Mu Qianfan’s heart skipped a beat upon hearing these words. "What happened? Weren’t you okay when you got checked out a while ago?"
Fu Jinqiao cried profoundly, "Third Brother, I once swore to the heavens that if Younger Uncle could co back safely, I would willingly give up ten years of my life. If Younger Auntie could be safe as well, I’d also willingly give up another ten years. Now that both of them are safe and sound, I’ve given up twenty years of my life. Plus, I’ve been making wishes to give up my life span for a while now. My days are numbered!"
Mu Qianfan couldn’t help but laugh.
Fu Jinqiao glared at him with puffed cheeks, "You can actually laugh about this! I’m about to heave my last breath!"
Mu Qianfan cleared his throat, "Jinqiao, you shouldn’t believe all that, perhaps when you were making those vows, the Almighty was snoozing, huh?"
"It’s no use, I just can’t shake this feeling. I’m really scared, I don’t want to die, I haven’t even gotten married or had children yet."
"So what do you want to do?"
"There’s a temple in Sucheng that’s quite effective. Take there to pray, and I’ll have a good talk with the Bodhisattva. Let’s just pretend He didn’t hear any of it, okay?"
Mu Qianfan looked at her eyes red like a little rabbit and nodded, "Alright, my dear little ancestor."
Mu Qianfan was eight years older than Fu Jinqiao, so he was always extrely indulgent with her.
Many people said that Fu Jinqiao wasn’t a good match for Mu Qianfan, calling her a silly, sweet girl, but Mu Qianfan never cared about what others thought. Growing up in his environnt had long exposed him to deceit and pretense among people.
To him, Fu Jinqiao’s innocence and liveliness, her purity and charm, were like a sanctuary that purified his world.
He loved to pamper her, enjoyed listening to her bizarre comnts, delighted in seeing her blunders. He found her adorable in every way and loved her with all his heart.
"Jinqiao, let’s move the wedding date up, shall we?"
Fu Jinqiao blinked, "Do you want to tie the knot first?"
"Yes, I also hope to fill the car with a few more passengers. I’ve already bought the child seats. Is that okay?"
Fu Jinqiao was a bit coy, "Oh my, my wedding dress isn’t even ready yet. I’ll have my sister-in-law hurry it up then. Really, you’re so impatient."
Mu Qianfan found her adorable and was about to kiss her.
Fu Jinqiao quickly changed the subject, "Get up quickly; I have to go to Jingxuan Temple to pray."
Mu Qianfan was pushed into the bathroom by her with orders to hurry up and wash. She said she needed to pray fast because if the Bodhisattva fulfilled her vow, she really wouldn’t live long.
After Mu Qianfan finished washing, Fu Jinqiao pushed him out.
"I need to wash up too."
Mu Qianfan asked, "Then why didn’t we do it together just now?"
Fu Jinqiao raised an eyebrow, "If we showered together, I’m afraid you wouldn’t be able to control yourself." With that, she closed the door with a bang.
It was already 7:30 AM by the ti they both got ready.
They had just stepped out the door when they ran into An Yan and Fu Shiyan.
Fu Jinqiao rushed over, chattering, "Later, Third Brother and I are planning to go to Jingxuan Temple. Do you want to co along?"
An Yan glanced at the ti, which was still fairly early.
The temple was only about a twenty-minute drive from there, and she had a promise to keep, so she agreed to go together.
The temple was located atop a hill, not too high, requiring about a half-hour climb from the base to the summit.
During a past business trip, An Yan and Fu Jinqiao had co to this temple together to burn incense.
An Yan had never believed in gods or Buddha before, but ever since Fu Shiyan went missing, and she felt helpless, she began praying sincerely to Buddha.
Today, she was there to fulfill her promise.
The four of them climbed to the top of the hill and saw a temple.
The sound of chanting reached their ears, ethereal and transcendent, refreshing the mind and pleasuring the soul.
Passing through an archway, they stepped over a high threshold and entered.
Many were offering incense, so praying for peace, others for marital connections, or for work, and so on.
An Yan and Fu Jinqiao stepped into the main hall and knelt devoutly on the ditation cushion in front of the Bodhisattva.
An Yan clasped her hands together and closed her eyes to thank the Bodhisattva for the blessing of granting her wishes.
Fu Jinqiao, on the other hand, was hoping the Bodhisattva would forget the curse she had made. She mumbled, "Bodhisattva, my Younger Uncle and Younger Auntie have returned safe and healthy, but could you please not take years off my life? Look at , I am still so young, don’t take yet! I will co here to worship you every year!"
She went on and on.
Though her voice was not loud, An Yan overheard quite a bit.
She couldn’t help but laugh, Fu Jinqiao was truly a gem of a girl, too adorable.
However, An Yan was genuinely touched that Fu Jinqiao would use shortening her life as a way to pray for a good relationship with Fu Shiyan.
Watching Fu Jinqiao finish praying to the Bodhisattva, An Yan said, "Thank you, Jinqiao."
"Ah, you heard all that?"
An Yan nodded, "I really appreciate it. Don’t worry, good people will be rewarded. You will surely live a long life."
Fu Jinqiao giggled, "I just hope to grow old with Shiyan."
An Yan nodded, "You will."
A monk, clad in blue-gray robes, approached with his hands clasped, "Amitabha, you’ve co from far. Would you like to draw a fortune stick?"
Fu Jinqiao’s eyes lit up, "Sure, Younger Auntie, you should draw one too."
An Yan smiled faintly, "Your Younger Uncle has already returned, so I won’t draw one."
The monk looked quite young as he offered the container of sticks with a smile, "Please, go ahead."
Fu Jinqiao grasped the container and shook it, causing a bamboo stick to fall out. It was a bottom-rung fortune.
"Shouldn’t it be the top-rung fortune? How co I got a bottom-rung one?"
The monk’s smile faded, "Please co this way, let our abbot help you interpret the fortune."
An Yan took Fu Jinqiao’s hand and they walked into the side hall.
The abbot was ditating; after the monk whispered sothing to him, he opened his eyes to look at the visitors.
An Yan clasped her hands together, "Master Jingyi."
Master Jingyi inclined his head slightly and uttered an "Amitabha."
Fu Jinqiao stepped forward and presented her stick, "Master Jingyi, could you please interpret this for ? I feel quite good about myself, so why did I get such an unfavorable fortune?"
Master Jingyi sighed softly, "Though I did not kill Boren, Boren died because of . You should be very cautious before the end of this year, beware of villains, take care not to fall ill, then you can turn danger into safety."
He then looked at An Yan, "Has the lady had a joyful event recently?"
An Yan was initially surprised, then nodded, "Indeed, there has been a joyous occasion."
Master Jingyi nodded, "Joy and sorrow are the true colors of life. The lady will have to go through a minor ordeal, after which life can be complete."
An Yan smiled thinly, "Thank you, Master Jingyi."
Master Jingyi responded with "no need to thank " and closed his eyes to continue chanting scripture.
An Yan and Fu Jinqiao left the side hall. Fu Jinqiao murmured softly, "My work is going smoothly, my family is happy, how could it be that I did not kill Boren, yet Boren died because of ? It’s kind of frightening to hear. Oh well, maybe it’s not accurate!"
After speaking, she looked at An Yan, "Let’s go, Younger Auntie. But you mustn’t tell Shiyan about this; otherwise, he’ll say I’m superstitious again."
An Yan’s lips curved slightly, "Okay."
That phrase about not killing Boren yet Boren dying because of her still left An Yan feeling slightly uneasy.
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