On this final day, while Sang Wan was having her vegetarian meal, Liu Ya casually asked with a laugh if there were any scenic spots worth visiting in the nunnery. The nun who brought the meal laughed and said: "Miss, even if you didn’t ask, I was just about to mention it. Since our place is called Meihua Temple, the plum blossoms are naturally unparalleled! Just behind the nunnery, dozens of acres of plum blossoms are planted. The cold energy here makes this the perfect time for them to bloom, like a sea of fragrant snow. Ma’am, it would be a real pity if you don’t take a look while you’re here! How about I take ma’am for a walk after the meal?"
"This—" Sang Wan hesitated a bit, smiling and shaking her head, "Let it be, perhaps another time when there’s a chance!"
The grandmother was chanting sutras and praying for blessings, and even though she didn’t need her to wait by her side, it didn’t seem right for her to go out and have fun.
The nun continued to persuade with a smile: "If not this time, you’ll have to wait until next year, and that would be too much of a pity! Yesterday, the senior madam also took a stroll and praised it a lot! Our plum blossoms are renowned throughout Qingzhou City! Everyone says they bloom better and look more lively than anywhere else!"
Liu Ya too was tempted after hearing this, unable to resist persuading alongside, and with the nun urging sentence after sentence, Sang Wan was gradually swayed and indeed went with her maid and the nun after their meal.
"Ma’am, look, that’s it over there!" Not long into their walk, the nun pointed towards a faint glimpse of crimson clouds in the distance and said with a smile.
Following the direction pointed out by the nun, Sang Wan and her maid saw exactly that, and she smiled and nodded in praise.
As they were almost there, out of nowhere a little nun ran up, panting, and whispered something into the ear of the lead nun, who seemed slightly startled and then turned to Sang Wan and her maid with an apologetic smile: "Something has come up in the nunnery, ma’am, if you go around here and out the back door, you’ll be right there! I must take my leave first!"
"Thank you for your help!" Sang Wan nodded with a smile and continued forward with Liu Ya.
Upon exiting the back door, the plum forest was right before their eyes, with bursts of elegant fragrance rushing towards them, refreshing and invigorating the heart, and an endless sea of flowers blooming in clusters, waving their branches enthusiastically—reds, pinks, and whites abloom in a lively display. Official source is n0velfire.net
"Ma’am, these plum blossoms are indeed vibrant! They’re truly beautiful!" Liu Ya praised with a smile.
"Perhaps being close to the Bodhisattva, they’ve also been imbued with a touch of spiritual aura!" Sang Wan joked.
"Hehe, sister-in-law, that’s cleverly said! It even clears up some confusion for me!" A young girl wearing a pale yellow outfit emerged from the side with a giggle, holding two plum blossoms in her hand. By her side followed the maid Cai Yun, dressed in a blue and green long vest and a white silk skirt.
"Third sister!" Sang Wan said joyfully, quickly smiling and stepping forward, "You’re here too!"
"Yes, I thought I’d take a leisurely walk before returning tomorrow, but I didn’t expect to bump into big sister-in-law here! Silly me, I should have arranged to come together with you!" Shi Lian said with a laugh, linking arms with Sang Wan.
"No matter, here we are meeting up!" The two exchanged smiles and began to walk into the plum forest, chatting and laughing while admiring and critiquing the scenery.
Meihua Temple’s plum blossoms truly lived up to their reputation. The sisters-in-law lingered and admired them endlessly, full of praise. At the height of their enjoyment, they suddenly heard Xingzhi calling out loudly, "Ma’am," while searching for them in the plum forest.
Liu Ya heard and promptly responded loudly, running off to meet her.
"Ma’am, Third Miss, you’re here!" Xingzhi hurried forward, laughing and out of breath as she greeted them.
"What’s the rush? Take it easy and tell us!" Sang Wan said with a smile.
Xingzhi looked somewhat embarrassed as she glanced at Shi Lian. Sang Wan playfully scolded her: "What are you being shy about, girl? Third sister is not an outsider! Is it the madam calling me?"
"Not quite," Xingzhi shook her head, then went on with a smile: "It’s... it’s the young master who has arrived..."
Sang Wan couldn’t help but blush, suddenly feeling a bit embarrassed, with a mix of annoyance and sweetness in her heart. Shi Lian chuckled and, pushing Sang Wan, said with a laugh: "If big brother has come, you better hurry up and go, sister-in-law! No doubt, he must be waiting for you!"
"Let’s go back together!" Sang Wan said with a smile.
"I’d still like to take a longer look around; you go on ahead, sister-in-law, don’t keep big brother waiting anxiously!"
Without insisting further, Sang Wan said her goodbyes with a smile and left with Xingzhi and Liu Ya.
Since the temple traditionally did not welcome male visitors, Shi Fengju had not entered the temple but waited behind the mountain. Following Xingzhi out of the plum forest, Sang Wan saw Shi Fengju standing with a smile under a cluster of bamboo next to the plum forest.
Knowing the situation, Xingzhi and Liu Ya discreetly stepped back, and Sang Wan approached smiling, "How did you come here? If you were coming, then it would have been fine, since third sister and I were just in the plum forest. You could have come inside. Why did you make Xingzhi call me out?"