Did Miss become a nun today?

For several days in a row, Xie Yun Chu slept well, her complexion became rosy, and she even ate half a bowl more of rice.

When Granny Li was combing her hair, she suddenly exclaimed, "Oh dear, what's wrong with Miss's neck?"

She reached out and touched it, but there was nothing there.

"It's probably because you're a restless sleeper and it hurts. It's nothing to worry about."

But Granny Li stared at the red mark; no matter how she looked at it, it seemed like it had been...

But she dared not say it, fearing that she might have misread it and frighten the young lady instead.

After tidying up, Xie Yun Chu sat at the table as usual, reading scriptures, when the doorbell rang.

"Young lady, I've brought you a brazier."

Granny Li quickly opened the door, and the shopkeeper called to several employees behind him to bring in the brazier.

There was only one brazier before, but three more were added today, making four braziers in the room, which instantly warmed it up.

Before she could ask, the shopkeeper smiled and said, "These are all top-quality red charcoal, the best charcoal in Changning. Miss, you've suffered these past few days."

Xie Yun Chu returned the greeting, "Shopkeeper, you're too kind. May I ask how much silver these braziers cost?"

"What are you saying, Miss? This is what our shop should do; how could we accept your money?"

So thoughtful? This is red charcoal, which is very expensive even in the capital.

"Are there guests in other rooms too?"

"Yes, yes, we have everything. Our guests have suffered a lot here, so this is naturally compensation."

Although she didn't believe it, she accepted it anyway, as the room was just too cold.

Later, I asked Granny Li to inquire and see if the other rooms were in the same situation as hers.

Li Mama returned shortly afterward. "Don't worry, Miss. I went to ask, and it's the same for everyone. They have everything we have."

Xie Yun Chu was greatly shocked. What kind of family could afford to compensate their guests with red charcoal?

But since everyone else had some, she didn't think much of it.

The waiter outside listened for a moment and then went downstairs. The manager hurriedly asked, "How did it go?"

"Don't worry, shopkeeper, Miss Xie believes you and has no suspicions."

The shopkeeper breathed a sigh of relief. He was smart enough to know that Miss Xie wouldn't believe him, so he spent some money to smooth things over; otherwise, the truth would have been exposed.

Today he sent three more braziers to Miss Xie. If the young master knew, he would surely be pleased.

The shopkeeper walked happily to the counter, started working on the abacus, and hummed a little tune.

With four braziers, the room was no longer cold, and even a little warm, so I started to feel sleepy.

Xie Yun Chu had wanted to take a nap after lunch, but couldn't because she was cold. Today, after eating, she fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow and slept for almost an hour.

Granny Li brought in some pastries. "Miss, are you awake? Are you hungry? Would you like some snacks?"

"The shops on the street are all closed lately, so where are we going to get pastries?"

"The shopkeeper said that they had hired a new chef and that this was freshly made, so he gave some to this old servant for the young lady to try."

"Does everyone else have it too?"

"Don't worry, Miss, it's not just for us. Everyone who comes across it today gets a share."

Xie Yun Chu pinched a piece; it was soft, sweet, and fragrant, somewhat similar to the taste she had eaten at the Marquis's residence.

He only ate two pieces and refused to eat any more.

Monks should not indulge in gluttony; it is enough to not go hungry. They must constantly restrain themselves, otherwise they are prone to breaking the precepts.

Cultivation can be practiced both outside the world and in the mortal realm.

We must not forget our identity.

Xie Yun Chu gathered the remaining snacks, pushed them to the corner of the table, gave them all to Granny Li, and then opened the Buddhist scriptures.

The warm and cozy room was so comfortable that I read the words in the scripture line by line, but after reading three lines, I went back and started reading again. I couldn't even turn a single page in a long time.

She simply closed the book, leaned back in her chair, and stared blankly at the roof beams.

The four braziers burned brightly, and the heat from the red charcoal spread evenly, melting most of the frost flowers that had formed on the window paper, leaving watermarks.

She curled her fingers; her fingertips were warm, unlike the stiff, frozen fingers of the past few days.

It felt so good that it made her a little flustered.

On her journey south, she stayed in drafty nunneries, slept on hard wooden beds, and her food and drink were not always hot.

But after only a few days, it's easy to get too lazy if you're too comfortable.

She got up, walked to the window, and pushed it open a crack to look outside.

The snow was still falling outside, and there weren't many people around; only a few people were walking away quickly with their sleeves tucked in and heads down.

A cold wind swept in, and she shivered, which made her mind clearer.

Granny Li quickly closed the door. "My dear young lady, it's cold outside. Changing between hot and cold is the easiest way to get sick."

After a while in the cool breeze, I was no longer sleepy or tired, so I picked up the scriptures again to read.

She stared at it for the entire afternoon. When she came to her senses, it was already dark outside. Granny Li came in and lit the lamp. "Miss, take a rest. Don't strain your eyes."

She stretched, feeling refreshed.

When Granny Li brought in dinner in the evening, she also brought a plate of pastries, different from those from the daytime. She asked, "Are there new pastries again?"

"I heard that a distinguished guest has moved into the inn. He's particular and picky, and he wants new pastries every day. That's why the kitchen is always stocking them up."

Xie Yun Chu only ate two pieces before asking the nanny to give the rest to the children outside.

Granny Li paused for a moment, then muttered as she carried the food away, "The young lady only ate two pieces herself, and she's already wasting them."

"How can a monk indulge in gluttony?"

Leaving it for them is more virtuous than letting it go into her stomach.

After finishing her meal, she went downstairs and looked for the innkeeper.

The shopkeeper immediately came forward, "Miss Xie, you could have just let me know if there was anything you needed. There was no need for you to come down here in person."

"I'd like to ask the shopkeeper for a favor."

"Please speak."

Xie Yun Chu actually just wanted to find out about Zhao Ming Yue; she hadn't sent her any messages in a long time, and she felt uneasy.

It's so cold and chaotic outside. Although I know Zhao Mingyue is better than her, I'm still worried about a young girl.

Upon hearing this, the shopkeeper immediately agreed, "Don't worry, Miss, I will send someone tomorrow and report to you as soon as I have any news."

Thank you.

As he spoke, he handed over some silver coins.

The shopkeeper quickly waved his hand, "It's nothing, how could I accept the young lady's money?"

If he accepts this silver today, that young master will skin him alive tomorrow.

The shopkeeper absolutely refused to accept it, so she had no choice but to take it back.

Back upstairs, I quickly washed up before going to bed.

I sleep a lot during the day, but at night I toss and turn in bed and can't fall asleep no matter what.

I finally felt sleepy, but the more I slept, the hotter I felt.

As I drifted off to sleep, that suffocating feeling from the past few days returned.

It was cold inside then, and being bound like this would keep her warmer, but today it's hot inside, and she can't breathe because of the constriction.

She struggled several times, but the force wouldn't go away. She muttered in dissatisfaction and kicked him.

The pressure on her waist finally subsided, and she found a comfortable position and fell asleep again.

The man beside her was stunned for a while, then chuckled softly, gently pulled her over, and let her rest her head on his shoulder.

Afraid of waking her, I didn't dare to pull too hard, so I just gently embraced her and kissed her lips.

"Yun Chu, wouldn't you be pleasantly surprised to see me beside you when you wake up?"