Chapter 35: Going to Fayun Temple

After Mo Ying left, Jiang Huaiyue sat down nearby with a sullen face, gritting her teeth and shouting, “So annoying!”

Qiuchan pursed her lips, picked up the rice ball on the ground, and stuffed it into Fuyao’s arms. “Sister Fuyao, the rice ball wants to go out and play. Take it for a walk.”

Fuyao had been by Jiang Huaiyue’s side for days and knew that the prince was guarding her, but she didn’t care.

Holding the silly cat in her arms, she left without a word.

After Fuyao left, Qiuchan asked, “Princess, can we still leave?”

Jiang Huaiyue sighed, “Let’s wait and see how things go first.”

She really didn’t understand what Pei Ji was thinking—why would he want to take her along when going to Fayun Temple?

Night fell.

Jiang Huaiyue soaked in the bath, reaching into the water to scoop up a rose petal, lost in thought.

She was still trying to figure out how to avoid going to Fayun Temple. Should she pretend to be sick?

But Pei Ji was unpredictable. If he found out she was faking, who knew what he might do?

Outside the house, Qiuchan saw a tall, graceful figure from afar. When the person entered the courtyard and she saw his face clearly, she quickly bowed and greeted, “Greetings, Prince.”

Pei Ji didn’t look away as he stepped toward the house. Qiuchan hurried, “Prince, the princess is bathing. Please wait a moment; I’ll call her.”

As she spoke, Qiuchan tried to enter, but Mo Ying quickly pulled her back.

“The prince has something to say to the princess. Don’t go in.” He looked at Qiuchan sternly.

Qiuchan hesitated, “But the princess is bathing.”

“They are husband and wife.” Mo Ying’s voice was cold.

Qiuchan’s eyes showed worry as she silently prayed that the princess was alright.

Inside the house, Pei Ji walked toward the inner chamber. Candlelight flickered by the bath, and thin mist hovered over the water.

Jiang Huaiyue heard footsteps and thought it was Qiuchan, so she called out, “Qiuchan, wash my hair for me.”

After a moment without reply, she turned to see Pei Ji instead, her face instantly stiffening.

When did he come in?

Jiang Huaiyue shrank down in the water, letting it cover her shoulders, and smiled awkwardly, “Prince, why are you here?”

Pei Ji glanced at her and said calmly, “I heard the princess doesn’t want to go to Fayun Temple with me?”

Jiang Huaiyue: “…………”

Mo Ying told her to talk to Pei Ji herself, but now he was confronting her like this behind her back?

“Um, Prince, maybe you should go out first. Let me put on clothes before we talk?”

She really didn’t want to speak with him in this situation.

The person in the pool wore a blank expression, her fair cheeks flushed faintly by the mist. Her lively eyes seemed to be speaking.

Pei Ji suddenly felt warmth for no reason and turned to leave, flicking his sleeves.

When he left, Jiang Huaiyue breathed a sigh of relief, slowly coming out of the water. Her well-shaped body attracted attention everywhere.

She picked up the clothes draped over the screen and dressed quickly, twisting her hair before going outside.

Outside, Pei Ji sat cross-legged on the soft couch by the window. Suddenly, a sweet fragrance filled his nose. Looking up, he saw Jiang Huaiyue coming out.

“Prince, have some tea.” She poured a cup from the table and placed it in front of him.

Pei Ji lifted his eyelids, his gaze deep and intense. “Why don’t you want to go?”

His eyes were filled with suspicion—was she afraid he would see through something?

Jiang Huaiyue lowered her eyes and answered softly, “I have a problem — whenever I go to a temple, I feel uneasy and anxious.”

“Is that so?” Pei Ji looked at her with a calm tone.

“It’s true, and besides, I promised to play with A Yan tomorrow. Maybe it’s better if the prince goes alone.” Jiang Huaiyue looked up and nodded, then brought A Yan out.

She thought that perhaps, for A Yan’s sake, he would agree.

Pei Ji leisurely picked up the tea on the table and said, “As for A Yan, I have already made arrangements. Tomorrow at the gate, I will be waiting for you, Miss.”

The more she didn’t want to go, the more it showed there was something hidden.

Jiang Huaiyue caught the meaning in his words — it was not to be refused. She lowered her eyes and silently thought, “Damn man.”

Pei Ji glanced over her face, seeing the unhappiness in her eyes. Without a word, he put down the cup and stood up to leave.

Qiuchan ran in from outside, “Miss, are you alright?”

She scanned her from head to toe, worried.

Jiang Huaiyue waved her hand, “Go pack. We’re going to Fayuansi Temple tomorrow.”

“Oh, yes.” Qiuchan nodded in acknowledgment.

———

The next day, the weather was clear with blue skies and white clouds drifting by.

Jiang Huaiyue was woken early by Qiuchan from her bed. After dressing, she headed towards the manor’s gate.

Outside the manor, Mo Ying was waiting by a horse-drawn carriage. Seeing Jiang Huaiyue come out, he spoke to Pei Ji inside the carriage, “Prince, Miss has come out.”

Inside the carriage, Pei Ji heard this, folded the letter in his hand, and put it away in a secret compartment.

The letter was sent by He Lan, stating that before Jiang Huaiyue’s mother, Consort Rong, entered the palace, she indeed had a lover. This suggested that Jiang Huaiyue might very well not be Jiang Qi’s daughter.

However, the truth still needed to be carefully investigated.

Jiang Huaiyue was helped by Qiuchan into the carriage, and she still chose to sit as far from Pei Ji as possible.

After the carriage started moving, she glanced up and realized that she and Pei Ji were dressed somewhat like a couple today.

Because they were going to a temple, Jiang Huaiyue had picked out a simple-colored dress from her wardrobe. Unexpectedly, Pei Ji also changed out of his usual dark clothes into white robes.

The man dressed in white looked somewhat like a refined gentleman, but she knew it was only an illusion.

On the surface, he appeared gentle as jade; behind the scenes, he was ruthless and capable of anything.

“Why did the prince suddenly want to go to Fayuansi Temple?” Jiang Huaiyue hesitated for a while before asking.

Pei Ji leaned against the carriage and said, “Just to take a look.”

Jiang Huaiyue twitched her mouth—what a perfunctory answer.

“Oh.” She responded and said no more.

At the same time, as Pei Ji headed to Fayuansi Temple, news reached Jiang Jingchen.

“You mean the Regent Prince took Yun He to Fayuansi Temple?” Jiang Jingchen listened thoughtfully to the information from his subordinates.

The undercover agent replied, “Yes.”

Jiang Jingchen smiled slightly, “It seems my royal consort indeed has some skill. Since that’s the case, as her elder brother, I must naturally help her.”

Up to now, he increasingly believed marrying Yun He to Pei Ji was the right decision. Perhaps she really could help him deal with the thorn in his side that was Pei Ji.

Fayuansi Temple is located ten kilometers outside the capital. It’s a place rich in incense offerings, loved by nobles and commoners alike.

Having been in this era for so long, this was Jiang Huaiyue’s first time traveling so far by carriage. Although Pei Ji’s carriage was padded with soft cushions, she still felt the jolts aching all over.

Perhaps it was because her body was too weak. She thought she really needed to exercise more.

Looking at the person sitting next to her playing chess, Jiang Huaiyue truly admired him. After traveling so long, his posture remained upright and his expression unchanged.