Pure Path Temple is the National Temple, located two hours away from the Capital. Most noble families send soone ahead to book a vegetarian room, only then can they visit. On ordinary days or major festivals, Pure Path Temple closes its doors to welco only the royal family and nobility.
Although Dingyuan Marquis Mansion now enjoys prominence in the Capital, when traveling, they don’t use many carriages either. Up front sits the masters, while the blue canopy carriage at the back carries maids and older female servants, and young male servants and guards are positioned around them, making them look like an ordinary family heading out for incense offerings.
On the eighth day of August, already into September, the weather has cooled down. Lin Youding is dressed in a green front-fastened blouse, with a long white high-collared skirt beneath it, still with her hair tied in buns. Because they were going out, her usual white fluffy flower hairpiece has been replaced with a plum blossom carved from white jade.
A small person leaned against Mrs. Gu Sr.’s embrace. Initially, the street was quiet on both sides. Dingyuan Marquis Mansion is located in the eastern market area, a place mostly inhabited by high-ranking officials and noble families, which explains the wide and tranquil streets without vendors selling goods. But once they ventured out from East Market to Cross Street, through the carriage curtains, they could hear the street cries, and the outside suddenly beca lively.
Having lived two lifetis, Lin Youning in her past life focused only on earning money to support the family, lifting the big house of Gu Mansion, and paid little attention to roadside scenery. Living again in this life, hearing these cries didn’t make Lin Youning feel noisy; instead, she found them familiar and full of vitality.
She shifted slightly, prompting Mrs. Gu Sr. to smile and speak, "Is there anything you want to buy? Hold on, I rember there’s a sugar figurine shop near the city gate. They’ve been honing their craft for generations; I loved their sugar figurines when I was young. I’ve already told your Second Brother to hurry ahead and choose a few for you."
Lin Youning was initially intrigued, but upon hearing Gu Yixuan’s na, she instantly lost interest. "Auntie enjoyed them as a child, so I will give the ones my Second Brother buys to Auntie."
"Clever little rascal." Mrs. Gu Sr. was delighted upon hearing this and tapped Lin Youning’s nose.
When the carriage passed through the city gate, the curtain was raised from the outside, and Gu Yixuan, riding a horse, held up two sugar figurines, one molded as a monkey climbing a mountain and the other as a blooming peony, neither of which Lin Youning liked.
"Your Second Brother bought them for you, quickly take them," Mrs. Gu Sr. urged from the side.
Although Lin Youning was displeased, she still thanked politely and accepted them. Then she returned the peony figurine. "Sister Kong likes peonies, so let Second Brother give this one to Sister Kong."
The carriage shook as Mrs. Gu Sr. hesitated, her gaze fixating on her son. Though seemingly indifferent, her look made Gu Yixuan uncomfortable. "I thought the peony looked nice, so I bought it casually. Little sister, hold onto it; your Sister Kong doesn’t like sweet things."
At this mont, Gu Yixuan was still sowhat immature. If he truly wasn’t guilty, he wouldn’t need to explain.
His explanation eased Lin Youning’s mind; she was waiting for this. If Gu Yixuan hadn’t explained, her earlier act would’ve been in vain.
As long as this piqued Mrs. Gu Sr.’s suspicion, it was satisfactory.
Lin Youning decided to be conciliatory, "Then little sister thanks Second Brother."
She coquettishly held the sugar-molded peony to Mrs. Gu Sr.’s lips, "Auntie, eat."
Mrs. Gu Sr. withdrew her gaze from her son, feigning discontent, "You thought of your Sister Kong first, then Auntie; Auntie doesn’t dare eat this."
Two dimples appeared on Lin Youning’s cheeks, her small canine teeth exceptionally cute. "Auntie told this morning to keep Second Brother happy; I know Second Brother likes Sister Kong."
This amused Mrs. Gu Sr., who playfully pinched her nose, "Alright, alright, our little sister is the most sensible. Hurry and eat the sugar figurine before it lts."
After instructing, she called Suyi to co help tidy Lin Youning.
Well-behaved, Lin Youning let Suyi carry her to sit by the window on the other side of the carriage, licking the sugar figurine slowly, her mouth tasting sweet while her heart felt bitter.
On the other side, Mrs. Gu Sr.’s smile also faded. Last night Mrs. Dong spoke of Duke Mansion’s matters, which worried her considerably. Today, seeing her son’s actions further displeased Mrs. Gu Sr. In large noble families, status is always significant; her son’s interactions with Sister Ru seed to suggest a private connection.
Pure Path Temple is the largest temple in the nation, spanning over a hundred acres. The Grand Hall sits halfway up the mountain facing north, and the southern facades host the Heavenly King Hall and the Great Treasure Hall. The rear shrine houses Guanyin, Samantabhadra, and Manjushri. Guest rooms are located on the east and west sides of the complex.
They disembarked from the carriage at the foot of the mountain, needing to walk up winding stone steps, carved from stone slabs, stretching to the mountain gate. With a sunhat placed on her head by Suyi, Lin Youning refused assistance from an approaching female servant, insisting on ascending alone. Knowing Mrs. Gu Sr. always pampered her, she agreed but warned her to call for help if she felt unwell or fatigued.
Lin Youning pledged readily, while Gu Yixuan teased from behind, "Little sister, don’t cry from exhaustion later."
"Hmph, even if Second Brother cries, I won’t." Displeased with him, Lin Youning retorted imdiately.
However, she is ultimately a five-year-old child, and this tone with her petite deanor amused everyone.
Gu Yixuan’s teasing of little sister eased the tension between his mother and him. Freed from the awkwardness, he glanced up, exclaiming, "Is the man standing with older brother General Xu?"
Xu Kuan?
Lin Youning looked directly over.
Compared to her mories of his mature self, Xu Kuan looked more tender now, reflecting his youth.
Her gaze slightly shifted, revealing Gu Yifeng clad in white silken robes, hands casually crossed behind his back. Despite his slender build, in contrast to the stout and standard military general Xu Kuan, Gu Yifeng resembled a scholarly gentleman adorned with elegance, lacking any semblance of a blood-and-iron general feared by foreign tribes at the borders.
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