PFC Chapter 110 Snow Scene
Chapter 110 Snow Scene
The carriage traveled along the mountain road, and the third sister, Qiao Qingle, kept peeking out with curiosity, exclaiming in amazement.
Wow! This mountain path is so lively! It's so much fun.
With the Spring Festival approaching, there were many pilgrims going up the mountain to burn incense, and many vendors gathered on both sides of the road to sell their wares, making it a very lively scene.
Qiao Qingshu glanced at her second younger sister and saw that she was frowning and still worried.
He patted her hand gently and said...
"Qiao'er, you've finally managed to get out of here, so relax and clear your head. Don't worry about anything else, your older sister is here for you."
These words were like a gentle spring breeze, and Qiao'er felt reassured.
He immediately forced a smile.
"Okay, big sister."
Aunt Chen and Aunt He rode in the same carriage.
Throughout the journey, Aunt He held a string of Buddhist prayer beads in her hand and was reciting Buddhist scriptures with her head down.
Aunt Chen wanted to strike up a conversation with her, but Aunt He seemed not to hear her and did not respond.
Enraged, and remembering her current favor with the emperor, Aunt Chen boldly snatched the Buddhist prayer beads from Aunt He's hands.
He even reached out and shoved Aunt He.
"Are you muttering to yourself with your head down? Are you even listening to me when I'm talking to you?!"
Aunt He staggered, realizing her prayer beads had been snatched from her hand. Unable to overpower Aunt Chen, she could only sigh in despair.
"What were you trying to say?"
Aunt Chen was very curious, so she leaned closer to peek and ask.
"Your Le'er is getting on in years, have you started arranging her marriage yet?"
Aunt He lowered her eyes and remained indifferent.
"These things can be discussed after the eldest daughter gets married. Besides, Le'er is just a concubine's daughter and can't marry into any wealthy or noble family. It would be good if she could find a handsome and virtuous scholar to match her in the future. I only ask that she live a peaceful and smooth life."
Aunt Chen rolled her eyes in disdain.
"Aunt He, you yourself are so spineless, do you want your daughter to marry a spineless man too! If she really marries some poor, destitute scholar, not only will she be unable to hold her head high in the future, but you will be unable to hold your head high either!"
Aunt He suddenly turned her head and looked at Chen Xiangyu seriously.
"So, you've already arranged a good marriage for your Qiao'er?"
Aunt Chen immediately raised her head smugly and said,
"Of course! My Qiao'er is beautiful and virtuous, in no way inferior to Qiao Qingshu. If she were the legitimate daughter, she would definitely be even more outstanding than Qiao Qingshu!"
"I have already arranged an excellent marriage for her. If this marriage goes through, not only will Qiao'er enjoy a life of luxury, but I will also benefit from it! In the future, let's see who in the Qiao family will dare to disrespect me!"
Aunt He just stared at her, dumbfounded, and asked,
“Our family is not of high social standing, and Qiao’er is born out of wedlock. If you really marry into a wealthy or noble family, Qiao’er will never become your legal wife. Do you want her to be your concubine?”
Aunt Chen suddenly felt embarrassed and guilty after being asked this question, and she shouted in a shrill voice,
"What's wrong with being a concubine? Aren't we both concubines? If Qiao'er can marry into a family of higher status than the Marquis's mansion and become a concubine, what's wrong with that!"
Aunt He frowned and offered a heartfelt word of advice.
"Xiangyu, it is precisely because we are both concubines that we should know the bitterness of being a concubine. Are you willing to let Qiao'er follow in your footsteps?"
"Besides, you should also ask her what she thinks."
Aunt Chen's heart skipped a beat, but she quickly regained her composure.
Qiao Qingqiao is the only trump card she can play now.
If she hadn't married into a noble family, her best trump card, Chen Xiangyu, would have been wasted!
She'll never be able to turn her life around then!
She could only stay in this destitute and disrespected mansion, guarding her foolish son, and being looked down upon by the maids and servants for the rest of her life!
Qiao Qingqiao's marriage has now become the only major event she can control, and one that can completely change her destiny!
Aunt Chen gritted her teeth, a resolute ruthlessness flashing in her eyes.
"She has to marry him! It's not up to her!"
Looking at Aunt Chen's stubborn expression, Aunt He sighed softly, lamenting how such a good girl as Qiao Qingqiao could have been born into Aunt Chen's womb.
Such a well-educated and polite girl was ruined by her own mother. How wonderful it would have been if she had been raised by Madam Bai.
Bai will definitely help the second daughter arrange a reliable and suitable marriage.
Lost in thought, the carriage had already arrived at Wanfu Temple.
Everyone was helped off the carriage and entered the temple to pray and burn incense.
The abbot of the temple, Master Wukong, hurriedly stepped forward and bowed obsequiously to Aunt Chen.
"Oh dear, Auntie, you've finally arrived! The room has been prepared for you."
Qiao Qingshu looked coldly at the old monk Wukong, a mocking smile appearing on her lips.
This old monk is no good; Wanfu Temple is his den of iniquity.
He used the promise of his prayers coming true to lure many women into sharing a room with him for rituals.
That practice is actually seduction!
He spared no one, from women in their fifties or sixties to girls as young as thirteen or fourteen.
In her previous life, this scandal was exposed by her uncle, Qiao Jiye, five years later!
It was when Uncle Qiao Jiye came to Wanfu Temple to obtain Buddhist scriptures that he inadvertently stumbled upon Wukong's good deed.
He first pretended not to know anything, and after successfully leaving Wanfu Temple, he beat the drum that very night to appeal for justice and accuse Wukong of his crimes.
The officers and soldiers even found four or five mentally challenged girls who had been imprisoned for many years in a hidden room of Wanfu Temple.
"Oh, who is this?"
When Wu Kong saw Qiao Qingshu, his eyes were filled with amazement; he had never seen such a beautiful woman before.
Aunt Chen hurriedly stepped forward and said,
"This is my daughter, Qiao. The whole family has come to burn incense and pray to Buddha today. Please prepare two more rooms for us to rest."
Master Wukong gave Aunt Chen a lecherous look, his eyes narrowing in a smile.
“That’s easy, that’s easy, I’ll get right away.”
As he walked, he couldn't help but steal another glance at Qiao Qingshu.
Qiao Qingshu saw all these subtle expressions and a disdainful smile appeared on her lips.
He thought to himself, "Old bald monk, let's see if you can still laugh after tonight."
By midday, the sky had already darkened.
After everyone had eaten the vegetarian meal, they gathered in the side room to rest.
Then Lin Dong hurriedly lifted the curtain and ran in, stamping her feet as she entered the room and brushing the snow off her clothes.
"Young lady, it's snowing outside."
Aunt Chen raised an eyebrow, thinking to herself, "That's really good!"
As Wukong predicted, it really did snow today!
If we stay here tonight, things will be much easier.
Qiao Qingshu glanced at the smug Chen Yiniang and simply waved her hand to give the order.
"It's alright. If the snow falls heavily today, it won't be a problem to stay overnight."
Upon hearing Qiao Qingshu's words, Aunt Chen was overjoyed and couldn't stop smiling.
Qiao Qingshu really did lend her a hand!
She rubbed her hands together and happily continued the conversation.
"Yes, staying one night won't hurt. The snow scenery on Yanming Mountain must be absolutely stunning!"
"Everyone is truly blessed today to be able to see the first snow on Yanming Mountain."
The third daughter, Qiao Qingle, with her childlike mind, clapped her hands and cheered upon hearing this.
"Oh, that's wonderful!"
"I've never lived away from home before, and I'm enjoying the snow scenery on the mountain!"