Chapter 373: Chapter 225 Assassination Encounter_2
"Alright, when we get to Baihe Temple, you can complain to the boss."
Shen Sen chimed in, "Exactly, let’s head to Baihe Temple first." As he spoke, he wiped the sweat off his face, "It’s getting hotter and hotter, we need to get to Baihe Temple quickly, it’s cooler on the mountain."
"Let’s go, hurry up."
Instead of taking a carriage, they decided to ride horses directly to Baihe Temple.
Baihe Temple isn’t very far from the capital, about thirty li. Riding on horseback, they reached there in less than two hours.
Today, many people had come to Baihe Temple to pray for blessings, and there were numerous luxurious carriages parked at the foot of the mountain.
"It’s so hot today, why are there still so many people at Baihe Temple?" Zhang He complained, "Aren’t they afraid of the heat?"
Chu Huan pointed with his chin at the lavish carriages, "Those are the carriages of the ladies."
Shen Sen smirked, "They’re definitely here to seek marriage matches."
Zhang He, with sharp eyes, noticed his family’s carriage and exclaimed, "My mother is here."
Zhao Yao looked in the direction Zhang He was pointing and saw a rather ordinary-looking carriage, but it had the character "Zhang" on it.
Upon hearing that Zhang He’s mother was here, Song Jicai’s first reaction was to look for his family’s carriage, and sure enough, he found it.
"My mother is also here."
Shen Sen and Chu Huan quickly searched for their family’s carriages but didn’t see them.
"My mother and her group didn’t come."
Zhao Yao looked at Shen Sen and Chu Huan, curiously asking, "Do you two not have sisters?" Zhao Yao didn’t know much about their family situations. "Are your mothers not praying for their marriage matches?"
Chu Huan laughed and said, "My sisters and the sisters of these three blockheads are already married."
"Are your sisters also fierce?"
"Boss, Xiao Bai and the sisters of these three blockheads are very gentle and very kind." Zhang He and Song Jicai’s tone was full of envy, "They are really nice to us and always make us delicious food."
Song Jicai sighed, "The same sister, but such a big difference."
"My sister is a year older than Xiao Bai’s sister. Xiao Bai’s sister is already married with children, but no one dares to propose to mine yet."
As they walked, Zhao Yao asked, "Besides being fierce, is your sister not good-looking?"
"Actually, my sister is quite decent looking, but she’s not like a woman. She’s more like a man." Zhang He sharply criticized his sister, "My sister always wears men’s clothing and spends all her time in the military camp training soldiers. The soldiers in the camp are all afraid of her."
"Your sister must be quite impressive then." Zhao Yao remarked, "She must be a general."
"Yes, she’s a general. She’s very capable in leading troops into battle. My father often says she takes after him." Zhang He said this with pride and satisfaction on his dark face, "The soldiers in the military camp especially respect her."
"Xiao Heizi’s sister is truly amazing, just like Uncle Zhang, skilled in driving and handling horses." Shen Sen laughed, "Xiao Heizi’s sister has learned the true skills from Uncle Zhang."
"Such a gallant sister."
"Sigh, everything about my sister is good except that she’s too fierce and too capable, which is why no man dares to marry her." Zhang He said, showing a troubled look on his dark face, "She’s already twenty, yet no one dares to propose, making my mother worry sick."
"My two sisters are the same. My eldest sister is fierce and has a terrible temper." Song Jicai said with a frowned face, "My second sister is cunning. Neither of my sisters wants to get married, driving my mother crazy."
Zhao Yao, however, said, "Women don’t necessarily have to marry; they can do the things they want."
"Boss, how can women not marry?" Shen Sen said in disbelief, "Women who don’t get married are talked about. Xiao Heizi’s and Xiao Pang’s sisters aren’t married and are spoken of harshly, called unwanted or such."
Zhao Yao replied coldly, "That’s just societal prejudice. I think Xiao Heizi’s sister becoming a female general is great."
"That’s exactly what my sister says." Zhang He scratched his head, "Actually, I don’t want my sister to get married either. If she marries well, she’ll be happy for a lifetime. But if not, she’ll suffer, and I can’t stand that."
"My two sisters say the same. They don’t want to get married or serve in someone else’s household."
"I think your sisters are right to think that way." Zhao Yao’s expression suddenly became serious, "Although society dictates that women must marry, it doesn’t mean it’s correct. The same goes for other matters; you shouldn’t be like those conventional people."
"Boss, if my sister heard you say that, she’d really like you, maybe even consider you a confidant."
"If I get the chance, I will definitely visit."
As they talked, they soon reached the entrance of Baihe Temple.
At the entrance of Baihe Temple, there were two white cranes, carved lifelike. It was said that these cranes weren’t just carvings but real celestial cranes that descended.
In the capital, the only place that could rival Hulong Temple was Baihe Temple.
Baihe Temple was famous for granting wishes, attracting both officials and commoners to burn incense here.
Recently, an old immortal had arrived, said to possess profound Taoist skills and extremely accurate divination capabilities.
The capital’s officials eagerly came to seek the old immortal’s help for divination.
Zhao Yao and his group came to Baihe Temple just to join the fun, not to seek divination.
After wandering around the temple for a while, they decided to head to the renowned Peach Grove at the back of Baihe Temple. It was the season when the peaches were ripe.
The peaches from the back of Baihe Temple were famous in the capital for being big and sweet.
Just as Zhao Yao and the others reached the Peach Grove, they were informed that entry was not allowed because Princess Consort Ying, who was soon to enter the palace, was inside picking peaches.
"Princess Consort Ying?" Zhao Yao was surprised, "What’s she doing here?" She was about to enter the palace, so why would she come to Baihe Temple before that—could she be here for divination too?
Shen Sen and the others didn’t immediately realize who Princess Consort Ying was, and asked confusedly, "Boss, who’s Princess Consort Ying?"
"The daughter of Doctor Zhong San, Qin Xiulian," Zhao Yao said, "During the spring hunt, she saved the emperor."
Shen Sen and the others had a look of realization, "So it’s her."
Chu Huan suggested, "Since we can’t go to the Peach Grove, let’s go to the Bamboo Grove instead, it’s cooler there."
"Let’s head to the Bamboo Grove then." Zhao Yao instructed Tong Xi to buy some snacks from the temple and bring some tea.
The Bamboo Grove wasn’t far from the Peach Grove. However, because it was cool there, many people had gathered.
Zhao Yao and his group found a relatively secluded spot and sat down casually.
Tong Xi was quick, returning soon with tea and snacks, and also gathered some information, though it was not convenient to speak of it here.
"Xiao Heizi, Little Fatty, aren’t you going to find your mothers?" Zhao Yao asked.
"No," Zhang He said while eating snacks, "If we go find them now, we’ll definitely be blamed by them, especially my sister."
Song Jicai nodded in agreement, "We don’t want to upset our sisters right now."
"Aren’t you curious about what divination your sisters asked for?" Zhao Yao was quite curious.
"Curious, yes, but our lives are more important right now."
Seeing Zhang He and Song Jicai acting so timidly, Zhao Yao and Chu Huan laughed at them without holding back.
Feeling embarrassed by their laughter, Zhang He and the others started playfully fighting with Zhao Yao and his group.
After a short scuffle, they stopped, just as they were preparing to return to the temple and find a guest room for a good rest, they heard someone say there were assassins in the Peach Grove.
Assassins?
Targeting Qin Xiulian?