Chapter 56

The carriage creaked and swayed along the road, carrying Ling Jiayue and her two maids slowly toward Cold Mountain Temple. Since Ling Jiayue had risen too early, she leaned against the carriage with her eyes closed, resting. Lingzhu said, “Miss, I still think we should have listened to Madam and let Young Master Ling come with us. Otherwise, it’s too dangerous.” “What, are you afraid I won’t be able to protect you?” Ling Jiayue asked lazily, drawing her clothes closer around herself. Since she was going to Cold Mountain Temple to offer incense today, she had returned to her usual, exceptionally plain attire. The pale beige color was soothing to the eye. “No, that’s not it. I was thinking that the Third Prince has only just woken up recently. He was already on bad terms with the Ling Residence. If he finds out that we’ve left the residence alone, he’ll definitely attack us,” Lingzhu said anxiously, waving her hands about. Seeing Lingzhu flail about after being teased by Ling Jiayue, Lingxue couldn’t help laughing. “Oh, so you’re laughing at me too? Hmph.” Lingzhu pretended to be angry. “All right, we’re not laughing at you. We’ve come out today with only a small retinue, so no one will realize that we’re from the Prime Minister’s Residence. Besides, the traitor in the residence has already been rooted out, hasn’t he? If Mu Yuyang can still attack us, then the residence will need to be thoroughly searched again. Put your mind at ease and accompany me to offer incense.” Ling Jiayue soothed Lingzhu, but her thoughts were elsewhere. The envoys from Dayi would have to pass through the city gates on their way to Ye Kingdom for the peach-blossom banquet. Cold Mountain Temple occupied an ideal location. From here, one could see the city gates clearly—and thus see exactly which “envoys” were accompanying Chu Chaoci to the peach-blossom banquet. The carriage swayed and jolted its way to Cold Mountain Temple. Lingzhu and Lingxue got down first and placed a small footstool beside the carriage before helping Ling Jiayue descend. The abbot of Cold Mountain Temple had already heard that the legitimate daughter of Prime Minister Ling would be coming to offer incense. He had long since led a group of monks to wait respectfully at the entrance. “Greetings, Abbot.” Ling Jiayue curtsied with Lingzhu and Lingxue. “Amitabha. Benefactor Ling, welcome. Upon learning that you would be coming to offer incense at this humble temple, I had the meditation rooms in the rear courtyard cleaned in advance. We have been waiting for you.” The abbot of Cold Mountain Temple smiled. “I have come uninvited and imposed upon you. Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Master. In that case, may I trouble you to take us to the meditation rooms so that my maids and I may rest for a while?” Ling Jiayue returned the abbot’s greeting and spoke with courteous respect. “Master Huitong, take Miss Ling and her maids to rest,” the abbot instructed. Ling Jiayue and her two maids followed Master Huitong to the meditation rooms. Cold Mountain Temple was not especially large, but its surroundings were quiet and serene. The plants throughout the temple were arranged in pleasing disorder, creating the atmosphere of a winding path leading to a secluded place. Spring had arrived, and the tender bamboo shoots in the temple’s bamboo grove had begun to sprout, filling the place with vibrant life. “Miss, you used to cultivate and maintain your health under Abbot Huiguang of Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple, didn’t you? Which is better, Cold Mountain Temple or Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple?” Lingzhu asked in a low voice, paying no heed to Master Huitong walking ahead of them. “Mind your manners. This is a sacred Buddhist site. Don’t speak carelessly,” Ling Jiayue scolded her. Lingzhu could only fall silent, looking somewhat dejected. “My maid is poorly disciplined. I hope you won’t take offense, Master Huitong,” Ling Jiayue said apologetically. “Benefactor Ling, you are too courteous. Devotion to Buddha lies in the heart, not in the words. What matters most is the sincerity in one’s heart.” Master Huitong replied gently and courteously. Before long, Master Huitong brought Ling Jiayue and her two maids to the meditation rooms. After saluting them, he withdrew. Ling Jiayue and her maids entered the room and found that everything needed for tea was already prepared. Clearly, the temple had made careful arrangements. “Lingzhu, take out the tea set. Let’s sit outside and drink some tea,” Ling Jiayue instructed. “Yes, Miss.” Lingzhu placed the tea set and tea leaves on a wooden tray and followed Ling Jiayue outside, where they found a clean stone table and stools. Lingzhu skillfully brewed the tea. It was not a famous variety, but it had grown wild, and as a result, it possessed a distinctive, delicate fragrance. Ling Jiayue inhaled the tea’s aroma and immediately felt her spirits lift. She accepted a cup from Lingzhu and took a sip before praising it. “Excellent tea!” “I wonder if I might have the honor of asking Miss Ling for a cup as well?” At the sound of the voice, Ling Jiayue turned around abruptly and discovered that it was the Seventh Prince, Mu Yuheng. The abbot of Cold Mountain Temple stood beside him. “Amitabha. Benefactor Ling, welcome. His Highness the Seventh Prince happened to pass by our humble temple and said he wished to come in for a cup of tea. I was leading him to the meditation rooms when the fragrance of your tea drew us over,” the abbot of Cold Mountain Temple explained with a salute. “Master, there’s no need to be so formal. Lingzhu, give the Seventh Prince a cup of the tea you’ve brewed,” Ling Jiayue instructed. “Thank you, Miss Ling, for being so generous with your tea.” Mu Yuheng spoke playfully. Seeing that Ling Jiayue and Mu Yuheng got along harmoniously, the abbot of Cold Mountain Temple saluted them and took his leave. “Miss Ling, would you mind if I sat down and enjoyed the tea with you?” “Please.” Mu Yuheng boldly sat down on the stone stool opposite Ling Jiayue. “You came here to watch the city gates, didn’t you?” Mu Yuheng suddenly asked. “What I come here to do has nothing to do with the Seventh Prince,” Ling Jiayue replied coldly. “Cold Mountain Temple has an excellent location. It is the best place for looking down from a height and seeing far into the distance. If you want to know which envoys Ye Kingdom has dispatched, sitting here and watching is the best way to find out.” “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Ling Jiayue remained cold. “Are you her?” Mu Yuheng asked cautiously. Ling Jiayue suddenly set down her teacup and stared fixedly at Mu Yuheng. “What are you trying to do?” “Let’s join forces,” Mu Yuheng said unexpectedly. “Join forces? To do what?” Of course, to join forces in getting married. It would be even better if they had children—both a boy and a girl, preferably a girl. A daughter who looked like Ling Jiayue would be beautiful. Boys were too mischievous; he didn’t like them. Mu Yuheng stared blankly into space, lost in his thoughts. “Master, master.” Feng Yan quietly reminded him. Only then did Mu Yuheng abruptly come back to his senses. “Mm, about joining forces… You see, the peach-blossom banquet is about to begin. You’re an eligible young woman, and you’re the Prime Minister’s legitimate daughter, so you’ll certainly be highly sought after. If a man from Dayi takes a liking to you, are you really going to marry off and move to Dayi?” “Mm. And then?” Ling Jiayue asked. “Then, at the peach-blossom banquet, I’ll help you fend off some unnecessary romantic advances. What do you think?” “What do you want in return?” Ling Jiayue asked. “You’ll find out.” Mu Yuheng left her with a mysterious smile. “All right, I’ll agree for now. Let’s see how many romantic advances the Seventh Prince can actually fend off for me,” Ling Jiayue said noncommittally. Mu Yuheng smiled. His visit to Cold Mountain Temple had brought him another step closer to Ling Jiayue, and he was extremely pleased. “I won’t disturb you while you watch the ‘city gates.’ I’ll take my leave first.”