Chapter Ninety-eight Farewell

  Thank you for the pink tickets from Ye Weiyang_1989, thank you for the five rewards from Feng Guoliu 01, Catherineguo's reward of zongzi, and thank you for the peace symbol reward from You Dong...

  Qing Yao saw that Qing Jin didn't seem to care at all, and instead comforted her with words. She was taken aback by the reaction, as she had originally come with a proud heart, but now felt a slight sense of loss. Just now, she had spoken so clearly, wanting to tell her second sister that the palace's nanny valued her more than her second sister. Could it be that her second sister hadn't understood?

  Looking at Qing Jin's expression, she thought that Second Sister probably didn't understand, otherwise why would Second Sister not be sad at all. She wondered if she should speak more directly to Second Sister, but looking at Second Sister's sincere face, Qing Yao felt a little guilty inside, and a thread of remorse rose up in her heart, thinking that it was really wrong for her to have such a boastful attitude.

  I thought Second Sister should have been married to Jun's elder brother as his legitimate wife, but unexpectedly Jun's elder brother was fake. Second Sister was pitied and betrothed to the Duke of Jing as a concubine. I still remember that day when the eunuchs from the palace came to announce the imperial decree, reading out the words of the imperial marriage between Second Sister and the Duke of Jing, Second Sister's pale face.

  Thinking back to those days when my second sister and "Jun Shu Ge" were together, I think my second sister should have liked "Jun Shu Ge".

  That's right, it must be that way. Second sister likes "Jun Biao Ge", but was married to Jing Wang, so she became disheartened and didn't care about anything. Thinking of this, she carefully looked at Qing Jin and comfortingly opened her mouth: "Second sister, don't be sad, I know you're not willing..."

  "Fourth sister, why are you looking at me like that? Is there something sad?" Qing Jin saw Qing Yao's expression and knew what she might say next, so she pretended not to understand and interrupted her.

  But little did she know, her reaction only solidified Qing Yao's speculation that Qing Jin's nonchalance was due to the huge blow she had suffered, leaving her "heart as dead ash", and thus forcing a smile. So, with an even more understanding tone, he spoke to Qing Jin: "Second sister, I know you don't want to marry Prince Jing, but it's the parents' orders, the matchmaker's words, and the Emperor has already issued the decree. Our wedding date has been set. Second sister, please don't think of doing anything rash... Why not go ask Prince Jing instead? We've met a few times before, second sister can go explain to him, and since he's a reasonable person, once he knows you have someone in your heart, he definitely won't force you, and might even help you plead with the Emperor. Then, at that time, you'll be able to..."

  When Qing Jin first heard Gu Qing Yao's words, she thought Qing Yao was going to persuade her. But unexpectedly, Qing Yao changed the subject and actually asked him to go beg Long Han Yuan, Qing Jin looked at Qing Yao with a surprised gaze.

  Qing Yao finished speaking. She felt Qing Jin's astonished and surprised gaze, and also a bit of guilt, as she had originally intended to persuade her second sister. However, thinking that since her second sister already had someone in mind, it was indeed not suitable for Jing Wang, thinking of that cold figure, Qing Yao felt some softness in her heart, some heartache, and some anger towards her second sister, unintentionally saying the words that followed.

  Qing Jin didn't know what Qing Yao was thinking, but seeing Qing Yao's unusual behavior, she followed Qing Yao's words and sighed: "It's not that easy, the imperial edict has been issued, the emperor's words are like gold..."

  "But Second Sister doesn't like Prince Jing at all, is Second Sister really going to...?" Qing Yao heard Qing Yan's words and felt a mix of joy, anger, and more importantly, injustice for the sake of that cold figure who had saved them.

  "What else can I do? I am the eldest daughter of the Anji Marquis, and behind me is our Anji Marquis's household. For the sake of our family, as the eldest daughter of the Anji Marquis, I must make some sacrifices for our family. Alright, let's not talk about me. Just now, I heard what Fourth Sister said. Could it be that Fourth Sister likes Prince Ning? Is Prince Ning the one Fourth Sister has a crush on?"

  "What did Second Sister say? Yáo'er didn't..." Upon hearing Qingjin's words, Qingyao's face turned bright red. How could Second Sister say such things about her, she was the true young lady of the house.

  Qing Jin saw Qing Yao's expression and thought that the idea in her mind just now was overthinking, so she said to Qing Yao: "Okay, okay, I won't say it. I know Fourth Sister must be shy, Ning Wang is warm and polite, Fourth Sister must be satisfied, otherwise...".

  "Second sister... Second sister, don't tease Yao'er. Are you just going to give up like this? And do you know the true identity of 'Jun Biao Ge'?" Hearing Qing Jin's words, Qing Yao originally wanted to stomp her foot and leave, but thinking of something, she endured it and didn't get up, continuing to ask Qing Jin with concern.

  Qing Jin said those words originally to make Qing Yao feel ashamed and leave, but unexpectedly Qing Yao not only didn't leave, she even asked about Lai Shui Wu Qing's situation. Looking at Qing Yao's unusually concerned expression, if one didn't know better, they would really think this was a good younger sister who cared about her older sister.

  Qing Jin picked up the tea cup on the table, took a sip of the tea water, and a hint of darkness flashed in her eyes. After putting down the teacup, she spoke to Qing Yao: "Mother wrote a letter to Grandfather, from now on, we can't call him Brother-in-law anymore, but instead call him Water Brother."

  Qing Yao looked at Qing Jin in confusion, and Qing Jin continued: "The one who came to the capital is Shui Taigong, he is the nephew of our great-uncle's wife from the maternal side."

  "It turned out to be Shui Biao Ge, and the matter of Er Jie's engagement..." Qing Yao spoke cautiously.

  "What's the point of a marriage proposal now that the Emperor is giving out marriages?" Qing Jin said with some disappointment and frustration.

  "Second sister, don't be sad, there will always be a way. Even if there really is no way in the end, second sister still has Yao'er, and Yao'er will..."

  "Then thank you, Fourth Sister. However, from now on, you will be the Ning Wangfei, and between Ning Wang and Jing Wang... it's best if we don't interact with each other too much."

  "Second sister, don't worry, Jing Wang and I are brothers after all. From now on, second sister must not be distant from me again. If second sister has anything in the future, she can let the swan beside her come to find me directly. If I can help second sister, I will definitely do my best to help." Qing Yao said seriously to Qing Yan.

  Qing Jin heard Qing Yao's words and was speechless. She nodded slightly towards Qing Yao, "I definitely won't have anything to do with you."

  "Then I'll take my leave, second sister. I will explain things to Mother when I get back and won't take up any more of her time teaching you."

  "This fourth sister doesn't need to, Fourth Sister isn't unaware of me, now it's just right with my heart's intention, Fourth Sister mustn't feel sorry for me, asking Mother to instruct me and sister at the same time, Fourth Sister is going to marry Ning Wang as his official consort, Mother spending more time instructing you was originally what should be done."

  "Second sister, you're really good to me!" Upon hearing Qing Jin's words, Qing Yao thought for a moment and no longer declined, instead becoming moved and speaking to Qing Jin.

  In the following days, Qingjin and Qingyao started their busy lives again. Qingyao was busy learning royal etiquette and various things from Ayi every day. Qingjin spent most of his time lounging around, reading travel notes and flipping through the latest novels, except for a few hours when Ayi came to teach him.

  Time flies, a year has passed in the blink of an eye. Qingyao and Sixth Prince Ning Wang's wedding is next month, and her and Long Han Yuan's wedding will be after Qingyao and Sixth Prince's grand wedding.

  The eunuchs in the palace have stopped coming because Qingyao's wedding is approaching, and everyone in the Anji Hou Mansion is busy with Qingyao and the Sixth Prince's grand wedding a month later.

  The most idle people in the mansion were Qing Jin and the people in Qing Jin's courtyard. On this day, Qing Jin took You Yan with her to leave An Ji Hou Mansion and ride a horse-drawn carriage to Ban Ruo Temple.

  The carriage stopped at the gate of Banruo Temple. Qingjin got off the carriage and walked towards the temple with Yuanyang on foot.

  In the temple of Prajna, pilgrims come and go, never-ending.

  Qing Jin walked along the winding path, surrounded by trees, towards the direction of Jing Xin Pond. The serene and elegant atmosphere enveloped her as she strolled on the quiet road, listening to the distant, undulating bell chimes that seemed to reverberate from afar. Qing Jin let go of her worries, allowing the soothing bell sounds to wash away and comfort her weary heart.

  I really like this kind of life? Qing Jin took a greedy breath and had a relaxed smile on his face.

  The water mirror dust appeared at the head of a small path, and what was seen was such a Qingjin. For some reason, he thought of that story about Qinghua porcelain that had been circulating in the capital for some time, which was said to be very sad and moving.

  At this time, a woman in a green dress stood there with a calm smile, just like the woman in her story who had the unique Jiangnan rain and mist of the south, beautiful and ethereal.

  Her smiling appearance at this time was like the carefree and joyful figure he saw when he first met her in the peach forest many years ago.

  Feeling being stared at, Qing Jin opened her eyes and saw Shui Jing Chen not far away. She smiled happily towards Shui Jing Chen and called out excitedly: "Shui Jing Chen!"

  That purely joyful appearance caused the Buddhist beads in Shuijing Dust's hand to pause, and on his face, he nodded faintly at that bright and beautiful smiling girl: "Master Gu."

  "I didn't expect to run into you like this. Shouldn't you be lecturing the crowd at the temple right now?" Qing Jin asked, puzzled, as she gazed at Shui Jingchen through the water mirror.

  "This poor monk no longer expounds on scriptures, and has handed over such matters to younger brother monks."

  "Oh, I didn't expect you to learn how to be lazy too." Qingjin said with a smile.

  "Amitabha... I'm leaving the capital for a distant journey." Water Mirror said faintly.

  "Leaving the capital, where are you going?" Qing Jin asked in surprise at Shui Jing Chen's words.

  "The spread of Buddhism should originally be wandering around, and there is no fixed place to go." Shuijing Chen replied to Qingjin's question with a clear and bright eyes.

  "I used to have a dream of traveling all around too, unfortunately... well, people should go out more often, especially you, Master, who is supposed to save all sentient beings. If you don't travel around, how can you meet all the sentient beings? By the way, when are you leaving?"

  "Maybe today, maybe tomorrow, or perhaps the day after tomorrow."