Chapter 31: So This Is What Works on Her

"Let us each think about it; there is still time!"

"The vegetarian meal is prepared, and the Old Madam has asked the young ladies to come over," Chun'er said as she stepped into the room from the courtyard.

Huaining’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she grabbed Huaixi and Xiao Ming. "Come, come, let's go for dinner. The vegetarian food at Nanshan Temple is delicious!"

—

The Five Contemplations Hall

The place where they ate their evening vegetarian meal was called the Five Contemplations Hall.

Madam Li had also been invited to the table. Although her seating was toward the back, for someone from such a humble background as the Li family, she had never had the qualifications to sit at the same table as the Ling household, so she was already quite satisfied.

During the meal, Madam Li enthusiastically grabbed Xiao Ming’s hand, unable to stop chattering.

"Ming'er, our Yuan-ge has been fond of reading since he was a child. The masters at the academy always praise him as a promising young man capable of achieving great things."

"Ming'er, no matter how beautiful we women are, we must eventually marry, become wives, and bear children. Our Yuan-ge is a steady man; in my opinion, you two are a perfect match."

"Ming'er, I heard from the Old Matriarch that your family used to be imperial merchants. I wonder... has the family property been divided yet?"

Xiao Ming forced a smile and exercised her patience, responding one by one. But even after enduring and enduring, when Madam Li remarked that although Li Yuan was currently a commoner without an official title, the hierarchy of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants still meant he was a cut above her, she could no longer hold back.

"Madam Li, do you think you—"

"Ming'er, Grandmother asked me to help her fetch the hand-copied Buddhist scriptures from the backyard. It's dark outside, and I’m a bit afraid. Why don't you come with me?" With that, she half-pulled, half-dragged the about-to-explode Xiao Ming out of the Five Contemplations Hall.

Buffeted by the evening mountain breeze, Xiao Ming sobered up considerably. She cast a grateful glance at Huaixi—if she hadn't interrupted in time, the chopsticks in her hand would have been plunged into Madam Li’s nostrils.

Still, she thought, Huaining was right: one really must find their own husband to be at ease.

"Sister, don't worry, I'm fine."

Huaixi patted her hand. "Do not mind what others say; just follow your heart. It’s getting late, so you should return to your room and rest."

"Where are you going, Sister?"

Huaixi pinched Xiao Ming’s cheek affectionately. "I really am going to the backyard to fetch those hand-copied scriptures. Grandmother is still waiting, so I must go."

"Then I will go with you."

"You’ve had a long day, little sister. I’ll be fine on my own."

—

Xiao Ming curled her lips into a mischievous smirk. "I heard there are ghosts on the back mountain path. Be careful, Sister."

Huaixi shook her head helplessly.

The path behind Nanshan Temple was pitch black. What made it even more eerie was that everyone was currently at the Five Contemplations Hall having their meal, leaving the surroundings completely deserted.

Huaixi relied on the small lantern in her hand, muttering "Amitabha" under her breath to bolster her courage. Just as she reached the halfway point, a sudden "Hey!" came from behind her.

"Ah! Who is it!" Huaixi jumped in fright, her hand trembling, causing the only lantern she held to drop to the ground and extinguish with a soft puff.

The surroundings were instantly plunged into darkness, save for the moonlight filtering through the clouds.

"This is a Buddhist temple! With the Buddha above, do you little ghosts have a death wish?" Huaixi tried to sound brave, but her voice was soft and sweet, lacking any real intimidation.

There was no response, but suddenly, she heard heavy footsteps approaching from behind. Huaixi’s heart almost leapt out of her chest.

If it were truly a ghost, that would be one thing—at worst, she would be scared to death. But the sound she had just heard was clearly that of a man!

If this man had ill intentions and ruined the reputation of a defenseless woman in this desolate wilderness, wouldn't living in this world be more terrifying than death itself?

Huaixi immediately tightened her collar, masking her fear while frantically searching for a way to escape. In an instant, her eyes scanned a small pavilion by the mountain corridor.

The pavilion was small, with windows on three sides and a door, furnished with tables and chairs for pilgrims to rest. Huaixi thought that if she could hide inside, there might be a glimmer of hope.

Besides, if the villain truly harbored evil intent, the tables and stools inside the pavilion could be used to defend herself!

With this in mind, her pace quickened. Yet, no matter how fast she walked, the person behind her easily kept up. She was like a blindfolded rabbit, completely under his control, unable to escape.

As she reached the outside of the pavilion, Huaixi’s feet flew, and she broke into a trot. Just as she was about to duck inside, a lazy voice sounded from behind her:

"Ling Huaixi."

Hearing that voice, Huaixi’s heart was suddenly gripped tight. Her entire body tensed, and her footsteps came to an abrupt halt. She turned back to look at him in disbelief, her eyes wide.

Compared to her wariness, Yan Jing was much more relaxed. His dashing and handsome face slowly emerged from the darkness as he walked toward her. "It is the fifteenth in two days. The Duke of Korea is hosting a banquet at the imperial villa; I came to have a look in advance."

His conversational tone made it seem as if everything that had just happened was merely Huaixi’s hallucination.

"Yan Jing! You are truly tiresome!" Huaixi frowned, wishing she could stomp her feet in anger. "I thought it was..."

Even Huaixi was surprised; it seemed that only in front of him could she shed her usual dignified and steady armor to reveal the lively, true nature of a young girl.

"Am I not good?" He lowered his head, unable to resist leaning closer to her.

—

Huaixi stiffened, her body tightening again. She didn't dare look up at him, only pressing her lips together in silence.

Suddenly, she felt his familiar breath near her ear. She jerked her head up, and his lips grazed her cheek, his gaze turning dark and murky.

Huaixi’s expression went rigid. How could this person be so dissolute and shameless!

Yan Jing stared at her lips, wanting to lean in further, but was met with her expressionless little face. The traces of timidity and the nervous excitement of their reunion had vanished, replaced by a coldness that was terrifying.

He gulped deeply. He should have been more patient; he shouldn't have been so hasty.

"I was distracted while riding earlier, and because I was going too fast, I fell and got hurt," Yan Jing said, changing the subject.

Huaixi was stunned. "Where did you fall? Is it serious? Let me see—why can't you be more careful?" She looked at Yan Jing nervously, her flushed face turning pale with fright as she circled him to inspect for injuries.

"Hiss..." When Huaixi’s hand touched his shoulder, Yan Jing couldn't help but wince in pain.

He had indeed fallen earlier, but not from a horse—he had fallen from a tree. The Ling family visitors were all women, and as a man, he had nowhere convenient to hide, so he had to resort to the tree.

"Go sit in the pavilion and take off your outer robe; I will help you take a closer look at your injuries."

The corners of Yan Jing’s lips curled up in a way that was nearly impossible to detect.

The two entered the small pavilion. Huaixi pressed him into a chair, her fluffy head bobbing in front of him. The pearl tassels on her hairpin swayed, occasionally brushing against her soft ears, making him feel an itch in his heart.

Yan Jing thought to himself: If I had known she would fall for this, I wouldn't have wasted so much time earlier.

"Take it off."

"Take what off?" Yan Jing feigned ignorance.

"Take off your robe. I saw your shoulder was worn through earlier; I don't know how bad the injury is."

Upon hearing this, Yan Jing, that crafty fox, leaned back against the pavilion’s small chair with a look of a scoundrel.

"If a person with such a tarnished reputation as myself were to undress in front of the second young lady of the Ling family, wouldn't that stain your reputation if it were to get out?"