Chapter 15. She mustered her courage and went to Lanting Garden to find him. ...
Even today, Shen Yunzhi can still easily recall the scene from her previous life when she first encountered Cui Huai guarding the memorial tablet of the late Princess Chu. At that time, she schemed and plotted in every way to get close to Cui Huai and win his heart, thus doing many things that she should and shouldn't have done.
After the family dinner in February, she had an unusual encounter with Cui Huai in the study.
After all, she was an unmarried young woman, and she was somewhat shy. She also thought that Cui Huai had different feelings for her, which is why she avoided him for a period of time.
She thought that Cui Huai would eventually be unable to resist and would take the initiative to find her.
But there was none at all.
As if nothing had happened between them, Cui Huai's life remained peaceful and normal.
After gradually confirming this, she realized that she had been too happy too soon, so she had to make other plans.
It was at that time.
She inadvertently learned that Cui Huai often went to Lanting Garden at night to guard the memorial tablet of the late Princess Chu.
Lanting Garden was where the late Princess Consort of Chu lived before her death. After her passing, it was sealed off, and no one except the King of Chu and Cui Huai was allowed to enter or leave, not even her aunt, Cui Lizhu, and Cui Hong.
However, upon learning that Cui Huai was keeping watch, they assumed that Cui Huai was missing his mother and that was why he was doing this.
She mustered her courage and went to Lanting Garden to look for him.
The moonlight was so bright it could be heard a pin drop.
The Lanting Garden was pitch black, except for a sliver of light in the main hall.
She walked to the main hall and saw Cui Huai sitting upright before the altar. He turned his head at the sound, and the flickering firelight, distorted by the night wind, illuminated his cold and handsome face. His usually calm and unwavering eyes stared blankly at her, and he was still clutching burning joss paper in his hand. His ghostly appearance sent chills down her spine.
When Cui Huai spoke, his voice was familiar, gentle, and calm.
She didn't overthink it, assuming that Lanting Garden was pitch black and the buildings were dilapidated, which is why she couldn't help but feel flustered when she suddenly saw such a scene.
Cui Huai did not go to Lanting Garden because he missed his mother.
As she learned more, Shen Yunzhi gradually figured out the clues.
Cui Huai went to keep vigil for his late mother, the Queen Consort of Chu, largely because he believed he harbored impure thoughts. Therefore, he reflected on his actions and repented before his mother's memorial tablet, seeking to rid himself of these evil thoughts and cultivate himself. Among the impure thoughts Cui Huai perceived were those related to romantic relationships.
That was the time she boldly went to Lanting Garden to find Cui Huai.
That was also inextricably linked to her relationship with the various things in the study.
Who would have thought that the reason why the Crown Prince of Chu was considered by the world to be chaste and averse to women was related to such a reason?
Cui Huai considered romantic relationships a sin. Given how he treated her in his previous life, how could he not harbor some resentment towards her for causing him to break his vows?
According to Cui Lizhu, Cui Huai has recently been frequently visiting Lanting Garden to keep vigil for the late Queen, just like in his previous life.
But this time, I shouldn't get involved with her.
"Zhi Niang? Zhi Niang!"
Why won't you listen to me? What are you thinking?
After rambling on for a while without getting any response, Cui Lizhu finally noticed that Shen Yunzhi was still in a daze.
Frowning in displeasure, she pressed on again, "Zhi Niang, what are you thinking about?"
Shen Yunzhi looked at Cui Lizhu and did not deny that she had been daydreaming.
Instead, she said softly, "Lizhu, I'm wondering what kind of person the late Princess Consort of Chu was. Did Lizhu meet the late Princess Consort when she was little?"
Cui Lizhu was startled and quickly gestured for Shen Yunzhi to be quiet, slightly annoyed.
"Is this something you should be asking about?"
Shen Yunzhi knew that the late Princess Consort of Chu was a taboo subject in the Chu Prince's residence; otherwise, Lanting Garden wouldn't have been sealed off, prohibiting anyone from entering or leaving. By deliberately mentioning the late Princess Consort of Chu, Cui Lizhu wouldn't mind her distraction and would only warn her not to speak carelessly.
"Lizhu, I..."
Shen Yunzhi hesitated before saying, "I only asked this question because I was thinking of my aunt."
Upon hearing this, Choi Yeo-joo's eyes showed a hint of reluctance.
She sighed very softly: "My mother was also a very good person."
Although they didn't discuss the late Queen Consort at length, Cui Lizhu's mood clearly became low after just a few words. She was also distracted while accompanying Shen Yunzhi to learn archery, and Shen Yunzhi herself was equally unfocused. The first day of archery lessons with the female instructor ended rather abruptly.
Even though she repeatedly told herself that Cui Huai's presence at the funeral of the late Princess Chu had nothing to do with her, she still harbored some worries and was unable to convince herself.
I had been sleeping soundly these past few days, but since that night, I've been having nightmares for several nights in a row.
Shen Yunzhi suffered greatly.
She hadn't had enough rest for days, and her eyes were dark and puffy. Without makeup to cover it up, anyone could tell that she looked unwell.
Cui Huai's decision to keep watch at night made her feel uneasy. However, reason told her that she had stopped in time and had not continued to provoke Cui Huai, so these matters should no longer have anything to do with her. There was no need for her to be presumptuous or worry.
It's all because the evil deeds Cui Huai committed in his previous life cast a huge shadow on her.
Despite her worries, Shen Yunzhi became more proactive in her actions.
The Princess of Chu summoned her and asked if she would like to meet the young master of the Yao family. She readily agreed and then pestered Cui Lizhu to accompany her out.
"Do you really think this Young Master Yao is good? I feel he's even worse than Zhou Tao from before." Even on the day of their arranged meeting, when Shen Yunzhi half-pulled and half-dragged her onto the carriage, Cui Lizhu's disdain for Young Master Yao did not diminish.
Shen Yunzhi didn't really feel anything.
It's better to go out and meet some young men than to stay cooped up at home.
Just as he had previously been acquainted with Zhou Tao, he unexpectedly got to know Liang Zhengting and Liang Zhi, the siblings.
When it comes to matters of fate, nothing is ever certain.
This meeting is scheduled to take place at Baiyun Temple.
Shen Yunzhi and Cui Lizhu traveled out of the city by carriage, and it took them half an hour to arrive.
Baiyun Temple is very popular, with a constant stream of worshippers coming to pray for blessings.
Stepping down from the carriage, Cui Lizhu glanced sideways at Shen Yunzhi and asked irritably, "Are you really going to waste your time on this Young Master Yao?"
“My aunt said that although Young Master Yao comes from a humble background, he is the only son in his family, and the family tradition is quite upright.” Shen Yunzhi said softly, “I thought I would meet him first. Li Zhu thinks that it would be a waste of my time to meet him, but also… offending the Seventh Princess might have some repercussions.”
Cui Lizhu was not interested in her own marriage, let alone Shen Yunzhi.
She was straightforward; if she didn't approve of someone, she felt that others shouldn't approve of them, regardless of whether that person was Shen Yunzhi.
Why bother with those who belittle the weak and flatter the strong?
Choi Yeo-joo snorted coldly, "Fine, see me if you want, you've already come all this way."
Shen Yunzhi smiled and entered Baiyun Temple with Cui Lizhu, heading directly to the towering Marriage Tree in the temple.
That was the place where I had arranged to meet Young Master Yao.
They arrived neither too early nor too late.
Upon reaching the marriage tree, but not seeing the young master Yao, Cui Lizhu immediately expressed her dissatisfaction: "How can you keep the young lady waiting?"
Shen Yunzhi said, "Xu was slightly delayed by something on the way."
"I don't believe it's such a coincidence." Choi Yeo-joo smiled coldly. "I think it's obvious that she doesn't care."
Shen Yunzhi was helpless, but Cui Lizhu was impatient to stand under the tree and wait for others to stare at her. So she directly led her to the side room to rest, saying in an unquestionable manner, "Rest for a while before coming back. Anyway, he's late. What's wrong with waiting for you?"
However, Young Master Yao never appeared.
Qiu Yue had come out to check on Shen Yunzhi's behalf many times, but there was never a young man waiting for her under the marriage tree.
"What kind of bullshit Young Master Yao is this!"
Choi Yeo-joo's patience was running out, and she burst out cursing, "I told you this person was unreliable, but you insisted on meeting him."
Shen Yunzhi laughed out loud.
Choi Yeo-joo glared at her: "How can you even laugh?"
"Lizhu's sympathy for me is quite endearing, and I am delighted," Shen Yunzhi said with a smile. "I've heard that the vegetarian food at Baiyun Temple is quite good. It's alright if Young Master Yao doesn't come; at least he can try the temple's vegetarian food, so his trip won't be in vain." A complete stranger like Young Master Yao certainly wouldn't stir up too much of her emotions.
Cui Lizhu's anger was largely appeased by Shen Yunzhi's few words.
After instructing the Baiyun Temple's dining hall to prepare food, they came out of their room, intending to stroll around the temple, but unexpectedly encountered Cui Huai.
Today he wore a smoky blue robe, his hair was tied up with a jade crown, and a sachet with a jade pendant was worn at his waist.
She walked slowly and calmly, her cool face seemingly bathed in warm sunlight.
"Why is my older brother also at Baiyun Temple?" Cui Lizhu was both surprised and delighted.
Cui Huai said, "I came to listen to Master Huiming's lecture on Zen." He raised his eyes and looked at Shen Yunzhi. "Young Master Yao will not be coming today."
Shen Yunzhi hadn't looked at Cui Huai.
He suddenly mentioned Young Master Yao, and she was taken aback, unable to look at him directly: "Your Highness, what do you mean by this?"
Cui Huai did not answer Shen Yunzhi's question. Lin Yue took over and answered vaguely, "When Your Highness arrived at Baiyun Temple, you happened to run into Madam Yao looking for Young Master Yao. Afterwards, Madam Yao asked Young Master Yao to return to her residence with her, and they left together."
Shen Yunzhi was slightly taken aback.
Choi Yeo-joo was furious on her behalf: "If you're not coming, fine, but you didn't even send a message and made us wait in vain?"
Shen Yunzhi understood that Lin Yue must have something he couldn't say.
It's unlikely to be anything nice.
"Never mind, Lizhu." Shen Yunzhi tugged at Cui Lizhu's sleeve, trying to persuade her.
Choi Yeo-joo couldn't swallow her anger any longer: "I told you I didn't care about you at all, and you still have to say that we were delayed on the way."
"You're so easy to bully."
"What's the point of paying attention to this kind of person? I'll find you a few better ones to meet later."
In front of Cui Huai, Shen Yunzhi did not agree to her words.
Cui Lizhu didn't seem to care much and only asked Cui Huai, "Big brother, would you like to stay for a vegetarian meal?"
Cui Huai had other things to attend to.
Cui Lizhu dared not keep him, and watched him leave. She and Shen Yunzhi then went for a stroll and waited for their vegetarian meal.
"Chen Zhaoyu!" When they returned to the vicinity of the marriage tree, Cui Lizhu saw a familiar figure and exclaimed in surprise. She led Shen Yunzhi forward and asked with a smile, "Didn't you say you were going to stay at the ancestral home for a while? When are you returning to the capital?"
Shen Yunzhi secretly sized up the young man in front of her.
She was gentle and refined, with an outstanding temperament, and her surname was Chen... She remembered that the Empress was from the Chen family.
The young man smiled like a warm ray of sunshine: "Danyang, it's been a long time."
"I just got back these past two days and came to offer incense with my mother today. I didn't expect to run into you."
Cui Lizhu smiled and said, "I'm just accompanying Zhi Niang." Then she introduced Shen Yunzhi's identity to Chen Zhaoyu and said to Shen Yunzhi, "He is the Empress's nephew. He is eighteen years old this year. Isn't he handsome and talented?"
She didn't lower her voice, and her words clearly reached Chen Zhaoyu's ears, making him blush.
Shen Yunzhi smiled, did not respond to Cui Lizhu's words, and greeted him.
Chen Zhaoyu politely returned the greeting.
Choi Yeo-joo noticed the red string in his hand and asked curiously, "What's this?"
"This? It's a marriage rope from Baiyun Temple." Chen Zhaoyu looked down at the thing in his hand and smiled helplessly. "My mother ordered someone to get it and insisted that I hang this marriage rope on the marriage tree."
Choi Yeo-joo's eyes lit up: "A marriage rope? For praying for a marriage?"
Upon receiving an affirmative answer, she immediately ordered someone to fetch another marriage rope and placed it in Shen Yunzhi's hand.
“Chen Zhaoyu, can you teach Zhiniang? She also wants to find a husband, but she doesn’t know how.”
Cui Lizhu dragged Shen Yunzhi in front of Chen Zhaoyu.
Cui Huai came out of the small Buddhist hall.
As he walked under the corridor, he saw the three people under the marriage tree in the distance.
Shen Yunzhi turned to look at Chen Zhaoyu.
She smiled at Chen Zhaoyu, a smile more radiant than the spring sunshine.
Cui Huai paused slightly, his fingers tracing the jade pendant at his waist, and instructed Lin Yue, "Let's go back to the manor."
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