Chapter 14

Chapter 14

The Buddhist lecture finally concluded, and the ladies, who had sat attentively all morning, naturally sought a place to rest.

Those who came for spiritual edification left content, while the less devout had at least mingled with unfamiliar faces and witnessed a lively verbal exchange. Thus, everyone departed satisfied—save for Madam Huang, who felt she had lost face.

After finding a young novice monk to guide them, Madam Ming noticed the twins looking rather listless. With a tender gaze, she said, "We won't come back this afternoon. After lunch and a short nap, your aunt can take you out for a stroll before we head home, alright?"

The three sisters' eyes immediately lit up, and they chimed in unison.

After all, what young girl didn't love an outing, even a brief one?

As they strolled out of the assembly area, they spotted Ming Tang standing beneath a gracefully leafy tree, wearing a wide-brimmed veil hat she had somehow acquired, its white gauze gently draped over her shoulders.

At that moment, she lifted the veil with both hands, smiling at them, her eyes radiating a warmth more radiant than spring sunshine.

Madam Ming's heart softened. "Why are you back so early?"

Ming Tang turned and gestured. Behind her, Zhe Liu and another maid instinctively raised their hands, revealing a dazzling cascade of colorful amulet charms—so numerous they were impossible to count at a glance.

"I thought since everyone was listening to the esteemed monk, no one would have time to seek blessings, so we went around and gathered some," Ming Tang announced generously. "There are amulets for all sorts of wishes—everyone can take what they need from me."

Qixia Temple's services were extensive. The amulet charms Ming Tang had acquired each had their own specific uses—for peace and health, for promotion and wealth, for academic success, and so on. In short, whatever a person desired, Qixia Temple could provide a corresponding amulet distribution point, with various materials and colors, fully demonstrating the formidable strength of the Great Xia Dynasty's largest purveyor of spiritual services.

A breeze swept through, making the colorful amulets sway like a string of wind chimes. Madam Ming's lips twitched, her expression a mix of amusement and exasperation. "Well, this saves Ah Shao the trouble."

Her eldest daughter had just mentioned wanting to get Ming Tang an amulet to ward off ill fortune. Now, it seemed utterly unnecessary; even the most persistent bad luck would surely be suppressed by this veritable mountain of charms.

"Sister's gift is her own heartfelt gesture. Mother, why would you try to save her even this effort?" Ming Tang playfully protested.

Madam Ming patted her hand with a smile. "Alright, I can't argue with you."

After a brief exchange, the group followed the young novice monk to the assigned meditation courtyard.

Tall walls flanked both sides of the path, with flagstones underfoot. Towering trees, some dozens of feet high, cast large shadows, imbuing the bustling pathway with an unexpected sense of peace and tranquility.

Too young to be soothed by the environment, Ming Jin, eager to explore, quickened her pace and grabbed Ming Tang's hand. She turned back to give her younger sister a confident smile, then whispered to Ming Tang, "Auntie, can you wake up early this afternoon?"

If they waited until after their nap to go out, they'd barely have any time before leaving. Having finally secured permission from the elders, even an extra fifteen minutes outside would be precious.

Ming Tang understood and lowered her voice to "whisper" back, "Auntie has no problem with that, but you'll be napping with your elder sisters-in-law. What if I wake up and you two don't?"

"No, no, we won't! We've agreed to pretend to sleep. Auntie, just have someone splash a little water in the courtyard, and we'll 'get up' when we hear it," Ming Jin quickly promised.

So, it was a coordinated effort.

Seeing even the usually composed Ming Wan looking at her expectantly, Ming Tang smiled. "Alright."

The young girls breathed a sigh of relief. Ming Jin smiled sweetly and naturally took Ming Tang's hand, walking hand-in-hand with her.

They hadn't gone far from the lecture area, and many passersby had been seated near the Ming family earlier. When an unfamiliar figure suddenly appeared among them, walking intimately with the Ming granddaughters yet veiled, those with keen minds quickly deduced her identity.

However, as people of refinement, despite their curiosity, they couldn't directly approach. Instead, they merely slowed their steps as they passed, hoping to catch a word or two.

This divorced Fourth Miss wasn't entirely unknown; she had been remembered as a dignified, beautiful girl. How had no one seen her resolute spirit back then?

Madam Ming glanced around, a hint of impatience in her eyes, and subtly quickened her pace.

Most of these women were wives and mothers, and their intentions weren't necessarily malicious. In fact, many had subtly expressed support earlier, criticizing the Chen family for elevating a concubine as excessive. Given such humiliation, divorce, though drastic, wasn't entirely unreasonable.

Still, being the subject of such scrutiny was never comfortable. Only upon returning to the meditation courtyard, shielded by its walls from prying eyes, did they finally relax a little.

Fortunately, Qixia Temple prided itself on providing impeccable service to its patrons, and the essential vegetarian meal was meticulously prepared, exquisite and delicious.

Good food always lifts spirits. After a quiet, satisfying meal, everyone felt much better.

After lunch, they naturally retired for their naps. As Ming Jin left, she didn't forget to give Ming Tang a "don't you dare forget" look.

Her self-assured air, believing the adults were completely unaware, was truly adorable. Ming Tang barely managed to suppress her laughter, nodding solemnly as she watched them enter their rooms to rest.

The girls, eager to go out early that afternoon, feigned sleep, fearing they might oversleep and miss their outing. Meanwhile, Eldest Young Mistress Song Zhangru, swayed by her mother's words that morning, lay awake, tossing and turning for a long while, staring at the blue canopy above, utterly devoid of sleep.

After an unknown period, a distinct splashing sound echoed from the courtyard. Song Zhangru listened intently, hearing only a few suppressed giggles that gradually faded into the distance.

Outside Qixia Temple, the grounds were vast and bustling with people. The temple monks had also organized the area, and over time, a small, orderly market had formed. During major events, this market would automatically expand from its existing stalls, offering an even wider array of goods.

The three sisters, accustomed to having everything provided for them within the confines of their manor, had little opportunity to shop, despite receiving monthly allowances. Even when they occasionally accompanied their mother to buy clothes or jewelry, they went to shops in the East Market that specialized in catering to noble families. This was their first time witnessing such a lively scene, and they were all quite thrilled.

These street vendors, who set up their stalls wherever there were people, mostly possessed keen eyes. Seeing the four richly dressed ladies with their escorts and maids, they immediately recognized them as young ladies from a prominent family out to experience the world. Even their hawking calls were louder than usual. The three sisters flitted between stalls, finding things interesting on one side and exquisite on the other, feeling as if their eyes weren't enough to take it all in. They wanted everything they saw.

When Ming Tang was a child, being the youngest of her generation and with her father's official rank not yet high, she would often pester to go out and play. Although eight out of ten times she was mercilessly refused, she still had far more opportunities than these sisters.

Seeing their pitiful expressions, Ming Tang, in a rare moment of generosity, grandly waved her hand. "Go on! Auntie will pay for whatever you buy today!"

The three sisters excitedly agreed and, with their attendants, headed towards the places that interested them. Ming Tang followed at a comfortable distance, her eyes fixed on the three girls, finding their youthful delight far more entertaining than the bustling market itself.

The accompanying guards' arms gradually filled with purchases. The three sisters, unaccustomed to so much walking within the confines of their inner chambers, began to feel tired, yet they still stopped, mesmerized, when they saw a street performer.

The performer was in the final stages of his act, spitting out a stream of fire over ten feet long, the heat palpable to those in front. The front-row spectators cheered loudly, and the sisters' eyes sparkled with excitement. They barely remembered their family's constant admonition to maintain "decorum" and refrained from cheering loudly, their cheeks flushed with excitement.

After giving a reward, the three were thoroughly satisfied, still chattering about it on the way back. Even the usually quiet Ming Wan secretly regretted not having read more books, so she could describe the scene to her mother with more precise and vivid words.

As for the younger twins, they had already fallen asleep on the way back, and had to be carried out of the carriage by their nannies.

Madam Ming knew that not only the younger ones, but also the older ones, must be tired today. Upon returning to the main courtyard, she instructed her staff to inform everyone that they would dine in their own courtyards that evening, and need not come to the main courtyard.

She herself comfortably changed into her everyday clothes, removed her somewhat heavy hairpins and ornaments, leaned against a bolster, took a sip of warm water, and sighed softly, asking, "Has anything happened in the manor today?"

Liu, who stood with bowed head before her, meticulously recounted a few minor household matters from the day and how she had handled them, earning a look of approval from Madam Ming.

After finishing, she hesitated for a few breaths, then said, "This servant returned home today and on the way, encountered a young maid I had seen at the Chen household. She stopped me and said she secretly overheard Madam Chen inviting a matchmaker, intending to arrange a marriage between Master Chen and the youngest daughter of the Crane Cry Academy's headmaster. Fearing our family might not know, she specifically came to inform Fourth Miss. This servant thought, since she came to deliver news, I took the liberty of rewarding her with a tael of silver."

"You did well," Madam Ming nodded.

Yet, a sense of unease settled in her heart.

Although Headmaster Bai of Crane Cry Academy had not entered officialdom, he was revered as a great scholar of his time, with disciples everywhere. The Bai family itself boasted several Hanlin academicians. Men truly had an advantage in such matters; even though it wasn't his first marriage, his academic honors as a *Tanhua* (third-place graduate) and his relatively young age allowed him to aspire to marry a daughter from the Bai family.

And since they dared to send a matchmaker, it likely meant the two families already had an understanding. If the Bai family had no intention whatsoever, wouldn't such a sudden visit be presumptuous?

How long had it been since he divorced Yu Niang...? Madam Ming felt an increasing tightness in her chest.

As she pondered whether to interfere in this matter, Vice-Minister Ming, having returned from his office, strode into the inner chambers.

Having shared a bed for so many years, even though Vice-Minister Ming seemed as usual, Madam Ming sensed something was amiss. She instinctively sat up straight, waved for everyone to withdraw, personally helped him change into his casual clothes, and then sat down, slowly asking him, "What's wrong?"

Vice-Minister Ming sighed, "A colleague from the Censorate told me today that someone submitted a memorial, saying, 'Upon hearing this matter, I often feel the decline of morality,' impeaching me, as the Vice-Minister of Rites, for allowing my daughter to divorce, which harms public morals."