further ahead is the plum forest where at this time a poem party is being held. Is it proper if we’re seen by them?”

Molan gently smiled, “We’re just enjoying ourselves. Why does it have anything to do with others? It’s okay even if we were seen by them.” Her speech sounded candid and upright, and upon finishing, she raised her head up high to display her innocence.

Rulan sneered, “You’ve been a talker. Do you think I have no idea of what you’re up to? Listen, you’d better give it up soon! Look how frivolous you are! Don’t disgrace the family in public!”

Molan’s pretty face turned red and she refuted at once, “I don’t understand what you’re saying. We’re all sisters, so why put it so ugly? If you believe that, I’ll then go further away. Let’s see what incident could happen?! You can just send people to catch me back!” Then she left right away.

Rulan hit the roof. Since the place was already near the plum forest, she didn’t dare to shout out to summon up servants but just stamped her feet with rage.