After this incident, the news that the Marquis Dingxi household’s divine physician young madam was no longer the young madam had spread among the common people as well.

How could the Marquis Dingxi household just suddenly not want her anymore? The people discussed it endlessly.

“…What else could it be? A woman, of course – she must not have observed proper wifely conduct…”

“…I heard this young madam was always running around outside, even mixing with men…”

The person had just finished saying this when he was kicked hard from behind.

“Ow, which bastard…” The person fell to the ground and jumped up angrily, turning to curse.

Behind him stood three tall men holding knives, spears, and bows, with several wild chickens and rabbits slung over their waists and shoulders. Though of different ages, their similar features showed these men were brothers by blood.

At this moment, the three brothers stared at the person before them with leopard-like eyes.

“…Brother Dashan,” the person immediately bent down and smiled obsequiously.

“What did you say?” the eldest of the men asked in a deep voice.

“Nothing, nothing…” the person grinned awkwardly.

“Lady Qi is a divine physician, our family’s life-saving benefactor. If I hear anyone else speaking ill of her again…” The hunter thrust his iron fork into the ground, the sharp prongs immediately piercing the earth.

The people who had been chatting couldn’t help but shiver.

The Maoshan hunters, relying on having many brothers and great strength, had always been domineering in this area. People usually tried to avoid them, so who would dare to actively cause trouble?

The people behind shrank their necks and slunk away.

“Yes, yes, Lady Qi is a divine physician. How would we dare speak ill of her…” the person quickly nodded and bowed with a smile.

“Good that you know.” Another younger hunter glared and shouted, “Why does Lady Qi travel outside? Isn’t it to treat people’s illnesses? She has a bodhisattva’s heart – keep your thoughts clean! Be careful of divine retribution!”

“Brother, he doesn’t need the bodhisattva to worry about retribution. I can handle it myself…” the youngest immediately rolled up his sleeves and said aggressively.

The person was so frightened his legs went weak.

“Little Brother Shan, don’t misunderstand…” he hurriedly called out.

Fortunately, Hunter Dashan stopped his brother and glared at the person.

“Let’s go,” he said, pulling out the iron fork and walking away.

“Brother, was Lady Qi really cast out?” the youngest brother followed and couldn’t help asking in a low voice.

“She wasn’t cast out.” Dashan looked back and glared at him. “I asked the scholar in town. He said it was divorce, you know what divorce is?”

“What’s the difference?” the youngest brother said with wide eyes. “Wasn’t she still thrown out…”

The second brother spat.

“Really stupid, you don’t understand this. Didn’t the old scholar say that being cast out is when the man throws out the woman, but divorce is when the woman doesn’t want the man? Now do you understand?”

The youngest brother made an “oh” sound, finally understanding.

“So Lady Qi didn’t want the Marquis Dingxi household,” he chuckled. “Now I’m relieved.”

Qi Yue sneezed.

“Who’s talking about me?” she muttered, then laughed at herself. “Now I’m afraid there’s no one who isn’t talking about me…”

Hu San nearby heard this.

“Master, the mountain wind is cool. You should take shelter,” he hurried over to say.

Looking behind, that girl called Cui-something was panting as she caught up.

Hu San adjusted the medicine basket on his back.

Really, how could she be someone’s maid? She was far inferior to A’Ru.

Thinking of A’Ru, Hu San couldn’t help but feel his nose tingle with emotion. He’d never see her again…

He and A’Ru had only a pure acquaintance relationship, and thinking of her still made him want to cry. If Lady Qi thought of the Prince, wouldn’t she cry every night…

How tragic…

By the time Hu San came back to his senses, Qi Yue had somehow already walked away, with that girl following beside her.

Qi Yue, who had learned from the disciples to gather half a basket of pine branches, had just sat down on a rock to rest when she saw someone hurrying up the mountain path.

“Lady Qi…” Seeing her, he quickly called out.

Qi Yue looked over and saw it was Coffin Boy, quite surprised.

“Little Coffin, how did you come too?” she stood up and smiled.

Coffin Boy walked over in a few steps, his face flushed red with dense sweat on his forehead – clearly he had run all the way.

“Are you, are you alright?” he asked breathlessly.

Qi Yue paused.

“Me?” she said, then thought of something. “You know too?”

Coffin Boy swallowed saliva to relieve his dry throat and nodded.

“Is it because of me?” he asked.

Cui Zhi beside them widened her eyes. What? What? This man… her face went pale.

Qi Yue knew Coffin Boy was referring to the corpse dissection matter and smiled.

“No,” she said.

Since she said no, Coffin Boy didn’t expect her to say more, but Qi Yue continued.

“It’s because everyone had different philosophies, so we couldn’t continue together. This is nothing unusual. Isn’t there a saying? ‘Those who follow different paths cannot make plans together.’ When compatible, we gather; when incompatible, we part,” she said.

It was about the philosophy of taking a second wife. Coffin Boy breathed a sigh of relief. That this woman was so frank with him showed she wanted to put his mind at ease, which made him feel even more sad.

“You, don’t be sad,” he said after holding back for a long time.

Qi Yue smiled.

“I’m not sad,” she said, patting the basket behind her. “Teacher said to gather pine branches – something about dew-covered pine branches to use as a medicinal primer. Such a strange prescription, so I came along to help.”

Coffin Boy made an “oh” sound.

“Then I’ll take my leave,” he said directly.

Just then Hu San and the others returned.

“Perfect, we’re about to leave too. Let’s go together,” Qi Yue said.

The group clattered down the mountain. At the foot of the mountain, incense smoke wafted from a temple.

“What’s that?” Qi Yue asked.

“That’s Dafuo Temple,” Coffin Boy said.

So this was Dafuo Temple. Qi Yue looked at the temple and stopped.

“I’ve never been there,” Coffin Boy said with some self-mockery.

“Then let’s go take a look,” Qi Yue said.

In the Buddha hall, Chang Yuncheng received sutras from the abbot.

“They’ve been offered before the Buddha for three days,” the old monk said with a smile, clasping his hands toward Chang Yuncheng. “The Prince’s filial piety is evident. Buddha will bless the Marchioness with health.”

Chang Yuncheng nodded slightly.

“These are prayer beads. I heard the Prince will be departing soon – this is a small token of this old monk’s regard,” the abbot said, removing a string of prayer beads from his wrist. “Please accept them, Your Highness.”

Chang Yuncheng quickly reached out to receive them.

“Thank you,” he said in a low voice.

The abbot looked at him and sighed, wanting to say something but ultimately didn’t.

“This old monk will see you out,” he said, gesturing politely with his hand.

Chang Yuncheng nodded and returned the courtesy. Just as he was about to step forward, he heard voices outside the main hall. When the voices carried inside, Chang Yuncheng suddenly stopped.

“…Is this hall the largest here? What’s worshipped inside?” Qi Yue asked.

“…I’ve never been inside either,” Coffin Boy answered, looking up inside.

“This is the Heavenly Kings Hall,” Cui Zhi said. “It enshrines Maitreya Buddha.”

Qi Yue and Coffin Boy both made sounds of understanding.

“Where are Hu San and the others?” Qi Yue asked again.

Hu San and the others came running over from the side.

“Coming, coming. The pine branches in this temple grow even better than those on the mountain,” Hu San said in a low voice.

“Don’t get any bad ideas. This is a pure Buddhist place – no nonsense allowed,” Qi Yue glared at him.

Hu San chuckled and said he understood.

“Let’s go in and take a look,” Qi Yue stepped forward.

Coffin Boy stood without moving.

“I won’t go in,” he said. “Better not to defile this pure Buddhist place.”

Qi Yue looked back at him.

“Before Buddha, all beings are equal. What are you being so special about?” she smiled.

Coffin Boy was stunned by her words, then smiled and said no more, stepping inside.

With so many people entering the great hall, it suddenly became crowded and lively.

Through the window, Chang Yuncheng watched that woman bow devoutly before the Buddha.

“…What’s behind here?” she asked as she stood up.

An unfamiliar maid supported her hand with a smile, and several familiar men led her toward the back.

“…That’s the Heavenly Master Hall…”

“…I heard there’s also a stele forest where many people come to make rubbings…”

The group walked around the Buddha statue and out the back door, laughing and chatting.

The great hall returned to tranquility, with Buddha incense curling upward.

“Your Highness…” the abbot said quietly.

Chang Yuncheng withdrew his gaze.

“Master, I’d like to walk around by myself,” he said.

The abbot nodded without asking any questions.

“Please feel free, Your Highness,” he said, clasping his hands in salute.

Chang Yuncheng returned the salute and stepped out of the incense pavilion.

“This is the Mani Hall…” As a maid from the old madam’s side, Cui Zhi served as guide, leading them along. “Lady Qi…”

“Oh, I know this one. Does it enshrine Shakyamuni Buddha?” Qi Yue took over the conversation.

“Yes,” Cui Zhi nodded with a smile.

“The murals inside are beautiful, with Guanyin – the Five-Colored Sea Guanyin,” a disciple added from the side.

Qi Yue became even more interested and was the first to step inside.

After the Mani Hall returned to quiet, Chang Yuncheng entered. He walked slowly, looking carefully, stopping from time to time.

His strange expression drew occasional glances from other worshippers.

“Which person who comes to worship Buddha doesn’t have unsolvable sorrows?” an elderly woman sighed. “Even wealthy young masters can’t escape them.”

By the time they reached the final Great Compassion Pavilion, it was already noon.

“Truly lives up to its reputation,” Qi Yue said, standing on the steps of the Great Compassion Pavilion and looking back over the entire temple.

Dafuo Temple – there were many Dafuo Temples in modern times. She didn’t know which one this would become in the future.

She didn’t know if she had visited it before, but even if she had, she probably wouldn’t recognize it now. A thousand years of time – if people change, how could things remain the same?

“The vegetarian meals here are famous?” she asked, turning her head.

Cui Zhi nodded.

“Yes, my old madam comes to eat here once a month,” she smiled.

“Then let’s go eat too,” Qi Yue said.

Hu San thought of something and quickly stepped forward.

“No, no, we’re not used to eating…” he said boldly.

A disciple behind him didn’t understand.

“Senior Brother, we’ve never tried it. How do we know we won’t like it?” he couldn’t help muttering.

Another quick-thinking disciple kicked him.

“It’s very expensive…” that disciple said quietly.

Only then did the first disciple realize – of course, Dafuo Temple’s vegetarian meals were famous far and wide, so naturally not everyone could afford them. If they ate, Lady Qi would definitely have to pay the temple fees for them…

Lady Qi was no longer the Marquis Dingxi household’s young madam. For a woman, life was difficult – how could they let her pay?

Everyone shook their heads saying yes, yes, we’ll go back and eat.

Qi Yue understood their thoughts perfectly. With a slight smile, she knew that if she insisted, these disciples would eat uneasily, which would defeat the purpose.

“Then it probably isn’t anything special anyway,” she waved her hand. “Today the shop is having its beam-raising ceremony. Teacher must have prepared a sumptuous meal. Let’s go back and eat.”

Everyone nodded, and the group was about to leave noisily when a monk walked out of the Great Compassion Pavilion.

“Benefactors, please wait,” he said with a bow. “Today a noble person praying for blessings has sponsored vegetarian meals. I wonder if the benefactors would be willing to accept them and help that good person with their charitable deed?”

Some wealthy people would make vows and fulfill them, just like giving out porridge outside Buddhist temples. So sponsoring vegetarian meals should be normal too.

Qi Yue and the others’ eyes lit up.

“Yes, yes,” she quickly nodded and called to everyone. “This is a good deed that benefits everyone.”

Hearing they could eat for free, Hu San and the others naturally had no objections, so the monk led everyone happily away.

In the vegetarian dining hall, dish after dish of vegetarian food was served, accompanied by introductions and the chaotic praise of Qi Yue’s group. The rule of “no talking while eating” was completely ignored here.

“Lady Qi, try this – guess what it’s made of?” Cui Zhi said.

“…Pumpkin!”

The sounds of laughter and conversation drifted through the window. In a small quiet room adjacent to the dining hall, Chang Yuncheng sat alone at a table.

Before him was spread a complete set of vegetarian dishes. Hearing the laughter from next door, he slowly picked up one of the items.

“Correct, made from pumpkin,” he smiled slightly and murmured, looking up at the opposite seat as if someone were sitting there facing him, then put the small piece of vegetarian food in his mouth and chewed slowly.

Movement and stillness, joy and sorrow – one window separating two worlds.

The abbot, standing in the corner, lowered his head and chanted “Amitabha Buddha.”