Impératrice douairière Xiaoxuan

Chapitre 22

Indeed, it was a pine forest. When we reached the bridgehead of Fengqiao Town, we could see the vast and boundless pine forest under the moonlight, stretching out in a dark mass, rolling like dark clouds in the night wind, with no end in sight.

Hanshan Temple is nestled in this sea of pine trees, as quiet as a reef.

"The prince is waiting for you at Linxin Pavilion."

After entering the temple, they walked along winding paths until they passed the Sutra Repository. Only then did Wu Zichu nod towards the courtyard not far away.

Here, when the wind rises, the sound of the pine trees almost drowns out all other noises. Mo Yan sighed: No wonder this prince can't sleep at night and insists on playing chess with someone; with such a commotion, it's no wonder he can't sleep.

"Your Highness, the person has arrived." Wu Zichu stood respectfully outside a room with lamps lit and said softly.

The lights inside flickered, and after a while, a person opened the door and complained, "How many times have I told you? Why are you still calling me Your Highness!"

“Your Highness, Your Highness… Master Shikong.” Wu Zichu hesitated as he spoke, scratching his head, but still said sincerely, “Your Highness, you chose this Dharma name yourself, so it doesn’t count.”

The man waved his hand dismissively, as if shooing away flies: "Buddhism emphasizes the emptiness of the four elements, so this Dharma name is also empty. Since it's empty, it doesn't matter who gives it to you."

This guy must have had his head caught in a door! Is he so desperate to become a monk?

Mo Yan frowned as she sized up Prince Ning: he had a pair of phoenix eyes, and his thin lips were habitually slightly upturned, carrying a faint smile. This was probably the "peach blossom face" that Fifth Brother often talked about.

This man had his hair styled in a bun on top of his head, adorned with a jade hairpin, and was dressed in a hempen monk's robe, making him neither monk nor layman. At first glance, one might mistake him for a Taoist priest who had stolen a monk's robe and was trying to scam offerings.

"Zhan Zhao greets Your Highness." Zhan Zhao stepped forward to pay his respects, his tone calm and unsurprised.

Prince Ning glanced at him sideways: "Didn't you hear me? Don't call me Prince!"

“Your Highness,” Zhan Zhao smiled, “since all things are empty, Shi Kong is emptiness, and Your Highness is also emptiness, so what’s the difference between what we call you?”

Speechless for a moment by his tongue-twisting words, Prince Ning stared intently at Zhan Zhao for a long while before suddenly laughing, "I knew it. Following Bao Zheng, you can't expect to hear anything nice from your mouths." He then turned his gaze to Mo Yan, teasingly asking, "You always go your own way, why are you bringing a maid with you on official business this time? Did you find yourself a little wife?"

“Your Highness,” Mo Yan said with a gloomy face, taking out his identification badge to confirm his identity, “I am a constable serving in Kaifeng Prefecture.”

"A constable?!"

Prince Ning looked at Zhan Zhao in disbelief, and the latter nodded in confirmation.

"So you're a constable," he laughed, patted Zhan Zhao, and walked into the side room. "I told you, this girl is so plain-looking, how could you possibly be interested in her?"

The plaque in her hand was almost dripping with water. Mo Yan really wanted to use it to hit Prince Ning on the head, but considering that Wu Zichu was still standing behind her, she had to give up.

"Zichu," Prince Ning said to Wu Zichu, who had just entered, as if he had just sat down, "have them brew a pot of osmanthus tea, and go to the kitchen to see if the lotus seed soup is ready. Remember to stew it until it's very soft, not like last time, which made my teeth ache for three days."

"yes."

Wu Zichu did as instructed and left, closing the door behind him.

The room was extremely simple: a table, a chair, a couch, and a low table on the couch, with an oil lamp and a chessboard on it, and nothing else.

Prince Ning enthusiastically invited Zhan Zhao to play chess with him on the couch. Although there was a difference in rank, Zhan Zhao knew that he couldn't refuse no matter how much he declined, so he sat down as instructed.

Are these two really going to play chess?

Not to mention that Mo Yan knows nothing about chess, even if she did, she would never have the patience to watch these two play chess in the middle of the night.

Chapter Sixteen

"I am not skilled in chess, so I will not disturb your enjoyment. I'd like to take a stroll around Hanshan Temple instead." She was planning to find a place to sleep.

As soon as he finished speaking, Prince Ning stared at the chessboard without looking up and said impatiently, "It's pitch black now, why are you going to visit any temples! Just rest here and wait until it's light. I'll have a young monk take you around and tell you about the history of Hanshan Temple."

"I appreciate Your Highness's kindness, but it would be best not to trouble the monks in their quiet meditation. I'll just take a stroll." Mo Yan didn't intend to pay him any attention.

Ning Jin stopped playing the chess piece, raised his head, and without looking at Mo Yan, frowned and said to Zhan Zhao, "Are all the constables in Kaifeng Prefecture this clueless?"

Zhan Zhao smiled faintly, saying nothing more.

Mo Yan had already turned around and walked away decisively.

"Hey! Miss... constable... did I say you could leave?" Ning Jin didn't expect her to not even say goodbye, showing no respect for him, a prince.

"You didn't say we couldn't walk, did you?" Mo Yan stopped and turned her head in surprise.

"Why do you insist on running around in the dark, you silly girl?"

Mo Yan kindly reminded him, "Your Highness, this is a temple, not the imperial palace, so there is no curfew here."

"You! You..." Ning Jin couldn't argue with her, and angrily said to Zhan Zhao, "Where did Bao Zheng find this girl?! You should teach her a lesson!"

Upon hearing this, Mo Yan also became somewhat angry: "If there is anything about me that needs to be disciplined, please speak frankly, Your Highness."

“Miss Mo,” Zhan Zhao said in a deep voice, “you must not be rude to the Prince.”

"I……"

Just as Mo Yan was about to speak, she heard a knock on the door behind her: "Your Highness, the tea is ready."

"Come in," Ning Jin said quickly, sounding annoyed.

The door was pushed open, and a fragrant aroma of osmanthus flowers immediately filled the room. Three bowls of osmanthus tea were served to each person.

"Have some tea," Zhan Zhao said gently. Over the past few days, he had come to know that Mo Yan was more responsive to gentle persuasion than force, so a more lenient approach was the best course of action.

Mo Yan hesitated for a moment, her mind racing: her fifth brother was still in prison, and now was not the time to offend these royal relatives and nobles; besides, working under Mao'er, she still had to give him some face. With this in mind, she reluctantly sat down.

Seeing her sit back down, Ning Jinfang said nothing more, picked up his teacup, and glared at her coldly. Just then, she was also glancing at him sideways, and their eyes met—a tense, almost confrontational exchange...

Zhan Zhao sighed inwardly, but could only pretend nothing was wrong and said, "Adding osmanthus to tea makes it taste quite good. Your Highness has such an elegant mind."