Chapter 86 [VIP]

Chapter Summary: Jizhou.

Yu Jing looked at Xie Xuan, unsure why he would ask such a question, and for a moment, she didn't know how to answer. After a pause, she honestly replied, "I only met the young prince during my tribulation in the mortal realm. In fact, this is the first time we've met."

"Oh," Xie Xuan replied indifferently, without saying anything more.

Yu Jing secretly breathed a sigh of relief, just as the stall owner brought their goods up.

"Soy milk, wontons, pan-fried buns, and baked flatbread—that's all you need. Please enjoy."

"Thank you," Xie Xuan said to the stall owner.

Yu Jing couldn't wait any longer. Looking at the steaming soy milk, she picked up the bowl, blew on it, and took a big gulp. Back in the palace, everything had to be done according to the rules, even eating in small sips. Now, she was finally free from those constraints. The warm, sweet soy milk went down her throat, making her feel all warm and cozy.

Seeing the smile in Yu Jing's eyes, Xie Xuan couldn't help but feel happy too. He imitated her, picked up the bowl, blew on it, and took a big gulp.

"Young Master... this is delicious!" Yu Jing took a bite of the rice cake and said to Xie Xuan, "It's fragrant and crispy, and a little sticky in the middle!"

Xie Xuan picked up a piece, took a bite, and smiled at Yu Jing: "Mmm, delicious."

After a satisfying meal, Yu Jing and Xie Xuan strolled through the streets. She had never been to Jizhou before and didn't know what to do there. Seeing several well-dressed women and their husbands heading in the same direction, she casually pulled one aside and asked, "I see you're both dressed up and going in the same direction. Where are you going?"

The woman glanced at Yu Jing, then lifted the cloth covering the bamboo basket in her hand and handed it to Yu Jing. Yu Jing glanced at it and saw that inside were incense, candles, and paper offerings. "Today is the Shangsi Festival, everyone has gone to Cuiwei Temple to offer incense."

"Cuiwei Temple?" Yu Jing asked with some curiosity.

The woman glanced at Yu Jing and Xie Xuan again: "You must be from out of town. Let me tell you, Cuiwei Temple is very efficacious, especially on the Shangsi Festival. If you pray to the Emperor, your wishes will come true."

"Really?" Yu Jing asked in surprise.

"Of course, I won't say anymore. I'm leaving now." The woman said hurriedly, then turned and left. Yu Jing watched the woman's retreating figure, then turned to Xie Xuan, "Young Master, shall we go and take a look too?"

When she was the Empress Dowager, she went to Xun'an Temple on Wanjiang Mountain. After hearing that lady's exaggerated praise, she really wanted to go and see Cuiwei Temple.

"Okay," Xie Xuan replied.

The two followed the crowd toward Cuiwei Temple, where the number of people increased along the way. However, the pebbly path was lined with lush vegetation, the air was fresh, and a walk was quite pleasant. The only problem was that the sun was intermittently shining, making the weather seem somewhat unpredictable.

As they approached the temple, many stalls selling incense, candles, and fresh flowers and fruits appeared on both sides of the road. Yu Jing passed an old woman and smelled a peculiar fragrance. Following the scent, she saw a large basket of gardenias. The fragrance was strong and pervasive, filling every step with its sweet aroma.

When the old woman saw Yu Jing and Xie Xuan looking at her, she smiled and greeted Xie Xuan, "Young master, please give your wife a gardenia. It's a fresh gardenia picked this morning. It will make your hair fragrant and beautiful."

Yu Jing blushed slightly upon hearing this, and was about to explain to the old woman when Xie Xuan handed over the silver: "Then pick one."

"Alright." The old woman reached out and took the silver, then picked out the most beautiful one and handed it to Xie Xuan.

Xie Xuan held a gardenia still glistening with dew in his hand and looked at Yu Jing. Yu Jing was stunned for a moment, not yet coming to her senses, when she saw Xie Xuan raise the gardenia in his hand and softly call out, "Wife?"

Yu Jing walked blankly to Xie Xuan. Xie Xuan reached out and carefully placed the gardenia flower behind her ear. The air was filled with the fragrance of gardenias, and she could hear her own heart pounding like a drum. For a moment, she had truly been in a daze, as if she and Xie Xuan were really married, as if he were calling her name and putting the flower in her hair. After placing the flower in Yu Jing's hair, Xie Xuan took a small step back, looked at it carefully, and praised, "Beautiful."

Yu Jing snapped out of her daze and awkwardly touched her temple. Suddenly, a force gripped her shoulder, and she was unexpectedly bumped. She was about to use her magic, but realized she couldn't use it here. By the time she came to her senses, Xie Xuan had already pulled her back. Still shaken, Yu Jing hadn't even noticed how close she was to Xie Xuan. Xie Xuan's breathing became slightly heavier. Yu Jing, regaining her senses, pulled away from Xie Xuan's embrace, her face slightly flushed. The strong scent of gardenias still lingered in Xie Xuan's nostrils. Seeing Yu Jing withdraw, he looked somewhat disappointed.

"Let's go," Xie Xuan said.

“Okay.” Yu Jing followed Xie Xuan inside. Before even entering the temple, they saw the branches of a large banyan tree stretching out from within, its branches lush and verdant. The orange-yellow earthen walls and the flourishing banyan tree created a unique and charming scene. The place was bustling with people, a completely different feeling from Xun'an Temple.

Xie Xuan and Yu Jing walked inside, passing through the mountain gate. The smoke from incense rose in wisps, and there were more people inside than outside. Just as Yu Jing was about to leave, she felt a force on her sleeve. Looking down, she saw that her sleeve was being pulled by a fair hand with distinct knuckles.

"Young Master?" Yu Jing asked with some doubt.

"I was afraid you'd get lost," Xie Xuan said calmly, then pulled Yu Jing's sleeve and walked forward. Yu Jing looked at Xie Xuan, feeling as if she had returned to the mortal realm. Her little general was back. In an instant, her heart was filled with both warmth and a bittersweet emotion.

Before even entering the temple, I saw a fortune-telling stall next to it that was crowded with people.

"How do you calculate this?" Yu Jing paused and asked casually. It seemed that Xun'an Temple did not offer fortune telling services.

"Go inside the hall to pray for blessings and draw lots. After receiving the lots, come back to find a master to interpret the divination."

"Oh." Yu Jing nodded. "Thank you."

"Do you want to get a fortune telling?" Xie Xuan asked after the man left.

"Yes, young master, please wait here for a moment. I'll be right back."

As Xie Xuan hesitated, Yu Jing had already disappeared into the crowd. He wanted to ask her what she was asking for—whether it was for the clay statue inside—or rather, he could tell her what he wanted and grant her wish. But seeing her so enthusiastic, he didn't want to dampen her spirits. He took two steps forward, looking across the crowd at Yu Jing kneeling before the clay statue. Her profile was striking in the crowd, serene and tranquil, as if she were praying very devoutly. He suddenly became curious about what Yu Jing had asked for.

After a while, Yu Jing stood up, turned around, and came out. Xie Xuan returned to the spot where he had been, looking as if he had been waiting for a long time.

"Young Master!" Yu Jing came out with the fortune slip he had drawn and called out to Xie Xuan. Yu Jing walked to the master and waited in line for a while before carefully handing over the fortune slip.

The master, with his white beard and hair, looked very profound. He stroked his beard and asked, "What do you want to interpret?"

Yu Jing frowned and thought for a moment. She had just prayed for the reincarnations of A Yu, Li Yun, Sun Jun, Xie Ying, and Xie Jin and his wife, hoping they would be healthy, safe, and well. She hadn't yet decided what she wanted to pray for herself. So, she couldn't really say what she wanted to ask for right now.

"Let's resolve this marriage issue." Xie Xuan's voice came from behind. Yu Jing was taken aback. Since she hadn't decided what to call it, she nodded.

The master clenched his fists and calculated for a moment, then opened his eyes and looked at Yu Jing and Xie Xuan. Yu Jing looked at the master nervously. The master's eyes darted back and forth between Yu Jing and Xie Xuan, and he said, "Young lady, your marriage is both far away and right before your eyes."

"ah?"

Yu Jing followed the master's gaze and saw Xie Xuan, showing a moment of surprise. Before she could react, the rain was already pouring down.

"It's raining!" Short, hurried voices echoed from the side.

The surrounding crowd scattered like birds and beasts, and Xie Xuan pulled Yu Jing to take shelter under the temple from the rain. The rain came suddenly, the sun disappeared in an instant, and the sky began to darken. Yu Jing patted the raindrops off her clothes, looked at the gloomy sky, and asked with some confusion, "The sun was shining brightly just now, how come it suddenly started raining?"

"This rain isn't going to stop anytime soon," Xie Xuan said, glancing at the sky.

Yu Jing glanced around and saw an old woman selling oiled paper umbrellas under the eaves: "Shall we buy an umbrella and go?"

As Yu Jing spoke, she walked towards the old woman.

"Auntie, I'd like to buy two umbrellas." Yu Jing took out some silver and was about to hand it over when she heard the old woman say, "There's only one left."

Yu Jing pointed to the two umbrellas and said, "Aren't there two?"

“Old woman, I don’t need to hold on!” the old woman replied with a smile.

"Oh," Yu Jing replied somewhat embarrassedly. She took the umbrella and walked to Xie Xuan's side.

Xie Xuan watched as Yu Jing brought over the umbrella, a secret joy welling up inside him, though he quickly suppressed his delight. Yu Jing walked up to Xie Xuan and said, "Young Master, there's only one umbrella left."

"It's alright, let's stick together," Xie Xuan replied.

"Well, let's go to a teahouse on the street to listen to a play and take shelter from the rain," Yu Jing suggested. After all, it was still early, and they hadn't had much time to play. Going back now would be too early. Besides, they had just heard that there would be more excitement later that night, and it would be a real shame to miss it.

Xie Xuan responded, "Mm."

Just as Yu Jing was about to open the umbrella, she felt a warm sensation in her hand. Looking up, she saw Xie Xuan slightly turned to the side. Yu Jing was startled; the umbrella had already been taken by Xie Xuan.

"I'll do it," Xie Xuan said.

"Oh," Yu Jing responded hesitantly. Xie Xuan opened the umbrella, and Yu Jing awkwardly moved to Xie Xuan's side.

"Come closer, or you'll get wet," Xie Xuan reminded him.

Yu Jing didn't respond, but moved closer as instructed. Xie Xuan looked at the fist's distance between them, raised his hand, and put his arm around Yu Jing's shoulder. Yu Jing was startled, and her heart suddenly started racing.

The rain pattered down on the umbrella, making a pitter-patter sound. The space under the umbrella was cramped and narrow. Xie Xuan's hand was on her shoulder; they were very close. Yu Jing could feel Xie Xuan's breathing right next to her ear, each breath tugging at her heartstrings.