Chapter 26 Before the gamble lies a gambling table, the stakes being Le Jin's heart...

"Three hundred and seventeen, three hundred and eighteen, three hundred and nineteen... My goodness! How much sesame oil must have been used up!"

Le Jin sighed with heartache as she looked at the dazzling sea of ​​lights.

The so-called "Lamp Hall" is a place where worshippers set up lamps for offering. The worshippers of Huayan Temple were all wealthy and noble, so the temple specially built a magnificent hall to house their prayers to the gods and Buddhas.

She reflected on her sins and atonement in the lamp hall, which meant helping the monks look after the many ever-burning lamps and preventing them from going out or catching fire.

This was really easy. Le Jin patrolled the lamp hall from morning till night every day, and there were dedicated monks to do things like refilling oil and lighting lamps, so she didn't need to do anything. She was practically just strolling around here.

People tend to ponder things when they have free time.

Le Jin counted on her fingers, "I've already gone through the part of the story where I fell in love with Meng Shutai at first sight and pursued him fiercely. Now I can smoothly transition into the 'melodramatic' part of my married life."

How wonderful! She no longer has to pretend to be romantic with Meng Shutai! These past few days, seeing him again has brought her a sense of satisfaction and joy, a feeling of anticipation for the future.

As Le Jin hummed a little tune, she curiously looked at each offering lamp as she passed by, noting the wishes written on them.

She was so engrossed in watching that the orange firelight reflected on her face, and soon a layer of fine sweat appeared on her skin.

When something cannot be achieved through human effort, people entrust it to something grander and more intangible, a mystery.

All Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are actually the collection of human desires and aspirations.

Le Jin suddenly realized that after they got married, her persona would be that of a flirtatious and promiscuous woman. Would Meng Shutai really be willing to wear a green hat?

It's hateful that the author only treated "Le Jin" as a vicious tool, and never mentioned whether she lived or died at the end of the book.

She couldn't let her guard down; she had to find a way to protect herself.

Le Jin decisively lifted her skirt and walked to the monks' quarters in the hall, pointing to the paper and pen on the table, "Master, I want to offer lamps and write my wishes."

The monk put his hands together in prayer and chanted "Amitabha," then asked, "Would the female devotee like to write down whether she would like to offer large or small lamps? How many lamps would she like?"

Le Jin smiled, took off a jade bracelet from her arm with an air of nonchalance, and placed it on the table.

"Everything in this palace of yours."

——

Le Jin has been guarding the lantern palace for seven days now.

All those who searched for Le Zhao's whereabouts at Mengshutai found nothing.

He had only agreed to go find Le Zhao that day as a temporary measure to avoid her harassment. Meng Shutai knew this woman's background perfectly well.

She said that going back to Shuzhou would mean a complete breakup; only a fool would believe that.

Meng Shutai lowered his eyes to look at the lotus flowers and seedpods in the celadon vase by the window.

This lotus is no ordinary lotus. Although seven days have passed, its stamens are still fresh and its petals tender, with green and pink petals complementing each other.

Like her unwavering devotion.

Although Le Jin had been reflecting on her mistakes in the Lantern Palace these past few days, she still came to see him twice every evening without fail. Even when the sound of chess stopped her, she wasn't annoyed; she smiled at him from afar across the small bridge and flowing water in the courtyard.

Her bright and passionate eyes openly revealed her love, her joy, her persistence, and her expectations.

Did she truly love him? Was it romantic love?

But the woman's one-sided affection only irritated him, reminding him of his mother's tears when he was a child—hypocritical, superficial, a hazy, incomprehensible dream.

Every day that Le Zhao remains missing, Le Jin will be annoyed with him for another day.

It would be best if Yue Zhao died, then she could get out of there.

"My lord..."

Meng Shutai looked melancholy as he leaned against the railing alone. Qisheng thought he was troubled by searching for someone and called out to him softly.

As a close attendant, he was also concerned about his master's mood.

"The weather is nice outside today, how about we go for a picnic? I'll go hitch up the car."

Meng Shutai slowly shifted his gaze to the window and saw large, fluffy clouds piled up in the azure sky. Under the sunlight, the clouds shone with countless rays, creating a breathtaking scene.

It's good to go out and relax.

The bamboo-patterned carriage moved slowly along the way. Meng Shutai specifically instructed Qisheng not to care about the destination, but simply to travel as smoothly as the wind, going wherever he pleased.

The horse carried him along a path, around a mountain corner, through a dense grove of willows, and suddenly a cluster of houses appeared ahead, filled with the rich, musty aroma of fermented wine.

"Stop the chess game."

Pushing open the door, the woman in the courtyard paused for a moment before smiling again, "Young Master Meng!"

He smiled and said softly, "Miss Jiang, it's been a long time."

Jiang Yingyun's eyes lit up, and she raised her hand to greet him: "Young master, you've come at just the right time. We just brewed some new wine a few days ago. Would you like to try some?"

She was an open and honest person, and Meng Shutai was not overly polite or reserved. After instructing Qisheng to guard the carriage outside, he sat down directly on the small wooden stool.

Beneath his light green gauze robe were gold-painted peony patterns that shimmered with his movements. His deep, cold, and vibrant colors resembled a secluded courtyard, exuding a sense of desolation and autumn melancholy.

Although she was sitting, Jiang Yingyun noticed that Meng Shutai wasn't curious about her new wine. His usually bright and beautiful eyes were now staring blankly at the water stains splashed on the outside of the earthen cup.

"Young Master Meng?"

Meng Shutai barely came to his senses, glanced at her, and gave a faint smile before quickly letting it go, looking like he was trying very hard to muster his energy.

Jiang Yingyun was completely baffled. "What's wrong with my husband?"

Meng Shutai opened his mouth as if to speak, but faced with Jiang Yingyun, he felt speechless and could only shake his head: "It's nothing. It's just that the Jiu'an Festival is approaching, and there are many things going on at home, so I'm just worried."

Mentioning Jiu'an, Jiang Yingyun's expression turned melancholy for a moment. She supported herself on the table with her hands and slowly sat down.

A small table, two minds, and three people sitting down.

Jiu'an... Jiang Yingyun rubbed the rag used to wipe the jar beside her. Just thinking about it made her throat feel like it was choked by smoke, and she couldn't breathe.

Before she could invite the young man to a hearty drink or thank him for his guidance, he was murdered by bandits and became a victim of their blades.

She encountered Jiang Xian on the mountain path that day, and during the ensuing argument, she fell off a cliff. She was rescued by Uncle Zheng, who brewed wine in the village, but she still wanted to go home to let him know she was safe.

But before she even stepped into that place called "home," she heard her grandmother wailing outside the wall: "My grandson, how could you leave your grandmother like this..."

Is Jiang Xian dead?

The uncle pulled at the father, saying he wanted to go to the magistrate's office in the capital to beat the drum. The father was so angry that he cursed, "What a fine daughter you raised! The bandit leader said it himself after he was arrested. My son saw her filthy behavior, so she colluded with the bandits and killed my son!"

I killed him?!

Jiang Yingyun was about to enter and explain, but her father's next words made her feel as if she had fallen into an ice cellar.

"Brother, it's not that I'm unwilling to take responsibility, it's just that that little girl has also disappeared without a trace. Don't worry, if I find her, I will definitely skin her alive and use her bones to comfort Xian'er..."

Jiang Yingyun fled the Jiang family almost out of the instinct to survive.

She ran through the streets, dazed and confused, not even sure if she was a human or a ghost.

Jiang Xian was murdered, but why was she blamed? In her father's heart, his daughter was so dispensable that she could be sentenced to death for a single unsubstantiated statement.

She could never go home. Jiang Yingyun felt as if her heart and lungs were being struck by heavy blows. She couldn't help but wail, drawing the attention of passersby.

As the cries of fear and resentment subsided, another clear voice grew increasingly distinct:

"Make yourself stronger. You can support yourself with your own hands..."

It is Jiu'an.

Later, during the arduous days and nights of learning winemaking from Zheng Bo, whenever she felt she couldn't go on, Jiu'an's figure would appear before her eyes.

The tall, thin, and honest-looking young eunuch grinned broadly, standing shoulder to shoulder with her just like he had done under the tree at Yuyang Temple that day.

But why do good people not live long?

Jiang Yingyun blinked her sore and moist eyes, got up and went back into the house to get two small jars of aged wine.

"Fortunately, Lord Meng collected Jiu'an's remains, preventing him from becoming a wandering ghost. This is plum wine that I brewed myself. I hope Lord Meng will take it to Jiu'an's grave as a way of remembering him."

Meng Shutai nodded, his eyes filled with sorrow.

"I will take Jiang Si Niangzi's pure heart with me."

“Eh—” Jiang Yingyun suddenly stopped, revealing a slightly embarrassed expression.

"Um... please make sure that the lady who rode the horse that day doesn't see this wine."

"She dislikes my social interactions with my husband."

Meng Shutai raised an eyebrow in surprise, "You've met?"

“A few days ago, I went to the hot spring at Huayan Temple to fetch water for brewing wine. When she saw me, she was very unhappy and told me to stay away from my husband.”

"I think she must be extremely in love with her husband, and she's quite anxious about things."

Strangely enough, when they met at the hot spring, she initially thought that domineering woman wouldn't let her off the hook, but the woman, holding a lotus flower, hesitated and seemed quite coy. Finally, she rushed over and said fiercely to her:

"Stay away from Meng Shutai!"

Is she jealous?

But Jiang Yingyun didn't care about the woman's jealousy; she was only worried about whether the plum wine could be properly delivered to Jiu'an.

Meng Shutai's long eyelashes trembled, and her eyes shimmered with surprise.

Unbeknownst to him, was Le Jin actually so full of fighting spirit for him?

Thinking of her bright, sparkling eyes, Meng Shutai pictured a silly fox with its head held high in his mind.

He couldn't help but chuckle, a silent smile curving his lips, as gentle as a tender orchid bud soaking in a mountain stream, fresh and clear as after a storm.

As he took the wine from Jiang Yingyun, the heavy, cool wine jar pressed against his warm palm, like holding ice jade. His drifting thoughts tightened, and he blurted out unconsciously, "Could Fourth Lady Jiang tell me what a woman's affection is all about?"

Jiang Yingyun flinched as if pricked by a hedgehog, looking at him warily: "Huh? Asking me?"

Meng Shutai smiled shyly, "Among those close to me, only Fourth Sister Jiang can answer this question for me."

Jiang Yingyun suddenly felt a sharp, itchy sensation on her neck. When she grabbed it, she found it was a wisp of hair.

Oh dear, really… She took a step back, her face lowered, and a shy blush rose on her cheeks.

"Actually, I don't know either, but if I admire someone, I feel that person is brave and invincible, and their whole body is radiant. Even if they are just a silly fool, I am willing to give them my heart."

Although the woman was of bad character, it's better to destroy a temple than to break up a marriage. Besides, the two of them were betrothed by their parents, so why should I interfere?

Jiang Yingyun pursed her lips, and still said:

"Young Master Meng is an extraordinary man, a man of exceptional talent and beauty. Lady Le must be utterly enamored with you."

"Is that so..." Meng Shutai asked himself softly. The next moment, as if a child seeking knowledge, his eyes widened slightly, his obsidian-like pupils gleaming with iridescent light:

"She loves me, so her heart belongs to me?"

Jiang Yingyun nodded straightforwardly, "That's how it is for both men and women."

Her phoenix eyes flashed with brilliance, and Meng Shutai seemed to receive a sudden enlightenment. He thanked her repeatedly and left with the wine.

The carriage moved slowly, the bamboo curtains fluttering. Birds chirped, rabbits darted about, the leaves were dense and provided shade, and small green fruits on the branches glistened in the sunlight.

He rolled up his long sleeves, revealing his forearms as he stretched them out of the car. A gentle breeze brushed through his fingers, like invisible, cool ripples, pleasant and charming.

Jiang Yingyun's words echoed repeatedly in Meng Shutai's mind.

If Le Jin loves him, then he will possess her heart.

Jiu'an has been dead for too long and too far; shouldn't he be entitled to new offerings?

The bamboo-patterned carriage stopped outside Huayan Temple. Meng Shutai got out of the carriage and left two small jars of wine for Qisheng.

"Throw it away."

He spoke the two words very quickly and briefly, his pure joy and excitement urging him to hurry back and see the tempting "offering of fruit" that had made him so hungry.

However, when passing the small pond between the palaces, Meng Shutai suddenly stopped.

Today he did not wear a crown, but used a jade hairpin to half-tie his long hair, which cascaded down his shoulders like a waterfall. He bent over to look at his reflection in the pond, and his hair slipped down, setting off his jade-colored skin and striking features, making him as beautiful as a ghost.

But she was dressed in a dark blue robe, which was both elegant and graceful, yet also gave off a sense of otherworldly charm.

Several graceful koi carp swam in the pond, chasing each other and playing among the water lilies. One of them accidentally swam to the reflection of Mengshu Terrace, immediately flicked its tail, turned around, and swam away, as if it had seen some evil creature and fled in panic.

Meng Shutai stared at it and smiled.

He was a ghost in human form, but his skin was that of a celestial being. He was a wandering spirit that had emerged from a lonely grave and coffin, and he was extremely pleased to have acquired such a beautiful appearance.

Le Jin had complimented him on his good looks, but at the time he didn't have eyes for her and naturally didn't know about her various expressions.

But now his heart was burning with desire, and he didn't want to miss a single detail of Le Jin's expression.

Meng Shutai suddenly realized that he was sitting opposite Le Jin at a gambling table, gambling on Le Jin's heart.

He left the small pond and drifted deeper into Huayan Temple.

The once peaceful and tranquil temple was now filled with a sense of panic. Everyone whispered among themselves, yet dared not speak openly, as if a silent beast lurked in the shadows.

His brow furrowed slightly as he asked, "What happened?"

"Ah, Lord Meng!" The young novice monk, who had been stopped by him, was completely flustered, wiping the sweat from his brow. "The... the Lamp Hall is on fire!"

A note from the author:

----------------------

Okay, they've both decided to stop pretending. Let's sweep everything away and be ourselves again!

And Meng Shutai's beating countdown is on!