Chapter 475 She loves him, and he loves her.

Such vicious words would send chills down the spine of any ordinary person.

What's more, Duan Rongshi is his own son?

He clenched his fist, and the veins on the back of his hand bulged instantly.

His murderous aura was palpable, and if it weren't for the fact that it wasn't time to make a move yet, he would have personally made Zong Zhengzhi taste every word she uttered.

Li Qingluo gently grasped Duan Rongshi's hard fist.

She looked at him with concern, trying her best to soothe his anger.

Fortunately, Duan Rongshi was never an impulsive person, and his breathing quickly subsided on its own.

Meanwhile, inside the Guanyin Hall, Zongzheng Zhiyuan suddenly felt a chill.

She looked up at the Guanyin statue and felt a chilling murderous intent emanating from the kind-faced statue.

"Enough!"

Just then, a voice came from outside the door.

A handsome, venerable monk dressed in a kasaya walked in.

This man was none other than Abbot Jia Guan, the abbot of Ningyuan Temple, and Xie Huaiyuan, the eldest son of the Xie family who was once famous throughout Nan'an.

The moment Zongzheng Zhiyuan saw him, the sinister look in her eyes vanished instantly.

She quickly hid the portrait behind her back and, as if completely transformed, gazed at Jia Guan with tender affection in her eyes.

"Brother Huaiyuan."

Jia Guan clasped his hands and bowed: "Amitabha. This humble monk has been a monk for twenty-six years. I urge you, female benefactor, to respect yourself."

"Also, my Buddhist name is Jia Guan."

Zongzheng Zhiyuan's expression was rather unpleasant.

She looked towards the palace gate and waved quickly.

The guards and servants immediately stepped forward and slammed the door shut, then quickly retreated.

Zongzheng Zhiyuan was unaware that the imperial son-in-law Zhang Tingjiu strolled out from behind, and with just a glance, not a single guard dared to stop him from going forward.

Inside the hall.

Zongzheng Zhiyuan thought that no one was around, so she quickly stepped forward and hugged Jia Guan.

"Brother Huaiyuan, why are you so cold to me?"

“I have come to see you every year over the years, but no matter what I try, I can never get you to come out.”

"Do you really hate me that much?"

"I've said it before, Qingyue's death back then really had nothing to do with me."

“I am far away in the Great Chu, while she is the Imperial Noble Consort in the Great Liang Palace. Even if I have extraordinary abilities, I cannot harm her.”

“Brother Huaiyuan, so many years have passed, yet you still harbor resentment over this matter. But what about me? Don’t I feel wronged as well?”

Jia Guan immediately retreated as if he were facing a flood or a ferocious beast.

"Second Princess, if you continue to act so absurdly, then we have nothing more to talk about."

After he finished speaking, he was about to turn and leave when Zongzheng Zhiyuan hurriedly called out to him with a sorrowful cry.

"No!"

"No... I won't do anything reckless. Please... please, Abbot, stay."

The once high and mighty princess was now so humble that she was less than a lowly maid in her palace.

Even so, Zongzheng Zhiyuan was content just to be able to exchange a few words with Jia Guan and catch a glimpse of him.

Her gaze lingered greedily on Jia Guan.

After so many years, Xie Huaiyuan's charm is no longer what it used to be.

Moreover, they are all old.

How many dashing and handsome young men could Zongzheng Zhiyuan not have?

But she just couldn't forget Xie Huaiyuan!

Zongzheng Zhiyuan also hated her own lack of ambition.

But what can we do?

Once she falls into the trap of love, she can never escape its cage for the rest of her life.

“Abbot Jia Guan, I was just angry and that’s why I said those things without thinking. If you’re unhappy, I won’t say them again.”

"Please don't misunderstand, look at this."

As Zongzheng Zhiyuan spoke, she took out the portrait that she had hidden behind her back.

When the monk Jia Guan saw the portrait in Zongzheng Zhiyuan's hand, his whole body stiffened instantly.

He reached out and took it with a blank expression, unable to utter a word.

Zongzheng Zhiyuan: "You must already know what's happening at the temple, right?"

"It wasn't just these mages who disappeared; even my dozen or so guards vanished one after another, as if they had all disappeared into thin air."

"And those scoundrels... those merchants, how could dozens of people just vanish from this temple like that?"

"And now, only this portrait remains as a clue."

"Abbot Jia Guan, could it be that someone is trying to play a trick on us using Yue'er?"

"Or is there some secret passage in your temple that others know about, but you don't?"

Jia Guan: "Alright!"

Are you doubting this humble monk?

"Whether Ningyuan Temple has secret passages or hidden chambers is something even this humble monk doesn't know. How could those merchants possibly know?"

"This is absolutely absurd!"

Jia Guan stared at Zongzheng Zhiyuan with a cold and indifferent gaze: "There are not many people in this world who still remember Qingyue."

"They're just a group of businessmen. Maybe they just thought the Guanyin image was particularly beautiful, so they made a copy of it."

"Even if the style of the headdress and robes are changed, does that mean there are ulterior motives?"

"Instead of being paranoid and cursing someone who has been dead for nineteen years, Princess, you should hurry up and find real clues!"

"Perhaps the disappearance of these people, and even that group of merchants, is also because of the people from your princess's residence."

"Instead of wrongly accusing an old friend, the Second Princess should first investigate her own residence!"

At this moment, Jia Guan was no longer the aloof and dignified monk he usually was.

He revealed a vicious expression, and in a moment of madness, completely absolved Zongzheng Qingyue of any responsibility.

Clearly, they refused to believe that the strange events that had occurred at Ningyuan Temple today were related to Zongzheng Qingyue.

Having said that, he had no intention of staying there any longer and walked towards the door.

Zongzheng Zhiyuan's eyes flickered.

When she realized what was happening, she rushed towards the door, then turned around and stood in front of the door to prevent Jia Guan from leaving.

She wept bitterly.

"Sure enough, even after twenty-six years, even though she has long since passed away, you still can't forget her."

"Xie Huaiyuan, you'd rather sacrifice your reputation as abbot, the honor you've maintained for over twenty years, and the lives of all the monks in the temple, than not protect her, is that it?"

"Even if you hate me and despise me, you should still think about Changning!"

"She is our biological daughter."

Upon hearing Zongzheng Zhiyuan's words, Jia Guan could no longer control himself and reached out to tightly grip her neck.

"Shut up!"

"Don't force me to kill you—"

Seeing that he had completely revealed his true colors, Zongzheng Zhiyuan, who was already struggling to breathe despite being choked, smiled.

"Has she ever seen you... in this hideous state..."

"You've always been... a gentleman... gentle and considerate... towards her..."

"Have you ever...showed her...this fierce and menacing face...?"

"Brother Huaiyuan, may I assume... that you... also had some special feelings for me... and for Yuan'er?"