Free Web NovelChapter 609: Chapter 608: Blocking the Way
Is Xia Wenjin completely unaware?
Actually, no.
In truth, Xia Wenjin had some suspicions in her heart.
However, many times, people have a tendency to hope for the best, subconsciously wishing the result isn’t what they are unwilling to accept.
When Xia Wenjin arrived at the Bodhi Temple, it was still early. A simple blue cloth carriage appeared particularly shabby amidst the numerous grand and luxurious carriages.
Those carriages saw this shabby carriage and continuously overtook it from behind, forcing the carriage to a stop on the road repeatedly.
Especially a carriage with the emblem of a certain Marquis Mansion, which almost collided with Xia Wenjin’s carriage. Fortunately, the driver Uncle Liang was skilled, and he managed to bring the carriage to a stable stop almost at the road’s edge.
That wasn’t all. The curtain of the Marquis Mansion’s carriage was lifted, revealing the displeased face of a man about twenty years old. His eyes were slanted, and his luxurious attire could not hide his mean appearance. However, he was arrogant and domineering, yelling, "Are you blind? What are you blocking the road for?"
Uncle Liang raised an eyebrow and said, "It was clearly your carriage that was going to crash into us from behind. This is a mountain road, and the road isn’t wide. How can you act like this?"
The carriage driver from the Marquis Mansion was also arrogant, with his eyes practically turned to the sky, "So what? Just look at you, with that shabby carriage, still wanting to be in front of me. Quickly get out of the way!"
The squinty-eyed young man inside the carriage sneered disdainfully, looking full of himself.
Uncle Liang angrily shouted, "You..."
He was a brother from Haotian Village, someone from Jianghu who needed to air his grievances. However, since arriving in the Capital City and after experiencing his three village chiefs being wrongfully imprisoned, he had become much more restrained. Moreover, with the young lady in the carriage, it wouldn’t be good to bring trouble to her.
Xia Wenjin opened the curtain, glanced out, and stopped the driver, calmly saying, "Let them go first!"
Upon hearing this, the carriage driver became even more disdainful. The squinty-eyed young man, however, caught sight of Xia Wenjin’s face through the window, his eyes immediately showing a lascivious gleam. He boasted with pride, "Well, the girl knows her place. I say, girl, your carriage is too shabby. How can someone with your looks sit in such a shabby carriage? Why not come aboard my lordly carriage, which is large and spacious—it suits a girl like you!"
Sitting in such a shabby carriage certainly wouldn’t mean she was a lady from a grand household, so the squinty-eyed young man called her ’girl’ again and again, making the implication in his tone all too obvious—flippant and teasing, with his eyes lewd and indecent.
Xia Wenjin frowned and said, "No need! I already let you go first, so don’t block the way!"
"Oh, the girl has a temper, my lord likes that!" The squinty-eyed young man was displeased. They hadn’t even reached the mountain yet, and he’d already encountered a fairy-like girl. More importantly, she looked like someone with no significant background, and if he could get her to his mansion...
Just the thought of it made his blood boil with excitement.
The squinty-eyed young man gave the driver a look, who immediately understood and said to Xia Wenjin, "Girl, my lord has taken a liking to you. You’d better accept the offer instead of facing the consequences. Do you know who my lord is? You’d better obediently come to my lord’s carriage and serve him well. You’ll benefit from it!"
This was a blatant threat.
Uncle Liang angrily shouted, "Where did this mongrel come from? I’ll beat you to death!" His explosive temper could no longer be contained. The people from the mountain had watched the young lady grow up, and the elders treated her like a daughter. To watch her be insulted in such a manner would be unacceptable for anyone claiming to be a hero of the Jianghu!
Xia Wenjin’s face also grew serious and her voice held a cold tone, although her words were strange: "Uncle Liang, don’t be rude. Marquis Anping may be a prominent figure, but even if he really did give birth to a mongrel, we shouldn’t speak of it!"
The squinty-eyed young man was none other than Zhai Hao, the second son of Marquis Anping, Zhai Changyi. Upon hearing this, he was immediately furious; how dared this little girl insult him like that?
He lifted the curtain and jumped off the carriage, intending to grab Xia Wenjin.
Uncle Liang sat firmly in the carriage, lifted his whip, and lashed it, causing a burst of sound in the air. He coldly watched Zhai Hao’s mean, furious look. If the rascal dared to approach the young lady, he wouldn’t hesitate to use his whip.
Because the carriage had stopped, blocking the mountain road, several carriages behind them were unable to move forward. Many people got off to inquire about the situation.
Xia Wenjin glanced at the line of carriages behind her and sighed. She had only remembered halfway through the journey that it was the fifteenth day, when on the first and fifteenth of each month, many visitors went to the Bodhi Temple to pay respects and offer incense, especially the women from the rear courtyards of prominent families and some young ladies eager to seek blessings.
Of course, there were also many young lords eager to go.
After all, these young ladies of prominent families seldom left their homes, and on rare occasions when they did attend social gatherings, it was only within a certain circle that they could meet.
But things were different at the Bodhi Temple.
If fate were to lead to an encounter at the temple, where two people’s eyes met and they were from similar backgrounds, the marriage would be settled.
It was much like a matchmaking event.
Of course, in the Bodhi Temple, no one dared to desecrate the Bodhisattva, but if a pair met eyes, it was considered a match made by the Buddha, which could be followed upon descending the mountain.
Hearing the sermons of the masters was an even greater fortune.
The Bodhi Temple’s three great monks: Abbott Kong Xing, Chief Kong Ji, and the mysterious Kong Chan were said to possess the power to turn misfortune into blessing, ensuring a smooth life!
Whether this was true or not was irrelevant; what mattered was that in many people’s eyes, these three were nearly deified.
However, they seldom appeared publicly and were often away traveling. It was difficult to see them even if one sought it, except on the first and fifteenth of each month when they occasionally held public sermons.
Although those who listened to the sermons might not genuinely achieve longevity and prosperity, it brought them peace of mind, calmness of breath, and clarity of thought.
So, on this day, the roads were extraordinarily crowded.
She initially didn’t want to cause trouble, but not only did this bastard rely on his luxurious carriage to force hers aside and overtake it, his attitude was rude, and he even dared to scheme against her.
She had no wish to cause trouble, but she also wasn’t afraid of it. Moreover, Marquis Anping was no good, either. He was just a dog of Huangfu Yuxuan. The one named Zhai Hao was even worse—rotten to the core and known for having harmed many innocent girls.
Seeing him develop such filthy thoughts the moment he laid eyes on her showed how reckless he was.
