Chapter 871: You Can’t Judge a Book By Its Cover

ranslator: Atlas Studios    Editor: Atlas Studios

A team of guards quickly went up the mountain and guarded both sides of the mountain path. There was a sentry post every ten steps.

Old Madam Sun stepped forward with a smile. “Yesterday, the residence sent someone to the temple. Thousand-Man Commander Yin also sent someone to guard the Dragon Phoenix Temple. The Dragon Phoenix Temple isn’t open to the public today.”

Yin San had received the position of a thousand-man commander and was in charge of the Yu Garden’s guards. He was in charge of Young Miss’s safety and had sent someone to patrol the mountain in advance to guard it for her safety.

Only those invited by Young Miss or with her permission could go up the mountain and enter the temple.

Yu Youyao gently picked up her long skirt and went up the stone steps. “Let’s go up!”

This mountain path was 500 meters long. The mountain path was winding and steep. Yin Shi led the way, and Chun Xiao helped Yu Youyao slowly up the mountain.

After walking for more than 15 minutes, they arrived at the mountainside.

The abbot was waiting at the door with the monks. When he saw Yu Youyao coming over, he clasped his hands together. “Amitabha. The Princess has arrived at our temple to pray for the people. Good job!”

Yu Youyao also placed her palms together in front of her chest and bowed back. “I’m really ashamed to disturb your temple’s cultivation.”

The abbot’s eyebrows did not move as he only said, “Buddha welcomes fated people. How can it not be another round of cultivation? The Dragon Phoenix Temple is just a small temple in the mountains. If there’s anything wrong, I hope the Princess can forgive me.”

Yu Youyao quickly said, “You flatter me. Temples aren’t big or small, and the Buddhist teachings aren’t of high or low status. They’re all places for monks to cultivate, and they’re also places to worship the Buddhas of the various heavens. They also worship the same Bodhisattva. All living creatures are delivered from torment. Only the size of one’s true intentions, not what is in front of them, matters. If one thinks that it is large, it will be boundlessly grand. If one thinks that it’s small, it will be very small.”

The abbot bowed deeply. “You are fated with Buddha. Amitabha!”

The Dragon Phoenix Temple had existed for a long time. After the war, it had been rebuilt and repaired a few times. Although the temple was small, it had an ancient aura.

The temple had prepared a room in the small courtyard, and Madam Huang was waiting at the entrance to receive them.

Madam Huang was wearing a blue jacket dress with a round collar and big sleeves. She had combed her hair into a bun and had a pure gold hairpin inserted diagonally at her temple.

However, she was tall and voluptuous, and her appearance was bright and imposing. Even though she was dressed plainly, it could not hide her beauty.

Seeing Yu Youyao come over, Madam Huang quickly stepped forward with a smile. “I ordered someone to tidy up the room again. Although it’s a little simple, it’s still considered appropriate.”

Huang Wenxian was a trusted aide of King Yue Fei. After Yu Youyao came to Xiangping, Madam Huang was entrusted by her husband to take good care of her.

Therefore, Yu Youyao was also close to her. “Thank you, Madam.”

Madam Huang was a straightforward person, so she immediately rebuked, “Why are you being so polite to me? As long as you don’t mind me being nosy.” At this point, her auspicious phoenix eyes observed Yu Youyao politely and immediately fixed her eyes. “Look at this aura. This is the first time I’ve seen it. As expected of a noble daughter raised by a noble family.”

Just looking at it made Yu Youyao feel terrified. She did not know where to put her hands and feet, and she did not dare to look at Yu Youyao directly.

All the so-called aristocratic women in the North were inferior.

Yu Youyao shook her head. “Madam, you flatter me. I’m young and it’s my first time in Xiangping. I don’t know much about the local customs of Xiangping, and I have many inconveniences. It’s all thanks to Madam’s guidance recently.”

There were many generals in the You army. Yin Huaixi had only asked Huang Wenxian and General An Yuan to come and receive her. It was obvious that these two people were people he trusted. Their families and characters were not bad. They were reliable people.

Madam Huang was generous and straightforward, and she treated everyone with sincerity. Yu Youyao also wanted to befriend her. The two of them chatted and laughed as they entered the small courtyard.

This was a house that had been vacated at the last minute. Although it was simple, it was clean and tidy because it had been cleaned in advance.

At this moment, General Ning Yuan’s wife came over.

She was about the same age as Madam Huang, but Madam Ning was delicate and gentle. She formed a sharp contrast with General Ning Yuan’s ruggedness.

General Ning Yuan was also the first to follow King Li of Zhou. His current achievements were also proposed by King Li of Zhou. Even his marriage was arranged by the princess back then.

General Ning Yuan and Madam Ning had known each other since they were young, and they had an extremely good relationship. They had raised two children and supported each other, which was why General Ning Yuan had his current achievements and status.

As King Li of Zhou set a precedent, there were no concubines at home.

Madam Ning smiled and said, “After entering the temple, we’ll definitely have to go through a lot. The food we had in the morning isn’t enough now. I’ll go to the kitchen of the temple and prepare some snacks and soup. Have some first, lest you go hungry later.”

As soon as she finished speaking, the maidservant behind her brought the wooden tray forward and placed the snacks she had prepared on the table.

There was a plate of pea cakes. She didn’t know how it was made, but the color was orange and beautiful. Just looking at it was appetizing.

The other plate had golden balls the size of a glutinous rice ball. In addition, there was also a bowl of mushroom soup.

Madam Ning’s culinary skills were not bad. During this period of time, she had sent some exquisite snacks to the Yu Garden.

Madam Huang smiled and said, “Princess, you’re in luck. The eldest sister of the Ning family relied on her good culinary skills to teach General Ning Yuan a lesson.”

When she heard this, she knew that they were also close.

Yu Youyao’s smile deepened as she said gratefully, “What a coincidence. I woke up early in the morning and didn’t have a good appetite. I only had some food for breakfast. I’m indeed a little hungry now. Thank you, Madam.”

Madam Ning smiled gently.

Unexpectedly, as soon as she turned around, she rolled her eyes at Madam Huang. “Look, you’re really shameless. You’re saying this in front of an unmarried girl for no reason.” When she spoke, her voice was gentle and soft. Even her words were mellow and moving. “Princess, you might not know this, but Military Advisor Huang is famous for being strict with his wife in our Xiangping City.”

Yu Youyao was stunned again.

Madam Ning seemed to be different from what she had thought?! She had just turned around and said that she was embarrassed, but she had already said that!

It was said that women in the North did not care about trifles. She seemed to understand a little. If this were in the capital, Madam Huang and Madam Ning would not have said this in front of her.

However, this attitude did not seem to reflect the character of an elder at all. Instead, it was as if they were on the same level.

Madam Huang pinched her handkerchief and continued to smile. “The eldest sister of the Ning family is a hero among women. She can carry a crescent knife that weighs 80 kilograms with one hand and chase General Ning Yuan all over the city.”

Yu Youyao was dumbfounded. Only then did she remember that Madam Ning’s father and brother were both in the army, and her father was a hundred-man commander.

Was this fate?!

However, Madam Ning had thin arms and legs, and she exuded the delicate and gentle aura of a Jiangnan woman. No matter how she looked at it, she did not look like she would chase after someone with a big knife.

Or was it really true that one couldn’t judge a book by its cover?

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