Chapter 24: How Can the World Have a Perfect Solution? (24)

Chapter 24: How Can the World Have a Perfect Solution? (24)

Zhen Shan received the sweet soup from Que'er, her slender fingers like jade holding the small spoon as she curved her lips slightly.

Of course Wuchen would rush over; how could her little monk allow such a vulnerable creature as her to be left unattended in the monastery, without anyone looking after her?

"What did Wuchen do after I left in the morning?"

At this mention, Que'er sighed inwardly. If only Master Wuchen were not a monk.

He and Miss would make such a perfect match, a handsome man and a beautiful woman!

Master Wuchen was so gentle; he would definitely treat Miss kindly.

"Master Wuchen asked the ladies' families to come and collect them, and he also reported to the Empress Dowager that they disturbed the tranquility of the temple and assaulted someone on its grounds. Apparently, the Empress Dowager was furious. All those noble ladies were reprimanded and temporarily confined to their homes. Even the Empress received a scolding, warning that if such incidents disrupted the solemnity of the ceremony again, she could forget about being Empress."

Que'er spoke with a hint of satisfaction. They deserved it for bullying Miss!

Was the little monk using his authority for personal gain, avenging her on her behalf?

Zhen Shan's beautiful eyes flickered with surprise, genuinely impressed by how far Wuchen was willing to go for her.

After all, only half of the crystal heart on the Scroll of Deification had turned red.

Perhaps, it was because he had been so emotionless that the emergence of feelings in Wuchen made them all the more profound.

Her little monk!

Que'er hesitated before saying, "Miss, Master Wuchen truly treats you very well."

Zhen Shan's gaze softened slightly as she replied, "Mm."

Seeing her lady sipping her sweet soup calmly, Que'er held back her words. In truth, she found her lady increasingly enigmatic.

At times, vulnerable enough to evoke pity, at others, deeply affectionate enough to stir heartache, and then again, serene to the point of being ethereal.

Maybe she kept everything locked away in her heart.

Que'er felt even more sympathy for her lady!

...

The festival was intertwined with the nation's fortune. With Zhen Shan's incident, no one dared to cause trouble during the emperor's sacrificial days. After all, no one could bear the guilt of disrupting the country's destiny.

Zhen Shan had been living in relative tranquility these past few days, with no one daring to provoke her anymore.

Lady Zhu paid her a visit, lavishing "tender care" upon Zhen Shan before departing. However, before leaving, she subtly urged Zhen Shan to stay in the meditation room to recover and avoid any potential collisions outside.

Was she worried that Zhen Shan might be bullied if she went out, or was it her appearance that could draw unwanted attention?

Ha!

Unfortunately for Lady Zhu, even if she didn't want Zhen Shan to leave, there were still others with ulterior motives.

In the small courtyard, Zhen Shan was transplanting a few small blue-flowered plants into flower pots.

This flower is called Forget-Me-Not, also known as Myosotis.

The little monk will surely love it.

"Miss Zhen II."

A plain-dressed maid, unassuming, entered the courtyard and bowed to Zhen Shan.

"What's the matter?"

Zhen Shan looked at her warily.

"It's like this, Master Wuchen has asked you to come to the lotus pond in the back garden, saying that he needs to speak with you."

"Wuchen... Master found me? Why did he send you to deliver the message?"

The maid remained composed as she replied, "Originally, it was a young monk, but he had something to attend to, so he asked this servant to inform you instead."

Her words were full of inconsistencies, revealing that someone had underestimated her intelligence.

However, Zhen Shan's cool gaze held a hint of melancholy. As a foolish maiden suppressing her affection for Wuchen, she was naturally unwilling to let go of any chance to meet the young monk, even if she suspected something amiss with the little servant girl.

This lotus pond, after all, had been the place where she used to wait daily for Wuchen to return from gathering herbs on the mountain.

She wondered how that schemer had found out.

It seemed there were quite a few people plotting against her.

The situation was becoming increasingly intriguing.

Zhen Shan hesitated slightly before responding, "Understood. I'll join you after I purify my hands."

"Yes."

...

As Zhen Shan left the meditation chamber, she noticed the absence of the young novices who usually worked around her courtyard.

Her eyes flickered. Who knew best about her and Wuchen's relationship, and who could so easily divert the novices under Wuchen's charge?

It seems there's no need to guess the answer!

Zhen Shan gave a cold, indifferent smile. She didn't really care!

"Empress, since you know there might be a problem, why are you still going? What if there's danger?" Quer asked, worried. What if they sent someone to assassinate the empress?

Zhen Shan narrowed her phoenix eyes. "Unless they've lost their minds, they wouldn't be foolish enough to send an assassin after me."

The national temple was currently where the emperor and the empress dowager were. Would they really send killers?

If they were willing to sacrifice themselves, that would be another story.

Unfortunately, they didn't have such courage!

"Empress, do you know who's plotting against you?" Quer swallowed, asking in horror.

"It's just someone who wants to keep me from Wuchen, and someone who wants to use me to provoke Wuchen," Zhen Shan replied.

Zhen Shan inwardly sneered coldly.

"{...} So, Your Majesty, what do you wish to do?"

Zhen Shan sighed softly, "This palace is merely an innocent and helpless little creature, how can I withstand the malicious schemes of others?"

Qie Er: "{...}"

Your Majesty, such a beautiful and pure lotus flower!

As they approached the lotus pond, the young maid trailing behind had vanished without a trace. Zhen Shan pretended not to notice and continued on her way.

However, just as she stepped in, a rather indescribable sound reached her ears!

Zhen Shan: "{...}"

Now that's impressive!

In the serene grounds of a Buddhist temple, aren't they afraid of being struck by lightning?

Shameless!

Empress is furious!

Qian'er: "..." Empress, please refrain from that gleam in your eye just now.

Confusion clouded Zhen Shan's expression as she seemed not to recognize the sound. With a naive curiosity, she circled around the large tree...

"Ahh!"

Startled, she let out a gasp, her feet slipping, causing her to fall to the ground – coincidentally dodging the flying hairpin.

The two individuals over there hadn't actually done anything yet, or perhaps they were interrupted before they could. Hearing the noise, they immediately separated and composed themselves.

The man in a black robe adorned with a five-clawed golden dragon turned with an ashen, displeased face. His cold gaze froze upon catching sight of Zhen Shan's breathtakingly fair visage.

The beautiful woman in a light pink silk robe blushed alternately, her embarrassment either from being caught or from having her plans disrupted – it was hard to tell.

What was intriguing was that the woman wore a hairstyle typically seen on married women, and she wasn't dressed in imperial robes; she was not a palace concubine.

Yet, her attire bespoke nobility and wealth—how intriguing!

A court lady's spouse and the emperor?

Tsk, it seems wild flowers truly are more alluring than domestic ones?

But this is still a temple, and yet the mighty emperor displays such indiscretion. Ha!

Indeed, how much honor could one expect from a man who, because of the original owner's reputation, reneged on their engagement to marry her sister instead?

"Your Majesty, she..."

The young noblewoman, captivated by Zhen Shan's delicate and ethereal beauty, was filled with envy and dread. If news of today's incident were to spread, her reputation would be ruined, and perhaps even her life.

"Go back first. I'll take care of this matter."

The emperor's gaze was glued to Zhen Shan, not sparing the young noblewoman a single glance. His words were meant to reassure, but they came across as mere placation.