Xie Zhaofan didn't want to listen to him any longer and simply pointed at a fairly exquisite Vajra Bracelet. “Master, how much for this?”
The smile on the middle-aged monk’s face instantly became more amiable as he pressed his palms together and chanted the name of the Buddha.
“Amitabha. This is an object that has undergone consecration and has been offered before the Buddha. It is not a mundane commodity and cannot be measured by silver and gold. If the female benefactor wishes to sincerely take it back with her, you need only offer some incense money to the temple.”
Xie Zhaofan almost laughed out loud upon hearing this. Why was this routine so familiar?
Clearly, he was selling something, yet he refused to state a price, insisting on making it mysterious and leaving it up to her to decide how much incense money to offer. Wasn't this just a disguised way of saying there was no upper limit?
In contrast, she felt the Daoist at the City God Temple was much more straightforward. Five taels of silver was five taels of silver, fair to all—at least it let her know exactly how much she was spending.
Thus, Xie Zhaofan didn't stand on ceremony and asked directly, “I don't quite understand these rules. How much incense money does the Master feel would be appropriate?”
The smile on the monk's face faltered for a moment before he slowly said, “Whether one’s karmic connection is deep or shallow depends entirely on the donor's sincerity. The amount of incense money is, naturally, for the benefactor to decide.”
Xie Zhaofan blinked.
She understood!
He felt that giving a quote himself wouldn't sound good and wanted her to set the price instead.
In that case, there was nothing left to talk about.
What she hated most was this circuitous way of speaking. She immediately said with a smile, “Then perhaps I simply have no karmic connection with the Buddha.”
Having said that, she didn't even give him a chance to try and convince her to stay before turning around and leaving.
The middle-aged monk stood where he was, momentarily stunned.
He had received many daughters and wives from high-ranking families here. Usually, young girls from noble houses like this, who clearly had extraordinary backgrounds, were the easiest to move with such metaphysical rhetoric.
Even if they didn't understand it, they would grit their teeth and spend the money out of fear of missing out on something.
But this one was different; she left as soon as she said she would, without the slightest hesitation.
He stood there watching Xie Zhaofan's departing figure, feeling more than a little regretful.
Had he known this would happen, he would have been better off just naming a price earlier.
Judging by her dress and bearing, she was clearly someone who didn't lack silver. If he had directly quoted ten or twenty taels, it might have actually worked.
But chasing after her now would make him look a bit desperate and undignified.
The middle-aged monk could only sigh inwardly, thinking that the next time he encountered such a distinguished guest, he shouldn't be so quick to shut down the conversation with such finality.
Xie Zhaofan naturally didn't know the monk behind her was wallowing in regret. She had just walked out of the side hall, preparing to leave Dahua Temple and head straight to Zuixian Restaurant, when a somewhat provocative voice suddenly reached her ears.
“I knew it was the Second Young Miss of the Xie family. Since when did you start going out all covered up? What, are you too ashamed to show your face?”
Xie Zhaofan paused in her tracks and slowly turned around.
Standing not far away were three noble girls roughly her age. The leader was wearing a bright pink dress, her features carrying a hint of arrogance as she looked at her with a half-smile.
Xie Zhaofan stared at the other girl for a few moments until she finally unearthed the corresponding person from the original body’s residual memories.
Pei Qingwei, the Second Young Miss of the Ningyuan Marquisate.
Strictly speaking, this girl was her former prospective sister-in-law.
This was because her scumbag former fiancé, Pei Shaohuai, was Pei Qingwei's older brother.
As for another girl present, she was even more familiar with her—it was actually her cousin from her third uncle’s family, Xie Wanyang.
Back before Xie Zhaofan had been placed under confinement, their relationship hadn't been particularly close, but they had often played together.
However, after Xie Jinyi’s return, this cousin's attitude had clearly changed, and she had never proactively sought her out again after that.
Meeting her here today was quite an accident.
Xie Zhaofan searched her memories for a while but still couldn't figure out where exactly she had offended Pei Qingwei to make the girl act so cynical the moment they met.
Could it be just because she had broken off the engagement with her brother? That would be a bit too nonsensical.
Xie Zhaofan didn't know at this moment that Xie Chongshan had already had Madam Shen directly reject the proposal from the Ningyuan Marquisate and had also canceled her previous engagement.
This had infuriated everyone in the Ningyuan Marquisate, and the two families had practically become enemies overnight.
However, she was too lazy to play these circuitous language games with teenage girls. After all, given her current psychological age, there was no sense of achievement in bickering with these children.
She had never understood why those who transmigrated always liked to go back and engage in fierce battles with teenagers; did they really get a sense of accomplishment from that?
Thus, she reached up to touch her veiled hat and said with a beaming smile, “Because I am too beautiful, and I'm afraid people will get to see me for free. So, I have to hide myself a little.”
Pei Qingwei clearly hadn't expected such an answer. After being stunned for a moment, she finally couldn't help but laugh.
“You really are shameless, to actually be able to say something like you’re too beautiful. Are you crazy?”
The smile on Xie Zhaofan's face slowly pulled back.
She walked slowly toward Pei Qingwei, her tone becoming even a bit gentler.
“How do you know I'm crazy?”
Pei Qingwei blinked, startled.
“Did your brother tell you? Then did he also tell you that whenever he sees me now, he’s like a mouse seeing a cat? He’s terrified that I’ll suddenly go mad one day and accidentally swat him to death?”
As soon as the words fell, Xie Zhaofan reached out and grabbed Pei Qingwei's wrist.
She didn't even use much force, but for a pampered noble miss, this amount of strength was already enough to make her expression change drastically.
Pei Qingwei felt as though her wrist was being held in an iron vise. Her bones felt a dull ache, and she immediately cried out in alarm.
“Let go! Xie Zhaofan, let go of me!”
Xie Zhaofan watched as her face contorted with pain before finally releasing her hand.
She hadn't intended to actually do anything to the girl; she just wanted her to learn a lesson.
“Mind what you say in the future. As a young girl, don't always think about making trouble for yourself and your family.”
Having said that, she turned to leave.
But after walking only a few steps, she suddenly remembered there was someone else beside them. She stopped and turned back to look at Xie Wanyang.
“Wanyang.”
Xie Wanyang instantly stiffened.
“You don't even know to greet your older sister when you see her? You’re becoming more and more undisciplined.”
How could Xie Wanyang dare to hesitate? She hurriedly performed a curtsy.
“Greetings, Elder Cousin. It was my lack of attention just now; I have been disrespectful.”
Xie Zhaofan nodded with satisfaction.
“Now that’s a good girl. Play less with fools like this in the future; be careful not to catch their stupidity.”
After saying that, she led her people away without looking back.
She left the three girls standing there: one clutching her wrist and crying for her mother in pain, one looking utterly bewildered, and the other completely spiraling into a crisis of self-doubt.
Xie Wanyang stared blankly at her cousin's departing back, a question popping up in her mind.
Was her cousin always like this?
Why did she feel as though she were facing the strict elders of the residence when confronting her just now? Despite them being similar in age, she hadn't even dared to entertain a single thought of resistance.
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