Chapter 26 The Bastard Plots in the Temple (1/2)

All was silent that night.

Mo Xuetong woke up early the next morning. Like the day before, she first went for morning lessons with the temple monk and then asked the lead abbot to recite blessing scriptures for her mother. She listened to the chanting until noon and then had a hurried lunch. The afternoon was filled with another blessing activity. Because Mo Xuemin had booked for three days of activity and because today was the main day of activity, she only left the temple at night.

The Buddhist temple was not the main hall of the Repayment Temple. It was used mainly for blessings. As such it was located in a more secluded area. Mo Ye and Mo Lan accompanied her. Mo Ye held a lantern which lit up the path before her while Mo Lan helped Mo Xuetong.

”Miss, Shuang Ye snuck out secretively in the afternoon. Qiu Ling insisted that Mo Yu taught her how to embroider and even asked when Mo Ye joined us. Mo Yu said that Mo Ye was an orphan that you rescued in Cloud City who failed to join her relatives and happened to meet you and so was going to follow you.”

Since Mo Ye was going to accompany Mo Xuetong in the inner courtyard, then she needed a suitable cover. Mo Xuetong had thought up the story of Mo Ye failing to get the support of her relatives and meeting her savior.

Mo Xuetong frowned lightly and said, ”Was Shuang Ye behaving weirdly when she returned?”

”Mo Yu said that Shuang Ye has been with them since she returned. The people outside had sent food and Shuang Ye went out once. There are not any odd happenings other than that.” Mo Lan said in a matter-of-fact way.

Mo Xuetong frowned again and took a couple of steps before she suddenly stopped. ”Mo Lan, have you seen Sima Lingyun today?”

”No. I heard the little nun say that the son of the Zhenguo Duke and his friends have arranged to meet. He went out to meet his friends in the day so he was not around the entire day.”

How could Sima Lingyun be absent from Mo Xuemin's plots? Mo Xuetong squeezed the handkerchief in her hand and looked at the path in front of her. It was yet another dark night. It could be the bad weather, or because of the air in the mountains. But other than where the light from the lantern hit, their surroundings were completely dark. It was so dark that you could not see your fingers when you stretched your hand out.

They pa.s.sed a temple when they suddenly heard voices in front of them. There was more than a single person. There were two lanterns that were held up high and the sounds of men talking could be heard.

Mo Xuetong stopped immediately and looked around her. Even though they were not in the inner courtyard, but the people who were approaching were all men. As a woman of the inner courtyard, she would try to avoid them as much as possible. However, they were walking between two Buddhist Temples. Other than a tiny path to the side, there was nowhere else for her to go.

”Miss...”Mo Lan had also discovered the situation. She suddenly had an ominous feeling.

A burst of light laughter could be heard before they could even react. ”Brother Sima, you've tried your best to get rid of us. Could it be that you came to meet a beautiful girl? If I had not been smart, you'd have escaped. Don't even try to get rid of us today.”

”Brother He, Brother Ling, I'm really not meeting a beautiful girl. You all had better return first. It's so dark, how are you going to get down the mountain?” Sima Lingyun's slightly anxious tone made them even more suspicious.

”The two of us are not heading down the mountain today. We have to see what kind of beauty she is for you to be so hung up on her. You had to come back to the temple even if you had to travel in the night. The pouch that the little maid sent looks really beautiful and you treat it as a treasure. You won't even let us see it. Ask Brother Ling, if there isn't a beautiful girl, would you hurry here so anxiously?” A lazy voice rang.

”It is a happy thing to be meeting a beautiful girl. Look at the lights in the distance, aren't we reaching the end of the road? Brother Sima, we are brothers, so let your little brother take a look at her? We won't interrupt your meeting with the girl.” The other man's shrill voice sounded.

”Miss, there are six people ahead of us. Three of them are child servants.” Mo Ye reminded her. She stood still and her slender figure seemed even longer under the lights.

Mo Xuetong felt a rush of coldness. .h.i.tting her when she heard that. Sharp fingernails dug into the flesh of her palms.

Mo Xuemin was so vicious!

She was supposed to be praying for blessings for her mother but was caught meeting with a lover. If there was any evidence...

Was she going to take the same path as she had in her past life? Was she going to die wronged again? Red filled her eyes. It was as if the pain she felt that day in the fire was tearing at her...

No. She would not let them succeed. She would rather die than fall into that pathetic state again. She seemed to be seeing that scene of death that brought her sadness, hatred, and pain. She swore to G.o.d...

”Mo Ye, how many people can you take with you into the air?” She asked calmly.

”I can only help one person up a tree.” Mo Ye immediately understood what she was planning and answered softly.

”Miss, you go up with Mo Ye. I, I...” Mo Lan gritted her teeth and surveyed her surroundings. She naturally could not let others see her as well. She was a personal maid of her mistress. Even if they did not see her mistress but saw her, her mistress would still be gossiped to have been meeting her lover.

”Mo Ye, take Mo Lan up the tree.” Mo Xuetong's gaze landed on the edges of the wall and she ordered clearly.

”Miss...”

”Your hand has been injured. You can't catch a cold.” Mo Xuetong stopped Mo Lan from speaking firmly! Mo Lan must not worsen her injuries.

The voices on the path grew closer and closer!

”Brother He, Brother Ling, I'm really not meeting a beautiful girl. The maid is from my manor and the pouch is definitely not some token of love. My younger sister made it for me. Brothers, you all had better get down the mountain. The rooms here are tiny and is not meant to house so many people.” Sima Lingyun suddenly turned around when he saw the lights in front. He held his hand out and said anxiously, half pleading.