I was Idle and Cool Chapter 3

After the snow, the walls and tiles in the Zen courtyard were still covered in white, but there were already traces of melting and dampness on the ground.

In the slightly cold air, there was a faint scent of sandalwood.

Lu Jinxi was led by the zhike* monk and walked all the way through the Zen courtyard to a secluded small Buddhist hall behind.

[知客 zhī kè: Master of ceremonies; monk in charge of a monastery reception.]

Before entering, she took off her rabbit-fur hand warmer that she had been carrying, handed it to Bai Lu, and instructed: "Just wait outside, I will come out in a while, don't worry."

Bai Lu was a little stunned. She took the hand warmer and wanted to say something, but when she opened her mouth, Lu Jinxi had already turned around and walked towards the Buddhist hall.

That back was thin and straight.

Bai Lu watched, and the doubts and worries of the past few days gradually came up again.

She was assigned to serve in Lu Jinxi's courtyard along with Qing Que three years ago.

It didn't take long for a few capable maids who were serving the Madam’s courtyard to be released and was matched to others. The two little girls were very lucky, so they were pulled up becoming first-class maids, holding a tael of silver per month.

Everyone said that the second madam, Lu Jinxi, was kind and gentle, and even if the servant did something wrong, she would not beat or scold them easily.

She became a big servant room in her courtyard, so life should have been easy, right?

But actually...

It’s quite the opposite.

Thinking of this, Bai Lu couldn't help sighing.

As a furen, her master temper was too "good".

During the three years of serving by her side, they have never seen Lu Jinxi lose her temper in front of anyone. No matter what grievances she has suffered, she went back to her courtyard to wipe her tears and never cry outside.

In the beginning, as servants, they felt distressed. Knowing that she was a widow and it was difficult to raise children by herself, so they sincerely comforted her, gave her advice, and hoped that she could stand up.

But later, they realized that it was useless to say anything.

When she was wronged by her mother-in-law, she kept silent; When she was bullied by the third madam, she also didn’t say a word; Even when the servants didn't behave well and made a mistake, they could just pretend to cry in front of her, and she actually spared them without any giving any punishment…

Qing Que was so angry that she shed tears, but after all, Lu Jinxi was still the master, so they didn't dare to voice any objection.

Nominally, the second madam was the wife-in-charge of Xue family. She may hold the account book, but in reality, life was still a torture.

She felt bitter and the servants also felt that there was no hope for life.

Even Bai Lu secretly thought about leaving, she just wanted to find a master who could think clearly, it’s okay even if the payment would be less.

However, she didn't make it.

Not long ago, Lu Jinxi was seriously ill caused of the third madam, Wei shi.

Bai Lu didn’t know if it was because Madam walked in front of the gate of hell, and some of her life strands were broken. After waking up, she suddenly knew a lot of things, her words and actions became organized, and the melancholy between her brows and eyes gradually disappeared.

At first, she and Qing Que regarded her change as their illusion. It was not until the day before yesterday that they realized...

The weather at that time was gloomy and it had been snowing.

Lu Jinxi recovered from her illness and was barely able to get out of the bed. She asked them to help her put on some clothes and drank her medicine.

Just halfway through the drink, the family’s accountant came over and stood outside the door, saying that the third madam didn't have the right tickets and took away the best three batch of satin that had just entered.

At that time, Bai Lu turned pale with anger.

Qing Que sighed and her eyes darkened. She was ready to get the key and money.

Because that had not been the first time.

The second madam would always be embarrassed and behaved like a good-natured person, saying that she would not investigate for fear of disrupting the harmony between sisters. She also would often use her own money to fill this hole.

After all, the good stuff was for the old madam.

But they didn't expect that this time, it was different from usual.

When Lu Jinxi heard the voice, she lifted her eyelids, glanced outside the curtain, slowly put down her medicine, and smiled.

"You can take things away without the right tickets… What do they feed you for? The materials were for the old madam, so be careful."

Qing Que who had just touched the key almost dropped it on the ground.

The maids in the room, including Bai Lu, looked at her as if they had seen a ghost. They didn’t believe that these words came out of the second madam's mouth.

Let alone the accountant who stood outside to complain.

You can see that the person was stunned stupid for a long time through the curtain!

After regaining his senses, those two legs trembled, and he kept raising his hands to wipe his sweat.

From start to finish, Lu Jinxi never gave the right tickets.

In other words, if she (Wei shi) didn't pay the deficit by herself, this thing would be recorded. The third madam took the material privately, and the accountant didn't give the third madam the right tickets!

When the old madam investigated this matter, it had nothing to do with Lu Jinxi.

This pot* was either carried by the third madam or by the accountant!

[Blame.]

Would people not understand who could do messy things in the accounting room? In the past, they were used to ask the second madam for money. This time, Lu Jinxi actually played cards according to common sense. It was frightening!

The accountant didn't even dare to let out a fart and quickly begged Lu Jinxi to forgive him, promising that he would deal with the matter properly.

Lu Jinxi gave a lukewarm "um" and waved it casually.

The other party just burned his butt and went to the third madam courtyard, presumably to get the three batches of satin back.

Seeing this, everyone in the room was dumbfounded.

Only their "very good-tempered" madam was calm, she quietly took the medicine bowl again and drank the remaining half-bowl of medicine carefully.

At the end, she asked Qing Que to bring a plate of candied fruit. She pinched the tip of her finger and said lightly: "I have walked before the gate of hell once. Even the Lord of Hell dare not take my life. I won’t let them get away in the future. Don't worry."

"Don't worry..."

Holding the rabbit-fur hand warmer while standing outside the Buddhist hall, Bai Lu was very confused.

Over these past three years, how many times have they persuaded her?

The lips were all torn, but the madam was still the same. There was no effect at all.

Now that she has recovered from her illness, not only that she beat the accountant who stepped on the low and held the high, but she also took the game back from the third madam Wei shi and told them not to worry?

So unreal, it’s like a dream.

Why do they not want to worry?

But as soon as she felt relieve, she woke up from her dream: The madam was still the wife-in-charge, and the days were still the same. It was dark from top to bottom, there was nothing left to even look forward to...

Now that such big thing has happened in the house, should madam continue lighting up the incense or not? Although the madam had told her that she would leave after a while, Bai Lu still has no clear idea.

After all, in the past, Lu Jinxi always stayed in the Buddhist hall for an hour or two. When she came out, her eyes were red, and anyone could see that she had cried.

Even after she had returned to the mansion, she would not do anything for three to five days.

Now, the matter of Chi ge* was imminent, Ying Guogong-fu was provoked, and there was also the third madam with ulterior motives...

[Ge = Brother, can also be used by mothers to address their sons.]

If she was still the same as before...

The future would be bleak.

Looking up at the sky, nothing has changed.

The second madam had only gone in for a while, but she felt as if it had been a long time. Her heart was suffering, as if someone had put it into a frying pan.

With a bitter smile, Bai Lu only hoped that she would not wake up from this dream, and the second madam somehow managed to figure it out and came out early.

Thinking about it, she couldn't help but looked inside.

In the hall, the light was a little dim.

Three futons were placed on the ground, with an incense table in front, fresh fruits and a copper lotus incense burner were also placed on top of the table. At the top, there was a memorial tablet for rebirth and transcendence. Nine big characters was written on the tablet.

"General of Wuwei Zhenguo, Xue Kuang*."

[武威镇国大将军，薛况 <- Nine characters.]

Everything seemed simple.

Lu Jinxi looked up and sighed.

In just nine words, it wrote down a man's whole life.

Perhaps, there was also a woman's life.

[She means the original Lu Jinxi, since she died following her husband after the current LJX transmigrated.]

From the few words she had heard in the past few days, she has been able to piece together the great achievements of this great general.

For the original Lu shi, this man should not be regarded as a good husband.

But for the people all over the world, he should be considered a hero, right?

It's just that she was not Lu shi, so she didn’t fell any hurt. Apart from sighing "Wrong marriage, wrong love" and lamenting "The heaven envies talented people", she could only burn incense.

She was realistic and utilitarian.

It's better to care more about the living than to be ignorant and waste time on the dead.

Lu Jinxi walked to the incense table, took three sticks of incense, lit them up with fire, slowly took three steps backward, held the incense sticks between both of her palms, and holding it above her head.

"Now that I have taken your wife’s body, I have no choice but to accept it. I will take care of your children as a mother. My heart was terrified and ashamed to accept it."

"In the future, I will do my best to protect them and repay your wife’s kindness."

After saying these two sentences, she felt a little sadness in her heart.

Now that she is in Lu shi's body, how could she know whether Lu shi is in her original body or not?

Lu shi has four children to support, while she (MC) has two living parents who are very old.

She is willing to treat Lu shi’s children well, she only hopes that if Lu shi is there, she would take care of her parents well.

Slightly drooping her eyes, Lu Jinxi bowed down and worshipped piously using her low voice: "If the general’s spirit is in heaven, I hope you could forgive and bless me."

She then stood up and put the incense into incense burner with her own hands.

The smoke curled up and condensed into three faint lines. It soared and soon dispersed, covering the words on the tablet.

Lu Jinxi looked and thought of her bizarre encounter, she felt somewhat complicated.

But all that has to be done has been done, and all that has to be said has been said.

There were still things in the house waiting for her to deal with, so she ordered Pan Quan'er to go back, but after all, she didn't know the foundation of this person, and she didn’t feel at ease, so she still had to go back to take a look.

After taking final look at the memorial tablet, Lu Jinxi turned around and walked out of the Buddhist hall. She said to the maid and servant who was waiting outside: "It's late, let’s go back."

Bai Lu, who has been guarding outside the door, was still thinking in her heart. She was thinking about, even if the madam wouldn’t come out within half an hour, it would still good if she came out within an hour.

Unexpectedly, she heard a voice.

It was familiar...

Like the sound of her madam’s.

Bai Lu looked up and saw that Lu Jinxi was already standing in front of her and looking at her.

Although the makeup was plain and light, it could be seen that there was no trace of tears, no wet eyelashes, and no red eyes!

Madam didn't cry!

And she really came out within an incense stick*!

[About 10-15 minutes.]

At that moment, Bai Lu really couldn't tell how she felt.

If Madam didn't even cry in front of the General's tablet, it proves that she’s not the previous cowardly self, right?

The dream of these past few days, not only it has not been broken, but has actually become a reality...

Some (servants) couldn't believe it, some were moved, and some even wanted to cry.

Bai Lu blinked, and it took a long time to adjust. She quickly handed the hand warmer in her arms to Lu Jinxi, and then took the mink cloak handed over by a little maid next to her. She then said: "It's this servant fault. This servant has been waiting for Madam to come out and got a little distracted."

Lu Jinxi knew that this girl was sincere. Sometimes she was a little bit silly, so she didn't pursue the matter. She only said a few placating words, put on her cloak, and walked onto the path they came from.

"Have you added all the money and sesame oil?"

"It’s all added according to Madam's instructions."

Bai Lu quickly followed Lu Jinxi's and replied.

Lu Jinxi nodded and didn't ask any more questions.

A group of people followed behind her and quickly passed through most of Jokhang Temple ground and exited the mountain gate.

The sedan bearers were still there, but the two people at the corner of the mountain road have disappeared.

Lu Jinxi glanced back, then retracted her gaze. She got on the sedan and was carried down the mountain by the sedan bearers. She then changed her transportation, using carriage from the General's Mansion and went back to the house.

The General's Mansion was located in the east of the city. This area was close to the Imperial Palace, and it was convenient to go anywhere. Therefore, it became a place where high officials and nobles lived together.

However, unlike other high-ranking families, the General's Mansion was the only general's residence in this area.

Xue family was a martial artist family. In order to prepare for an emergency, the east gate did not have any steps nor any thresholds. It was a flat road, suitable for carriages and horses.

Lu Jinxi's carriage entered directly from this gate, and it stopped about ten feet away from the mansion.

What happened* in the mansion caused the servants to be like a pot of porridge**.

[* Xue Chi matter; ** Anxious and chaotic.]

A servant girl who was also serving her courtyard got the notice and came here early to wait. Seeing that the carriage has stopped, she quickly brought a stool and placed it under the carriage’s step.

"Madam, be careful."

Bai Lu came out first. She stood below to receive the Madam’s hand and held it carefully.

Lu Jinxi didn't hesitate, she stepped down using the stool and asked, "Where's Chi ge?"

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