Five days later, Zhulan accepted Lady Tao's invitation to visit Huguo Temple. Lady Tao was praying for blessings for Wong Wei and her unborn child, and coincidentally, Xue Han also wanted to see Rongchuan. So, they all headed to Huguo Temple together.
Zhulan wasn't going alone; she was accompanied by several daughters-in-law. Yu Yi wanted to join as well, and eventually, most of the women in the household decided to go.
There hadn't been the first snow yet, and the steps up the mountain path were still easy to tread. Zhulan had gone outside frequently throughout the year and had built up her stamina. This time, instead of relying on her eldest daughter-in-law for support, she managed to climb the steps on her own.
The group stopped to rest for a moment. Looking at the people climbing the steps down below, Zhulan said, "If it snows, I wouldn't dare attempt these steps."
Lady Tao remarked, "The monks will sweep them clear."
