However, the old monk did not say more, only saying, "Heavenly secrets cannot be revealed. Benefactor, you only need to accumulate virtue and do good deeds throughout your life, and everything will be as you wish."

"Then..." Liu Huan wanted to ask about the wolf, but the old monk interrupted her, "Benefactor, everything is due to fate, you don't need to worry about it too much."

The old monk seemed to know about her background, otherwise he wouldn't have been able to speak so accurately.

He was unwilling to explain, which made Liu Huan feel very uneasy.

"Thank you for your guidance, Elder."

If you don't want to talk about it, that's fine. But if you say something unpleasant, it will only bother you more if you keep thinking about it.

The old monk looked at the amulet in her hand, took it, and placed it beside the clean water under the Bodhisattva's seat. He dipped his prayer beads in the water and sprinkled some on the amulet, chanting incantations.

He lit three incense sticks and brought them to Liu Huan, saying, "Let's offer another incense stick for the Bodhisattva."

After Liu Huan knelt and offered incense, the old monk plucked a little of the fallen incense ash and put it into the amulet. He then took a relic from his body and placed it inside before returning it to Liu Huan.

"If you simply give this to Benefactor Cheng, it will surely protect him from danger and help him escape from a desperate situation."

Liu Huan knelt down, happily accepted the gift, and bowed three times to Buddha, saying, "May Buddha have mercy."

"Amitabha, it is already dark today. Why don't you stay at the temple for the night?"

"Thank you, Elder."

The two went out and met up with Su Wan and her husband. Su Wan also asked for two peace charms, but when she wanted to take them to the elder for consecration, the elder had already left.

Only after asking did I learn that it was the famous Master Konghui, who traveled around for many years and had no fixed abode.

I predict that I will return when my destined person appears, but I will leave soon after.

So, this time the destined person is Liu Huan.

Seeing her looking distressed, Su Wan assumed she was upset for her and immediately comforted her, saying, "It's alright, having other eminent monks perform the consecration is just as good."

Liu Huan smiled and waited until she finished looking for the host before they returned to the back room together.

After autumn arrived, the osmanthus flowers in the temple bloomed in full, and the fragrance of flowers filled the air. The young monk who led them in said, "If you like it, you can go and see the osmanthus grove next to the backyard. Our Huguo Temple's osmanthus grove is famous far and wide."

"Thank you, young master."

As soon as Su Wan entered the room, she lay down on the bed, exhausted. Liu Huan wanted to go see her, but she wouldn't go. "You go ahead, I'm very tired. I'll sleep for a while and then come find you."

Liu Huan had no choice but to go by herself.

Passing through the corridor and through an archway, you arrive at the Osmanthus Grove, as the little monk described. Inside, the intricate osmanthus trees are in full bloom, and except for the narrow passageway that only allows one person to walk through, the rest of the area is covered with golden osmanthus petals.

With a casual reach, osmanthus petals will fall onto your hand.

Go inside and sit in a clean pavilion, watching the osmanthus blossoms fall gently in the breeze; it will surely lift your spirits.

Just as she was about to leave, she heard two men talking on the only way in.

"Your Highness, this is a secret letter between Qin Dayong and the Third Prince. Furthermore, our people have discovered that Qin Dayong also has connections with people from foreign countries."

"Is Li Cong getting anxious because he saw that I and my cousin were doing movable type printing together?"

"I do not know."

"Keep a close eye on him, gather evidence. I need enough evidence to ensure he can't recover."

"Yes, I'll take my leave."

Liu Huan eavesdropped secretly. The man who called himself "this palace" must be the Crown Prince of the palace. But why was he here?

Before I could figure it out, a pair of bright yellow shoes appeared by the roadside.

How much longer are you going to listen?

Liu Huan looked up and saw a face that exuded authority without anger. He was handsome, and Liu Huan estimated that he only reached his shoulder.

Coming to my senses, I looked to the right and thought, "What? I didn't hear anything!"

She planned to feign death to get away with it.

Whether you heard it or not, you're out of luck.

The crown prince drew his sword, which startled Liu Huan, who trembled and said, "Wait a minute, we can talk this over."

Liu Huan took a step back, and the Crown Prince smiled, "Speak, what are your last words? Although I will not grant them."

Liu Huan really wanted to cry when she heard this, but she had no choice but to say, "I invented movable type printing."

As expected, His Highness the Crown Prince was visibly taken aback. "Do you think I would believe that?"

"I not only know movable type printing, but I also know papermaking, and I'm very efficient at it."

Liu Huan offered her bargaining chip; given her current state, mentioning Su Yi's name would likely be useless, so she could only think of something that would benefit the Crown Prince in order to extricate herself.

"Who are you to Su Yi?"

Liu Huan quickly said, "I am his childhood sweetheart, we grew up together without any misunderstandings."

His Highness the Crown Prince almost lost his composure and asked again, "Do you love him?"

"I love him until the seas dry up and the rocks crumble, until the sky collapses and the earth splits, until the mountains have no peaks and the heavens and earth unite." Liu Huan said everything she could think of.

His Highness the Crown Prince chuckled, "Su Qing, your little fiancée is quite interesting."

Liu Huan was stunned. What Su Qing?

Beside an osmanthus tree stood a person—none other than Su Yi.

Su Yi stepped forward and took Liu Huan's hand, saying helplessly, "Your Highness, please don't scare her. She's easily frightened."

Liu Huan's eyes widened. So... the clown was herself.

Suddenly her face flushed red, and she slightly bent her knees to curtsy, "Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince."

His Highness the Crown Prince laughed heartily, "No need for formalities. Considering your infatuation with Su Qing, I will forgive you this time."

"Let's go. Remember what you said about papermaking, or else..."

Although His Highness the Crown Prince hadn't finished speaking, Liu Huan had already connected the words "bring his head to me" to the conversation.

After the Crown Prince left, Liu Huan looked at Su Yi with a reproach, "What's wrong with you? Why did you watch me make a fool of myself?"

Su Yi explained, "I only came here because my sister told me you were here. I happened to run into His Highness the Crown Prince, and he wouldn't let me speak, so I couldn't do anything about it."

Liu Huan didn't care. She said, "Hmph, you're doing this on purpose."

Su Yi smiled and coaxed him for a long time before finally saying, "I heard you love me so much you can't help yourself?"

"I was just making things up to protect myself, you wish."

Su Yi was about to speak when Su Wan interrupted him, "Shi Tou, didn't I tell you to call Huan Huan for dinner? Why are you still here?"

"We're here, sis, let's go." Liu Huan couldn't wait to take Su Wan's arm and walk away, while rolling her eyes back at her.

Su Yi watched them leave with a smile, but then a look of worry crossed his face as he thought about what the Crown Prince had just said to him.

The group stayed overnight and descended the mountain early the next morning.

The way back was much faster than the way there. After descending the mountain, they met an old man selling lotus pods. Liu Huan liked them and went up to ask him about them.

"Uncle, why are there still lotus pods for sale this time of year?"

The old man explained, "August is the best season for eating lotus pods, so please bring some for this distinguished guest."

Liu Huan looked at the lotus leaves beside her and said, "Sell me a few more lotus leaves."

The old man was very generous and gave her a lot.

Qiu Rong asked, "Miss, we only need the lotus pods. What are the lotus leaves for?"

"Of course it's for cooking," Liu Huan replied matter-of-factly.

Qiu Rong suddenly realized that this was edible, especially since it was made by her young lady.