Chapter 14 A Glimmer of Light

When Daiyu, accompanied by her maids and nannies, followed the palace servants sent by Prince Duan to the mountain pavilion, Chu Heng was gazing at the distant mountains in a daze.

Daiyu stepped forward and curtsied: "Your Highness."

Chu Heng merely raised his hand, his eyes still fixed on the distance, and said absentmindedly, "Sit."

The stone benches in the pavilion were covered with woolen mattresses, so there was no feeling of coolness when sitting on them. Daiyu took the book from Zijuan's hand and said, "I plan to read a book. Does Your Highness mind?"

Chu Heng nodded slightly, and then Daiyu said, "Princess Yongkang was with me just now."

"Hmm...hmm?" Chu Heng turned to look at her. "Did she go to cause you trouble?"

Daiyu asked curiously, "Why is the princess causing me trouble?"

Chu Heng smiled: "She has never been able to get the better of me. Now that we have this relationship, it's not impossible for her to get her revenge on you."

“Your Highness, you are judging a gentleman by your own petty standards,” Daiyu said with a smile. “The princess wants to be my friend.”

"Oh?" Chu Heng chuckled, noticing the sincerity in her smile. "It seems you two are already friends."

Daiyu smiled and said, "The princess is a very nice person."

Chu Heng added with a smile, "I have a bad mouth."

Daiyu paused, then said tactfully, "The princess is straightforward."

Chu Heng chuckled twice and said, "His Majesty and Empress Dowager are biased and will be more strict and critical of Yongkang, but they will not mistreat her. When it is time to protect her, they will not let her suffer. She is also carefree and never takes what she says to heart."

eccentric?

Daiyu recalled the scene in Renshou Palace that day. So that's how it was. It was because everyone present knew that the Emperor and the Empress Dowager favored Chu Heng that there was such a strange atmosphere.

But it's still strange. Even if the younger son is sick and therefore receives more pity, doesn't the even younger girl also deserve love and pity?

How could the Emperor and Empress Dowager be so biased that both parties involved are dissatisfied with it?

Perhaps it's because people's hearts are inherently biased, and the reasons for such bias are difficult to explain.

However, Daiyu finally understood the strange sibling relationship between Chuheng and Yongkang. They couldn't control their mother's and brother's favoritism, but it inevitably affected their relationship.

Yongkang couldn't help but feel resentful, so she would occasionally cause trouble for Chuheng, but she couldn't gain any advantage over him.

As for Chu Heng, Daiyu couldn't quite figure him out. It was obvious that he didn't care about his little sister, but he was unwilling to suffer any loss. It didn't seem like he felt guilty towards his little sister for receiving this favor.

Daiyu had more questions, but she hesitated whether she could ask them. After thinking for a moment, she slowly said, "Your Highness, I will instruct them not to spread these words."

To say that the Empress Dowager and the Emperor are biased is something that would be labeled as disloyalty, and such words are indeed not suitable for outsiders. Therefore, it is quite appropriate for Daiyu to say that she should control her servants.

Chu Heng nodded, then said seriously, "There will probably be more things that can't be spread outside in the future, Miss Lin. To avoid trouble, you can set some rules for them first."

Putting aside the rules for the moment, Zijuan and the others were already terrified, their faces turning pale. Those were the Emperor and the Empress Dowager; even the servants of the Duke's mansion had only ever seen them on the stage.

Daiyu smiled wryly and said, "The people around me are all timid, so please don't frighten them, Your Highness."

“Miss Lin is very brave.” Chu Heng smiled at her. “They’re alright, just don’t be frightened.”

Daiyu raised an eyebrow and smiled, saying, "So, Your Highness was just trying to scare me?"

Chu Heng said innocently, "How could that be? Miss Lin, do you think I'm that kind of person?"

"I don't know what kind of person the Prince is," Daiyu said with a slight smile.

Chu Heng was taken aback, then chuckled, "Yes..." He looked into Daiyu's cunning eyes and was speechless for a moment.

He had been sitting here for a while and felt that there was no difference between the Prince Duan's Mansion and Longhua Temple; they were both equally boring.

Daiyu walked in, bringing a glimmer of light to Chu Heng's dim eyes.

"Your Highness?" Daiyu asked in confusion.

Chu Heng came to his senses and smiled, "Although you don't understand me, I do understand you a little. It turns out that Miss Lin is not only bold, but also very eloquent."

Daiyu blinked and smiled, "I am indeed a sharp-tongued person, perhaps I have disappointed Your Highness."

“I think it’s fine, but…” Chu Heng blinked and poured Daiyu a cup of tea, “I hope Miss Lin will be kind to me.”

"With Your Highness's fine tea, my mouth is naturally shut." The aroma of tea wafted into Daiyu's nose, and she was slightly surprised. "But, doesn't Your Highness... not drink tea?"

Chu Heng smiled and explained, "Zhao Qing prepared this for you. It's said to be very good, but I'm not used to the taste of tea, so I can't tell the difference."

Daiyu took a small sip, nodded and smiled, "It is indeed good tea. Thank you, Eunuch Zhao."

Zhao Qing hurriedly bowed and said with a smile, "I wouldn't dare, Miss Lin, I'm glad you enjoyed the food."

"I heard from Princess Yongkang that the Prince is unwell, and the imperial physician forbids him from drinking tea. So the Prince doesn't like the taste of tea either?" Daiyu put down her teacup, seemingly just looking at Chu Heng out of curiosity.

Chu Heng swirled his teacup and said, "When I was a child, it was the imperial physician who advised me to eat it, and the Empress Dowager also kept a close eye on it. Later, I secretly tried it, but I really didn't like it, so I had no choice but to stop eating it."

Upon hearing this, Daiyu thought to herself, "What Prince Duan said sounds quite regretful. It seems that drinking tea can make me live a few years less, which is a good thing."

Is it because he has been suffering from a chronic illness with no way to alleviate his pain that he has lost all will to live? Is it because even his mother and brothers are not a burden to him?

Daiyu was also sickly and preferred solitude to gatherings, but she still had hope for living.

How did Prince Duan develop such a temperament?

Daiyu thought for a moment and said softly, "The Empress Dowager cares for the Prince, and my late father also earnestly told me to cherish my blessings and take care of my health."

“Miss Lin’s father truly loves you,” Chu Heng said slowly.

Does the Empress Dowager not truly love Prince Duan? But earlier he said that the Emperor and Empress Dowager favored him. Could it be that Prince Duan means that the Emperor and Empress Dowager are indeed biased, but their favoritism does not stem from genuine love, but rather from other reasons?

This reason shaped Prince Duan's temperament.

Daiyu gazed at Prince Duan's profile. She had already gained enough today. Her time at Longhua Temple had only just begun. She should proceed step by step.

“Your Highness…” Daiyu unfolded the book she had brought, “Please excuse me for a moment.”

Chu Heng nodded.

The mountains in summer are not silent; birds and insects chirp from time to time, and clouds and mist drift in the distance, creating a serene and refreshing atmosphere.

Daiyu gradually became engrossed in her book until the evening drum sounded in the temple. She suddenly came back to her senses, looked up, and saw that Chu Heng was still sitting there motionless.

"Your Highness, the Empress Dowager has sent someone to invite you," Zhao Qing reported as he saw the approaching figure.

Chu Heng turned his head, seemingly not quite understanding Zhao Qing's words, and after a moment said, "Hmm..."

Zijuan took the book from Daiyu's hands, helped the girl up, and Xueyan stepped forward to straighten Daiyu's clothes.

Daiyu said, "Your Highness, I need to go back and change my clothes first."

Chu Heng subconsciously looked up at her, but couldn't help yawning. He quickly turned his head away and raised his hand to cover his lips: "Ah..."

Daiyu couldn't help but chuckle, clutching her handkerchief tightly, afraid she would burst out laughing: "Ha... um."

Chu Heng wiped away the tears that had welled up in his eyes and said expressionlessly, "Go."

When Daiyu noticed that Prince Duan's ears were turning red, her embarrassment made her smile even wider. Daiyu coughed lightly and said, "I'm going."

Watching Daiyu's departing figure, Chu Heng murmured, "We're probably just incompatible."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Qing said, "Your Highness, Master Pingyi said that your birth charts and Miss Lin's are compatible, making you a match made in heaven."

Chu Heng: "..."

Chu Heng rubbed his cheek: "You reminded me, I haven't looked for the old monk yet."

“Uh…” Zhao Qing carefully reminded him, “Your Highness, Master Pingyi… he is currently highly regarded by the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, you must not be disrespectful to him.”

"Hmm," Chu Heng replied casually.

Zhao Qing was deeply worried.

...

Daiyu had accompanied Grandmother Jia to Taoist temples and Buddhist monasteries before, but this was the first time she had ever heard the chanting of sutras with morning bells and evening drums. Listening to the Buddhist chants in the main hall outside, it seemed to have the power to calm the mind.

Daiyu closed her eyes slightly and silently recited the scriptures.

When she opened her eyes again, the evening prayers at the temple had ended. Daiyu patted her chest and felt herself calm down.

As she put down the Buddhist scriptures in her hands, she happened to run into Prince Duan, who was also walking by. Daiyu smiled gently, remembering the funny incident from before.

As she bent down to put down the Buddhist scriptures, Daiyu heard a soft "creak." She paused, looked up at Prince Duan, and saw that his cheeks were slightly puffed out.

Daiyu: "..."

Prince Duan was eating candy while reciting scriptures!

When Chu Heng realized that Daiyu had discovered him, he didn't seem bothered at all, a stark contrast to his behavior when he yawned at Daiyu.

Chu Heng smiled and pointed to his sleeve, then asked in a low voice, "Want one?"

Daiyu's lips twitched: "...Thank you, but no need."

Chu Heng said regretfully, "Alright...it's very sweet."

Daiyu: "..."

She glanced over furtively and saw that the Empress Dowager was talking to Master Pingyi and was not paying attention to them. She quickly bowed and then walked away from Prince Duan.

Chu Heng straightened his sleeves, tilted his head innocently, and smiled.

Just as Daiyu stood still, she heard the Empress Dowager say gently, "Heng'er, come here and offer incense to Buddha with Master Pingyi."

Chu Heng leaned forward and replied, "Yes."

The voice was clear, not like someone eating candy.

Daiyu couldn't help but think that if Prince Duan could sneak candy while the Buddhist monks were chanting sutras, he would probably do the same during the year-end sacrificial ceremony.

Putting everything else aside, it just seems that Prince Duan isn't such a boring person.

After offering incense, the Empress Dowager will have a vegetarian meal with Master Pingyi, and Chu Heng and Daiyu will inevitably have to go along.

Chu Heng thought to himself, "If I had known, I would have pretended to be sick like Yongkang."

However, Yongkang couldn't escape for long. That very night, the Empress Dowager ordered her to go and recite scriptures the next day, and Yongkang reluctantly agreed.

A note from the author:

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

Please bookmark this page for further details, and we'll continue tomorrow!