Chapter 053 Yan Ji (Part 2)

Chapter 053 Yan Ji (Part 2)

Zeng Xiu climbed ten steps and would fold her hands, chanting, "Guanyin Bodhisattva, full of great compassion, grant my son's lineage to continue. This humble believer is immensely grateful and has come today with my grandson to fulfill my vow."

Fortunately, this mountain was not too high; otherwise, given Zeng Xiu's age, she might have collapsed from exhaustion.

Even so, when Lin Yingxue saw Zeng Xiu, the pampered old lady was already quite exhausted.

Since Yongning Marquis suffered a stroke, half of her hair had turned white instantly. When he passed away, her hair turned completely white overnight. After Yan Ji was born, she gradually regained vitality, but upon discovering Yan Ji's identity, her health declined again. Extreme joy and sorrow were detrimental to one’s well-being, and she was now like a candle flickering in the wind.

Due to the heat from climbing, her cloak's ties were undone, and the cloak was casually laid on the ground. She gathered her skirt and sat on the steps, while Yan Ji used a handkerchief to wipe the sweat off her face.

Yan Ji said to Zeng Xiu, "Grandmother, rest here. I'll fetch you a cup of water from the temple."

Zeng Xiu nodded slightly, pounding her legs, "I'm really too tired. Can you manage alone?"

Yan Ji nodded, his face serious, "Grandson can handle it." He was clearly preparing to continue up the mountain.

Fu Wanan could hardly take her eyes off Yan Ji. Lin Yingxue had brought a clean, unused water pouch. She stepped forward and said, "Young master, I have a water pouch here. It was cleaned before we left and hasn't been used today. If you don't mind, how about using mine?"

Zeng Xiu looked at Lin Yingxue due to this unexpected offer. This beautiful lady was kind-hearted, but it disrupted her plan. However, it didn't matter; there was still time, and she would achieve her goal today.

Yan Ji said, "Thank you, madam."

He extended his hands, clearly wanting to receive the water pouch. Lin Yingxue stepped forward and said, "Let me do it, young master."

Lin Yingxue opened the water pouch and held it to Old Lady Zeng's lips.

Old Lady Zeng was indeed very tired. She slowly moistened her throat and smiled at Lin Yingxue, saying, "Thank you, madam. I feel much better after drinking. The water pouch..."

Lin Yingxue smiled and said, "We can wash it and refill it at the temple later. You came here only with your grandson? No servants?"

"Yes, that's what counts as sincere fulfillment of a vow," Zeng Xiu said. "I prayed for our family's lineage during the winter solstice and hadn't fulfilled the vow until now. Please go ahead, madam. There are still some steps, and I need to bow every ten steps, which takes time."

"Either way, we have nothing else to do," Lin Yingxue smiled and said, "Wanan, shall we accompany the old lady and Young Master Yan?"

Fu Wanan nodded. This young master resembled her brother when he was little, making her instinctively want to be close to him.

She ran to Yan Ji's side, trying to hold his hand.

Yan Ji quickly dodged, shaking his head vigorously, "Men and women should not touch."

Fu Wanan was taken aback, "Only older people should avoid touching. Do I also need to avoid you?"

Yan Ji blushed and emphasized, "Avoid touching!"

Not knowing the rules, Fu Wanan looked at Lin Yingxue, "Sister-in-law."

Lin Yingxue found it amusing. She glanced at Old Lady Zeng. Yan Ji's reaction would make anyone smile, but Zeng Xiu showed no hint of amusement. Her brows were tightly furrowed, as if burdened by deep worries.

Lin Yingxue said to Fu Wanan, "If Young Master Yan doesn't want to, Wanan, don't force him."

Although disappointed, Fu Wanan listened obediently. She couldn't hold Yan Ji's hand but could still talk to him.

Lin Yingxue then softly asked Zeng Xiu, "Old lady, is something troubling you?"

"It's because of my daughter-in-law's health. She's not well, and her condition worsened as soon as winter arrived. Otherwise, she would have come today. When we reach the Buddha, I will pray for her health."

Yan Ji nodded, "Grandmother is right. I will pray for my mother's health. Grandmother treats my mother like her own daughter. So, Grandmother has been worried about my mother all along."

Fu Wanan interjected, "My mother also treats my sister-in-law like her own daughter."

Old Lady Zeng smiled genuinely, "This lady is blessed. Seeing your rosy complexion and closeness with your sister-in-law, I know you're living well."

Thinking to herself, few people in the world were as wicked as she was, planning to harm her grandson out of hatred for Helanting.

"My surname is Lin," Lin Yingxue introduced herself.

"Madam Lin."

With Lin Yingxue nearby, Zeng Xiu continued to bow every ten steps, verbally fulfilling her vow but mentally seeking redemption without asking for forgiveness from the Bodhisattva.

Upon reaching the summit, Zeng Xiu drank all the water in Lin Yingxue's pouch and said to her, "Don't let me delay you, madam. I need to pray with my grandson."

Lin Yingxue nodded, "I won't disturb you either." She then left with Fu Wanan.

After walking a bit further, Lin Yingxue noticed Fu Wanan frequently looking back and laughed, "Do you like this Young Master Yan that much?"

Lin Yingxue observed that her sister-in-law had been talking to Yan Ji throughout the journey.

Fu Wanan waved Lin Yingxue over to a secluded spot and whispered, "What's going on with the Yan family? Is it possible that my brother is their child?"

Lin Yingxue was surprised but quickly understood, "Are you saying Young Master Yan's childhood appearance resembles your husband?"

"Yes," Fu Wanan nodded, "But there's something different here."

She traced her fingers over her eyebrows and continued, "Brother always says he doesn't need to know who his birth parents are, but An'an thinks that if she were in his position, she would want to know."

Lin Yingxue patted Fu Wanan's head. Although Fu Wanan wasn't particularly intelligent, she was sometimes unexpectedly considerate.

However, while Fu Wanan thought she might have found her brother's family, Lin Yingxue knew it was impossible. Yongning Marquis had never left the capital, and his lineage was single-pulsed.

"Your brother once told me about the families in the capital, and Ye Zi also mentioned them when I was unmarried. I know a bit about the Yongning Marquis's household. Their lineage is thin, single-pulsed, and Yongning Marquis only had Young Master Yan."

Fu Wanan looked disappointed.

At that moment, Lin Yingxue saw Lin Baozhen and her group reach the summit.

Lin Baozhen's face showed a hint of disgust, and she immediately pulled her grandmother and Xie Jingzhi into the Great Hall.

In the Great Hero Hall, Zeng Xiu was kneeling in prayer. It wasn't until she stood up that she noticed the old lady from the Weiwu Marquis Mansion had also come.

Lin Baozhen looked at Yan Ji and suddenly thought of something. Yan Ji's disappearance seemed to have happened here, as if he had been lost under the old lady's watch!

After leaving the Great Hero Hall, Ma Ruolan said to Zeng Xiu, "I was just thinking about whether I would run into you down the mountain, and here you are."

Zeng Xiu hadn't expected to meet Ma Ruolan either, "Are you already praying for a grandchild for your daughter-in-law?"

Ma Ruolan sighed deeply, "Although my daughter-in-law is young, you know, our Lord Marquis isn't getting any younger, so..." She glanced at Xie Jingzhi, who was admiring the scenery nearby, and quickly added, "He isn't our biological son, and I've been hoping for a child of our own."

Zeng Xiu wanted to say that it should be Xie Yuan bringing Lin Baozhen to pray for a child, but since Ma Ruolan came herself, bringing Xie Jingzhi along didn't make much sense. Then she remembered her own failed attempt at praying for a child. Although a child did end up in her daughter-in-law's womb, it wasn't the offspring of Yongning Marquis, but rather the current emperor's.

"No matter how well-behaved and good a child is, if they aren't of one's own bloodline, it's never quite enough." Zeng Xiu was thinking of Yan Ji, while Ma Ruolan slapped her thigh, feeling that Zeng Xiu understood her. She wanted her daughter-in-law's belly to grow quickly because Xie Jingzhi wasn't Xie Yuan's biological son.