Chapter 350: Li Bihan Visits Master Yuanqing

Chapter 350: Li Bihan Visits Master Yuanqing

Not long after, Li Bihan entered.

"Young mistress."

Li Bihan stood before Lu Lingyun with her head bowed, showing great respect as she greeted her.

"What brings Concubine Li here today?" Lu Lingyun smiled at her.

As her voice fell, Li Bihan's eyes welled up with tears, and she spoke pitifully, "Young mistress, Lan Ying’s condition has been worsening these past few days. The food we send her is barely touched, and it’s returned untouched. When I went to see her, she could hardly grip the brush while copying the family rules."

"Concubine Li, are you here again to plead for Lan Ying’s release?" Lu Lingyun looked at her pitiful state and seemed moved. She sighed and then changed her tone, "But last time I acted on my own to release Lan Ying, and afterward, she offended the Crown Prince again. The Crown Prince was quite critical of me afterward."

"This punishment wasn’t my doing. I’d like to release Lan Ying, but the Crown Prince would be upset."

Lu Lingyun brushed her off with a few words, telling her to go and plead with Cheng Yunshuo instead.

Last time, she had a need for Cheng Lanying and granted her a favor as a gesture of goodwill.

But coming to her every time? Unfortunately, she’s no merciful Bodhisattva.

"Young mistress," Li Bihan suddenly knelt down with a thud, "I naturally wouldn’t dare to impose on you again. The favor you granted last time has left me deeply grateful. How could I be so bold as to ask you to defy the Crown Prince’s wishes again? Lan Ying was in the wrong, and she deserves her punishment. The Crown Prince was right to punish her."

Hearing this, Lu Lingyun raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised.

She’s not here for her daughter? Then what is she here for?

"So, Concubine Li, what brings you here this time?" Lu Lingyun asked calmly.

"Lan Ying has always been obedient, but lately her temperament has changed drastically. I suspect she’s been influenced by something. I beg for your kindness, young mistress. I wish to go to the temple outside the city to fetch a protective charm for Lan Ying and ward off any evil spirits!"

Li Bihan bowed deeply.

Hearing this, Lu Lingyun thought to herself.

Well, well, she’s not here for Cheng Lanying after all—she’s here for Cheng Yunshuo!

The whole household knows Cheng Yunshuo has been staying overnight at the temple outside the city. She’s not going to the temple to pray for Cheng Lanying’s safety—she’s clearly going to find him!

She had to come up with such an excuse, even claiming her daughter was possessed just to see Cheng Yunshuo.

But still...

"Lan Ying has indeed changed lately. She used to be as obedient as you, Concubine Li, but now she’s been defying her father repeatedly. It seems there might be some evil influence at play. With such a motherly heart, how could I refuse? Go ahead and pray for Lan Ying’s safety."

Lu Lingyun graciously agreed, playing along with her words.

Li Bihan was somewhat surprised by Lu Lingyun’s recent leniency.

What’s going on with Lu Lingyun?

Why has she been so accommodating lately?

She had expected today to be a fierce battle, knowing how shrewd and difficult to deceive Lu Lingyun could be. Before leaving, she had even warned Cheng Lanying to start acting crazy, planning to bring her out if Lu Lingyun refused to let her leave the estate.

But she truly hadn’t expected Lu Lingyun to be so agreeable recently.

Last time she pleaded for Cheng Lanying’s release, it was granted immediately...

"What's wrong with Concubine Li?" Lu Lingyun looked down at her with authority. "Didn't you just say Lan Ying was afflicted by evil spirits? Why aren't you hurrying to take care of it today?"

Li Bihan immediately snapped back to reality and kowtowed three times, "Thank you for your grace, young mistress! May the young mistress be blessed!"

Whatever Lu Lingyun's reason, as long as she was willing to let her leave the mansion, it was a good thing!

Li Bihan quickly accepted.

After expressing her gratitude, she quickly left.

After she left, Shuang Hong expressed her confusion, "Young mistress, it doesn't appear that Concubine Li is going to the temple outside the city to pray for Second Miss. It seems more like she's going to find the Crown Prince."

"Yes, she's always fawning over the Crown Prince, like a lapdog. To go find him, she uses her daughter as an excuse. Why did you grant her request and let her go find the Crown Prince?"

Listening to her maids' discussions, Lu Lingyun smiled faintly and continued to unfold the Lu Family's dowry list.

In this world, it's unnecessary to be overly deliberate. Being too deliberate can lead to unintended consequences.

She doesn't need to deliberately suppress Li Bihan. She just needs to add a little push or resistance according to the situation.

Everything else should take its natural course.

If one is constantly scheming and deliberately suppressing and targeting others, not only will life be exhausting, but the results will likely be unsatisfactory.

Like Li Bihan now, nothing goes her way, and she's losing her mind. Deliberately pursuing Cheng Yunshuo, what good outcome can she expect?

Lu Lingyun doesn't know much else, but she knows that the tea poisoning incident is not over.

Cheng Yunshuo covered up the matter, but covering it up doesn't make it go away. It will always be there. Li Bihan doesn't know about it and continues to vie for favor as before, seeking Cheng Yunshuo's favor. She will likely end up pushing him further away.

Lu Lingyun, being the kind of person who enjoys watching the drama, is naturally willing to give a little nudge.

Li Bihan, having obtained permission to leave the mansion from Lu Lingyun, went straight out of the mansion and had the carriage head directly to the Guangji Temple in the suburbs.

Today, she was going to see what kind of old monk had Cheng Yunshuo so obsessed with Buddhist teachings that he wouldn't come home!

She really didn't believe it was just an ordinary monk!

Li Bihan arrived at Guangji Temple.

Today seemed to be a big day, as there were especially many people at the temple.

"Little master, may I ask, is there a Master Yuanqing in your temple?" Li Bihan asked the young monk at the gate as soon as she entered Guangji Temple.

"Amitabha, you are also looking for our abbot," the young monk pointed the way for Li Bihan, "Our abbot is giving a lecture in the main hall today. Just go straight ahead."

Hearing this, Li Bihan didn't bother with formalities and hurried inside.

She climbed the high stairs and followed a group of people into the main hall. Upon entering, she saw many devotees kneeling on cushions.

In front of the golden Buddha statue, surrounded by young monks on both sides, an old monk with a wrinkled face and long white beard and eyebrows sat cross-legged, tapping the wooden fish in front of him and chanting scriptures she couldn't understand.

"Who is that in the middle?"

Li Bihan asked the young monk at the door, looking at the old monk.

"Madam, that is our abbot, Amitabha."

"He is Master Yuanqing?" Li Bihan asked again.

"Amitabha, yes, madam."