Two days later.
One of the most prosperous cities beyond the pass, Fengtian City!
The afternoon sun still had some strength, slanting down on Fengtian City's most bustling Central Street.
Ding-ling-ling, a crisp ringing.
A rickshaw covered with thick cotton canopy passed by swiftly, the rickshaw puller's breath forming long white clouds as he stepped on the frozen hard ground.
A concubine sat on top, wrapped in a sable fur cloak, a circle of glossy fur at the collar setting off her powdered face with a lustrous glow.
She proudly raised her little head and shouted delicately at the rickshaw puller in front, "Go faster!"
By the roadside, several military officers in yellow woolen military uniforms covered with fur-collared greatcoats strolled out from the entrance of the Grand View Garden Theater nearby.
Their leather boots clacked on the ground. In their hands they carried newly bought iron boxes of San Pao Tai cigarettes, the paper strings digging into their fingers until they turned red.
"This damn weather is really cold!"
"Let's visit the Nai Zi Mansion tonight!"
As they passed by, they brought a gust of cold wind mixed with the smell of tobacco and horse boot oil.
By the street, the stove selling sugar-roasted chestnuts was blazing hot.
The black sand and chestnuts in the large iron wok rustled loudly, releasing steam with a burnt-sweet smell.
Beside the stand selling hot tofu pudding, several rickshaw pullers who did hard labor were squatting.
Holding coarse porcelain bowls, eating with sesame cakes, steaming hot all over their heads.
The shoulders of their worn cotton jackets were worn shiny, patches upon patches.
"Candied——hawthorn! Crisp candied hawthorn!"
The peddler carrying a straw stack still called out brightly.
Bright red hawthorns wrapped in crystalline sugar shells, frozen hard and crisp in the cold air, like red agates.
"Stop for a moment, stop for a moment."
Lu Yuan suddenly poked his head out from inside the carriage, grabbing the driver.
When the driver brought the horse carriage to a steady stop, the three people from the carriage filed out and gathered around the vendor selling candied hawthorn.
"Brother Lu, I want this one!"
"Then I want this one!"
Xu Erxiao and Wang Cheng'an both hurriedly stood on tiptoe to pluck candied hawthorns from the straw stack.
Lu Yuan took out money from his chest while looking at the candied hawthorns on the straw stack, swallowing his saliva.
Lu Yuan quite liked eating these things too.
After paying, the three of them took the candied hawthorns and started munching on them right there on the street.
The prosperity of Fengtian City, to be honest, made the three of them somewhat uncomfortable.
Not to mention Xu Erxiao and Wang Cheng'an, these two half-grown lads who grew up in the village.
Even Lu Yuan, who had previously traveled far and wide with the old man, actually hadn't been to Fengtian City many times.
The last time he came was in the middle of the year, to visit Auntie Qin's home.
Did the common people in Fengtian City not need Daoist priests?
Not exactly.
The main thing was, right next to Fengtian City was a grand temple, White Cloud Temple.
Before True Dragon Temple rose to prominence this year, White Cloud Temple had always been the number one temple in the Fengtian City area.
Of course, it still was now.
Although True Dragon Temple had changed tremendously this year and gained quite a reputation.
Compared to White Cloud Temple, it was still somewhat lacking, without much heritage and White Cloud Temple was located in the north of Fengtian City.
When the common people of Fengtian City had any issues, they could reach White Cloud Temple just by leaving the city.
Naturally they wouldn't go the long way around to True Dragon Temple, which required two days by horse carriage.
In fact, True Dragon Temple wouldn't accept jobs from Fengtian City either.
First, this would be considered poaching business.
Second, mainly it was too far, not convenient for the temple's disciples to do jobs.
After all, if this job was in Fengtian City and the next job required going to some village, just the travel would take several days.
How could they do the jobs?
So for all these reasons, Lu Yuan had only been to Fengtian City twice.
This made Lu Yuan and the other two, who normally only traveled around towns, somewhat uncomfortable facing the sudden bustle.
The three of them munched on candied hawthorns and prepared to board the carriage but Lu Yuan noticed across the street a silk and satin shop called "Lao Tian He."
At the entrance, a shop assistant was vigorously stamping his feet to keep warm, exhaling white breath from his mouth.
Smiling at passing gentlemen and concubines wrapped in woolen coats, "We have newly arrived foreign wool inside, very warm! Come in and take a look?"
Lu Yuan blinked his eyes and thought about it. He couldn't go visiting empty-handed.
So he went across to the silk and satin shop again.
Finally, carrying several yards of good fabric, he returned to the horse carriage.
Logically speaking, having arrived in Fengtian City, he should first go sit at Auntie Qin's home. However, after reading the old man's handwritten book these past two days, Lu Yuan felt he should go to Auntie Qiao'er's home first.
After finishing the job at Auntie Qiao'er's home, there would still be time to stay at Auntie Qin's home for two days.
...
At the same time, inside the Zhao residence, everyone was anxious and hurried, like ants on a hot pan.
Two days!
A full two days!!
Two nights ago, their madam's illness had suddenly worsened.
Originally it was just a fever and a slight cough but in these two days it had worsened to the point where she was practically coughing out her lungs!
Her body was frighteningly hot!
No matter how many supplements she took, even medicinal cuisine made from top-grade spirit meat was useless!
If this continued, wouldn't her brain get damaged!
Doctors had come in several batches, all shaking their heads.
The people of the Zhao residence weren't fools. Previously the madam had gone through an incident in Ningyuan Town, and now this again.
Clearly, this wasn't simply illness.
In fact, that was exactly right. Wang Fu had brought Daoist Masters from White Cloud Temple who all said it was evil qi.
So since it was confirmed, why not exorcise the evil?
But the madam just wouldn't!
No matter what, she wouldn't let the people from White Cloud Temple come!
She insisted on waiting for her dear nephew to come.
Two days ago, Wang Fu had already rushed at full speed to True Dragon Temple to request someone, but right now there was still no sign of anyone returning.
This made everyone at the Zhao residence extremely anxious.
If she kept burning with fever like this, the madam would be finished!!
"Steward Wang, what exactly does the madam mean?!"
"We've been waiting here for several days. You could say before when it was just minor stuff and she didn't let us help, that was fine."
"But now it's this serious and she still won't let us in?"
"What, she just doesn't trust us at White Cloud Temple, is that it?"
In the front courtyard of the Zhao residence, in the main room, several Daoist Masters frowned with unwilling faces.
To be honest, this was only because it was Zhao Qiao'er.
A major patron of White Cloud Temple!
If it were anyone else, the Daoist Masters from White Cloud Temple would have turned and left in anger long ago!
But that Zhao Qiao'er just wouldn't let these people in. Naturally they didn't dare force their way in, and could only grumble here.
Wang Fu was pacing anxiously in the main room, looking toward the main gate from time to time.
Two days ago he had sent someone at full speed to True Dragon Temple. Logically speaking, they should be back today!
But where were they?!
As for the grumbling of these Daoist Masters from White Cloud Temple, Wang Fu could only hurriedly placate them,"No, no... Masters, please calm down..."
"At the latest... at the latest by tonight!!"
"If that Daoist Master Lu Yuan from True Dragon Temple still hasn't come, we'll let you in!"
No matter how he would be punished in the end, Wang Fu couldn't just watch Zhao Qiao'er die, right??
Hearing Wang Fu's words, these Daoist Masters could only sigh and say nothing more.
In their hearts they were extremely annoyed, wondering why this madam was so set on that True Dragon Temple!!
At this moment Wang Fu was extremely anxious, looking toward the main gate from time to time.
Once, twice...
After the third time, Wang Fu stood there dumbfounded, looking at the main gate and rubbing his eyes, thinking he had seen wrong.
At the same time, Lu Yuan and the other two, knowing nothing of this, were carrying large and small packages as they arrived at the main gate of the Zhao residence.
Lu Yuan came before the martial master guarding the gate. Just as Lu Yuan was about to ask him to help announce their arrival.
Wang Fu's anxious voice suddenly came from inside, "Daoist Master Lu Yuan!! Daoist Master Lu Yuan!!"
Huh?
Hearing Wang Fu's commotion, Lu Yuan looked into the Zhao residence.
He saw Wang Fu and a group of Daoist Masters behind him jogging toward him.
Seeing this scene, Lu Yuan couldn't help but frown.
This was bad, something had happened.
After Wang Fu and his group reached Lu Yuan, Lu Yuan didn't waste words and directly asked, "Just say it!"
"What happened!"
Wang Fu didn't beat around the bush either. Like beans pouring from a bamboo tube, he laid out everything that had happened these past few days.
When Lu Yuan heard that Zhao Qiao'er was practically dying but still wouldn't let other Daoist priests in.
Lu Yuan anxiously slapped his thigh, "Yikes!!!"
"What is that damn woman thinking!!!"
He cursed urgently and loudly, completely unceremoniously.
Everyone around was stunned.
Especially those few Daoist Masters from White Cloud Temple, they looked at each other, thinking who is this kid cursing at??
It couldn't be... the president of the White Deer Commerce Association, Zhao Qiao'er...
But Lu Yuan paid no attention to others' gazes at all, shoving aside Wang Fu who was blocking the way.
"Quick, quick, quick!!"
"Hurry up and take me in!!"
"She really makes me furious!!!"