Qing Yuan breathed a sigh of relief.

No matter how thoughtful and attentive she was, she was still just a maid—she couldn’t compare to Chen Shi, who was actually the mother, being present.

When the Second Madam came over supporting Chen Shi, Qing Yuan hurried forward to greet them.

The Second Madam introduced Qing Yuan to Chen Shi: “The senior maid from Third Master’s household. She’s served at Third Master’s side since childhood and has studied under Master Shu, who serves Third Master. She’s someone Third Master cannot do without.”

This was quite an elevation of Qing Yuan’s status.

Chen Shi didn’t dare be negligent. She quickly smiled and addressed her as “Miss,” thanking her for helping to look after Yu Tang.

Qing Yuan didn’t dare put on airs. She responded respectfully to Chen Shi, and within just a few exchanges managed to inform her about Yu Tang’s fainting spell without Yu Tang herself knowing.

Chen Shi nodded approvingly to herself.

No wonder the Second Madam valued this Miss Qing Yuan so highly—she truly was a sharp person, seamless in both speech and conduct.

Therefore, when she and the Second Madam entered the quiet chamber, neither mentioned what had just happened.

Chen Shi held Yu Tang’s hand and examined her from all angles for quite a while. Seeing that Yu Tang’s spirits were good, she finally set her mind at ease and asked: “Child, if you weren’t feeling well, you should have said so earlier. Look at you—fainting so suddenly! Never mind me, even the several old madams were frightened terribly. When you’re better, you must remember to pay your respects to those old madams. Especially Old Madam Pei—when you fainted, she personally took your pulse! And the Second Madam personally escorted you to the quiet chamber.”

As for her own situation, she decided not to tell Yu Tang for now—she would wait until she was certain Yu Tang was fine.

Only now did Yu Tang learn that Old Madam Pei also understood medical arts, and that the Second Madam had been of great help after she fainted.

She felt ashamed.

Although Pei Yan had publicly claimed for her sake that she had poor health and fainted from chest tightness and shortness of breath, the old madam surely knew she had been frightened.

Indeed, as her mother said, she needed to go thank the old madam.

And the Second Madam as well.

Yu Tang hurriedly thanked the Second Madam.

The Second Madam received her courtesy with a smile. Seeing that everything was settled here, she rose to bid farewell to the mother and daughter: “It’s nearly noon now, and I still need to attend to the old madams’ lunch. I won’t delay your rest any longer. When matters there are concluded, I’ll come see you again.”

Having delayed the Second Madam’s affairs, both Chen Shi and Yu Tang felt very embarrassed. The two of them saw the Second Madam out.

Qing Yuan took the opportunity to direct the maids to tidy up the things Yu Tang had used, then had someone bring over a soft sedan chair. She escorted Yu Tang and Chen Shi back to the side chambers where they were staying at Zhaoming Temple, then busied herself attending to Yu Tang as she rested and arranging lunch. Only then did Shuang Tao, who had been sent to see Yu Wen, receive word and rush over in a hurry.

Chen Shi quickly pulled her outside the door. After glancing at Yu Tang, who was talking with Qing Yuan, she asked in a low voice: “Does the master know about Miss fainting?”

Shuang Tao shook her head repeatedly, catching her breath as she said: “When Master, the First Master, and the First Young Master arrived at the dharma hall, they didn’t see Third Master and specifically asked about him. The people from Third Master’s side must have received Third Master’s instructions—they only said Third Master had gone out on business. Master knew you and Miss were both accompanying Old Madam Pei, and with the hall full of women, it wouldn’t be proper for him to pay respects to Old Madam Pei, so he had a maid go in to relay a message to you. When that maid came out, she only said you and Miss would be dining with the old madam at noon and would talk in the evening. Just then Old Master Wu and the others arrived too, so Master didn’t ask further. I only found out Miss had fainted and been brought back when I saw Master didn’t need my service and returned to the east hall.”

Chen Shi recited “Amitabha” upon hearing this. Good thing the Pei family had responded appropriately—otherwise, if Yu Wen knew Yu Tang had fainted, who knows how anxious he would become!

Chen Shi asked: “Did the merit box donation go smoothly?”

“Very smoothly!” Knowing Yu Tang was merely unwell, Shuang Tao relaxed and spoke of this matter with great animation: “Our family’s donation really stole the show! As soon as it was carried up, Old Master Song noticed it and specifically had someone carry it over for him to examine closely. He told the First Master he wanted to order several boxes from our family! The First Master was so delighted he couldn’t stop smiling. He said the First Young Master has good fortune—from the moment of his birth, he’s brought wealth to the family. He even said he’d ask Master Wuneng for a peace talisman for the First Young Master later!”

Chen Shi couldn’t help but laugh at this.

The First Uncle was such a serious and proper person, yet when looking at his grandson, his heart melted completely—he could attribute any good fortune to the child.

Fortunately the child was still young and they feared he might be frightened, so they’d left the First Madam and the Xiang family mother-in-law and daughter-in-law at home to care for him. Otherwise, First Uncle would certainly have brought the child to the scripture exposition.

At this point, Shuang Tao’s eyes darted about as she asked: “Does Madam need anything else? If there’s nothing more, I’d like to go see Miss.”

Her concern for Yu Tang only made Chen Shi happy—she certainly wouldn’t prevent it: “Go ahead! No matter how good Qing Yuan is, she still belongs to Third Master. You can help out as well.”

Shuang Tao happily went to Yu Tang and even whispered to her: “What a shame you weren’t there! When Miss Gu learned the scripture exposition wouldn’t have each family individually display their donated items anymore, her expression completely changed. And Miss Wu is so straightforward—she even asked Miss Gu what was wrong!”

Yu Tang knew Pei Yan kept his word and wasn’t worried about the donation. She was more concerned about the incense from Ku’an Temple.

Shuang Tao’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she said: “Need you even ask? Naturally it was just like our family’s merit box—it stole the show! Especially that sandalwood-scented incense—it’s not actually sandalwood yet smells just like it. Everyone was asking where Ku’an Temple is located and how they could blend such wonderful incense. Right then and there, the lady of the house from a gentry family called over someone from Ku’an Temple to ask what types of incense the temple had and how much each cost. The way I see it, Ku’an Temple’s incense is about to become famous. Your efforts haven’t been in vain, Miss.”

Yu Tang nodded, thinking it would be even better if Gu Xi could know this incense came from her.

Unfortunately, Gu Xi would probably never know.

Shuang Tao asked again about Yu Tang’s fainting: “Are you truly all right now?”

“With Third Master here, what could happen to me?” Yu Tang was just saying this when Madam Wu and Madam Wei arrived together.

Chen Shi personally went out to greet them.

Madam Wu took Chen Shi’s hands and looked her over thoroughly, saying: “I heard you weren’t feeling well? How are you now? Have you seen a physician? Madam Wei and I only learned you’d fainted when we returned to our chambers for lunch. I gave those servants we left there a thorough scolding—such an important matter, and not one of them came to tell us!”

Madam Wei nodded vigorously beside her.

Chen Shi quickly said: “I instructed them not to. You so rarely come to a scripture exposition—I couldn’t let my situation spoil everyone’s enjoyment. Besides, I only had some chest tightness and shortness of breath. It wasn’t anything serious, so I didn’t tell you. If you don’t believe me, look—don’t I seem perfectly fine now?”

She didn’t want her daughter to become the subject of gossip and couldn’t think of a better excuse on the spot, so she used Yu Tang’s ailment as her own.

Madam Wei and Madam Wu had no reason to doubt her. Seeing Chen Shi’s ruddy complexion, not appearing unwell at all, they set their minds at ease.

Chen Shi thanked Madam Wu and Madam Wei for their kindness. Thinking of how the Wu and Wei family servants left at the chambers had diligently cared for things after she left, and knowing their lodgings were inconvenient and they only had dry rations they’d brought themselves for lunch, she very sincerely invited them to dine together.

Madam Wei and Madam Wu considered that most of the morning had been spent on donation matters, and Master Wuneng would formally begin his exposition in the afternoon. Neither wanted to miss this opportunity to hear the eminent monk expound on scripture. After thinking it over, they didn’t stand on ceremony with Chen Shi and decided to stay for lunch.

Qing Yuan had additional dishes sent over at the last minute.

When the two ladies sat down at the table, they discovered it was already full—and with Zhaoming Temple’s signature vegetarian dishes, no less.

Madam Wu and Madam Wei were very pleasantly surprised. Madam Wu in particular pointed to steamed buns on the table, each about the size of a man’s fist, and said: “The last time I ate the temple’s Pure Heart Buns was three years ago when I came to Zhaoming Temple. These Pure Heart Buns are getting harder and harder to come by.”

Zhaoming Temple’s Pure Heart Buns were made from vegetables, radishes, and tofu that the temple’s monks grew themselves. Because Zhaoming Temple had exceptionally fine spring water, the tofu made there was more delicate and fragrant than anywhere else—you couldn’t buy it elsewhere. This made the Pure Heart Buns especially delicious. Since the temple’s monks were short-handed, the amount of tofu they could make was limited, and accordingly, the tofu available for making Pure Heart Buns was also scarce. As Zhaoming Temple’s incense offerings grew increasingly prosperous and the Pure Heart Buns became more and more famous, more and more people came to buy them. These buns had long since reached the point where a single bun was hard to obtain. Some people would even get up in the middle of the night and run to Zhaoming Temple to buy them.

Hearing this, Madam Wei laughed: “I had some during New Year’s. I had someone buy them for me—the errand fee alone cost two taels of silver. That works out to about fifty wen per bun.”

Madam Wu was greatly shocked.

Madam Wei smiled: “Well, my fourth daughter-in-law is pregnant, you see. She vomits up everything she eats. I was at my wit’s end—otherwise, no matter how wealthy we are, we couldn’t spend money like this!”

Madam Wu chuckled and asked Madam Wei who she’d hired to buy the buns: “Perhaps someday I’ll need to hire someone to buy them too.”

Madam Wei smiled and said: “Why, the Qu brothers from Banqiao Town! They’re quite reliable in their business dealings, though a bit expensive.”

Yu Tang was greatly surprised. She hadn’t expected the Qu brothers to do any kind of business—they didn’t even pass up this sort of thing, standing in line to buy buns for people.

Chen Shi looked at the large platter of buns. One per person wouldn’t even finish them. Thinking of Old Master Wei, Wei Xiaochuan, and Old Master Wu who had been left at their respective chambers, she had someone wrap up the remaining buns. When Madam Wei and Madam Wu finished lunch, she had them take the buns to Old Master Wu and the others to eat: “Since they’re so rare, everyone should have a taste.”

If it had been anything else, Madam Wu and Madam Wei would have refused. But thinking these buns were Zhaoming Temple’s specialty and eating a few while here counted as a memento, they didn’t decline. They generously thanked Chen Shi and took the buns back to their lodgings. As they left, they said to Chen Shi: “Rest well. We’ll come see you again this evening.”

Chen Shi smiled and saw the two ladies out.

After lunch, the Second Madam came over.

Chen Shi saw the sweat on her forehead and felt very apologetic, saying: “You needn’t worry about us here. A’Tang has already taken medicine, and the physician said there’s nothing wrong. Having you run back and forth like this—how can we feel right about it?”

But the Second Madam handed Chen Shi a small box, saying: “I’m here on Old Madam’s orders to deliver medicine.”

Chen Shi froze, then her eyes grew moist.