My elder sister forced me to become a concubine; I was reborn and remarried into the emperor's

Baiyun Temple is built halfway up the mountain. The mountain road is steep, and it is inconvenient for horse-drawn carriages to go up, so they stop at the foot of the mountain. Regardless of age, gender, or rank, everyone walks up the mountain.

This was still quite strenuous for Wei Nanxun, who rarely went out since childhood, but the more remote and steep the place, the more at ease she felt. If she herself couldn't find it, how could anyone else?

It was almost lunchtime when the group of four arrived at Baiyun Temple. Perhaps it was past the time for daily chanting and worship, as there weren't many worshippers coming and going.

Grandpa Lin came to worship Buddha every month and was familiar with the abbot. They were also arranged to stay in the side room, and a young monk led them to have lunch.

Wei Nanxun was not a picky eater and had a small appetite. The two frail women, living away from home, could not flaunt their wealth. They always did whatever was convenient for them and kept their food, clothing, and daily necessities very simple.

Unexpectedly, the vegetarian food at Baiyun Temple was exceptionally exquisite, ranging from scallion tofu to winter melon soup, osmanthus lotus root, and vegetarian three delicacies. Despite not containing any meat, it was still incredibly fresh, juicy, and delicious. Even she couldn't help but eat an extra bowl of rice. If Zhixia hadn't been worried about her indigestion and persuaded her to eat more, she would have loved to.

After the meal, the grandfather and his wife went to worship Buddha. Since they had nothing to do, they wanted to stroll around the temple, since they would be staying there for a few days and needed to get to know the area.

Baiyun Temple doesn't look very big, with only a front hall, a main hall, and a rear hall. Although it is usually very popular with worshippers, it is not very grand. Instead, it is surrounded by bamboo groves and pine trees, with tall trees blocking out the sky and keeping out the summer heat.

"This is a great place to escape the summer heat. If Xiaohu weren't still at home, I would have liked to stay here longer."

Zhixia loved the babbling mountain spring: "Sister, there must be fish downstream. If it weren't for the tranquility of this Buddhist temple, I would have taken off my shoes and gone down to catch fish and grill them."

"You, you're such a little glutton, even more gluttonous than Little Tiger."

The two walked around the back hall and saw a winding mountain path leading to the back of the mountain. She was a little tired and thirsty, and seeing a clear spring flowing down the mountainside not far away, she thought of going over to get some water.

But before they could take more than a few steps, they were stopped by a passing young monk: “Please wait, female benefactor. The area ahead is a forbidden area in the back mountain. Wild animals often roam the mountains, making it very dangerous. It is not suitable for you to go alone.”

Wei Nanxun looked at it again, puzzled. She clearly saw a courtyard in the bamboo forest not far ahead. It was unique and quiet, and did not seem like a dangerous place. Instead, it seemed like a place for noble people to rest.

But not wanting to cause any trouble, she suppressed her curiosity and politely returned the greeting.

"Thank you for the reminder, young master."

Zhixia also saw the courtyard on the back mountain. She pulled Wei Nanxun and wanted to say something, but Wei Nanxun covered her mouth. The two then quickly strolled around and returned to their room.

“Sister, you clearly saw it too, why did you stop me? That courtyard in front doesn’t look like where these monks live.”

"You know this doesn't look like a temple. Anyone who lives here must be someone of extraordinary status. We're just passing through, so let's not cause any unnecessary trouble."

Zhixia then exclaimed "Oh!" as if she had just realized something.

"Alright, you must be tired after walking for half a day. Let's rest for a while. Don't move around unless it's absolutely necessary."

Zhixia was easygoing and used to whatever she said going along with it. After checking the room, she locked the door and went to sleep fully clothed.

Wei Nanxun was left restless. Baiyun Temple looked like an ordinary temple, but from the vegetarian meals to the layout to the forbidden area in the back mountain, everything revealed a mystery. She was unsure whether she had come to the right place or not.

-

After resting for a while, the two got up and went out.

This was arranged before she arrived. In the afternoon, she was going to offer lamps and pray for blessings, and worship Guanyin Bodhisattva. A senior monk would light lamps for her and answer her questions.

She herself had said it, that she had come to Baima Temple to pray for a good marriage, and she couldn't go back on her word at the last minute. So Zhixia stayed in front of the Medicine Buddha statue in the front hall to pray for peace and listen to the abbot chant sutras for enlightenment, while she carried incense, candles, and lanterns and went alone to the Guanyin Hall in the back hall.

Wei Nanxun didn't have many opportunities to go to temples. She had gone to temples a few times with her mother to fulfill vows when she was young, but she was too young to remember and couldn't understand these gods and Buddhas.

The only impression I had was that Buddhas and Bodhisattvas were all majestic and solemn, but this Guanyin Hall was quite special.

In the center of the hall is a white jade Guanyin statue, no more than half a person's height. Behind her is a golden lotus with an ebony box hanging above her head. The Bodhisattva's eyes are closed, but her face is extremely kind and benevolent.

As she paused for a moment, an old monk in a kasaya slowly approached and stood before the Guanyin statue, saying, "Legend has it that Master Daoyi once built a hermitage in Baiyun Mountain to cultivate. One night, he discovered a piece of glowing jade and had it carved into this white-robed Guanyin. Later, he hung an ancient Buddha relic above the Guanyin statue's head, which made the statue full of spiritual power, granting all requests, especially for those seeking marriage."

The old monk said the last sentence while looking at her, with a smile in his eyes and a kind expression on his face.

This made Wei Nanxun feel a little embarrassed; if she had known it was so effective, she wouldn't have come.

The thing she least wanted to believe in in her life was marriage. She was unwilling to entrust herself to a man again, to have her life, death, joy, and anger all controlled by another person. She wanted to rely on herself and wanted freedom and respect.

Unless there is someone who can control her, respect her, give her freedom, and heal her past pain.

Seeing her in a daze, the old monk brought over a prayer mat: "This old monk observes that you seem to have some obsession in your heart. This obsession and obsession is nothing more than being unable to let go. Only by letting go can you forgive yourself and move forward."

Attachment and clinging are nothing more than the inability to let go.

These words struck a chord deep within her. Her desire to escape and her inability to face Pei Yuyan stemmed from her inability to let go, from the fear and resentment in her heart.

For the first time since his rebirth, Wei Nanxun showed confusion and bewilderment: "Master, then, what should I do?"

The old monk didn't say much, but simply smiled and shook his head: "Benefactor, since you're here, make the best of it."

For a moment, she felt as if she had been seen through, and that she had nowhere to hide in front of the Bodhisattva. Now that she had been reborn, she should not be trapped in the cage of the past, and she had to find a way out to break free from it.

It's not her fault that she encountered the wrong marriage and fell in love with the wrong person, nor does she have to sacrifice two lifetimes for it.

After the old monk finished speaking, he bowed and nodded again, and then left as he had come.

Wei Nanxun dared not be negligent or disrespectful in the slightest. He knelt respectfully on the prayer mat, clasped his hands together, and prostrated himself in devout kowtow.

Bodhisattva, I have no other wish than to live a life without regrets and never repeat the same mistakes.

She doesn't ask for a lifelong, devoted love, nor does she seek anyone to mend her broken heart; she only asks to have no regrets.

After kowtowing three times, she was about to get up when she noticed the candlelight on the altar flicker, and one of the sacrificial fruits placed to the side rolled off.

She was about to step forward to put the things back in their place when she heard the sound of horses' hooves and a noisy commotion coming from outside the mountain gate not far away.

"Search! Find him at all costs!"