Madame Su's grip tightened on the handkerchief as she contemplated various possibilities and made her own conjectures.
The calm demeanor of the monk, as if he hadn't heard anything, further fueled her suspicions. With a bow and a polite gesture, he left the scene.
The temple in the outskirts of the capital often received visits from high-ranking officials and nobility. Open and covert struggles were not uncommon, although the temple usually remained uninvolved.
"Well then, let's descend from the mountain," one of the ladies sneered. "We worried for nothing! Instead, she stumbled upon great fortune and fled without facing us, as if she feared we would follow her. She even concocted such a ridiculous story—claiming that we went to the back mountain when we didn't, and she had someone fetch her."
"Yes, she's simply making excuses for herself!"
Another lady chimed in, and the rest remained silent.
Madame Su also smiled. "Very well, let's go."
