The second day was overcast.

Dark clouds hung heavy in the sky, gray mist shrouded everything, making even daylight appear dim. The wind blew so fiercely that the lanterns hanging under the medical clinic’s eaves swayed precariously. Lu Tong shouldered her medical box and boarded the horse carriage together with Yin Zheng.

The carriage had been hired by Du Changqing, who had arranged for it to wait at the door early in the morning.

Wan’en Temple was located at the peak of Wangchun Mountain. From West Street, it would take at least half a day’s journey by carriage. Du Changqing had granted Lu Tong a day’s leave, only requiring her to return by tomorrow evening to close the shop.

The carriage traveled swiftly along the way. Yin Zheng couldn’t help but lift the carriage curtain to look outside, marveling at the brilliant scenery along the route while simultaneously worrying that rain might fall midway, making the muddy roads difficult to traverse.

Fortunately, heaven was kind. Although dark clouds loomed ominously, the rain only began to fall when they reached the temple gates at the mountain summit. Initially, the rainfall wasn’t heavy—just a misty curtain of water that added several touches of tranquil remoteness to the ancient temple hidden among countless trees.

The coachman laughed from the front: “Miss, we’re almost at the temple gates.”

Lu Tong lifted a corner of the carriage curtain and peered outside through the gap.

Wan’en Temple was extremely large, occupying vast grounds. Starting from the mountainside of Wangchun Mountain, stone wall staircases on both sides of the mountain range were carved with various Buddhist statues and totems. The temple grounds were planted with locust trees, pines, and bamboo throughout. At this moment, with wind and rain, the bamboo groves swayed in the breeze, and evening rain struck the pear blossoms. Wan’en Temple appeared like an ancient temple from supernatural tales, where hermits found their own joy.

Yet this temple was also extremely lively.

Perhaps because this temple was renowned for its efficacy, incense offerings flourished abundantly. They had already seen many carriages on the mountain road earlier, and now upon reaching the temple gates, carriages arrived in endless streams, creating congestion everywhere. There were many female pilgrims, people everywhere, monks striking bells on the mountain, the bell sounds echoing distantly and ethereally, mingling with the misty smoke from burning incense.

On one hand was liveliness, on the other tranquility—both entering the mortal world yet transcending it, both quiet and bustling.

As Lu Tong was observing, their carriage was suddenly struck hard by someone, jolting her body sideways and nearly causing her to fall from the carriage. Yin Zheng quickly straightened herself and steadied Lu Tong, then lifted the curtain to inquire outside: “What happened?”

They saw that a larger, more luxurious carriage with vermillion wheels and ornate canopy had rudely pushed in front of their carriage. The coachman of the front carriage, holding a whip, turned around to look at them and spoke impatiently: “Why don’t you move aside quickly! If you disturb the young master, how could you bear the consequences?”

Just as Yin Zheng was about to speak, Lu Tong pressed her hand down. Yin Zheng turned her head and saw Lu Tong shake her head slightly.

Yin Zheng had no choice but to restrain herself.

Seeing that the two didn’t argue, the coachman snorted coldly and drove his carriage forward again. Behind him, several more similarly ornate carriages followed this person into the temple gates.

Yin Zheng said angrily: “These people are so domineering—clearly we arrived first.”

Lu Tong lowered the curtain: “Looking at their status, it’s not low. Arguing would be pointless—let them go.”

Yin Zheng nodded in agreement.

Having entered the temple gates, the two alighted from their carriage. The coachman led the carriage away to rest outside. Tomorrow morning after the lotus dharma assembly, he would wait for them at the temple gates to descend the mountain.

Lu Tong and Yin Zheng first went to the monk in charge of lodging at the temple gates and paid ten taels of silver. The monk then led the two to the guest quarters.

Every year on the morning of the first day of the fourth lunar month, the Blue Lotus Dharma Assembly attracted many faithful observers. Many official families and commoner women’s dependents arrived on the mountain a day early. Wan’en Temple had sufficient lodging, with different accommodations costing different amounts of silver.

For example, the outermost Xibo Garden cost one tael of silver per person per night—ordinary guest rooms with average vegetarian meals. Staying here, one couldn’t see the inner temple scenery.

Fengen Garden was somewhat better than Xibo Garden, costing two taels of silver per person per night, with more spacious guest rooms and richer vegetarian meals. Pilgrims could walk around in the garden within their quarters. Fengen Garden had flourishing flowers and trees, clear halls and thatched cottages, which could be considered quite interesting.

The Wuhuai Garden where Lu Tong and Yin Zheng stayed was even more expensive—five taels of silver per person per night. Here, winding corridors twisted and turned, clear streams flowed like melting snow, and creeping vines intertwined densely—nothing could surpass its beauty. As for the vegetarian meals, they were even more elaborate, certainly not disappointing those five taels of silver.

There were also Lanjing Garden, Shiyuan Garden… According to Du Changqing, Wan’en Temple also had a Chenjing Garden, but that was no longer lodging that silver could buy. Only imperial relatives or families of high-ranking officials with great power and influence could reside there.

The guiding monk passed through pavilions and galleries, walking toward Wuhuai Garden. By now it was evening, and lights had been lit throughout the temple. Night rain fell softly, the sky remained overcast for a long time, everything rustling continuously.

Everywhere were pilgrims holding paper umbrellas hurrying to their quarters, all moving hastily to avoid getting their robes wet from the rain.

Someone’s figure passed by in the distance. Lu Tong glanced over and couldn’t help but pause slightly.

As evening deepened, curtains hung quietly in the distance. In the solitary lamplight and night rain, a young man’s profile was handsome, his figure tall and upright. He carried no umbrella, walking through wind and rain with elegance and heroic spirit. Rather than showing empty, meditative tranquility, he added several touches of mortal world beauty.

The Heir of Duke Zhaoning?

Lu Tong’s eyes flickered.

Last time at the rouge shop beneath Baoxiang Tower, although this Commander Pei had smiled and spoken gently, he was actually calculating and pressing. Now appearing here…

She wondered if there were people from the Palace Command here.

As she pondered, the monk ahead noticed she hadn’t continued following and asked somewhat puzzledly: “Benefactor?”

Lu Tong withdrew her gaze and said: “Let’s go.”

After walking for another incense stick’s duration, there were fewer people ahead. They finally reached a lush garden with covered corridors. Along the corridors, at regular intervals, were rooms.

By now night was gradually falling, and lights were lit in all the corridor rooms. In the misty yellow night rain, they appeared like dim fireflies.

The monk pressed his palms together, lowered his brows, and respectfully inquired of Lu Tong: “This place is Wuhuai Garden. There are still several empty rooms remaining on the west side. Please choose one, benefactor.”

Lu Tong looked at the corridor once, then pointed remotely toward a room at the very end: “That place will do.”

The guiding monk was somewhat surprised and kindly explained: “This room is the most secluded, I’m afraid it’s rather cold and lonely, and you can’t see the temple scenery.”

“No matter.” Lu Tong walked forward. “I don’t like crowds, and besides, on this rainy, dark night, there’s no scenery to see anyway.”

Seeing this, the monk said no more and simply led the two to the last room, gave them the key to the door lock, and then departed.

Lu Tong and Yin Zheng pushed open the door and entered.

The room was spacious, divided into an outer room and inner room, with two long couches total. The bedding was all very clean. Some incense burners and scriptures were placed on the table, probably for pilgrims to pass time when bored.

Yin Zheng had just finished putting away their bundles when monks came to deliver vegetarian dinner—a plate of winter melon fresh, a bowl of pickled yellow sprouts, followed successively by lotus root fresh, mixed lettuce, water shield and bamboo shoots, almond tofu, all seasonal vegetables. Finally came two bowls of jade-green rice porridge, a small basket of auspicious fruits, and a plate of plum blossom fragrant cakes, apparently to cater to women’s tastes.

Having traveled for half a day, the pilgrims had just arrived at this place and inevitably felt relaxed. Seeing this table of clear porridge and simple dishes, even the most fastidious person would likely develop quite an appetite.

Yin Zheng arranged the bowls and chopsticks, then seeing Lu Tong standing by the window, asked: “Miss, do you want to go out now?”

Lu Tong shook her head: “Not now.”

The rain had grown heavier, and no human figures could be seen outside. If it were a clear night, looking out from here would indeed present beautiful, secluded scenery. However, now with dark wind blowing rain, one could only see lonely desolation.

Lu Tong reached out to close the window, thus shutting out all that melancholy bleakness.

She walked to the table and sat down, picked up her chopsticks, and spoke calmly: “We’ll go out at midnight.”