Chapter 888 So he's the smartest, huh?

"Spring snow..."

"Shut up!" Song Chunxue's gaze at the monk was not gentle, but rather stern.

"..."

The monk Huineng looked down at the things on the table, his right hand unconsciously pinching the pad of his thumb with his index finger, just like the way the Third Brother was being scolded in his previous life.

This made Song Chunxue suddenly realize that the reason she didn't like Sanwa before was perhaps because he didn't look much like his father, but his honest and unappealing nature was exactly the same as his father's.

Suddenly, she seemed to return to the scene when she was young and he was still alive, as if she had returned to that small courtyard, that home built of yellow earth.

At that time, Jiang Shuming used most of his father's savings to dig up the earthen kiln in the yard and hired people from the village to build several tiled houses on a slope. For a time, he was the most popular person in the village.

Although he was no good at farming, many things about him made Song Chunxue feel that he was just a spoiled blockhead, which made her both angry and resentful.

But at times he was very considerate. He repaired the tools for plowing the fields, wove several willow baskets for her, and when she came back from herding sheep, he would pick two sleeves full of pea pods for her, quietly toss them on the stove, and then walk away as if nothing had happened.

When he was alive, Song Chunxue didn't feel anything, but after his death, she recalled him again and again, feeling guilty, regretful, and resentful.

Looking back now, it was pretty silly.

She had already chewed up and savored all of Jiang Shuming's feelings in her old age in her previous life, like a sheep ruminating, and then they turned into sheep droppings through her intestines.

What can you do with sheep manure?

Fertilizer or add fuel to the kang (heated brick bed).

You can't exactly collect them like pearls.

Seeing the monk secretly glancing at her with his head down, Song Chunxue felt a mix of emotions that she couldn't express.

She took a deep breath and composed herself.

The monk said that when he was Jiang Shuming, his soul was incomplete.

But now it seems he wasn't all that smart.

Perhaps he used all his intelligence on chanting scriptures.

"You never called me Chunxue in your past life, so why are you suddenly calling me that? Are you trying to scare someone to death?"

Song Chunxue picked up the teapot and poured herself a cup, looking annoyed.

"You wouldn't be feeling guilty towards me, still thinking about me, and wanting to do something to make it up to me, would you?" She shook her head. "Please don't, lest we get entangled and our fate is over."

"If not, that would be even better. Don't incur a debt of love with Master Bai just because you want to repay my debt. She is deeply devoted to you. If you weren't a monk, you would probably be engaged by now."

She earnestly instructed the monk, as if she were instructing her own younger brother or child.

"If you don't want to return to secular life and grow old with her, then don't waste her time. No matter how carefree and unconcerned she is about details, she is still a woman troubled by love."

As she spoke, she seemed to remember something else, placed one foot on the crossbar of the stool next to her, and smiled meaningfully.

"However, I was just offering this advice casually. If you two are truly destined for each other, and a legendary love story spanning both Buddhism and Taoism unfolds, leading you to live a secluded life together in the mountains, I will bless you."

The monk remained silent, head bowed, counting the prayer beads in his hand one by one, his expression dejected.

When he was still Jiang Shuming, his father passed away, and his face didn't look this bad.

When his mother died, he cried like a child, wiping away snot and tears, and then digging up her grave while crying.

The villagers tried to stop them again and again, but finally gave up when they carried them home like piglets.

Song Chunxue looked out the window and wondered why it was closed on such a nice day. She then got up and opened it.

Taking advantage of this brief respite, she suppressed the tears welling up in her eyes, and her burning eyes slowly returned to normal.

They were once husband and wife, family.

But now, Song Chunxue only wants to be strangers to him, never to see him again, and never to think of him again.

Once the debt is paid off, they will never see each other again.

"You and Xie Zheng are going to become Daoist partners? Then you know that as long as the emperor is alive, he cannot be with you..."

“I know,” Song Chunxue said lightly as she stood by the window. “With Lord Xie’s ethereal appearance, everyone has their eyes on him. I’ve come out on top.”

"..." The monk looked at her, his expression changing repeatedly.

Song Chunxue grabbed a dried persimmon and took a bite. "It tastes pretty good."

After a moment of silence, he asked again, "Do you intend to continue cultivating indefinitely? Even if you can't marry Xie Zheng?"

“That’s right,” she chewed a few times and swallowed, her tone serious, “You should understand that as long as the Daoist heart does not die, cultivation will not stop.”

The monk fell silent again.

“My master said that I failed my tribulation and I still have to…”

"Then find someone else. Our relationship is doomed. If Master Bai knew about this, he would be happy."

"..." The monk gripped the prayer beads in his hand, looking at the snow-white spring robe he had carefully chosen, feeling a pang of sadness.

Song Chunxue was a little hungry, so she ate two pretty pastries and drank half a pot of tea. She clapped her hands contentedly.

"Is there anything else you want to say?" Song Chunxue glanced at the sky outside. "I should go back and practice my sword."

"Your injuries haven't fully healed, so it's not advisable for you to practice swordsmanship." The monk stood up and looked at her gently. "If you sever all ties with me, I will keep my promise and won't bother you anymore."

"But before that, can I have a hug?"

“…” Song Chunxue frowned. “What did you say? I didn’t hear you clearly.”

"..." The monk turned his head to look elsewhere and said in a low voice, "It's nothing, you can go."

Without hesitation, Song Chunxue turned around and walked out.

“Monk, if your cultivation is hindered, then try the Tao. The great Tao is simple, and all paths lead to the same goal. Buddhist teachings are for wise people to understand. You are too serious about it, and the more you cultivate, the more foolish you become. The Tao is more suitable for you.”

She stood straight, her black hair tied up high, adorned with a cool and elegant black jade hairpin. Without looking back, she stepped out of the room and disappeared.

The monk laughed in exasperation, "Yes, I'm too stupid, while Xie Zheng is smart!"

...

In the evening, at the dinner table.

Xie Zheng, who secretly arrived at the Zhao residence from the Xie residence to avoid suspicion, learned that Song Chunxue had gone to see the monk, and his expression became inscrutable.

Master Han picked up a lichen bun made by Song Chunxue, took a bite, then poured two spoonfuls of vinegar into the opening, took a big bite, and nodded in delight at the aroma.

"Not bad, not bad, these buns taste best when dipped in vinegar. Master Song, your cooking is excellent, why didn't you let Lord Xie have a couple more?"

"..." Everyone at the table turned to look at Master Han, their expressions varied.

Sitting next to Lord Zhao, Zi Qiao, having stuffed the last bite of her steamed bun into her mouth, explained in a serious tone, "Master Han, Lord Xie isn't jealous. He's not a child."

"..."

"..."

"..."

Everyone fell silent, including Xie Zheng.

Song Chunxue almost broke the chopsticks.

Then, she looked at Lord Zhao as if nothing had happened.

"Senior Brother, do I still need to go to the palace to tell stories?"

Lord Zhao glanced at Daoist Han and said, “I heard that His Majesty has been having nightmares and sleeping poorly lately. He has been skipping morning court sessions these past few days to focus on recuperating. I think that’s unnecessary.”

"There is a Daoist gathering. You should come with me to broaden your horizons. Song Chunxue and Fangyue will be performing a sword dance to represent us and make an appearance, so that no one will look down on us."

“At that time,” Master Han continued, “we will be able to find out who attacked us during the Lantern Festival.”

P.S.: Happy Lunar New Year's Eve everyone! The new year is almost here, and I wish you all continued success and happiness. This is an era of female empowerment; seize opportunities, rise to higher positions, and may everything go smoothly and your wishes come true. The reunion dinner was delicious, wasn't it? How about a toast?