"Don't you know?" A young lady from an official family said to the young lady who had just spoken, "I heard that the Prince of Nan has long admired the eldest young lady. He was originally competing with the Prince of Zhenbei for the eldest young lady! Unexpectedly, with a royal decree, even the Prince of Zhenbei has no chance."
"I see. Then, the heir of the Prince of Zhenbei..." A beautiful young lady winked and then immediately looked at her own attire.
"Miss Bai, you're beautiful even without dressing up, is there any need for this?"
"You don't understand, hmph!" Bai Yulan snorted coldly.
The young lady who was being talked about immediately looked displeased and turned her face away.
The young ladies surrounding them each had their own thoughts, and all turned away with disdain on their lips.
Nan Xuzong ignored what others said and sat to the side looking at the Buddha statue in the main hall, but his eyes would occasionally drift unintentionally in the direction of Ji Wushang.
Ji Wushang lowered his head. He didn't care what others said about him, but he didn't know if he could bear such gossip.
Seeing that he was alright, Ji Wushang was relieved. At this moment, Aunt Qin came closer and whispered, "We were just talking about the Prince of Nan, and I didn't expect him to come here."
"Aunt, please don't say anymore." Ji Wushang lowered his eyes.
"good."
But just as he finished speaking, a person stood in front of the main hall. This person was tall and imposing, standing seven feet tall, with a cold and stern face. Who else could it be but Bei Gong Minhao? However, he did not have his usual signature smile at all. Instead, he was more serious and exuded a fierce aura, making people dare not approach him casually.
Everyone gasped; they were all gathered here.
Ji Wushang looked up and met his dark eyes. His thin lips were slightly pursed, and he was also looking at Ji Wushang, but there was no ripple in his eyes. He lifted his foot and walked steadily toward Nan Xuzong.
Nan Xuzong sat in his wheelchair, looking at the Buddha statue in the main hall, his hand habitually twirling gold thread, expressionless, unaware that someone was walking towards him.
Ji Wushang's heart tightened. What was Bei Gongminhao doing at Nan Xuzong's place?
Beigong Minhao stood in front of Nan Xuzong and looked at him, saying, "You seem very relaxed."
"Likewise." His face remained completely expressionless. "Please sit down." There was a prayer mat nearby.
Bei Gongminhao nodded and sat down cross-legged very properly. The people around him sighed. It was said that Bei Gongminhao was on good terms with Nan Xuzong, but the truth was that Nan Xuzong had taken Ji Wushang away, and Bei Gongminhao, who had also come to propose marriage, should have disliked Nan Xuzong. How could they be sitting together?
Those around her were puzzled, but Aunt Bai saw it all and made up her mind. This young lady certainly had many men chasing after her! If her reputation were ruined, let's see if any man would still want her! Humph!
Just then, a voice came from outside the door, "Abbot Huiyuan has arrived!"
The entire hall fell silent immediately.
Ji Wushang looked up, wanting to see Abbot Huiyuan's face, but to his surprise, the face that came into view was that of the abbot of the Buddhist Temple! Could this be the same person? Or was he seeing things?
Ji Wushang rubbed his eyes, then looked again, but it was still the same face—somewhat round, with large, bright eyes. Wasn't he supposed to be in seclusion for cultivation when he went up the mountain? Could there be two identical people in this world?
"Young Miss, what's wrong?" Aunt Qin turned her head and saw Ji Wushang's surprised expression, so she asked.
Aunt Qin lived deep within the West Garden, so naturally she didn't know the abbot of the Buddhist Temple. Even if she were to talk to her, it was not certain that she could explain things clearly.
"It's nothing, I just feel a little strange, it's nothing serious." Ji Wushang resumed his indifferent expression.
At this moment, Abbot Huiyuan began to preach. Everyone listened attentively. As Ji Wushang listened, he felt as if he had returned to the Buddhist temple and listened to the abbot preach. This feeling was very familiar.
However, before he could even savor the moment, Abbot Huiyuan spoke about scriptures for quite a while, and then had several monks recite other scriptures to calm their minds.
After a while, they finished talking, and some people were drowsy while others listened with great interest.
Ji Wushang found the lecture interesting, but it was already time for the vegetarian banquet. Everyone else had left, but Ji Wushang was still sitting on the prayer mat. Aunt Qin chuckled and said, "Miss, the scripture reading is finished. It's time to go to the vegetarian banquet. Look, Aunt Bai has already gone far away!"
Ji Wushang snapped out of his daze and replied, "Yes."
Aunt Bai stepped out of the threshold, glanced back at Ji Wushang and Aunt Qin with a cold, disdainful look, and then walked out.
Ji Wushang and Aunt Qin helped each other out. In the square outside the main hall, large tables had been set up at some point. There were two or three long tables, and Ji Wushang saw some children of officials taking their seats.
Ji Wushang and the other person sat down casually to one side and waited.
It's not allowed to start the banquet before the appointed time.
Aunt Bai was sitting in a prominent position. She was heavily pregnant and shouldn't have been moving around so freely, but she was now swaggering around like a thug. A moment later, she saw Bai Yulan in the distance. Wasn't Bai Yulan her elder brother's daughter? Was she here too?
Aunt Bai immediately stepped forward, "Yulan."
"Aunt." Bai Yulan heard the call, turned around and looked at Aunt Bai who came forward, bowed and said, "Greetings, Aunt. May you be well, Aunt."
"Get up quickly, let your aunt see, you've lost weight again." Aunt Bai smiled. "How are things at the manor? How's my father?"
"Grandfather is in good health, but sometimes he just misses Aunt!" Bai Yulan smiled. "Is Aunt here with Miss Cousin?"
"Yes, you saw it just now, didn't you?" Aunt Bai winked at Bai Yulan, then pulled her aside to talk when no one was paying attention, "Later, cooperate like this and like this."
"Of course, of course. Please give your instructions, Aunt." Bai Yulan nodded immediately upon hearing Aunt Bai's words.
Ji Wushang looked up and saw Aunt Bai and Bai Yulan talking about something. He became wary, but Aunt Qin nudged him. Ji Wushang immediately turned around and saw Nan Xuzong being pushed over by Gong Shu.
Ji Wushang looked around and saw that there were some young men and women talking. He figured he wouldn't attract gossip. Besides, he was already engaged to him, so he could at least say a few words to him.
Aunt Qin said, "I'll go take a look over there. You two chat." With that, she left. Gong Shu said, "Aunt, let me help you."
The three couldn't help but smile inwardly upon hearing this. They wondered if Aunt Qin could go over there and ask a servant for help. Gong Shu listened, lowered his head, and then followed Aunt Qin away.
Ji Wushang looked at Nan Xuzong and smiled slightly. "You've come."
"Yes." Nan Xuzong looked at her. "I had no choice but to come for such an important event."
"I'd like to ask you, do you know the abbot of the Buddha Temple?" Ji Wushang thought of Abbot Huiyuan.
"I don't know you, what's wrong?"
"I just feel that Abbot Huiyuan looks very similar to the abbot of the Buddhist temple, but I can't confirm it," Ji Wushang said. "Did anyone make things difficult for you in the Marquis's residence?"
"No, not at all," Nan Xuzong said. How could anyone in the Marquis's mansion dare to make things difficult for him? If they did make things difficult, it would be behind his back. He could simply ignore it. After all, his own affairs were more important.
"What are you busy with?" Ji Wushang asked softly. "I don't seem to know anything about you, and you haven't told me anything, have you...?"
“I was afraid you’d worry.” Nan Xuzong said in a low voice, his eyes sharp and possessive. “There are some things I’d rather not involve you in. But I just learned that the Sixth Prince spoke to you.”
"I don't know either. I was just standing there, and I didn't expect him to talk to me." I didn't do it on purpose, so why did he have to look at me like that?
“Take good care of yourself. Tonight, barring any unforeseen circumstances, we will stay at Baima Temple as usual. After the fast tomorrow, we can all return to our residences.” Nan Xuzong looked into Ji Wushang’s clear eyes. “I don’t want anything to happen to you, so I will have someone arrange for you to stay in the room next to yours.”
Ji Wushang blushed upon hearing this. This man was quite direct; wasn't he afraid of being overheard and laughed at? She was still unmarried…
Seeing that she was shy and didn't speak, Nan Xuzong said, "I'll go over there first. If you need anything, just call me."
"Mm." Ji Wushang looked up and nodded, watching him leave.
Just then, Bei Gongminhao walked in from outside and happened to see Ji Wushang and Nan Xuzong finish their conversation and separate. He felt as if he had been struck in the heart, a pain that he couldn't shake off.
Unable to control his gaze, Bei Gongminhao looked at Ji Wushang and saw that Ji Wushang's face was slightly flushed. He couldn't help but guess that Nan Xuzong had said something sweet to her that made her shy, and his heart felt even more choked up.
Turning his head, he saw Nan Xuzong pushing his wheelchair towards that side, while Bei Gongminhao came forward and sat down next to Ji Wushang.
Ji Wushang turned his head and saw Beigong Minhao's cold face, and immediately felt embarrassed. "Your Highness."
"Hmm." Bei Gongminhao nodded coldly, but in truth, he longed to smile at her and watch her smile back at him!
Ji Wushang looked at him, not knowing what to say, so he could only stand up. If he wasn't leaving, he would leave on his own. Besides, he couldn't talk to him any longer.
"Where are you going?" Beigong Minhao called out as soon as he saw her trying to leave.
"Let's go for a walk and find my aunt. Maybe she's been waiting a long time," Ji Wushang said after thinking for a moment.
"Are you avoiding me?" Bei Gongminhao's eyes locked onto her. "I know you're engaged to him, but you don't need to avoid me like this, do you?" As he spoke, a hint of melancholy flashed in his eyes.
Ji Wushang wanted to ignore it and pretend he hadn't seen it, but he couldn't bear to, so he said, "I'm not avoiding the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince is a rare talent in the court and among the people. The Crown Prince should focus on the affairs of the court. For example, at this vegetarian banquet, we are eating some exquisite snacks, but the common people often cannot even get enough to eat. Why doesn't the Crown Prince broaden his horizons and seek benefits for the people?"
After hearing this, Beigong Minhao nodded solemnly, "Yes."
"I heard that the second son of the king has gone missing. Is that true?" Ji Wushang asked about Beigong Jueshi only after seeing that his complexion had improved.
Upon hearing this, Bei Gongminhao's eyes flashed with a fierce light. He immediately looked around, trying to find Ji Yinxue. Ji Wushang said, "Fourth Sister is not here. She is ill and lying in bed, unable to move."
"Hmph, that woman!" Bei Gongminhao roared. "Jueshi must be blind to have mistaken her for a pure woman. Hmph, I bet Jueshi saw her true colors and left!"
"Does he really know everything?" Ji Wushang looked at Beigong Minhao's expression, which meant that his efforts had not been in vain!
“Well, originally Father King intended to marry the Western Regions Princess in a grand ceremony, but unexpectedly, he was dissatisfied and, for some reason, sneaked into your residence overnight. I think that's how he found out everything, and then he left. We can't find him.” Bei Gong Minhao paused before recounting the story of sneaking into the General's residence.
Ji Wushang nodded in agreement. They would definitely break into the General's Mansion at night, which meant that Bei Gong Jueshi must have seen everything Ji Yinxue did? Heh, Ji Yinxue!
"Where is he now? Is he really going to marry the Western Regions princess?" Speaking of the Western Regions princess, Ji Wushang thought of Yiyun Shangcheng and wondered how he was doing now.
"We haven't been able to find out his whereabouts." Bei Gongminhao said, looking at the sky. "The princess of the Western Regions also opposed this marriage, so it's come to nothing at this point. After all, Jue Shi, he... is a cursed lone star."
Ji Wushang nodded. It was truly heartbreaking that he still hadn't escaped this nightmare after eighteen years. Presumably, Bei Gong Jueshi was thinking of leaving and no longer caring about what was happening here!
"On behalf of my fourth sister, I apologize to the second prince. Please ask the crown prince to convey my apology." Ji Wushang stood up and bowed.
Beigong Minhao stepped forward to help her up, saying, "No need for such formalities."
Ji Wushang slightly dodged his large hand. "Yes."
Beigong Minhao looked at his hand hanging in mid-air, lowered it, and gave a sarcastic smile. "Then I won't disturb Miss any longer. I'll take my leave now." With that, he left.
Ji Wushang looked at his lonely figure and sighed. Unexpectedly, when he turned his head, he met Nan Xuzong's gaze. It turned out that he had been watching him all along, and he must have seen him talking to Beigong Minhao.
Ji Wushang looked at him, her eyes clear.
Yes, he saw it. Would he believe that she and Beigong Minhao were innocent? She didn't want to explain, especially since they were so far apart.
Nan Xuzong suddenly smiled at Ji Wushang. No one noticed, but Ji Wushang saw it clearly—a warm smile. That smile made Ji Wushang feel completely relaxed.
Ji Wushang responded with a faint smile.
If you believe in me, I will follow you to the death.
Nan Xuzong nodded, as if he could read her eyes.
I believe in you, and I'm committed to you for life.
Gong Shu stepped forward and looked at Nan Xuzong, saying, "Master, something's wrong."
"Okay, let's go." Nan Xuzong smiled and nodded at Ji Wushang again before letting Gong Shu push the wheelchair away.
Ji Wushang watched his departing figure before turning around, but unexpectedly, he was bumped into and suddenly heard the sound of the bowl shattering on the ground! What angered Ji Wushang was that the person in front of him had spilled the entire bowl of porridge all over him!
Ji Wushang looked at the person in front of him in surprise, "You're blind!"
"Ah, Miss, I'm so sorry!" Who else could this person be but Bai Yulan! As she spoke, she immediately placed a handkerchief on Ji Wushang's body to wipe him!
Good heavens, it's getting dirtier the more I wipe it!
Ji Wushang dodged abruptly. "You, good for you! Bai Yulan, you're amazing! You've got guts!" Ji Wushang looked at her with a sneer. Wasn't this just making him look foolish for no reason?
"What's wrong?" Aunt Bai suddenly appeared out of nowhere and came over immediately. Seeing that it was Bai Yulan, she said with great "surprise," "So it's Yulan!"