Clouds and Moon Shadow

Chapter 362 There's definitely something fishy going on here!

After Yue'er went missing that year, she spent about three or four months of that six-month period at Ci'en Temple.

Thanks to Master Liao Chen's explanations of Buddhism.

Otherwise, it's uncertain whether I would have made it this far.

It has to be said that after so many years of getting along, Liu Shi understands Qin Shi very well.

She knew that as long as Master Chen was mentioned, Madam Qin would definitely be tempted.

really!

"Master Liaochen has really returned?" Qin stood up excitedly, so much so that she almost knocked over the chair she was sitting on with a loud bang.

"Yes, it's absolutely true. It was Lady Jing'an who brought back the news from Ci'en Temple yesterday. She said that Master Chen has sent word back and will arrive in the next few days."

Liu's performance was sincere and heartfelt, with a slight furrow in her brow and regret in her eyes that she could not see Master Liaochen due to her poor health. Her acting skills were superb.

Gu Qingyue saw the whole scene clearly from the doorway.

Even though Liu was poisoned and unable to move, she was still trying to persuade Qin to go to Ci'en Temple.

Gu Qingyue would swear on her life that something fishy was going on!

"Yue'er is here," said Madam Wei, who was sitting next to Madam Qin, when she saw Gu Qingyue standing at the door.

Gu Qingyue nodded to Madam Wei and Madam Qin, giving them a reassuring smile.

"Hey, Auntie, what's wrong? She was walking briskly just a few days ago. What happened?"

Gu Qingyue also began to put on a 'sincere and heartfelt' performance.

Her voice was soft yet filled with endless worry; her acting skills surpassed even those of Lady Liu.

Upon hearing this, Liu almost tore the quilt she was wearing to shreds.

But I have to hold back!

We can't afford to have a falling out with the second wife now, lest it affect our plans.

"Ahem, Yue'er is here. Come here quickly. It's only been a few days since I last saw her, and Yue'er has grown even more elegant." Madam Liu looked at Gu Qingyue and almost 'cried with joy'.

Gu Qingyue lowered her head, barely managing to suppress a laugh. 'Noble'? Is this implying that she used to be a country bumpkin?

Raising her head, Gu Qingyue quickly went over and grabbed Liu's hand.

"I'm sorry to have troubled you, Aunt. As the eldest daughter of the Duke's family, it's only right that I be elegant and noble. Aunt, have you not been to Ci'en Temple to pray to Buddha recently? How did you get so sick? I should have come to see you more often. It's my fault."

Hurry up and go to Ci'en Temple to pray more. Aunt, you've done too many bad things and are getting your comeuppance.

Of course, Gu Qingyue meant it sincerely.

She should come and see Liu's true colors more often, lest she forget this vicious woman with a beast's heart.

"What do you mean by that, Yue'er?" Liu's fake smile was about to crumble.

At this moment, Qin and Wei, who were sitting in the room, could no longer hold back and lowered their heads to suppress the trembling of their shoulders so as not to burst out laughing.

"Oh, didn't I just hear my aunt say we were going to Ci'en Temple?" Gu Qingyue's expression was innocent.

Liu suppressed her anger, her face almost breaking down, but she could only hold it in.

She took Gu Qingyue's hand and patted it affectionately. "Originally, I was going to go with your mother, but your aunt is sick, so I'm afraid she can't go for the time being and will miss the chance to see Master Chen." As she spoke, she dabbed the corner of her eye with a handkerchief. "Alright, after seeing your aunt, stay away from her and don't catch her illness. Taking care of yourself is the most important thing."

Upon hearing this, Gu Qingyue smoothly withdrew her hand, saying, "Then Auntie should rest well."

Liu's expression stiffened, she forced a smile and nodded.

"Sister-in-law, take Yue'er with you. Please help me pray to Buddha. Once I recover, I will definitely donate more money to the temple," Liu said to Qin, as if remembering something.

The people of the Great Chu Dynasty mostly believed in Buddhism. Whenever they went to make a wish, they had to donate money to the temple for incense and oil. In particular, the donations from aristocratic families were always a huge sum of money to show their sincerity.

It was a quarter of an hour later when Gu Qingyue helped Qin Shi out of the main courtyard. Zhu Qing and Jiang Wan stood outside the gate, struggling to suppress their laughter.

Gu Qingyue glanced back at the two maids who wanted to laugh but dared not, winked at them, signaled them to follow, and they walked briskly back to the main courtyard of the second house.

"Yue'er, your aunt's health..." Qin asked with some concern.

"Oh, you're sick, isn't that what the imperial physician said?" Gu Qingyue said dismissively.

"Would you like to take your aunt's pulse?"

Qin was still somewhat reluctant.

She knew about Yue'er's medical skills. She had just seen that Liu Shi was indeed quite ill at the main house, but for some reason, Liu Shi had not asked Yue'er to take a look.

She wanted to speak, but then she thought the imperial physician had already examined her, so she gave up.

Now that I'm back, I'm a little worried.

"Mother, don't worry. If Aunt needs anything, I will definitely help take a look. The imperial physician is already examining her, so she'll be fine."

Gu Qingyue had absolutely no interest in rushing to treat Liu Shi's illness; she knew perfectly well that she was the one who had poisoned her.

This poison will render Liu completely unable to get up, leaving her weak all over and only wanting to sleep.

It's just that we won't be able to go out and have fun for a while, and the situation will get worse every day, that's enough, no one will die anyway.

Gu Qingyue suddenly remembered that Liu had tried so hard to dissuade Qin from going to Ci'en Temple. "Mother, are you going to Ci'en Temple the day after tomorrow?"

Qin helped Gu Qingyue sit down, calmed herself down, and said, "Go, I haven't seen Master Chen for several years. He has finally returned, so we should naturally go and pay our respects."

After Qin finished speaking, she suddenly remembered something and immediately instructed Sangzhi beside her, "Go and prepare the gifts for Master Chen as soon as possible. Remember to bring the packet of tea that Yue'er gave me. Master Chen loves tea the most."

"Yes," Sangzhi quickly went down to prepare the gifts.

Gu Qingyue sat down next to Qin Shi. "Mother, is this master the monk you mentioned before who gave you sermons back then?"

"Ok".

Gu Qingyue saw that Qin Shi was determined to leave, but she didn't want to tell Qin Shi what she suspected was Liu Shi's intentions, lest Qin Shi worry and be afraid.

She thought for a moment and said, "Mother, I'll go out with you the day after tomorrow."

Upon hearing this, Madam Qin smiled and said, "That's wonderful! I've always wanted you to meet Master Chen, but he's been traveling around and we haven't had the chance yet. This is a perfect opportunity."

Gu Qingyue remained noncommittal.

A round trip to Ci'en Temple, including the time spent there, would take at least four or five days.

Her Wenxianglou restaurant was about to open, and she had a lot of things to do. She really didn't have much time to spare to go to Ci'en Temple. Thinking of this, she had a brilliant idea.

However, Gu Qingyue strongly suspected that Master Chen's recent return to the temple was also part of Liu's conspiracy. What a coincidence!

Recently, Liu has been sparing no effort to persuade Qin to go to Ci'en Temple to worship Buddha, revealing her true intentions.

Just then, Master Liaochen, whom the Qin family most revered, was about to return to Ci'en Temple.

This seems too coincidental no matter how you look at it.

Back at Feiyue Pavilion, Gu Qingyue summoned Cui Shuming, who had recently gone into hiding, and gave her some instructions before feeling somewhat at ease.