Chapter 67

Li Da had been chatting with several of the Shen family’s servants in the corridor by the shadow wall, talking about the interesting events happening outside. He was momentarily stunned when he saw Shui Bi helping Shen Wei over. Not daring to delay, he quickly stood up to greet them. However, before he could ask any questions, he heard Shen Wei speak first, saying, “Go to the Xishan Temple…”

What?

Xishan Temple?

Li Da thought he must have misheard. His face wore a confused expression, and just as he was about to ask, Shui Bi shot him a cold glare and said, “Aren’t you going to get ready?”

With Shui Bi’s words, Li Da dared not delay. He quickly responded with an “Ah,” and, though full of questions, put on his rain cloak and rushed to bring the carriage. Once Shui Bi had helped Madam Shen into the carriage and she was seated comfortably, Li Da couldn’t help but lean toward Shui Bi and ask in a low voice, “Miss Shui Bi, are we really going to Xishan Temple?”

In this heavy rain, is there something that must be done today?

Upon hearing this, Shui Bi’s already unpleasant expression deepened. Not wanting to reveal her frustration in front of Madam Shen, she simply glared at Li Da, her voice cold as she reprimanded him, “Don’t just stand there, move!”

Seeing her like this, Li Da didn’t dare say more. He gave a small “Ah” again, then raised his whip and started the carriage. Despite wearing a rain cloak and conical hat, the heavy rain still drenched him, and the wind cut through him as he hurriedly drove the carriage. As he wiped the rain off his face, he couldn’t help but mutter inwardly, Madam’s actions today are becoming more and more difficult to understand. But even though he didn’t understand, since the order had come from above, they had no choice but to follow.

With that thought, he raised his whip again and called out, “Go!”

The wide official road was unusually empty due to the rain, so their carriage moved along unobstructed toward Xishan Temple.

Inside the carriage.

Shui Bi held a clean handkerchief, wiping the dampened skirt and hair of Shen Wei. The summer clothes were thin, and after some time, the fabric dried. Shui Bi knelt behind Shen Wei and began to comb her hair. As she worked, she couldn’t help but glance at Shen Wei’s face and, in a tentative tone, spoke, “Madam, you…”

Before she could finish her sentence…

Shen Wei cut her off, saying, “I know what you want to ask. Don’t ask, don’t say anything. Let me think for a moment.”

She was well aware that her actions today were quite bold and might raise suspicions if anyone else saw, but she genuinely wanted to go. The first reason was that with Liang Lingyue’s temperament, if he couldn’t see her, he would simply wait in vain. The second reason was that she wanted to take a look at her own heart…

Upon hearing this, Shui Bi didn’t press further. She continued to comb Shen Wei’s hair, but her gaze still lingered on her face. She sighed inwardly as she watched Shen Wei with her lowered eyes, lost in thought.

Later—

The carriage ride was silent except for the sound of the wind and rain outside, disrupting the stillness within.

Behind their carriage, there was another one, with a green cloth canopy and a rounded top. This carriage had been following them from the city, staying at a distance. If it hadn’t been for the rain, those in front would have noticed it, but with the storm, no one paid attention.

—-

When the carriage finally arrived at the entrance of Xishan Temple, an hour had passed.

Li Da quickly jumped out of the carriage, set up the footstool, and waited. Soon, Shui Bi got off the carriage first, holding an umbrella and helping Shen Wei down.

Shen Wei had not informed the temple of her visit, so the temple naturally wasn’t expecting her. A young monk, dressed in a rain cloak and sweeping the grounds outside, noticed her and froze for a moment. After the initial shock, he set down his broom and approached Shen Wei. When he reached her, he clasped his hands together and bowed, then asked, “What brings you here today, Madam?”

After speaking, he quickly added, “Would you like me to call Master Fayan to come meet you?” Usually, when visitors came, Master Fayan would be the one to greet them.

Shen Wei shook her head and replied, looking up at the temple sign hanging above, “No, I’ll go in myself.”

The young monk didn’t say anything further. Since she visited here every month, and today the temple wasn’t busy, there was no need to worry about disturbing anyone. He bowed again and said, “As you wish, Madam.”

After he spoke, he stepped aside to let her pass.

Seeing this, Shen Wei didn’t move forward immediately. She glanced once more at the temple sign before taking her first step toward the temple.

Shui Bi, although silent, couldn’t help but keep her eyes on Shen Wei. The heavy rain made the path slippery, and with no monks around, the place felt eerily quiet. As they got closer to the plum grove, Shui Bi’s face revealed a hint of hesitation. However, recalling what Shen Wei had said in the carriage earlier, she decided against speaking up.

Shen Wei remained silent as well.

The rain hadn’t stopped; if anything, it had grown heavier. Though the path was paved with stone, there were still muddy patches. Shen Wei walked quietly, and as they neared the plum grove, her steps slowed.

Seeing her like this, Shui Bi assumed she regretted it and quickly said, “Madam, shall we go back?”

However, Shen Wei did not respond. She only looked distantly at the plum grove. In the August weather, the grove appeared barren, with nothing but bare branches. She stood a few steps away from it for a while before speaking, “You wait in the corridor. I will go in myself.”

“Madam…”

Shui Bi couldn’t let Shen Wei go in alone. She opened her mouth to say something but was silenced when she met Shen Wei’s gaze. Lowering her head, she didn’t speak further, handed the umbrella to Shen Wei, and bowed, saying, “I will wait for you in the corridor. If you need anything, just call me.”

After Shen Wei nodded, Shui Bi didn’t say anything more. She watched as Shen Wei walked ahead with the umbrella. Shui Bi clenched her teeth, then hurried to the corridor to wait.

Although Shui Bi stood in the corridor, her mind was focused on the plum grove in the distance. The rain and wind outside made it impossible to hear what was being said over there. As she thought of this, a sense of unease spread across her face.

If she weren’t afraid of being noticed by Madam, she would have followed to listen to what they were talking about.

Those in the Jianghu were always reckless in their actions. If Liang Lingyue really did suggest taking Madam away, what would happen then? Shui Bi’s face grew anxious as she pondered this.

As she was lost in thought, a figure suddenly appeared beside her. Shui Bi, always alert, noticed the movement immediately, despite her distracted thoughts. Her back stiffened when she realized someone had silently approached.

Turning her stiff neck, she saw a man, and she relaxed slightly. She immediately knelt on one knee and respectfully greeted, “Master.”

The man heard her and responded with a soft “Hmm.”

Even as he spoke, he still held the jade pendant in his hand, his gaze fixed on the distant plum grove.

After Shui Bi got up, she lowered her head and stood behind the man. The rain continued to fall, and after waiting a long time without hearing the man speak, she glanced up and asked, “Master, are we waiting here? Madam is alone over there…”

The man paused, still holding the jade pendant, his gaze remaining on the plum grove. After a long silence, he finally spoke softly, “No need.”

—-

Plum Grove

Shen Wei, holding the umbrella, walked into the plum grove.

Although the plum grove at Xishan Temple wasn’t very large, it wasn’t small either. Even though the trees were bare, it was still not easy to find someone. She walked forward, glancing around, when she suddenly heard a soft voice behind her, “You’ve come.”

The voice was warm amidst the wind and rain.

Shen Wei turned around and saw a young man standing under an old plum tree not far away.

The man wore a moon-white embroidered robe, holding an umbrella in one hand and a jade flute in the other. Despite the heavy rain, his features remained clear, his face warm and his demeanor elegant. Liang Lingyue smiled when he saw Shen Wei looking at him.

He took a few steps toward her, and when he reached her, he lowered his smile and gently said, “I knew you would come.”

Shen Wei heard his words but didn’t reply immediately. She glanced at Liang Lingyue, noticing that his clothes were damp, and furrowed her brows. “Have you been here long?”

Liang Lingyue didn’t expect her first words to be this. He paused, then smiled and said, “Not long…” After a moment, he added, “I’ve been here since morning. I was worried you might not find me, so I didn’t leave.”

It was already close to noon, and this man had been waiting here for over two hours?

Shen Wei’s eyes showed a bit of disapproval as she held the umbrella. Her gaze moved upward to his face, and as she looked at the familiar features, she spoke, “If I didn’t come…”

Before she could finish—

Liang Lingyue interrupted with a smile, “I knew you would come.” He kept his gaze on Shen Wei, watching her pause in surprise, and added, “Since you’ve come, everything is worth it.”

He continued to speak, “I invited you here today because I have something on my mind… Although we’ve met only a few times, I’m always drawn to you whenever I see you. I can’t forget you no matter how hard I try.”

Shen Wei had already suspected what Liang Lingyue might say, but hearing his direct words still left her a little stunned.

Before she could respond—

Liang Lingyue continued, still smiling, “In the beginning, I hesitated and was afraid…” His smile deepened as he spoke, his tone lifting slightly, “It’s almost laughable, but I never thought I would feel fear because of a matter of love.”

“But it’s true—”

“I think about you every day, wanting to see you, wanting to express my feelings, but every time I see you, I can’t say anything. I don’t even have the courage to speak to you. If it weren’t for Princess Changping, I might still be unable to stand here before you and say these words.”

Liang Lingyue finished speaking the words in his heart, and the smile on his face deepened significantly.

The wind and rain were still fierce. Liang Lingyue shifted his body to shield her from most of the storm. He continued to lower his eyes, looking at Shen Wei’s face, and said, “I know that Madam’s status is important, and these words may not be something you can process immediately. There’s no need to answer me right away. Whenever you’ve thought things through, just send someone to Zui Xiang Lou to find me. I will wait for you.”

After his words, Liang Lingyue smiled gently and added, “The reason I asked Madam out today was just to share these feelings with you, so I won’t have regrets later. As for how you choose, that’s entirely up to you. Madam need not worry about my words. Just follow your heart.”

Shen Wei hadn’t spoken at all. She quietly listened to Liang Lingyue.

The storm still hadn’t passed—

She continued to look up at him, and under his gaze, her expression remained composed. Finally, she spoke, “I don’t need time to think. I can answer you now.”