Born of the Second Wife

Chapter 14

The next day was a rest day, and Lord Yu didn't have to go to court. Lady Wang managed to obtain Lord Yu's consent by offering to keep Concubine Wen company for a day, allowing Concubine Wen and her daughter to go to Baiyun Temple for fasting and purification.

After Yu Xinlan and the others paid their respects, Lady Wang gave the order, "You two siblings should fast and purify yourselves for seven days so that you can pay your respects to the ancestors during the Qingming Festival. However, since Ruige'er has to go to school, Concubine Wen will take his place. They will set off for Baiyun Temple tomorrow."

Yu Xinlan was puzzled. They could fast and purify themselves in the mansion just as well. Why did they have to come to Baiyun Mountain? And even if they came here, why stay in a temple instead of a nunnery?

Yu Xinlan looked at Lord Yu in surprise. Lord Yu seemed to be in favor of this arrangement. With a pleased look on his face, he said, "Baiyun Temple is a royal temple. It's a great opportunity that many people would envy to be able to fast and purify here. Lady Wang managed to get this opportunity by asking your grandfather. You should thank Lady Wang properly."

Lady Wang said indifferently, "Forget it. We're a family. There's no need to talk about thanks. Go and get ready."

Concubine Wen and Yu Xinlan obediently agreed and went back to Huaiyuan Courtyard to pack their things.

Lord Yu sat for a while and then excused himself to read in the study. After leaving the main house, instead of going to the study, he turned and went to Huaiyuan Courtyard as soon as he left Juyuan Courtyard.

Lady Wang secretly seethed with hatred, but for the sake of her grand plan, she had to endure it for now. She would get her revenge a thousand - fold or even ten - thousand - fold in the future.

Yu Lin couldn't contain her impatience. Since Lady Wang ignored her, she followed her Third Sister to Zhuyuan Courtyard and complained, "Why doesn't Mother teach that little s**t a lesson? And she even let them go to Baiyun Temple..."

Yu Mei smiled faintly. "Have you ever seen Mother do anything meaningless?" Seeing her sister looking confused, she wanted to explain in detail but was afraid that Yu Lin would reveal something in front of their father. So she pulled her to go enjoy the flowers and changed the subject.

In the flower hall of Huaiyuan Courtyard, Yu Xinlan looked at the three good - looking maids in front of her, feeling a bit frustrated.

Nanny Xu, who had brought the maids, said, "Ordinarily, the Fourth Miss should have two second - class maids and two third - class maids to serve her. But due to the busy spring farming season, it's difficult to buy suitable servants. So currently, there's only Bilu, a third - class maid. Lady Wang said that when you're away from home this time, we can't let others laugh at us. So she transferred three maids from the estate for the Fourth Miss to use. If the Fourth Miss likes them, she can keep them. If not, we can replace them with more suitable ones later."

The three maids were all between fifteen and sixteen years old. The one with an oval face was gentle and beautiful, the round - faced one was sweet and likable, and the one with an egg - shaped face was refreshing and capable. They were all very good - looking, and it was obvious that they were carefully selected. Lady Wang probably intended them as Yu Xinlan's dowry maids, to keep an eye on her and cause trouble for her in the future. Yu Xinlan couldn't refuse.

Yu Xinlan smiled and looked at them one by one, then nodded and said, "Thank you, Nanny Xu, for bringing them here. I'll keep them for now. I'll report to Mother in person whether they're suitable or not after the fast." She stuffed a small purse into Nanny Xu's hand and told Jin'er to see Nanny Xu out.

Yu Xinlan asked each of the three maids their names. The oval - faced one was called Wu'er, the round - faced one was called Qiao'er, and the egg - shaped - faced one was called Xiaoqian. She smiled gently and said, "The rules here are the same as those taught by Lady Wang. I don't have any special requirements. You can follow Nanny Zhang to pack your things first. We'll go to Baiyun Temple for the fast tomorrow." The three maids obediently followed Nanny Zhang out.

After a while, Jin'er came back from outside, trying hard to hold back her laughter. Yu Xinlan turned and walked into the room, and Jin'er quickly followed. Jin'er whispered with a smile, "When Nanny Xu saw that there were only five copper coins in the purse, her face turned green. She wanted to throw it away but couldn't bear to." Now she finally understood what the young lady meant when she said, "Some people can't be bought over, so there's no need to waste money."

Yu Xinlan imagined the scene and couldn't help laughing heartily. Seeing Jin'er looking out of the window with a questioning look, she asked with a smile, "Do you want to know why I didn't show my authority to them?"

Jin'er nodded. Yu Xinlan looked at her approvingly. She liked Jin'er's sense of propriety. Jin'er knew exactly what not to ask. She explained, "Since they were carefully selected by Mother, they're definitely here to spy on me. Whether I show my authority or try to win them over, it won't have any effect. Instead, it will make Mother more vigilant. Besides, Father is in Huaiyuan Courtyard now. If he finds out that I'm dissatisfied with the people Mother sent, what will he think?"

Jin'er nodded in understanding.

The rest of the day passed without incident. The next morning, Concubine Wen and Yu Xinlan, along with a group of maids, servants, footmen, and guards, set off. The carriage took them directly to the back mountain of Baiyun Mountain. When Yu Xinlan stood in front of the stone path on the back mountain, she had to crane her neck so hard that it hurt, but she still couldn't see the end of the path.

Nanny Xu had a sarcastic look on her face and said, "Lady Wang said that when worshipping the gods, one must be sincere. Kneeling all the way up the mountain from here is the most sincere way."

Goodness! Baiyun Temple was at the peak of Baiyun Mountain. There were at least several thousand steps on this stone path. Kneeling all the way up would almost kill them! Lady Wang was torturing them in a roundabout way, wasn't she?

Yu Xinlan was full of complaints in her heart, but Concubine Wen had a determined look on her face. "Lan'er, we can definitely make it to the top by kneeling."

Yu Xinlan took a deep breath and forced a smile. "Of course."

So, the mother - daughter pair started kneeling and moving up the mountain step by step, with the servants and guards following behind to protect them. After climbing just over a hundred steps, Yu Xinlan already felt sore in her back and legs. By the time they reached the halfway point, she was so tired that she didn't even have the strength to lift her hands. Jin'er and Xiaoqian supported her to the halfway pavilion to rest. Wu'er quickly handed her the water bag, and Qiao'er skillfully massaged her legs.

After a long while, Yu Xinlan finally caught her breath. Concubine Wen also looked deathly pale from exhaustion. Yu Xinlan was thinking about how to persuade Nanny Xu to let them go up first and make up the remaining part later.

Suddenly, the servant guarding below said, "Nanny Xu, a group of people are coming."

Nanny Xu replied, "Let's wait and see who they are before deciding whether to give way."

Yu Xinlan glanced at Nanny Xu but didn't say anything. Soon, the group of people approached. Before Yu Xinlan could see who they were clearly, she heard a pure and pleasant male voice say in surprise, "Lan'er, why are you also here on Baiyun Mountain? What a coincidence!"

Yu Xinlan's mouth twitched. She really didn't want to have such "coincidences" with him.

Nanny Xu's face turned dark immediately. She thought to herself, Lady Wang, your plan was perfect, but you didn't expect that the Fourteenth Prince would also come to Baiyun Mountain and take the back - mountain path.