Chapter 27

Meeting adversaries on a narrow path, with wild ambitions.

The short, stout man at the front exclaimed in surprise, “Gosh, don’t scare people wandering around in white!”

Stone Meimei couldn’t help but chuckle under her breath at his comment. Glancing at Bai She, she saw a slight lift of his brow, indicating amusement.

The stout man let out a long breath, relieved it was just a false alarm. He and his companions found a dry spot in the temple, attempting to start their own fire. Opening his tinderbox, he found it soaked.

Sighing, the stout man turned to Bai She, “Could I borrow some fire from you?”

Bai She spread his hands and deftly flipped a burning twig from the fire with his knife. The twig spun in the air before the stout man caught it, his expression frozen in surprise. He exchanged looks with his companions, realizing they had encountered a master.

The trio remained silent, lighting their fire to wait out the rain.

Stone Meimei, feeling bored sitting idly, wished she had brought her cat, Xiao Fu Zi, for company.

Noticing her restlessness, Bai She asked, "Are you hungry?"

The question reminded Stone Meimei of her hunger. Despite having a substantial lunch, the long ride had left her stomach empty.

Bai She reached over to his saddlebag and handed her a pouch.

Curious, Stone Meimei thought, ‘Does he always come so prepared?’ She opened the pouch to find two delicately crafted porcelain jars, both with lids.

Lifting one out, she observed its spherical shape, complete with a handle and a small, charming silver spoon attached.

Struggling slightly to open the lid, a burst of fragrance greeted her. Inside, a large orange filled the jar, half protruding, intricately carved with delicate patterns.

Gently prying the top off with the silver spoon, she discovered the orange was stuffed with crab filling.

Delighted by the treat, one of her favorites, Stone Meimei looked up at Bai She with a pleased smile.

Although Bai She remained silent, his demeanor suggested he was in a good mood.

Finding another jar in the pouch, Stone Meimei offered it to Bai She.

Bai She shook his head in refusal.

"One is enough for me," Stone Meimei said.

Bai She chuckled softly and whispered in Stone Meimei's ear, "Save it for dinner tonight."

Stone Meimei suddenly remembered they had to spend the night outside. Embarrassment flushed her cheeks.

Bai She fiddled with the campfire using a twig and took another flask to drink.

Eating the crab meat with the small silver spoon, Stone Meimei commented, "Is this also made by your mansion's chef? His skills are really impressive."

Bai She, seeing her enjoyment, replied, "It's made by Auntie Huo."

"Really?" Stone Meimei expressed surprise, "Auntie Huo is such a good cook?"

Bai She nodded, "The shrimp you just had was also her work."

Stone Meimei pondered, feeling a bit embarrassed, "I should thank her then..."

"It's fine," Bai She assured her, "Auntie Huo always cooks for us."

Stone Meimei inquired, "Does Auntie Huo live at your place? I should send Xiang'er to learn from her. Xiang'er cooks well too, but not as good as Auntie Huo."

Bai She laughed, "You can come over to eat directly."

Stone Meimei, focused on her food, said modestly, "That wouldn't be right."

Bai She suddenly mentioned, "Lao Kuan was Auntie Huo's brother."

Stone Meimei was taken aback, and after a moment, she responded, "But they have different surnames..."

"Lao Kuan changed his surname later. He did it to avoid implicating his family due to his line of work," Bai She explained softly. "Auntie Huo has been good to me, and I need to help her find the culprit."

Stone Meimei quietly ate the crab meat and nodded in agreement, "Yes, I'll help too."

Bai She offered a slight smile, continuing to prod the fire with a stick.

The trio nearby were not as quiet. One of them, holding a jug of liquor, was roasting venison over the fire, conversing loudly in a Southwestern dialect.

Stone Meimei half-understood their talk. She gathered that these men were grave robbers, searching for something many sought after. Despite wandering the mountains for three days, they had found nothing.

Having finished her crab-stuffed orange, Stone Meimei put away the jar, securing the lid and placing it back in her bag. She then asked Bai She, "Aren't you hungry?"

Bai She set down his drink. "We'll catch some game tonight. I'm not hungry now."

At the mention of game, Stone Meimei's eyes sparkled, an expression Bai She caught and chuckled at, leaving her somewhat embarrassed.

A while later, Bai She whispered, "Someone else is coming."

Stone Meimei instinctively surveyed the temple, noting almost no dry spots left.

"This time, it's a carriage," Bai She said, retrieving a small cloth roll from the saddle and handing it to Stone Meimei.

Initially, Stone Meimei thought it was a handkerchief, but upon unfolding it, she discovered it was a large, thin blanket, light as air and white in color. Puzzled, she looked at Bai She for explanation.

"It's warm," Bai She said succinctly. "The mountain breeze will pick up later, and it'll be cold."

Stone Meimei, initially skeptical about the thin fabric's ability to block wind, was surprised to feel warmth envelop her as she covered herself.

"What is this made of? It's really warm," Stone Meimei asked, impressed by the blanket's effectiveness despite its lightness.

"It's made from the fetal wool of long-horned sheep," Bai She explained. "These sheep live in high altitudes, surviving the freezing climate."

"Truly a fine item," Stone Meimei remarked, softly caressing the blanket. Its soft touch brought an inexplicable sense of warmth.

As the sounds of hooves and carriage wheels approached, the short, stout man among the trio muttered, “Not another one of us, I hope?”

They all looked up to see a grand carriage pulling up at the temple’s entrance.

Stone Meimei glanced at it and whispered to Bai She, “That’s from the Fourth Prince’s residence.”

Bai She raised an eyebrow. This was indeed an unexpected encounter.

As predicted, a charioteer and two guards descended from the carriage, holding up umbrellas and waiting outside.

Stone Meimei noted the grandeur of the arrival.

Then, Qin Xianglian, dressed in a black brocade robe, alighted, assisting a lady from the carriage – it was Luan Jingyi.

Stone Meimei was puzzled. Why would Qin Xianglian and Luan Jingyi come to such a remote place together? Were they just passing by?

Bai She’s frown deepened, quickly piecing things together.

As Stone Meimei pondered, she felt Bai She’s finger touch her cheek. He whispered, “That day at Wanghu Pavilion…”

She immediately remembered. At Wanghu Pavilion, while discussing the treasure with Bai She, Luan Jingyi and Ming Fu had been eavesdropping.

Realization dawned on Stone Meimei. Ming Fu might not have had the initiative, but Luan Jingyi’s involvement was not surprising. She must have shared the information with Qin Xianglian. As royalty, he had the resources to investigate the treasure and the Jade Buddha, connecting them to the old legends and hence their presence here. Stone Meimei wondered why he brought Luan Jingyi along; she knew Qin Xianglian well enough to suspect there was more than met the eye.

Qin Xianglian entered the temple with Luan Jingyi, visibly surprised to see Bai She and Stone Meimei. Luan Jingyi’s expression changed noticeably upon seeing Stone Meimei.

Still harboring resentment against Qin Xianglian from their last encounter, Stone Meimei kept her head down, avoiding interaction.

The guards set up a fire in a dry spot opposite Bai She and Stone Meimei, where Qin Xianglian and Luan Jingyi sat down, facing them.

Luan Jingyi, visibly uncomfortable and embarrassed, especially seeing Stone Meimei’s silent demeanor, felt disgraced. She had relayed the information to Qin Xianglian in an attempt to ingratiate herself, now hanging by a thread of dignity.

Shimei wasn't really worried, just feeling somewhat bored and sleepy.

Outside, the rain kept falling gently. Qin Xianglian and Bai She exchanged glances, their mutual disdain unspoken.

Qin Xianglian felt as if Bai She's eyes held a mocking glint, which irritated him. As a respected prince, he had never been looked down upon like this before! Glancing at Shimei, he saw her covered with a white blanket, seemingly drowsy, and leaning against Bai She, gazing into the fire.

The warm glow of the fire made her cheeks flush, adding charm to her sleepy demeanor.

Qin Xianglian thought back to the time when Shimei was angry with him, feeling a sense of regret. How could he have let such a woman go? He should have suspected earlier that she was not really Chen Shiming.

Luan Jing'er, watching from the side, saw Qin Xianglian's changing expressions and his glances towards Shimei, feeling increasingly displeased. Do men always covet what they can't have?