The Zen bell awakens people from dreams, the Buddha’s voice reaches three thousand; birds sing on the bluestone, cranes cry on the golden platform.
Xiangguo Temple is majestic and solemn. Even though Shen Xihe does not believe in Buddhism, when she comes here, the elegance and tranquility still make her feel relaxed and happy, as if there is a magic that can make people forget the worldly troubles.
When she met Ye Wantang, she was no longer wearing her favorite crabapple flower dress, but there was still a crabapple flower in her bun, but it was deliberately made into a plain white silk flower, which pressed against her black bun, making her look even more haggard and plain.
"Princess." Ye Wantang stepped forward and bowed.
Xiao Changtai was removed from the list. Without Prince Ding and the Fourth Prince, she was no longer the daughter-in-law of the royal family. She was just a widow of the Ye family. Naturally, she had to pay her respects to Shen Xihe when she saw her.
Shen Xihe treated her the same as before and returned the greeting as an equal: "Madam Ye Er."
Ye Wantang is the second child in the Ye family and has a cousin who is born out of wedlock.
"Princess, have you come to look for me specially?" Ye Wantang invited Shen Xihe to sit under the Bodhi tree nearby, and personally picked up the teapot to pour tea for Shen Xihe.
"Why do you think so?" Shen Xihe asked.
"The princess has only been to the temple once or twice in the whole year since she came to Beijing. She is not a Buddhist." Ye Wantang handed the tea bowl to Shen Xihe with both hands. "After summer, the princess has not left the house. She is too lazy to go to the Eastern Palace. The princess suffers from summer pain."
As she spoke, she looked up at the dazzling sunlight shining through the branches and leaves. Although it was still early in the morning, the sun was scorching. "The princess does not believe in Buddhism, and she suffers from the hot summer, but she came to Xiangguo Temple under the scorching sun. There must be something. The princess has always acted decisively. Since she came straight to me, this matter must be related to me."
Ye Wantang was once one of the Nine Beauties of the Imperial Capital. Apart from having a skill that other noble ladies could not even dream of, all of the Nine Beauties of the Imperial Capital were well-read, intelligent and smart girls.
It’s a pity that the young girl’s love is always full of poetry, and she was ultimately blinded by love by Xiao Changtai.
For a moment, Shen Xihe couldn't bear to reveal such a cruel truth to her and really wanted her to forget the past and start over.
However, even if she felt pity for Ye Wantang and did not intend to deal with Xiao Changtai starting with Ye Wantang, how could Xiao Changtai let her go
Taking the tea bowl handed to him by Ye Wantang with both hands, Shen Xihe took a sip before putting it down. He took out a sachet from his arms and handed it to Ye Wantang silently.
Ye Wantang was a little confused. She took it and opened it. Inside was a small bamboo tube like a fire starter and a jade pendant in the shape of a flat leaf: "What does the princess mean by this..."
"A token of love and fireworks for help." Shen Xihe said.
"Why did the princess give me these?" Ye Wantang was even more confused.
The obsidian eyes were calm and deep, reflecting Ye Wantang's face. Shen Xihe paused before saying, "Xiao Changtai is not dead."
Ye Wantang's face changed, and she froze in place. Her lips instantly lost all color, and her heart must have been in turmoil. She even had to support herself on the stone table with her hands to prevent herself from falling down.
This news was like a bolt from the blue to Ye Wantang. He was not dead
How could he not be dead! If he was not dead, where did he go? And how did Shen Xihe know
Her eyes were filled with doubt and astonishment, Shen Xihe saw all her complicated suspicions. She said calmly, "Since he was the one who started the fire, and you have slept with him in the same bed for so many years, didn't you suspect that he was trying to escape?"