A master of metaphysics is farming.

Chapter 125 A Commoner

Inside a small courtyard, numerous gifts of gratitude were displayed.

Xing Ji brewed and poured tea for Feng Fujing, who kept saying thank you, his words never stopping.

"Taoist Master, could you please take another look and see if there's anything you need to be careful about with Jiaojiao?"

Feng Jiaojiao kept her head down, not daring to look up, and nervously rubbed her hands on her knees.

Xiang He placed the tea in front of her. "Third Miss, please raise your head?"

She looked up after a long pause, her eyes darting around nervously, "Daoist Master..."

Seeing her like this, Feng Fujing immediately explained, "Jiaojiao is a little shy around strangers, please don't take offense, Daoist."

"will not."

Xiang He carefully examined her face; it was no longer rosy but rather bluish, and her brows were lowered, her eyes downcast.

"The yin energy has completely dissipated. However, the Third Miss's blood and qi are not flowing smoothly, and her kidney qi is insufficient, resulting in weakness. She needs to be nourished for a period of time."

Having received this unexpected explanation, Feng Fujing repeatedly expressed his gratitude, "Would the Taoist priest be willing to take my daughter's pulse? Her health has always been so poor, and even going to the temple to pray to Buddha hasn't helped..."

Xiang He reached out his hand, and Feng Jiaojiao's trembling hand rested on the table. "Listen, listen to what Father said... that thing that's haunting me is... is it a ghost from that temple?"

“It’s not a ghost from the temple,” Xiang He said, pressing his fingers lightly on the acupoints. “It’s a ghost formed from clay in the temple. You’re weak, which is why it’s following you. Just get more sun exposure and drink some tonics to replenish your qi and blood.”

Feng Jiaojiao nodded repeatedly, "Thank you so much, Daoist Master..."

You don't need to be so afraid.

Xiang He withdrew his hand and took out yellow paper from the cloth bag, while Xing Ji, with sharp eyes, prepared cinnabar.

"Mr. Feng, please remember not to give her too much nourishment. Just give her gentle tonics, so as not to harm her health if she is too weak to handle them."

"I will remember this!"

When Xing Ji brought over the cinnabar, Xiang He calmed his mind and wrote the talisman on the yellow paper, then blew on the writing to dry it and folded it up.

"This is a protective amulet that you should wear close to your body. You've been feeling weak lately, and if you go out, you might attract ghosts. This amulet will keep you safe."

These words were frightening to hear, and Feng Jiaojiao immediately took the item and clutched it in her hand, saying, "Thank you so much, Daoist Master..."

Feng Fujing thanked him again, "Thank you very much, Taoist priest." He took out a red cloth bag from his sleeve, "This is money for incense. Please don't refuse it, Taoist priest."

"Of course not." Xiang He put the red cloth bag aside, then suddenly remembered something, "Third Miss, don't come home too late at night. If you really can't come home early, remember to go with a group of people."

"Jiaojiao hasn't been going out much lately, so we'll arrange for someone to stay with her more often."

"That's good."

The two talked for a while, and Feng Fujing, not wanting to disturb them any longer, stood up, clasped his hands in farewell, and said, "Daoist, if you have free time another day, you are welcome to dine at Qionghua Pavilion. I will not charge you a penny!"

"Mr. Feng, you're too kind. Let's do it another day."

"Then we, Jiaojiao and I, will take our leave now, so as not to disturb the Daoist's cultivation."

"Walk slowly."

After seeing off the group from the Feng family, Xiang He looked back at the gifts, "As expected of a wealthy person, so generous..."

Xing Ji tidied up the tea set. "Won't you take a look at what it is, young lady?"

"It smells like some medicinal herbs, as well as cloth and gold and silver. We can't very well give the Taoist priest flowers to wear."

Zhu Nan had already opened the gift box. "It's ginseng. The cloth is from Xiang Ran Fang. The young lady and the Wang family are truly destined for each other."

Xiang He smiled at him, "Why are you talking about fate now? Send that ginseng to Grandpa Tang. As for the other medicinal herbs, I'll be making medicinal meals these days. Your young master's exams are taking a toll on his brain, so he needs some nourishment."

"If the young master knew that the young lady was concerned, he would surely be pleased."

Xiang Hexi glanced at Xing Ji, "Now you're speaking well of your young master? Have you found out where there are any Taoist temples?"

Xing paused for a moment before saying, "There is Tianyun Temple in the south of the city, Zhenjun Temple on Guide Mountain to the east of the city, and Ci'an Temple in the southwest."

Zhu Nan, who was tidying up in the kitchen, pursed her lips and brought out the meat and dishes on the table. "Miss, please have lunch first."

Seeing their calm expressions, Xiang He put the red cloth bag into the cloth bag. "Alright, let's eat first."

The three sat together at a square table, where the meat and dishes smelled delicious.

"Xing Ji, come out with me in a little while. I want to buy black cloth to sew a Taoist robe."

This surprised the two of them. Xing Ji silently picked up some food and asked, "Won't you go to the Taoist temple first, Miss?"

"What's the rush? The Taoist temple isn't going anywhere."

"The young lady is right..."

Just as Zhu Nan was about to say something, the two men's eyes sharpened. "Miss, someone else is here."

"It's really lively today..."

People come and go, and people come and go.

Xing Ji went out to welcome the person in. Hearing the footsteps but not seeing the person, Xiang He already guessed who it was. She put down her bowl and chopsticks before standing up and bowing, "Greetings, Your Highness. Your sudden visit is truly unexpected."

"No need for formalities, young lady. It seems I've arrived at just the right time; you're having lunch!"

Hearing this, Xiang He knew he wanted to sit down, so she turned slightly to the side and said, "It's just simple food, Your Highness, please don't find it offensive."

Shen Zhuoci sat down on his own and greeted them like a host, "How could that be! Quickly, you should sit down too. I was planning to invite you to Qionghua Pavilion."

What a coincidence, the owner of Qionghua Pavilion just left...

Xiang He sat down silently, Xing Ji cleared away the dishes and went into the kitchen, and Zhu Nan prepared new dishes and set them aside.

Seeing that the two were about to leave, Shen Zhuoci quickly called out, "You two sit down and eat too!"

"I have eaten my fill. Please enjoy your meal, Your Highness and Miss."

Xing Ji and Zhu Nan had already walked far away. Xiang He picked up her chopsticks and took some food. "Please have your meal, Your Highness."

Such an unfamiliar tone made Shen Zhuoci purse his lips. "I am quite fortunate to have met you on the street. We even share similar interests. Why are we still so distant?"

It sounded like a complaint, but Xiang He smiled faintly and said, "I am just a commoner, how could I overstep my bounds?"

"Look at what you're saying..." Shen Zhuoci picked up a piece of meat and ate it, his eyes lighting up. "Who made this! It's delicious!"

"As long as the young master likes it."

The two fell silent for a moment. Shen Zhuoci seemed to really enjoy the food, as he ordered two more large bowls of rice.

After finishing his meal, he patted his stomach and exclaimed, "The young lady's cooking is superb. I'm so glad I didn't go to Qionghua Pavilion, or I would have missed out on a great meal."

"Excellent."

Xing Ji came over to clear the dishes, and Xiang He, seeing that Shen Zhuoci was still not leaving, had no choice but to say helplessly, "Your Highness, I have to go out in a little while, you..."

These were clearly words meant to turn away guests, but Shen Zhuoci didn't find them offensive. Instead, he asked curiously, "Where are you going, young lady? I'm quite free today, so I'll go with you?"

"..." Xiang He was speechless. "But I walked there, you..."

"Don't say such unfriendly things. I just ate too much, so I'll take a walk to digest."

She knew that Shen Zhuoci wanted to come along, and even if she refused, she couldn't stop him, so she could only let him follow.

Although I allowed him to come along, it was just too conspicuous...

The people on the street were talking about it. How could it not be strange that a simply dressed girl was traveling with the heir of the Marquis of Changning's mansion?

The onlookers were suspicious, but the two involved didn't seem to care at all.

The four strolled leisurely along West Market Street, looking around. They spotted a familiar-looking cloth shop with a gate and went inside.

Shen Zhuoci looked up and then went inside.

The shopkeeper was busy and didn't have time to attend to Xiang He, but when he saw Shen Zhuoci, he immediately put down what he was doing, bowed and walked over, "Your Highness's presence is an honor to our humble shop!"

"It's that young lady who wants to buy cloth."

The shopkeeper quickly shifted his gaze, and when he saw Xiang He, he quickly concealed his doubts. "What color cloth would you like, young lady? I'll find it for you."

Xiang He glanced around, then looked at the shopkeeper. This one was completely different from the shopkeeper in Shuiyun City; this one was much more obsequious…

"Does your dyeing workshop have black cloth?"