Chapter 39 The Willow Tree in the Breeze (Part 7) "Carry her on your back."...
Huai Qingfu lowered his eyes, straightened his sleeves, and simply said, "You have quite the spirit, benefactor."
Yan Chao didn't speak, and just kept drinking his tea.
"It has been eight years since Benefactor Cui passed away. When she came to the temple, I saw her every time. She didn't draw divination sticks, didn't predict good or bad fortune, and didn't trouble the monks in the temple with anything, but she did offer a lot of incense money. When she passed away, she didn't need worshippers to leave, and she would spend most of the day kneeling before the Buddha. I couldn't help but ask her what she asked for, but she just shook her head and didn't say anything. Later, it seemed to be around the ninth year of Xuan Ning, that I learned what she had asked for all these years: to pray for the soul of her son to be released and to pray for the safety of her son."
In this world today, perhaps only Huaiqing dares to address Empress Wenhui in such a way. Empress Cui was merely a devout Buddhist at Funing Temple and did not care about the title of Empress.
Yan Chao paused, holding the cup, his heart trembling slightly.
Huaiqing sighed, "But you are the crown prince, destined to save the world and bring peace to the realm. You have too many worries." He paused for a moment and then said, "This humble monk has spoken too much. I should not have spoken so presumptuously about worldly affairs. I only wish that you may have your wish fulfilled."
He looked up and watched Yan Chao reach for the teapot, then pour herself a cup. Her expression remained calm and composed, but her eyes were unreadable, as if she were deep in thought or waiting for his reaction.
Just as she was about to bring the tea to her lips, Huaiqing spoke again: "Your Highness has grown taller this year."
"..." Yan Chao finally looked up at him, his clear gaze sweeping over him, and then asked in a calm voice, "What exactly does Master want to say?"
Huaiqing flicked the prayer beads in his hand, his face gentle and kind: "You have come to the pavilion to sit opposite me, but you are unwilling to say much. You must have something on your mind. I can only try to ask if I can help you relieve your worries."
“No,” Yan Chao shook his head, the slight worry on his brows smoothing out, clearly showing a forced sentiment, “This year has been smoother than in previous years.”
For her, things have been much easier since Li Jieyu and Prince Xin had their little incident.
Yan Chao picked up his teacup again, about to take a sip, but was interrupted by Huai Qing: "The tea is cold, this humble monk will go and get a hot one."
"No need. I'll just sit for a while and then leave."
"This tea is inherently cold in nature. If it harms your health, I, this humble monk, cannot bear the consequences." With that, he stood up, snatched the teacup from her hand, and casually splashed the tea outside the pavilion.
Yan Chao couldn't help but frown: "You..."
Huaiqing turned around, picked up the teapot from the table, and was about to leave the pavilion when Yan Chao stopped him, saying, "Is this the master's way of treating guests?"
“You missed your appointment this year, arriving a quarter of an hour late. This humble monk already has other guests to entertain.”
Yan Chao's expression changed upon hearing this. He quickened his pace to catch up with him and asked in a low voice, "Is the new guest in the meditation room?"
Huaiqing replied, “Apart from you, everyone else is a new guest. You are of noble status and have many enemies; our small temple simply cannot accommodate you.”
"Master Huaiqing, please explain yourself clearly." Yan Chao sensed something was wrong, and his gaze grew even more stern. But suddenly he realized that when he took a deep breath, only half of it remained when he exhaled.
Huaiqing didn't answer her, but turned around and looked at her quietly: "I knew you had some nerve, drinking any kind of tea. When did this humble monk ever brew Junshan Silver Needle for you? Yellow tea is known for its mellow flavor, and you wouldn't even know if something was added to it..."
Seeing the undisguised shock and disbelief in Yan Chao's eyes, he sighed inwardly and pushed the swaying woman into the pavilion. He stood up, then looked down and noticed a large wet patch on the hem of his monk's robe. Ignoring it, he hurriedly left the pavilion.
He paused after descending the steps, then turned back and said, "It's fortunate you've arrived late this year. This pot of tea won't harm you, but I value my life, so I must apologize for now. Someone will be coming soon, but whether they're thieves or our own people, I don't know. Good luck to you..."
After saying this, he murmured "Amitabha" and left.
Yan Chao wasn't completely out of her mind yet. She hadn't drunk much of the tea, but she felt a little weak all over.
She dug her fingertips into her palm, her thoughts clearing slightly. She freed up some energy and, after careful consideration, immediately thought of the meditation room.
If I hadn't missed the appointed time in previous years, I should be in the meditation room listening to him preach a sutra.
So who is in the meditation room now?
Given the current urgency, it's probably not advisable to linger in this pavilion.
Yan Chao helped himself up from the wooden table and probed deep into his throat with his fingers. His stomach clenched, and his breakfast churned up, sending a burning sensation from his abdomen to his throat, making his eyes sting.
With barely enough strength, I stumbled down the mountain, deliberately avoiding the main roads the whole way.
She had only walked a few dozen steps along the winding path when she heard a commotion coming from the temple ahead, followed quickly by noisy footsteps approaching into the mountains. She rested on the stone steps and listened carefully; she could hear people coming from three directions centered on the pavilion.
The voice was very close; if they quickly realized their plan had failed and began searching, they would easily find her in no time.
With Liang Lu not around, he would naturally take action after such a commotion. However, in the short term, distant water cannot quench immediate thirst.
She glanced around and saw a small, clear lake not far away. The lake wasn't large, and it was surrounded by green trees, making it easy to hide inside. However, even though it was already April, the mountains were still cold. After a moment's thought, she decided to go there first.
As the sound drew closer, and through the shadows of the trees he could see a black-clad figure with a long sword, Yan Chao gritted his teeth, and without another thought, quietly sank into the water.
The sound was faint. By the time the group of assassins rushed over, the ripples on the water had gradually faded, as lightly as a dragonfly skimming the surface.
Yan Chao was not a good swimmer, so he just followed the direction he had memorized and swam forward as hard as he could until his limbs were stiff, cold and numb and he lost all feeling. When he finally poked his head out, he had just reached the shore.
She felt relieved and was about to reach for the shore when her hand, which had been soaked in cold water for a long time, became stiff and unable to bend. She slipped and was pulled back by the lake water, her body sinking suddenly.
Just as she was filled with fear, a strong hand suddenly reached out from nowhere and pulled her up. Without thinking, she struggled to the shore with that force, panting lightly, still shaken. Even her breath was cold.
She only had a chance to look up when the man took off his outer garment and draped it over her shoulders.
A faint smell of alcohol wafted into my nostrils.
"Your Highness, we meet again."
This was the first time he had ever seen Yan Chao completely soaked.
She was wearing casual clothes when she left the palace. Men's robes are mostly loose, and when wet, they clung to their bodies in wrinkles. The outermost robe had probably fallen off while struggling in the water, yet it still looked quite elaborate. It was quite remarkable that she could swim for so long.
Yan Chao lowered her head, feeling that the robe he had draped over her was of no use, and she was soaked to the bone. But she still unconsciously pulled it closer, trying to gain some warmth, and said to him with trembling lips, "Thank you."
Lan Huaien glanced into the distance, feeling that he couldn't explain the situation clearly in a short time, and said softly, "It's not safe to stay here any longer. Your Highness, I must take you away first."
Yan Chao nodded silently. Just as she was about to stand up, Lan Huaien grabbed her arm, helped her up, turned her back, bent down, and said, "Your Highness, hold on tight."
A cold patch immediately pressed against his back.
When I carried her on my back, I felt that her body was lighter than I had imagined, and slightly softer than other men's. Knowing that she was a woman, and being so close, a strange flutter welled up in my heart.
However, he quickly calmed down. He had no shortage of women around him, whether noble and delicate or lowly and vulgar, none of them garnered his attention. A few years ago, when he was at the height of his power, a palace maid tried to become his lover, using all sorts of schemes to entangle him. At that time, he felt nothing but disgust.
Yan Chao felt uneasy, and after watching him take a few steps, he finally spoke: "Lan Huaien, you let go..."
Lan Huaien held her arm tightly, afraid of dropping her, but still pouted and said, "Your Highness is walking too slowly now. If the assassin really catches up, none of us will escape."
Yan Chao fell silent, looking down as he watched him walk steadily, despite the rugged mountain path.
"Have you been drinking?" she suddenly asked.
Lan Huaien gave a muffled "hmm" and continued walking intently. This side of the lake was more secluded, with no activity yet, and closer to the temple. He deliberately avoided people along the way, and when he met up with Cheng Tai, it was in a rather inconspicuous place.
Cheng Tai was also looking for him. As soon as he saw him, he rushed up and hugged his leg, crying and wailing, "Lord Eunuch, I've finally found you... You were completely drunk at the time, and we didn't dare to stop you..."
Yan Chao, standing to the side, felt a sense of familiarity upon seeing this scene.
She coughed lightly: "So it's a case of the superiors influencing the subordinates."
Lan Huaien: "..."
Cheng Tai stared at her in astonishment, and it took him a while to realize who she was. He hurriedly bowed and then looked at Lan Huai'en: "Your Excellency, His Highness the Crown Prince..."
Lan Huaien didn't explain, but only instructed, "Find a carriage and go back first."
It was no longer appropriate to carry her on his back, but he was able to protect her quite well. Lan Huaien asked Cheng Tai to find another cloak or cape, but the remote temple had no such things. They only sent a few robes worn by eunuchs from the Eastern Depot, which Yan Chao had to make do with for now.
Cheng Tai didn't follow. Lan Huaien gave him some strict orders, so he turned back. Yan Chao didn't hear the details, but he vaguely saw Lan Huaien's extremely cold expression.
The two boarded the carriage, and Yan Chao asked him, "Where are we going?"
Lan Huaien looked up and saw that her face was pale and weak. He replied first, "I have arranged to return to the Lan residence first. If Your Highness were to return to the palace now, the person in the shadows might not succeed and might do something else."
Yan Chao nodded slightly. The carriage was moving quite fast and steadily, but a breeze was blowing in from outside the curtains. The wind wasn't very cold, but she, soaked to the bone, suddenly shivered and huddled up.
Lan Huaien silently shifted his gaze away from her and called out to the driver outside, "Slow down a bit." The driver responded.
This made the journey slightly slower. Unlike the last time she returned to the palace at night, Lan Huai'en no longer felt Yan Chao's constant, unsettling gaze. Now, her eyes were lowered, whether from exhaustion or deep thought, she couldn't tell.
"Is Your Highness still cold?" he asked.
Yan Chao was leaning against the carriage wall, head down and eyes closed, lost in thought. When he heard the question, he nodded as if possessed, his mind still a little dazed.
Then a faint sigh was heard. The air grew still, and a footstep suddenly sounded inside the carriage. Then, the room went dark, and a breath appeared beside them.
The coldness of the robes felt closer to my skin, but suddenly I was surrounded by arms. My shoulders instinctively shrank towards my chest, and I was pulled into a strange embrace.
She woke up with a start, spread her shoulders to break free from him, and shouted sharply, "Let go!"
But then the person let out a soft "hmm" and tightened their grip even more.
Before Yan Chao could even react, he gritted his teeth and his voice trembled slightly: "Lan Huaien, how dare you!"
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