Chapter 232 Small talk
Li Daoxuan felt that it was a bit hasty to recognize a relative in such an inexplicable way.

But even so, the relationship between Li Daoxuan and Mrs. Yao became much closer.

The two chatted a lot, all about private matters.

During this period, Mrs. Yao also talked about the strange things happening in the house, which were almost the same as what Qian Bo said.

Many maids and servants in the house saw white shadows at night, and Mrs. Yao always felt that there was someone standing at the door. Every night, someone would call her name, but she could not find it nor find it.

But she couldn't sleep well, couldn't eat well, and Mrs. Yao's health was getting thinner and thinner.

"I have looked for Taoist priests, and every one of them swore that they could exorcise ghosts and demons, but they went crazy after staying at my house for one night. I have also looked for monks, but chanting and meditating did not help. I can still feel someone outside the door, coming every night, and sometimes even coming to my bed. I always wake up from my sleep and see a figure, but I can't move or speak. I can't see the figure's face clearly, but it will leave on its own after dawn."

As Mrs. Yao spoke, her face showed fear and sorrow.

When faced with such a strange thing, she was helpless.

Because Mr. Yao was an official in the capital, the Yao family was quite famous in Yangzhou. Everyone in the area around Yangzhou knew the name of the Yao family. Even the Governor-General of Liangjiang came, he had to give some face to Madam Yao.

But even though she was powerful, Mrs. Yao was helpless in this strange situation. In the end, she could only go to Maoshan in person and ask the Taoist priest to come out and help her out.

"I know your master's abilities, that's why I went to Baiyun Temple to ask him to help me. But when I wrote to him last time, I didn't expect that he had been summoned to the palace by the Old Buddha, asking you, Daoxuan, to help me." Madam Yao smiled and had no complaints about the old Taoist. After all, the Old Buddha's affairs were of great importance, and she dared not say no no no matter what. If she did, it would be disrespectful. People like her had to keep their mouths shut.

Trouble comes from the mouth, so don't just talk nonsense, and besides, Mr. Yao's situation is not that good now.

"The foreigners have been very powerful in recent years. The master has been working in the Honglu Temple and has suffered a lot of bullying from both inside and outside the court. As it is an important matter of diplomacy and etiquette, the master dare not make the slightest mistake." Mrs. Yao sighed, worried about her situation.

Although the Yao family is rich, it is not easy to get rich. If they offend foreigners one day and ask the court to punish those court officials, their wealth will be like water and disappear in a blink of an eye. Therefore, they can only tremble with fear and be terrified.

What's more, the Honglu Temple is no longer what it used to be. It was originally an office in charge of diplomacy and etiquette, mainly responsible for matters such as tribute, banquets, gifts, and welcoming and seeing off the foreigners. But now the Qing court has long been on its last legs and in ruins. Many of the powers and functions of the Honglu Temple have undergone significant changes. For example, matters related to diplomatic etiquette are mostly managed by the Ministry of Rites or the Zongli Yamen.

"I don't want to tell him about this, for fear that it will confuse his mind and cause him to make mistakes. In Yangzhou today, there are countless people waiting to see the Yao family make a fool of themselves."

After Mrs. Yao finished speaking, she felt a severe headache.

She asked the maid to rub her temples, and only looked at Li Daoxuan again after she felt more comfortable.

"Daoxuan, I'm sorry to trouble you with Aunt Yao's life."

"Aunt Yao, please don't say that. I will."

"mother!"

At this moment, a clear and tender voice was heard, interrupting Li Daoxuan's words. He turned around and saw a little girl in bright clothes running in.

She had her hair in a braid, with a red hair accessory, and wore a red and yellow jacket with a colorful skirt.

He rushed into the house, the bells were ringing, the fragrance was drifting, and the breeze passed by Li Daoxuan.

The little girl threw herself into Madam Yao's arms and acted coquettishly. After saying something to Madam Yao, she looked at Li Daoxuan who was standing beside her.

She smiled with joy and dimples, blinked her bright eyes, walked a few steps to him and called out: "Brother Taoist! You are here!"

Calling his name, the little girl threw herself on him without hesitation. Her fair face could not contain the joy, and she felt particularly happy about Li Daoxuan's arrival.

"Brother Taoist, why did you come just now? I have been waiting for you for a long time." The little girl said pitifully and rubbed against Li Daoxuan. Then she seemed to feel something and reached out to pat his chest.

"Brother Taoist, what do you have here?"

"Yu'er, don't be rude!" Madam Yao looked at the situation and couldn't help but scold the little girl. Although the distinction between men and women is not as strict as it used to be, it's not like this.

My daughter has been spoiled so much that she has no idea of ​​her limits.

The little girl listened to Madam Yao's scolding and stood aside reluctantly. But when she looked up, she saw Madam Yao still glaring at her. She pouted her little mouth, walked to Madam Yao with a look of grievance, and sat beside her.

Seeing her so pitiful, Madam Yao felt sorry for her. After all, she was her precious daughter, and as a mother, she felt sorry for her. So she touched her head and comforted her, "Your Taoist brother has come all the way here, and he must be tired. Yu'er can't disturb him so rudely, understand?"

"Yuer understands," the little girl nodded.

"It's okay, Madam, please don't blame Sister Jinyu." Li Daoxuan also came out to help, holding up a little white rabbit from his arms, "It must be the one that Sister touched just now."

"It's a rabbit!" The little girl's eyes lit up and she was very happy about the rabbit.

She was about to go over and touch the rabbit, but was stopped by Mrs. Yao's eyes again. She could only sit obediently on the chair and swing her feet.

Li Daoxuan looked at the little girl, his eyes fell on her feet. The little girl did not bind her feet, which was a good thing for her. After all, binding feet was really a torture.

He had seen many women with bound feet. Some of them had difficulty even walking, let alone taking care of themselves. Without the care of others, even carrying something would be difficult for them.

He was very disgusted by this matter, not only because binding feet was a bad habit, but also because bound feet were too different from normal feet and looked creepy.

The so-called jade feet, jade feet, if they are not complete, how can there be the beauty of jade?

"Sister Jinyu, have you not tied your feet yet?" Li Daoxuan asked first.

"She's not old enough yet. I plan to wait until Yu'er turns ten next year before tying her off." Mrs. Yao replied.

"If possible, I still hope Aunt Yao won't tie Sister Jinyu's feet."

"Why?" Mrs. Yao asked puzzledly, frowning slightly, and seemed a little unhappy with what Li Daoxuan said.

After all, feet are a woman's privacy and should not be used as a topic of discussion.

Li Daoxuan observed the expression on Mrs. Yao's face and knew that Mrs. Yao did not like what he said, so he smiled and said, "Don't blame me, Aunt Yao. I am just worried about Sister Jinyu. It is wrong to tie up the script. It will only hurt my sister."

"But which daughter of a wealthy family doesn't have her feet bound? If Yu'er doesn't have her feet bound, she will be laughed at in the future." Madam Yao sighed softly. She had her own opinion on the issue of foot binding.

This is the social atmosphere, and whether you restrain yourself or not is not your own will.

"If I bind my feet, it will definitely harm my sister for half her life." Li Daoxuan spoke freely and told Mrs. Yao the pros and cons of binding her feet. The pros and cons were so scary that Mrs. Yao could not believe it.

"Did this foreigner really say that?" asked Mrs. Yao.

"Of course." Li Daoxuan nodded. "Foreigners have never bound their feet. They have always advocated human freedom. Since Mr. Yao works in the Honglu Temple, he should understand how to deal with foreigners. If Aunt Yao binds her sister's feet, it may affect Mr. Yao's official career in the future."

"This, I need to think about it again." Mrs. Yao was obviously moved by Li Daoxuan's words. In fact, she didn't really want to tie her daughter's feet.

After all, she knew the pain of foot binding, and if she had a choice, she would rather never have it bound.

After saying this, it was already late outside, so Li Daoxuan prepared to say goodbye and go back to the inn.

But he was stopped by Madam Yao, who asked him to stay in her house for one night.

(End of this chapter)