On the sixth day of the twelfth lunar month, it began to snow in Shengjing.
By the eighth day, when the Luo Family arranged their carriages, travel had become somewhat difficult.
But the Laba Festival was a major holiday, and Old Madam Luo was sure to go to Fahua Temple to burn incense.
Luo Ning accompanied her.
Marquise Bai, Bai Cirong, as well as Luo Ning's two aunts, illegitimate sisters, and cousins, all had to go along.
Someone grumbled in a low voice, "The road is hard to walk, and the mountain path is not easy either."
"It's so cold."
However, at the foot of Fahua Temple, Little Monks and benefactors from nearby villages continuously cleared the snow.
The mountain path was a bit slippery, but still passable.
There were more people coming and going, jostling shoulder to shoulder, than Luo Ning had imagined.
The main hall where the Head Monk lectured required reservations, but this had been settled two months prior, so Old Madam had a spot.
After Old Madam entered, many people greeted her.
Huineng, the Head Monk, saw the prayer beads in her hand and chanted a Buddhist prayer, "Old Madam Luo has good fortune."
Everyone else looked over.
The noble ladies all recognized them: the sandalwood prayer beads personally carved by the first eminent monk, Master Xuanmiao, seventy years ago; he passed away at 120 years old, and the day before, he gave them to Cui's Sixth Miss.
Cui's Sixth Miss was made Crown Princess the following year, then successfully became Empress, giving birth to four princes and one princess for the royal family. The Emperor and Empress lived in harmony, their prestige beyond words.
Now, Cui was the current Empress Dowager.
When the court ladies entered the palace to pay their respects, they always saw the Empress Dowager wearing these prayer beads on her wrist.
Today, however, they were worn by Old Madam Luo of the Luo Family, no wonder even the Head Monk came to pay his respects.
In an instant, everyone in the main hall rose and greeted Old Madam Luo.
Including the Madam of the most prominent aristocratic Cui Family.
After the Buddhist rituals, Madam Cui warmly invited, "Old Madam Luo, if you haven't ordered vegetarian food, let's dine together."
Old Madam Luo remembered her granddaughter's words, that she must not get too close to anyone, lest it become "fuel to the fire."
Since she had received the Empress Dowager's prayer beads, would she still fear a lack of honor in the future?
She needed to be restrained and cautious.
Old Madam shook her head, "The weather is bad, and my daughter-in-law and granddaughter are waiting at the entrance. We must go back. I appreciate your kind offer, Madam, but I must decline."
Madam Cui found it difficult to insist.
On the way down the mountain, Old Madam couldn't help but feel proud and spoke of what had just happened.
Luo Ning's mother, Bai, couldn't help but say, "Mother, why didn't you dine with Madam Cui?"
Bai Cirong also held her breath.
Old Madam glanced at Luo Ning, who was wearing a gray squirrel fur cloak, and shook her head, "Let's go back first."
She was obedient, but a little regretful.
Old Madam's regret didn't last too long before the capital erupted.
Living in the city, people only felt that the four consecutive days of snow this year were too heavy, but they didn't know how many village houses had collapsed, or how many livestock and people had been crushed or frozen to death.
The imperial court was busy beyond measure with disaster relief.
Just like in her previous life, a clever censor from the Censorate, knowing the national treasury was not abundant, targeted Fahua Temple and the prominent families, using Fahua Temple's Laba Festival Buddhist gifts as an issue.
He criticized Fahua Temple and the families who ordered vegetarian meals, forcing them to contribute money for disaster relief.
The news spread widely, and it was heard throughout the city's markets and neighborhoods.
The Luo Family naturally heard about it too.
In the evening, when her children and grandchildren came to Old Madam's for dinner, Luo Ning's father brought up the matter, "Mother, you didn't eat the vegetarian meal then, did you?"
"No," Old Madam said, "Originally, A Rong had ordered it. Fortunately, A Ning had foresight and told me to only take the prayer beads and not eat the vegetarian meal. Otherwise, you would be among those being criticized today."
She continued, "Our peerage was bestowed by the Emperor after A Ning was injured; it's inherently unstable, without any solid merits. Perhaps if His Majesty gets angry, he might revoke it."
The dining table fell into a terrible silence.
Luo Ning's mother's face turned pale, almost angry; her father's lips moved slightly, wanting to say something, but he couldn't refute it.
The others looked at Luo Ning, then at Bai Cirong.
Bai Cirong was greatly frightened and immediately knelt down, "It's all my fault, I almost caused a great disaster!"
Her tears fell like rain.
She looked incredibly beautiful crying, like a pear blossom bathed in rain. Her tears were like broken strings of pearls, yet she didn't contort her face, making her beauty tragically poignant and evoking pity.
"Get up quickly, how can it be your fault?" Luo Ning's eldest brother immediately spoke.
His wife went to help her up, "Didn't you cancel it? Nothing happened at all, why are you crying?"
Bai Cirong's tears still flowed, "I'm just scared after the fact."
Her mother said, "You silly child."
Everyone spoke over each other to comfort her.
Some people watched in silence, not uttering a sound.
Luo Ning's mother's heart was breaking as she hugged Bai Cirong, continuously comforting her.
Her grandmother slowly spoke, "Sit down quickly, don't cry. No one said you were wrong, you had filial piety, you just had a bit of bad luck."
Then she said to Luo Ning's father, "A Ning is a child of prosperity, with excellent luck. As soon as she returned, she saved us from a disaster."
Her father nodded, "That's right."
Luo Ning's father was a military general. However, not every general is sincere and reckless. On the contrary, her father was smooth, selfish, indifferent, and heartless.
When he was stationed, he saw Luo Ning only a few times a year and had no real affection; after returning to the capital for duty, he was busy with social engagements and official business all day, and he didn't even see the women in the inner quarters.
So, he was indifferent.
Until this moment.
"Madam, clean out Wenqi Courtyard within three days. A Ning has been back in the capital for almost ten days and is still staying with Mother, which is improper!" her father said.
Everyone at the dining table realized the tide had turned.
The cousin, meticulously cared for by the Marquise, was, in the end, just a relative.
The legitimate daughter of the Luo Family had returned.
Ten days, no crying, no fussing, no snatching. Gentle, quiet, and waiting with impeccable manners.
The head of the family had spoken, and her courtyard was returned to her.
No blood was shed.
Luo Ning knew everyone was looking at her.
She smiled slightly and said to her father, "Thank you, Father. Your daughter is willing to accompany Grandmother, but I am afraid of disturbing her. It would naturally be best to go back and live there."
From beginning to end, she did not relent, saying she could forgo Wenqi Courtyard and live in Hui Fu Courtyard.
Wenqi Courtyard was hers.
"Mother, why doesn't Eldest Aunt like Da Jiejie?" On the way back, her cousin, Luo Wan, asked her mother.
Second Madam said, "She never liked her since she was little."
"Why? She's her biological daughter."
"She had a massive hemorrhage when she gave birth to her, almost dying. After being saved, it took her half a year to regain movement in her limbs. Since then, she couldn't stand A Ning," Second Madam said.
Luo Wan sighed, "Da Jiejie is a bit pitiful. Eldest Uncle doesn't care about the inner quarters, and Eldest Aunt treats her niece more affectionately than her own biological daughter."
Second Madam was also puzzled.
However, Madam Bai, the Eldest Madam, indeed always disliked Luo Ning.
Second Madam had even seen her hit Luo Ning.
At that time, Luo Ning was only five years old and understood nothing, but Eldest Madam hit her mouth with the sole of her shoe.
Old Madam did not know about this.
Second Madam was a sister-in-law, dependent on the main branch for her livelihood, and dared not speak out.
Later, Eldest Madam claimed that Luo Ning had bumped her mouth on the edge of the kang herself.
"A Ning has changed a lot. She used to be impatient and couldn't handle things. Now that she's grown up, she's steady, reserved, and has excellent self-control," Second Madam said.
See, she had only just returned, and Bai Cirong was already made to look a bit forlorn in comparison.
Bai Cirong still needed to return Wenqi Courtyard.
"Mother, Eldest Aunt wants to raise her niece as the legitimate daughter of the Marquis's residence; she has great ambition. Luckily, Da Jiejie is formidable. Why should the benefits of our family be taken by someone named Bai?" Luo Wan said again.
Second Madam covered her daughter's mouth, "Be quiet, don't let anyone overhear."