I have already established my power and prestige, so how did Li Shimin come back to life?

It brushed across Wu Meiniang's cheek, leaving a black mark, making her originally beautiful face look a little more disheveled.

"Go get me some water! Clean the gate of our Ganye Temple thoroughly!"

The old nun crossed her arms over her chest and gave orders in a domineering tone, leaving no room for negotiation, as if Wu Meiniang was just a slave at her beck and call.

She stood there, her eyes full of pride, as if seeing Wu Meiniang being wronged could make her feel better.

That face looked particularly ugly in this dim Zen room.

Wu Meiniang was helpless and had to drag her exhausted body to the well step by step.

She bent down, dipped the dirty rag into the cold well water, and began to scrub it vigorously.

The well water swayed in the wooden barrel, reflecting her tired but still charming face. However, at this moment, her eyes were full of grievance and unwillingness.

Her hands were already sore from the day's work, but she still rubbed the rag again and again.

Only when the dirt on the rag gradually faded away and the water became turbid did she take out the rag and wring out the water.

Then she laboriously drew a bucket of water. As soon as she lifted the bucket out of the well, the heavy weight made her arms sore.

I just felt severe pain in my waist and back, as if every inch of my bones was screaming with fatigue.

She gritted her teeth, stumbled with the bucket in her hand, and walked towards the gate of Ganye Temple.

Along the way, the water in the bucket kept splashing out with her shaky steps, leaving a long trail of water stains on the ground, just like her messy and bitter mood at the moment.

After finally arriving at the gate of Ganye Temple, Wu Meiniang put down the bucket and took a few breaths.

He picked up the rag and began to wipe the two doors carefully.

Ganye Temple is located in a quiet mountain forest in the western area of ​​Chang'an. It is surrounded by towering ancient trees. The thick tree trunks are like silent guardians, reaching into the sky.

The lush branches and leaves are intertwined, blocking out the sun.

Even the scorching summer sun can only cast a few spots of light through the gaps between the layers of leaves.

Falling on the ground and walls, it makes this place seem even more deserted, exuding a sense of coldness and loneliness.

The nearest Qingluan Market is half an hour's walk away.

There are winding paths and rolling hills in the middle, and few people go there on weekdays.

Only occasionally a few pilgrims or people delivering supplies would pass by, breaking the silence.

The walls of the temple are covered with mosses that are mottled with time. The mosses are like traces left by time. They spread in clumps and pieces on the walls, adding a bit of oldness and vicissitudes to the walls.

The vermilion gate has also lost its former glory. The originally bright color has become dull and the paint on the door has also fallen off a lot.

It seems to be silently telling the stories and hardships that this temple has experienced.

While wiping the gate in front of her, Wu Meiniang looked at the lush forest outside with anticipation.

In her eyes, the forest seemed to be a symbol of freedom at this moment. She longed to dive into it and escape from this place where she was humiliated everywhere.

Unfortunately, she knew in her heart that she couldn't escape from here.

If they could really run away, those old nuns would have run away long ago. After all, who would want to spend the rest of their lives in such a poor and depressing place?

The road outside Ganye Temple is guarded by soldiers.

Even if you are lucky enough to escape, you will still be an illegal resident.

In the Tang Dynasty, it was impossible to live a normal life without a household registration. No place dared to take you in, and everything you did was subject to many restrictions, making it impossible to move forward.

Wu Meiniang knew that there was a small path that led directly to the market.

In fact, that road was not really a road. It was just a small path in the mountains that Li Zhi had walked back and forth many times.