Xie Jiang tossed and turned all night. She finally fell asleep in the latter half of the night, only to be plagued by all sorts of chaotic dreams.
In her dreams, she was either being chased or was a wanted fugitive, and she could only keep running.
She had no direction, no view of the path ahead, and not a moment to catch her breath.
She had had these dreams too many times. They were truly unpleasant, but she had grown accustomed to them over the years.
She had slept exceptionally poorly. The bed was ice-cold. As Xie Jiang got out of bed, she felt a dull ache in all her bones.
Although the guest courtyard where she was staying was the best available, Xie Jiang still found the bed too hard and the bedding too thin.
She had slept exceptionally soundly yesterday morning and hadn't found the guest room bed uncomfortable. Perhaps it was precisely because she had slept so well yesterday morning that she couldn't sleep at all last night.
Pushing the door open and stepping into the courtyard, she discovered it was already broad daylight. There was a well in the courtyard, and Xie Jiang went to draw water to wash up. Splashing her face with the well water sent a shiver through her, and her groggy mind instantly cleared a little.
Xie Jiang, feeling hungry, went to the mess hall to find something to eat. Not feeling very well, she didn't have much appetite and only took two hot flatbreads before leaving.
The flatbreads made at the temple were soft, delicious, and had a special aroma of food.
Xie Jiang ate as she wandered, and when she found the small courtyard where Xia Rongyu was staying, she still had half a flatbread left in her hand.
The small courtyard where Xia Rongyu was staying was near the back mountain and was quite peaceful. Xie Jiang climbed over the wall, only to be met by those fox-like eyes.
Xia Rongyu sat leisurely in the courtyard, holding a book, while Chen Chan brewed tea beside him.
Seeing the person who suddenly appeared on the wall, Chen Chan's eyes widened, and the tea that overflowed spilled down the small table.
Xie Jiang was taken aback, but maintaining her composure, she waved at Xia Rongyu and said, "Good morning, Your Highness."
Xia Rongyu looked at the young girl on the wall, holding a flatbread in her mouth and smiling at him with her eyes curved. His heart was suddenly filled with a myriad of emotions.
Although she was no different from before, still appearing as a handsome young boy, in Xia Rongyu's eyes at this moment, she was clearly a different person.
When they first met at the palace banquet that night, he had sensed a faint familiarity about her, but he had dismissed it.
He thought of himself as nothing more than an ordinary mortal, and it was her exceptional beauty that had stirred something unusual in him.
It wasn't until yesterday when Pu Xuan revealed that the one person who was destined to have a marriage with him but had their fate severed due to circumstances was unique in this world.
Xia Rongyu naturally knew who she was.
The little girl he had cherished in his hands when he was young.
But she seemed not to remember him.
Perhaps it was due to the many years of wandering and the countless events that had transpired, the vicissitudes of life had made her distant from him.
Xia Rongyu smiled at her, his clear and refined eyes unconsciously softening. "Good morning, Marquis Xie."
"Where is Gouzi?"
Since she had been spotted by chance, Xie Jiang sat down on the wall with a sense of ease. She took the remaining half of the flatbread out of her mouth and scanned the courtyard.
Chen Chan, flustered, wiped the small table and looked up when he heard Xie Jiang's question. "Little Ancestor went out to play early this morning. He'll probably be wandering around the temple for a while."
Xie Jiang said "Oh" and simply continued to sit on the wall, leisurely nibbling on the flatbread.
"Marquis Xie, are you here to find Little Ancestor?"
"That's your Little Ancestor, not mine. I'm here for Gouzi."
"Then why didn't you use the main entrance?" Why did you climb over the wall? It makes you look like a thief.
"I thought if Your Highness hadn't woken up yet, I could just carry him away quietly."
"..."
Chen Chan's eyeballs almost popped out of their sockets.
How could someone be so blunt about their ill intentions, right in front of the intended victim?
Chen Chan turned to look at his Highness.
His Highness was smiling at Marquis Xie, his eyes exceptionally gentle, and he didn't seem to mind.
His Highness was just too good-natured.
Xia Rongyu invited, "Marquis Xie, would you like to come down for a cup of tea?"
"Yes."
Feeling thirsty, Xie Jiang immediately jumped down from the wall and walked towards Xia Rongyu.
Chen Chan brought a stool from under the eaves.
Xie Jiang sat down opposite Xia Rongyu and poured herself a cup of tea.
Xia Rongyu smiled at Xie Jiang, picked up his own cup, and took a sip. "This tea is from the temple's tea garden, and it's roasted by the monks here."
Xie Jiang nodded. "I saw a tea garden from afar yesterday. I'll go for a stroll later. When did Your Highness arrive at Nanzhao Temple?"
Xia Rongyu replied, "About three days ago."
Xie Jiang asked, "Is Your Highness here to burn incense and pray to Buddha?"
Xia Rongyu said, "The Buddhist temples are places of tranquility."
Xie Jiang said "Oh."
Xia Rongyu had been quite popular lately, with many people trying to get close to him. He was probably here at Nanzhao Temple to seek peace and quiet, or perhaps just to put on a show for the Emperor.
It was even possible that he was using his acquaintance with Pu Xuan and the tranquil grounds of Nanzhao Temple to plot something.
Xie Jiang couldn't have wished for anything better; the murkier the water, the more fun it would be.
Noticing the faint blueish tint under her eyes, Xia Rongyu asked with concern, "Marquis Xie, you don't seem to have much energy. Did you not sleep well?"
Xie Jiang yawned directly, as if answering his question.
Then, she leaned closer to Xia Rongyu, resting her elbows on the small table between them, and stared intently at Xia Rongyu's face.
She felt that Xia Rongyu was a bit different today.
Although he had seemed good-natured on their previous encounters, his smiles, like a gentle breeze and clear moon, held a hint of detachment and coldness.
Today, looking at him, that inherent detachment and coldness seemed to have vanished.
The strangest thing was that he kept staring at her and smiling.
From the moment she climbed over the wall and saw him, she had seen him smiling.
The smile on his face had continued until now, and his gaze had not shifted from her.
"When did Your Highness return yesterday?"
"After the sun set."
"Are you sure?"
"What do you mean?"
"Did Your Highness stay in the mountains for too long yesterday and encounter some thousand-year-old small animals?"
"Hmm?"
Xia Rongyu didn't understand.
Xie Jiang lowered her gaze to the clear tea in her cup and slowly drank the remaining half.
Xia Rongyu waited for her to continue. However, he wasn't in a hurry. With her sitting in front of him, he had no intention of reading. He closed the book and placed it on the small table.
Xie Jiang put down her teacup, leaned half of her body against the small table, and looked at his face up close, a wide smile on her lips. "Your Highness."
"Yes?"
"Your face is about to rot."
"What?"
"I said your face is about to rot from smiling."
"..."
Xia Rongyu was stunned for a moment, then he laughed. "The weather is especially good today, clear and crisp."
He knew that after seeing her, he couldn't help but smile, but was his smile really that excessive?
If it was, so be it.
She had always been daring and reckless; she wouldn't be scared away by him.
Chen Chan, listening to their conversation, also felt that His Highness was a bit strange. He hadn't been himself since returning last night.
However, it shouldn't be anything bad. His Highness seemed to be in a good mood, especially delighted after seeing Marquis Xie.
Xia Rongyu said, "So, Marquis Xie, what were you trying to say when you asked if I encountered any thousand-year-old small animals last night?"
Xia Rongyu knew what she meant. She was implying he was possessed? With the eminent monk Pu Xuan present, what demon or ghost would dare to approach him?
He was simply happy.
Nothing could make him happier than seeing her appear before him safe and sound.