After sitting quietly for a moment, Zhou Manniang remembered the purpose of her visit.

She glanced at the maid beside her, who understood and handed her a delicate embroidered box.

“These are some ointments I made myself,” Zhou Manniang gathered her courage to speak to Wen Yuesheng, “They have moisturizing effects, and I also brought some medicinal balms and incense pills, though they were made a bit crudely and might not compare to those sold outside…”

She felt a bit nervous but saw Wen Yuesheng open the box and glance inside.

Zhou Manniang, being attentive, knew that Wen Yuesheng practiced Buddhism, so the ointments and incense pills were made with sandalwood, but with a hint of other fragrances.

They were elegant, cool, and long-lasting in scent.

Wen Yuesheng spoke softly, “Thank you, I really like them.”

Zhou Manniang was pleasantly surprised and smiled brightly.

Wen Yuesheng continued, her voice calm, “As for the incident at the imperial banquet, Zhang Yulin has been wanting to apologize to you in person.”

Zhou Manniang froze for a moment, the memory of that day rushing back, and her face paled slightly.

“If you don’t wish to meet him, I will turn him away,” Wen Yuesheng offered gently.

Zhou Manniang regained her composure after a moment and, thinking it over, nodded, “I am willing to see him.”

Lu Hongying, ever curious, chimed in eagerly, “When are we going?”

Wen Yuesheng replied, “Now.”

The princess’s carriage slowly made its way out of the capital.

On the outskirts of the city, there was an expansive training ground where soldiers practiced every day.

It was Zhou Manniang’s first time visiting such a place, and she felt a bit nervous as she stepped out of the carriage.

Lu Hongying, on the other hand, was completely at ease.

Coming from a military family, she had practically grown up in training camps.

Soldiers usually didn’t allow outsiders to watch their training.

However, Wen Yuesheng held a token given by the loyal and brave marquis, and the guards only gave it a brief glance before letting them enter.

Once inside the training ground, they were surprised to find it unusually quiet.

The vast field was almost empty.

Zhang Yulin, having received the news, rushed over.

In the few days since they had last met, his face had tanned from the sun, and he was dressed in standard armor.

Seeing Wen Yuesheng, he called out loudly, “Greetings, Princess!”

As he approached, Zhou Manniang’s expression turned uneasy, and she instinctively took a few steps back, clutching her chest.

Zhang Yulin noticed her reaction, scratched his head, and said earnestly, “You must be Miss Zhou from the Zhou family, right? I was out of control that day and hurt you. I am truly sorry.”

“Please forgive me, Miss Zhou,” he added, and before anyone could react, he started to kneel.

Zhou Manniang was startled and quickly waved her hands, signaling him not to.

Zhang Yulin, unsure of her wishes, turned to Wen Yuesheng for guidance.

Wen Yuesheng nodded slightly, and only then did Zhang Yulin rise.

“In the future, if Miss Zhou ever needs anything, feel free to tell me. Even if I have to give my life, I will protect you,” he said earnestly.

Zhou Manniang, seeing the sincerity in his eyes and the earnestness in his words, relaxed her guard and gave him a gentle nod.

“How is your training going?” Wen Yuesheng asked.

At the mention of training, Zhang Yulin’s eyes brightened with excitement, “I can now lift a giant rock weighing about 400 jin.”

Lu Hongying gasped, “400 jin?”

Her father had soldiers with incredible strength, but none could match Zhang Yulin’s feats.

But Wen Yuesheng responded nonchalantly, “Not quite enough.”

Lu Hongying: ?

This wasn’t enough?

Wen Yuesheng didn’t elaborate but glanced at Gu Yu.

Gu Yu understood and, after Wen Yuesheng’s return, led a few servants, who brought large boxes on iron carts.

When the cart stopped, Wen Yuesheng opened the boxes and looked at Zhang Yulin.

“Give it a try.”

Lu Hongying, curious, leaned forward to look and was immediately stunned by what she saw.

Inside were two enormous purple-gold iron hammers.

The hammerheads were so large they could have easily been the size of two or three human heads.

The entire body of the hammers was coated in a glossy black finish, gleaming in the sunlight with an eerie glow.

Zhang Yulin, upon seeing them, was overjoyed.

He had been training for days but had never found suitable weapons.

The ones in the military camp were always too flimsy and would break under his strength.

Seeing these hammers, he wasted no time and grabbed them.

The first time, he struggled to lift them, but after gathering strength—

“Crack!” The iron cart carrying the boxes made a sound and shifted to one side.

The servants nearby were startled, but Zhang Yulin quickly grabbed the other hammer with his free hand, wielding both.

“Boom!” He slammed them into the ground, creating two large craters, and dust flew everywhere.

“Phew, phew, phew,” Lu Hongying stepped back and shouted in delight, “This thing is amazing!”

Zhou Manniang was a bit startled, “These huge hammers look so heavy, can they really be used?”

Lu Hongying excitedly replied, “Of course! Just think about it— with this weight, if you slam it onto someone’s head, no technique is even needed. One hit and their skull will shatter!”

Zhou Manniang was terrified by his description, her face turning pale.

Meanwhile, Zhang Yulin had tried using the two Purple Gold Hammers a few times.

These hammers were custom-made, and although they were a bit difficult for him at first, with each use, he gradually got the hang of them.

He soon grew fond of the exhilarating feeling of smashing wildly with the hammers.

Wen Yueheng watched as he became more proficient, her expression calm.

After Zhang Yulin improved, Marquis Zhongyong seemed to regard her as a Buddha who could grant any request.

Since Zhang Yulin was unable to use weapons properly, he came to her for advice.

She had someone craft this pair of massive hammers for him.

The two hammers together weighed over 400 jin (about 200 kg), a weight that ordinary people couldn’t even lift.

“Hiss, these hammers are indeed finely crafted, but if they could be modified, with chains attached to the bottom of the hammers, they could become flying weapons once thrown, greatly increasing their lethality!” said Lu Hongying casually.

Wen Yueheng paused slightly, then replied, “Miss Lu’s suggestion makes sense.”

Lu Hongying didn’t expect her casual remark to be taken seriously by Wen Yueheng.

She quickly waved her hand, saying, “I was just rambling, Your Highness doesn’t need to take me seriously…”

Wen Yueheng, however, asked, “Miss Lu, could you perhaps draw a blueprint for the modification of the hammers?”

Lu Hongying was thrilled that Wen Yueheng was genuinely considering her idea.

She immediately nodded, “Of course, I can!”

“Then I’ll leave it to you.”

Lu Hongying patted her chest proudly, “Leave it to me!”

They stayed at the training grounds until dusk before returning to the capital.

Even as they left, Lu Hongying was still enthusiastic.

She planned to visit the training grounds again in a few days, once Zhang Yulin had become accustomed to the new weapons, to make the necessary adjustments.

Wen Yuesheng, however, did not accompany them.

She went to the temple to meditate.

Because Tianci Temple had become extremely popular recently, with visitors coming and going, the nearby temples also benefited from the crowds, becoming overcrowded each day.

Thus, Wen Yuesheng chose to go to the Royal National Temple.

The National Temple was reserved for the royal family, and since she had royal blood and was a princess, she had unrestricted access.

Upon entering the temple, she was greeted by the golden light of the hall.

The temple was magnificent, with golden tiles and red beams.

It was expansive and especially peaceful, being under the royal family’s domain.

There were only a few monks coming and going.

The long corridor was filled with the scent of sandalwood, the sound of bells ringing, and a serene atmosphere of meditation.

Led by a senior monk, Wen Yuesheng walked toward the main hall.

As they passed a particularly splendid side hall, she heard the sound of a guqin (a traditional Chinese musical instrument) coming from inside.

Wen Yuesheng paused and looked up.

The music was gentle and filled with a sense of meditation.

As soon as it entered her ears, it soothed the restless thoughts that had been tormenting her.

All she could hear now was the soft chirping of birds by her side, an ongoing peaceful melody.

The monk saw that she had stopped moving and turned around.

He was about to remind her when he saw the monk standing at the door slightly shake his head, signaling him to stay quiet.

The National Temple was extravagant; even the side hall was furnished with soft Persian carpets.

Inside sat a towering, majestic golden Buddha, radiating an aura of solemnity.

In front of the Buddha, a man sat, gracefully playing the guqin.

The scent of the finest sandalwood incense was lit before him, faint but calming.

He gently plucked the strings of the guqin, his fingers so white they almost matched the body of the instrument.

At first glance, he resembled an immortal, playing the guqin beneath a snowfall, surrounded by a fragrance of cold plum blossoms.

Only a touch of brilliant red appeared at the corner of his eye.

Yan Ling lowered his head and played the guqin, seemingly unaware of anyone entering the hall.

Wen Yuesheng, however, directly walked up to him and sat beside him.

The faint, cool aroma of sandalwood wafted, and he finally lifted his gaze.

They had met several times before, but in his vast, starry eyes, she still saw an unfamiliar aloofness.

Had it been anyone else, they would have likely been discouraged by his coldness.

But Wen Yuesheng propped her chin up and looked at him, her eyes clear and calm, like the stillness of ink.

She said, “Lord Yan, are you free this evening?”

Her tone was gentle, yet it carried a hint of languidness.

Her eyes seemed to shimmer, reflecting a soft, glowing light.

Yan Ling didn’t speak, only lowering his gaze to look at her.

His fingers hesitated on the guqin strings for a moment, and the music gradually ceased.

Wen Yuesheng, with her delicate, pale face and lips as red as fire, lazily leaned on the table, her eyes half-closed as she gazed at the guqin. “It must be very easy to fall asleep to your music.”

Yan Ling paused, his fingers leaving the guqin, leaving a strange sense of longing in their wake.

The vast Buddhist light poured down upon her, and the faint, calming sandalwood aroma surrounded them.

He remained still for a long time before his fingers returned to the strings.

The sound of the guqin resumed, its elegant melody mingling with the sandalwood scent, enveloping the room in a tranquil atmosphere.

When Xiao Jin and the emperor, along with several of his younger brothers, entered the hall, this was the scene they witnessed.

Before the golden Buddha, one person was playing the guqin, while another was lazily resting against the table, slowly drifting to sleep.

The hall was filled with an enchanting fragrance, and in the fleeting light, Wen Yuesheng’s face was tinted with a soft flush, making her appear tender and captivating, like a peach bathed in sweetness, with a delicate fragrance in her every breath.

She lay across the table, her golden robes flowing, with intricate Buddhist scriptures embroidered in the threads of the fabric.

Her brows and eyes seemed painted, and when her eyes were closed, she resembled the gentle, compassionate Bodhisattva in the paintings.

But her vibrant colors made the scene come alive, casting a sensual, dreamy aura over the room.

The guqin music stopped.

Her brothers, standing to the side, couldn’t help but direct their gaze at Yan Ling.

The person resting on the table lazily raised her head, her bewitching eyes meeting his.

But in her gaze, there was only coldness.

When the emperor saw this scene, he was momentarily stunned.

His son’s fiancée was leaning calmly next to his most valued official, falling asleep to the sound of his guqin, and only waking up lazily when they barged in.

It was almost…

Silent.

This was not a meditation hall, yet it felt eerily quiet.

Countless undercurrents were at play.

Wen Yuesheng slowly woke up, her expression natural.

She walked to the nearby copper basin to wash her hands.

In the eerie silence of the room, only the sound of her washing her hands could be heard.

The Buddhist monk leading her was quite good today.