The noble girl is beautiful.

Shen Yourong was late again. Yesterday was Shen Qingyan’s birthday, and they had secretly drank alcohol, staying up very late.
When she woke up this morning, she still felt tired, and everything she did was slow. As expected, when she arrived at the schoolroom, everyone was already there.
She looked around but didn’t see Ji Zhuo, who usually sat at the head. She sat down at her own seat and quietly asked, “Where’s Master?”
Shen Qinghan, who was reading, replied, “Master will be a little late today. Bai Yan said that he went to pray yesterday and stayed at the temple overnight, so he will arrive later today.”
Shen Yourong nodded and added some water to the inkstone to grind ink. After she finished writing a big character, Ji Zhuo finally arrived.
He probably came straight from the temple, dressed in a simple white silk robe, a simple wooden hairpin holding up his hair, and a string of sandalwood prayer beads in his hand, emitting a faint sandalwood fragrance.
Perhaps his mind had been cleansed by the temple, Shen Yourong showed him the unfinished big character as yesterday’s assignment, but Ji Zhuo remained calm and even praised, “You’ve improved.”
She returned to her seat and commented that it’s good to pray, suggesting they should do it more often.
During the Ghost Festival in mid-July, the mansion was preparing for the autumn tasting and ancestral sacrifice. Concubine Shu in the palace was a Buddhist believer, and July fifteenth was a big day.
She not only prayed in the palace but also instructed the Fourth Prince to go to the Temple to burn incense and chant sutras.
When the old lady heard about it, she wanted to go along. Firstly, to pray for Concubine Shu’s blessings, secondly, to pray for Shen Qingfeng’s success in the imperial examination, and thirdly, because it’s cooler in the mountains than outside, she could stay there for a few days to avoid the summer heat.
So she ordered Lady Yang and Lady Li to go with the family’s young ladies and young masters.
While the young masters were still indifferent, the young ladies couldn’t contain their excitement when they heard they were going out. They immediately started packing their belongings.
Several young ladies were in Shen Yourong’s room, each holding a bowl of ice with kernels, eating while watching the maids pack. Being noble, from silk beddings to chamber pots, everything had to be brought from home, and they wouldn’t use anything from outside.
Hua Mei was preparing cosmetics, Du Juan was tidying clothes, and Shen Qinghan said, “It’s cool in the mountains, so we should bring two cloaks to prevent rain and wind. Those wide-sleeved robes should be left behind.
I didn’t bring the one I wore to the festival the other day, fearing it might get damaged in the mountains.”
Shen Qingyan agreed, “I think you all should prepare two silk robes like me, so we can have fun later.”
Shen Yourong commented, “There are none readily available. I’m afraid we’ll have to buy ready-made clothes at the fabric store.”
“Just wear it once, and it doesn’t matter if it’s not homemade,” Shen Qinghan said. “By the way, grandmother instructed you to bring the pair of earrings she rewarded you with.”
Shen Yourong glanced at Shen Qingyan, who didn’t say anything, just biting on a small silver spoon and watching the maids pack.
She withdrew her gaze and replied, “I understand.”
The Duke’s mansion set off, with the entire retinue occupying an entire street with their carriages. They left early in the morning and arrived at Donglin Temple around noon.
The temple had already prepared clean courtyards. The old lady, Lady Yang, and Lady Li stayed in one courtyard, Shen Yourong took several young ladies to another, while the young masters were led by Shen Qingfeng to stay together. Shen Shuo had duty and didn’t accompany everyone.
When they arrived in the courtyard, the maids first arranged a place for the young ladies to rest, and then went to unpack the things brought from home, making a noisy mess until noon.
The temple’s little monks said that the vegetarian meal was ready, so everyone waited outside the courtyard gate. The maids each took their respective meals and brought them back to their rooms.
After finishing the meal, Shen Yourong sat for a while and chatted with the maids while digesting her food. After a short while, she felt sleepy. Du Juan and Hua Mei laid out the bedding and served her to take a nap.
After waking up in the afternoon, she finally felt a bit refreshed. Du Juan helped her change clothes and comb her hair, then took out the pair of pearl earrings from the jewelry box.
She frowned, “I don’t want these.”
Du Juan advised, “We’ll have to go to the old lady later, it’s better not to be unwilling.”
She had no choice but to give in and changed into a apricot-colored brocade jacket with emerald green patterns and a sapphire-blue gold-sprinkled long skirt. She looked fresh and lively, especially with those pearl earrings, which suited her well.
She first called Shen Qinghan and Shen Qingyan to go see the old lady with her. Shen Qinghan said, “Mother has instructed us earlier, saying that the grandmother is talking to the master, so let’s go play by ourselves.
We’ll go offer incense early tomorrow morning. The Third Miss has already gone out to play.”
“In that case, let’s go out for a stroll together,” Shen Yourong suggested.
Shen Qinghan waved her hand, “Mother asked me to transcribe scriptures for my brother for blessings. I still have some left to do. You go ahead, and I’ll find you when I’m done.”
Shen Yourong had no choice but to go out alone with the maids.
Donglin Temple was located halfway up the mountain, with magnificent mountain gates and grand halls. Looking up at the mountaintop, there were clouds and mist, and looking down at the foot of the mountain, there were lush trees.
Shen Yourong wandered aimlessly to the back mountain, where there was a stone bridge facing a rushing waterfall, with green trees swaying on both sides.
She walked to the bridge, and the splashes of water from the waterfall fell on her. She used her fan to shield herself and ran with the maids, laughing all the way.
It was cool in the mountains, without any sense of sultriness. The mountain breeze blew, making their clothes flutter, making them feel comfortable all over.
She felt much more relaxed, looking up at the waterfall. The mist rose from the waterfall, reflecting the sunlight with a rainbow shadow.
Du Juan felt chilly and said, “I’ll go back to get a piece of clothing. Hua Mei, please take care of miss.”
Hua Mei replied, and Shen Yourong watched her leave, saying, “I don’t feel cold, just pleasantly cool.”
“Du Juan is worried that miss might catch a cold.”
Hua Mei saw a small stone pavilion in the bamboo forest at the end of the stone bridge and said, “Miss, let’s go sit there for a while.”
Shen Yourong agreed, and together with her, they crossed the bridge to the other side. The stone pavilion leaned against the mountain, with a forest in front of it, and there were steps leading upwards, all covered with moss.
Shen Yourong walked into the pavilion, and Hua Mei padded a stone bench with her handkerchief for her to sit on. As soon as Shen Yourong sat down, she suddenly heard voices mingled with the rushing water.
“…The salt administration in Yangzhou is short of thirty thousand taels of silver, but the person in charge, Mr. Jiang, is His Majesty’s confidant.
The court is in an uproar, but His Majesty has hinted to Mr. Jiang that as long as he repays the thirty thousand taels of silver, this matter will be overlooked…”
Hua Mei didn’t understand and looked at Shen Yourong, who signaled her to keep quiet, looking serious.
“…Mr. Jiang has gathered the thirty thousand taels of silver and is sending it to the capital.”
After a moment of silence, another voice came from above, neither hurried nor slow, “Rob the thirty thousand taels. If Mr. Jiang Hong can’t produce the silver, even if His Majesty wants to protect him, he won’t be able to.
If Mr. Jiang Hong dares to embezzle the silver from the imperial examination, wait until after the autumn exam, and then bring this matter up.”
“Yes, I’ll go and do it.”
Hua Mei’s eyes were filled with fear, and she tightly held Shen Yourong’s hand. Shen Yourong tensed all over, even her breathing became lighter. After a long silence, she and Hua Mei exchanged a glance and quietly stood up to walk back.
The area around the stone pavilion was rugged, and Shen Yourong walked hurriedly, accidentally stepping on a stone and twisting her ankle, causing her to stagger. Hua Mei quickly grabbed her, “Miss!”
As soon as the words were spoken, Hua Mei covered her mouth in horror. Everything around fell silent, and footsteps suddenly came from above, hurrying down the stone steps.
Before they could react, a sword was thrust towards Hua Mei.
“Master, wait!” Shen Yourong shouted.
The long sword stopped just in front of her.
Shen Yourong turned to see that it was Changsu, Ji Zhuo’s attendant, who held the sword. Behind him, Changming also came down from the stone steps, looking surprised when he saw her.
There was also a figure in white on the stone steps, but Shen Yourong couldn’t see his face, only his hand holding onto the stone railing with a string of sandalwood prayer beads hanging from his wrist.
When she heard the voice earlier, she already knew who it was.
Changming walked to Changsu’s side and gestured for him to take Hua Mei away. Shen Yourong was anxious, but powerless to stop them, but she still tried to maintain a calm and composed demeanor.
Finally, the man on the stone steps moved. He walked down slowly, came to the pavilion, and picked up the lotus-patterned fan that she had dropped.
It was a lotus-colored lotus fan, with delicate lotus flowers and green leaves, also a pattern painted by Ji Zhuo.
He picked up the fan and walked step by step to Shen Yourong’s side, handing her the fan with his usual gentle and calm demeanor.
“Be careful, Miss.” His voice was warm.
She tightened her grip on the fan, “Thank you, Master.”
She reached out to take the fan from him, but then she heard him ask, “Miss, did you hear anything?”
Her hand trembled, almost dropping the fan again.
Ji Zhuo stood with his hands behind his back, looking warmly at her.
“I… I didn’t hear anything.” She kept her head down, not meeting his gaze. “I’ve been out here for a while, and my family will come looking for me.”
She didn’t care whether he believed what she said or not, but she only signaled to him that she was the daughter of the Duke’s mansion, and if something happened to her, it wouldn’t be a small matter.
But he smiled and said, “This place is quiet, with a steep slope below and a deep stream outside. If you accidentally fall down the slope or into the stream, no one will hear you calling for help.”
The hairs on her stood up, never expecting that the gentle master in the schoolroom would say such words.
“I… ” She took a deep breath to calm herself, “If something happens to me, it’s one thing, but my brother won’t be easily fooled.”
He didn’t say anything, just played with the sandalwood prayer beads in his hand. The sound of the splashing waterfall was loud, but Shen Yourong felt her heartbeat louder.
Suddenly, Ji Zhuo moved. He took a step towards her, who was taken aback and instinctively tried to step back, but she twisted her ankle and felt a sharp pain.
Seeing that she was about to fall, he reached out and caught her.
He suddenly appeared in front of her, and her face turned pale with fear, but he still had that gentle look, “Miss, be careful.”
She didn’t say anything, and his fingers touched the earring on her ear, “This thing that was taken from a dead person’s head, does Miss not mind wearing it?”
Shen Yourong held her breath, unable to say a word. His fingers moved lightly, and he removed one earring from her ear. Then he let go, and Shen Yourong sat down on the ground.
She endured the pain and looked up at him. He looked down at her with a commanding presence, “This is Miss’s personal item. If it falls into the hands of someone untrustworthy, Miss’s reputation will be ruined.”
Shen Yourong said, “I really didn’t hear anything.”
Ji Zhuo remained calm, “Whether you heard it or not, if things don’t go well, they will inevitably be blamed on you. Miss, I hope everything goes well for me.”
After speaking, he raised his hand, and Changming released Hua Mei. She quickly ran to Shen Yourong’s side.
Ji Zhuo turned around, his figure straight like a bamboo pole.
“Changming, escort Miss back.”