Chapter 20 020 A Beautiful Dream
Lin Wanhu blinked her long, dark eyelashes, her warm breath falling softly on her cheek, and said gently, "It wasn't me."
She deliberately provoked him by getting closer, bringing her face to his tightly pursed lips.
In a dreamlike state, Lin Wan raised the corner of her pale pink eyes to steal a glance at him, her gaze filled with unmistakable affection.
A soft, warm pressure pressed down.
They swooped down and swept over the hill.
...
Xie Huaiyuan suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze filled with lingering surprise, a frantic heartbeat, and the sticky sensation between his legs. It was as if a bolt from the blue had struck him; that absurd dream was actually his doing.
He remained silent for a long time before getting up and leaving the bed, which was stained with a messy appearance.
He rarely dreams, let alone dreams as difficult to talk about and as desired.
He, who had always been pure of heart and had few desires, found his dream to be a scene of absurdity.
Green Bamboo, who was keeping watch, was yawning in a daze when he suddenly heard the door open behind him and heard a slightly hoarse voice that sounded like someone just waking up.
"Bring me cold water, I want to take a bath."
Xie Huaiyuan, casually draped in an outer robe, leaned against the door, letting the cool summer night breeze dispel the annoying flush and heat on his body, trying to calm himself down.
Unlike Xie Huaiyuan, who was aloof and often made risqué remarks with the servants, Lüzhu was already sensible and mature. When she added cold water to the room and changed the bedding, she noticed the mess at a glance, paused for a moment, and understood immediately. She didn't dare to say anything, quickly tidied up, and quietly closed the door and left.
The mountain water was icy cold, and the faint sound of the water rippled through him. The heat in his body gradually subsided, but he could not forget the shattered scene. Even with his eyes closed, it could still be clearly seen.
After taking another bath and calming his mind, Xie Huaiyuan stopped as he walked towards the bed.
The neatly made bed seemed to be a silent reminder of the chaotic scene that had just made him feel weak all over—the way the bed was tightly wrapped around him, softly kissing him.
What's even more ridiculous is that this is happening in this temple.
He stood there for a long time, then let out a long sigh, turned around, and walked out.
"Return to the residence."
-
When Lin Wan woke up, the sunlight was bright, and she could hear the bells ringing from the front hall of the temple from time to time.
She opened her eyes and looked at the simple temple guesthouse. It took her a long time to realize that she was in Xiangshan Temple.
A cool breeze blew into the room, and Shiliu smiled happily, "Girl, you're awake."
Lin Wan then learned that Meng and the others had already returned to the manor last night. Because her arrow wound was quite serious and the incident happened so suddenly, she had returned to the temple for treatment. When she mentioned that Xie Huaiyuan had instructed the physician Hua to stay and treat her, Shi Liu looked at her with surprise and asked hesitantly, "Are you very familiar with the young master, Miss?"
Compared to her aunts, Shiliu was more suited to open up about her feelings.
Lin Wan nodded somewhat tactfully and sighed, "But yesterday he actually shot an arrow at me while I was being held hostage by thieves, it was infuriating!"
Shi Liu was a loyal servant. After a few words, he became convinced that his young lady's heart had been betrayed, and he secretly resolved to fight for her happiness.
Lin Wan leaned against the bedside and tentatively took a sip of the medicine. "Bitter..."
"Bitter medicine is good for your wound, it will help it heal faster!" Hua Yisheng strode in, placed the changed dressing strips on the table beside the bed, and said a few words of advice in a somewhat impatient tone, "You need to get better quickly so I can go back to the capital."
Lin Wan's heart skipped a beat, and she asked, "Why do you say that?"
Hua Yisheng snorted lightly, but his hands continued to change the dressing without stopping. He said, "You brought me here in such a hurry, but then went back yourself. You even said that if I couldn't cure you, I wouldn't have to go back to the capital. What a joke! Isn't that looking down on my medical skills? I can cure even the most serious injuries, let alone this little arrow wound."
She didn't care about anything else, only about him: "Did the Crown Prince send you?"
"Of course!"
Hua Yisheng smiled at her with an ambiguous expression. Ever since he met the two of them last year, he had always felt that their relationship was not close. He joked, "Normally, it would be my turn to take action. He was just scared by a small arrow wound because he didn't know medicine. Miss Lin, you must listen to my advice this time. Don't be like last year and drag your injury down without taking good care of it."
Even after Dr. Hua changed her shoulder wound dressing and left, she remained sitting on the side of the bed. Dr. Hua had said a lot, and she seemed to have listened, yet also seemed not to have listened. Her gaze fell on the blood-stained outer garment on the inside of the bed. It was a man's garment, and she picked it up and brought it to her nose as if possessed.
A faint, cool fragrance wafted from him; it was the scent of the incense he usually wore.
Holding the soft, cool clothes close to her chest, she couldn't help but recall last night when she took the opportunity to lie on Xie Huaiyuan's lap, her lips brushing against his neck, and he froze, too afraid to move.
Lin Wan smiled shyly and secretly pleased.
Next time, I must kiss her.
Around noon, a young novice monk brought over a vegetarian meal and two other people to change Lin Wan's bedding, explaining that it was what Prince Xie Huaiyuan had instructed before he left.
Lin Wan touched the soft bed, a faint smile playing on her lips. She couldn't wait to see him, but was told, "The young master returned to the capital before dawn."
After staying in the guesthouse for several days, Lin Wan felt increasingly listless. Her shoulder injury had improved a lot. Seeing that the sun was shining brightly, she took a walk in the temple with Shi Liu, basking in the warm sunshine.
The young novice monk who often delivers vegetarian meals said that there was a Zen lecture being held at the temple today, and it was very lively, so I could go and take a look.
Lin Wan had never heard a lecture on Zen before, so she went to listen to it. To her surprise, there were so many pilgrims listening to the lecture that the hall was almost full, and it took nearly an hour to finish.
Stepping out of the courtyard where Zen was being taught, Lin Wan slowly walked along the winding corridor with the crowd. The summer midday was gradually getting hot, and Lin Wan gently waved her round fan, sometimes fanning herself and sometimes shading herself from the sun, which was very pleasant.
Before I had taken more than a few steps, I heard a slightly hurried call from behind, the voice clear and pleasant.
"Miss Lin, please wait a moment."
Lin Wan stopped and turned around, seeing the young man who was quickly catching up with her, his forehead covered in fine sweat that glistened in the sunlight.
It was a handsome face, with a pair of gentle, watery eyes beneath his refined, sword-like eyebrows. His gaze was clear, like wine filled with the colors of spring. He wore a frosty-colored robe, a jade belt around his waist, and a warm, smooth jade pendant hanging from his waist, which swayed from side to side with his light steps.
Lin Wan recognized him as Minister Li, whom she had seen at the Peach Blossom Banquet before.
As he approached, a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes, but she stopped very politely and said with a smile, "I thought I saw Miss Lin's figure in the hall just now, but I was unable to come forward in time. I could only come over after the lecture. It's been a long time. I hope Miss Lin is doing well."
Lin Wan smiled faintly, her expression distant: "Thank you, Lord Li. Everything is fine."
“At the Peach Blossom Banquet last time, I really didn’t expect the polo ball to go astray and hit Miss Lin. Yunzhou hereby apologizes to Miss Lin.”
After saying this, he cupped his hands and apologized to Lin Wan with utmost sincerity.
“No…no need for that,” Lin Wan said, somewhat at a loss. “It’s been so long, I’ve already forgotten about it. There’s really no need for that.”
Li Yunzhou's gaze was as gentle as water, and his face was full of shyness: "Actually, Lord Su has already scolded me and I have always felt very sorry. Thinking that the polo ball accidentally broke the young lady's hairpin, I bought a hairpin, thinking that I can personally apologize to the young lady in the future."
"Really, there's no need for that. I don't particularly like that hairpin anyway, so it's fine to replace it if it breaks."
The refusal was extremely gentle. Li Yunzhou stopped himself from reaching into his pocket and looked at her softly, saying, "That's good then."
"Is Miss Lin also interested in listening to Zen lectures? The Zen master's lecture on Buddhism today was profound and truly excellent."
Lin Wan: "...This is the first time I've heard it."
Having said that, she noticed that it was getting late and the sun was getting stronger, so she curtsied and hurriedly left.
To her surprise, she began to run into Li Yunzhou more and more often in the days that followed.
In the first few days, they only exchanged a few words. Later, after learning that she was recuperating there due to an injury, he brought her small trinkets from the capital every few days.
Lin Wan declined repeatedly, but Li Yunzhou said that he also had a younger sister of the same age as her at home. He knew that life in the temple was boring and the years in the mountains were long, but these little things could make life less dull. Seeing how open and honest he was, she couldn't refuse him.
I stayed at the temple for almost half a month, and the injury on my shoulder healed very well, but I still feel discomfort when raising my arm.
Lin Wan hadn't seen Xie Huaiyuan for some time, which made her feel uneasy. She wondered what she had done to make him seem to be avoiding her. Later, when she received the little trinkets from Li Yunzhou, she didn't seem as happy.
-
In summer, the temple is always filled with birdsong in the early morning. As soon as the first morning bell rings, the temple is bustling with activity.
Hearing that today was a lively rural temple fair held by Xiangshan Temple at the foot of the mountain, Li Yunzhou had invited Lin Wan to go and take a look a few days ago.
From the temple to the temple fair grounds at the foot of the mountain, you can see colorful lanterns hanging all along the way, making it easier for people who are praying in the temple to descend the mountain safely.
The temple fair was bustling with people, with colorful lanterns hanging along the roadside and all sorts of stalls scattered throughout, creating a lively atmosphere.
Li Yunzhou led Lin Wan around, introducing everything one by one, which broadened Lin Wan's horizons. She was very interested and found everything interesting. She walked and looked around, and bought a lot of fun and interesting things, which she then had Shiliu, who was following her, carry.
Suddenly, fireworks burst at the street corner, smoke billowed, and gongs and drums boomed. The procession of the gods came in a grand procession, drawing crowds three or four deep to watch.
Suddenly, Lin Wan was surrounded by a crowd, and before she knew it, she was separated from Li Yunzhou in the flow of people.
Forced to squeeze into a corner of the tea stall, and barely managing to stand up, just as Shiliu and I were about to walk back to look for the person, we suddenly caught a glimpse of a figure in front of us.
"Huh?"
Lin Wan suspected she was seeing things, so she leaned forward to take another closer look.
Beneath the colorful lanterns and beside the mask stall stood a young man wearing a Shura mask, dressed in a black robe, with his hair tied up in a jade crown. He was handsome and dashing, with the air of an immortal.
In just a moment, the young man's gaze also fell on her, his thin lips slightly raised, containing a faint smile.
Their eyes met, and it was as if spring flowers were blooming. Unconcealable joy surged in their hearts and spread to their eyebrows. It was him!
Lin Wan walked through the crowd to him, smiling gently: "Your Highness, what a coincidence! The Sage of Medicine Hua said you've been busy with official duties in the capital. How come you have time to stroll through the temple fair today?"
Xie Huaiyuan chuckled softly, raised the fang mask in his hand and handed it to her: "Just finished your work, come and take a look."
A smile flickered in her eyes as she deliberately spoke softly, "It seems I am truly destined to meet the young master, even at the temple fair."
After saying that, she turned back to remind Shiliu that she had already seen Li Yunzhou coming from the crowd on the other side. Before she could say anything, Shiliu smiled and replied that she understood, and turned to walk towards Li Yunzhou.
Xie Huaiyuan glanced at the opposite side, then turned and walked in the opposite direction without saying a word. Lin Wan quickly followed, putting on her mask and lifting her skirt as she did so.
A cool, clear voice came from beside me: "Are you very familiar with Minister Li?"
It turns out he had already seen himself earlier.
Lin Wan's eyes flashed, revealing an undisguised joy: "I'm not familiar with you, I'm familiar with you."
At this moment, the procession of deities turned around, and the crowd began to surge forward again.
Impulse overcame reason, and Lin Wan's soft fingers inadvertently hooked over, intertwining and holding his hand. The cool touch spread from her fingertips to her heart.
Xie Huaiyuan, who was forced to stop by the crowd, suddenly paused, his eyes revealing a hint of confusion and surprise.
"I admire the Crown Prince, so the only person I know is you."
A note from the author:
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