Inside the Buddhist temple, a gilded Buddha statue sits serenely on a lotus pedestal, its dignified countenance gazing upon all beings with an expression devoid of sorrow or joy.
Shen Zhiyi slowly knelt on the prayer mat and closed her eyes in worship.
Standing outside, Shen Bi softly said to the young novice monk beside him, "Little Master, my young lady is unwell. I've heard that Master Kong Chen is an outstanding physician. I wonder if we could ask him to take a look?"
"At that time, we are willing to gild the Buddha statue and offer incense regularly to repay the kindness."
The young novice shook his head in embarrassment.
“Benefactor, it’s not that I’m unwilling to help you.”
“But Master Kongchen doesn’t concern himself with worldly affairs, and it’s especially impossible for him to meet female guests.” He put his palms together and bowed apologetically. “This humble monk is unable to help you. Female benefactors, please make yourselves at home.”
"Amitabha."
After he finished speaking, he picked up a broom and went outside to sweep.
Shen Bi's lips twitched.
No wonder there are so few worshippers at Duanyun Temple; they really don't care at all about the incense offerings.
She turned and entered the hall, walking to Shen Zhiyi's side.
He also knelt down.
"Miss, they probably won't let us stay overnight."
Judging from the young monk's attitude, he seemed to be eager for them to finish their prayers and leave.
Shen Zhiyi slowly opened her eyes.
A very slight smile played at the corners of her lips. "Not necessarily."
...
As darkness fell, the clouds drifted slowly.
The inner hall of a Buddhist temple.
A tall figure sat upright on a futon.
He wore a bright yellow robe and held prayer beads in his hand, but he had not shaved his head.
Her jet-black hair was loosely tied back with a wooden hairpin, with a few stray strands swaying gently in the morning light, falling across her smooth forehead.
He had extremely fair skin, a high nose bridge, and deep red lips.
Like a red dot on a pale skin, it adds a touch of ascetic allure.
His eyes were just calm and sharp, devoid of any emotion.
It was as if any light that fell in would sink into that icy pool.
His narrow eyes were slightly upturned, like the Buddha statue in the hall, gently closed, showing indifference to the world, without sorrow or joy.
A natural aloofness, yet exuding an air of nobility.
The secret guards returned with the report, but dared not enter the palace without permission, and stood with their heads bowed outside the palace gate.
Until the sound of the rosary beads turning stopped.
He then heard a calm yet authoritative voice from inside: "Come in."
The air seemed to grow heavier.
The guard Shuofeng pushed open the door and entered, then carefully closed the palace door before walking up to Yan Zhuoxu.
"Your Highness, a letter has arrived from the palace. The Prime Minister's residence originally intended to recommend Shen Qingyuan, the eldest daughter of the Shen family, as the Crown Princess."
"But for some reason, they changed their minds and did not mention the matter of being selected as the Crown Princess to His Majesty. Instead, they arranged a marriage between Ye Jinghong, the eldest son of the Ye family."
"I heard that the marriage was originally intended for my half-sister, Shen Zhiyi."
Shuofeng paused for a moment, then said, "That's the one who kneels outside the main hall begging Buddha."
Yan Zhuoxu's emotions remained unchanged.
He turned his head, glanced at the darkening sky, and frowned slightly.
"She hasn't left yet?"
Shuofeng shook his head. "She ate a vegetarian meal at the temple and then went back to chant sutras. She seemed quite devout."
“My subordinates overheard her talking to her maid outside the temple. She said that she came here only to seek Buddha and calm her mind. It seems that she was upset because her elder sister had taken away her marriage.”
Yan Zhuoxu's eyes were indifferent.
Greed breeds attachment, and attachment breeds conflict.
Little did they know that everything in the world was illusory.
Why bother fighting or grabbing?
Why be heartbroken over this?
He picked up the lamp oil beside him, got up, and added some to the ever-burning lamp.
The finest styrax diffuses and lingers.
It calms the mind when one hears it.
Shuofeng stared at the flame on the ever-burning lamp and sighed inwardly.
From the moment he saw this ever-burning lamp, the flame on it hadn't changed much.
It doesn't shake or wobble.
It has always remained at this height of one inch.
The lamp oil inside was never overflowing or too little.
It is evident that the Crown Prince added oil every day without interruption.
He looked at Yan Zhuoxu's full head of black hair, but his heart felt utterly cold.
Although the emperor issued a strict order.
Whoever shaved the prince's head, he shaved their head.
To avoid committing murder, the crown prince kept his black hair.
But he felt that the Crown Prince cared less about the mundane world than about a lamp's oil.
Sending him to inquire about the Crown Princess is merely a way to better evade and deal with the situation.
Everything else was ignored.
Once the emperor gives up the idea of sending women in, his time as a bodyguard will be pretty much over.
Shuofeng sighed inwardly.
He's so young, and he's about to be laid off...
Why not find something to do?
"Your Highness, shall I go to the main hall to dismiss the guests?" he asked, bowing.
Yan Zhuoxu put down the lamp oil, sat back on the prayer mat, and twirled his prayer beads: "No need."
"If she has no demands, she will leave on her own."
"If you have other thoughts..." The prayer beads stopped, and Yan Zhuoxu's indifferent gaze suddenly turned sharp.
Like a sharp blade tempered with ice, his aura suddenly turned cold.
"In time, they will taste the bitter fruit."
As soon as he finished speaking, a series of hurried footsteps and a young novice monk's scream came from outside the door.
"Master Kongchen! Master Kongchen!"
Then came a violent coughing fit and frantic knocking on the door.
"This is terrible! Someone's going to die!"
Yan Zhuoxu glanced at it indifferently, and the north wind immediately leaped out of the window.
"Master! Please come out and take a look!"
Yan Zhuoxu opened the door.
His gaze shifted coldly downwards. "What's the matter that you're so alarmed about?"
The young novice monk looked flustered and said, "Master Kongchen, this female benefactor has suddenly fallen ill with a cough. I think it looks quite serious, so I brought her here for you to take a look."
He turned to the side, revealing Shen Zhiyi behind him.
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