Chapter Seventy-One: Doubt, The Three Thatched Cottages

"Thank you, Father!" Upon hearing Qin Huaiyong's words, Qin Wanru offered a graceful bow, her eyes curved like crescent moons, a smile blossoming on her lips like spring flowers—her happiness was unmistakable.

This child was indeed kind-hearted; she refrained from mentioning anything that might embarrass him, yet her joy was so genuine.

From now on, Wanru would be raised by Ruolan. He knew Ruolan's temperament well—she would never wrong the girl. In this, he had done right by her.

Qin Huaiyong did not linger long on the mountain. After a few words of comfort to Qin Wanru, he descended.

Madam Xin and Luo Xiaowan also left after lunch that very day. Qin Wanru accompanied them to the foot of the mountain. Luo Xiaowan whispered many heartfelt words to her before reluctantly following Madam Xin away.

"Miss, shall we return?" Qingyue glanced uneasily toward the forest behind the mountain, reminding Qin Wanru. Only last night had the affair with Qin Yuru transpired here; though it was daylight now, Qingyue still felt a chill of fear.

"Nothing will happen here," Qin Wanru replied, shaking her head. Madam Xin and Luo Xiaowan had just descended via the back mountain. Looking left and right, she pointed to a narrow path. "Let's walk a bit further."

"Miss, where does that path lead?" Qingyue eyed the small trail that slanted downward to the right, her voice tinged with anxiety. She was unfamiliar with this area and dreaded any mishap, her nerves still taut from the recent encounter with Madam Di.

"I don't know. Let's find out," Qin Wanru said, her gaze falling on several clumps of orchids by the path.

There were only two or three stalks, and they were nothing special—just the most common kind, growing seemingly at random by the roadside. Tiny yellow flowers bloomed quietly, unremarkable but exquisite upon closer inspection. The gravel path, adorned with these modest orchids, seemed almost delicate in its simplicity.

At her feet stretched another such gravel path, the very one Madam Xin and Luo Xiaowan had just used to descend. That was the way down the mountain—so where did this little trail lead?

It was almost impossible for two such parallel paths to lead to the same place below, especially since both were paved with stones. Jingxin Nunnery would not have gone to such trouble for no reason.

"Come, let's take a look!" A sudden intuition stirred in Qin Wanru, and she turned decisively.

"Miss, perhaps we shouldn't," Qingyue protested, trailing nervously behind.

"It’s all right," Qin Wanru insisted, pausing to survey the path before stepping forward. A sudden guess had sprung to mind—she wanted to see if it was true.

Seeing her mistress so determined, Qingyue could only follow closely, wary and alert.

They had barely walked a few steps before the path curved. More orchids lined the way, their delicate flowers displaying an understated elegance—a hint of autumn’s grace in their modesty.

The path twisted several times, sometimes climbing, sometimes dipping. When Qin Wanru paused to rest and looked back, she saw that the trail generally led upward. In the distance, a flat meadow revealed itself, upon which stood three thatched cottages, with several tall bamboo groves rising behind them.

Unlike the usual green bamboo, these were purple.

A faint smile played at Qin Wanru's lips. It seemed she had truly found what she was seeking.

As she drew closer, she noticed the cottages were shut tight, the doors locked, the windows sealed. Circling around to the back, she found clusters of orchids beneath the purple bamboo—a tranquil, secluded place.

Looking up, she realized this spot was slightly below the summit, off to the side—not directly behind Jingxin Nunnery. From here, one could glimpse several temple halls above, incense smoke curling into the air, the distant hum of chanting drifting over, yet no idle visitors disturbed the peace.

It was a perfect place for quiet meditation.

"Miss, there's no one here," Qingyue called after circling the cottages three times and finding nothing. "It must be abandoned—no one’s lived here for ages."

"Someone does," Qin Wanru replied, her eyes settling on a bamboo hat hanging by the door. It was small and still wet, not yet dried.

Given the autumn sun high in the sky, unless it had only recently been placed, the moisture would have long since evaporated.

Qingyue followed her gaze, then stepped forward to touch the hat, her face registering surprise. "Miss, it really is wet. Who could be living here? Why wouldn’t they stay in the nunnery? Don’t tell me…it’s a man?"

"No," Qin Wanru shook her head. "Jingxin Nunnery never allows male guests to stay, not even my father could break that rule—everyone in Jiangzhou knows it."

If men could stay here, especially on such an accessible path, there would certainly have been rumors.

"Female guests have quarters above, men cannot stay. If it's not a guest, who else would live here?" Qingyue mused, scanning the surroundings. "Miss, this is a wonderful place to live—so peaceful, such beautiful views of the temple and the mountains."

Qin Wanru’s lips curved slightly. "Must it be a guest, then?"

"If not a guest, who else would live on the mountain?" Qingyue blurted out.

Qin Wanru, smiling, pointed upward without a word, tilting her head thoughtfully toward the cottages.

Qingyue followed her gesture, seeing nothing but the sky and, off to the side, the temple halls.

"Miss, there's only the nunnery above. Could it be…one of the nuns?" Qingyue still saw nothing unusual, but then suddenly her eyes brightened. "Ah, Miss, is it one of the nuns from Jingxin Nunnery?"

Qin Wanru circled the cottages, finding nothing else of note, and turned her attention to the open meadow. She took a few steps, crouched down, and observed several clusters of clover. Each had three leaves—ordinary enough at first glance. But with her knowledge from medical texts, she recognized these were medicinal herbs.

Scanning the area, she realized this wasn’t just a meadow—it was a carefully arranged herb garden. Her smile deepened.

"Let’s go back for now," Qin Wanru said, rising and casting another glance at the thatched cottages.

"Yes, Miss," Qingyue replied, watching Qin Wanru with a mixture of admiration and confusion. Her mistress seemed to have everything figured out, but she herself understood nothing.

The path they took back seemed quicker than before. Qin Wanru walked through the woods, and soon they were approaching Jingxin Nunnery again.

Looking for her bearings, Qin Wanru saw the temple halls she’d observed from below, as well as the abbotess’s own quarters beside them.

The abbotess's meditation room was not at the heart of the nunnery, but set slightly apart.

After a moment's hesitation outside the abbotess's door, Qin Wanru entered. The nun on duty greeted her politely, then went inside to announce her.

Soon the nun returned. "Second Miss Qin, the abbess will see you now."

Qin Wanru smiled courteously, asked Qingyue to wait, and entered alone.

The meditation room was filled with delicate fragrance from the incense burner on the desk. The scent was different from ordinary incense—calming, serene. Just crossing the threshold, she felt her heart settle.

The abbess knelt calmly on her cushion, unsurprised by Qin Wanru’s arrival.

"Reverend Mother, may I ask you something about Reverend Mingqiu?" Qin Wanru knelt on the adjacent cushion, bowed her head, and inquired respectfully.

"My junior is not in the nunnery," the abbess replied with a gentle smile.

"May I ask if Reverend Mingqiu is still in Jiangzhou?" Qin Wanru pressed.

"Perhaps she is, perhaps not," the abbess answered, her eyes lingering meaningfully on Qin Wanru. "Once she left Jingxin Nunnery, she did not always inform me of her whereabouts."

"Does the abbess think I can find Reverend Mingqiu?" Qin Wanru tried another tack.

"That depends on fate," the abbess replied, her words growing more profound. "Sometimes fate is simple, sometimes it is as hard to grasp as climbing the sky."

Qin Wanru’s curiosity was piqued; her long lashes fluttered twice, her dark eyes shining as she gazed at the abbess. "May I trouble you to deliver a message to Reverend Mingqiu?"

"And what message is that?"

"I wish to ask her to teach me medicine," Qin Wanru sat up straighter, the smile fading from her face, replaced by solemnity.

"This too depends on fate," the abbess said serenely. Then she took up three sticks of incense and handed them to Qin Wanru, pointing to the censer by the window. "Go offer some incense, and let us see if fate will allow it."

Qin Wanru rose, accepted the incense, and walked to the altar. After lighting the three sticks and placing them in the censer, her eyes were drawn to an open book on the table.

It was a medical text—different from the one she owned. She had pored over her own since her rebirth, memorizing it thoroughly, so she recognized at a glance that this was not the same. Yet the format was almost identical, with some pages matching exactly.

"Is this the second volume?" Qin Wanru turned to the abbess. Although her own copy made no mention of a first or second volume, the open page was clearly more detailed than hers, and described herbs she had never even heard of.

Compared to her own, this book was even more profound.

The abbess regarded her quietly, then broke into a broad, kindly smile. "So you have read the book?"

Qin Wanru returned to her cushion, straightened her posture, and replied respectfully, "I have studied it closely."

"And what do you think?" the abbess asked with a twinkle.

"I am determined to learn medicine," Qin Wanru replied, bowing to the ground in earnest respect. This was the very reason she had come, her resolve unshakable.

Medicine was a skill she must master—a means to protect herself, and to save the one who had shown her kindness.