Proud Feather

Chapter 12 Invitation
Tian Huier, niece of Concubine Tian Shu, cousin of the second prince.

Because the Crown Prince and the Second Prince are close, the Tian family and the Feng family have a good relationship, and Chu Ling also treats them like cousins.

It must be said that Concubine Tian Shu was a very clever person. She always treated herself as the Empress's maid, and the Tian family always put the Feng family first. The Feng family only had a few orphans and widows left. Being courteous not only earned her a good reputation, but also cost nothing. Where else could she find such a good opportunity?

As for Tian Huier...

Chu Ling shook the plain paper in her hand. She had only been at the Anguo Mansion for two days when she received a letter from Tian Huier, inviting her to attend a sutra lecture at the Dahuai Temple.

The prince had just passed away, and for six months she was forbidden from feasting or having fun, but was allowed to burn incense. Tian Huier wrote in a letter that she knew she was heartbroken, so she invited her to go to Dahuai Temple to listen to the Zen master's lectures and pray for the prince.

"A Ling, do you want to go?" Feng Lingwei asked.

Chu Ling asked back: "Do you want to go?"

Feng Lingwei said innocently, "Let's go! Even if listening to the sutras is boring, it's better than being locked up in the house. Besides, the vegetarian food at Dahuai Temple is pretty good..."

As she spoke, she sucked her saliva, which made Chu Ling laugh.

For teenage girls, listening to sutras is really boring. In the past, they would only go with their elders when they had no other choice. But now, it has become one of their few pastimes.

When Feng Lingzhen asked her two cousins again, she had indeed refused. She felt she might as well stay home and practice her skills after hearing those old monks humming and humming.

Feng Lingyi hesitated for a moment and said, "If you go, I'll go too."

Chu Ling knew why her second cousin was acting like that. It was because she and her third cousin were being too naughty. She felt she had to go and see what was happening.

But Chu Ling didn't want her to follow, so she said, "Second cousin, I recently got a recipe for making incense. It's said that it can last for three days. Do you want to try it?"

Feng Lingyi was most interested in these things, her eyes lit up: "Really? Could it be a secret recipe from the palace? Can it be passed on to others?"

"What I give you is yours. If you have any problems, ask someone to come to me!" Chu Ling raised her chin and showed the aura of a domineering princess.

Feng Lingyi thought about it and agreed. What's wrong with the secret recipe in the palace? Who would dare to say anything bad about the princess?
So when Chu Ling told her the recipe, she was eager to try it.

Chu Ling took the opportunity to say, "Second cousin, please make more. I'm already out. It would be troublesome to ask Qiu Niang to send the monster away."

Feng Lingyi readily agreed.

But the next day, she discovered a problem. One of the herbs in the incense making process was time-consuming and required constant supervision, and she was hesitant to let anyone else do it.

Chu Ling said sympathetically, "Second cousin, you can stay at home. Ling Wei and I will go. Don't worry, we won't cause any trouble. How could I have the heart to cause trouble right now?"

Her expression was gloomy, and Feng Lingyi felt guilty. Yes, something happened to her cousin, the Crown Prince, and A Ling was so sad. It was great that she was willing to go out and relax. How could she doubt her?

When the Duke's wife heard this, she hesitated. "How can you two children survive without an adult? How about I go with you?"

Feng Lingwei interrupted, "Mom! Tian Huier went with her eldest sister, they're of the same generation, it would be inappropriate for you to go!"

"This..." Tian Hui'er had an older sister who was widowed and often went to the temple to burn incense. Feng Lingwei was right. Originally, it was just the youngest daughter who had made a private appointment. If the Duke's wife went, it would be a bit of a big deal.

Finally, the old lady spoke up, "Let them go! The child is old enough to know what's right and wrong. Besides, A Ling is surrounded by palace maids and guards. Who would dare to offend her?"

That's true. The Dahuai Temple is right in the city, and there are Jinwu Guards everywhere.

So, Chu Ling took Feng Lingwei out.

When they arrived at Dahuai Temple, the two got off the car and saw a girl standing under the big locust tree at the entrance, waving at them.

"Princess! Lingwei!" Tian Huier looks somewhat similar to Concubine Tian Shu, but her face is rounder, making her look lively and likable.

She ran over quickly, grabbed the two girls' hands, and said happily: "I haven't seen you for many days. Are you all okay? Princess, I heard that you fainted. Are you feeling better now? I wanted to go see you, but my mother said that the palace is so busy and I shouldn't cause trouble. Later, when I learned that you went to the Anguo Mansion, I couldn't help but write a letter..." She looked at Chu Ling sincerely, her face full of concern.

Chu Ling smiled slightly and said, "I'm fine! A lot of things have happened these days, and I don't know how to tell you."

Tian Hui'er looked sympathetic and held her hand. "I understand. It's so unfortunate to encounter such a thing. The prince is such a kind person and treats us all like his own sisters. When I heard the news that day, I cried at home. Alas, if I could choose, I would rather it was me who got into trouble."

As she spoke, she raised her hand to wipe away her tears.

Feng Lingwei hurriedly said, "Stop, stop, Ah Ling is feeling better now, don't make her cry!"

Tian Huier smiled sheepishly and apologized to Chu Ling: "I'm sorry, Princess, I won't mention these things anymore. Today we will only talk about Buddhism, and at most we can talk about vegetarian food."

Chu Ling nodded.

When the three of them entered, the abbot of Dahuai Temple came to greet them personally with a respectful attitude and proper etiquette.

"Master, you are so polite. My mind is restless and I have nowhere else to go, so I have no choice but to come and disturb the Buddha."

Zen Master Dingzhi bowed quickly and said, "This is a blessing from our temple. I couldn't ask for more."

Chu Ling told him the truth: "I really have no interest in preaching, I just want to find an excuse to come out. Master, just keep preaching, we can do as we please."

“…” Zen Master Dingzhi dared not object and could only agree.

So he went to preach to Tian Huier's widow, and the three little girls wandered around the temple.

Tian Huier asked, "Lingwei, how's Jiujiu? Have you treated him well?"

Jiujiu was the talking bird. Feng Lingwei replied, "Of course not. It's really hurt me."

"Really? What did it do?"

"It called my mother over and tricked me several times. Then one time I got angry and scolded it, and then my mother really came and said I was playing instead of doing my homework, so she punished me."

Tian Huier laughed out loud: "You are so miserable."

Chu Ling was also amused because Feng Lingwei wanted to roast the bird because of this incident, but was scolded by her aunt again. It was not until she swore that she would not delay her studies that the bird was returned to her.

As the three of them were talking, they walked to the main hall in front.

Chu Ling had come in disguise and had not asked anyone to clean up the Zen temple. At this moment, people were coming and going, and the temple was extremely prosperous.

Tian Hui'er remembered something and pulled Chu Ling aside. "Oh, right, Princess. I heard there's a monk hanging up his head at the Dahuai Temple. He's very accurate in interpreting divinations. Should we go get a fortune too?"

finally come.

Chu Ling looked up.

"What's wrong?" Tian Huier was a little panicked when she looked at her.

Chu Ling smiled slightly: "I haven't even asked for a signature."

Tian Huier breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile: "The princess's fate is the best even if it doesn't need to be calculated. It's just for fun!"

Chu Ling seemed to be casual: "Okay, let's go have some fun!"

(End of this chapter)