Chapter 30: How Can the World Have a Perfect Solution? (30)

Chapter 30: How Can the World Have a Perfect Solution? (30)

Zhen Shan was helped up by the emperor, and Que'er promptly placed two soft cushions behind her so she could lean against them.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, but this servant can manage on her own!"

Zhen Shan said weakly, seemingly very timid about the emperor's personal service.

"I owe much to Shan'er. Taking care of you is nothing," Qin Yi reassured, patting Zhen Shan's hand gently. He then picked up the medicine, scooped a spoonful, blew on it, and brought it to her lips.

Empress: "...."

How disdainful! Did that dog emperor just spit into the medicine?

Zhen Shan appeared to swallow the medicine nervously, then covered her mouth and started coughing, as if she had taken it too hastily and choked herself.

In reality, she was disgusted.

What a waste of the medicine personally prepared by her little monk!

"Be careful, drink slowly!"

Unaware of the disdain, the imperial tyrant assumed the delicate maiden was too bashful, leading to her choking. He gently patted her back with tenderness.

The monarch's handsome and tender demeanor, combined with the woman's enchanting fragility, created a truly picturesque scene.

But how many eyes did it pierce? Whose heart was it slicing?

Wuchen closed his eyes, reciting Buddhist scriptures in silence, yet unable to suppress the metallic taste of blood in his mouth.

Zhen Shan seemed to shrink from Qin Yi's touch, yet also appeared hesitant to resist. Her body was tense and rigid.

Seeing this, the emperor felt helpless. He believed he had mistreated this beauty before, causing her fear of him.

Sighing, he thought to himself, let's take it slow. Once she returns to the palace, he would make up for it and she would no longer be afraid but fall in love with him.

The emperor was highly confident that his allure would captivate this beauty before him.

"Have Que'er tend to Zhen Shan's medicine."

Qin Yi glanced at Que'er and instructed.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Que'er cautiously took the medicine bowl and knelt by the bedside, carefully feeding Zhen Shan her medicine.

The Empress seemed uneasy as she cast a glance at the Emperor before beginning to drink the medicine. Satisfied, she was finally free from the disgusting medicine of that despicable little monk.

When Zhen Shan finished her medicine, the Emperor, seeing her exhausted state, gently tucked her in with great tenderness. After instructing others to take good care of her, he left with his entourage.

Unable to resist, Wuchen lifted his gaze towards her. However, upon meeting her sorrowful phoenix eyes, he turned away in distress.

But the sound of the woman's restrained sobs shattered his Buddha-like composure, freezing his blood!

For the first time, Wuchen felt hatred – hatred for his inability to give her what she desired, hatred for not being able to abandon everything and take her away, and most of all, hatred for causing her pain.

He was unworthy of such devotion from her!

"Miss."

After everyone had left, Que'er looked at Zhen Shan with concern as she lay on her pillow, trying hard to stifle her sobs.

Her cries were soft, and could hardly be heard if one was not close by.

Unfortunately, Wuchen's hearing was exceptionally keen!

Zhen Shan shook her head, turned around, and curled up, suppressing her quiet sobs. The more she tried to suppress them, the heavier and more painful they became.

Que'er felt distressed and helpless, unsure of how to comfort her pitiful young mistress.

"Que'er, you should leave first. I want to be alone for a while."

Her voice held a faint, hoarse tinge from crying, sounding weak and pitiable.

Que'er was uneasy about leaving Zhen Shan alone in the room but also feared making her feel worse. Thus, she stepped back to stand by the screen, keeping a watchful eye on the inner chamber.

Zhen Shan remained curled up, but her gaze had turned unusually cold and indifferent, as if the person who had just been sobbing in agony was not her.

The words of comfort that would ease her lady's heart were stuck in Qian'er's throat.

Qian'er tugged at her braids and looked up to the sky, asking, "My Lady, are you really going to enter the palace as a concubine?"

"What else? Do I have any other choice?"

Ah, how pitiful my lady truly is!

"… My Lady, do you really have no other choice?"

Zhen Shan's beautiful eyes lifted slightly. "Didn't Little Monk abandon me? Then I have no choice but to enter the palace, right?"

"In fact," Qian'er said uncertainly, "My Lady, didn't you already guess last night that Wuchen wouldn't take you away?"

"Qian'er, even gods cannot predict the future," Zhen Shan said softly, closing her eyes. At most, she was not surprised.

At a crossroads, two paths diverged, and different choices would lead to different outcomes.

She had stood in the rain, giving the little monk a whole night to make his decision.

Since he didn't choose her, both she and Wuchen would have to bear any consequences that follow on their own.

There is no such thing as regret for mortals or deities!

"But," Qian'er looked worriedly at the crystal heart, now 90% crimson after last night's events, "What about your mission if you go to the palace?"

Zhen Shan gave a faint smile, "We'll meet again, there's no need to rush."

The Master had gone through so much trouble to bring Wuchen into the world; how could they give up so easily?

Besides, her connection with the little monk was profound!

"Huh?"

Zhen Shan rubbed her temples, her phoenix eyes calm and indifferent, not bothering to explain further.

This was a game of chess. Whether it was her, Wuchen, or even the one who thought they held the chess pieces, they were all mere pawns. It boiled down to who could turn the tide of the game and control the overall situation.

...

In the depth of night, within the Bodhi Temple,

"Prince, if you truly cannot let go, why not strive for what you desire? Do you honestly wish to see Miss Zhen become that villain's concubine?"

Abbot Liao Kong gazed at Wuchen, who knelt before Buddha, chanting scriptures while tapping her wooden fish. However, the sound was no longer as ethereal and pure as before; it carried a heavy weight, her vermilion-dyed eyes dimmed, tinged with the bitterness of the mortal world.

Abbot Liao Kong's expression was a mix of emotions, yet he still refused to give up any chance to persuade Wuchen to return, to reclaim her former glory and status.

Unperturbed, Wuchen gently tapped the wooden fish, reciting sutras, praying for her future peace and joy.

"Prince, by reciting your mantras here, can you truly alleviate the suffering in Miss Zhen's heart? Or are you going to watch her suffer in turmoil for the sake of the Buddha in your heart?"

Wuchen paused, slowly lifting his deep-hued, somber eyes. "Am I to sacrifice the blood of tens of thousands of innocent lives to fulfill my selfish desires?"

Even the lives of hundreds at the national temple were too great a cost for Wuchen to bear.

That was why last night, he could only watch her agony in the rain, unable to step forward no matter how much he wished to.

"This world was meant for you, Prince!"

Wuchen closed his eyes, "Amitabha, fate has its predetermined course. If it's not meant for this poor monk, I shouldn't cling to it forcefully."

"Ah, so this is why Your Highness watches silently as your beloved falls into another man's arms?" Abbot Liao Kong asked sarcastically.

Wuchen felt a tightness in his chest, remaining silent for a long while.

"Your Highness, you will regret this!"

Seeing that Wuchen was unyielding, Liao Kong gave him a profound glance before slamming the door behind him as he left.

Do you regret it?

Wuchen lifted his gaze to the compassionate Buddha statue, the image of that vulnerable and helpless woman filling his mind. Her vermilion mole between the brows had faded, reflecting her inner turmoil and confusion.

How can one find a way in this world to fulfill both duty to the Buddha and devotion to the beloved without forsaking either?

...

I was a bit busy today and forgot to upload it earlier.~