Chapter 054 Yan Ji (Part Three)

Chapter 054 Yan Ji (Part Three)

Zeng Xiu said to Ma Ruolan, "Let's go pray together. I need to repay my vows, and you should pray for your daughter-in-law to have a child. Come along."

Ma Ruolan's stomach rumbled again, her expression twisted as she held her belly for a moment until the rumbling subsided. Then she said, "I'm afraid it won't work. My stomach has been uncomfortable since early morning. I might not be able to pray quickly. Our old bones can move slowly, but Young Master Yan is young and might not be able to endure it."

Yan Ji had been standing beside his grandmother all along. Hearing Ma Ruolan's words, he spoke, "Grandmother, Mother instructed me before we left to take care of myself and return home early. I don't want to worry Mother."

Hearing Yan Ji's words, Ma Ruolan envied him deeply. If not for her sudden stomachache, she would have loved to accompany Old Lady Zeng.

Old Lady Zeng had such a grandson, and Ma Ruolan wished she could share in his good fortune and have a grandson like Yan Ji.

"You have such a wonderful grandson, truly obedient and well-behaved. I wish I had a child like him. If only our Baozhen had a child like this, but alas, my stomach really hurts. Baozhen, you're here."

Ma Ruolan liked Yan Ji more and more, and couldn't help waving at Lin Baozhen. "Look at Young Master Yan. I was thinking, if only you had a child like him."

Logically, Lin Baozhen should have approached to touch Yan Ji to share in his good fortune.

But Lin Baozhen was unwilling.

In her eyes, Yan Ji was already dead; there was no fortune to speak of.

Lin Baozhen looked at Yan Ji, a trace of pity flashing in her eyes.

This child was indeed born well and wise, but unfortunately, his life was destined to be short.

Lin Baozhen knew that today he would be abducted, yet she still did not plan to change Yan Ji's fate.

If Yan Ji did not die, how could He Lanting seek the Emperor's favor and become the most favored Concubine Chen?

Only with He Lanting entering the palace would it be the best outcome for the Weiwu Marquis Mansion. Therefore, Yan Ji must die, following his original fate.

"Mother, Young Master Yan is indeed adorable," Lin Baozhen said with a smile. "I truly want to pray with Old Lady Zeng and hope to have a child like this."

Ma Ruolan's stomach rumbled again. Though she hadn't started vomiting yet, she felt it could happen at any moment. She said, "Baozhen, Young Master Yan is waiting to repay his vows and return early. It's inconvenient for us to travel together."

Lin Baozhen said, "Actually, it's not a problem. Mother, Jingzhi and I can accompany Old Lady Zeng and Young Master Yan. You can return home earlier."

Ma Ruolan was taken aback, feeling a subconscious aversion to this idea, but Old Lady Zeng also spoke up, "Ma Laofuren, I think it's fine. Since you're uncomfortable, why not drink some hot water at the temple to ease your stomach? Let your daughter-in-law come with me, and Lord Xie can return with you."

Xie Jingzhi looked at Lin Baozhen and then at his grandmother, saying, "Grandmother, Old Lady Zeng doesn't have anyone with her, and there's also Young Master Yan who is very young. I'll stay to assist them."

Though Ma Ruolan's stomach was uncomfortable, Old Lady Zeng looked even more haggard.

Ma Ruolan reluctantly nodded, despite her reluctance.

Old Lady Zeng saw the plan confirmed and smiled slightly. It was best to involve the Weiwu Marquis Mansion in her scheme.

It was because of Xie Yuan that she ended up with He Lanting as her "good daughter-in-law." How could she not resent the Weiwu Marquis?

Once Yan Ji died, the Emperor would blame the Weiwu Marquis Mansion.

/

After leaving the main hall, they began praying at other shrines.

Lin Baozhen knelt and stood up, feeling uncomfortable. Praying for a child seemed too troublesome.

When they reached the last Fox Fairy Hall, Zeng Xiu stopped. "Let's not go in. Yan Ji needs to enter alone to thank the Fox Fairy."

Lin Baozhen had no objections, but Xie Jingzhi hesitated. "Young Master Yan is very young. Is it appropriate to let him enter alone?"

Old Lady Zeng had donated a large sum to Baifeng Temple, ensuring the Fox Fairy Hall was closed to others today.

She said, "No problem. The Fox Fairy's temperament differs from other deities. In my dream, she said that if one prays for offspring, the child must light incense and kneel quietly for fifteen minutes."

Old Lady Zeng took out prepared incense sticks and smiled. "Jier, Grandmother won't go in. Go inside and kneel quietly until the incense burns out."

Yan Ji, in a childish voice, said to Xie Jingzhi, "I appreciate your concern, Lord Xie, but Grandmother said I need to kneel alone for fifteen minutes."

Lin Baozhen didn't want to interfere, knowing everything must follow its original course.

Old Lady Zeng lit the incense and gently pushed Yan Ji inside, closing the door behind him.

She personally shut the door, locking the five-year-old child inside the Fox Fairy Hall.

/

The Fox Fairy Hall was always lit by candles, causing thick smoke to coat the beams and curtains.

Despite the bright sunlight outside, the room was dim due to the heavy smoke.

Yan Ji, seeing the clay statue of the Fox Fairy, felt scared but remembered his grandmother was just outside the door. He ran to the incense burner and placed the incense.

After lighting the incense, Yan Ji sneezed and felt drowsy, rubbing his eyes. After placing the incense, he knelt on the mat.

His small body soon swayed, and he fell to the ground.

The back door of the Fox Fairy Hall creaked open. Madam Li, covering her nose and mouth, hesitated upon seeing the small body, moving to the window.

Madam Li peeked through a crack, looking towards Old Lady Zeng, but Lin Baozhen caught her bloodshot eyes.

Lin Baozhen's heart raced, and she immediately stretched. "Your Highness, Old Lady, shall we sit over there? The incense is making my chest tight and my eyes sore, making everything blurry."

Xie Jingzhi nodded, asking softly, "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, just need to rest," Lin Baozhen replied.

Inside the room, Madam Li bowed her head upon hearing their conversation. Hearing footsteps, she looked towards Old Lady Zeng again.

Old Lady Zeng, watching the Fox Fairy Hall, gestured and said to Lin Baozhen and Xie Jingzhi, "I need to wait for Jier. If you're tired, feel free to rest under the tree."

Lin Baozhen and Xie Jingzhi moved to the tree, a tall camphor tree that remained lush even in winter.

Xie Jingzhi wanted to look in the direction of the Fox Fairy Hall, but Lin Baozhen deliberately changed her position so that Xie Jingzhi would face her instead. "Prince, how have your studies been lately?"

After his failure in the autumn examinations, Xie Jingzhi should logically have been studying hard to prepare for next year's exams. However, he felt a sense of weariness and did not read with much seriousness.

"Recently, my studies haven't been going well."

"Then take a break," Lin Baozhen said with a smile. "It's said that one should eat dumplings on Winter Solstice. I know of a shop where the dumplings are exceptionally delicious because they use diced water chestnuts, which make them very fresh and sweet."

Lin Baozhen's cheerful tone brought a faint smile to Xie Jingzhi's face.

Lin Baozhen couldn't help comparing Xie Jingzhi with Xie Yuan in her heart. Compared to Xie Yuan's domineering nature, Xie Jingzhi had a gentle and refined demeanor, embodying the grace of a true gentleman.

At this moment, Madam Li had already received the old lady's hint, signaling her to continue with the plan. She bowed her head and picked up the small figure from the mat.

Madam Li recited "Namo Amitabha Buddha" and said, "May the Bodhisattva forgive us." Just then, Fu Wanan's cheerful voice rang out, "Sister-in-law, there is another hall over here."

Inside, Madam Li's body trembled, almost dropping Yan Ji.

Faster than Old Lady Zeng's voice was Lin Baozhen's, "This is a place of Buddhist tranquility; why are you making such a racket? No one else can enter here. Old Lady Zeng donated merit money, so it belongs exclusively to her."

Old Lady Zeng spoke, "Lady Hou is right. Please forgive Lady Lin. For now, no one else should enter."

Fu Wanan wasn't particularly clever but was sensitive to people's emotions. She could tell that Old Lady Zeng didn't want her and her sister-in-law to enter the courtyard.

Lin Yingxue also noticed this and, considering that today was about the old lady fulfilling a vow for her grandson, said, "Wanan, it's not convenient here. Let's not go in."

Fu Wanan nodded, suddenly remembering Yan Ji. "Where is Little Master Yan?"

Zeng Xiu, thinking that Madam Li must have taken him away, slowly replied, "He is inside, kneeling before the Fox Fairy Lady. No one else should disturb him."

Now aware of the relationship between the two and Fu Bin, Lin Baozhen didn't want Lin Yingxue involved. What if Madam Li hadn't carried Yan Ji far enough yet?

Lin Baozhen quickly stepped forward and closed the courtyard gate.

The dark red gate shut hastily in front of Fu Wanan. If Lin Yingxue hadn't pulled Fu Wanan back, she might have hit her nose.

Fu Wanan looked at Lin Yingxue. "Why doesn't that lady like me?"

Lin Yingxue patted Fu Wanan's head. "Don't mind it. She doesn't like me or your brother either."

After saying this, Lin Yingxue paused, feeling that Lin Baozhen's feelings towards Fu Jiaze were more complex.

She smiled, realizing that in her premonitory dream, they had been married.

Regardless of how that dream unfolded, she was now married to Fu Jiaze.

Lin Yingxue held Fu Wanan's hand. "Let's go see the scenery on the back mountain. It's beautiful."

Fu Wanan's eyes lit up, and she nodded vigorously.

/

A quarter of an hour is neither long nor short.

Old Lady Zeng intended to delay, and so did Lin Baozhen, but Xie Jingzhi found the time too long.

After nearly half an hour, Xie Jingzhi couldn't hold back any longer. "Isn't it time? Little Master Yan hasn't come out yet. Is something wrong?"

Zeng Xiu slowly replied, "Jier said he needed further guidance from the Fox Fairy Lady. However, it has been quite some time. Let's open the door. I'll go get him myself."

The creaking sound of the wooden door's hinges echoed.

The newly lit incense on the altar had burned completely, and the mat was empty.

"Jier?!" The first call from Old Lady Zeng lacked emotion, but she pinched herself, thinking of her son who had suffered a stroke, and her heart filled with sorrow. Her second call of "Jier" was particularly heart-wrenching.

Her son was so pitiful. He had been so good to He Lanting, yet He Lanting had consorted with the emperor, and their child was considered the only heir of the Yongning Marquisate.

Thinking of this, Old Lady Zeng's heart broke.

Xie Jingzhi stepped forward and supported the fallen Old Lady Zeng. "Baozhen, please check if anyone is still in the Fox Fairy Hall."

Lin Baozhen was moved by this, and Xie Jingzhi realized his abruptness. They both looked away.

"Old Lady, don't worry. I'll look for him," Lin Baozhen said, noticing the wide-open back door.

Lin Baozhen searched around but found nothing.

"Old Lady Zeng." Lin Baozhen held the old lady's hand. "Don't worry. We will find him. Lord Marquis is currently at the Capital Commandery Office. We can ask him to send soldiers to search for Young Master Yan."

Just as the old lady was about to nod, Xie Jingzhi said, "Why not ask the recently married Lady Lin? She is married to the nephew of the Lord High Eunuch and can command the Jinyiwei."