Chapter 83

It was already evening by the time the two of them finished cleaning up and went to the temple.

There were many people going up and down the mountain, and a young monk stood at the temple’s door to greet them.

“The donor arrived late, but do you need accommodation?” The young monk saw two people strolling over. He had encountered many such visitors, and most of them came to stay.

After all, you didn’t need to pay to stay in a temple; you just need to donate some money.

Some travelers, exhausted and without funds, came here to stay and had the opportunity to worship Buddha and pray for their families.

“I heard from my mother that this temple in the West Mountain is very efficacious, so I brought my wife here to stay for a few days. Unexpectedly, we were delayed on the road, so we arrived a bit late,” Liao Tingyu saluted the young monk.

“Then please follow me, donor.” The young monk nodded and led the way slowly.

The two of them followed the young monk leisurely to a small house without any worries.

This house had a small garden, a path paved with gravel, and uneven flowers and grass. It wasn’t meticulously maintained, but it exuded a sense of tranquility and beauty.

There weren’t many decorations inside, just a table, a few rows of stools, a bed, and a desk by the window with paper, pens, and Buddhist scriptures, and nothing more.

This simple arrangement was considered suitable for a temple. Although it wasn’t luxurious, it had a calming effect.

It was no wonder that Liao Tingyu dropped a donation into the merit box as they passed by.

The evening bells rang, and the sound of the large bell resonated.

The monks in the temple recited slowly, with voices neither too high nor too low, but they had a soothing quality that refreshed the soul.

“Donor, you will be staying here for the next few days. I’m not sure if you’ve had dinner tonight. After the sutra reciting, there will be a simple meal in the dining hall. You can go there to eat,” he gestured in the direction of the dining hall.

He also informed them about the temple’s schedule and asked if they wanted to visit the chanting hall now.

Liao Tingyu used to be a believer, but here, only Buddhism was practiced.

He looked at Huang Zilan and asked, “Would you like to go and listen?”

Huang Zilan thought it would be a good idea to attend the reciting.

Considering the secret mission mother Deng had given him this morning, he felt that showing sincerity was important.

“I want to listen.”

Liao Tingyu didn’t mind and simply go. He took Zilan to secure good seats, it must be noted that as they started reciting the Buddhist scriptures, although the reciting was slow, it had a peculiar effect when you listened.

The temple in the West Mountain appeared to be very renowned. After the Buddhist scripture reciting, they noticed that many pilgrims were still present. Most of them were locals, and they encountered several familiar faces from the town.

It wasn’t yet the 15th day of the Lunar New Year. If it had been, it would likely have been even more crowded.

The vegetarian food was surprisingly delicious, despite being entirely plant-based. The chef responsible for the dishes had clearly honed their skills over time, creating a culinary experience similar to that of a hotel chef using only vegetarian ingredients.

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The following morning, they were roused by the early morning bell at around four or five o’clock. They quickly rose, had breakfast, and proceeded to the sutra hall to listen to the monks’ reciting sutras.

While walking on the path, Huang Zilan sighed, “Listening to the Buddhist scriptures once or twice really brings a sense of tranquility to my heart.”

“It’s still quite early before lunch. Where would you like to go?” Huang Zilan asked while playing with the Buddhist beads, he carried.

“I’ve heard that the peach blossoms here are quite beautiful. They say there’s a peach blossom forest that spans ten miles. I wonder how magnificent it is.” Liao Tingyu said.

“Ten miles?” Huang Zilan inquired.

“Yes, it’s called Shili. They say there’s an extensive peach blossom forest beyond this mountain. I’m not certain about the exact location; we can inquire later.”

Huang Zilan nodded. He had never seen Shili before.

“I wonder what they do with all those peaches once they ripen. Can you really consume that many peaches?” Liao Tingyu mused.

Liao Tingyu approached a monk and asked, “Excuse me, Master. I’m not sure how to get to the peach blossom forest here.”

The monk replied, “The donor can proceed straight from here and then turn left at the red pavilion to reach the peach blossom forest.”

The monk’s gaze was peculiar, and Liao Tingyu found it rather strange. After thanking the monk, he turned and led Huang Zilan toward the peach forest.

Observing Liao Tingyu’s departure, the monk muttered, “It’s truly peculiar. Although he passed away young, he carried the title of prince and minister. Quite unusual, indeed.”

The peach blossom forest grew on the backside of the Western Mountain, most of it adorned with pink flowers, with a few white ones mixed in. It was said that these were peach trees planted by devoted believers, and as time passed, the peach grove expanded, eventually reaching its current size.

As far as the eye could see, delicate peach blossoms graced the landscape.

Suddenly, he grasped the meaning of a line from the Book of Songs, “If a peach is born, it will return with a burning flame.” The beauty here was simply breathtaking.

Standing under the peach blossom tree next to him was a person so gentle that it stirred one’s heart.

The peach blossom forest had already attracted numerous unmarried young people as well as loving couples.

As they strolled through the forest, Liao Tingyu occasionally tucked the most beautiful peach blossoms behind Huang Zilan’s ear.

The scenery here was enchanting, but it was a shame he hadn’t brought a paintbrush. He yearned to capture this moment on paper.

In his eyes, Huang Zilan outshone thousands of peach blossoms, but to onlookers, he rivaled the pines and cypresses in the forest.

Most of people there were secretly envied their affectionate display.

A wealthy young lady, surrounded by her maids, gazed at the gentle man picking peach blossoms for his partner and longed for a similar tenderness in her life. She wondered how she and her husband would get along in the future, her imagination drifting into shy daydreams.

A maid, noticing her fantasies, teased, “Miss, do you have a crush on that young man?” The young lady, blushing, clutched her handkerchief and replied, “He already has someone beside him.”

The maid retorted, “So what if he has someone? Who doesn’t have multiple wives and concubines? That partner also only a ger.” She didn’t mean to belittle a ger but acknowledged that they couldn’t match the fertility of girls. Many affluent families would seek an additional wife if they marry a ger.

The young lady inquired softly, “I wonder if he has a wife at home.”

She admired Liao Tingyu’s remarkable looks and hesitated to settle for the role of a concubine, preferring a loving marriage. However, the man before her was an exceptional find. She didn’t want to give up easily, uncertain of his marital status.

“Xiao Cui, please go and ask that ger.”

“Of course!” Xiao Cui nodded and walked over to Huang Zilan.

“Young Master, may I inquire, seeing your loving interaction, my lady is quite envious. She’s curious about your marital status…” she hinted.

Huang Zilan perceived her inquiry as a request for advice and glanced at the people nearby, saying, “Someone needs to discuss something with me, please give us some space!”

Liao Tingyu obediently nodded and replied, “Sure, I’ll be right over here, waiting for you. Take your time.”

“Sir, your husband is exceptionally kind to you. My young lady is of marriageable age, and seeing you both, she’d like to seek your advice,” Xiao Cui gazed at Huang Zilan with admiration.

Huang Zilan modestly replied, “I don’t have any special tricks. I’ve simply found the right person.” He accepted the praise humbly, not wanting to take credit for what he believed was simply their natural connection.

The maid pretended to be surprised, “So, you’re his wife?”

Huang Zilan replied proudly, “Yes.”

“Is there anyone else in your family? You know, people usually…” Xiao Cui hesitated, realizing it wasn’t an appropriate question, her cheeks turning slightly red from embarrassment.

Huang Zilan chuckled, “No, he told me that we’ll be together forever. Even when my mother-in-law mentioned taking a concubine, he firmly refused.” Huang Zilan couldn’t help but smile, reminiscing about the time his husband had stood up for him.

Xiao Cui felt she had inquired enough, so she bid farewell to Huang Zilan.

“You’re incredibly fortunate to have met such a wonderful person. My lady would be overjoyed if she were half as lucky as you.”

Observing the people beneath the tree nearby, she added, “I’ll take my leave now to not disturb your enjoyment of the flowers. I hope you both lead a harmonious life.”

Xiao Cui returned to the anxious young lady and shared her findings, “Miss, I have inquired and learned that there’s only one person in his family. Based on his posture and demeanor, he’s likely a scholar. He was greeting many people earlier, and I overheard someone calling him ‘sir.’ So, it’s probable.”

The young lady considered this and found it quite promising. Her suitor appeared to be of a respectable background, and his attire didn’t suggest poverty. She was a bit nervous, though, “Xiao Cui, what should I do?”

“Why don’t you send him a pouch as a token of your affection? If he’s genuinely interested, he’ll understand your intentions. If not, it’s best to save face,” Xiao Cui suggested.

The young lady found this to be a brilliant idea. She tidied up her appearance, borrowed paper and pen to craft an elegant note, carefully placed it inside the pouch, and approached with a graceful demeanor, saying, “Young Master… Sir, please wait a moment.”

Liao Tingyu heard a voice behind him and, seeing it was the maid from before with another young woman, anticipated trouble. He exchanged a glance with Huang Zilan, signifying that a challenge was approaching. Nonetheless, he maintained his composure and asked politely, “How can I assist you?”

The young lady hesitated and struggled to voice her request. She summoned the courage to place the pouch in Liao Tingyu’s hand, took a few hurried steps, stopped, seemingly wanting to say more, gave Liao Tingyu a profound look, and departed, leaving much unsaid.

It was an unspoken interaction.

Huang Zilan’s jealousy flared up, and he snatched the pouch, “You’re very generous. Let me take a look. Oh, the embroidery is exquisite. It seems the young lady is quite skilled.”

“Indeed, and this pouch seems to be crafted from silk, with golden thread. It appears that your husband is quite popular. Zilan, you’d better keep a close watch on me. Otherwise, I might be whisked away before your eyes, just as today,” Liao Tingyu teased, noting Huang Zilan’s jealous expression.

Huang Zilan noticed the maid standing behind them and narrowed his eyes, sensing the need to be more vigilant in the future to avoid repeats of today’s situation.

Reflecting on his own foolish actions earlier, he tossed the pouch onto a nearby peach tree in frustration.

“You are the cause of all this,” he warned Liao Tingyu, asserting, “You belong to me, and you better remember what you promised. If you ever bring someone else home, I won’t stay with you with those flowers. A peach blossom will attract more peach blossoms. If you want to watch these flowers, do it on your own.”

The more he spoke, the angrier he became, grappling with the idea that Liao Tingyu was no longer exclusively his.@@novelbin@@

“Don’t worry! I’m yours forever. Don’t be upset! We won’t sightseeing anymore. Let’s pray to the Buddha, draw lots, and ask when our children will arrive,” Liao Tingyu assured, surprised that the situation had taken this turn. Unexpectedly, it even brought tears to their eyes.

Huang Zilan sniffled and nodded, like a lost puppy finding its way home. He clutched Liao Tingyu’s hand, declaring his ownership.

Huang Zilan couldn’t help but sense that this situation might not be concluded so easily. He contemplated various scenarios as they continued on their journey.

Liao Tingyu noticed Huang Zilan’s silence during the journey and thought the day’s events might have left a bitter taste. Thus, he refrained from disturbing him, and the two of them returned to their room quietly.