Enjoy sweet cakes together

"Ci'en Temple? What are we going there for?" Su Manyan was stunned.

"It's not a good idea to go out for a walk. It's not a good idea to stay in the cold palace all the time. Isn't it good?"

"Okay, okay! I'll clean it up right away!"

Su Manyan suddenly perked up, her voice rising a few notches. Her fair, tender face smiled like a blossoming flower, her eyes curved and bright. Even though she knew very little about this trip, not knowing where Ci'en Temple was or what she would be doing there, she felt excited and looking forward to it.

Ever since she came to this place, she has never stepped out of the cold palace. To be more precise, she has basically never left Gu Yuexuan.

She was a person who loved freedom, so how could she bear these ancient rules and regulations? Moreover, these shackles were forced upon her by fate.

She responded and immediately ran back to the house, took out her bag and started packing it diligently. She was so excited that she looked like a child who was going out to play for the first time.

Xiao Lin stood outside the door, watching, the smile in his eyes deepening. Seeing Su Manyan's smile even on her face, he felt a sense of relief. Going to Ci'en Temple was part of his plan, and it had nothing to do with Ah Yan, but for some reason, he just wanted to take her with him.

Maybe... he just wanted to stay with her and didn't want to be separated; or maybe he knew that A Yan, like him, didn't want to be trapped in these four walls.

Last night, Si Ji secretly sent a letter saying that he had contacted Qu Yihou and was hiding in Ci'en Temple to conceal his whereabouts and facilitate the secret transmission of intelligence.

Speaking of Ci'en Temple, it also has an old story. According to legend, the late queen of the current emperor was in a state of mental depression and physical decline in her later years, and she looked emaciated. Later, she was sent to Ci'en Temple to copy scriptures and recuperate, but she eventually succumbed to the illness and passed away.

It was rumored that the Emperor was deeply in love with the Empress, and every time he visited Ci'en Temple, he missed his wife so much that he was overcome with grief. Therefore, he had rarely set foot here in recent years. However, Xiao Lin did not believe these stories of affection. There must be something fishy going on.

He thought that this place was both secluded and safe, and perhaps he could take the opportunity to catch something wrong with the dog emperor, so he made an appointment with Si Ji to meet at Ci'en Temple.

Perhaps because he had been longing for it in his heart, Su Manyan felt that the time passed extremely quickly, and the day of departure arrived in the blink of an eye.

After she walked out of the palace with her small bag, she finally realized: "How did the emperor allow you to leave the palace?"

Seeing her stop, Xiao Lin simply adjusted her hat on the spot, his movements gentle: "I said, I just recovered from a serious illness, and I want to go to the temple to burn incense and worship Buddha, thanking the gods for their mercy."

"If it's that simple, why didn't you think of such a reason before?"

Xiao Lin tugged at Su Manyan's sleeve and walked forward with the others. "What happened before is what happened before. If the poison was administered by the Emperor, he must be feeling guilty right now. If I go out for a walk and forget about this, wouldn't that suit his will?"

"What a scheming person!" Su Manyan exclaimed in admiration.

"Who is Ah Yan talking about?"

"Ah... naturally it's the emperor. Oh, hurry up, hurry up."

The two of them chatted a little along the way and finally saw the waiting carriage.

Su Manyan consciously stood in the team of accompanying servants. Ci'en Temple was on the outskirts of the city, not very close. She was afraid that her body would not be able to bear such a long journey, so she quickly held her cloak tightly and tightened her scarf, leaving only a pair of bright big eyes.

Xiao Lin just lifted the curtain and turned around to find that there was no one there. The silly girl said nothing and thought they were going to walk.

"Ayan, come here." Xiao Lin waved his hand.

A mushroom-like figure appeared before him: "What are your orders, Your Highness?"

"Give me your hand."

"ah?"

Xiao Lin sighed.

Without waiting for her to react, he grabbed Su Manyan's hand and pulled her into the carriage.

After holding her shoulders and settling her down, he calmly sat down opposite her.

Su Manyan:!

The person opposite had become a popular little mushroom again. Xiao Lin didn't see it last time, but this time he was feasting his eyes on it.

He hooked his fingers under the table and after a long while explained, "It's too cold outside, so you can sit here with me. You are a close eunuch, and there is nothing wrong with serving me in the carriage."

"Oh...oh, okay." The little mushroom chick nodded like pecking at rice.

She only felt that her hands were burning hot, connected to her shoulders, and wherever Xiao Lin touched, they formed a line and gathered into a pool of hot springs.

The heat on her face subsided a little, and she began to take in the surroundings she was in. It wasn't exactly magnificent, but it was still beyond the reach of ordinary people.

The space was quite spacious, and the cushions were covered with soft cloth, making them soft and comfortable even after sitting for a long time. In the middle was a small table with some cakes and tea on it for them to while away the time.

Su Manyan picked up a piece and put it into her mouth. The sweet aroma filled her mouth. She felt satisfied and sighed inwardly about this "money power".

Seeing that Su Manyan was so interested in eating simple snacks, Xiao Lin couldn't help but laugh out loud.

There was still half a cake left in Su Manyan's hand, with a semicircular tooth mark. She looked at Xiao Lin with a smile in her eyes, thinking that he was laughing at her for eating the cake without his permission.

She felt embarrassed. Although Xiao Lin would not get angry over such a small matter, she still knew that her behavior was inappropriate.

She tentatively held the pastry forward and asked quietly, "I'm not going to eat it anymore. I'll give you the rest. Do you want to eat it?"

She was also brainless and didn't know how to make amends, so she just said it casually. She thought Xiao Lin would say gently like before, "It's just a pastry, eat it if you like it, A Yan."

She was ready to withdraw her hand and stuff the rest of the cake into her mouth, but unexpectedly, the person opposite her half stood up, and a handsome face suddenly enlarged in front of her. The breath of both of them brushed each other's face, without any distinction between you and me.

Su Manyan clenched the corner of her clothes with her other hand and stood there in a daze again, instinctively wanting to lean back. Xiao Lin had seen enough of her reaction, so he leaned over again and took a bite of the half cake in her hand.

The other person's light-colored, thin lips accidentally rubbed against her fingertips, leaving a wet and warm touch.

Xiao Lin bit off a piece, and the remaining half remained on Su Manyan's fingertips. Small pieces of cake crumbs fell to the ground with a crackling sound. Some of them fell when Xiao Lin bit off the cake, and some of them fell when Su Manyan didn't hold on tightly in a panic, and they were scattered at the feet of the two.

He sat back in his chair quite naturally and said as usual, "It tastes good."

Su Manyan:!

She lowered her head, her face burning hot, and rubbed the cloth on her knees with her hands. Her heart was beating so fast that it seemed like it was about to jump out of her throat.

She didn't dare to reply to Xiao Lin's words. For the first time, she let his words fall on deaf ears, simply because she didn't know if his next words would make her even more overwhelmed.

The distance was too close, the distance just now was too close, it was definitely not a normal distance, and the behavior just now was not what a normal master and servant would do.

Su Manyan couldn't comprehend what had just happened. She wanted to cover her pounding heart, but she was afraid of attracting Xiao Lin's attention. So she began to overthink things, trying to suppress all the palpitations.

He secretly raised his head and saw that the man looked very relaxed. He even took out a book from somewhere and read it leisurely. Xiao Lin turned another page. Su Manyan was startled by the sudden movement like a frightened bird, and immediately lowered his head, hiding like a mushroom.

The silent atmosphere continued, and Su Manyan didn't dare to move. She didn't lift the curtain to observe the road like the heroine in the storybook. On the one hand, she didn't want her face to be stiffened by Xue Mozi's pounce, and on the other hand, she was deliberately reducing her presence.

Fortunately, she had a delicate mind. Based on the speed of the carriage, the swaying of the carriage, and the sounds of the surrounding environment, she could judge where she had passed.

First you pass the bustling market, then the solemn city gate, and finally the winding mountain road.

She divided half of her senses to the outside of the car, while the other half was glued to the inside. She could hear the rustling sound of Xiao Lin's fingertips caressing the pages of the book, the gurgling sound of swallowing tea, and the faint sound of breathing.

She could catch the slightest sound nearby. This was the longest and most complete journey she and Xiao Lin had ever walked together.

It is said that time flies when one is immersed in something. Before Su Manyan had finished listening to all the sounds, the carriage stopped and Yan Zhao's voice came from outside the door: "Your Highness, we have arrived."

Su Manyan had just stood up when she saw Xiao Lin closing the book and about to stand up. She hurriedly said in surprise, "Your Highness, there's no need to help me. I can do it myself." Yan Zhao was still outside. If he saw them, who knows what kind of nonsense he would make up.

She said this without thinking, and only realized what she had said when she saw Xiao Lin's stunned expression. The other party hadn't even asked for help, so why did she refuse first?

Sure enough, the man put on a very sad face: "Ayan, do you hate me touching you so much? I am just being kind. I saw the servants putting up the stairs just now, so I thought of giving you a hand. But Ayan should be able to get off the car by herself, so I don't intend to help Ayan out."

Her tone was aggrieved, and her peach blossom eyes were sparkling, as if she would burst into tears at the next moment.

Su Manyan knew Xiao Lin was acting, but her usually articulate mouth lost its temper. Up front, the handsome man was pretending to be wronged and pitiful, while outside, Yan Zhao kept urging her. She felt that her life was particularly miserable.

"That's not what I meant. How could I object to Your Highness touching me? I just wanted to remind you that you have just recovered from a serious illness and asked you not to waste too much energy."

Well...it's not because I'm shy.

What they said was perfectly ordinary, but Yan Zhao, who was outside the car, blushed.

What's the point of touching or not? You have no shame in talking about this in broad daylight!

Su Manyan jumped off the carriage and was immediately shocked by the scene before him.

Looking down, they must be halfway up the mountain. Ci'en Temple was vast, a splendid and ancient sight. Beyond the gate, she could see the broad square within. Shrines lined the stone walls, a sacred and solemn presence. Beyond the square stood the massive Heavenly King Hall, square and imposing, with black tiles and red walls, exuding an indescribable grandeur.

She followed Xiao Lin into the gate. In the center of the square was a huge rectangular incense table, with red plaques for praying on both sides. Wisps of incense floated into the sky.

Xiao Lin walked forward, clasped his hands together and bowed in worship like other pilgrims.

Su Manyan silently prayed along in her heart. Somehow, upon entering the temple, she felt a profound emotion. Halfway through her worship, she closed her eyes and began to weep. Her heart ached, like a migratory bird that had strayed from its flock and endured so much hardship before finally returning home.

She stood in the crowd, and no one who came with her noticed her. She felt like she had been crying for a long time, unable to open her eyes, unable to escape from the sadness. When the crowd understood, she struggled to wipe away her tears and catch up with the team.

A bald monk in the corner stared at her. After observing her for a while, a look of confusion flashed in his eyes, and finally he suddenly realized.