The rain stopped the next day.

Taking advantage of the sunshine, Yin Zheng took the damp bedding to the small courtyard to air it out. Coarse thread was strung under the eaves, and the half-worn rose-colored thin blanket with crimped edges was hung up. Bathed in a layer of sunlight, the small courtyard also gained a bit more warmth.

Du Changqing glanced through the small window from outside and said, “Miss Yin Zheng, the courtyard is completely filled with drying bedding. You should make some room to dry the medicine.”

Yin Zheng smoothed out a wrinkle on the corner of the blanket and replied, “The medicinal herbs are dried every day, but if these mattresses aren’t aired out soon, they’ll get moldy. Besides, Shopkeeper Du,” she glanced at Du Changqing, “you pay the young lady and A’Cheng monthly wages, but you don’t pay me monthly wages, so drying medicine isn’t my responsibility.”

Du Changqing was choked by her words and couldn’t refute them, so he left in a huff.

When he entered the outer shop, A’Cheng was wiping tables while Lu Tong was organizing the medicine cabinet.

It would be the Beginning of Summer in another half month. These days had been rainy, and the willow catkins weren’t as bothersome as before, so far fewer people came to buy nasal congestion medicine tea. After Du Changqing’s busy period had passed, he once again found himself with nothing to do and sprawled on the long bench to read idle books.

Lu Tong stood before the medicine cabinet, pulling out drawers one by one to check the medicinal materials inside, while asking Du Changqing, “Shopkeeper Du, is there any excitement to see in the capital lately?”

Du Changqing was startled and looked at Lu Tong suspiciously, “Why are you asking about this?”

Lu Tong didn’t look at him, “I see that recently few people have come to the medical hall to buy medicine, and rarely any patients come seeking treatment. I plan to ask you for two days’ leave to rest. Yin Zheng and I are new to the capital and aren’t very familiar with the area, so I’m asking you if there are any festivals or temple fairs recently where we can go broaden our horizons.”

At this mention, Du Changqing immediately became interested. He sat up straight and smiled, “Doctor Lu, you’re asking the right person. When this young master was in the capital back in the day, I traveled and enjoyed myself everywhere—there wasn’t a single lively event I didn’t know about. As for the festivals or temple fairs you mentioned…” He pondered for a while before speaking, “If we’re talking about recent ones, there’s the Blue Lotus Grand Festival on the first day of the fourth month.”

Lu Tong paused in her inventory of medicinal materials, “The Blue Lotus Grand Festival?”

“You know how it is,” Du Changqing spread his hands, “those temples with flourishing incense hold several festivals each year—either Guanyin festivals or Dizang festivals—all to swindle money for incense, candles, and oil lamps.”

“The liveliest event at Wan’en Temple is the Blue Lotus Grand Festival on the first day of the fourth month. They say that on the first day of the fourth month, the bodhisattva opens her eyes. If someone has committed grave sins, they go there to release living creatures to cleanse their karmic obstacles. If someone has unfulfilled wishes, they go light lamps and pray sincerely. The bodhisattva will bless the kind-hearted to have their wishes fulfilled and help evildoers accumulate hidden virtue.”

“I don’t believe in these things, but quite a few people do, especially those in business. Every first day of the fourth month, they run to Wan’en Temple to burn incense and pray for blessings.”

“When my father was still alive, he would drag me there every year, insisting I burn the first incense of the day. He’d donate oil and rice, asking the bodhisattva to bless me to rise above others. In the end, I’m still a waste, which shows that this bodhisattva is unreliable—she just takes money without doing anything, not a good sort.”

He spoke without a trace of reverence, only saying, “Although the bodhisattva isn’t much good, you can still go see the Blue Lotus Grand Festival. On the first day of the fourth month, they light the great dharma lamps in the Blue Lotus Pool. After the dharma assembly, Wan’en Temple also has many vendors selling snacks and Buddha statues. The mountain scenery is quite nice too, with many tourists making it as lively as the New Year temple fair. Since you missed the New Year temple fair, you can still squeeze in for the Blue Lotus Grand Festival.”

Seeing that Lu Tong was listening earnestly and seemed extremely interested in the festival he described, Du Changqing became even more enthusiastic and explained in detail to Lu Tong, “That Wan’en Temple isn’t small—it’s divided into several halls that enshrine different bodhisattvas. I can’t tell which one is which anymore. I only know that the East Hall is for seeking marriage matches, the West Hall is for academic success, the South Hall is for wealth and fortune, and the North Hall is for health and wellness. You should inquire beforehand so you don’t pray to the wrong deity. If you originally wanted to pray for prosperous wealth but accidentally worshipped a goddess for bearing children, with kids in tow, the medical hall wouldn’t have room…”

“…The Blue Lotus dharma lamps are lit on dharma boats. When I was little, I once secretly climbed onto a dharma boat and fell off, nearly drowning. My father beat me so badly I couldn’t get out of bed for three days, though you probably wouldn’t secretly climb onto a dharma boat.”

“…On the day of the dharma assembly, there’s also a life-release ceremony. Those merchants and officials buy several thousand baskets of turtles and loaches to dump into the pool. I heard that after the dharma assembly, the monks fish out those loaches to stir-fry and eat, though I don’t know if that’s true.”

“…Anyway, one time when I went, I secretly entered their back hall where they stored the life-release loaches. You just go around the woods and take a small path to get there. That back hall was deserted, and the water vats were really big. I caught the fattest ones to roast and eat. They were a bit fishy, probably because I didn’t add salt.” He fell into fond memories, his expression seeming somewhat intoxicated.

A’Cheng couldn’t help but interrupt him, “Master, maybe it’s precisely because you were disrespectful to the bodhisattva and ate the loaches meant for life-release that the bodhisattva won’t bless you to rise above others.”

“Nonsense!” Du Changqing scolded him, “What’s wrong with me eating two loaches? After I ate them, I even kowtowed to the bodhisattva, so that matter was settled. How can she still hold onto it? Could the bodhisattva be that petty?”

A’Cheng had no choice but to remain silent.

Du Changqing spoke in trivial detail. Yin Zheng went out for a while, and when she returned, Du Changqing still hadn’t finished talking, so she had to wait another half hour.

It wasn’t until Du Changqing’s mouth was dry and he had nothing more to say that he finally concluded, “In any case, outsiders coming to the capital should all go see the Blue Lotus Grand Festival. Having listened to me for so long today, you probably can’t help but be moved. I think I’ll give you one day off on the first day of the fourth month so you can go take a look. But the mountain roads are long, so it’s best to set out half a day early. When you come back, remember to bring me some dried apricots from Wan’en Temple…”

Lu Tong smiled and agreed, finished organizing the medicine cabinet, and walked with Yin Zheng to the inner shop.

As soon as they entered the room, Yin Zheng moved close to her and said in a low voice, “Miss, someone from the Pleasure House sent word that Wan Fu went to the Pleasure House early this morning. He just had someone bring one message—he agrees to what the young lady proposed.”

Lu Tong softly hummed in acknowledgment.

Wan Fu’s agreement to work for her wasn’t surprising. Ke Chengxing was merely a master, while Wan Quan carried Wan Fu’s blood. Which was more important was clear at a glance.

Moreover, with Wan Fu’s intelligence, he should have long ago realized that if Ke Chengxing could silence other informed servants for Lu Rou back then, he might not be unable to silence the Wan family as well.

People are always selfish—seeking benefit and avoiding harm is basic human instinct.

Yin Zheng asked, “Now that Wan Fu has agreed to work for the young lady, things will be much easier. What does the young lady plan to do now?”

Lu Tong didn’t speak. She walked to the medical box at the foot of the table, crouched down, opened the lid, and found a cloth bundle inside.

“The first day of the fourth month is Wan’en Temple’s Blue Lotus Grand Festival.”

She took out what was in the cloth bundle and gripped it tightly in her hand.

“The Blue Lotus Grand Festival, when the bodhisattva opens her eyes.”

Lu Tong gazed out the window and spoke word by word, “On such an auspicious day, those who are utterly vicious should rightfully receive hellish retribution.”