Zhong Li emerged from the Ministry of Punishment as the morning of the next day broke.
Under Zeng Fan's guidance, she left during the guard changeover. No one noticed her visit to Lu Wuxie, nor did they know what she and Lu Wuxie had discussed.
Seated in the carriage, Zhong Li, now with Hua Yao's face, waited outside the Hua Manor. A street vendor was selling orange ice jelly. She casually bought a bowl and ate it, her mind drifting back to the first time Lu Wuxie had bought her this very dessert.
"Miss Zhong," Lin Jin said, finishing his errands and getting into the driver's seat to guide the carriage.
"How did it go? Did Old Master Hua agree?" Zhong Li inquired.
Lin Jin replied, "Old Master Hua heard Miss Zhong's plan and agreed to help. He mentioned that the Mid-Autumn Festival is in two days, and by custom, members of the Hua family visit Baolin Temple to pray for the family's prosperity and peace before their reunion. Tomorrow, Miss Zhong, disguised as Hua Yao, can represent the Hua family in fulfilling this tradition at Baolin Temple."
Upon hearing this, Zhong Li nodded. "This is indeed a good idea. On one hand, it provides a legitimate reason; on the other, it allows for investigation at Baolin Temple openly."
Lin Jin concurred, "General Hua also said so, but he asked me to remind you that several noble ladies will be present for the prayers, and some of them know Miss Hua. You must be careful not to be exposed."
As he spoke, he handed her a small booklet through the carriage door's gap.
Zhong Li initially thought it was a storybook. However, upon taking it and opening it, she discovered it was an introduction to Hua Yao's noble relationships, provided by General Hua.
She smiled, perusing the booklet while eating her ice jelly, feeling grateful for General Hua's meticulousness.
The next morning.
Zhong Li, dressed in a simple gown, set off for Baolin Temple accompanied by Lin Jin.
Since the visit to Baolin Temple was expected to last a day or two in the monks' quarters, and Lin Jin's identity would be conspicuous, he disguised himself in women's clothing to remain by Zhong Li's side for protection.
Along the way, the path was filled with laughter and merriment.
The elite guards of the Hua family, accustomed to seeing the usually stylish and dashing Lin Jin in his usual attire, found his current appearance quite amusing. He wore a touch of makeup, a flowing skirt, and had two "buns" rather conspicuously tucked into his chest.
Zhong Li, sitting in the carriage, curved her lips and remained silent. After the intense and heartbreaking events of the past few days, this rare moment of relaxation was a welcome joy.
However…
She lifted the curtain, seeing they had arrived at the entrance of Baolin Temple. As she alighted with Lin Jin's assistance, she quietly whispered to him, "You've been put through a lot. Quite the sacrifice."
Lin Jin's mouth twitched upon hearing this.
Zhong Li had already reached the entrance and greeted the young monk who was there to welcome them.
The reception monk was named Ji Kong. From his name, it was clear he was a junior member of Baolin Temple.
"Master Ji Kong, thank you for your trouble," Zhong Li said, bowing to the short, plump monk with a pockmarked face. He then led them into Baolin Temple.
Baolin Temple was slightly larger than Lingshan Temple, and being newly constructed, all its buildings were newer.
The layout and arrangement of most temple complexes were similar. Passing through the corridors, one faced the Great Hall of Heroes directly.
Following General Hua's instructions, Zhong Li donated money. Upon entering the Great Hall of Heroes, she first lit incense and then offered her prayers.
Some noble ladies nearby had already completed these rituals and were now drawing lots from the signature boxes within the hall.
Those awaiting marriage typically inquired about romantic prospects, while those who were married sought guidance on their relationship with their in-laws or their husband's future.
Zhong Li, uninterested in these matters, bypassed this step and turned to exit the Great Hall of Heroes.
"Oh, did you hear? Wang Mei has also come to Baolin Temple this time."
"You mean her? The illegitimate daughter of Steward Wang? What is someone of her status doing here? Praying is the business of legitimate daughters. Wouldn't she defile this sacred Buddhist site, being born of a concubine?"
"Exactly. Baolin Temple at this time is not a place anyone can just visit. Speaking of which, perhaps she herself knows her lowly status; her carriage stopped at the back gate of Baolin Temple. I only caught a glimpse. Who knows where she is now."
"The back gate? Haha! As expected of an illegitimate child, only fit to use the side entrance."
...
As Zhong Li stepped out of the Great Hall of Heroes, she happened upon two noble ladies who were leaving after drawing their lots. They were chatting and laughing, appearing to be very close friends.
"They look good, but they clearly haven't brushed their teeth this morning," Lin Jin muttered from behind Zhong Li, having overheard the conversation of the two women. He rolled his eyes and sneered.
Zhong Li smiled, not paying them much mind. Lin Jin had followed Lu Wuxie through thick and thin, and with only the King's Consort in the Prince Xian's mansion, he hadn't witnessed the struggles of a harem. His sarcastic remark was understandable.
"Those two women are likely the daughters of Minister Zhang and Minister Li. They grew up together and have always been close. However..." Zhong Li's mind was filled with their conversation. She turned to Lin Jin and asked, "The booklet General Hua gave me didn't mention that illegitimate daughters could enter Baolin Temple through the back gate to offer prayers. Furthermore, according to custom, no matter how you look at it, Lord Wang wouldn't allow an illegitimate daughter to pray at this juncture; it would be breaking the rules. This is an unusual occurrence. Lin Jin, please notify the Hua family members waiting for our signal outside and have them investigate this Wang Mei."
"Understood!" Lin Jin nodded and, seizing an unguarded moment, slipped away towards the outside of Baolin Temple.
Baolin Temple was vast. Zhong Li, waiting for Lin Jin's return and unable to leave immediately, decided to find a secluded and quiet place to rest.
She skirted around the Great Hall of Heroes, avoiding the crowds, and headed directly towards a pavilion.
Beside the pavilion stood a Bodhi tree. Due to the season, the tree had shed its leaves. The trunk was wrapped in cotton batting, which had been painted. It appeared the people of Baolin Temple had already prepared the tree for winter.
Zhong Li sat on the stone bench and casually took out the small booklet given by General Hua to flip through it again. Having never interacted with the female relatives of court officials before, she now found that the small booklet was filled with dense introductions, ranging from family background, names of legitimate and illegitimate children, to the preferences of the noble ladies in various households.
She found studying these matters difficult, at least more so than medical texts. It was no wonder Hua Yao preferred to stay at the Dali Temple rather than return home.
"What are you doing here?"
As Zhong Li looked at the booklet, feeling increasingly fatigued and on the verge of dozing off, a sharp growl sounded from not far away.
She was startled awake by the voice and instinctively looked up to locate its source.
It turned out that behind the pavilion and the Bodhi tree, there was a moon gate. Beyond it lay a hidden courtyard, distinct from the architecture of Baolin Temple, as if it didn't belong to the temple at all.
"Your maid... your maid is here to deliver something for my mistress," a young girl in a green tunic stammered, looking timidly at the guard stationed at the moon gate.
"Deliver something?" The guard frowned, looking impatient. "Didn't your mistress tell you that once people enter, they won't be able to come out for a while?"
The young maid nodded. "She did, she did. But, before my mistress entered, she asked me to buy Chenji oil cakes from Jincheng, saying she only craves this particular treat. Could you please be accommodating, honored guard?"
As she spoke, the young maid slipped something off her hand and into the guard's.
The guard weighed it in his palm, his eyes darting around. Just as he was about to tuck it into his pocket, a voice called out from within the moon gate: "You're quite bold, aren't you."
Zhong Li found the voice very familiar. Extending her neck out of curiosity, she peered into the courtyard. When she saw the owner of the voice, her water-like eyes widened slightly. Wasn't that Xu Qing?