A Quiet Homecoming

It was only when the abbot finally entered the family's alms into the merit register that the ceremony came to an end.

Then, seemingly offhandedly, Lady Pingyuan said, "I plan to stay in the main hall to listen to the master's sermon. Yao Yao, you can take your second sister to look around the temple."

As this was an official temple, although there were some visitors, they were mostly from official families, so the Lady Hou felt at ease.

Chen Yao and Jiang Lingxuan acknowledged at the same time, and each went out of the main hall with her own maidservant.

Once outside, Chen Yao took the initiative to ask, "Lingxuan, I heard that there's a century-old ginkgo tree in the backyard of Yunfu Temple. Would you like to go see it together?"

Jiang Lingxuan thought that this might be the meeting place she had arranged with the young master of the Xie family, and that mentioning it now was a way to urge her to go her own way.

"Sister, I feel a bit tired. I want to go to the guest lodging to rest for a while," Jiang Lingxuan said with an apologetic expression.

"Alright then." Chen Yao nodded, then gently reached out and patted her head. "Go and rest. I'll wander by myself."

Jiang Lingxuan couldn't help but feel like laughing at the way she played the considerate older sister.

They all said Chen Yao was spoiled and willful, but to her, she clearly possessed a pure, childlike heart.

And with a face as beautiful as flowers and jade, that eldest son of the Xie family was truly fortunate to marry her sister.

"Why do I feel like the female lead's eyes are shining when she looks at me?" Chen Yao wondered.

System 04 replied, "It's an illusion."

In reality, Chen Yao didn't really feel like strolling either. She was tired too and wanted to lie down in the guest lodging.

But the century-old ginkgo tree in the backyard of Yunfu Temple was the spot where the male and female leads met for the first time in a stunning scene.

If she didn't mention it now, how would the female lead become curious enough to go look at it in the evening and run into the male lead?

Besides, she also needed to build her presence in front of the male lead, putting on a good show of her willful and pampered ways, to form a sharp contrast with the well-mannered female lead.

...She was really too busy.

*

Although she had told Jiang Lingxuan she wanted to see the ginkgo tree in the backyard, Chen Yao was actually just wandering around aimlessly.

"Miss, the temple's backyard isn't in this direction," Chuntao, who was following her, reminded her in a low voice.

"I know that, of course. It's just that this young lady doesn't want to look at the ginkgo tree anymore. Since this temple is so shabby, I doubt the ginkgo tree has anything worth seeing," Chen Yao said disdainfully.

In fact, Yunfu Temple was an official temple near the capital, always well maintained, so it could hardly be called shabby—but since it was a temple, it just looked rather ancient and plain.

Chen Yao didn't care about that. She had always been used to speaking carelessly.

Chuntao clearly knew her mistress's temperament. She looked around and, seeing there was no one nearby, let her be.

Although even if she had explained, it wouldn't have helped—her mistress wasn't a bad person, even generous to her servants, but she just had a sharp tongue.

Chen Yao had no idea what her maid was thinking. She just kept walking slowly, while at the same time, with a critical eye, scrutinized Yunfu Temple from top to bottom, from the gray bricks on the ground to the flying eaves overhead, from the carved pillars inside the hall to the stone lions at the gate, commenting on it all.

Not a single good word came out of her mouth.

Chuntao had already grown numb to it, seeing clearly that her mistress was unhappy about being dragged out by the mistress of the house.

"Look, the paint is peeling here, and the copper rings on the door have green rust. I should have Mother donate more incense money and have the abbot renovate the place. How can it be so poor?"

Chen Yao kept walking, listening to the soft creaking of the wooden boards beneath her feet, her pretty face dark. "What lousy wood, it's irritating to hear. I'm worried these planks might break under me."

At the corner of the covered walkway, Xie Qingyan, who was about to continue forward, paused his steps. A passing breeze stirred the jade pendant hanging from his belt, producing a faint, crisp sound.

He frowned slightly, which on that cold, noble face only made him look more distant.

"Young master," his servant Ban He said, stopping as well.

Chen Yao soon encountered someone at the corner. She glanced at the man in a moon-white robe, straight and tall, with a face like polished jade, then, keeping her small face tense, continued past him expressionlessly.

System 04 reminded her, "He's the male lead."

"I know," Chen Yao pouted. "With that air of a noble son and those extraordinary looks, I'd be shocked if he wasn't the male lead."

Chuntao didn't dare to stare at people casually. She simply gave a slight bow to the master and servant who seemed out of the ordinary, then quickly caught up with her own mistress.

She hoped this young master would be lenient and not take the miss's small discourtesy to heart.

Chen Yao walked a bit further along the corridor and felt that her performance should be about enough, especially since the delicate constitution of an ancient young lady was really poor.

She took a moment to catch her breath, then sat down on a bench by the railing along the corridor.

"Is the miss tired?" Chuntao asked with concern.

"Mm." Chen Yao nodded, pursing her lips. Her whole mouth felt dry. "Chuntao, I'm thirsty."

No wonder, after talking for so long, she only now felt parched.

Chuntao found it a bit amusing inside, but she didn't dare show it on her face, worried that her mistress would get angry and embarrassed.

"Then rest here for a moment. I'll have someone brew you a pot of tea."

Chen Yao nodded, then suddenly remembered something and quickly added, "Just tea leaves, nothing else."

She respectfully declined any dark-cuisine tea with salt or butter.

Chuntao bowed and took her leave. "This servant understands."

Only then did Chen Yao turn aside, casually draping one arm over the railing beside her, listening to the rustling cicadas and occasional birdsong, and let out a soft sigh.

"You know, the air at a mountain temple is really good." Taking a deep breath, she felt her mind clear.

"It's alright, not bad," System 04 commented coolly.

Chen Yao ignored its remark and continued, "Such a nice view—it's a pity not to take a photo. System, do you have a camera feature? Take one for me."

"Do you think I'm here for such trivial matters?"

Before Chen Yao could accuse it of being stingy, System 04 commanded in a professional tone, "Tilt your chin up five degrees, relax your shoulders, look at the eaves corner across from you, and keep a fifteen-degree upward curve on the corners of your mouth."

Chen Yao: "?"

Whatever those five degrees or fifteen degrees meant, she didn't understand.

But she still did her best to follow, putting on a cooperative pose.

The next second, System 04 said, "Done. Look."

Chen Yao looked at the photo—the ancient, solemn temple, the pink-clad girl leaning against the railing, gazing up at the sky, and a section of lush apricot branches peeking out from above the corridor. All three elements complemented each other perfectly, with flawless natural lighting, making it so beautiful she couldn't look away.

She immediately launched into praise mode. "Wow—System, you're the most amazing system in all the worlds!"

"It was nothing," System 04 replied calmly.

Then, without another word, it clicked away several more photos from different angles.

Chen Yao happily admired the images in her mind, then tilted her head. Unable to resist, she leaned out to look up at the sky above the railing.

"I think I saw apricots on the tree up there," she said with surprise.