"Mother, don't worry, I have my own way of dealing with her. Just wait and see." A sinister glint flashed in Hongyan's eyes.

The Prime Minister's wife looked into her eyes and her heart skipped a beat. She was a little scared. "Yan'er, you must not do anything foolish."

"I won't do anything foolish." Hongyan calmed down a bit, looked at the Prime Minister's wife, grabbed her arm and shook it gently, revealing a girlish demeanor, "Mother, I still want to marry Young Master Du."

"What? You want to marry Du Chenyan?" The Prime Minister's wife was somewhat surprised.

Hongyan nodded.

"When did you meet Du Chenyan?" the Prime Minister's wife asked.

“Yesterday, when Young Master Du first arrived, I slipped out to take a look while everyone else had gone ahead, and that’s when I saw him,” Hongyan said with a shy, girlish expression.

Seeing her daughter's budding affection, the Prime Minister's wife laughed, "Alright, after we deal with Huang Ningmeng, I'll find a way to legitimize your marriage and let you marry Young Master Du openly and legitimately."

Hongyan nodded shyly.

"By the way, Mother, what did Huang Ningmeng say when you went to plead for her?"

Hongyan suddenly remembered this.

Upon hearing this, the Prime Minister's wife's smile vanished instantly.

"That little bitch almost made your mother die of anger!"

"Mother, please calm down. What did she say?" Hongyan asked patiently.

"She...she didn't say anything, but she didn't want to see you again before returning to the Prime Minister's residence." The Prime Minister's wife didn't say anything else, otherwise, wouldn't she, as the mother, lose all face in front of her daughter?

Hongyan nodded, having expected Huang Ningmeng to say that.

The Prime Minister's wife's eyes flickered slightly, and she smiled, "Yan'er, don't think too much. Just stay here with your mother, and I'll take good care of you."

"Thank you, Mother," Hongyan called sweetly, throwing herself into the Prime Minister's wife's arms.

The Prime Minister's wife patted her back, a kind smile on her face.

A cruel smile curled at the corner of Hongyan's lips. "Huang Ningmeng, you wait, I will destroy you with my own hands."

...

After having breakfast, Huang Ningmeng left the courtyard to find the abbot.

She was going back tomorrow, and she was quite reluctant to part with this monk who seemed to have transcended worldly affairs.

However, the abbot is not in the main hall; the young novice said he is in the bamboo grove.

Huang Ningmeng followed the young novice monk all the way to the bamboo forest behind the mountain, and then told her to follow the path in, and she would see the abbot.

After thanking the young novice, Huang Ningmeng went inside.

Rongyin did not come with her; she was left in the courtyard.

She walked alone into the bamboo forest, listening to the rustling of the bamboo leaves in the wind—a peaceful sound. She had no idea that this was the place where she had just encountered bandits.

The bamboo forest has many bends; there's a bend almost every twenty steps.

As Huang Ningmeng walked, she looked at the bamboo. Each bamboo stalk was very straight, and there weren't many bamboo leaves piled up on the ground, which looked like they had been carefully tended to every day.

Deep in the bamboo forest, there was a bamboo pavilion. Huang Ningmeng saw it from afar and walked over.

Inside the bamboo pavilion, the abbot is sitting.

Huang Ningmeng entered the pavilion and bowed to the abbot, saying, "Greetings, Master."

The abbot stood up and returned the greeting, saying, "Greetings, Benefactor Huang."

Huang Ningmeng glanced around and saw that there were tea sets and other things. Next to the bamboo woven table, there was a stove, and tea had already been brewed, with white smoke coming out of the spout.

A fragrant aroma of tea wafted from the bamboo pavilion.

"The abbot is brewing tea here, how leisurely."

The abbot chuckled, "This old monk has been waiting here for Benefactor Huang for a while now."

Huang Ningmeng was somewhat surprised and smiled, "Master, you are incredibly insightful."

“Benefactor Huang will be leaving tomorrow, and I don’t know when I will be able to discuss scriptures and doctrines with you again.” The abbot walked to the side of the bamboo table and sat down.

Huang Ningmeng walked to the other side and sat down. "It seems that the master and I are thinking the same thing."

The abbot picked up the teapot and poured her a cup of tea. "Would Benefactor Huang like to play a game of chess with this old monk?"

"It would be my great honor."

The abbot took out a chessboard and handed her the box of black chess pieces.

"Let the master go first," Huang Ningmeng said, reaching out to push him away.

The abbot then noticed the gauze on her hand, "You're injured, benefactor."

"It's just a minor injury, Abbot, you don't need to worry about it," Huang Ningmeng said casually.

“You are a guest, and you are injured. How can I take advantage of you? Please go first.” The abbot pushed the door open.

Huang Ningmeng stopped refusing, took the chess piece, and placed it beside her.

Du Chenyan was hiding not far away. When he saw the injury on her hand, he thought of last night and felt a wave of guilt and heartache.

He was used to practicing martial arts all year round, but Huang Ningmeng was a rich young lady who never lifted a finger and had delicate skin. How could she compare to him?

Outside the bamboo grove, inside Yuanjue Temple.

Jiang Sheng paced back and forth outside the courtyard, unsure of how to get Huang Ningmeng to come out.

And what he's about to do...

Jiang Sheng found it difficult to speak.

Hongyan was worried when she saw him like this inside.

This fool, why didn't he just arrange to meet in person by letter?

Suddenly, Rongyin passed by the house.

Hongyan's eyes darted around, and she quickly got out of bed. She momentarily forgot about her injured leg, lost her balance, and fell down.

The screams drew Rong Yin's attention.

Rongyin turned her head and saw Hongyan fall to the ground. She snorted coldly and prepared to leave.

But she had only taken one step when she could no longer take a second.

Although Hongyan is no good, her current pitiful state is a kind of retribution. How can she see her like this and not care about her?

Rongyin stomped her foot in frustration, then turned and went inside.

Just as Hongyan was wishing she could chop off her legs, a pair of hands suddenly reached out.

Hongyan looked up and saw Rongyin help her up expressionlessly, sit her on the bed, and then turn and leave.

Hongyan quickly grabbed her hand, "Sister Rongyin."

"Let go of me, stop trying to claim kinship. I'm not your sister." Rongyin tried to pull her hand away, but couldn't.

A hint of hatred flashed in Hongyan's eyes. She looked at Rongyin with feigned sincerity and said, "Sister Rongyin, I know that I wronged Miss before, but I have been with Miss for so many years and I have real feelings for her. I know many things about her."

Rong Yin paused, then turned to look at her. "If you dare to spread rumors about Miss's affairs, I will absolutely not let you off the hook!"

Hongyan was startled by her serious gaze. Sure enough, like master, like dog. Rongyin had only been with her for a few days, and it already looked so much like her.

Hongyan smiled and said, "Sister Rongyin, how could I dare? Do you think I could hide anything from Miss? Haven't I been punished badly enough? If I still can't learn my lesson, wouldn't I be too foolish?"

"It's good that you know."

Rongyin was about to leave again when Hongyan quickly grabbed her. "Sister Rongyin, don't rush off. I have something to tell you, Miss."