Transmigrated into the Scumbag Ex-Wife of the Prime Minister - Chapter 102.1

Qin Feiyan had long expected that her insistence would not earn her a kind look from Princess Changning.

Yet, everything she did was for the sake of the Princess’s health.

To have her good intentions repaid with ill will!

She secretly complained to herself, Qin Feiyan rubbed her slightly sore arm, and followed behind Princess Changning, surveying the surrounding environment.

Beyond the mountain gate, an nunnery with blue tiles and white walls was nestled among the lush green mountains. On the east side of the nunnery, a tall ginkgo tree rose above the white wall, with small white flowers clustered among the emerald leaves.

Qin Feiyan looked at the curling white smoke rising from the nunnery, full of confusion.

Princess Changning, as the Transport Commissioner of Jiangnan Circuit, did not go to the yamen immediately upon arriving in Qingzhou, but instead came to the mountains to burn incense and worship Buddha.

Before they reached the nunnery gate, Qin Feiyan saw Princess Changning’s maid, Ah Lu, walking towards the two of them.

“Princess.” Ah Lu bowed in greeting to Princess Changning.

Princess Changning nodded slightly. Ah Lu glanced at Qin Feiyan behind her. Qin Feiyan smiled and greeted her, “Miss Ah Lu.”

“Head Guard Qin.” Ah Lu returned a faint smile.

Qin Feiyan had left a good impression on her during the previous trip to Qinzhou. She was cheerful, conscientious, and wielded her soft whip with great flair.

In addition, Ah Lu always vaguely felt that Princess Changning seemed to treat this Head Guard Qin differently, but Ah Lu could not exactly explain how.

“How is it?” Princess Changning asked as she walked into the nunnery.

Her voice was gentle, completely different from the one she used when she had angrily flicked her sleeve earlier.

“Everything has been arranged properly,” Ah Lu replied, following behind her.

Qin Feiyan pouted at that graceful back.

This person was indeed only unfriendly towards her.

Entering the nunnery, the front area was a Grand Hall, outside of which stood a large stone incense cauldron.

To the east of the incense cauldron was the ginkgo tree visible from the outside. Its branches were covered with red ribbons for blessing. At that moment, there were three or two pilgrims beneath the tree.

One petite girl among them was holding a small plaque tied with a red string, trying to toss it onto the tree. However, she was not tall, nor strong, and failed to throw the plaque onto the tree after several attempts.

Ah Lu led Princess Changning and Qin Feiyan towards the back courtyard of the nunnery. As they passed the ginkgo tree, the girl threw the plaque again. This time, after hitting a branch, the plaque flew towards Princess Changning.

Qin Feiyan was quick. She raised her arm and steadily caught the wooden plaque. Her gaze naturally fell on the plaque, where a line of small characters was written: May I find one heart, and grow old together without parting.

Seeing the plaque nearly hit someone after slipping from a branch, the girl quickly ran over. She then saw a graceful, imposing woman skillfully catch her plaque with swift movements.

“I am so sorry. I am too clumsy and almost hit you all.” The girl apologized hastily. However, when she looked up again, she saw that the heroic sister had already read her wish.

The girl’s originally fair, tender face instantly blushed a light peach color.

Qin Feiyan handed the plaque back to her. The girl looked down at Qin Feiyan’s hand, then looked up again and asked, “Could I trouble you, sister, to help me throw the prayer plaque onto the tree?”

Her cheeks were crimson, her voice soft and sweet, carrying a hint of shy anticipation.

Qin Feiyan only thought she was embarrassed because someone had read her wish, and throwing a plaque was a trivial matter for her.

She nodded and asked the girl, “Where do you want to throw it?”

“Can you throw it wherever I want?” The girl’s eyes brightened a bit more.

“Anywhere you want,” Qin Feiyan said, looking at the ginkgo tree.

Princess Changning had stopped walking the moment Qin Feiyan caught the plaque. The entire conversation between the two, along with the shyness on the girl’s face, was fully witnessed by her.

Under the veil of her bamboo hat, her tightly knit brows slightly arched. Princess Changning’s beautiful eyes slightly narrowed, a hint of displeasure passing through them.

“Please, sister, help me throw it there.” The girl pointed to a spot in the tree canopy.

That spot was quite high, with only a few small wooden plaques hanging there.

Qin Feiyan weighed the wooden plaque in her hand. With a gentle flick of her arm, the plaque was hung securely exactly where the girl had pointed.

“Sister is so amazing!” the girl exclaimed, genuine admiration added to her eyes as she looked at Qin Feiyan.

Qin Feiyan gave her a friendly smile. Her valiant eyebrows looked even better because of the smile, deepening the blush on the girl’s cheeks.

“My name is Lin Ran, I don’t know sister’s…”

Lin Ran plucked up the courage to ask for the name of the person in front of her.

She had thrown this prayer plaque hoping to meet a good match, and by such a coincidence, she met someone she liked beneath the tree. Lin Ran naturally attributed all this to fate bestowed upon her by the heavens.

But her question was interrupted by Ah Lu’s voice.

“Head Guard Qin.”

Qin Feiyan turned her head only to see Princess Changning, her clothing fluttering, having already walked a good distance away.

Giving Lin Ran an apologetic smile, Qin Feiyan quickly hurried to catch up.

Lin Ran looked at her retreating figure, wistfully tugging at the corner of her own clothes.

Upon arriving at the accommodation in the back courtyard, Ah Lu informed her that they would be staying in the mountains for a period of time to focus on Buddhist rites.

Princess Changning and Ah Lu shared a room, and Qin Feiyan stayed next door to them.

Since coming up the mountain, Princess Changning had not spoken to Qin Feiyan again. Any communication was relayed through Ah Lu.

Qin Feiyan did not want to cause displeasure, nor did she want to upset herself. Seeing Princess Changning enter the room, she did not follow, but instead stood guard outside the door.

Ah Lu had martial arts training, so Qin Feiyan was not as vigilant as before. She found a spot under the eaves and sat down, focusing a fraction of her attention on the surrounding movements.

Sitting under the eaves, Qin Feiyan could still see the canopy of the ginkgo tree, and the small red wooden plaque she had just thrown up.

A breeze brushed over the treetop, and the small wooden plaque swayed gently with the wind.

Even young ladies of that age were already praying for a good marriage. It was no wonder her mother always nagged her to marry soon.

If she had married early, she would probably not be troubling herself over some non-existent matters now.

Water Cloud Nunnery was seventy or eighty li (Chinese mile) away from Qingzhou City. Sending a letter home was not something that could be done immediately.

Qin Feiyan sighed deeply.

She could only hope that Princess Changning would descend the mountain and return to Qingzhou soon, so that she could send a letter home and have Yan Hua replace her early.

Qin Feiyan was not a sentimental person. After a brief period of melancholy, she quickly cheered up again.

Princess Changning had not come out since entering her room. Dinner was also served to her room by Ah Lu. Qin Feiyan, on the other hand, went to the nunnery’s vegetarian dining hall for her meal.

After leaving the courtyard, Qin Feiyan wandered around Water Cloud Nunnery and found that it was quite large. Besides the small courtyard where they were staying, there was also a large dormitory area on the east side for female pilgrims staying overnight for Buddhist rites.

After dinner, Qin Feiyan had just walked out of the vegetarian dining hall when she encountered Lin Ran again.

“Sister!” Lin Ran exclaimed in surprise.

The young girl had a pleasant appearance and a bit more playfulness when she smiled.

“Miss Lin,” Qin Feiyan smiled lightly.

“Thank you again for your help earlier,” Lin Ran said happily. “I still don’t know sister’s name?”

“My name is Qin Feiyan,” Qin Feiyan replied.

“Sister Qin,” Lin Ran called out obediently. “Is sister also here with family for Buddhist rites at Water Cloud Nunnery?”

The Princess’s whereabouts could not be exposed, so Qin Feiyan simply nodded, following her lead. “Yes.”

Lin Ran’s words, while asking Qin Feiyan, also revealed her own intentions.

Looking at the silk clothes she was wearing, Qin Feiyan guessed that she was likely a young lady from a wealthy family, having been sheltered in a courtyard for a long time, too simple-minded, and not at all guarded against outsiders.

“That’s a real coincidence,” Lin Ran smiled with crescent eyes. “I also came to perform Buddhist rites with my grandmother.”

Lin Ran was not tall and had a delicate, small face. She looked to be only fifteen or sixteen, just reaching the age of capping (coming of age).

“And also to pray for a good marriage?” Qin Feiyan said, smiling, looking at the plaque she had hung up.

“Mm.” Lin Ran blushed upon hearing this, softly assenting. She said a little shyly, “They say the millennium ginkgo tree at Water Cloud Nunnery is especially effective for blessings. As long as you walk up the mountain steps in one breath and hang a prayer plaque, your wish will be granted.”

“I see,” Qin Feiyan said, looking at the tree full of plaques.

As the two spoke, two more young girls stood under the tree throwing plaques. One girl stepped back a distance, threw her plaque high, and upon seeing the plaque hang on a branch, she happily shouted, “Oh! Thrown so high, I’m sure to find my ideal husband this year.”

“Is it really that effective?” Qin Feiyan asked with a smile.

“Yes, yes.” Lin Ran looked at her with sparkling eyes. “Does Sister Qin want to make a wish?”

Qin Feiyan shook her head. She did not believe in spirits or gods.

“I have no specific request.”

Lin Ran nervously twisted the handkerchief in her fingers, trying to keep her voice calm as she asked, “Is sister already married?”

“Not yet,” Qin Feiyan shook her head.

Lin Ran’s heart leapt with joy. She wanted to talk more with Qin Feiyan, but seeing her grandmother coming out of the meditation room in the distance, she hurriedly said goodbye to Qin Feiyan and went to accompany her grandmother.

Support