The Daily Life of a Concubine's Daughter After Transmigrating

"Miss, ma'am."

Early that morning, Zhilan called Li Anqi to get up.

"Miss, we are going to Qingyun Temple for a religious ceremony today. If you don't get up soon, you'll be late."

Li Anqi slowly opened her eyes, got up, changed her clothes, and did her makeup.

"Miss doesn't seem to be in much spirits today."

Li Anqi quietly looked at herself in the mirror.

Zhilan gently combed her hair and then said.

“Going to Qingyun Temple to perform the Taoist ritual is a major event that the whole family has to attend every year. If it weren’t for that, I would have already asked the old lady and madam for leave, and I wouldn’t even need to go to pay my respects to Miss.”

Li Anqi fiddled with a hairpin in the jewelry box with one hand and asked, "Is Miss going too?"

"According to Aunt Bao Qiao, Madam Zhao specifically instructed yesterday that Miss must go with us today, and Miss has already agreed."

Even Li Baoqin couldn't escape it, so it seems I can't avoid it either.

The entire senior generation of the Jingguo Mansion will be mobilized, inevitably causing a large-scale mobilization.

The old lady and Li Miao each rode in a horse-drawn carriage, while Madam Zhao, Li Baoqin, and Li Anxiu each rode in three sedan chairs.

The two concubines each took Li Anhua and Li Ancai in a mule cart, while Li Anqi, like the concubines, rode in the same mule cart as Li Anshu.

The attendants and others followed on horseback, forming a grand procession that attracted many onlookers, creating a sensational scene.

Li Anqi and Li Anshu accepted the two bags of copper coins handed to them by Zhilan.

"Second Miss and Third Miss, you can take these copper coins and scatter them out the window," Zhilan said.

This is a customary practice for the women of the household to go out for the first time in the new year.

Seeing the children from poor families picking up copper coins and happily buying candy and toys, Li Anqi felt a little more comforted.

After scattering the copper coins, Li Anqi lifted the curtain and asked, "Aunt Zhilan, is there any more silver?"

Zhilan smiled and said, "Please wait a moment, Miss."

Li Anqi saw Zhilan take out her own savings, exchange them for two large bags of copper coins at a roadside merchant, and hand them to him.

Li Anqi blushed and took the copper coin: "I'll return it to you when I get back."

Zhilan said, "I have no use for it myself. Besides, if it makes you happy, it's worth it for me to spend this money."

Li Anqi silently noted down the approximate number of copper coins and said nothing more.

Upon arriving at Qingyun Temple, the group headed straight for the guest hall in the northeast corner of the Weishen Hall, where the abbot hurriedly stepped forward to pay his respects.

The attendant presented a yellow money bag containing ten taels of silver as payment for incense.

Then the abbot spoke auspicious words with the old lady and the master, exchanging pleasantries.

At noon, we were treated to lunch by Qingyun Temple, which consisted of exquisite vegetarian dishes.

After the meal, the Taoist priests led each guest to their respective rooms to rest.

After a short rest, the sacrificial ceremony officially began on the second day.

Li Anqi stared blankly at the pile of snow on the veranda outside the window.

"Miss."

Zhilan came over and draped a fox fur cloak over her shoulders.

"Didn't you make a camellia sachet a few days ago, Miss? There's a camellia garden behind Qingyun Temple, and the variety is quite rare and fragrant. It's also the season for camellias to bloom right now. If you're feeling bored, Miss, you can go for a stroll."

Li Anqi's heart skipped a beat.

Qiuyue then found the purse and handed it to Li Anqi.

"Qiuyue, come with me."

"Yes, ma'am."

Passing through a vast expanse of white snow, Li Anqi arrived outside the camellia garden.

She handed the hand warmer to Qiuyue: "You wait for me here."

Qiuyue hurriedly said, "Miss, let me go with you."

"No, I want to be alone."

Qiu Yue could only nod, her eyes filled with worry, as she watched Li Anqi's retreating figure disappear into the depths of the garden.

Everything was covered in white, except for the green leaves and red flowers of the camellia garden, which stood out brightly.

The delicate flowers, covered with a thin layer of white snow, still looked graceful and captivating.

Li Anqi plucked a branch, gently brushed the snow off the flower, and held it to his nose.

"Who planted the camellias? I come alone in the drizzle. I tell you, but you won't understand. They bloom in fiery red amidst the snow," she said softly.

"You also like Su Shi?"

Li Anqi was startled by the male voice that came from somewhere.

Looking around, she discovered that the person was right at her feet.

Her usual upbringing prevented her from screaming, so she hurriedly took a few steps back, completely unaware that the camellia and purse in her hand had fallen.

Li Anqi asked nervously, "Who are you?!"

"The girl sounds like she has something on her mind."

The man, with rosy cheeks, got up from the snow, brushed the snow off his body, and casually picked up an empty wine bottle from the snow.

When he revealed his true form, he was a handsome man with a face like jade, red lips and white teeth, standing in the snow.

He was dressed in a moon-colored brocade robe and looked to be about eighteen or nineteen years old.

"Nothing to do with you."

Li Anqi's tone was somewhat annoyed.

"Generally speaking, for a rich young lady like you, there are only two major events in life: getting married and having children."

The man smiled calmly, and his elegant demeanor was captivating.

"You scoundrel! Stop talking nonsense!"

Li Anqi's ears turned half red.

In modern times, marriage and dating are common topics, and there's nothing that can't be discussed.

But in this era, a young lady's innocence depended entirely on a word from someone else; she could not afford to be tainted in the slightest.

Li Anqi turned to leave.

"Hey, hey, hey! I haven't finished speaking yet."

The man hurriedly tried to persuade him to stay.

"But what you are worried about is not the two things I just mentioned!"

Li Anqi stopped in his tracks.

The man spoke softly and tentatively, then continued, "Your tone is ethereal, and your poetry is melancholic; you must be seeking peace of mind."

Li Anqi did not turn around, and after a moment said.

"Standing here, I am heartbroken, and the slight chill touches me. The young master lies drunk in the snow, so carefree and elegant, how could he understand the suffering in the hearts of others?"

The man smiled gently.

"If you ask me, we're all just passing through this world, and we'll all eventually turn into dust. Why not live life to the fullest and choose what we want?"

"If everyone were as magnanimous as you, young master, there would surely be no sorrow or resentment."

"Look at this camellia, also known as 'cold rouge' or 'snow beauty,' it is one of the few bright red flowers that can bloom in the snow. It has a long flowering period and is cold-resistant. Even its withering is different from other flowers. It does not fall off one petal at a time, but the whole flower withers and falls."

Li Anqi turned to look at him and saw that his expression and tone were sincere.

"In my opinion, it's not winter that chose the camellia, but the camellia that chose winter. That's why it can stand tall in the harsh winter with its beautiful appearance and proud demeanor, just like a young girl."

At the end, the man smiled brightly again.