The Young Marquis Regrets Too Late - Chapter 31

After Jiang Jinghui returned home from her outing, she came to Lady Li and mentioned her wish to visit Miao’en Temple in a few days.

Lady Li’s expression turned visibly uneasy upon hearing the words ‘Miao’en Temple.’ It had been a long time since she had been to that place. Over the years, she had only gone there once or twice under unavoidable circumstances. 

Lady Li asked, “Why do you suddenly want to go there?”

Jiang Jinghui replied, “I overheard people in the street today saying there will be a Dharma assembly at the temple in a few days. I also heard that the divination there is especially accurate, so I thought I’d go and see.”

Lady Li seemed reluctant and said, “Ah, there’s nothing in that temple to see.The monks just host a Dharma assembly to collect incense money. There’s really nothing special about it.”

Hearing Lady Li’s response, Jiang Jinghui’s face showed a trace of disappointment.

“Really…? I’d heard about Miao’en Temple’s reputation back when I wasn’t in the capital and thought that someday I could visit it. But now that Mother says there’s nothing to see there, it must truly be dull. I suppose I won’t go, then.”

Hearing this, Lady Li felt a bit uncomfortable. She sighed and said, “If you want to go, then go. Your brother will be home on leave in a few days, so he can take you there. That place gets too crowded, so I won’t go.”

A bright smile appeared on Jiang Jinghui’s face upon hearing this, and she quickly said, “Then I’ll bring Sister along too!”

Instinctively, Lady Li refused. She said, “Your sister doesn’t like that place.”

Jiang Jinghui explained, “I was thinking that, since Sister has been feeling down these days because of that young gentleman, it might cheer her up to visit a lively place. Besides, since the temple’s divination is so good, perhaps she might get some clues about her future marriage.”

Her words were reasonable, and it didn’t feel right to leave Jiang Jingchun at home alone while the siblings—Jiang Runchu and Jiang Jinghui, went out together.

Moreover, this might be a good opportunity for Jiang Jinghui and Jiang Jingchun to bond.

Lady Li’s concerns lay in the fear that Jiang Jingchun might learn about what happened back then. But after all this time… who would even remember such things?

She silently reprimanded herself for being overly suspicious and apprehensive. After some thought, Lady Li changed her stance and said, “You’re right. Then take your sister with you when you go to the temple.”

The weather was growing increasingly hot, and the days were becoming noticeably longer. As another day passed, the sun dipped low in the western sky, and the fiery red glow of the sunset spilt onto the windowsill, casting its light into the room. It seemed as though the sunset’s hue had stained the white clothing of the man inside with its crimson glow.

In the Gu family residence, Gu Huaisheng had been resting at home for nearly a month. In just a few days, he would return to his duties at the Censorate. However, during this month-long time off, even though Gu Huaisheng stayed at home, he was far from relaxed. No one knew exactly what he had been busy with, but he often holed up in the study all day without stepping out.

That day, Marquis Gu returned from court and headed to Gu Huaisheng’s study to find him.

Hearing Marquis Gu’s voice coming from outside the door, Gu Huaisheng personally rose to open it.

After opening the door, he stepped aside to make room for Marquis Gu to enter. However, the latter waved him off, saying, “I won’t come in. I just wanted to tell you something.”

Gu Huaisheng had been sitting at his desk all day, and his temples throbbed with pain. This was one of the rare instances when he showed his relaxed demeanour. He leaned slightly against the doorframe and rubbed his temples while waiting for Marquis Gu to speak.

Marquis Gu cleared his throat awkwardly, as if trying to appear casual, and said, “In a few days… it’ll be the anniversary of your teacher’s death…”

Before he could finish, Gu Huaisheng froze.

The dusk light fell upon his profile, and his long lashes cast shadows beneath his eyes, obscuring his expression. For a moment, Gu Huaisheng seemed to process the words. He raised his gaze and looked past Marquis Gu into the courtyard, where everything had been dyed red by the setting sun.

Just like the evening his teacher had died.

The bl00d had stained everything red then, too.

He retracted his gaze. His expression remained indifferent as he replied, “Have you forgotten, Father? He already said he didn’t recognise me as his student anymore.”

The harshness of his words struck Marquis Gu and left him momentarily speechless. It took him a long while to regain his voice.

“Still, you were his student once. How can you be so unfeeling? He’s dead and gone; would it kill you to pay your respects to him? After all, he treated you so well back then.”

Gu Huaisheng let out a faint scoff, and his eyes showed a trace of disdain. “How did he treat me well? By humiliating me in front of everyone, throwing me out, and declaring that he never wanted to see me again? By saying I was nothing more than a child living off my family’s name, and that I was a man of empty fame and false virtue? He said he wished he’d have never taken me as a student in this life. Considering all that, I don’t see any reason to pay respects to him anymore.”

Marquis Gu looked into Gu Huaisheng’s eyes and saw only deep loathing for his former teacher.

Gu Huaisheng, who was leaning against the doorframe, delivered his final blow, which shattered Marquis Gu’s composure. He said, “He committed treason against the empire. What would you have me go see him for?”

Hearing this, Marquis Gu’s eyes reddened, and he said, “Changqing would never do such a thing!”

Marquis Gu, a man known for his gentle temperament, trembled with rage at Gu Huaisheng’s words. His voice rose in a rare outburst.

However, Gu Huaisheng didn’t seem to care about Marquis Gu’s emotions at all. Compared to Marquis Gu’s agitation, Gu Huaisheng’s tone remained calm and devoid of emotion.

“And yet, he died for it,” he replied flatly.

Marquis Gu’s body trembled violently.

Gu Huaisheng didn’t look at him again. He turned and walked back into his study and returned to his desk.

A short while later, when he glanced up again, the doorway was empty.

After Marquis Gu’s departure, Gu Huaisheng remained seated at his desk, unmoving, even as night fell outside. He leaned slightly against the desk and inclined forward, slightly. The incense burner on the desk emitted a faint haze, which softened his features and made his expression unreadable.

It wasn’t until Shuliang came in from outside that the silence was broken. Seeing Gu Huaisheng lost in thought and sitting in the dark, Shuliang remarked curiously, “What are you thinking about so intently, Young Master? You didn’t even light a lamp.”

As he spoke, he lit the lamp, and the room immediately brightened. However, Gu Huaisheng’s demeanour remained unchanged. His expression was still devoid of any visible emotion.

Shuliang didn’t press further and instead conveyed his purpose. “Madame mentioned that Miao’en Temple will be holding a Dharma assembly in a few days. Since you’re free at home, she’d like you to go with her.”

Miao’en Temple.

Hearing this place mentioned, a flicker of emotion finally appeared in Gu Huaisheng’s eyes.

He didn’t say much and only responded with a faint ‘Mm’ to signify his agreement.

The next few days passed by in a flash.

Jiang Runchu and his two younger sisters boarded a carriage to head to Miao’en Temple.

Jiang Jingchun wasn’t particularly willing to go, but with Jiang Jinghui’s persistent invitation, she reluctantly agreed to join them. 

Besides, she was somewhat curious about the lot-drawing there. In the past, Lady Li had been reluctant to let her frequent places like temples, so she hadn’t gone to many. In fact, she could count the number of temple visits she’d ever made on one hand.

Inside the carriage, Jiang Jingchun and Jiang Runchu’s animosity towards each other showed clearly. After their last heated argument, neither of them was keen on speaking to the other. Jiang Jinghui tried to lighten the mood, but when her efforts to mediate failed, the carriage soon fell into silence.

The Dharma assembly was expected to last for two days, and the three of them planned to stay overnight at the temple.

By the time they arrived, it was already afternoon, and the Dharma assembly was in full swing.

Miao’en Temple sat halfway up a mountain, nestled in a serene forest. Sunlight filtered through the leaves and created mottled patterns on the dirt paths around it. After climbing the mountain, visitors would meet a flat platform that led to the temple gate after ascending another eighty-eight stone steps. 

The three of them stepped out of the carriage and stood at the base of the stairs. When they looked up, they caught a glimpse of the plaque above, bearing the golden characters ‘Miao’en Temple’ that glinted brilliantly in the sunlight.

The flat platform was already bustling with people. The faint sounds of chanting and conversations drifted down towards them.

The three of them ascended the stairs and reached the temple entrance.

Miao’en Temple was renowned for its flourishing incense offerings. Upon arriving, they were greeted by the sight of swirling incense smoke. Near the entrance was a designated area for lot-drawing, which was packed with a dense crowd of people.

Jiang Jingchun took one look at the bustling crowd and immediately gave up on the idea of drawing lots. The place was far too crowded, and the line didn’t seem to be moving anytime soon.

The other two siblings were equally hesitant.

Everyone came with questions or desires in their hearts and with belief in the temple’s spiritual efficacy. Since they had come all this way, drawing a lot seemed like a harmless idea. However, after seeing the massive crowd, they realised they didn’t have the patience for it.

After a brief silence, Jiang Runchu said, “Forget it. Who knows how long we’ll have to wait? Let’s come back later when there are fewer people.”

They should go inside first.

Jiang Jingchun and Jiang Jinghui agreed without protest, and the three began walking further into the temple.

Just then, a clear voice called out from behind, “Jiang Jingchun!”

They paused and turned to see Song Xuan’an standing there.

Beside him were two others—his mother and his elder brother, Song Xuanjing.

The Dharma assembly was lively and had attracted many prominent families. With Song Xuan’an’s upcoming provincial-level imperial examinations, Madame Song decided to visit the temple to pray and draw lots. She hoped to receive a favourable outcome; perhaps he’d pass the imperial examinations in his first try.

Song Xuan’an wasn’t particularly interested in coming to the temple. He found the crowded temple unappealing, but Madame Song had insisted, so he had no choice but to comply. Song Xuanjing, who had the day off from official duties, was also dragged along by his younger brother.

Song Xuan’an hadn’t expected to see Jiang Jingchun here.

Jiang Jingchun was equally surprised by the coincidence. She greeted him politely and, upon noticing his mother and elder brother, greeted them as well.

Madame Song might disapprove of Jiang Jingchun as a potential daughter-in-law, but she held no other animosity towards her. Seeing her respectful greeting, Madame Song smiled and nodded in reply.

Upon hearing the commotion, Jiang Runchu approached, along with Jiang Jinghui, to greet Madame Song.

When the Jiang family held Jiang Jinghui’s formal recognition banquet, they hadn’t invited the Song family. Now that they had run into them, it seemed appropriate to formally introduce Jiang Jinghui to Madame Song.

Madame Song immediately recognised Jiang Jinghui’s identity. Judging by her appearance, she was undoubtedly Jiang Nan’s biological daughter.

She took Jiang Jinghu’s hand and amiably chatted with her, saying, “This must be Xiaohui. I didn’t get a chance to meet you last time, but what a coincidence to see you here at the temple! You’ve grown into such a lovely and charming young girl. Oh, I remember holding you when you were just a baby. How have you been all these years? It’s fortunate that you’ve returned to your family now…”

As she spoke, her words began to drift towards a sentimental tone. Sensing that the mood was becoming melancholic, Song Xuan’an quickly tugged on her sleeve and interjected, “Alright, Mother. Why must you bring up the past on such a good day?”

He was well aware that dwelling on such topics would make everyone uncomfortable.

After his comment, Song Xuan’an glanced at Jiang Jingchun’s expression and was relieved to see no change in her demeanour. She didn’t seem affected by Madame Song’s words, which allowed him to breathe easier.

Madame Song, however, calmly scolded him by saying, “Always so quick-witted, aren’t you?”

He used to be denser than a mule and lacked even common sense, but today, he’d suddenly become so adept at reading the room.

Despite Madame Song’s sharp words, she didn’t pursue the subject further.

Jiang Runchu and Song Xuanjing, who were both officials serving in the same court, shared some camaraderie. They often exchanged greetings in the court, and now, as they’d met at the temple, they naturally stepped aside for some casual conversation.

Since the two families had bumped into each other at the gates of Miao’en Temple, they decided to proceed together.

Jiang Runchu and Song Xuanjing walked side by side and conversed. Meanwhile, Song Xuan’an and Jiang Jingchun naturally ended up walking together.

Madame Song continued her lighthearted chatter with Jiang Jinghui. 

“Why isn’t your mother here today?” she asked curiously.

It seemed odd to her that only the younger generation had come out, with no sign of Lady Li.

Jiang Jinghui politely responded, “Mother didn’t want to come out because she dislikes crowds.”

Madame Song nodded and didn’t press further.

The group decided not to linger at the entrance and intended to first head to their quarters and put their belongings there first. 

However, Song Xuan’an had other ideas. He insisted on dragging Jiang Jingchun to the lot-drawing area first.

“What’s your rush?” Jiang Jingchun asked. “There are so many people now, it’s way too crowded.”

Song Xuan’an replied, “We should line up now and get it over with than to come back later. It might be even more crowded then.”

With that, he half-dragged her towards the long line of people. Jiang Jingchun, who couldn’t shake him off, had no choice but to follow.

Madame Song didn’t know what was wrong with her son now. She had asked him to draw lots earlier, but he had refused. Now that the rest of them were going to settle in, he insisted on dragging Jiang Jingchun to the lot-drawing area. He probably just wanted to spend more time alone with her. However, with the Jiang siblings here, she couldn’t very well say anything about it.

She just shouted at his back, “You’d better not cause any trouble while I’m not watching!”

Song Xuan’an waved dismissively at her warning without even turning his head. He responded with a casual ‘Mm.’ Whether he truly took her words to heart was anyone’s guess.

The lot-drawing area was packed with people, as the annual Dharma assembly had attracted visitors of all ages. After much effort squeezing through the crowd, Song Xuan’an and Jiang Jingchun finally managed to join the line.

Once they were standing in place, Song Xuan’an leaned over and asked her something. However, the surrounding noise was so overwhelming that Jiang Jingchun could only see his mouth moving but couldn’t make out a word.

She frowned and raised her voice to ask, “What did you just say?”

Song Xuan’an bent down closer to her ear and repeated, “What kind of questions are you planning to draw today?”

What kind of questions?

Jiang Jingchun was momentarily caught off guard. She had come mainly to join in the lively atmosphere and hadn’t given any thought to what kind of question she might ask.

Now that she considered it, there didn’t seem to be anything pressing on her mind.

Marriage? Ever since the incident with Fang Zhiping, she had no strong opinions on the matter. It seemed like something predestined—what would come would come, and she saw no point in rushing it.

Family?

Yes, that was it. Her family.

Her true family had always been a topic avoided by those around her. She wanted to know if there was any chance she might reunite with them in the future.

She opened her mouth and was about to answer the question Song Xuan’an had asked, but before she could speak, someone in the crowded space suddenly bumped hard into her back. She was thrown forward and crashed directly into his chest.

His chest was broad and firm, and the impact of the bump was also strong enough that her nose hurt. She let out an instinctive yelp of pain.

Both of them froze. They were stunned by what had just happened and unsure how to react.

Song Xuan’an, in particular, seemed utterly dazed. The surrounding noise faded from his ears, and time seemed to slow down. His senses were overwhelmed by the faint, sweet fragrance coming from Jiang Jingchun, and his ears burned red as he failed to recover his composure or push her away.

It wasn’t until a cold, clear voice cut through the air that the spell was broken.

“You walk without watching where you’re going and knock into someone, but don’t even apologise?”

The sharp words snapped them both back to reality. Jiang Jingchun quickly pulled away from Song Xuan’an and turned towards the source of the voice.

To her dismay, she saw a man whose presence was impossible to ignore. Despite the crowded surroundings, a small space seemed to have opened up around him. His elegant and striking demeanour made him stand out starkly, as if he belonged to a different world than the rest of them. The people nearby unconsciously gave way to him and created a clear path for him.

At the sight of him, Jiang Jingchun’s thoughts instantly formed four words—‘Persistent as a ghost.’

Gu Huaisheng was accompanied by Madame Gu and Gu Huailang. This made it clear that they were also at the temple for worship and lot-drawing.

The capital wasn’t exactly small, but it wasn’t too big either. Moreover, sometimes, no matter how much one wished to avoid someone else, fate would have other plans. 

Even a temple visit wouldn’t mean she was safe from such chance encounters.

The person who had bumped into Jiang Jingchun froze at Gu Huaisheng’s words and quickly apologised to her.

He had thought nothing of the incident and was about to slip away, but now he couldn’t. Upon noticing the imposing man who had spoken, he felt a chill run down his spine. The man seemed very elegant and wealthy, and his voice was as cold as ice as he spoke. He didn’t dare provoke such a figure and quickly turned back to apologise profusely to Jiang Jingchun.

Jiang Jingchun wasn’t one to dwell on accidents. Seeing his sincerity, she shook her head and said, “It’s fine.” 

Thus, she dismissed the matter.

Before Jiang Jingchun could say much, she felt a warmth in her nose. She had thought that Song Xuan’an’s chest seemed as hard as a brick wall, and the collision felt like it’d nearly broken her nose. She touched it gently, only to find her fingers coming away with bl00d. She was alarmed and quickly pulled out a handkerchief from her sleeve to press it against her nose.

She turned to Song Xuan’an with a complaint, “Seriously, are you made of stone or something?”

Song Xuan’an hadn’t expected the collision to draw bl00d. He looked down and saw that her eyes were already tinged red, a clear sign that she’d been hurt. 

His heart ached at the sight. He pulled her hand away to inspect her nose, but as soon as the handkerchief was removed, bl00d began to flow freely again. He was startled and hurriedly pressed the handkerchief back and tilted her head upward by the forehead.

“That was my fault, my fault!” he soothed her. “Don’t get upset—it’ll just make the bleeding worse.”

Their interaction—the way they were so naturally close, was an eyesore to Gu Huaisheng, who stood nearby. Yet, as peculiar as it was, the more uncomfortable he felt, the more he couldn’t tear his eyes away.

Gu Huaisheng refused to acknowledge his own emotions, but his sensitivity to other people’s feelings and nature was unnervingly sharp, and he couldn’t dismiss that.

He had dismissed Fang Zhiping as inconsequential and beneath his notice. 

However, Song Xuan’an was different.

Watching the two of them interact so intimately, his hand—hidden within his sleeve—clenched tight without him even realising it.

Finally, Madame Gu broke the awkward silence. She stepped forward and said to Jiang Jingchun, “Xiaochun, are you here to draw a lot?”

Jiang Jingchun nodded. 

Madame Gu glanced at the bl00d-stained handkerchief and said, “You’d better head back to your living quarters to change your clothes. You can’t wear something stained with bl00d; it’s not good…”

Madame Gu worried that Jiang Jingchun was young and wouldn’t know this, so she made sure to tell her.

Jiang Jingchun was indeed hearing this for the first time. She hesitated briefly but then nodded in agreement and said, “Thank you for the reminder, Aunt.”

Madame Gu noticed only Jiang Jingchun and Song Xuan’an were present and curiously asked, “Are the two of you here alone today?”

Jiang Jingchun shook her head. “No, I came with my brother and sister. They went ahead with Madame Song and Brother Song to the living quarters to settle our luggage.”

Ah, so that was the case.

Madame Gu thought for a moment. Hearing that all three Jiang siblings had come while Lady Li was absent, she immediately understood why. It wasn’t hard to guess why Lady Li would never willingly set foot in this place again.

Madame Gu looked at the crowd and gave up on the idea of drawing a lot herself. She turned to Jiang Jingchun and said, “It’s hard to tell when the crowd will thin out. We’re heading to the living quarters as well—why don’t we all go together?”

Song Xuan’an clearly wasn’t thrilled with the idea. He had finally gotten a chance to spend time alone with Jiang Jingchun, and now the Gu family had shown up to intrude. He opened his mouth to protest, but before he could say anything, Gu Huaisheng spoke.

“It’s crowded now and hard to move. I don’t think we’ll be able to draw lots now. If we wait until later, there’ll be fewer people.”

His tone carried a subtle but undeniable authority and made it hard to argue—especially more so compared to Madame Gu’s more gentle inquiry.

Though the words were simple, they came out sharp and decisive from him.

Before anyone could react, Gu Huaisheng had already turned and started walking. 

The others were thus left with no choice but to follow.

After joining the Gu family, Jiang Jingchun and Song Xuan’an became unusually quiet. They walked silently behind the group, and neither of them spoke a word. Madame Gu occasionally tried to make conversation but eventually stopped when she noticed the low spirits of the pair.

When they reached the living quarters, the group parted ways.

Because the Dharma assembly spanned two days, the temple had prepared several dozen living quarters for guests to stay overnight. The Jiang and Gu families were assigned rooms close to each other, as the temple staff knew of the ties between the two families. The male and female living quarters were also naturally separated. 

After escorting Jiang Jingchun back to her room, Song Xuan’an said goodbye to the Gu family and left.

As she watched them go their separate ways, Madame Gu suddenly turned to Gu Huaisheng and asked, “Why does Xiaochun seem so different now? She doesn’t seem as close to you anymore…”

Even Madame Gu had noticed something amiss. In the past, Jiang Jingchun would always stick close to Gu Huaisheng whenever he was around. But now, she seemed eager to avoid him.

Madame Gu wondered if it was her own imagination, but…

“People grow up,” Gu Huaisheng replied quietly.

Passion burned brightly when one was young, but once that youthful passion was extinguished, maturity would come swiftly.

After saying this, Gu Huaisheng fell into a long silence.

His cryptic response left Madame Gu puzzled. She couldn’t understand his meaning.

As his gaze lingered on Jiang Jingchun’s room, his eyes were filled with emotions that even Madame Gu couldn’t decipher.

When it was almost evening, Gu Huaisheng went to the lot-drawing area alone.

The crowd had thinned considerably, and the bustling liveliness of the day had faded. Beneath an ancient tree towering before the temple gates stood a small table, adorned with a wooden sign inscribed with the word, ‘divination.’ 

The golden hues of the setting sun bathed the temple entrance in a dreamlike glow, and even the faint smoke spiralling from the incense burner nearby was tinged with red.

Everything felt surreal, like a scene from a dream.

Gu Huaisheng approached the lot-drawing table and sat down. Across from him, the master responsible for interpreting the divination sticks looked up and studied him briefly.

After a moment’s pause, the master spoke. “I remember you.”

The master, who was in his fifties, was the temple’s esteemed abbot, known widely as Master Wuneng. He was renowned for his wisdom and insight, and many sought his counsel. On this day, his day-long presence at the divination table drew an endless stream of people seeking answers—some driven by the significance of the Dharma assembly, others purely for the chance to hear Master Wuneng’s guidance.

Whether the accuracy of today’s divinations stemmed from the auspicious timing of the Dharma assembly or from Master Wuneng himself, though, remained unclear. 

Hearing Master Wuneng’s words, Gu Huaisheng remained silent for a moment before replying, “I remember you too, Master.”

Master Wuneng smiled faintly. “After you left three years ago, I thought you wouldn’t return.”

Three years ago, Gu Huaisheng visited Miao’en Temple and stayed for seven full days. He had spent that time in solitude beneath the temple’s ancient bodhi tree. There, he sat still and unmoving. When he grew tired, he would sleep; when he woke, he would resume his quiet contemplation.

Master Wuneng had seen many peculiar individuals over the years, and Gu Huaisheng wasn’t the first of them.

He knew that young people often came to the temple when they were lost, and wanted to seek solace and guidance in the halls of their Buddhist temple. Before Gu Huaisheng, many others had sat beneath the thousand-year-old bodhi tree. A lot of them hoped for their own moment of enlightenment, akin to Wang Yangming’s famed epiphany at Longchang.

Yet none of them ever succeeded. Perhaps their timing was wrong, or perhaps their desires were too great. Regardless, no one had ever found ‘enlightenment’ beneath the ancient tree.

No one, except Gu Huaisheng.

He was utterly different from the others. Master Wuneng could see it at a glance.

For seven days, Gu Huaisheng had sat beneath the tree. 

His restless hands, driven by his inner turmoil, had plucked the surrounding grass until the ground was bare. By the time he left, the area where he had sat was completely barren, and even after his departure, no grass grew back. The monks secretly gave him the nickname ‘Grass Killer.’

The nickname was, admittedly, rather unkind.

Fortunately, Gu Huaisheng never returned to the temple after that, so the unsavoury moniker never reached his ears.

After his departure, whenever Master Wuneng heard people mention Gu Huaisheng, it was always in hushed tones of awe. By then, he had become an untouchable figure in the capital, far removed from the young man who once sought refuge under the temple’s bodhi tree.

Master Wuneng had assumed Gu Huaisheng had found his path and would never return.

He didn’t expect to see him again in the temple today.

Master Wuneng’s surprise was evident, though he greeted Gu Huaisheng with a smile. “You resolved your previous troubles and haven’t appeared here for three years. Tell me, what new difficulties bring you back now?”

A person’s life was a continual search for their path. While Gu Huaisheng might have found his way back then, life would inevitably bring new challenges that set him seeking guidance again.

Difficulties…

Difficulties, indeed.

He couldn’t hold on, yet couldn’t bear to let go, either.

Gu Huaisheng regretted his past actions. The memory of that day often tormented him and left him sleepless. But what good was regret? He could only stand by helplessly, watching her walk alongside and embracing someone else, while he had no grounds to intervene, no matter how he desperately wanted to.

Reason told him that letting go was the wisest choice, and Gu Huaisheng had tried. He truly had tried to let her go. However, the thought of her eventually marrying someone else continued to gnaw at him. What if the person she married was unworthy? What if that person mistreated her?

He couldn’t let it go. No matter how hard he tried, he simply couldn’t.

Gu Huaisheng chose not to share the full details of his inner turmoil with Master Wuneng. He knew that speaking about it would solve nothing.

Besides, Wang Yangming once said, ‘Seeking outwardly for ten years is as one day and brings no change; seeking inwardly brings daily renewal.’

Gu Huaisheng wouldn’t rely on someone else to solve his plight. He wouldn’t entrust his suffering to others and hope they might bring him relief.

But…

Everyone said the temple’s divinations were remarkably accurate today.

Besides, asking for a divination wasn’t such a big deal, anyhow.

He turned to Master Wuneng and said, “Master, I’d like to draw a divination stick. Perhaps it will bring me some clarity.”

With that, Gu Huaisheng pulled out a small pouch of silver from his sleeve and moved to place it in the donation box.

However, Master Wuneng stopped him before he could drop the silver. He smiled warmly, then said, “You have accumulated a lot of merit. Our small temple cannot bear to accept it. Consider this divination a gift.”

There seemed to be a deeper meaning behind these words, but Gu Huaisheng didn’t dwell on it. Since the master insisted, he didn’t press further.

Master Wuneng instructed Gu Huaisheng to silently focus on his question, then shook the bucket a few times. After only a couple of shakes, a stick fell onto the table with a soft thud.

For some reason, Gu Huaisheng felt a flicker of nervousness. He feared the answer, yet he desperately wanted to know.

Master Wuneng picked up the stick. He squinted slightly in the dimming twilight to read it. Finally, he said, “Your wish shall be fulfilled.”

Your wish shall be fulfilled.

This divination stick must be a dud.

Gu Huaisheng almost laughed upon hearing it.

He had hoped for a positive divination, but deep down, he knew his story could never have a happy ending.

Jiang Jingchun avoided him like the plague. How could his wish possibly be fulfilled?

Suddenly, a thought occurred to him. He lifted his gaze to Master Wuneng and asked with a faint, self-mocking smile, “Master, does a wish obtained by force still count as a fulfilled wish?”

He truly didn’t see how his wish could be fulfilled now, unless he resorted to fighting for it and taking it for himself.

However, that idea was fleeting. After all, he despised the thought of forcing someone else’s hand.

That was the sort of thing a scoundrel would do.

He was only afraid that she wouldn’t live well, that was all.

That was all it was—he tried to convince himself.

Master Wuneng had encountered countless people whom he easily understood throughout his lifetime, but at this moment, he found himself unable to read the young man before him.

It was, after all, a good divination result.

However, Gu Huaisheng’s expression remained so bitter and dissatisfied. Why was that?

Before Master Wuneng could say more, Gu Huaisheng stood abruptly and left.

His sudden departure could be considered rude. However, Master Wuneng didn’t get angry at all. He simply watched Gu Huaisheng’s retreating figure and simply smiled. 

Oh, well, he thought. Why bother trying to figure out the mind of a little sage like him? Could he even begin to understand him?

As the night fell, a young monk approached and called Master Wuneng to dinner.

Seeing that no one else was around, Master Wuneng was about to get up when he spotted two young figures walking toward the lot-drawing area.

The young monk stepped forward. He intended to take down the sign, but Master Wuneng stopped him. They’d come all this way, he thought, and a little delay for dinner wouldn’t kill him.

Jiang Jingchun and Song Xuan’an sat down together and each drew a stick. Unfortunately, their fortunes didn’t seem promising, as both wore sombre expressions afterwards.

Jiang Jingchun’s question was about her family. Though the divination wasn’t particularly favourable, Master Wuneng offered some solace, saying that in the future, she might still have the chance to reunite with the ones she longed for.

Song Xuan’an, however, was less fortunate—his divination was an ‘absolute misfortune.’

When they returned, Jiang Jingchun felt curious about what he’d asked and gave him a question about it. Song Xuan’an didn’t have a good expression on his face as he half-heartedly told her, “I just asked about the provincial-level imperial examinations.”

Oh, right. Song Xuan’an would take the provincial-level imperial examinations soon. Only now had Jiang Jingchun remembered it.

However, the fortune told by the divination sign was said to be quite unfavourable.

Wasn’t that bad, then…?

The provincial-level imperial examinations were held once every three years. If he failed this time, wouldn’t he have to wait another three years?

Jiang Jingchun furrowed her eyebrows as well. She said, “The fortune might not be accurate… Don’t let it get to you. Nothing will go wrong for you in the provincial-level imperial examinations.”

She knew that although Song Xuan’an wasn’t particularly serious on a daily basis, he still had some skill. Unless something unexpected happened, how could he possibly draw such a bad sign? It couldn’t be right. The divination result must have been wrong.

She didn’t want Song Xuan’an to overthink. It would only make things worse if he started to worry because of this sign.

However, even after hearing Jiang Jingchun’s words, Song Xuan’an still looked uninterested and unfocused. He only responded perfunctorily to her.

Seeing his awful mood, Jiang Jingchun grabbed his sleeve and began pulling him towards the prayer hall. They had already eaten dinner earlier, and as night had fallen, everyone else would be having their meal now, so there wouldn’t be many people around.

Song Xuan’an didn’t know what she was planning, but he let her pull him along.

“Where are we going?”

“Didn’t Master say earlier? He told you to pray to dispel your misfortune. You just drew a bad lot; if you pray to the Buddha and Guanyin, they will bless you with good fortune.”

Jiang Jingchun’s tone was lighthearted. She didn’t want this to affect his mood, so she tried to make the matter sound like something trivial and hoped he wouldn’t dwell on the bad sign.

However, Song Xuan’an remained lost in thought and didn’t speak again. He only allowed her to drag him along.

Song Xuan’an was about to say something to reassure her not to overthink it. In truth, the thing he had asked about wasn’t even the provincial-level imperial examinations at all. However, as the words came to his mouth, he suddenly seemed to forget how to speak.

Nevermind… He wouldn’t say anything.

What she said was true. After all, it was just a bad divination result. What was there to worry about?

The two of them entered the prayer hall and knelt on the prayer mats.

The hall was majestic and radiated an air of solemnity. Inside, there was a giant golden statue of the Buddha sitting on the lotus throne. The Buddha’s compassionate face and the swirling incense smoke that surrounded it gave the statue an ethereal appearance.

Jiang Jingchun turned to Song Xuan’an and said, “As long as your heart is sincere, the Buddha will bless you.”

With that, she joined her hands in prayer and kowtowed to the statue.

Song Xuan’an didn’t really believe in such things, but seeing Jiang Jingchun act this way, he decided to follow suit. He imitated her and offered his own kowtow to the statue.

Beneath the Buddha’s statue, the young pair bowed with reverence.

The night wind rustled through the windows, and the prayer flags swayed above their heads. They kowtowed three times.

Jiang Jingchun made three wishes as she kowtowed. One for Song Xuan’an to succeed in the provincial-level imperial examinations, another for the hope of meeting her family, and the third, a hope that her family would still want her.

She felt afraid. After all, she thought that it was because her family didn’t want her in the first place that the Jiang family took her in.

Song Xuan’an also made three kowtows, but he only made one wish—all he truly wanted was to marry Jiang Jingchun.

He had made up his mind. From the moment he had spoken those words on that day, he knew for certain that he didn’t want to marry anyone else. He wanted to marry her in this lifetime.

The fortune he had drawn earlier was actually about their fates together.

After praying to the Buddha, he hoped their bad fortune would be erased.

The sky grew dim. It seemed as if the Buddha was gazing down compassionately and taking in the world with his merciful eyes. The Buddha, in his ever calm and gentle state, might not have heard the young woman and the young man’s words, but he continued his endless watch over the world.

They had been kneeling for only a short time when they rose and left the hall. Since the men and women had separate quarters, Song Xuan’an escorted Jiang Jingchun back to hers. As she watched his figure gradually disappear from view, she too intended to return to her chamber.

However, before she could take a few steps, she heard Jiang Jinghui’s voice behind her.

“Sister, where are you coming from?”

At the sound, Jiang Jingchun turned around to see Jiang Jinghui walking towards her from her own chamber. The moonlight shone on her and cast a soft glow on her face. It made her appear even gentler and more beautiful than usual.

Jiang Jingchun had seen her and couldn’t possibly hide away from her, so she walked towards her and well-behavedly called out to her older sister, saying, “Sister.”

She then answered Jiang Jinghui truthfully, “I just went with Song Xuan’an to the prayer hall.”

Jiang Jinghui smiled and said, “The tenth day of the seventh month is an auspicious day. Praying to the Buddha today is indeed good.”

Jiang Jingchun wasn’t sure if Jiang Jinghui was sincere or just polite in saying that, so she didn’t continue the topic. Instead, she asked, “Did you come to find me for something, Sister?”

It seemed like Jiang Jinghui had been waiting for her, so there must have been something she wanted to talk about.

Jiang Jinghui’s smile deepened and she said, “This afternoon, I overheard the monks in the temple talking about an old story. It’s rather amusing, so I thought I’d share it with you. Would you like to come to my room to listen?”

Jiang Jinghui’s smile was warm and friendly, but for some reason, Jiang Jingchun felt a wave of unease and fear when she looked into her eyes. 

For a moment, she didn’t know how to respond. She had a strong sense of foreboding that this wouldn’t be a good thing, but somehow, for reasons she couldn’t explain, she found herself nodding and following her.

Jiang Jinghui led her to her room, where a candle was already burning. The faint light flickered like will-o’-the-wisps in the dark room.

They sat across from each other at the table.

Jiang Jinghui didn’t hesitate and dove straight into the topic.

“This afternoon, I heard the sweeping monks talking about a story from the past. It was rather amusing, and I thought it might entertain you. But be warned, it’s a rather sad tale. Sister, you mustn’t cry after hearing it.”

Jiang Jingchun looked at Jiang Jinghui’s expression and felt even more uneasy. She bit her lips.

Jiang Jinghui appeared to be full of concern, but to Jiang Jingchun, it seemed as though she was pretending—she felt as if Jiang Jinghui couldn’t wait for her to cry.

But now that she was already here, there was no turning back.

Jiang Jingchun nodded and said, “Sister, tell me. I promise I won’t cry.”