Time Travel: The Noble Family
Chapter 324 - Chapter 324 Chapter 118 Zhaohua Temple_3

Chapter 324: Chapter 118: Zhaohua Temple_3 Chapter 324: Chapter 118: Zhaohua Temple_3 Yueyao walked a long distance every day in Lian Mansion and practiced the Five Animal Frolics daily, so her body was in excellent condition. Even though the mountain paths were rugged and covered with sand and gravel, she could endure it. Yueying, however, could not cope; her delicate embroidered shoes made stepping on the various sized stones quite painful.

Yueyao did not bother with Yueying’s struggles with the path, as she was absorbed by the scenery. Zhaohua Temple’s entire architectural layout cleverly followed the terrain, creating a striking and scattered look, further adorned with bamboo and famous flowers, making the environment extremely beautiful. Even without entering the temple, one could see ancient trees piercing into the clouds from outside. According to historical records, Zhaohua Temple was full of pagodas and imposing temple halls. Whenever she had the chance, Yueyao definitely wanted to properly visit this ancient temple.

Yueyao, looking at the beautiful surroundings, couldn’t help but smile. She felt it was worthwhile to have brazenly asked her uncle to bring her to Zhaohua Temple.

Yueying rubbed her sore legs, feeling they would break if she walked any further. At that moment, seeing Yueyao, who was neither flushed nor out of breath, she felt nothing but shame. She had no choice but to ask Cai Lan and Cai Qing to come over and help her, but sadly, Cai Lan and Cai Qing were so tired themselves that assisting Yueying made their pace comparable to a snail’s.

After walking a bit more, Yueying couldn’t resist asking, “Little Master, how much longer until we arrive?” She really couldn’t hold out any longer; if she walked any more, her legs would break.

The Little Novice Monk, aware of the delicate nature of women, found Yueying’s condition to be normal. He kindly said, “We’re almost there.” In truth, if one walked fast, they could arrive in fifteen minutes. Given the current situation, it might take forty-five minutes to reach.

After speaking, the Little Novice Monk glanced at Yueyao. Having walked such a long distance without slowing down or showing signs of fatigue, he found this young lady truly remarkable.

Another quarter of an hour passed, and just as Yueying was about to collapse from exhaustion, they finally arrived.

Yueyao looked at the doorplate reading ‘Number Twelve’ and couldn’t help but shake her head. Even Duke Mansion was assigned number twelve, there were indeed numerous nobles in the Capital City!

The small courtyard had green bricks and tiles, sporting very simple colors, and the walls were somewhat old. Yueyao knew that these courtyards had a history of over thirty years. Without the temple’s approval, the courtyards could not be significantly altered; at most, they could be renovated, as long as the existing layout was preserved, which was quite troublesome.

Everyone followed the Little Novice Monk into the courtyard.

The courtyard was small, only one-fifth the size of the Lanxi Courtyard. A large Bodhi Tree was planted in the middle, under which stood a carved stone table and chairs, nothing more. Yet the courtyard was spotlessly clean, without a single leaf on the ground.

As many temples planted Bodhi Trees, Yueyao was not surprised. The courtyard was just as she knew from before: two main rooms and four side rooms.

Yueyao had no intention of staying in the main room. Even if people from Duke Mansion rarely stayed there, the main building was off-limits. Yueyao said to the Third Young Lady, “Big sister, you stay on the left, I’ll stay on the right!” Since the left side is traditionally more prestigious, Yueyao, being the younger sister, naturally had to stay on the right.

Yueying did not object and entered the house with her maids. The house was extremely clean, spotless actually. However, Yueying was stunned by the arrangement in the room.

The bed was very small, much smaller than the one Yueying slept in at Lian Mansion, and it even had a straw mat as bedding. At the very least, it should have had some cotton padding! Besides, there was only a small wardrobe next to the bed. In the center of the room, there was a table made of sourwood, on which were placed an oil lamp and tea cups, with two chairs beside it, all of which looked quite old.

Yueyao found the furnishings in the room too simple. This was nothing like the lodgings at Hualin Temple! It was the Imperial Temple, after all; why was it so spartan?

Yueying did not know that her rest stop at Hualin Temple was temporary, and naturally, it was well furnished. The purpose of this small courtyard was for people to come for meditation, and considering what had happened in the previous dynasty, it was not surprising that Duke Mansion did not arrange for luxury.

Cai Lan was also dumbfounded. There was nothing, far worse than where she lived. Cai Qing frowned and said, “A temple is a place for asceticism; it’s natural for the furnishings to be simple.”

Cai Lan pouted.

Yueyao, looking at the simple lodgings, felt a familiar sense of nostalgia. Actually, this was still rather good. In a true place of meditation, aside from a bed and a desk for copying Buddhist scriptures, there would be nothing else. Well, there would also be a cushion for reciting scriptures. Now having a bed, a desk, and a wardrobe was actually very nice.

Nanny Hao, observing the simple room and then looking at Yueyao’s composed expression, suddenly felt a strange feeling inside. The Third Young Lady was too calm, as if she had weathered many storms. With this thought, Nanny Hao’s heart skipped a beat, and she dared not think further.