Not far from the main hall, after passing through a long corridor, you arrive at the room of the abbot of Linggan Temple. The abbot's courtesy name is Jianyuan. It is said that he is a master of Buddhism and never easily meets with pilgrims. Even if the emperor comes, Jianyuan will say that the time is not right and the fate is not right. The emperor cannot forcefully send people to arrest him.
Feng Guang saw the kind-faced monk sitting on the futon and couldn't help but be touched by his peaceful aura. He was a truly enlightened monk.
"Miss Xia, you've arrived."
"Master Jianyuan." Feng Guang bowed. "I am very grateful for Master Jianyuan's help some time ago. Otherwise, I'm afraid I would have become a wandering ghost."
"No need to thank this humble monk. It is because Miss Xia is kind and benevolent that her life was not meant to end."
Three months ago, after Feng Guang fell seriously ill, her soul inexplicably left her body. Her body was possessed by a fox demon. It was Xia Chao, who noticed that his daughter's sudden change in temperament was wrong, who asked Jian Yuan to come down the mountain to perform a ritual to exorcise the demon. Only then was Feng Guang able to return to her body and avoid becoming a wandering, ownerless soul.
However, Feng Guang was puzzled, "Master Jianyuan, I've heard from others that you rarely come out of seclusion, why is it this time..."
“As I said before, Miss Xia’s life is not meant to end,” Jian Yuan said mysteriously. “Only if Miss Xia lives can she save more people.”
Feng Guang remained silent. Following the original trajectory, An Lu, who discovered she had fallen in love with Qi Duan, would help Qi Duan return to the palace and, with the help of Consort Min, reclaim the position of heir apparent. Prince Xiao would fall ill, and Princess Xiao would die suddenly. Qi Mu, having lost his family and status, and with An Lu, whom he had fallen for, also taken away by Qi Duan, would become increasingly extreme in his actions, ultimately embarking on a path of no return.
"Miss Xia, there's no need to overthink it. Just follow your heart. This Buddhist prayer bead bracelet is a gift for you."
“…Thank you, Master.” She accepted the bracelet. She didn’t really like the feeling of having her soul read, but she also knew that he was a wise and virtuous monk, and she seemed to…not be able to afford to offend him.
As if knowing what she was thinking, Jian Yuan smiled kindly and said, "There is Buddhist teaching on the bracelet, which can protect you and keep demons and monsters away. Please remember to wear it, Miss Xia."
"Yes, thank you, Master." Feng Guang thanked him sincerely this time. She had been worried about what would happen if the fox demon came back, but now she had been given a guarantee.
After bidding farewell to Jianyuan, Yun'er said that since it was a rare occasion, she wanted to ask for a talisman. Knowing that her mistress wasn't interested, Yun'er went to ask for it on her behalf. Fengguang touched her cheek, feeling a little embarrassed. She stood in front of the hall, waiting for Yun'er to come and find her.
There were quite a few people seeking amulets for peace and safety, so Yun'er joined the queue. When she got bored, she slowly walked to a tree—a tall Bodhi tree with lush branches and leaves. The tree was covered with peach wood plaques tied together with red threads, and the names written on the plaques were faintly visible. People were also throwing plaques onto the tree.
A pleasant voice came from beside Fengguang, “It is said that if you write your and your lover’s names on a wooden plaque and hang it on a tree, Buddha will bless you to stay together until old age.”
She turned around and looked at him with some surprise, "Your Highness."
"Miss Xia, it's been a long time." Qi Mu's demeanor was as elegant as the first time they met.
"Your Highness, how did you know it was me?" She hadn't said anything while standing there, or was he just casually mentioning it while standing there?
"Miss Xia can distinguish people by their scent, so why can't I?" Qi Mu smiled slightly. "Ever since I tasted the fragrance of peach blossoms on that rainy night, I have never been able to forget it."
"Your Highness!" Feng Guang's face flushed red instantly, but she dared not shout. She could only lower her voice and look at him angrily.
Qi Mu could easily hear the shyness and anger in her voice, which was as sweet as a nightingale's. He opened the fan in his hand with amusement and waved it gently, displaying the utmost elegance of a young master. "Why is Miss Xia angry? I was merely reminiscing about the peach blossoms that are about to fade."
She pursed her lips and turned her head away, refusing to look at him again.
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