ismissively, eager to press Zhao Shi, "Did the Liu family have a grand feast""Indeed, Auntie," Zhao shi pursed her lips, envy and jealousy flashing in her eyes.She studied at a girls' school with Lady...Shui Ling playfully said, "Miss, people say 'one think, two curse, three murmur,' but I think two sneezes don't necessarily mean someone cursed you. Maybe you just thought about it a lot!"

Jia Yin heard this and burst into laughter, replying casually, “So sneezing three times means thinking about it again and again”

Now, Shui Ling laughed heartily too.

Lao Li was chatting with Chen Xi when she saw the happiness between the mistress and servant. She asked, "What good news is there that you two are smiling like this"

"It's nothing, grandma. I just fixed a troublesome fellow who wouldn't behave." Jiayin mumbled casually and started to account for her earnings.

Li Laotai was enjoying snacks and small bites, occasionally being held by her granddaughter, smiling happily as she showed off the winnings, also feeling happy about it.

After settling the accounts, the grandfather and grandson went for a stroll in the Hundred Flowers Garden.

It turned out that Lu Zong and Jia Xu were there as well. They greeted each other, making the scene quite lively.

Jia Yin instructed Shui Ling to take a jade melon from the car and cut it into pieces. Then, she asked Lu Zong and Jia Xu to sit down.

"Brother Lu, Brother Jia, how did you come here"

Jia Xu smiled and said, "Today I'm here as a companion. Your brother Lu has something to buy flowers, so I came with him for a stroll."

Lu Zong also smiled and said, “An elder friend of mine is celebrating his birthday, and I wanted to buy a pot of golden lotus, but there isn't one here!”

"I was actually planning on going back to Sui Jintan to ask for your help, but I'm glad you and grandma came instead."

Over the past two years, Lu Cong and Jia Xu have been inseparable from the young men in their family. Li Lao Tai also treats them as her own grandchildren.

Especially hearing Lu Zong's grandmother calling, she beamed with joy.

"This matter is best addressed by asking Jia Yin, as there are many fine flowers in her warm shed."

Just as Shui Ling brought over a plate of jade melons, Jia Yin told them to take some and eat. She also instructed Shui Ling.

"There are still three melons left in the car. Cut one for Master Cao and his colleagues to quench their thirst, and send the other two to the relief office. Second Uncle must be there."

Old Cao was standing by and hearing this, he quickly stepped forward to bow and thank him.

Jia Yin then said, "Master Cao, tomorrow I will have someone send five more pots of golden lotus over. You remember to pick a good one for Brother Lu."

“Yes, Lady.” Lao Cao quickly retreated.

Lu Cong was not polite either, smiling and begging, "Sister Jia Yin, if your family has peaches, please send me a few more. It would be even more icing on the cake to give a longevity peach as a gift for an elder's birthday."

Jia Yin made a sympathetic expression, wrinkling her nose and replying, “Alright, there are only ten peaches left on my peach tree. I’ll give Lu Ge six, and the remaining four will probably end up in Bao Zhu’s belly…”

"I'm so pitiful. I worked hard to grow peaches, but you all picked them all."

Everyone couldn't help but laugh. Lu immediately said, "I have a pair of carved peach ornaments made of white jade. I'll bring them to you next time I go to Suijin Beach, as an exchange."

"Haha, that's more like it." Jia Yin immediately beamed, causing everyone to laugh again.

After eating the jade gourds and chatting for a while, Lü Zong and Jia Xu took their leave. Jiā Yīn then accompanied her grandmother back to Suijin Beach.

Without mentioning anything about Suijin Beach, only that the Wu family's carriage traveled straight out of the city towards Qingcheng Guan.

Qingchengguan is located on Qingcheng Mountain, southwest of Xindu, more than thirty miles away. Originally, it was not very famous.

There were ten or so Taoists, three large halls, plus ten or so houses where the Taoists lived.

But ever since the imperial court relocated here, the city has become overcrowded. Young ladies and daughters-in-law from prominent families are all confined to their backyards, desperate for an excuse to get out and about.

So, going to the Taoist temple to burn incense and pray for the family's well-being became the best excuse.

And Qingchengguan, not too far, not too near, is the best place to go.

As more and more people come and go, the number of wishers increases, and inevitably there are a few whose wishes come true.

Thus, its fame spread widely, and more and more people came to Qingchengguan.

Earlier, the land was insufficient, so several small courtyards were added later.

Occasionally, when distinguished guests come, it's convenient to have a place for them to rest.

Even the small villages at the foot of the mountain had increased by over a hundred households in three years, all hoping to survive thanks to the Qingchengguan.

People carrying sedan chairs up the mountain, vendors selling snacks, all sorts of incense and candles—it was bustling with activity.

Mrs. Wu, in order to show her sincerity, got out of the carriage and, accompanied by Granny Sun, two maidservants, two guards, and a manager, climbed the mountain directly.

These seven or eight people, especially Wu Dafu's wife, were dressed in fine clothes and surrounded by attendants, quite a sight to behold.

At the beginning, it was fine. Mrs. Wu climbed up the 100 stone steps in one breath, quite smoothly.

But going up wouldn't work.

The autumn tiger is scorching hot, and even Mrs. Wu's makeup is wilting.

Grandma Sun and her two maidservants practically helped their mistress climb over fifty steps. Both mistress and servants were exhausted.

"Grandma Sun pointed to the path beside them and said, 'Madam, there seems to be a small pavilion over there, very shady. Let's go over and rest for a while.'"

Mrs. Wu was also getting on in years, she hadn't suffered like this before, and when she heard that she could rest, she immediately agreed.

Then a group of people dashed off the road, turning onto a path winding through the bushes. Sure enough, there was a small grass hut nestled in the greenery.

Nanny Sun served her master to sit down, and then chased her nephew to bring the guards to the temple to find clean spring water to quench the master's thirst.

The nephew was still uneasy about his past wrongdoing.

Along the way, he chatted with two guards, and learned everything about County Princess Kangle and Baiyun Courtyard.

It was at this moment that his knee was still soft.

He was afraid his master would find out he had caused trouble, and hearing this opportunity to perform, he immediately took action, quickly grabbed a water jug and led the people away.

Mrs. Wu fanned herself with her handkerchief, complaining, "What kind of weather is this It's so hot even now. I should have brought a fan."

"Indeed, it's almost September. Back in Kyoto, this time of year would be close to snowfall." Grandmother Sun chimed in, rising to pluck two large leaves from a nearby tree.

Perhaps because the leaves were thick and sturdy, she made quite a commotion.

Then, she used leaves to make a fan and fanned the master, which made Madam Wu very comfortable.

Mrs. Wu leaned against the pavilion pillar, just about to speak, when she saw a figure in green robes emerge from the grove of trees not far away.

Perhaps it was because of his age, the Taoist's hair and beard had all turned white, and long white eyebrows drooped down.

But his face had few wrinkles and was quite ruddy, with excellent complexion.

Especially a pair of eyes, clear and bright, with a kind of compassionate look that sees all.

His left arm rested on a jade-handled floating dust, and his right hand stroked his white beard...

With a look of ethereal elegance and austere dignity, there were simply no other words to describe the old man before them!

Mrs. Wu instinctively straightened her back, and Nanny Sun exclaimed in surprise, "Oh my, how many years has this old immortal lived His eyebrows are a foot long!"

Before Madam Wu could speak, the old Taoist priest addressed them.

“No wonder this place is surrounded by purple Qi, it turns out there are noble people coming and going.”

Having said that, he turned to leave, but just as he took a step, he suddenly turned back, frowning and scrutinizing Mrs. Wu carefully. He furrowed his brow and said in a low voice, "Something's not right, this is a sign of dark clouds obscuring the moon! It's a pity, it's a pity…"ts of Luoyang Academy wouldn't agree!"Wang Zhongyuan still had some pride, and couldn't help but retort, "Young Master Li, no matter how you say it, both shops belong to me and Liu Zhuangguan. What Wa...