Xie Shiguan had a day off today, but for some reason he couldn't sleep soundly and woke up at one o'clock in the morning.

When he woke up and didn't see Chen Que, he asked the woman who tied his hair, "Where is Chen Que?"

"Your Highness has forgotten that the masters have to go to the training ground at the beginning of the morning," the old woman replied respectfully, "and they will be back at three quarters after the morning. I think they should be back by now."

He always got up late on his days off, and it was rare for him to wake up at this time. Xie Shiguan looked in the bronze mirror and saw the slap mark on his cheek. Because he had worn a mask last night, only a shallow mark was left.

The old women and maids in the room had been watching for a long time, and they were wondering who was so bold as to risk his life to hit the prince in the face. But seeing that Xie Shiguan had no intention of mentioning it, they just assumed that they were blind, and no one dared to glance at the prince's face.

Xie Shiguan probably felt it was ugly, so he frowned and asked the maids to get some facial grease and rub it on the palm print. The maids carefully covered it and finally managed to cover the mark.

Finally, Xie Shiguan stood up and went to the side hall to have breakfast. Before leaving, he paused for a moment and warned the people inside: "If I hear any gossip, I will cut off your tongues."

The old women and maids immediately fell silent, knelt down, and nodded repeatedly.

As soon as the prince arrived, a bowl of soft lamb noodles and a plate of fried white sausage were placed on the table in the side hall. Xie Shiguan had no appetite, so he took one bite and stopped eating.

At this moment, Shen shook off the snow on his body at the door of the side hall, and then came in carrying a lacquered red food box. He bowed, and saw the breakfast that had already been placed in front of Xie Shiguan, and was a little dazed.

"What's in the box?" asked the prince.

Shen hurriedly opened the lunch box and took out the steaming chicken wontons. He didn't know Xie Shiguan would get up so early today, so he hurried back thinking he could catch up with him for breakfast.

Xie Shiguan recognized this wonton. Not long ago, Chen Que bought it for him as a midnight snack. He didn't say he liked it, but he ate more than usual. Chen Que probably thought it suited his taste, so he went out of his way to buy it.

The road was difficult to walk on in the snow. He had to go back and forth carefully to make sure the soup did not spill, and he had to hurry to make sure the wontons did not get cold. He was so tired that he was sweating all over.

Seeing that Xie Shiguan didn't seem to dislike it, he took out the sugar biscuit from his pocket and handed it to him in a flattering manner.

Xie Shi took a look at the pancake. The sugar grains on it had melted a little due to Shen Que's body temperature. It was still warm, but a little collapsed, and did not look very good.

The prince looked at him, then took it reluctantly and put it on the edge of the table.

But Shen saw him taste the chicken soup, without frowning or putting down the spoon, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Who told you to buy the wontons?" Xie Shiguan said nonchalantly, "You didn't know how to get there in time, and you wasted the breakfast prepared by the kitchen."

He didn't like it, and the breakfast was going to be thrown away, but he said that on purpose, just to bully the mute.

Shen lowered his head slightly, like a child who had done something wrong: "I thought I could make it in time..."

Fortunately, Xie Shikan didn't seem to be really angry. He tapped the edge of the table with his index finger and ordered, "Bring him a wooden chair."

Shen was stunned for a moment, looking a little at a loss.

The chair was brought over quickly, and Shen heard him say, "Since you have been traveling all the way, I give you this breakfast as a reward."

Shen was flattered, nervous and expectant, and waved his hands quickly. He was a slave bought by the palace, not even worthy of a rank, so how could he dare to raise his status and sit at the same table with the prince.

"You don't want it?" Xie Shiguan glanced at him coldly, "Do you despise the breakfast I have eaten?"

Shen Que quickly knelt down and said: "I dare not, but I know that my status is low and I am insignificant. I cannot bear such kindness from Your Highness. It would be a shame to eat at the same table with Your Highness."

"If I ask you to sit, then sit down," Xie Shiguan said, "If you don't want to sit, then just kneel down."

However, Shen lowered his head in embarrassment, then gritted his teeth, kowtowed to Xie Shiguan, and then sat down quietly beside Xie Shiguan.

He didn't even dare to sit down, and looked at the soup in front of him cautiously. As soon as he thought that this was something that His Highness had touched, he felt so embarrassed that he hesitated and didn't dare to pick up his chopsticks.

Seeing that he was reluctant to move, Xie Shiguan didn't even look at him and just asked, "Why, do you dislike him?"

Shen Que quickly shook his head, then took out a bamboo chopstick from his bag, carefully picked up two noodles, and stuffed them into his mouth little by little, fearing that there would be the slightest noise.

Xie Shiguan didn't have a rule of not talking while eating, but since he was sitting with the mute, there was really nothing much to say. If he opened his mouth, he would eagerly put down his chopsticks and respond with sign language, which would spoil his mood.

The two of them finished their breakfast in silence. However, Chen was worried about something and wanted to speak several times, but he didn't dare to do it.

Xie Shiguan was a little annoyed by his behavior, so he said, "What's the matter? Tell me."

Shen Que then stretched out his hand and gestured: "I want to ask for leave from His Highness."

"Take a leave?" Xie Shiguan raised his eyebrows slightly, "Take a leave for what?"

Shen had been with him for so many years and had never asked for leave for personal matters. Even if he caught a cold and had a fever, as long as he was conscious and covered his face with a white veil, he would still be able to work for him.

He is a loyal dog who is never afraid of wind and rain. There is only Xie Shiguan in his eyes, as if he was born for him and lives for him.

Xie Shiguan couldn't think of anything personal he needed to do.

Since the prince asked, Shen didn't dare to lie, so he answered: "I want to go to Wanfu Temple to pray for blessings."

"You have followed me for so long, how come I don't know that you are a devout Buddhist?" Xie Shiguan was a little unconvinced. "Besides, who are you praying for?"

He thought of the spy who sneaked into the palace, and thought that Shen Que still couldn't let her go. Even though she was dead, he still went to chant sutras and pray for her, fearing that she would not have a good afterlife.

However, Shen keenly sensed a hint of anger in Xie Shiguan's words. His Highness never practices Zen, nor does he believe that one can attain enlightenment by eating vegetarian food and chanting Buddhist scriptures every day, or sitting there and beating a wooden fish. Those monks, no matter whether they are big monks or small monks, are all bald donkeys who eat grass in the eyes of the prince.

Only monks who look clean and handsome can be considered as human beings in his eyes.

"Chen Luo will go to Xichuan tomorrow," Shen answered honestly. He never lied to Xie Shiguan. "It's dangerous to go there. I want to ask for a talisman for him."

For some unknown reason, Xie Shiguan felt somewhat unhappy, even though he knew that he was not doing it for the little maidservant.

"What's the use of that piece of paper?" Xie Shiguan asked coldly.

However, Chen was a real blockhead, he never tried to hide or defend himself, in the same sentence, he could have clearly said that he wanted to pray for Xie Shiguan and ask for a lucky charm, and no one would know.

But he insisted on telling the truth and making people unhappy.

Shen Que rarely asked for leave, and he had already made a great determination to speak. Now he heard Xie Shiguan's cold question, and he was a little flustered, but very determined: "Maybe it's useless, but I want to seek peace of mind."

He paused, and continued to gesture sadly: "Shen Luo has helped me so much, I also want to do something for him."

There was a long silence, so long that Shen thought the prince was going to get angry again.

Then he saw the man in brocade clothes and a jade belt waving at him: "Go away."

Shen was stunned, looking at Xie Shiguan stupidly, but he heard him say: "Wanfo Temple is not far from the capital, you are only allowed to take half a day off, and I want to see you back before dusk."

But Shen knew that he had agreed, so he knelt down and kowtowed, then slowly retreated.

Looking at his back, Xie Shiguan subconsciously touched his still swollen cheek, with a bit of annoyance and a meaningful smile in his eyes.

To pay off the debt of this slap, he will torture him severely again tonight.

At this time, Shen, who was walking away step by step, was unaware of the gaze behind him. He stretched out his hand to weigh the purse hanging at his waist, fearing that he did not bring enough silver.

After leaving the house, he went straight to the East Market and rented a donkey cart from a donkey rental boy on the roadside. Because it was difficult to travel on the snowy ground, the price of hiring a cart had doubled recently, but Chen did not bargain and sat on the cart in silence.

The driver was a talkative man. He asked him as he drove the donkey: "Judging from your attire, are you an official?"

Shen couldn't gesture behind him, and even if he did, he might not be able to understand, so he had to remain silent.

"It has snowed heavily recently. The roads are slippery when it snows, and muddy when it melts," the driver said, perhaps embarrassed, "sometimes you can't get a ride even if you pay more. Your Excellency is lucky to have come today."

Shen Que coughed a few times, and the driver turned around to look at him. Shen Que looked at him and pointed at his throat.

I don't know whether the coachman understood it or not, but he nodded, turned around and said nothing more on the way.

Wanfu Temple was indeed not far away, and the snow on the long steps was swept clean. It was cold every day and the bricks and stones were frozen, so the monks sprinkled a layer of soil on the steps, probably to prevent the distinguished pilgrims from accidentally falling.

He arrived late, and the temple was already filled with the smoke of incense. However, the young monk waiting at the gate saw him coming, and saw that he was wearing a warm jacket with a honey-colored collar and a brocade landscape painting on the hem, so he thought he was an official.

But seeing that he didn't even have a personal attendant by his side, he was not sure for a moment.

The young monk came forward and put his hands together, "May I ask what are you doing here, sir?"

Shen made a hand gesture, which the young monk could not understand, but he immediately realized that he was a mute, so he bowed slightly to him and said, "I am a stupid monk, but there is a master inside who understands sign language. Please follow me, young man."

Shen followed him in. When they arrived, the master was sweeping snow under a tree. He heard footsteps approaching and then stopping, but he didn't see him look up.

Only when the young novice monk stepped forward and tugged at his sleeve did the master raise his head.

The young monk sent him here, then said goodbye to him and continued to greet pilgrims at the gate of the courtyard.

"I'm here to pray for my relatives and ward off disasters," Shen Quexian gestured, "I want two amulets and an ever-burning lamp."

The master nodded and signed to him: "Please follow me."

The master's Buddhist name was Mingchen, and he was actually deaf and dumb. Perhaps because there were few people like him in this mountain temple, and the green lamp was lonely, he spoke a few more words to Chenque.

Master Mingchen is fifty-six years old this year, thirty years older than Chen Que. Despite the big age difference, the two of them surprisingly get along very well, and they seem to be friends regardless of age.

This was the first time that Chen Que came to burn incense. He knelt on the round mat and looked up at the compassionate eyes of Sakyamuni Buddha. In his eyes, the sea of lotus lamps and candles shone brightly on the golden body of the Buddha.

I bow down and wish his highness a smooth and healthy life.

Second bow, I hope that my senior brother will have a safe journey and return safely.

Three prostrations...

It was his turn, but he had nothing to plead for himself. After a long silence, he finally kowtowed.

Bowing three times, I wish that he would be like the tiles on the eaves, the clothes on your body, the mud on the snow, and the stars at night, accompanying Your Highness for all eternity.

This is his only personal wish.

However, Shen did not ask for divination, but only asked for a lamp, two amulets, and finally donated some incense money.

Because he was worried about Xie Shiguan's words to return home before dusk, Shen said goodbye to Master Mingchen, hid Ping'an Mansion in the sachet, and then hurried out.

He walked with his head slightly lowered, but his eyes were looking at the road. Suddenly, a pair of black leather Liuhe boots appeared in front of him, and above that was a scarlet crane cloak and a gold-thread jade leather belt around his waist.

I don't know if that waist can be considered a waist. In Shen Que's opinion, it might take two people to hug this waist together.

Further up, there was a pair of eyes filled with hatred, staring at him viciously. This man had a stubbled beard, the skin above his eyes drooped, and when he was not speaking, there were two deep nasolabial lines beside his mouth.

Shen recognized him. This person was none other than the Miao Party, who had always been at odds with the Yan Wang faction.

Empress Dowager Miao's elder brother, Miao Zongping.