The journey from Zhuangzi to the capital would take two to three days at the most. Imperial Censor Wang advocated frugality, so he did not use the soft sedan that Qian Wanli had arranged for them. He only ordered two horse carriages. Jiang Ruan's three chests had already been sold for banknotes. The remaining chest of books was moved onto the horse carriage, which saved a lot of space.
Besides Bai Zhi and Lian Qiao, the accompanying maids, Lu Zhu was also brought along. Before leaving, Lu Zhu volunteered to serve Jiang Ruan. Originally, Jiang Ruan had intended to let Xiao Yuan follow along. These two maids were clever and daring. However, Xiao Yuan was a daughter of the government and was unwilling to leave her parents, so she politely declined Jiang Ruan's good intentions. Jiang Ruan did not insist and left her a sum of money as repayment for her help.
Lu Zhu was a maid bought from outside. After her parents died, she was sold into the hands of human traffickers by relatives. She had traveled extensively and met many people. She was very clever. After a short period of interaction, Bai Zhi and Lian Qiao were already very close to her.
Because of Jiang Ruan and the other womenfolk, Qian Wanli specially arranged for Li Mi and another yamen runner to escort Jiang Ruan back to the capital in order to please Imperial Censor Wang. The journey was peaceful and uneventful. Dewdrop was lively. She talked about the strange things she had seen during her days of traveling with human traffickers. Perhaps she was born optimistic, but what she said was full of interest. She didn't seem depressed at all, but only she knew the sadness in her words. Bai Zhi and Lian Qiao naturally understood. Of the two of them, one was gentle and the other extroverted. The three of them chattered incessantly. Jiang Ruan leaned against the carriage with a book in her hand. She had her own taste.
More than half of the two-day journey had passed. After resting tonight, they would probably reach the capital by noon tomorrow.
Li Mi and another yamen runner, Xiao Ma, followed Imperial Censor Wang in another horse carriage. The sky gradually turned dark. Li Mi heard that there was a temple up ahead. Seeing that it was wilderness everywhere, it would be difficult to find an inn. After asking Jiang Ruan, they decided to stay for the night.
The temple was considered big, but the incense was not very strong. Perhaps because it was deep in the wilderness, there were only a few people and even a few monks.
Bai Zhi and Lian Qiao had not been to a temple for a very long time. When Zhao Mei was still around, she would often bring Jiang Ruan to Putuo Temple to pray for blessings. After Zhao Mei passed away, Jiang Ruan moved to the rural residence and her life became increasingly harsh. She had neither time nor money, and the money spent on incense oil was also money. Asking Bodhisattva for blessings and blessings also had a price.
Lu Zhu was not unfamiliar with temples. While Bai Zhi and Lian Qiao were tidying the house, she had already walked around the temple according to Jiang Ruan an eye and brought back. Lu Zhu was not unfamiliar with temples. While Zhi and Lian Qiao were cleaning, she brought back some vegetarian dishes.
Night had fallen. As Censor Wang, Li Mi and the other two were men, they were arranged to stay on the other side of the temple. Li Mi was a little hesitant, but she thought that her reputation was more important. Although the temple was spacious, they could still make it if anything happened.
Night fell. Imperial Censor Wang, Li Mi, and Lian Qiao were men, so they were arranged to live on the other side of the temple. Li Mi was a little hesitant, but she thought that her reputation was more important. Although the temple was spacious, they could still make it in time if anything happened.
Lian Qiao used a pair of scissors to cut the overgrown wick of the oil lamp. The light appeared brighter. Jiang Ruan put down the book in her hands and rubbed her temples. "Miss, it's so late, shouldn't you rest?" Bai Zhi asked.
In the past, Jiang Ruan would have been resting by this time. But today, she was very energetic and had no intention of collapsing. "Don't worry, there's a good show tonight." Jiang Ruan smiled.
She recalled what she had asked Li Mi in the carriage, "Daren, is this temple the only way back to the capital?"
"Yes," Li Mi replied, "and there's only one temple in the vicinity."
"Lu Zhu," Jiang Ruan replied.
Lu Zhu pushed the door open and entered. Smiling, she said, "It's all done, Miss."
Late at night in the winter, the temple fell into a deathly silence. Only the whimpering of the wind could be heard.
The lights had all been extinguished. Only the pale moonlight of the waning moon shone on the snow-covered ground. In an instant, large dark clouds covered the sky, firmly blocking the faint moonlight. Under the heavens, there was only darkness.
In the darkness, a few sneaky silhouettes suddenly appeared in the courtyard. The silhouettes checked a few rooms and entered one of them in a single file.
All was quiet in the courtyard, except for the sound of a bell or two.
The young girl in the darkness opened her eyes. A trace of coldness flashed through them. She smiled and said softly, "Lian Qiao, Bai Zhi."
The two servant girls nodded, got up, pushed open the door, and walked out.
Jiang Ruan stood in the room. She had already arranged everything in the room next door. She had not slept in that room. She had hidden in the neighboring room for so long. Finally, she had caught a turtle in a jar.
In her previous life, when she had returned to the fu, she had also stayed in a temple like this. Her memory was too vague. She only remembered that the monks and abbot of the temple were extremely harsh on the vegetarian food and the room they slept in. She did not understand why at the time. Now that she thought about it, it must have been the doing of Xia Yan and her daughter. But at that time, they still needed her as a chess piece to enter the palace, so they had only made things difficult for her. Now that she had shaken her body and returned to the Jiang fu with such great fanfare as Gao Yi's di daughter, Xia Yan and Jiang Su Su would not be too happy in their hearts.
On the last day, they would always be obstacles on her way back to the fu. Only this time, what they wanted was her life!
There was no incense left in the temple. She had accepted Xia Yan's money and worked for Xia Yan. With good intentions, she had left a "small number" of monks here. She had also "considerately" considered Jiang Ruan's reputation as a boudoir and separated men and women. If anything happened, she would have no way to seek help and could only suffer alone!
But now, she was an evil spirit that had returned from hell. It had always been her who came to claim lives!
A light bell rang from the room next door. That was a secret signal. Very good. She had placed a large amount of sleeping gas in the room. Lu Zhu had taken the antidote in advance. Once the people sent by Xia Yan entered the room, they would only be at the mercy of others. Early the next morning, she would throw the bodies of these people in front of the Buddha statue in the temple. Li Mi was originally a yamen runner, so it was necessary to investigate clearly. As for how the head monk would explain himself, he would let them justify themselves.
Jiang Ruan straightened her skirt and prepared to open the door to the next room to take a look. Just as she reached the door, it was suddenly pushed open and a figure flashed in from outside. Jiang Ruan was startled and hurriedly retreated a few steps. The other party seemed to have not expected that there would be someone in the room. His movements were slightly sluggish. In a short moment, Jiang Ruan had retreated too quickly and accidentally stepped on the oversized hem of her skirt. She leaned back and was about to fall.
The other party's movements were also fast. Seeing that she was about to fall, he subconsciously reached out and grabbed her waist. In a short moment, their bodies were very close. Jiang Ruan's face touched the other party's ice-cold clothing with black scales. She was stunned. In an instant, the dark clouds receded and the moonlight flooded the window. Jiang Ruan raised her head and met a pair of eyes that were like cold stars.
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