Chapter 52 Good Things Are Coming (Part Two) My Beloved.
Wen Kong was taken aback.
He glanced out the half-open window and saw that it was Ye Mu without a doubt.
He had initially dismissed it as a common divination about marriage between ordinary men and women, with the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, the Five Elements, and the clashes and harms between them being nothing more than cold, lifeless characters. But now, as the man called out that familiar name with such familiarity, the eight characters on the paper took on a completely different weight and came alive.
Wen Kong remained seated, listening intently to the sounds outside the window. They must have known each other well, otherwise the man wouldn't have known her nickname.
"Fourth Sister".
They called out to each other with extreme intimacy, as if they had done it many times before, and it was very practiced.
Wen Kong lowered his eyes, looking at the plain paper with the eight characters written on it, his fingertips slightly hot.
The eighth day of the fourth lunar month is Buddha's Birthday, which is also her birthday.
His lips, which were originally drooping downwards, couldn't help but twitch upwards.
His conversion to her was perfectly legitimate.
This time of year is also auspicious, late spring and early summer, when the trees are lush and verdant. Born at the hour of Mao (5-7 AM), when the sun is just rising, it is the most vibrant time of day.
So this is the day and hour she was born into this world.
No wonder she always has an indomitable tenacity, like a blade of grass sprouting from a crack in the rock, always able to carve out a way to survive even in the mud.
Her destiny was inherently imbued with such vibrant vitality, so bright and undeniable.
Wen Kong lowered his eyelashes, his gaze falling on the two figures side by side. The line next to them was a bit glaring. He tore the paper in his hand in half, stuffed Ye Mu's line into his monk's sleeve, and pressed it against his wrist.
He forcibly separated her destiny from this unpleasant fortune-telling.
Wen Kong looked up at the man outside the window. At this moment, he could guess the man's identity: the newly appointed top scholar, Jiang Si.
That is, the man who was paired with Ye Mudeng, as mentioned by the rouge shop assistant.
They don't match at all.
It wasn't out of selfish jealousy, but rather because even their birth charts showed they were incompatible.
There was no sound from Ye Mu outside the window; the footsteps had faded into the distance.
Was he the one she wanted to kiss on the top of Gem Mountain last night?
Wen Kong pursed her lips.
She kissed the wrong person, but he didn't.
Besides, she and Jiang Si were not a good match. Since he was her master, he saw through this and naturally had to help her get away from suffering.
Ye Mu, whom Wen Kong thought was still suffering, heard what Jiang Si said and glared at him a few times, thinking, "What utter nonsense!"
What kind of fate is this! Nonsense! Utter rubbish!
But now was not the time to argue with him; her third sister was waiting. She suppressed her anger, clutched the cotton paper in her sleeve, and quickened her pace. But as she hurried along, she couldn't help but glance out the window. Her profile was serene; it was her master.
Did Master really calculate Jiang Si's birth chart for her and him?
Ye Mu was annoyed and quickened her pace.
Hmph, even Master's calculations might not be accurate. Even if there is a connection, it doesn't count. She has plenty of strength and determination now. What does it matter if it's a matter of birth charts or destiny? Even if it's an iron chain or a copper lock, she can find a sharp axe and cut it with her own hands.
Her marriage is her own decision.
Ye Mu walked quickly back to the secluded clean room. The door was tightly closed, and there was no sound inside.
She raised her hand and tapped lightly, "Third sister? The paper is here."
There was a moment of silence inside before Ye Qing responded somewhat muffledly, "Fourth sister, you... you can just pass it in through the crack in the door."
The voice seemed weaker and more suppressed than before.
A hint of doubt crossed Ye Mu's mind, but when she thought of Ye Qing's unbearable abdominal pain and the fact that she might be in a very awkward situation, she understood why she was unwilling to open the door. She tiptoed and barely reached the narrow gap above the door, carefully stuffing a stack of clean toilet paper inside.
A rustling sound came from inside, and after a moment, Ye Qing's voice rang out again, this time almost choked with tears, "Fourth sister, can... can you go get some more? It's... still not enough."
"Not enough?" Ye Mu asked in surprise. "Why are you having so much diarrhea? Did you eat something unclean?"
My third sister has always been a glutton; this diarrhea must be an acute illness.
"Fourth sister, don't ask anymore, go and get it."
Hearing her distress, Ye Mu stopped thinking about it and said, "Alright, I'll go look for her again as soon as possible. But you must hold on, the Crown Prince and Empress Dowager's procession is probably arriving soon, we can't stay in this area any longer."
After she finished speaking, she turned around and hurriedly left, her footsteps quickly disappearing at the end of the corridor.
The room was dimly lit.
The air was filled with a faint scent of soapberry, which wasn't too unpleasant. The chamber pot in the corner had just been filled with wood ash by Ye Qing, so it was clean enough.
Ye Qing leaned against the cold wall, her body stiff, her inner clothes soaked with cold sweat. Right next to her neck, a chilling short blade was pressed against her, its icy touch sending shivers down her spine.
She had been waiting for Ye Mu for a long time without him returning, and her abdominal pain had eased slightly. Fearing that the Crown Prince and the Empress Dowager had already arrived, she had no choice but to use some rough toilet paper to finish her business and wanted to go out and see what was going on.
She washed her hands with the clear water in the copper basin in the corner of the wall, and just as she finished tidying her clothes, she heard a knock at the door.
She felt a sudden lightness in her stomach and assumed that Ye Mu had returned. Without any precautions, she pulled open the door latch. Just as the door opened a crack, a dark figure flashed in, carrying a bloody scent.
The cold blade was instantly pressed against her throat.
The newcomer was completely wrapped in black clothes, with only a pair of sharp, hawk-like eyes visible. He was staring intently at her. "Don't make a sound. Help me bandage my wounds."
His voice was hoarse, as if he had suffered a serious injury.
Ye Qing was terrified, tears welling up instantly. She stammered, "But I... I don't know how..."
The man in black frowned beneath his mask and said succinctly, "Give me the paper."
"I just used it all up..." Ye Qing was about to cry. She could feel the knife in her throat getting closer and closer.
"...Why did you poop so much?" The man in black was clearly taken aback by the sudden answer, and then seemed to realize that this was not the time to discuss this.
Ye Qing felt utterly ashamed and wished she could disappear into the ground.
The man in black stopped talking, sheathed his knife, and reached out with his left hand to suddenly lift her outer skirt.
"Ah?! What are you doing!" Ye Qing cried out in surprise, but the coldness of the blade pressing against her throat forced her into a breathy voice.
With a "rip," he tore a large piece of soft, fine cotton fabric from the lining of her apricot-colored ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress).
She then lowered her outer skirt, and it was impossible to tell that a piece of clothing was missing from her inner garment.
"If you dare to shout again, I'll cut out your tongue right now."
He tore off the towel, and with his teeth and hands, quickly tore the cotton cloth into strips, wrapped them tightly around the still-bleeding wound on his right arm, and tied a knot to temporarily stop the bleeding.
"Can...can you let me out?" Ye Qing asked, her eyes brimming with tears. "You see, I...I can't help with anything..."
Her voice was barely audible, "I'm very timid, I won't say anything carelessly once we're out."
"Let you out? Sure."
After treating his wounds, the man in black seemed to be breathing more steadily. "Go to the Third Hall and bring me the robe behind the lotus pedestal of the Buddha's golden statue."
Ye Qing dared not disobey, but as soon as her hand touched the door latch, she cried out, "But I don't know the way, I don't know where the Triple Palace is."
"How could you be so stupid?!"
The man in black closed his eyes briefly, seemingly having exhausted all his patience. When he opened them again, he gritted his teeth and gave a concise instruction: "After you leave here, head west. The second grand hall you encounter is it."
"West..." Ye Qing panicked even more, "I can't tell east from west..."
"..."
The man in black paused for a moment, his fingers tightening around the hilt of his knife, and he squeezed out a few words through clenched teeth, "I really want to kill you."
"No, no, no! Please! Tell me where the west side is, I'll go get it, I'll definitely go get it!" Ye Qing's legs went weak with fear.
Just then, Ye Mu's footsteps and knocking came from outside the door.
The blade pressed lightly against Ye Qing's neck, a slight stinging pain shooting through her. The man in black leaned close to her ear and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Find a way to get her away, quick."
Ye Qing's heart pounded wildly. Driven by her survival instinct, she could only suppress her fear and let Ye Mu go get the paper again.
As Ye Mu's footsteps faded into the distance, the man in black immediately shoved Ye Qing out of the washroom.
"The west is your right side right now," the man in black said grimly. "If the clothes aren't delivered within twenty counts, I'll make sure you don't see the sun rise tomorrow."
Ye Qing was so frightened that she practically scrambled out of the room.
Her mind went blank, and she ran desperately to the right, her heart pounding in her chest, tears blurring her vision.
The temple complex is filled with numerous halls and winding corridors.
In her panic, she almost ran past the main hall, but when she looked up and saw the plaque, she realized something was wrong and crawled back.
Today, because the emperor was about to arrive, most of the monks and attendants had gathered at the front gate and near the main hall to wait for him. The rear area was deserted, which ironically meant that no one noticed her running.
Finally, she saw an exceptionally solemn and magnificent palace, with triple eaves and imposing brackets.
This should be it!
She staggered up the steps, disregarding all rules, and pushed open the heavy palace door, slipping inside.
The hall was spacious and deep, reflecting the compassionate, downcast eyes of the Buddha statue.
The air was filled with the scent of sandalwood, a lotus throne... behind the lotus throne...
Ye Qing went around to the back of the Buddha statue. At first, she couldn't see the clothes, so she had to feel around and found a soft bundle inside the lotus seat.
With nothing else to say, Ye Qing grabbed her bundle, hugged it to her chest, and rushed out.
She counted to twenty in her mind, her legs weak, and she dared not stop for a moment. She arrived at the bathroom panting and collapsed to the ground like a limp rag doll.
"He...he shouldn't be over twenty, right?"
"You can get lost now," the man in black said.
Ye Qing felt as if she had been granted a pardon. Just as she was about to get up and open the door latch, she heard her fourth sister panting and saying, "Third sister, here's the paper for you. We need to hurry. The Empress Dowager's carriage has arrived at the mountain gate. We must go there immediately."
Ye Qing's hand, which was reaching for the door latch, froze in mid-air. She turned around in horror and looked at the man in black inside the door. If she opened the door now, her fourth sister would definitely see this evil star inside!
This man in black is so ruthless, he won't kill both sisters, will he?
The man in black whispered in her ear, "Get some paper. Make her get away from here. Now."
Ye Qing's throat tightened. "Fourth sister, hand the paper in and wait for me a little further away. I'm afraid the smell will bother you if I open the door."
Ye Mu asked worriedly, "Can you stand steadily? Don't you need me to help you?"
She could not only stand firm, she wished she could sprout wings and fly away immediately!
The knife was close to her throat again, and Ye Qing quickly said, "I'm fine, I'm alright, Fourth Sister, please move to the side, away from here."
Time was of the essence, and the solemn music and the sounds of procession that could be faintly heard outside the mountain gate grew clearer and clearer. There was no time for them to argue here, so Ye Muyi followed her lead.
Ye Qing came out awkwardly, her eyes filled with panic. She glanced into the washroom twice. Ye Mu found her third sister strange, but didn't have time to ask her in detail. She led her out through the side gate.
The two were simultaneously stunned as soon as they left the temple.
From the foot of the majestic mountain gate's stone steps all the way to the edge of the side gate where they now stood, a dense mass of people knelt down. The accompanying officials, nobles, noblewomen, and monks all bowed their heads, listening attentively and holding their breath.
The banners fluttered in the cold wind.
Ye Mu immediately spotted Wang Shi kneeling among the noblewomen in the front row. Wang Shi kept turning around to look, her face showing undisguised anxiety. She seemed to breathe a sigh of relief when she saw Ye Qing appear, but then she saw Ye Mu again, her eyes filled with mixed emotions, and she quickly lowered her head.
Fortunately, they were kneeling at the back, so Ye Mu quickly pulled Ye Qing down to kneel as well, pressing their foreheads against the rough bluestone ground.
Just then, a rough voice with a foreign accent broke the solemnity, "Your Majesty the Emperor, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager."
The speaker was Tiele Khan, a burly man with a booming voice. Standing beside him was a young prince, Ah Jun, dressed in equally distinctive attire. "Why is His Highness not here to personally greet you at today's prayer ceremony? Is His Highness perhaps too busy with other matters to pay attention to this grand event for friendly relations between our two nations?"
No wonder so many officials accompanied the emperor, and even the emperor himself came; it turned out that the Tiele Khan and his son, members of the royal family of the border tribes, had arrived.
"Or does the Crown Prince simply not respect His Majesty the Emperor?"
Tiele Khan smiled at the prince beside him, “My son, Ah Jun, you must open your eyes wide and see clearly. This kind of disrespectful treatment of guests and disregard for etiquette must never be adopted. We Tiele men have always valued promises and face the most, and we should have at least some respect for the cattle and sheep on the grasslands!”
Ah Jun immediately bowed, "Father Khan's teachings are correct, your son will remember them and will never dare to imitate such impolite behavior."
The father and son's sarcastic and mocking banter was a blatant insult to the etiquette and hospitality of the entire Great Jin Dynasty, right in front of everyone.
Just as the stalemate was at its peak, a series of steady footsteps echoed from inside the solemn temple gate.
A tall and slender figure, dressed in an apricot-yellow four-clawed python robe and wearing a winged crown, slowly walked out of the temple.
He stepped forward and bowed calmly to the Emperor and Empress Dowager, his voice clear and resonant, “Your subject greets Your Majesty and Your Majesty. I entered the temple too early, so I went ahead to offer incense and pray before the Buddha. I was afraid that I would stop halfway and be disrespectful to the Buddha, so I was delayed and was unable to personally greet you outside the temple gate. I beg Your Majesty and the Khan to forgive my lateness.”
The Crown Prince has arrived.
However, this explanation did not easily sway Tiele Khan, who was intent on provoking trouble.
He laughed and said, "How could I possibly remember that the most important etiquette in the Central Plains is respect for elders and juniors? It has always been the son who follows behind his father and listens to his teachings. How could a son abandon his father and grandmother, who personally lead the imperial procession, and rush into the temple on his own?"
It directly points out that the Crown Prince is disrespectful to his father and emperor, neglects his guests, and is morally deficient as the heir apparent.
Silence fell outside the temple gate.
Wen Kong, who had been standing quietly beside the abbot, suddenly stepped forward, walked to the foot of the imperial steps, and respectfully clasped his hands together in front of Tiele Khan.
"Amitabha." Wen Kong bowed deeply. "The reason why His Highness the Crown Prince entered the temple ahead of time was not because he was in a hurry, but because of his deep consideration and compassion."
"Your Highness knew that the Khan and the Prince had come from afar with sincere intentions, seeking nothing more than peace on the borders—a truly meritorious act. However…"
Wen Kong paused for a moment, “Our Buddha is compassionate and blesses all living beings, but even in the pure land of Buddhism, there are rules and regulations. Distinguished guests from the border, even if they have a benevolent heart, will inevitably be surrounded by the blood and grime of distant battles after living in the northern desert for a long time. This is not the fault of the person, but the result of the times and the place.”
He looked at Tiele Khan and said, “Your Highness is worried that if the Khan and the Prince were to suddenly approach the Buddha with such a fierce aura, the Buddha might feel the unfamiliar atmosphere of war. Therefore, Your Highness is willing to bear the possible misunderstanding and take the lead to stand solemnly before the Buddha.”
The news of the Great Khan and the Prince's impending arrival was first silently reported to the heavens. When the Great Khan and the Prince entered the palace, all they encountered and saw was pure Buddhist light and boundless, perfect blessings.
Wen Kong's words, based on Buddhist principles, cleverly reversed the situation.
Not only did he easily evade Tiele Khan's accusations, but he also conversely portrayed the crown prince as someone who considered the bigger picture, even implying a caring message of "doing it for your own good."
Although the kneeling crowd dared not raise their heads, the tense atmosphere clearly eased, and the officials secretly admired them and cheered.
Master Wenkong of Baoxiang Temple, with just a few words, spoke with the power to resolve the crisis of the crown prince, and demonstrated the perfect wisdom of Buddhism. His words were truly exquisite.
Ye Mu slightly raised her eyes; this was her master.
Faced with the aggressive advances of the powerful ruler of the grasslands, he skillfully and calmly resolved the predicament that even the crown prince could not handle.
That's amazing.
A sense of pride welled up uncontrollably in her heart, as if she too possessed a share of that profound wisdom. Ye Mu's lips curled slightly; her master stood there, his robes flowing gracefully, his expression serene and dignified—he was simply too dazzling.
She wanted to share this overwhelming emotion with her third sister, but she felt her sister trembling violently.
Ye Mu quietly reached out and pulled Ye Qing's almost limp body closer to her, asking in a very low voice, "Third sister? Is your stomach hurting badly again? Why are you shaking like this? If you can't stand it, lean against me quietly."
Ye Qing's lips moved, but she couldn't make a sound; she just shook her head.
She tremblingly raised her eyelashes and stole a glance at the apricot-yellow figure.
Just then, the Crown Prince's gaze inadvertently swept over the kneeling crowd, keenly catching her fleeting glance.
Their gazes met briefly in the air.
Ye Qing shuddered violently and hurriedly slammed her forehead against the cold ground. Her heart was pounding so hard it felt like it would jump out of her throat, and her limbs were chilled with fear.
It's him! The masked man in black in the washroom is the Crown Prince!
"But the ground is too cold, you can't kneel anymore?" Ye Mu became more worried. Under the cover of his sleeve, he leaned down and hugged her thin shoulders more tightly, transferring his body heat to comfort her, "Sister, just bear with it a little longer. They shouldn't be talking for too long, and they'll be able to get up soon."
Having grown up and witnessed countless intrigues within the Marquis's mansion, Ye Qing had never personally experienced such a terrifying moment, with a knife to her throat and encountering such an important figure in such a bizarre manner.
She was a timid and cowardly person to begin with, and at this moment she was so frightened that she was pale as death. She could only barely maintain her kneeling position by relying on Ye Mu's arm, and did not collapse to the ground on the spot.
The solemn Dharma assembly finally began.
Everyone stood up and stood solemnly in the square in front of the Mahavira Hall.
Wen Kong, as one of the presiding officials of today's blessing ceremony, stood on the high platform and led the chanting.
His voice was clear and calm, like a spring gurgling over stones, seemingly with a soothing power, gently flowing past the ears.
Ye Qing stood in the crowd, surrounded by officials and noblewomen who held their breath and bowed their heads. Because of her hunched back and shrugged shoulders, no one paid much attention to her distraught state.
Only Ye Mu stayed close to her, sensing that something was wrong.
No matter how timid her third sister was, she was still the daughter of a marquis, and basic etiquette was ingrained in her bones. Even if she was suffering from severe abdominal pain, she would not be so flustered and act like a frightened bird under such royal regalia.
However, the current situation is pressing, and there is no way to ask.
The blessing ceremony was drawing to a close.
The crowd relaxed slightly and began to tidy themselves up.
Tiele Khan's gaze was drawn to a long couplet with vigorous ink strokes outside the palace gate. Although he was not versed in the finer details of literature, he could still appreciate the grandeur of the characters. The strength and vigor conveyed between the lines subtly resonated with the heroic spirit of a steppe warrior gazing at the heavens.
His eyes gleamed with admiration. Such calligraphy actually came from a Buddhist temple in the Central Plains.
The monk respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, this couplet was written by Master Wenkong of the temple, who is also the presiding monk of today's prayer ceremony."
"Master Wen Kong is truly a genius." Tiele Khan raised a thick eyebrow, still vividly remembering the witty remarks made at the mountain gate earlier.
As if remembering something, he asked the prince beside him, "Ah Jun, do you still remember that several years ago, this Master Wen Kong traveled to our territory to preach and spread the Dharma? He was really bold. Alone, with only a few tattered scriptures, he dared to come to our royal tent and talk about laying down the butcher's knife and having compassion."
Ah Jun laughed and said, "Father, you remember correctly. But as you saw today, this Master Wen Kong is no ordinary person. Before he left, he gave me a copy of the Diamond Sutra that he had personally copied. It was from copying that sutra that I truly understood the wonder of Chinese characters and practiced diligently for many years."
He walked up to the Crown Prince, then changed the subject, "I have long heard that Your Highness the Crown Prince of the Great Jin is skilled in both literature and martial arts. Would you do me the honor of exchanging a few words with me, making friends through calligraphy, and adding a touch of elegance to today's grand prayer ceremony?"
The words spoken earlier were relayed to those behind, and the atmosphere in the room became subtle again.
Standing in the crowd, Ye Qing heard this and subconsciously murmured, "But...but it's His Highness the Crown Prince's right arm..."
She had just witnessed him treating the wound on his right arm in the bathroom. He struggled to even lift his hand, so how could he possibly wield a brush with his wrist suspended?
"Third Sister, what did you say?" Ye Muyin, who had been paying attention to her, turned her head and asked urgently, "The Crown Prince is injured?"
Ye Qing then realized she had spoken out of turn, and her face turned even paler with fright. Seeing that no one was paying attention to their corner, she trembled as she leaned close to Ye Mu's ear and whispered a brief account of the harrowing experience she had just had in the washroom.
Ye Mu was shocked to hear this, never expecting that his third sister had gone through such danger in such a short time.
But is the Crown Prince's injury related to the border delegation? Is that why they deliberately launched an attack at this time, assuming that the Crown Prince is injured and unable to fight, and even if he tries to fight, he will be at a disadvantage, so as to damage the reputation of the Great Jin?
Seeing the crown prince remain silent, clearly weighing his options, the prince's defiant expression grew even stronger, and some of the surrounding officials and their wives began to show signs of worry. If the crown prince refused, it would be a sign of weakness; if he accepted the challenge and was defeated, it would further damage the prestige of the nation.
Moreover, this grassland prince is said to have practiced diligently for many years, but no one dares to make a judgment on his level of skill.
"Your Highness, are you perhaps afraid to challenge me?"
The prince's hands, hanging by his sides, clenched slightly. He gritted his teeth, seemingly about to reluctantly accept this hot potato of a challenge. At the critical moment, the stalemate was broken by a female voice.
"This humble woman is unworthy, but I am willing to exchange calligraphy skills with His Highness the Prince on behalf of His Highness the Crown Prince."
Everyone was taken aback and looked in the direction of the sound.
A simply dressed young girl stepped out from the back row and gracefully bowed to the royal family and the grassland prince.
It was Ye Mu.
"Your Highness's calligraphy is exquisite and profound, far beyond what I, a commoner, can achieve. Your Highness has the world in your heart, and for you, calligraphy is a tool for governing the country and upholding its principles, not a means of fighting for power."
She laughed and said, "If it is Your Highness, you are not even as good as this humble woman, so why bother Your Highness to take action personally?"
"Your Highness, do you dare to compete with this commoner?"
The grassland prince was indeed provoked and sneered, "What a sharp tongue you have! In that case, I'll see what you're capable of!"
He was confident that he had practiced calligraphy diligently for many years, so how could he lose to an unknown little woman?
Brush, ink, paper, and inkstone were quickly prepared on the long table in front of the hall.
Ah Jun took a deep breath, focused his mind and moved his wrist, and with a flourish of his brush, a bold and unrestrained calligraphy in the style of the frontier appeared on the paper, demonstrating his skill and drawing nods of approval from many people.
It was dusk.
She stepped forward slowly, calmly picked up the brush, dipped it in ink, and lowered her eyes to rest for a moment.
She had practiced her master's calligraphy since she was a child, studying its structure and spirit repeatedly, thousands of times, until she was extremely familiar with it.
She was naturally confident in herself, but this competition was intended to resolve conflicts and demonstrate composure, not to humiliate her. With this in mind, she subtly tightened her grip on her wrist, aiming to achieve both physical and mental perfection and win with ease.
The moment she put pen to paper, the surroundings fell silent.
The handwriting was clear, upright, and vigorous, with a strong and unyielding style. It contained a hidden strength within its elegance, and at the turns of the strokes, there was a faint sound of metal and stone.
Not only does it resemble the original in form, but it also captures seven or eight tenths of its spirit.
Wen Kong, standing on the high platform, gazed at the ink marks flowing from Ye Mu's pen. She was writing, and he was writing too; their souls were intertwined. He smiled slightly.
The frontier prince thought his writing was quite good, but when he saw Ye Mu's handwriting, his expression immediately changed.
He was a discerning person and could naturally tell the difference in quality. The other person not only had skillful brushwork, but more importantly, a natural and unrestrained spirit that made his own attempt at unrestrained expression clearly inferior.
The result is self-evident.
Ye Mu won.
The grassland prince's face turned pale and then red. He had trained hard for many years, only to lose to a commoner from the Great Jin Dynasty! This was even more unacceptable to him than losing to the crown prince.
He abruptly threw down his pen, snorted, turned away, and, disregarding etiquette, walked straight towards the mountain gate. Tiele Khan's face was also very grim. He forced a bow to the emperor, said "Farewell," and hurriedly led his delegation away.
The crisis that had put the Crown Prince of Jin in a dilemma was thus resolved.
The emperor looked at Ye Mu with admiration, "Good! Your handwriting is excellent, and your character is even better! Which family are you from? What is your name?"
Ye Mu bowed again, “Your Majesty, my surname is Ye, and my given name is Mu. I have now established my own household and live with my mother.”
Upon hearing this, the face of the Marquis of Yong'an, kneeling in the line of officials, instantly turned red, then pale, a mixture of embarrassment and anger, wishing he could disappear into a crack in the ground.
With her relatives present, she openly declared that she was "establishing her own household," clearly revealing a corner of the Marquis's unkind past. He glared fiercely at Wang Shi, whose expression was also changing, but ultimately did not dare to speak up in front of the emperor to defend himself or acknowledge her.
"Ye Mu?" The emperor pondered for a moment, feeling that the name sounded familiar. His gaze swept over the officials in attendance and landed on Jiang Si, the newly appointed top scholar. "Minister Jiang, I remember mentioning Princess Yongjia to you a few days ago. You said that you already had someone in mind, and her name seems to be Ye Mu?"
Jiang Si was nervous when she saw Ye Mu step forward to compete. Her calligraphy in her previous life was only something she had seen briefly. It might be acceptable to look at it in the inner chambers, but if she were to bring it to a place like this where two countries were clashing, she would only bring shame upon herself.
His heart was in his throat. As Ye Mu picked up her pen, he imagined the laughter that might erupt from the audience, and he was very annoyed by her overestimation of her abilities.
However, Ye Mu's handwriting in this life is no longer the soft and weak handwriting he remembered. It is powerful and resilient, which is not something that can be achieved overnight, nor can it be faked by cleverness.
When did she acquire such abilities? In this life, how many aspects of her personality, unknown to him, are she still hiding?
Upon hearing the emperor's question, Jiang Si stepped forward, lifted his robe, and knelt down. "Your Majesty is wise. The one I truly love is Miss Ye Mu. We have long been in love, but there have been some misunderstandings. Today, Your Majesty has inquired about this matter, and I humbly request Your Majesty to grant me and Ye Mu a marriage. This will allow me to fulfill my deep affection and also bring about this happy union."
Countless eyes turned to the perfect couple on the stage.
Ye Mu turned around and looked at Jiang Si kneeling on the ground. He wanted to use the overwhelming power of the imperial grace to keep her by his side, but she refused. She was no longer the Ye Mu from her previous life who didn't dare to talk back to the princess.
It seems he still doesn't understand.
The imperial family is indeed formidable, but Ye Mu has faced all the hardships alone, earning her own living by her own hands, relying on her own abilities and not depending on anyone else. Why should she be afraid to face the emperor with her true self?
Ye Mu glanced at Jiang Si indifferently, then calmly knelt before the emperor, "This commoner thanks Your Majesty for your kindness, and thanks Lord Jiang for his undeserved favor."
She raised her head and looked directly at the person on the throne. "However, this humble woman does not wish to."
"Oh? Why are you unwilling?" The emperor seemed somewhat surprised. "Minister Jiang is the newly appointed top scholar, handpicked by me. He passed the imperial examination at a young age, is exceptionally talented, and has a limitless future. Such a talented and handsome young man is considered the best choice for a son-in-law by many prominent families in the capital, and they would not ask for more. Yet you are unwilling?"
Ye Mu smiled and said, "Your Majesty, I already have someone I love."
"Impossible." Jiang Si didn't believe it. He had been by her side for so many days and hadn't seen any suspicious men. "You say you have someone you like, then what is his name? Where is he from? If you can't say it, or if you utter even a single falsehood, then you are guilty of deceiving the emperor."
Hearing his persistent and relentless questioning, as if determined to never give up until he hit a brick wall, Ye Mu stood amidst countless gazes and smiled wryly.
Facing the supreme ruler of the land and the assembled officials, she looked at Wen Kong, who stood quietly by the palace gate, her eyes clear and bright, and said frankly, "My beloved may not be as eloquent as Scholar Jiang, nor is he a great man, but he knows me and protects me."
His name is Xie Yicheng.
The golden Buddha statue lowers its eyes, its lotus seat silent, radiating timeless compassion.
Before the Buddha.
She dared not utter a single falsehood.
Her husband told her this in person on the cold New Year's Eve, on Gem Mountain.
—Fourth Sister, my secular name is Xie Yicheng.
Her beloved was thus drawn into the mundane world and gained fame.
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