--
In the following days, Huangfu Mi openly entered and exited the Prime Minister's residence, while the Emperor naturally summoned Prime Minister Meng to the palace to discuss the matter.
In truth, Meng Wan was somewhat at a loss as to how to explain things to her father, but fortunately, Huangfu Mi was there to offer a few words of evasion, and the matter was quickly resolved.
The weather was getting warmer and warmer. After the snow in late March, there was already the breath of warm spring. Huangfu Mi arrived early in the morning. After Meng Wan had breakfast, he took her out of the Prime Minister's residence. He did not say where they were going along the way, but simply rode in a sedan chair.
His mysterious demeanor only fueled her curiosity. Meng Wan asked him several times along the way, but he wouldn't tell her, so she simply stopped asking. However, she secretly wondered to herself where he was going and why he was being so secretive.
The sedan chair bumped along the way, and when it finally stopped, Meng Wan got out and was completely dumbfounded.
She had thought it would be some random place, but instead she found herself at a temple. Looking at the three large golden characters illuminated by the bright sun, she was somewhat confused.
"Ziguo Temple? What are you doing here?" Her watery eyes were full of confusion as she watched the man walk to her side. She raised an eyebrow and asked, "Could it be that you have seen through the illusions of the world and are here to convert to Buddhism?"
She made a joking remark, which earned her a glare from the man: "It's good to become a Buddhist monk, but it can't compare to having you by my side. Besides, if I become a monk, wouldn't you be living the life of a widow?"
The ambiguous remark, coupled with the suggestive tone, immediately made Meng Wan blush. She reached out and poked him in the chest, spitting out, "This is a sacred Buddhist site, don't talk nonsense, how annoying!"
He flicked his sleeve and went through the door first.
Their master was already waiting outside, leading the two to the main hall. Inside, incense smoke curled up, and three Buddha statues sat in the center, while on both sides, eighteen Arhats were lined up in order. As soon as Meng Wan entered, she immediately bowed three times.
After they stood up, an older monk came out and nodded to the two of them: "Your Highness, I have already ordered my men to make preparations. Please come with me."
Huangfu Mi nodded slightly, his angular face displaying a resolute expression. He caught a glimpse of Meng Wan's astonishment out of the corner of his eye, and raised an eyebrow: "This is where I have lived for eighteen years, and it is also the place where my mother is enshrined. I brought you here today to show her the woman I like, and I'm sure my mother would like her very much as well."
So that's how it is...
Perhaps because it was a place he had once been, Meng Wan's heart softened instantly, and she followed the two of them to the back hall to pay her respects.
V33 Love Arises Without Knowing Where It Begins (Part Two)
It was already noon when we came out. The weather was perfect. Wildflowers lined the road leading from Ziguo Temple down the mountain. When the wind blew, they made a rustling sound, which was surprisingly refreshing.
The two sat in the same sedan chair. Leaning against him, she listened to the wind picking up outside, and a smile unconsciously crept onto her lips.
"Tell me about your past. Life in the temple must have been very dull, right? How could you have become like this?"
I made a joke, but I really wanted to hear about his past.
Huangfu Mi put his arm around her shoulder, gave her a reproachful look, and then scoffed, "Who says that life in a temple has to be as boring as those monks? I have plenty of ways to make it interesting. Besides, I have Puyang and Jiuye by my side. How could life be boring?"
He spoke with absolute certainty, but Meng Wan smiled again. Before she could say anything more, a cry for help suddenly rang out from outside: "Help! Help!"
The two exchanged a glance, their smiles faltering: "What is it?"
A rough voice shouted at the outside of the sedan chair, and the sedan chair immediately stopped. Then, Puyang's voice came: "Reporting to Your Highness, a woman is calling for help, and there are several bandits chasing after her."
Huangfu Mi frowned. "How could such a thing happen in broad daylight?" He turned to Meng Wan and said, "You wait here, I'll go take a look."
"Yes, be careful."
Huangfu Mi immediately strode forward, but before he had taken more than a few steps, a woman dressed in foreign attire stumbled over and fell to the ground upon seeing Huangfu Mi.
"Save me, please save me..."
She was a strangely dressed woman, about fifteen or sixteen years old. She wore a red strapless dress over a white gauze top, which accentuated her beautiful figure. At her waist was an elaborate colorful belt with many ornaments hanging from it, which jingled as she moved.
Huangfu Mi frowned, but before she could speak, the burly man who had caught up shouted, "Little lady, don't run away! I haven't played with you yet!"
The unrestrained laughter was deafening and nauseating. The woman was so frightened that her face turned pale. She hurriedly grabbed Huangfu Mi's clothes, and in her panic, she kept muttering, "Save me, save me..."
Such a thing happening in broad daylight, right under the emperor's nose! Huangfu Mi's face darkened, and he gave Puyang a wink behind him. Puyang immediately stepped forward and helped the woman in red up.
"Where did this reckless brat come from, daring to ruin my good time? That young lady is mine, hand her over now!"
Huangfu Mi frowned even more, coldly staring at the group of people. Without giving them a chance to speak, she raised her hand and flung out several darts.
The action was too fast; no one had time to react. Several darts were thrown at the people in front, whistling through the air. Before anyone could react, blood was already gushing from their shoulders, and the darts flew past them and embedded themselves in the treetops in the distance.
A moment of utter silence fell. Some of the bandits were the first to notice something amiss. Even though they hadn't felt any pain, bloodstains were appearing everywhere. Immediately, someone exclaimed, "He's bleeding..."
Huangfu Mi had no intention of killing anyone; it was merely a minor punishment to serve as a warning. Looking at the horrified expressions on their faces, he said in a deep voice, "Aren't you going to get lost?"
Those few people seemed to only just realize what was happening, and none of them dared to say another word. It was obvious to everyone that they were no match for those people.
They might only want to rob you of your money and your virtue, but don't risk your life.
He immediately fled in a panic. After the group disappeared without a trace, the woman in red stepped forward from behind Puyang. She hadn't had time to see them clearly before because of the urgency of the situation, but now she carefully examined the man in front of her.
With sharp features, deep black eyes, and a high nose bridge, he was truly a sight to behold.
The woman blushed slightly and nodded gratefully to Huangfu Mi: "Thank you... young master... for saving me."
Her clear voice was like that of a yellow bird chirping in the treetops. Huangfu Mi glanced at her indifferently, then slowly said, "No need to be polite."
His expression wasn't warm, and the woman couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. Huangfu Mi, however, didn't notice. He simply turned around and raised an eyebrow at Puyang: "It's not safe for a woman to be out in the wilderness. Send her to reunite with her family."
Then he turned around and left without looking back.
The woman in red gazed longingly at that retreating figure, a hint of emotion flickering in her eyes.
--
The journey back was silent. After escorting Meng Wan back to the Prime Minister's residence, the two talked for a while. When Meng Wan got out of the sedan chair, a man in military uniform came to greet her.
Upon closer inspection, she realized it was her elder brother, Meng Junheng. His hurried footsteps startled Meng Wan: "Brother, why are you walking so fast? Did something happen?"