Time Travel: The Noble Family
Chapter 407 - 143: Offering Incense_2

Chapter 407: Chapter 143: Offering Incense_2

The incense at Hualin Temple was flourishing, and a burst of fragrance greeted them as soon as they stepped down from the carriage. Yueyao looked at the central cauldron filled with incense candles, its lingering smoke drifting in all directions with the wind.

Yueyao watched with a hint of disgust as the nun came over to meet them, her face overly ingratiating. However, Yueyao also knew restraint and did not let it show on her face.

The group accompanied Lady Mo to the main hall to offer incense and pay respects to the Buddha, then took turns visiting various halls to pray to the Bodhisattvas.

Yueyao earnestly offered incense and prayed to the Bodhisattvas. She was devout, but she had stopped believing in karmic retribution. If there truly were karmic consequences, Lady Mo wouldn’t have enjoyed wealth and prestige after harming so many in her previous life. Instead of believing in such intangible karmic retribution, Yueyao preferred to have faith in herself, as only she could protect herself.

After praying to the various Bodhisattvas, they were led by a Young Nun to the back courtyard. Hualin Temple’s backyard housed many independent courtyards, which were well-arranged with flowers and plants under the corridors. The courtyard they entered boasted a tall Bodhi Tree, like a giant umbrella covering the place. The sunlight was mottled, scattering down through the leaves like tiny golden leaves.

Yueyao was familiar with this courtyard; in her previous life, she often came to visit temples with Lady Mo, and they would rest in this very spot. Thus, she stared at the Bodhi Tree in a trance.

Xi Yu saw Yueyao gazing absent-mindedly at the tall Bodhi Tree and nudged her, saying, "Miss, Eldest Madam and the other young ladies have all gone inside."

Yueyao came back to her senses and also went inside.

Yuehuan surveyed the small courtyard. Although it was small, it was delicately arranged with flowers, plants, and towering trees, and the furniture was all complete. It was unlike the courtyard in Zhaohua Temple, which was bare and in no way resembled a place for people to live.

Yuehuan, not familiar with the history of Zhaohua Temple, was puzzled and couldn’t understand why Zhaohua Temple’s reputation surpassed that of Hualin Temple.

Before long, a Young Nun brought over hot tea, followed by fruits and pastries. Yuehuan couldn’t help but say, "Third sister, this place is so much better than the courtyard at Zhaohua Temple." Yuehuan had no other intention; she was simply comparing the two places.

In front of everyone, Yueyao naturally could not explain that part of history to Yuehuan, so she simply said, "This place is meant to host visitors who come to offer incense; naturally, it has to be better than the quarters we stayed in."

Yuebing was amazed, "That’s not right, Fourth Sister, haven’t you been up the mountain? Don’t you know what the guest rooms at Zhaohua Temple are like? The quarters there used for hosting noble guests are more than ten times more exquisite than this place." Those courtyards could host nobility from the imperial palace, even the Emperor and Empress Dowager—how could they not be luxurious and grand!

Yuehuan shook her head: "I didn’t go up the mountain."

The gazes of others instantly fell upon Yueyao. Everyone was convinced that it was Yueyao who forbade Yuehuan from ascending the mountain, thus she knew nothing about the affairs on the mountain.

Yueyao’s expression was very calm, and she did not utter a single word in her own defense. She seemed oblivious to the people looking at her.

Outside, a Young Nun came and said, "Lady Lian, the Great Grandmaster is about to arrive."

Yueyao’s eyes hardened, and upon realizing that her emotions were showing, she immediately lowered her head. It wasn’t that Yueyao hated Grand Master Pu An; rather, she held her in contempt. Grand Master Pu An was an impure individual, having done many despicable things for the sake of money.

Lady Mo went out to welcome her herself, and Yueying and a few others immediately followed. Yueyao paused for a moment but, not wanting to stand out as insubordinate, she followed them out as well.

Yueyao watched as a nun dressed in plain clothes entered, and the repressed memories surged back. Grand Master Pu An looked exactly as she remembered; with a round, plump, and seemingly fortunate face. Even without speaking, there was a constant trace of a smile, giving her a Bodhisattva-like appearance. It was also due to this kindly and compassionate appearance that many respected her, and she held considerable esteem among the Madams who came to offer incense.

Yueyao recalled how in her past life, under the earnest inducement of Grand Master Pu An, she had almost turned herself into an idiot by copying scriptures for three years, and she felt a wave of disgust. Yueyao kept her head down, so no one saw the disgust and hatred in her eyes.

However, Grand Master Pu An sensed something odd about Yueyao and said with a smile, "Third Young Lady has changed so much since she last came two years ago." Yueyao, two years prior, looked pitiable with a poor complexion, and she appeared to be in ill health. Now, Yueyao not only looked spirited but also had undergone a tremendous change in temperament.

Yueyao did not show any sign of reverence and said indifferently, "I owe it to the Grandmaster’s blessings." Her tone carried not a hint of respect. The people around heard it, and Grand Master Pu An most of all.

Grand Master Pu An was somewhat taken aback by Yueyao’s attitude, but she continued to smile and said, "I remember that the Young Lady made a vow before Buddha to copy a thousand Scripture Scrolls for the deceased Second Old Master Lian and Second Lady Lian. Your filial piety was so profound, it deeply moved this old nun."

Yueyao remained expressionless. "Grand Master Pu An said that copying a thousand scrolls of the Classic of Filial Piety within a year is the greatest filial piety I could show my parents. After copying half of it, my body couldn’t take it anymore. My mother, feeling sorry for me, came to me in a dream, saying that filial piety is not about copying scripture scrolls but about taking good care of oneself. I will certainly fulfill the vow I made before Buddha, and so far, I have completed seven hundred scrolls, with only three hundred left. I will most certainly finish them in the remaining days." She did vow before Buddha to copy a thousand scripture scrolls, but she never said it would be within a year. That one-year deadline was something Grand Master Pu An had set.

If Yueyao’s earlier words were merely disrespectful, then her current ones were an outright accusation, suggesting that Grand Master Pu An had ill intentions. After all, expecting an eight-year-old child to copy a thousand scripture scrolls within a year is practically a death sentence!

Grand Master Pu An’s gaze toward Yueyao suddenly sharpened. She had always been respected at Hualin Temple, and the esteemed visitors who came to offer incense were also polite to her. Today, however, she was being accused by a young girl. But if she argued with Yueyao now, she would utterly lose her dignity. "Amitabha, Third Young Lady’s filial piety has indeed touched the heavens, and it even brought Second Lady Lian’s spirit to advise the Young Lady to take care of her health. Amitabha, how meritorious and good."

Although Yueyao had contempt for Pu An, she knew she was no match for the old nun. Pu An still had a significant reputation at Hualin Temple, and many ladies in the Capital City were fond of her. If she truly quarreled with Pu An, Yueyao would be the one who suffered in the end.