When she was talking to Su Mingfeng, she deliberately sent the servants away and avoided the artificial hill and corners, choosing a waterside pavilion where no one could hide, so as not to be overheard. She thought she was being very careful, but the Fourth Master's question clearly had an ulterior motive.
That's her older brother! It wouldn't be normal to say nothing, so in order to gain Hongli's trust, Su Yushan decided to be honest with him.
“My elder brother told me that I once had a fiancé, and that I entered the palace by mistake in order to save him, but I have no recollection of him.”
As they spoke, Su Yushan secretly observed Hongli's expression and noticed that he was very calm, which meant he knew the inside story beforehand. At this moment, Hongli's gaze was lingering on the tassels on the tent ceiling, as if deep in thought. She wasn't sure if he would overthink things, so she made it clear beforehand...
"My elder brother also told me that since I've followed Fourth Master, it's my destiny to be with him. He told me to forget my past and live a good life with you, Fourth Master."
Hongli thought to himself: This Su Mingfeng is quite pragmatic, but his opinion isn't important; what Hongli cares about is Su Yushan's thoughts. Staring intently at her, Hongli probed again.
"So what do you think?"
Shaking her head, Su Yushan was deeply troubled, her beautiful face shrouded in sorrow. "I thought that seeing my elder brother would help me regain some of my memories, but I can't remember anything at all, and my memory has become even more confused. Fourth Master, what should I do?"
In reality, Hongli did not want her to regain her memory. On the contrary, he thought she was more likable with her memory lost. "If you can't remember, then don't think about it. Let nature take its course."
"But fragmented images keep flashing through my mind, and I can't help but try to piece them together, yet I have no clue how. That feeling is truly torturous." Su Yushan feigned pain as she expressed her anxiety, then went along with it, saying:
“I’ve been having a run of bad luck lately, constantly encountering calamities, and I don’t know how to resolve them. I want to go and offer incense and pray for blessings, asking the Bodhisattva to protect me.”
As Su Yushan uttered these words, she felt uneasy, unsure whether Hongli would agree. If he refused, her plan would be ruined.
After glancing at her, Hongli pondered for a moment and said thoughtfully, "Very well, perhaps the Bodhisattva can guide you through your confusion."
He agreed, and Su Yushan was secretly delighted. She remained calm and showed no signs of distress. To dispel his suspicion, she deliberately asked him if he was free and invited him to come along.
Hongli said he had something to do the next day and wouldn't be able to accompany her, but he would send guards to protect her.
It would be best if he didn't go; if he actually agreed to go with her, she would be the one crying.
The plan went smoothly. The next morning, Su Yushan got up early for breakfast and then took a carriage to Zhihua Temple to pray for blessings.
Upon arriving at the temple, guards and maids followed her all the way. To avoid arousing suspicion from others, Su Yushan went to offer incense and draw lots first.
The fortune teller took the fortune stick and said it was a special one, with only three sticks available each day. The person who drew this stick could seek out Zen Master Liaowu for an interpretation.
Is it really such a coincidence? Su Yushan felt strange and guessed that this might have been deliberately arranged by her older brother and the others.
Since that was the case, she went along with it and followed a young novice monk to the backyard.
One must be quiet to listen to the Zen master speak. Su Yushan can go in alone, while the guards wait in the courtyard.
When she entered the meditation room, she couldn't find the Zen master. Su Yushan became even more certain of her guess and sat there waiting for Zheng Lin to appear.
She sat for a while, and no strangers came in. Only a young monk came and poured her a cup of bamboo leaf tea.
"Please have some tea, benefactor."
Her journey here was already fraught with danger, and seeing no one made Su Yushan anxious. However, she was unsure whether the young monk knew anything about it, so she dared not say much and only inquired about the whereabouts of the Zen master.
To her surprise, he stared at her, his gaze complex. "Yu Shan, do you really not recognize me?"
Seeing this, Su Yushan had already guessed the general idea. The handsome young monk in front of her, wearing a monk's robe and hat, must be Zheng Lin.
Although she had already guessed it, she pretended to be unaware, stood up, and asked with a suspicious look, "May I ask, young master, what is our connection?"
"I am Zheng Lin, your fiancé!" The person he loved suddenly didn't recognize him and looked at him with unfamiliar eyes. This sudden change was hard for Zheng Lin to accept.
"I borrowed a monk's robe so that it would be easier for me to see you."
As they were talking, Zheng Lin took off his hat, and Su Yushan then realized that he actually had hair and was not a monk.
The handsome young man's brows were furrowed like mountain peaks, concealing a deep sorrow.
Thinking of the purpose of her trip, Su Yushan blinked blankly, "I don't remember being engaged. Are you kidding me?"
"How could I lie to you? I really am your fiancé!" In order to help her regain her memory as soon as possible, Zheng Lin patiently told her about their past.
Su Yushan then learned that Zheng Lin and the original owner of this body were from the same town. They had known each other since childhood and were betrothed when they were nine. When Zheng Lin was thirteen, his parents took him to the capital, and the two were separated. The last time they met was two years ago when Zheng Lin had something to do back in his hometown and went back to Suzhou. After that, the two never saw each other again.
The two rarely met afterward, maintaining contact only through letters. Living apart for many years, Zheng Lin's continued sincerity towards her was truly remarkable.
If not for this unexpected turn of events, perhaps they would have been a loving couple. However, fate is unpredictable, and in their efforts to save each other, they tragically missed each other. Su Yushan, having transmigrated, felt no love for Zheng Lin, but unable to bear seeing him ruin his future, she resolved to be ruthless, her gaze towards him unusually indifferent.
"I'm sorry, I have no recollection of any of this."
He said so much, but she wasn't moved at all. Despite her disappointment, Zheng Lin was not discouraged and still held onto a sliver of hope. "It's okay if you can't remember. I can help you recall slowly."
Zheng Lin walked towards her as usual, but she took a few steps back to the left, keeping her distance from him and appearing very wary.
"I am now the Fourth Prince's concubine, so whether what you said is true or false is not important."
Her defensiveness and indifference deeply stung him. Zheng Lin solemnly declared, his eyes unwavering, "This is very important to me! Yu Shan, we have a prior engagement. Even if he is a prince, he should not break our engagement."
"Don't try to talk nonsense just because I have amnesia. You say there's a marriage contract, but does that mean there is? Why should I believe you? What evidence do you have to prove it?"
She didn't believe him? How could he possibly lie to her? Zheng Lin was extremely anxious, determined to prove that what he said was true, so he took out the marriage certificate.
"I have evidence!"
He was worried that his father would steal the marriage certificate, so he carried it with him every day. Now it came in handy. With the marriage certificate in hand, Yu Shan should believe him, right?
Without hesitation, Zheng Lin handed her the marriage certificate. Su Yushan took it and looked at the red paper with black characters on it, feeling a surge of emotions.
What a beautiful vow! It's a pity that this vow has now become a shackle. This desperate marriage will only bring disaster to both families. Since it cannot be fulfilled, let it be destroyed!
Having made up her mind, Su Yushan no longer hesitated. She interlaced her two fingers and forcefully tore the marriage certificate in two, splitting their names in two!
The sudden action shocked Zheng Lin, his eyes wide with disbelief. "Yu Shan! What are you doing? Why did you tear up our marriage certificate?"
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