The Mute Wife Who Brings Prosperity

Chapter 849 - 805: The Chosen One (First Update)

During the Beggar’s Festival of the Xuanjing First Year, the Royal Temple, Fahua Temple, was unprecedentedly lively. The incense path, which was already bustling, was clogged with carriages and horses. Although there was a wide area at the foot of the mountain to park the pilgrims’ carriages, many carriages preferred to block the road rather than move forward. Upon closer inspection, one could see little maidservants secretly lifting the curtains and counting the number of pilgrims climbing the mountain one by one.

The carriages of the Xu Family and the Song Family were stuck, unable to move forward or retreat.

Wen Wan let Yun Cai go ahead to inquire. Yun Cai reported back: "At the very front, there are several carriages belonging to noble families that are unwilling to move, blocking the road. Those behind cannot say much due to their noble status. I saw many pilgrims abandon their carriages and walk on foot. Why don’t we walk too? Otherwise, if this continues, we won’t reach the mountain before dark."

Wen Wan had no objections and turned to look at Song Qi and Ye Ling.

Mainly worried that the two young girls, being delicate, wouldn’t be able to walk.

Ye Ling understood her mother-in-law’s expression and quickly said, "Walking is fine. I’ve been staying indoors for the past two months and I’m almost bored to death. It’s a good opportunity to exercise."

With Ye Ling speaking up like this, Song Qi naturally had to follow suit, "I’ll walk too."

After the family discussed it, Wen Wan asked Yun Cai to inform Mrs. Xu and others in the carriage behind them, who expressed no objection.

Thus, a quarter of an hour later, the group abandoned their carriages, left the young servants to watch over them, and set off on foot to Fahua Temple with their maidservants.

Counting the maidservants, the group totaled about ten people, with Song Yuanbao as the only male. He was cheeky and, regardless of the elders present, walked side by side with Ye Ling, even saying that if Ye Ling got tired, he would carry her up.

Ye Ling was immediately too embarrassed and annoyed to speak.

Wen Wan listened, secretly amused.

Ye Ling grew even more distressed, twisting the handkerchief in her hands, her face flushed red, "Mother, look at him... "

Wen Wan said, "It’s good that Yuanbao cares for you, isn’t it?"

"But, but he..." Saying such words in front of everyone really made her so embarrassed she couldn’t face anyone!

Mrs. Xu clicked her tongue twice, "Little Yuanbao, at least consider your Aunt Jia’s feelings."

Showing affection in public, how can one properly offer incense?

Song Yuanbao, however, didn’t feel he was wrong, with an air of deservedness, "I’m just trying to let Aunt Jia share some joy, so she can draw a good fortune when seeking a sign later."

"Slick-tongued," Mrs. Xu jokingly scolded.

"Our lady will surely have good luck," Mo Xiang spoke up: "We specifically checked the almanac before heading out."

While speaking, they noticed a little maid in the red wheel and canopy carriage nearby secretly counting, likely including them too. Mo Xiang, feeling somewhat agitated, snorted, "Counting on fingers the number of people going up the mountain—later, I’m just going to avoid the main entrance and see what you do!"

The counting maid in the carriage blushed with anger, intending to lift the curtain and argue back, but was held back by the master beside her, the curtain tightly closed and no further movement.

Xu Jia glanced at Mo Xiang, "Why bother being serious with them?"

Mo Xiang couldn’t stand it, "Clearly, it’s said to be destined people—look at this, counting so many people, is this destiny? This is counting numerically, it’s too unfair!"

Wen Wan laughed, looking at Xu Jia, "So, in your family, the preferred son-in-law is Master Yun."

Xu Jia felt a bit shy, "This young girl is at that age, fantasizing, so it’s normal to have admiration for someone perfect like Master Yun."

Saying this, she squinted at Mo Xiang, "If you speak too much, I’ll send you off to marry when we return!"

Mo Xiang exclaimed "Ah" bitterly and immediately shut her mouth, not daring to say more.

Passing through the long queue of carriages to the foot of the mountain, the group began their ascent.

Xu Jia was skilled in martial arts, so climbing these stone steps wasn’t much of a challenge for her. Wen Wan, Song Fang, Song Yuanbao, and Song Qi grew up in the countryside, naturally making mountain climbing a specialty, thus moving very smoothly. Ye Ling excelled in horse polo, regularly trained quite a bit, and had good stamina, staying right with Wen Wan and the others.

Mrs. Xu and the maidservants accompanying her couldn’t manage. After walking a stretch, they were panting heavily and calling out for a pinching pain, needing to rest frequently.

Fortunately, every so often, there were pavilions beside the stone steps for pilgrims to rest. The maidservants went ahead to wipe the dust off the corridor benches, then invited the masters to sit, and took several cups from the bamboo baskets to pour warm tea that had been brewed early and stored in water sacks.

Xu Jia looked up, realizing they hadn’t even reached halfway up the mountain.

Visitors came and went continuously, but mostly men and married women. The unmarried ones mostly still waited at the foot of the mountain.

Xu Jia could almost imagine the chaotic scene of a group of young ladies scrambling to climb up before long.

Wen Wan also noticed that among the current pilgrims ascending the mountain, there weren’t many unmarried ladies. She sipped her osmanthus tea and smiled, "There are also people going up the back mountain. The girls at the front mountain are likely miscalculating."

Xu Jia was taken aback and asked her, "How do you know?"

Wen Wan truthfully said, "Third Son sent someone to arrange a guest house for us earlier, that’s how I know. He told me."

Xu Jia didn’t say anything further and fell into silence.

Yun Huai had left that house days earlier, and she didn’t know where he went. However, last night, Yun Shisan suddenly flew into her courtyard and told her to arrive early today, regardless of whether she moved quickly or slowly, the "destined person" would eventually fall upon her.

Could it be that those pilgrims at the back mountain were arranged by Yun Huai?

It’s still early, and the young ladies are reluctant to come up. There’s still a long way to go before there are a thousand pilgrims. As long as she ascends, those at the back will come to make up the numbers?

If that’s true, Yun Huai really went to great lengths for today.

Thinking of this, a warm feeling surged in Xu Jia’s heart.

After resting for a while, the group continued to climb up.

By the time they finally reached the mountain top, Mrs. Xu was clutching her chest, gasping for air, "Oh no, oh no, I’m getting old. Climbing once is already taking half a life. No matter what, I’m not coming next time. There are plenty of temples in the city. Anywhere would do, just not Fahua Temple. It’s too far and too high, too exhausting."

Wen Wan looked at the majestic and solemn gates of Fahua Temple, recalling the unprecedented fear she had once felt here. Although Master Xu Yun had said her foresight ability was closely tied to her husband’s fate, and as long as she and her husband were alive, it wouldn’t disappear, she still felt uneasy.

Xu Jia noticed the oddity, walked over, and asked her, "What’s wrong?"

"Nothing." Wen Wan shook her head and put on a smile, "Let’s go!"

Xu Jia lifted her steps, about to walk toward the gate when suddenly she saw a group of people coming from the direction of the back mountain, dressed in both luxurious and simple clothes. Some were surrounded by maids and servants, while others came alone, with baskets in their arms filled with incense meant for offering to the Buddha, not speaking to each other.

They didn’t seem like a group, more like genuine pilgrims. It’s unclear if Yun Huai had arranged them.

They headed straight for the Fahua Temple gate as soon as they arrived. At the door, there were two novice monks in gray robes, each raising their palms together with a polite "Amitabha Buddha" for everyone entering. But Xu Jia understood; they were counting.

There were too many people coming from the back mountain, and Wen Wan couldn’t compete with them, so she had to stand aside, waiting for them to enter before calling the others to walk in.

Mrs. Xu, being the eldest, was led by Wen Wan with her closely following behind.

Xu Jia wanted to walk with Wen Wan but saw a novice monk standing on the left looked at her. She paused slightly, smiled at Ye Ling, "I heard there’s a Wish Turtle inside, and it’s really difficult to throw a copper coin into its back. You have a knack for pitching; let’s give it a try later."

Ye Ling nodded, feeling a bit of excitement and expectation.

As the two spoke, they found themselves at the back. Seeing her mother-in-law walking away, Ye Ling said, "Oh," and hurried to catch up.

Xu Jia bit her lip nervously, then lifted her steps to cross the threshold.

At this moment, the novice monk who had been watching her spoke, "The Buddha guides those with fate. Lady Benefactor, you are the one-thousandth pilgrim entering the temple today, just fulfilling Master Xu Yun’s prophecy. Please come with little monk."

As the words fell, the people walking ahead all turned around in unison, looking at Xu Jia with astonishment.

Xu Jia felt uncomfortable being stared at like that. She tugged at the corner of her lips, "I don’t even know how I just..."

"Ah ah ah!" Mo Xiang screamed excitedly, running over, "Miss, have you really become the destined person Master Xu Yun spoke of?"

Xu Jia hesitated and looked at the little monk.

The little monk nodded, "Amitabha Buddha," and said, "A monk does not lie. Master ordered my brother and me to wait outside specially. From the hour of the rabbit opening the temple until now, this lady benefactor is indeed the one-thousandth pilgrim entering the temple."

"Oh my!" Mo Xiang could hardly believe it, "How lucky Miss is!"

Mrs. Xu was overwhelmed and also found it unreal. She asked Wen Wan beside her, "So, does this mean my daughter is going to marry Master Yun of the Yun family?"

Wen Wan always felt something was off, but couldn’t figure it out at the moment. She nodded, "It’s a release by Master Xu Yun himself, it can’t be false. Since it’s already confirmed that it’s Miss Xu, then this marriage is set."