Do good deeds and help women who need help!

Was that how it was?

Yu Tang’s heart pounded violently.

In her previous life, she had been one of those women who needed help.

Ku’an Temple had also helped her.

Which meant the Pei family had also once helped her.

And she had received the Pei family’s grace without knowing it.

She suddenly recalled the expression on her elder uncle’s wife’s cousin when she first went to seek refuge at Ku’an Temple. Though full of sympathy and pity, when she wasn’t paying attention, she could see traces of scrutiny and suspicion in her cousin’s eyes.

Before, she had always thought it was because of her status and her bold act of fleeing the Li family.

But what if it wasn’t?

Yu Tang’s heart beat like a drum, faster and faster, louder and louder. She couldn’t help but press her hand to her chest. She didn’t know how long it took before she came back to her senses.

But as soon as she regained her composure, she couldn’t help but smile bitterly.

Why was she thinking this way?

Just because in this life Third Master Pei had shown great kindness to her and her family, she associated everything with the Pei family and Third Master Pei. This was too unfair to her elder uncle’s wife’s cousin.

At Ku’an Temple, it had clearly been her elder uncle’s wife’s cousin who cared for her and helped her. How could she attribute all that credit to Third Master Pei and the Pei family?

Speaking of which, at this time her elder uncle’s wife’s cousin should have already settled into Ku’an Temple. She should go thank her. If she could help in any way, that would be even better. If she could accompany Old Madam Pei to Ku’an Temple this time, she would go see her elder uncle’s wife’s cousin and find a way to speak with her. If not, she would just have to wait until after New Year to visit Ku’an Temple.

Though Ku’an Temple was a place of sorrow, she had been blessed by heaven with rebirth and had changed the fates of her parents and family. She should also forget past suffering, look forward, and live this life well.

Yu Tang took a deep breath. Her emotions gradually calmed down as she devoted all her attention to teaching the Pei family’s young ladies how to make silk flowers.

Everyone chatted and laughed. The afternoon passed quickly.

The next day, Old Madam Pei’s mood was even better. She even went with Old Madam Yi to stroll through the plum grove and arranged to visit Ku’an Temple in a few days. Since Yu Tang and the Pei misses were all present when this was discussed, Yu Tang would also go along.

The Pei family’s young ladies were all very happy, joyfully returning to prepare clothes, jewelry, and incense money for Ku’an Temple.

Yu Tang understood clearly in her heart, but thinking about setting foot in Ku’an Temple again inevitably made her feel uncomfortable.

Fifth Miss noticed this. Thinking she was worried about the incense money, she tactfully told her, “It’s mainly Grandmother and the great-aunts who will donate incense money. We’re just being symbolic—each person can casually toss in a few silver ingots. Grandmother says this is to remind us not to forget to be kind to others.” Afraid Yu Tang couldn’t produce it on short notice, she added, “I went once last year, and I was the only one who threw in ‘promotion and wealth’ ingots while Second Sister and the others all threw in ‘all things auspicious’ ones. They laughed at me. This time I’m smarter—I discussed with Second Sister and the others beforehand. The incense money we throw will all be made by the house steward in the same ‘all things auspicious’ shape. Each person will throw three taels of silver—no one is allowed to be different.”

Yu Tang was so moved her eyes moistened.

These young girls were truly heartwarming.

She had Shuang Tao fetch five taels of silver and handed them to Fifth Miss’s maid A’Shan, smiling, “Then please ask Fifth Miss to mention to the house steward to exchange five taels of silver for silver ingots for me. In case there’s a situation where I need to reward someone, I won’t be flustered.”

Fifth Miss exclaimed “Oh!” and laughed loudly, “Why didn’t I think of that! I’ll go tell Second Sister and the others right now—we’ll all exchange five taels of silver, throw three taels as incense money, and use the rest to reward people. No one is allowed to give more.” Without waiting for Yu Tang to speak, she ran off with her maid.

Yu Tang couldn’t help but lean against the doorway laughing.

Shuang Tao watched Fifth Miss’s retreating figure and also laughed, saying, “Miss, should I send word home to have them make some pastries to bring to the temple? I heard from the Pei household servants that it takes an hour by carriage to Ku’an Temple—just right for letting the young ladies taste whether our pastries are good or not. Then in the future when you visit the mansion, you can bring some as gifts.”

Yu Tang thought this was excellent. She not only sent word home to make pastries but also had Shuang Tao order several coarse cloth monk robes, planning to find an opportunity to give them to the masters and lay practitioners at Ku’an Temple who had once helped her.

Shuang Tao asked curiously, “Why not bring them to Ku’an Temple the day after tomorrow?” As soon as she finished speaking, she realized her mistake and smiled embarrassedly at Yu Tang.

Fifth Miss was afraid she would be put in a difficult position and even had everyone agree to give the same reward money. How could she show off and bring glory to herself?

Shuang Tao left the mountain sheepishly.

Yu Tang recalled her time at Ku’an Temple in her previous life.

In winter, what everyone hoped for most was a thick padded jacket. As for incense money, the abbess always liked to save it, afraid that one day without incense offerings they wouldn’t be able to eat. She never added new robes for those in the temple. Some people’s robes had been patched over and over, almost becoming patchwork quilts.

This was also why she had never connected Ku’an Temple with the Pei household.

Shuang Tao returned at noon the next day, bringing not only seven or eight boxes of pastries made by Chen Shi but also a message from her. She said she missed Yu Tang very much, asked when Yu Tang would return home, and when returning, to send word early so she could prepare delicious food for Yu Tang.

Yu Tang was naturally delighted and pulled Shuang Tao to ask about the family situation for a long time.

Learning that everything at home was fine—this year Yu Bo and Yu Wen’s families would still celebrate New Year together, the New Year goods and offerings were all prepared, and the silver had been sent to the Zhang family—there was nothing that required her worry. She breathed a long sigh of relief, in excellent spirits. The clothes she prepared to bring to Ku’an Temple were either pale green or water blue, looking bright and cheerful.

In the afternoon, she sent a round of pastries, not leaving out even Gu Xi’s place, though Shuang Tao was sent to deliver those.

That evening, Steward Ji came to deliver the exchanged silver ingots and quietly told her, “Miss Gu’s illness has recovered. She says she wants to go to the temple to fulfill a vow. It just so happens that the old madams are taking the young ladies to Ku’an Temple, so Miss Gu also wants to go. Old Madam agreed. Second Miss even specifically had someone tell the steward to arrange for Miss Gu to share her mule cart.”

Yu Tang raised an eyebrow.

When Shuang Tao had gone to deliver pastries earlier, there had been no mention of her going to Ku’an Temple… but this was also fine. At least she wouldn’t be arranged in the same cart as Gu Xi. She didn’t want to deal with Gu Xi.

She thanked Steward Ji with a smile.

Steward Ji said, “I should be thanking Miss. I never expected Miss would remember that my family likes to eat osmanthus cakes and even specially sent me a box. I just brought it home and my little grandson already ate two pieces. My daughter-in-law asked me to thank Miss Yu!”

“As long as your grandson likes it.” Yu Tang chatted with Steward Ji for a bit more before seeing her out.

Shuang Tao said excitedly, “Miss, from now on if we have any matters, can we ask Steward Ji to find things out?”

“Small matters, yes,” Yu Tang smiled. “Major matters—don’t ask anyone. Just watch with your eyes and remember with your heart.”

Shuang Tao looked around and whispered to Yu Tang, “Liuxu told me she saw Miss Gu talking with the First Madam in the conservatory for a long time. First Madam even gave Miss Gu a pot of orchids.”

Yu Tang froze. “Hasn’t Miss Gu been recuperating in her room these past few days?”

Shuang Tao said, “I don’t know either. She told me this afternoon when I went to give Liuxu pastries.”

Yu Tang smiled bitterly.

She hadn’t expected Liuxu to also be quite shrewd.

Perhaps those who served near Old Madam Pei were all clever—not a single foolish one among them.

Yu Tang didn’t specifically inquire about Gu Xi’s affairs. She believed Gu Xi did everything with her own purposes. As long as those purposes didn’t harm her or her family, she could turn a blind eye.

That night she went to bed early. At the fifth watch before dawn, she rose, washed and dressed. Not daring to drink porridge, she only ate some steamed buns and flower rolls before going to Old Madam Pei’s quarters.

She thought she was early, but unexpectedly Gu Xi had already arrived. She had just greeted Gu Xi when Second Madam arrived with Fourth Miss and Fifth Miss. Everyone exchanged a few pleasantries before going to pay respects to Old Madam Pei. When Old Madam Yi arrived with Second Miss and Third Miss, everyone went forward to pay respects to Old Madam Yi. After everyone sat down according to status and hierarchy, Yu Tang saw Second Miss pulling Gu Xi aside and whispering, “Didn’t I tell you to wait and come with us? Why did you come ahead by yourself?”

Gu Xi smiled. “I didn’t want to disturb your family bonding time, so I waited here for you.”

Second Miss said nothing but looked her up and down several times, asking with concern, “Are you really recovered? The road to Ku’an Temple is very difficult. If you feel unwell, you must tell me.”

“I will!” Gu Xi chatted with her smiling, but Yu Tang inexplicably felt she looked a bit haggard, as if she hadn’t slept well.

Once everyone had gathered, the mule carts drove in one by one.

The two old madams shared one cart with Second Madam attending them inside. Second Miss, Third Miss, and Gu Xi shared one cart. Fourth Miss, Fifth Miss, and Yu Tang happened to fill another cart. Adding the household maids, servants, stewards, and gifts of rice, oil, and other goods for the temple, a grand procession of over twenty carts and thirty-some guards descended the mountain toward Ku’an Temple.

Ku’an Temple was in a small mountain hollow. To enter required walking a section of stone path no wider than a person’s shoulders.

Everyone changed to sedan chairs.

Looking down from the sedan chair, the bearers seemed ready to step into empty air at any moment, making Yu Tang’s heart tremble with fear.

Fortunately, this section of road wasn’t long. They soon arrived at Ku’an Temple.

Standing at the temple gate was the withered-looking abbess and two worried-looking guest reception monks.

But who could tell her why both guest monks were clustered around the imposing Pei Yan, who stood there with seven or eight guards?

Yu Tang nearly stumbled when getting out of the sedan chair. Gu Xi, however, showed no curiosity at all as she supported Second Miss in descending.

“How is Third Uncle here?” Fifth Miss and the others were as surprised as Yu Tang. Everyone looked toward Old Madam Pei.