Chapter 6: The Universal Salvation

  After several more days of muddle-headedness, Qing Sang's body finally improved a bit and she no longer coughed.

  。

  On this day, Pu Ji came to find Qing Sang and said anxiously: "Your grandmother has been away for half a month to worship Buddha and eat vegetarian food. Your mother is worried about your frail body and misses our family treasure who is outside, so she hasn't been able to eat or sleep well these past few days. I went to visit her but couldn't see her. Qing Bi can serve her mother, but it's not as good as you making your grandmother happy. I want you to go to Puji Temple and bring your grandmother back."

  "Father, there's no need to say such things, I'll go," Qing Sang said with a bitter smile. Every time Mother came to visit, she would mention the family treasure, and Qing Sang knew how much she missed it.

  Seeing her weak and unable to win over her clothes, he knew she was not fully recovered yet, and couldn't help but feel sad. He said lovingly: "Among the four daughters, Qingbi is strong-willed, Qinghe is dull, as a father I love you and Qingyu the most. Who would have thought that Qingyu's fate would be so bleak..." Wiping away his tears, he continued: "Sangni must take good care of herself, only then can her father be at peace."

  Qing Sang saw that he spoke sincerely, and also felt heartbroken. This white-haired person sending off the black-haired person, isn't it just like a father? So she said: "The daughter is unfilial, letting Father worry. The daughter will definitely persuade Grandmother to come back, and the family will be reunited. It's just that Mother has been worried sick, hoping Father will take care of her more." Qing Sang saw that Liu Shi had not been well for many days, and was also worried, thinking that if her husband comforted her more, and their daughter often accompanied her, she would definitely feel better, so she spoke like this.

  Pu Ji Nian patted her head and said: "After all, there's still Qingbi, you don't have to worry too much, just take care of yourself."

  Qing Sang nodded slightly.

  The next day, the governor's mansion prepared a horse-drawn carriage and took Qing Sang to Puzi Temple. Snow Pan and Xi Mo accompanied him.

  This Xi Mo is Pu Ji Nian's book boy. This time going to Pujisi Temple, Pu Jinyan was worried that the ladies would not be convenient to go out and specially arranged for him.

  Three people in one row arrived at the temple within two hours.

  Puzi Temple is a place of pilgrimage for believers, and there are many pilgrims nearby.

  Qing Sang lit three incense sticks and bowed to the main hall, then followed a little monk to the backyard to look for his grandmother.

  The grandmother's west wing house is smaller, but the few cypresses in the courtyard are unusually large. Although it has just passed the beginning of spring, they are already upright and lush green.

  Qingsang greeted his grandmother and softly persuaded her to return home. The old lady didn't seem as stubborn as his father had said, only saying that she wanted to wait for Master Tangzhao to return from his travels before leaving after thanking him.

  "I wonder when Master Tan Zhao will return to the temple?" Qing Sang thought, if this Tan Zhao returns in ten or eight years, won't all the flowers have withered by then?

  。

  "According to Fang Zhang, three days later. I heard that Master Tan Zhao is a master of the medical field and can also observe the celestial phenomena to know the heavenly fate, but he often wanders outside. I was thinking of waiting for him to return to take a look at our family treasure, coincidentally you are also here, since your body has not been well lately, why don't we ask Master Tan Zhao to take a look and prescribe some medicine to nourish your health?"

  Qing Sang knew that the old lady was superstitious, so she thought of asking the Pu family to predict their future. She agreed and left the room to play with Bao Bao.

  Jiabao has been keeping a vegetarian diet with his grandmother for half a month, and his face had long been as dry as a dried-up bitter melon. When he saw his sister, he coquettishly threw a tantrum. Then, when his sister opened the small food box, it was filled with all his favorite foods: salted chicken legs, braised lion's head, and sweet fragrant date paste cakes.

  All these were quietly prepared by Qing Sang before he left.

  The temple has many rules and taboos, and the old lady is also a Buddhist, so she definitely won't let her family's treasure come into contact with meat.

  Jiabao is still young and in a period of rapid growth, so it's really hard for him to go without meat for half a month.

  Qingsang watched as Jiabao ate with a mouthful of oil, and doted on him by taking out a handkerchief to wipe his mouth, repeatedly reminding him to eat slowly.

  Jiabao is so clever and cute, nibbling on chicken legs while saying in a soft voice: "Third sister treats me the best. When I grow up, Jiabao will definitely be filial to sister."

  Qing Sang patted her mouth and smiled, saying: "What's the use of being filial to me? Being filial to your parents is enough."

  Jiabao chuckled "heh heh" a few times and continued eating with his head down.

  After waiting for the treasure to eat his fill, Qing Sang ordered Xi Mo to take him out to play, and she herself ate a simple meal, feeling tired and wanting to take a nap.

  Just as she was about to fall asleep, she suddenly heard the sound of a snow basin knocking on the door calling her.

  He got up and asked what was going on, but it turned out that he couldn't find the family treasure.

  Qing Sang put on his outer garment and hastily summoned Xi Mo, asking him in detail.

  Only to hear Xi Mo stuttering and saying that he was playing hide-and-seek with the young master in the bamboo forest, but when he removed the cloth covering his eyes, he couldn't find him anymore.

  Qing Sang thought that Jia Bao was naughty and didn't know where he was hiding, so he ordered Xi Mo to lead the way to search for him in the bamboo forest.

  Who would have thought that after searching for a long time, there was no sign of Jia Bao. Qing Sang felt anxious and ordered Xue Pen to go back and see if Jia Bao had returned to the room on his own. He also ordered Xi Mo to search for him along the small path on the right side of the bamboo forest up the mountain.

  He continued on his way, wanting to find some clues.

  This bamboo forest is dense and lush, with layer upon layer of greenery stretching as far as the eye can see. To the right, a small path leads to the temple's Suffering Mountain, while other paths crisscross in every direction, disappearing into the unknown amidst the greenery.

  After walking for a while, I heard the sound of conversation coming from within the forest. Qing Sang was startled and hastily hid behind several straight and tall bamboo stalks. There were four young men sitting on the ground in a clearing, each with a precious sword placed beside them. As they spoke, their breathing seemed somewhat urgent, and it appeared that they had just finished practicing martial arts and were taking a rest.

  Qing Sang was about to turn around and leave when he suddenly saw a young man who seemed familiar. After thinking for a moment, he realized it was Tang, whom he had seen on the night of the Lantern Festival.

  Perhaps it was just after practicing martial arts, his face was rosy, with fine sweat densely covering his forehead, and although he only wore a simple brown robe, it couldn't block the elegant and noble aura emanating from his entire body.

  He charged at the three young men in front of him and said: "Brother Huang, how about we play another round?"

  A young man stood up, slender and straight, saying: "Seventh brother's martial arts have become more refined, even Big Brother and Fu Xi are no match for you."

  Another young man stood up, his height surpassing the previous two by a lot. He said loudly: "The swordsmanship of Seventh Brother Huang has already reached an ethereal and divine level; among us four, perhaps only His Highness the Crown Prince can exchange blows with him."

  The Crown Prince, the Eldest Prince, and the Seventh Prince? Qing Sang was shocked in her heart. The several people in front of her were actually all members of the imperial family. At this time, she hastily prepared to leave.

  A snapping sound, Qing Sang inadvertently stepped on and broke several withered branches under her feet, attracting the attention of four people in the forest.

  "Who is there?" Several people asked while running up front.

  "The commoner greets Your Highness the Crown Prince, His Imperial Highness the Seventh Prince, and His Imperial Highness the Heir! Qing Sang hastily knelt down, bowing her head in respect."

  "Have you been eavesdropping on our conversation?" a thick male voice asked.

  Qing Sang didn't dare lift her head and hastily replied: "I don't dare. I was searching for my younger brother and came here unintentionally, not to eavesdrop."

  "Get up." A gentle male voice commanded.

  Qīng sāng huǎn huǎn qǐ shēn -> The green mulberry tree slowly rises

  。

  "Are you Sang Er?" A clear male voice sounded, it was Tang who bumped into Jia Bao on the night of the Lantern Festival.

  Qing Sang didn't think that Tang would remember her. She had just called herself a civilian girl, not a palace maid, in order to avoid any unnecessary complications. But now that Tang recognized her, it was hard to hide the truth, so she could only say: "Your Highness has a good memory. That's right."

  "So you're here looking for the family treasure?" Tang still remembered that lovely little boy.

  "Yes, little brother is mischievous, playing hide-and-seek with Shu Tong, and I don't know where he's hiding now." Qing Sang replied.

  "The crown prince and the seventh highness, so you know each other?" asked a curious young man who was the shortest among the four.

  Qing Sang calculated that he should be the Fu Xi in the Crown Prince's mouth, but didn't know what his identity was.

  "Hmm, we have met Miss Pu and Mr. Pu before." Crown Prince Tang Hao did not address Qing Sang by his name like the Seventh Prince did.

  "It's like that. You two really have a good fate. To think we'd meet again in this forest." Xú Xī said with a smile, sizing up Qīng Sāng up and down without stopping.

  Qing Sang saw him staring at her nonstop, even if she was a 21st-century person, being stared at by a handsome guy made her blush and lower her head.

  "How did you know my identity?" asked the tallest of the boys.

  "The commoner woman overheard the conversation between Your Highnesses and heard the Crown Prince refer to you as 'older cousin'. Since our imperial family only has one younger brother of the emperor, who is enfeoffed as the King of Xi and resides in the State of Xi, I secretly suspected that Your Highness might be the son of the King of Xi." Qing Sang explained her reasoning in detail.

  "What a clever woman." The crown prince praised. This person was actually the son of King Xi, Tong Feng.

  Crown Prince Taizong Hao and Seventh Imperial Son Tang both nodded in agreement.

  "You're so clever, I wonder if you can guess who I am?" Fu Xi said with a lively personality, seeing that the other three were all praising Qing Sang, and couldn't help but tease.

  "The commoner woman doesn't know, but I think the young master should have some connection with General Fu of the Garrison Troops." Qing Sang didn't know how many officials surnamed Fu there were in the imperial court, but she had only heard Qing Yu mention that the daughter of General Fu Yu Lei of the Garrison Troops was conferred the title of Snow Fragrance. Plus, being able to practice martial arts and go on outings with the prince and young masters, her status shouldn't be low, so she made this guess.

  "You're really something"

  "General Fu is my uncle." Fu Xi's eyes widened in an incredulous expression.

  Qing Sang muttered to himself, thinking: I really did misunderstand myself.

  "Is the young lady perhaps the daughter of Pu Shangshu?" asked Prince Tonghao, who had actually wanted to ask this question last time but Qing Sang hadn't answered.

  Qing Sang knew he couldn't hide it and replied: "It's indeed my father."

  "This is even more surprising," said the eunuch, "How did Your Highness find out?"

  "You're really stupid." The Seventh Prince patted Fu Xi's head and said, "The Pu surname is a big surname in Guangzhou and Haizhou. There is no such surname in the capital city, and among the officials, only Minister of Revenue Pu from Guangzhou has lived in the capital for a long time. Calculating this way, if it's not the daughter of Minister Pu, which Pu family could she be from?"

  Fu Xi scratched his head and smiled foolishly.

  The crown prince smiled with pursed lips, but in fact he didn't think it through like that. It was actually during the imperial harem selection twenty-three years ago when he inadvertently saw Pu Qing's portrait and remembered it in his heart. He just couldn't say so, seeing that his seventh brother's reasoning sounded reasonable, he remained silent.

  "Is Miss Pu here looking for Mr. Pu? Is there any news?" asked the prince.

  "Not yet found." Qingsang said anxiously. Seeing that it was getting late, Qingsang was naturally anxious.

  "Your Highness, let Hu Jun help find it together?" Fu Xi said to the prince as he saw Qing Sang's anxious face.

  "The prince is in disguise, how could he bring the imperial guard here. Being a young child, he must have hidden somewhere and got lost on the way. Let's search together." Taifeng said calmly. As the eldest here at 19 years old, already married, he naturally handled things more steadily, but was somewhat serious, unlike the prince who was warm and gentle.

  "My cousin is right. Let's help find her together." The prince smiled and arranged the search route. The mountain road of Suxing Mountain was rugged, and since he and Tong Feng were older, they had to set an example, so they went up the mountain to search, while Tong Yu and Fu Xi went deep into the forest to search. As for Qing Sang, the prince worried that she was a weak and gentle woman, and it would be inconvenient for her, so he suggested letting her return to the temple to wait.

  But Qing Sang insisted on going together to find him. The prince, considering the rugged road on the mountain, let her follow Tong and Fu Xi instead.

  Then several people went their separate ways to search for the family treasure.