The young lady is delicate and soft, yet she criticizes the powerful minister for bowing and scrapin

Qi Yunli saw from afar that Ru Feng was walking downhill from the direction of the temple halfway up the mountain.

Her heart sank; this was completely different from the time she had planned.

Wei Jun was busy with official duties and would return to the court to complete his business after burning incense. This was also the case last year, and he would not linger.

She planned to find Shen Junshan after Wei Jun left, and had Tingyue design a heroic rescue scene so that the old lady could see Shen Junshan's appearance in person.

The old lady nodded in agreement, and soon rumors would spread that the Marquis's cousin and the ninth-rank registrar had fallen in love at first sight.

But then her cousins ​​caused trouble, and Shen Junshan had to appear earlier than expected to protect her.

While the Zhao couple were still rolling on the ground, Ru Feng, accompanied by several servants from the Marquis's mansion, quickly passed through the monks.

"How dare you harass Miss Zhao!" Ru Feng, carrying the imposing aura of Wei Jun, spoke, and the cries of the Zhao couple ceased.

Ru Feng gave a signal to the servants behind him, and four of them immediately stepped forward. With swift movements, they pinned the Zhao couple down before they could react. Zhao tried to cry out, but a servant covered her mouth with a rag, only allowing her to make muffled whimpering sounds.

"Miss, you've been frightened," Ru Feng said respectfully.

Qi Yunli's face turned pale and she did not respond. Ru Feng's respectful act was just for show for outsiders.

He hadn't been so obsequious when he called her to Jingchen Courtyard late at night before.

With Tingyue's support, Qi Yunli slowly walked back towards the meditation room. Behind her, Rufeng took out a small ingot of silver from his sleeve and threw it in front of the two of them.

"Consider this money as your medical expenses. Now that Miss Biao is living in the Marquis's residence, she is a member of the Marquis's family. How dare you provoke her? If there is a next time, it won't be as simple as just kicking you out. You'll be arrested and imprisoned by the officials!"

The Zhao couple trembled all over. The servants of the Marquis's mansion spoke harshly, and when they heard that they were going to report to the authorities, they were even more terrified. They never expected that the people of the Marquis's mansion would actually consider Qi Yunli as one of them. They could only nod frantically.

"roll!"

Ru Feng roared from behind, but Qi Yunli didn't turn around to look at the Zhao family members.

"Thank you for saving me, young master. We are complete strangers, and you have been beaten for no reason," Qi Yunli said apologetically.

She deliberately kept a distance from Shen Junshan, and the two stood facing each other without exchanging glances.

Shen Junshan wanted to meet her eyes, to see the gratitude or love in them, but she kept avoiding him.

There was no one else between them, and Qi Yunli's words were full of distance and politeness, which made Shen Junshan worry.

"It was just a small favor."

Qi Yunli curtsied to express her gratitude, then pursed her lips and turned to leave.

All of this was observed by Wei Jun, who was still standing beside the old lady, his aura of hostility emanating from him.

Qi Yunli was being harassed. At first, when she saw them, she wanted to tear the two shameless couple to pieces. But when she saw the man blocking her way, her anger intensified and choked her chest, making her very uncomfortable and unable to calm down.

"Grandmother," Qi Yunli said, bowing her head with a guilty expression, "I'm sorry to have disturbed your peace. I don't know why they found this place..."

The old lady was a shrewd woman; she had experienced countless power struggles within the inner quarters.

"It's alright, Guanyin Bodhisattva won't mind."

Wei Jun suddenly spoke up, casually asking, "Does my cousin know that person?"

The lie was too obvious; Wei Jun had already seen him pick up the veil.

"I've met him once or twice, and I only know his surname." Qi Yunli's hand clenched the handkerchief in her sleeve, her palms sweating.

"Grandma said you have someone you like, and your cousin thought it was him. If it really is him, your cousin can help you check him out."

Qi Yunli froze. "It wasn't him, cousin. Please stop teasing me."

Wei Ruowei couldn't stand it anymore: "Brother, please don't pry into a woman's feelings. Ah Li is already shy!"

The old lady nodded in agreement, then looked at Shen Junshan: "Nian'an, Fourth Sister said that young master is also an official in the court. Judging from his righteous and awe-inspiring appearance, with a little guidance, he might be able to be of use to me."

A smile flashed across Wei Jun's cold face. "Grandmother, that's exactly what I was thinking. I'd like to invite him over for my birthday as well."

"It's only right, they saved Ah Li," the old lady said.

In officialdom, it's never a solo effort, but rather a mutual support system. With such a promising talent right in front of her, the old lady hoped that Wei Jun would cherish it.

Qi Yunli's brow twitched. Wei Jun wouldn't do anything unnecessary; his invitation to Young Master Shen still showed he didn't trust her.

The maid Wenshu reported, "Madam, Young Master, Miss Qin has arrived, and Young Master Qin has come along as well."

"Alright." The old lady smiled, her eyes crinkling with laughter. "Nian'an, go and chat with Xue'er. Don't talk about business with Wenchang."

Wei Jun gave a curt reply and left.

"This child is getting colder as he gets older." The old lady huddled up. She was getting old and longed for a house full of children and grandchildren, but the second branch of the family was disappointing, and now there were fewer and fewer children and grandchildren around her. She felt quite lonely.

"Grandmother." Three people walked in from the direction of the mountain gate. Wei Chu and his three younger sisters came together.

The old lady's dim eyes suddenly cleared a little: "What are you doing...?"

"I miss my grandmother," Wei Ruolan said with a smile. "My parents aren't here, and they're worried that my grandmother would feel uncomfortable seeing them."

The old lady suppressed her emotions and deliberately turned away, saying, "Now that you're here, you should offer incense outside. You shouldn't participate in offering incense at the Marquis's residence."

Wei Ruolan's smile faltered slightly, but she still agreed.

When the temple bell rang, the auspicious time had arrived. Everyone moved to the Mahavira Hall, which was properly arranged. Five prayer cushions were arranged in four rows, and the statue of Guanyin Bodhisattva sat on a lotus pedestal with a compassionate face. Incense smoke curled from the table.

The presiding monk, holding ritual implements, chanted sutras and offered blessings. The elderly lady, holding three incense sticks, clasped her hands together and prayed.

May the Marquis's mansion be peaceful and tranquil, may his descendants be healthy and strong, and may his family prosper.

After the prayer was finished, the old lady placed the incense in the incense burner and bowed deeply.

The people of the Marquis's residence sat upright on prayer cushions, listening to the abbot and other eminent monks continue chanting Buddhist scriptures.

Qi Yunli sat in the last row, glancing distractedly at Wei Jun's figure for a while.

The windows in the main hall let in drafts and a few rays of sunlight, making the tall, upright figure in front of him stand out.

He had clearly shown anger in front of the old lady just now, so she was on tenterhooks, afraid that the old lady would notice his emotions and then suspect her.

But at this moment, he was sitting on the prayer cushion, his back straight and upright, his lips slightly pursed as he prayed earnestly.

The calmer things seemed, the more uneasy Qi Yunli felt.

Is he simply too disdainful to argue with her, or has he calmed down, or... is he plotting an even bigger storm?

Qi Yunli was overwhelmed with unresolved thoughts. She closed her eyes and prayed fervently to Guanyin Bodhisattva in her heart:

If the Bodhisattva truly grants my wish, please grant me a quick and easy journey to find someone with whom I can spend my life. I don't ask for his love or his immense power; I only ask for a life free from constraints.

This humble woman does not seek wealth or fame, but only wishes to live the rest of her life free from the control of others and to live a peaceful life with her younger brother.

I pray to the Bodhisattva to grant my wish.

What others consider the simplest form of freedom, she had to pray for and search for desperately.

After the prayer, the tears in Qi Yunli's eyes slowly faded. She quietly raised her eyes, feeling somewhat tired sitting on the prayer mat.

Behind her, people unrelated to the Marquis's residence were praying outside the door. Among them, Qi Yunli heard a light, cheerful female voice call out:

"Young Master Lin, are you here to pray too?"

"Well, I've heard that the Marquis's residence comes here every year, so I'd like to join in the fun this year too," Lin Yue said.

Lin Yue is the third young master of the Duke of Wen's mansion, as mentioned in Wei Ruochun's letter.

Who is he here for? The second wife has already been kicked out, yet he is still willing to take Wei Ruochun as a concubine?