Chapter 68: Spring Tide Brings Rain Late at Night

  Cai Tiao Fashi frowned and said, "Last time I already told Master Mei Cai that this is a place for quiet cultivation, absolutely no female disciples are allowed inside, it's a great taboo. How could there be a little girl? Don't say such things again, if they spread out, it will not be good for the reputation of Ci Bei Temple."

  I took a look at Cai Tiao Fa Shi's serious expression, and hastily nodded to apologize: "That day, perhaps Mei Cai was momentarily blinded by the beauty of the plum blossoms, and mistakenly saw a little girl in green clothes flash by the edge of the lotus pond. It must have been because the sky was too dark at the time, and Mei Cai mistook the lotus leaves and flowers for a person's shadow!"

  But unexpectedly, Cai Tiao Fa Shi was taken aback and his eyes widened: "What did you just say......" He trembled all over, and the scriptures he had been holding suddenly fell to the ground, scattering everywhere.

  I was also startled by Master Cai Tiao's reaction and hastily asked: "Master Cai Tiao, what's wrong with you?"

  "No, nothing... " Cai Tiao Fa Shi squatted down and hastily gathered up the scriptures: "You... you must be seeing things. In a place like this, how could there be... such a little girl..."

  I hastily said: "Mei Cai had already said that it might be a mistake, but Master Cai Tiao, you are also too..."

  Cai Tiao Daoshi didn't have time to answer me anything, hastily hugging the scriptures, stumbling and staggering as he ran into that small courtyard, his two short legs running extremely fast under the wide gray monk's robe, as if there was a ghost chasing him from behind, looking very flustered.

  How strange! The reaction of this Rainbow Stripe Cultivator is also too strange. It's as if... he has ulterior motives?

  The wound on my forehead suddenly started throbbing with pain, so I quickly went to Hui Chun Tang to see Mr. Huang for treatment.

  A lifetime promise

  Fortunately, Mr. Huang's wonderful hands brought me back to life, and he applied some muddy medicinal paste to my forehead, which felt cool and comfortable, but there was an extra patch of medicinal paste on my forehead, which looked like a matchmaker.

  Back home, I gave the money Ning Lao Taitai rewarded me to Mother. Before she took the money, she saw the patch of medicine on my forehead and exclaimed: "Mei Cai, what's wrong with you?"

  My sister knew I had been bullied like that, and it was not good to let it go. To avoid trouble, I quickly took out the lie I had prepared earlier: "The mud by the Rouge River is slippery, Mei Cai wanted to pick a lotus flower to play, but accidentally fell."

  My sister was both heartbroken and angry, and she fiercely poked the uninjured side of my forehead: "You said you're going to get married, inherit the family business, but you're still so clumsy, what's wrong with you!"

  I hurriedly promised to be more careful next time, but Mother just glared at me and took away the reward money, continuing to tidy up the inner chamber.

  I couldn't help but wonder about the unusual appearance of Cai Tiao Fa Shi, and casually asked: "Mother, if a little girl like me appeared in the quiet place where the monks of Ci Bei Temple cultivate themselves, wouldn't it be quite strange?"

  The girl looked up in doubt and said, "It's not just strange, it's outrageous! If the monk's place has a little maid, when it gets out, won't people laugh their teeth off? Who will still go to such a place to offer incense? How did you come up with asking this?"

  "I hastily said, 'It's just that a law master told me not to enter a certain courtyard, lest I disturb something. Mei Cai thought there was something important, and the courtyard wasn't allowed to be entered.'"

  "They say that's right, a person who cultivates their character is naturally different from ordinary people. Every family has its own customs, and it's normal for people to have their own ways. You should be more obedient to your mother and not stir up trouble, do you understand?" My mother glared at me: "At your age, you still need to ask about such things." Reborn in the Marquis' Manor: The Fierce Illegitimate Daughter

  I had thought about the possibility of damaging my reputation, but Cai Tiao's expression wasn't one of indignation in the face of rumors, it was a fear of something unknown, which didn't seem right.

  "When things go against the norm, they must be evil."

  But then again, Ci Bei Temple is a sacred and solemn place, it's already a pure land of Buddhism, inside there are thriving incense offerings, venerating the Buddha ancestors, and many enlightened monks cultivating themselves, how could evil spirits possibly exist in such a place?

  Compared to having a monster, I'd rather believe it's just my eyes playing tricks on me.

  Ever since Miss Yiwang hit me with her golden silk fan, she has refused to come out and see me. Even at meal times, there is no sign of her. Old Lady Ning doesn't mention it, the maids don't mention it either, I'm too embarrassed to ask more questions, and I don't know if she's sulking or if Old Lady Ning was so angry that she punished her with house arrest.

  Cai Tiao, the monk, was even stranger. Whenever we met by chance, he would pretend not to have seen me and hurry away, hiding far from me. I don't know what I did to offend him. If it were someone else, that would be fine, but if it's because of the misunderstanding with the green-clothed girl, then he's being too petty. However, monks have their own customs, and I shouldn't speak carelessly or waste words.

  The sky is slightly gloomy today, as if it's going to rain. I rushed to deliver the meal, and just as I finished, a heavy downpour started. I was trapped at the entrance of another courtyard, unable to go in or out. All I could do was cover my head with my hands and wait for the sudden rain to stop. I still need to go home for dinner!

  The rain came pouring down, the wide noodles generally poured down from the gloomy sky, pounding the bluestone floor with a loud crackling sound, striking up layers of misty fog.

  Through the misty rain, I saw that the lotus flowers and leaves in the small courtyard of the monk's residence across from me were also battered by the wind and rain, becoming disheveled.

  At this moment, the little girl in green clothes came out of nowhere, holding a large lotus leaf on her head, barefoot and dancing with joy in the wind and rain, as if celebrating something.

  I rubbed my eyes, and indeed it was a green-clad little girl, also around fourteen or fifteen years old, with a pale face, slender figure, laughing and playing freely in the rain. The green dress fluttered, blending with the deep and light greens of the lotus flowers and leaves, just like a lotus fairy.

  Who is she? In such a secluded and deep place, how dare she play so openly, thinking that on rainy days, no one will come out to discover her?

  I couldn't help but feel curious, and I hastily shouted: "Sister, don't get rained on anymore! Come here to take shelter!"

  That green-clad girl heard my shout and seemed to be startled, turning her head to stare at me. I hastily said: "I didn't mean any harm, it's just that I've heard the place where you are now is not allowed for women, so sister, in order to avoid suspicion, perhaps you shouldn't play there anymore?"

  I'd rather not pry into others' business, but I just can't help my curiosity. I really want to know who this green-clad girl is and why she's appeared in a place like this.