In front of Hanshan Temple.

Ancient trees towered toward the heavens, their canopies a tapestry of dark pines and lush cypresses.

When Ji Qingwu alighted from her carriage, she immediately drew the gazes of numerous worshipers.

Her begonia-red dress had been utterly ruined by Emperor Wu Su, so she had changed into a vivid, crimson gown of silk gauze, patterned with iridescent peonies.

This outfit was even more alluring than yesterday’s. As she stood there, her gauze skirt seemed to float like mist.

Ji Qingwu’s attire was bright and bewitching, yet her expression was anything but frivolous. She walked into the temple, each step like treading on a dense crimson cloud.

Unlike on the streets the day before, most of the worshipers here were the female members of various households, all dressed in simple and elegant attire.

When this splash of bright color suddenly appeared in the crowd, all eyes were drawn to her. Among them, the madams and young misses from respectable noble families looked down on Ji Qingwu’s display.

Lan Zhi felt uncomfortable under the crowd’s contemptuous stares.

The little maid worried Ji Qingwu couldn’t bear such looks, so she whispered to comfort her, "Fifth Missy, they must be acting so disrespectfully because they see how outstandingly beautiful you are."

Ji Qingwu’s gaze swept over the people sizing her up, and a poised, natural smile bloomed on her face instead.

She said, "It’s alright. Let them look however they want. It’s not as if I’ll lose anything from it."

Ji Qingwu walked to the imposing stone lion by the entrance and gazed at the winding path down the mountain. "Besides, this is exactly the effect I wanted. I was more afraid they *wouldn’t* look."

On the path, several dark purple carriages could be seen heading this way.

Ji Qingwu’s lips curled. "Lan Zhi, let’s go in first."

The two arrived at the Great Hero Hall, where Lan Zhi laid out a prayer cushion for her. Gazing at the God Buddhas filling the hall, Ji Qingwu knelt and pressed her palms together.

She prayed silently, ’May my journey here be a success, and may my wish be granted.’

Before long, the abbot personally welcomed a group of people in. At the head was an old madam in magnificent dark purple robes. She was nearly seventy, but her back was still ramrod straight, and her presence was imposing.

Following behind her were the female members of her family, old nannies, and maids—about twenty or so people in total.

When Madam Wei entered the main hall, she immediately spotted the vividly colored figure, and her brow furrowed in displeasure.

The old madam had a sharp eye. Just from the girl’s back, she could tell that her aura was extraordinary; she didn’t seem like a courtesan from a brothel.

Still, she was displeased. ’I wonder which family this girl belongs to, dressing so gaudily and behaving with such impropriety. She has no respect for God Buddha.’

Ordinarily, Madam Wei might have offered a few words of reprimand, but she was at her wit’s end over her wretched grandson and had no energy to meddle in others’ affairs.

Then, she heard the young woman murmuring softly.

"I pray to Buddha for his blessing, that my beloved and I can marry soon, and that his family’s elders will agree to it."

’So, she’s praying for marriage.’

’But dressed so indecently, what respectable family would ever welcome such a woman as a daughter-in-law?’

A young woman following behind Madam Wei started gossiping with the person next to her: "What proper young lady has a ’beloved’? She’s probably just a social climber with crooked intentions."

Madam Wei pretended not to hear and calmed her mind.

Nanny Pan had already set out the prayer cushions and offerings and was about to hand a stick of incense to Madam Wei.

Just then, Ji Qingwu slowly rose to her feet. With elegant movements, she placed her incense into the burner, and a thin wisp of smoke curled gently upward.

When she turned around, her gaze met Madam Wei’s.

Ji Qingwu’s lips curled into a faint smile at the old madam. Upon seeing her face clearly, displeasure surfaced on the other woman’s tranquil expression.

’Mrs. Qiao told me that this Madam Wei is extremely strict about rules and etiquette.’

With Wei Ting away from Lin’an for all these years, all matters of the Wei Family, big and small, were left to the old madam’s decision.

Throughout her life, what Madam Wei disliked most were bewitching, frivolous, and wanton women.

Ji Qingwu had deliberately caused a stir on the streets yesterday precisely for this moment—to meet this very Madam Wei.

’Wei Ting might disregard my wishes, but would he dare disobey his own grandmother? She’s over seventy, and her word is law in the family.’

A dark glint flashed in the depths of Ji Qingwu’s eyes, and her smile grew even more brilliant. Through the curling incense smoke, her features were as vivid as a flower demon from a painting.

She curved her seductive red lips and deliberately put on a high, syrupy voice. "Greetings, Madam Wei."

Nanny Pan, who was beside Madam Wei, stepped forward. "Miss, our madam still needs to pay her respects to the Buddha. If you have no other business, please step aside."

The words were superficially polite, but the meaning was clear: she was an eyesore and in the way.

Ji Qingwu moved to the side without making a fuss.

She glanced at her maid, and Lan Zhi nodded back at her.

Ji Qingwu crooked a finger, and mistress and servant exchanged a silent signal. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

Lan Zhi exited the hall first. Ji Qingwu followed slowly, swaying her hips with such grace that she resembled a beautiful and mesmerizing water snake.

The unmarried young ladies of the Wei Family blushed in shame at her behavior, silently cursing her for her indecency.

Besides, what kind of maid exited before her mistress? Clearly, they thought, this was no young lady from a proper family.

Just as Ji Qingwu reached the entrance, several men came running toward her.

These men were each unique in their own way.

There was a young master with peach-blossom eyes holding a bouquet of wildflowers he had just picked from the temple entrance, and a country bumpkin holding up a heart-shaped rock.

There was also a frail-looking scholar, holding a handful of trite love poems and spouting classical prose at her...

"Miss Ji, do you like these flowers? I, this young master, picked them with my own hands. I guarantee they’re fresh. Only something so tender and fresh is worthy of your beauty."

The swarthy, gleaming bumpkin said, "Miss Ji, look at me! This stone has a grand history! It’s my family heirloom, and its heart shape represents my own heart."

The young master with peach-blossom eyes spat. "What’s that sour, stinky smell coming from your rock? Don’t sicken the young miss with that stench! Get it away from here!"

The bumpkin reluctantly moved the rock, which he had just pulled out of a pickle jar, a little further away.

The pale-faced scholar gazed at her with deep affection.

"’A beauty there is, unforgettable at first sight. A day without seeing her drives me mad with longing.’ Ever since I first saw you yesterday, my love for you has taken deep root."

...

Ji Qingwu quickly waved Lan Zhi over.

Lan Zhi, who had been watching the entertaining scene from the side, came over and asked, "What is it, Fifth Missy? Are they not performing well?"

Ji Qingwu ordered in a low voice, "Later, deduct some money from that big dark fellow holding the rock. Who gave him permission to improvise?"

The rock’s stench was making her eyes water and her stomach turn.

Lan Zhi suppressed a laugh and stepped aside.

Outside the hall’s entrance, it was ridiculously lively.

Inside the Great Hero Hall, no one dared to make a sound.

Madam Wei seemed not to have heard the commotion outside. Her eyelids were closed and her face was serene as she conveyed her prayers to God Buddha.

Afterward, Nanny Pan carefully helped her up. Madam Wei smoothed the wrinkles on her clothes before walking unhurriedly to the entrance of the hall.

Ji Qingwu was holding a bouquet of wildflowers in both hands, listening to the scholar recite lines he had plagiarized from who-knows-where. The corner of her mouth twitched.

’For a moment,’ she thought, ’I actually understand Wei Ting...’

From behind Ji Qingwu came the sound of Madam Wei’s voice.