Chapter 296: Went to Play

Translator: Atlas Studios  Editor: Atlas Studios

“Haha, I don’t have one.”

Eunuch Li sneered and closed his eyes. “He’s taking his sweet time. He’s waiting for someone to come looking for him.”

To put it bluntly, this reward was a signal for Emperor Chong’an to recruit these soldiers. Anyone who was not stupid would understand.

“Since we’ve come to the military camp today, we should start distributing food tomorrow.” He wondered if this would go according to His Majesty’s wishes.

Just as Eunuch Li had said, a long shed was set up at the city gate the next day. More than ten soldiers knocked on bronze gongs.

They began to publicize Emperor Chong’an’s benevolence in all the streets and alleys of Xunyang City. At the same time, they informed everyone that they could collect food at the city gate.

Regardless of what everyone was thinking, a long line quickly formed at the city gate.

Shen Yijia originally wanted to join in the fun, but she was blocked at home by Song Jingchen.

Shen Yijia was about to protest.

Song Jingchen said faintly, “Someone was knocked unconscious at the back door of the Eastern Barracks yesterday. When he woke up, he realized that his armor had been removed and thrown aside.”

Shen Yijia denied it. “I definitely didn’t do it.”

Song Jingchen looked up at her from his book. “The four of them froze for the entire afternoon and developed a high fever at night.”

“That’s impossible. There’s clearly only three.” Shen Yijia subconsciously corrected him. Halfway through, she realized that something was wrong. She puffed up her cheeks. “I’m not going.”

The corners of Song Jingchen’s mouth curled up. He reached out and pointed at the rice paper at the side. “You haven’t practiced calligraphy in a long time.”

“Oh.” Shen Yijia knew that she was in the wrong. She obediently sat down opposite Song Jingchen and started to write. She wrote two words and looked up. “Are those people alright?”

Song Jingchen raised his eyebrows. “They’ll be fine after drinking a bowl of ginger soup.”

Shen Yijia thought to herself, “Liar!”

After the reward was given, the food was also distributed. Lord Zhou originally thought that as long as he waited in the inn, someone would naturally come to visit.

However…

“Sir, it’s time to rest.” Zhou Qing went up to remind him.

This was already the third reminder.

Lord Zhou’s face was as black as ink. When those people took things, they poured out good words as if they were free. He did not think that all the people in Xunyang City were fools who could not understand His Majesty’s intentions.

However, so what if Lord Zhou was angry? He couldn’t just put a knife to their throats and make those people work for His Majesty.

“How many days worth of food can we distribute?” Lord Zhou asked in a low voice.

Zhou Qing said, “We’ll be done in about three days.”

“We’ll distribute the food tomorrow. If no one comes, there’s no need to continue.” These people did not know how to appreciate favors, so there was no need to waste food.

Lord Zhou waved Zhou Qing away with a dark expression.

It had been almost ten days since they arrived in Xunyang. He had received the emperor’s orders. As an imperial envoy, he had always been sought after wherever he went. Everyone expected him to put in a good word for them in front of His Majesty.

However, Lord An Le did not even show his face, let alone anything else.

Fortunately, the next day, someone finally knocked on the inn’s door at midnight.

Lord Zhou sat there in his official uniform. He raised his eyebrows at the few people who entered.

Shen Yijia obediently wrote at home for a few days. In the blink of an eye, it was the 25th, which was the date she agreed to go to the temple with Liu Piaopiao.

It was the last day of food distribution.

She woke up early and shivered as she put on her clothes and went out. Mo Yuan came to tell her that Song Jingchen had been called away and could only set off later.

Shen Yijia was overjoyed that Song Jingchen could take the time to accompany her, so she naturally had no objections.

They waited until it was almost time for lunch. In order to save time, Shen Yijia asked Mo Yuan to prepare some easy food and prepared to eat in the carriage.

Apart from Mo Yuan, South Wind and Thirty Thousand also went.

As for Qian Youde and Shangguan Han, in order to prevent them from disturbing the couple’s private time, Shen Yijia asked Mo Yuan for a bag of medicine and used it on them.

They probably wouldn’t be able to get up before dinner time.

“Are you that happy?” Song Jingchen looked at Shen Yijia who was stuffing hot food into her mouth. He couldn’t help but ask.

Shen Yijia quickly nodded and said in a muffled voice, “I’ve never seen a temple like this.”

Song Jingchen paused. Although the people of the Great Xia Dynasty weren’t devoted believers compared to the previous dynasty, everyone needed spiritual sustenance. Therefore, there were still many people who liked to pray to gods.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been born in a temple.

In that case, the Hidden Spirit Temple had contributed greatly to his relationship with this girl. Otherwise, his mother would definitely not have noticed the Shen family.

Hidden Spirit Temple was also the temple with the most incense offerings in the capital. It existed in the previous dynasty and still stood after the dynasty changed.

Those women from the residence would go there every once in a while to add some incense money.

However, Shen Yijia said that she had never seen the temple before. Song Jingchen did not know when she started to become Second Miss Shen.

At the thought of this, he pursed his lips and asked, “Can you enter the temple?”

“Why can’t I enter?” This question was strange.

Song Jingchen heaved a sigh of relief and shook his head. “That’s good.”

Since he was out to spend time with Shen Yijia, Song Jingchen didn’t read to pass the time. Instead, he chatted with Shen Yijia about his relationship with the temple.

“So Mother wanted you to stay there for half a month every year?” Shen Yijia asked in surprise.

Song Jingchen nodded with a smile. He didn’t feel anything in the past, but now, he felt that it was a good thing that Madam Li was a Buddhist. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have had to make a vow when the delivery period was approaching.

Due to the critical situation at that time, Madam Li felt that apart from Madam Wang’s help, it was also because of Buddha’s blessings.

Therefore, every year, Song Jingchen would go to Hidden Spirit Temple to stay for half a month on the second day of his birthday.

During that half a month, he had to wear a monk’s robe and eat and live with the monks of Hidden Spirit Temple, including attending morning classes. Basically, he had to do whatever those monks did.

And these things had persisted from the moment he learned how to speak.

During the year she spent in Xiagou Village, Madam Li never mentioned it. She probably felt that it was useless to place her hopes on Buddha.

Shen Yijia clicked her tongue and muttered, “Fortunately, I didn’t treat you as the reincarnation of Buddha and let you become a monk.”

Otherwise, she would have to consider becoming a little nun.

Song Jingchen was stunned for a moment. When he reacted, he chuckled.

This girl’s thoughts were always so novel that no one could keep up with them.

However, on second thought, it made sense.

Shen Yijia rolled her eyes. She didn’t say anything wrong. If he really became a monk, where would he find a fairy-like wife like her?

“Yes, you’re right.” Song Jingchen smiled and pulled Shen Yijia into his arms, letting her lean against him.

The two of them chatted and laughed. Thirty Thousand and South Wind were both shocked. Although they had not been with their master for long, they had never seen him talk so much.

As expected, it made sense for him to have a wife while they didn’t.

Thirty Thousand stole a glance at Mo Yuan, who was driving the carriage.

He rode closer to her.

He coughed dryly and asked, “Mo Yuan, are you cold?”