Chapter 64

After the exposure of the Matchmaker Temple, Xiao Heng, being next to the Wuyun Temple, immediately recalled that nine years ago, the late emperor had sought shelter at the Wuyun Temple after returning from a mountain trip and encountering heavy rain.

The Wuyun Temple enjoyed high prestige in the capital, with legends of five Buddhas descending on five auspicious clouds to meditate, prompting the construction of the temple by later generations. Coupled with its proximity to the neighboring Matchmaker Temple, it seemed to suggest a bundled offering, where dignitaries and nobles would first seek blessings from the Buddha, make offerings, and then proceed to the Matchmaker Temple to seek marital fortunes.

The Wuyun Temple housed five esteemed monks, renowned for their virtue and dedication to meditation and scripture recitation, leading an austere and secluded life.

Since the late emperor did not believe in Buddhism and the revered monks remained in seclusion, the two sides never crossed paths.

Xiao Heng, having received kindness from the Buddhist community, refrained from disturbing such sacred grounds unless absolutely necessary. Considering the late emperor’s brief stay and the numerous encounters along his journey, after initially ruling out the possibility of the Wuyun Temple, Xiao Heng had not paid much attention to it.

During Chu Zhaoyou’s previous peril at the Matchmaker Temple, despite the Emperor’s desperate cries for help, no one had responded.

He had heavily penalized the Matchmaker Temple. Considering the public’s fondness for it, he didn’t raze the temple nor redirect his anger to the neighboring temple.

In hindsight, he had shown mercy.

The location where Zhang Huiji appeared was adjacent to the Wuyun Temple, just a wall away, marking the connecting point between the entire Matchmaker Temple and the Wuyun Temple.

The Buddhist temple exuded tranquility, while the Matchmaker Temple was in disarray, with everyone aware of the Emperor and Wei Shuangshuang’s visit. Being in such close proximity to the incident of the Emperor’s assassination, even if the monks refrained from worldly matters, if investigated, it could lead to charges of failing to protect the Emperor.

Xiao Heng had a hunch that there was something amiss in these two places. First, Feng Xingzhou had an in-depth understanding of Buddhism, making it easy for people to lower their guard. Secondly, he possessed some abilities that he couldn’t openly disclose, so he sent him to investigate.

Feng Xingzhou did not disappoint, uncovering the bones buried deep beneath the lotus pond.

After being buried for several years, the bones were in disarray, and the clothing was in tatters, a dark mass. However, a faintly gleaming golden thread was found intertwined in the fabric. A brief rinse with water revealed a dim but resplendent gold.

Upon seeing the direction of the golden thread, Feng Xingzhou was certain it was a high-quality monk’s robe.

Only the five esteemed monks of the Wuyun Temple were qualified to incorporate gold threads into their robes.

Strangely, all five monks were still alive.

…

Startled by the experience, Lu Jinghuan sought solace from Chu Zhaoyou, but before entering, he was led to inhale a particular herb for a quarter of an hour.

“The Master insisted on taking me to the Matchmaker Temple…” Lu Jinghuan said, wearing a troubled expression.

Chu Zhaoyou twitched his nose. “The scent of herbs on you is quite strong.”

Lu Jinghuan sniffed and, having also inhaled the scent for a quarter of an hour, found that the aroma on him was even stronger than that of a eunuch’s, with a slightly bitter tinge. He expressed his sympathy, “Pregnancy is truly perilous.”

Chu Zhaoyou picked up a loquat and changed the subject, “After going to the Matchmaker Temple, what happened next?”

“The Matchmaker Temple was crowded, and everyone was watching us,” Lu Jinghuan said, visibly fearful. He felt that the gazes of the young women and older ladies were particularly terrifying, as if they wanted to capture the Grand Preceptor.

“Then we walked to a secluded area and arrived at a small courtyard, where we saw a stone-built lotus pond.”

Chu Zhaoyou asked, “Was there an artificial mountain in the lotus pond made of lingbi stones, and then you started looking at the lotus?”

Wasn’t this the place Wei Shuangshuang had taken him to for their forced date last time?

“Exactly, that’s it,” Lu Jinghuan nodded, his expression complex. “Suddenly, someone spoke to the Grand Preceptor from behind the wall, claiming to be a monk from the Wuyun Temple, expressing great respect for the Grand Preceptor and wishing to have an audience with him.”

The monk seemed excited, as if meeting the Buddha himself.

Lu Jinghuan walked to the base of the wall, trying to peek at the person on the other side but couldn’t see. He then turned to observe Feng Xingzhou’s reaction, his eyes betraying a subtle and imperceptible sense of anxiety and hope.

Feng Xingzhou’s expression was quite composed at the time. He emphatically and coldly rebuffed the monk, seeking to distance himself from any association, “I have returned to secular life.”

Lu Jinghuan visibly relaxed.

Upon hearing the disappointment in the monk’s voice from the Wuyun Temple, Chu Zhaoyou spat out the loquat peel. It seemed that Feng Xingzhou received different treatment indeed; he had his own admirer even behind a wall. When Chu Zhaoyou had called out so loudly, the monks collectively seemed to have conveniently passed by.

Distance truly made a difference, but Lu Jinghuan was still adorable.

“After the conversation, the Grand Preceptor suddenly led me away from the Matchmaker Temple. Later, I heard that a monk’s remains were found buried in the lotus pond,” Lu Jinghuan added.

The loquat in Chu Zhaoyou’s hand suddenly lost its sweetness at the mention of remains…

He wondered whether the dagger he had pulled from the lotus pond and used to stab Zhang Huiji could be the murder weapon. The dagger had only revealed a tip when he had been alone and in a desperate situation. Seeing a gleam of light, he had pulled it out, and it had turned out to be a dagger, surprisingly sharp. If it was the murder weapon, given that the body had turned to bones and the dagger had been submerged in mud for so long, yet remained as sharp as ever, it was surely no ordinary item.

Chu Zhaoyou called for Qian Shicheng and asked him about the dagger’s current location.

Qian Shicheng replied, “The dagger has been lodged in Zhang Huiji’s body. It should have been taken as evidence after being thrown into the prison.”

“Quickly retrieve the dagger and see if there’s anything distinctive about it, something that can identify its owner,” Chu Zhaoyou instructed.

Having given his instructions, Chu Zhaoyou comforted Lu Jinghuan, saying, “There are still many other attractions in the capital. We’ll choose a better one next time.”

It was evident that Feng Xingzhou wanted to have a rendezvous with Lu Jinghuan. However, it was puzzling why he had chosen such a location. Leaving aside other factors, the proximity to their past travels made it highly probable for them to encounter others. Moreover, the discovery of a monk’s remains was unsettling.

Chu Zhaoyou added, “Don’t dwell on this. The person has passed away for so many years; it has nothing to do with you.”

Lu Jinghuan expressed his concern, “Will the Grand Preceptor have trouble sleeping at night? They’re both disciples of Buddhism, he must be deeply affected.”

Benevolence and compassion were inherent in monks.

Chu Zhaoyou hesitated slightly. It seemed that after all this talk, it wasn’t about his own shock but rather concern for Feng Xingzhou being shocked.

Could Lu Jinghuan have misunderstood Feng Xingzhou? He wasn’t a person of great compassion, and now that he had returned to secular life, he couldn’t possibly be perturbed while yearning for Lu Jinghuan.

Chu Zhaoyou asserted, “He won’t be. If you don’t believe me, go and check on him secretly in the middle of the night.”

Lu Jinghuan hesitated for a moment and said, “Alright.”

Chu Zhaoyou patted his shoulder and remarked, “It’s hopeless.”

Quickly, go back with your Preceptor.

…

At medicine time, the Regent appeared punctually at the entrance of the Funing Hall .

Chu Zhaoyou held the bowl, “Actually, I’m being especially obedient now.”

I really don’t need you to come and supervise me.

Xiao Heng said, “The medicine is too bitter. I want to feed you some candy.”

Last time, when Chu Zhaoyou felt nauseated, he had forced him to take the medicine straight, not even thinking of getting some sweets. The more he thought about it, the more he regretted it. Chu Zhaoyou was carrying their child, but all he had brought him was bitterness. During this tough period, he wanted to leave a little sweetness for him.

The sweetness he brought to Chu Zhaoyou, hoping to offset one-thousandth of the bitterness.

Chu Zhaoyou looked up and gave him a kiss, “Sweet.”

The physician hurriedly arrived, witnessing this scene, and covered his eyes in distress.

The moral standards of the world have declined!

Xiao Heng inquired, “But what happened?”

The old man took Chu Zhaoyou’s pulse and let out a sigh of relief, “Nothing.”

When Lu Jinghuan returned, the old man immediately detected an overpowering medicinal scent on him. Upon investigation, he indeed found bloodstains under his boots, similar to those found beneath the sweet potato vines.

The medicinal herb was designed to counter this; if anyone had suspicious bloodstains, the herb’s fumes would take effect and reveal the traces.

Feng Xingzhou happened to return, and the old man checked the soles of his boots but found nothing amiss.

Upon questioning Lu Jinghuan, it became apparent that the only place he had visited more than Feng Xingzhou was the base of the wall between the Wuyun Temple and the Matchmaker Temple.

Xiao Heng’s gaze turned sharp. It seemed that the Wuyun Temple was up to something!

“Throw the five abbots into the dungeon and interrogate them separately.”

Upon the discovery of the remains, Xiao Heng immediately notified Xie Chaoyun, ordering him to bring two thousand Imperial Guards to surround both the Wuyun Temple and the Matchmaker Temple.

Could it be possible that one of the old men, who had been together for decades, had been replaced, and the others couldn’t tell?

“Fabricate confessions from the four men, and then take turns interrogating the fifth person to immediately ascertain who the imposter is,” Xiao Heng said.

As soon as he finished speaking, Qian Shicheng returned with a dagger, reporting to Chu Zhaoyou.

“I and the others believe that this dagger resembles one used within the palace, but we cannot be certain.”

Xiao Heng lifted the silk cloth covering the dagger and observed the forging style, which resembled the tribute presented by the eunuch supervisor nine years ago.

These daggers, made from a unique iron ore, were of exceptional quality. The late emperor had bestowed them upon the Imperial Guards as a favor and had ordered a change in style for future batches.

He covered the dagger with the silk cloth, furrowing his brow.

During the period when the late emperor might have obtained the He Xin Gu, his guards had killed the monks from the Wuyun Temple.

The appearance of Miao Ruoqiu’s blood by the outer wall of the Wuyun Temple indicated that the owner of the He Xin Gu was within the Wuyun Temple.

The Regent suspected that the late emperor had obtained the He Xin Gu from the Wuyun Temple.

Chu Zhaoyou was somewhat taken aback when he heard this. “So, do they want it back now?”

But he couldn’t return it at the moment.

Xiao Heng responded, “If they only wanted to retrieve the He Xin Gu, they could have simply informed me of the method to neutralize it. Once I had lured out the He Xin Gu, they could have taken it back without resorting to using Miao Ruoqiu’s blood as bait. This doesn’t seem like the actions of a devout monk but more like someone aiming to overthrow the regime.”

It seemed that a mere Wuyun Temple had extended its influence to the coastal areas, intercepting the sweet potato vines, a feat impossible to achieve with just a few monks.

Chu Zhaoyou nodded in agreement, “It doesn’t seem likely.”

He had never seen anything like it, unlike the present scenario, with Feng Xingzhou accompanying Lu Jinghuan to apologize.

“I’m sorry for stepping on something I shouldn’t have. I nearly caused you harm,” Lu Jinghuan said, looking very remorseful.

“It’s fine. You’ve been a great help. I’ll treat you to dinner tonight,” Chu Zhaoyou replied, while keeping an eye on Feng Xingzhou. Suddenly, he remembered something: How did Xiao Heng and Feng Xingzhou know each other?

Lu Jinghuan mentioned that Feng Xing zhou had been in seclusion on the mountain for five years, refusing to enter secular life or be involved in worldly affairs. He only agreed to descend the mountain and assist Lu Jinghuan after earnest entreaties from the Dayan Emperor.

If Feng Xingzhou never descended the mountain, could it be that Xiao Heng went up the mountain instead?

Chu Zhaoyou realized that he knew nothing about Xiao Heng’s past. He had never heard about his parents or relatives, and he didn’t understand why Xiao Heng disliked actors.

Seeing Chu Zhaoyou staring at Feng Xingzhou for a long time, Xiao Heng interjected, “Five years ago, he was still…”

In the minds of Chu Zhaoyou and Lu Jinghuan, a single word surfaced.

Feng Xingzhou glanced at the Regent. “Why do you say this, Junior Brother?”

If anyone dared to bring it up again, they would forever be affectionate and loving brothers, the kind who would only ever look out for each other.

Chu Zhaoyou was astonished to learn that Feng Xingzhou and the Regent were actually brothers, and he couldn’t help but glance at the Regent’s hair. (I think what he meant by brothers were fellow monk)

The Regent hastily denied, “I only temporarily resided at his sect for a few years.”

Chu Zhaoyou inquired, “Why?”

Xiao Heng attempted to shift the conversation, saying, “It’s all in the past. We can talk about it another time if the opportunity arises.”

Feng Xingzhou’s gaze shifted between Xiao Heng and Chu Zhaoyou, suddenly realizing that he had approached the wrong person for information. He should have asked Chu Zhaoyou. He had a story about Xiao Heng that he could trade for.

After Feng Xingzhou left, Xiao Heng said to Chu Zhaoyou, “If Feng Xingzhou privately proposes a deal with you…”

“I would agree,” Chu Zhaoyou replied.

Fortunes change.

The Regent, unlike the Emperor, didn’t possess anything that could threaten Chu Zhaoyou into not making a deal.

Monks have a lot to say, but it’s not easy for them to find a wife.