Chapter 12 Your Hand.
What's my name?
After a moment of reaction, Daiyu wore a complicated expression. So... Prince Duan didn't even know her name?
Not really. Daiyu quickly rejected the idea; at least, Prince Duan knew her surname was Lin.
Daiyu found it quite amusing; their marriage was even more than an arranged marriage, with the wedding date already set, yet they hadn't even exchanged names.
“My childhood name is Daiyu,” Daiyu said softly. “Pink and white, black and white, like jade.”
"You've read 'Liezi'..." Chu Heng looked at her and asked, "Doesn't it have a formal name?"
Daiyu shook her head, her face unable to hide her sorrow: "I only studied for a year. After my mother passed away, my maternal grandmother sent someone to bring me here. My father was busy with official duties, and later..."
Miss Lin's parents died early, and she grew up at her maternal grandmother's house. Zhao Qing had mentioned these things before, and although Chu Heng hadn't paid attention at the time, he had remembered them.
"For many people, living is always accompanied by some kind of constraint, and I am no exception..."
Lin’s parents were clearly the ones she cared about, but they had passed away early, leaving a little girl to live with her maternal grandparents.
People living under someone else's roof... perhaps like Chu Heng during the years he lived in the palace, he couldn't enjoy many comfortable days.
Once his mind was fully cleared by the wind, Chu Heng realized that his behavior was not only rash but had also stirred up other people's painful memories.
—Given their relationship, these are painful matters that shouldn't be touched upon.
Chu Heng hesitated for a moment. He was capable of admitting his mistakes and correcting them, but between parents and children... he really couldn't say anything nice, so he could only change the subject for the time being: "Want some candy?"
Daiyu was taken aback: "What?"
When he's in a bad mood, he eats more sweets—that's Chu Heng's usual idea. He beckoned to Zhao Qing and asked, "Where's the candy?"
Zhao Qing took a box from the eunuch following behind and presented it to him: "Your Highness, take a look. This is a new design that was just made yesterday."
How many varieties of sugar can there be?
Daiyu glanced at it casually and saw that the candies in the box were all made in the shape of flowers, with more than a dozen different patterns.
"Would you like to try some?" Chu Heng asked again.
The previous topic was too personal, and Daiyu didn't want to get entangled with Prince Duan any further, so she nodded and said, "Please choose first, Your Highness."
Palace servants had prepared hot water and helped the two wash their hands. Chu Heng first picked a hibiscus flower, and Daiyu then picked an osmanthus flower.
The moment the sugar touched her lips, its sweetness filled Daiyu's mouth. She didn't usually like overly sweet foods, but this excessive sweetness just happened to neutralize the bitterness in her heart. When she returned to the carriage, she vaguely felt that she felt much lighter.
...
When the convoy stopped at the foot of Longhua Temple, the monks of Longhua Temple were already waiting by the roadside to greet them.
After all the formalities were completed, the Empress Dowager alighted from her carriage and rode in an eight-person sedan chair up the mountain, with Chu Heng and the others following behind in their sedan chairs.
Upon reaching the mountain gate, the Empress Dowager alighted from her sedan chair and paid homage to the guardian deities on both sides of the mountain. Chu Heng and the other two followed behind and bowed to them one by one. By the time they entered the temple and paid homage to the various Arhats, Bodhisattvas, and Buddhas, and sat down to rest, it was already sunset.
The Empress Dowager was old and tired after a long day, so she was not in much spirits. After eating her vegetarian meal, she went to rest.
The courtyards for each person have been arranged. Chu Heng and Daiyu's courtyards are next to each other, while Yongkang's is behind. They are all some distance away from the Empress Dowager.
Yongkang was exhausted. Seeing that the Empress Dowager had left, she quickly took the hand of her maid and went back to her room to rest.
Neither Chu Heng nor Daiyu were physically strong. After all the commotion today, they thought they might not be able to get up the next day. However, when they woke up, although they were still a little tired, they were both full of energy.
Daiyu wondered, could it be that Buddhism truly possesses supernatural powers?
Chu Heng, who was in the courtyard, rubbed his arm and wondered if the old monk had put something in yesterday's vegetarian meal.
Zhao Qing came in to remind him, "Your Highness, the Empress Dowager has risen; it's time to go and pay your respects."
When Chu Heng lived in the palace, he hated the daily morning and evening greetings the most. After leaving the palace and establishing his own residence, he finally had a few years of peace and quiet, but he has no peace and quiet for the past half month.
"Hmm," Chu Heng said lazily, "Has Miss Lin gotten up yet?"
Zhao Qing replied, "The gate over there is open. I'll send someone to ask."
Soon, a palace maid came back and said, "Your Highness, Miss Lin has risen."
As Chu Heng got up to leave, Daiyu happened to come over from the other side: "Your Highness."
Chu Heng nodded: "From now on, we'll go together for the morning and evening greetings."
This is a show of harmonious coexistence for the Empress Dowager's benefit. If everyone behaves like this, it won't be troublesome. Daiyu nodded to indicate that she understood.
Upon reaching the Empress Dowager's courtyard, she found her leaning against a couch talking to Shuangyun, with a palace maid massaging her legs with a beauty hammer.
When the Empress Dowager saw Chu Heng and Daiyu coming side by side, she was indeed very pleased. Before the two could even bow, she told them to sit down.
"Are you alright?" the Empress Dowager asked Chu Heng first.
Chu Heng smiled and replied, "Everything is fine. How is Mother?"
"I'm old, I can't compare to you young people." The Empress Dowager smiled, then turned and asked, "Where is Lin girl?"
Daiyu smiled and replied, "Thank you for your concern, Empress Dowager. I am well."
"The temple really does nurture people; you both look much better than yesterday." The Empress Dowager looked at the two of them. "It's all thanks to Buddha for bringing about this match made in heaven for you two..."
As she spoke, the Empress Dowager sat up and pulled the two of them together.
"Buddha is protecting you. You must serve Buddha well these days..."
Chu Heng and Daiyu didn't really hear what the Empress Dowager said next; their attention was focused on their hands, which were suddenly being touched.
The unfamiliar touch and body temperature sent shivers down their spines.
Unfortunately, they were powerless to resist.
Daiyu tried her best to control the smile on her face and to keep her hands from trembling.
Chu Heng took a deep breath without making a sound, suppressing the urge to pull his hand back to a minimum.
The Empress Dowager is truly... impossible to guard against.
Fortunately, Yongkang came over to pay his respects and rescued them. Chu Heng withdrew his hand, stood up and helped the Empress Dowager sit down, then turned around and sat down again, his movements fluid and graceful.
Daiyu's hand, which she had withdrawn, finally trembled slightly. She hid it in her sleeve, and even in her bitterness, she could still find a bit of humor in it, thinking that Prince Duan, as an ally, was still useful.
However... due to the unexpected and forced intimate contact, Daiyu thought of something she would eventually have to face.
It's not enough for a couple to just appear harmonious in front of others; there's more to it than that.
Daiyu blushed at first, then turned deathly pale. At that moment, she desperately wished that her wedding day could come later.
While Daiyu was lost in thought, Yongkang had already taken his seat. As usual, the Empress Dowager asked her about it. Yongkang was weak and listless, not even as energetic as the Empress Dowager, who was of advanced age.
The Empress Dowager smiled and said, "The princess is a bit delicate, but never mind. You should rest well today. Heng'er, Lin girl, you two come with me to recite scriptures."
Daiyu snapped out of her daze and quickly replied, "Yes."
Chu Heng agreed.
Yongkang looked at Chuheng: "Fifth Brother, are you really not tired? Don't push yourself."
She knew Chu Heng's physical condition very well. After all that commotion yesterday, it was really unreasonable that he hadn't collapsed today.
Chu Heng had just noticed something strange about Daiyu when Yongkang asked him, and absentmindedly replied, "Why don't you come and take a look?"
Yongkang's legs were in so much pain that he had to be helped over to pay his respects. Upon hearing this, he immediately shook his head and said, "I don't want to. You can come with me."
After having breakfast with the Empress Dowager, Yongkang went back to rest, while Chuheng and Daiyu accompanied her in reciting scriptures for an hour. After the Empress Dowager finished, she went to rest, and Chuheng and Daiyu slowly walked back to their own courtyard.
Seeing that Daiyu was restless, Chu Heng found it quite strange. He thought it was related to the agreement they had made. Considering the Empress Dowager's rash actions, Chu Heng was afraid that something might change. When only their personal servants were present, he said, "These days, besides the morning and evening greetings, there are other matters. If Miss Lin has any regrets or concerns, please just say so."
You have your clever schemes, I have my own ways to get around them. They can still discuss and refine their methods for dealing with the Empress Dowager.
Daiyu, her face pale, asked in surprise, "Why does Your Highness say such a thing? When did I say I wanted to go back on my word?"
Chu Heng pointed to her unconsciously furrowed brows and said, "You look like you've changed your mind."
Daiyu subconsciously rubbed her temples, then put her hand down after realizing what she was doing. When she looked up and saw Prince Duan, the unsettling thoughts lingered in her mind even more.
Seeing her pale face and the terror in her eyes, Chu Heng was utterly puzzled: "Miss Lin..."
“Your Highness!” Daiyu hurriedly said, “It’s…it’s just a small matter of my own, and has nothing to do with our agreement.”
After she finished speaking, Daiyu paused, then added, "The agreement remains unchanged, Your Highness, please rest assured."
This was to tell Chu Heng not to pry too much; their relationship was indeed not enough to touch on each other's overly private and personal matters.
Therefore, Chu Heng nodded: "That's good."
Daiyu clutched her chest for a long time before asking, "What are Your Highness's plans?"
"Let's meet, chat, and read some books..." Chu Heng looked at her, "As long as the Empress Dowager sees that we're not ignoring each other, that's fine."
Thinking of the Empress Dowager's astonishing actions, Daiyu thought that she should put her mind at ease as soon as possible, otherwise, if the Empress Dowager had even more terrible tricks up her sleeve to bring them together, Daiyu would really be unable to cope.
But what if the Empress Dowager thinks they're good and becomes even more unrestrained?
Playing the role of a respectful and courteous person in front of outsiders was more difficult than Daiyu imagined, but... she had to do it.
Daiyu pursed her lips and said, "Your Highness, if the Empress Dowager is to know, we must meet outside."
“Now that it’s summer, I can actually stay outside…” Chu Heng exhaled, “half a day… no, an hour a day.”
Making the Empress Dowager lower her guard was no easy task.
Daiyu had no objections; she just wanted to deal with the Empress Dowager as quickly as possible so that she could have more freedom.
The mountain path was uneven. When they reached the uphill section, Chu Heng suddenly offered his hand to Daiyu and said, "Miss Lin, here is your hand."
"What?" Daiyu exclaimed in surprise.
Chu Heng said, "Miss Lin, this is the beginning."
Daiyu's eyes widened in an instant.
A note from the author:
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