The Eldest Daughter is Delicate and Pretty, How Can She Be a Malicious Supporting Character - Chapter 72

Chapter 72: Burning Incense

It was already early winter, and the winter plum blossoms had just begun to bloom. People on the road were all dressed in winter clothes, and an inconspicuous carriage drove out from the back gate of the Pei mansion.

Today, there was no fragrance in the carriage, but a few branches of blooming red plum blossoms were inserted inside, filling the air with their fragrance.

Pei Lingyi held a hot hand warmer in her hands, wearing a snow-white thin cloak with a few peony flowers embroidered on it. She sat upright in the carriage, with a delicate plum blossom hairpin in her cloud-like hair. She looked like a flower about to bloom, elegant and poised.

The weather was cold, and it had been many days since she had gone out, which had made the two maids beside her feel stuffy. Luoxu was more composed, while Layan couldn’t wait to lift the curtain and look at the scenery outside.

Luoxu said, “We haven’t been to the Yunhua Temple for a long time. I’ve heard that the plum blossoms there are more beautiful than those in the capital. It must be a wonderful sight.”

Layan heard this and put down the curtain, smiling. “I’m not thinking about the plum blossoms, but the vegetarian food in the Yunhua Temple. I only had it once, but it’s unforgettable.”

Luoxu glanced at her disapprovingly. “You only think about food. Today, the Miss is going to the temple on business.”

“Of course, I know the Miss has something to do,” Layan replied with a smile. “But we’ll definitely stay there for lunch, so can’t I think about the vegetarian food?”

Pei Lingyi smiled slightly at the banter between the two maids. The journey to the temple didn’t seem so boring today.

The Yunhua Temple was a very efficacious temple outside the capital city. Although it was outside the city, it wasn’t far away. Many ladies in the capital loved to go there to burn incense and pray for blessings.

There were also many people from other places who came specifically to worship and pray. Although it was already winter and the weather was cold, there were still many people on the way to the temple.

There were also many small vendors selling divination and fortune-telling services in front of the temple.

After Pei Lingyi got off the carriage, she put on a veil. There were many female guests like her who came to worship Buddha.

She came here today mainly to pray for her grandmother’s health. She had been to the Yunhua Temple many times before, so she was familiar with the abbot.

After getting off the carriage, she walked up the steps and entered the grand hall of the temple. The hall was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood incense, and many people were kneeling in front of the Buddha.
Pei Lingyi held incense sticks, knelt down, and closed her eyes to pray silently.

The incense smoke curled up, and the wisps of smoke surrounded her face. She looked devout, and the sunlight outside the hall shone on her through the mist, as if giving her a faint halo.

She was pure and beautiful.

After she finished kowtowing, the bell outside the hall rang out, sounding distant and lingering, as if responding to her devotion.

The abbot was an elderly monk with a kind face and peaceful demeanor. When he saw Pei Lingyi finish praying, he smiled and said, “Miss Pei hasn’t come for a long time, but every time she prays, she is so devout. The Buddha will surely bless those who are as devout as you.”

Pei Lingyi adjusted her clothes and spoke in a gentle tone, “I’m praying for my grandmother’s health, so I must be sincere. I hope the Buddha can hear my prayer and bless my grandmother with peace and health.”

“The Buddha will surely grant your wish, Miss Pei. You are a kind and benevolent person who accumulates good karma. May I ask if you want to draw a fortune stick today?”

Pei Lingyi smiled slightly and said, “Since Abbot Kongzhi is here today, I’ll trouble him to interpret the stick for me.”

The Yunhua Temple was famous for its fortune sticks, and many people came here specifically for that reason. The temple’s prosperity and the popularity of its fortune sticks were mutually reinforcing.

Pei Lingyi held the stick bucket and shook it gently until a stick fell out with a “pa” sound.

She picked up the stick and read the poem on it softly, “The cloud opens to reveal the bright moon, and the flower falls to meet the spring again.”

She handed the stick to the monk beside her and asked, “What does this poem mean, Abbot?”

Abbot Kongzhi hadn’t interpreted fortune sticks for a long time. If Pei Lingyi hadn’t been so devout and charitable, he might not have agreed to interpret the stick for her.

The elderly monk examined the fortune stick for a moment, then smiled kindly and said, “This fortune stick is a bit special. What you are seeking will ultimately be fulfilled, but the process will inevitably be tortuous. Just like the moon waxes and wanes, some things cannot be achieved by force alone.”

“However, if you persist in your efforts and maintain a kind heart, you will have noble people to help you achieve your wishes. It also implies that good fortune will follow after adversity.”

“Thank you for your guidance, Abbot,” Pei Lingyi said softly.

Just as they finished speaking, a young novice ran in from outside the hall and whispered something in the abbot’s ear.

The elderly monk turned around and apologized, “Miss Pei, I have some other matters to attend to today, so I’ll take my leave first.”

“Not at all, Abbot. You are busy with many things, and I’m already honored that you took the time to interpret the fortune stick for me. I’ll just take a stroll around the temple myself.”

As the two of them walked away, Pei Lingyi glanced at the fortune stick in her hand, her expression neutral.

The fortune stick was indeed accurate, indicating that she would face many twists and turns on her journey.

She thought about the abbot’s hasty departure and smiled slightly beneath her veil.

Xiao Yan, I’ve been waiting for you for a long time. Since she had already investigated his background thoroughly, she knew that today was the anniversary of Princess An’s death.

According to the customs in the capital, everyone would come to the Yunhua Temple to pray and burn incense.

She came here today not only to pray for her grandmother’s health but also to coincidentally meet him.

She still remembered that in her dream, a major event occurred in the capital during early winter.

Prince An’s Heir, Xiao Yan, was attacked in the Yunhua Temple.

In her dream, she was focused on the Crown Prince and avoided Xiao Yan at all costs. When she heard about the attack, she laughed for many days.

She had wished that he would die in the Yunhua Temple.

But he was blessed with good fortune and only suffered minor injuries before returning to the capital safely, which made her waste many days.

She couldn’t remember the exact date, but after investigating the past events of Prince An mansion, she knew why he, as the Heir, would go to the Yunhua Temple.

It was only on the anniversary of the princess’s death.

And the abbot’s behavior just now had confirmed her suspicions.

Luoxu walked up to her and said, “Miss, I went to take a look, and the plum blossoms behind the temple are blooming beautifully. They come in all sorts of colors and are extremely beautiful.”

“Is that so? Let’s go take a look,” Pei Lingyi said.

The Yunhua Temple covered a vast area, and many plum blossoms were planted in the backyard. Although it was early winter, many branches had already bloomed.

Pei Lingyi’s figure was elegant and poised, and she exuded an extraordinary aura. Although she wore a veil to cover her face, her eyes, which were like autumn water, could still mesmerize people.

Walking among the plum blossoms, she looked like a fairy who had descended from the heavens, and her beauty was unlike anything in the mortal world.

Xiao Yan’s mother had passed away in the winter.

After killing his enemy, he would come to the Yunhua Temple alone to perform rituals and pray for her.

He always thought that his mother had come to this world to suffer, so he hoped that she wouldn’t suffer so much in her next life.

After the ritual was over, he wouldn’t leave immediately.

The plum blossoms in the backyard would bloom around this time, and his mother had loved plum blossoms the most when she was alive. He would often stroll among the trees, find a quiet spot to clear his mind.

The abbot of the temple would always tell him that he had too much negative energy, but he didn’t care. Even though he had killed Lu Yan’er with his own hands, what she had done to them couldn’t be easily forgotten.

He leaned against the plum tree, smelling the fragrance of the flowers, and seemed to be transported back to his childhood when his mother would hold him and appreciate the plum blossoms…