Chapter 171 No Chance of Meeting
Lan Wu gently withdrew her hand, deciding not to try again.
Chu Mingheng looked at Hui Fan with a calm gaze that was tinged with a hint of gloom and death.
"This humble monk knows why Your Majesty has come," Hui Fan said slowly, then waved for Chu Mingheng to enter the hall. "Your Majesty, please come in and speak."
The two entered the hall and sat facing each other.
Hui Fan poured Chu Mingheng a cup of tea, her eyes lowered in a look of pity.
Chu Mingheng didn't drink the tea, but stared at him: "Since you know why I've come, then I'll ask you one question: Is there anything..."
When he reached the second half of his sentence, Chu Mingheng suddenly couldn't continue. His hands clenched into fists, but his eyes remained fixed on Hui Fan. Finally, he uttered the question: "...Is there a way to bring the dead back to life..."
Hui Fan gently shook his head and told the truth: "Your Majesty, please forgive me, there is indeed no way to bring the dead back to life in this world. The person Your Majesty wishes to see will never be seen again in this life."
Chu Mingheng responded with silence.
From the moment he learned the news and rushed back halfway, to seeing Lan Wu's body laid out in the cold room, seeing those horrifying bluish-purple ligature marks, and smelling the stench of decay slowly gathering and dissipating from her body...
He had long since given up hope of that so-called glimmer of hope, yet he still clung to the thought—maybe, just in case?
Upon hearing Huifan's words, he could only think to himself, "As expected."
But soon, Huifan continued with the next sentence:
"Though we are destined not to meet again in this life, Your Majesty will have your wish fulfilled if there is an afterlife."
The voice drifted into his ears like a breeze, carrying the words that stung his ears, making his eardrums throb and pulsate, mingling with his heartbeat in a chaotic and disordered manner.
I can't hear clearly.
The answer is unclear.
Who is speaking?
Chu Mingheng propped his head up with his hand, his icy gaze sweeping over Hui Fan's face. He opened his mouth, as if he hadn't understood what the other had just said, and asked him, word by word, "What did you say—"
Hui Fan spoke again, his voice gradually becoming clearer, and what he said reached Chu Mingheng's ears:
"Though we are not destined to be together in this life, there will be a next life, and Your Majesty will have your wish fulfilled."
Upon hearing Hui Fan's words, Lan Wu only saw Chu Mingheng's eyes suddenly become focused, and in an instant they burst forth with brilliance, as if withered trees had come back to life, yet also as if in disbelief. His lips were trembling, and a faint blush rose on his pale face.
He turned his head and suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood.
Lan Wu called out to him urgently.
Just then, the surroundings became illusory again, and everything in front of them vanished like dust.
Lan Wu didn't even have time to grab Chu Mingheng before everything turned into a white expanse before her eyes.
The bells rang again.
Lan Wu suddenly opened her eyes and saw only the carved bedposts above her head.
Light shone through the gauze curtains of the bed curtains—it was already morning.
She suddenly woke up, and everything in the dream felt as if it had really happened before her eyes. She remembered every detail and understood every word.
That happened after she died in her previous life.
Although there was no reason, Lan Wu suddenly became certain in her heart that it was something that had actually happened.
My heart was pounding so hard that I couldn't help but breathe faster.
More than anything else, she was thinking about Chu Mingheng.
What does it feel like to throw a piece of driftwood to a drowning person? Or what does it feel like to give a handful of clear spring water to a thirsty person on the verge of death?
Lan Wu was absolutely certain that Chu Mingheng's feelings in his dream were no less than those of the two.
To everyone except Chu Mingheng, she was already dead, her body decaying. Yet Huifan forcefully threw a thought at him, giving him hope: to drink poison to quench his thirst, or to court his own destruction? Although, in hindsight, Master Huifan's words did make sense, at that time, Chu Mingheng knew nothing, was uncertain, and suddenly had another reason to keep living.
Lan Wu suddenly felt her face was wet, and when she reached out to touch it, she found her face covered in wet tears.
She got up and called someone in.
When the palace servants who had entered saw Lan Wu sitting on the couch, wiping away her tears with both hands, they were quite frightened.
Danshan asked someone to fetch water, and quickly used a clean handkerchief to wipe away her tears, saying softly, "Your Highness, what has made you think of something? Why are you crying so hard..."
Lan Wu's tears had stopped. She picked up her handkerchief, coughed lightly, and said softly, "It's nothing... I just missed His Majesty a little."
Missing His Majesty?
Danshan smiled and pursed her lips, pleased to see their good relationship. She then helped Lanwu get up with the water brought by the palace servants and comforted her, saying, "Your Majesty need not worry too much. It's only three months. The scenery on this mountain is quite nice. If Your Majesty feels bored, you can go for a walk. When the peach blossoms on the mountain are in full bloom, His Majesty will come to pick you up."
Lan Wu nodded slightly in silence, letting the palace maids wash and change her clothes, only then remembering what she had just said.
Are there still peach blossoms on the mountain?
"Yes, there is a peach orchard over on the other side of West Mountain. It will bloom in April. I will take Your Highness to see it then."
Recalling that dream, Lan Wu said softly, "Go and tell someone to prepare. I'm going to Wuji Temple this afternoon."
So fast?
Although the Imperial Concubine came to Changyong Mountain to pray for His Majesty's well-being, didn't they just arrive at Changyong Mountain yesterday? Are they going to Wuji Temple today?
"Your Majesty, you must be tired from your journey. Why don't you rest for a few days before going to Wuji Temple?" Danshan asked for her opinion.
Lan Wu shook her head, her tone gentle yet firm, her expression complex: "Let's go today, let's take a look first."
Danshan didn't try to persuade her any further.
In the afternoon, the prepared carriage departed from the villa and headed north towards Wuji Temple.
About half an hour later, the carriage stopped outside Wuji Temple.
Compared to the Nanli Temple within the imperial city, Wuji Temple is much quieter. Because it is built on a mountain, the golden roofs of the Buddha statues in the mountain temple are faintly visible, half-hidden among the mountains and forests.
The temple gates opened, and before Lan Wu could even disembark from the carriage, several people emerged from inside, all dressed in monks' robes, and stepped forward to offer Lan Wu a Buddhist salute.
"The main hall has been tidied up, Your Highness, please."
Lan Wu didn't say much to them, but she did take a quick look around before going in.
This temple is not as spacious as Nanli Temple. Because of the trees in the mountains, it feels somewhat crowded and damp. However, the mountain environment is quiet and the place is clean and tidy. Every now and then, you can hear the sound of monks chanting sutras as you walk past a certain hall.
Lan Wu followed the monk who was leading the way into a golden hall that was already guarded by guards.
Just as she was about to enter, she heard the person beside her speak: "This place is sacred, only Your Highness is allowed to enter. If Your Highness has any instructions, just call this humble monk."
Having said that, he led the people over.
The man lowered his head slightly, clasped his hands together in a gesture of respect, and said, "This humble monk's Dharma name is Wuwei. I greet Your Majesty."
Lan Wu looked at them, nodded gently, and then gestured for the palace servants to wait for her outside the hall.
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