Chapter 3: A Withered Peach Blossom

Wang Baochuan had a seven-treasure dagger made. The blade of the dagger was like the claws of a flying eagle, sharp and jagged. If it injured someone, it would inevitably leave a peculiar and obvious wound.

She proudly showed the dagger to Prime Minister Wang, and then pretended to let her brother-in-law, Su Long, take a look.

Su Long said that her dagger was very unique, even he, who had been a soldier for many years, had never seen such a thing.

Wang Baochuan smiled inwardly, that was exactly the effect she wanted.

A few days later, her mother mentioned marriage again.  It was always about the same thing, court officials wanting to form alliances with their family, and her father being torn between them.

Her mother didn’t want her to marry into a complicated and deep-rooted family, so she intended to have her consider Wei Bao, her second sister’s brother-in-law.

Wang Baochuan felt a surge of disgust.  Speaking of Wei Bao, she certainly remembered what he had done to her.  If he hadn’t pretended to be a bandit and kidnapped her, she wouldn’t have met Xue Pinggui.  Later, the child in her belly was also lost due to Wei Bao’s pursuit, she hated Wei Bao.

“Mother, I still want to spend more time with you, I don’t want to get married so early.” She said with a coquettish smile.

Mrs. Wang looked at her with worry and love, she didn’t know what would become of her most beloved daughter.

“You.” Mrs. Wang was helpless against her, “The fifteenth is in two days, Mother wants to take you all to Xishan Temple to offer incense, you should also pray for your marriage.”

“Yes, Mother.” Wang Baochuan said sweetly.

She returned to her room, outside the window, withered autumn leaves swirled and fell, a desolate scene.

“Wang Baochuan!”

Wang Yinchuan’s voice came from outside the courtyard, she was full of energy and stormed in.

Wang Baochuan was a little confused, they were both their mother’s daughters, her elder sister was gentle and kind, why was her second sister so quick-tempered?

“I don’t understand! What’s wrong with Wei Bao! He’s young and has already achieved great military feats, he’s handsome and from a good family! It’s your good fortune that he likes you, don’t be ungrateful!”

Wang Baochuan clenched her hands, she said good-naturedly, “If you think Wei Bao is so good, why did you marry your second brother-in-law?”

“You!”

“Second Sister, don’t be angry, I’m just asking for advice.” Wang Baochuan pinched her cheek, but she slapped her hand away.

She smiled and said, “Don’t be angry, look, anger makes you age faster.”

“Qiu Yue, don’t you think Second Sister looks older than Big Sister?”

Wang Yinchuan’s maid lowered her head, not daring to speak.

Wang Yinchuan had come to persuade her younger sister to agree to the marriage with Wei Bao, but as soon as she saw her, she couldn’t help but lose her temper, and now she was being teased.

“Wang Baochuan! Don’t regret it!”

Her face was ashen as she cursed, then she left with a huff.

That day, the Prime Minister’s family went to Xishan Temple to offer incense in a grand procession.

With such a heavily guarded convoy, how could she be kidnapped by a lone bandit?  Didn’t anyone suspect an inside man?

Wang Baochuan touched the seven-treasure dagger hidden at her waist and sighed helplessly.

It took half a day’s carriage ride to reach Xishan Temple.  They entered the temple, burned incense, and prayed to Buddha.

The afternoon sun was warm, shining on people, making them feel a little drowsy.

Wang Baochuan yawned, Xiaolian immediately came over to help her to the Zen room for a nap.  She thought about the strange dream she had in her previous life, forget it, she didn’t want to sleep, even in her dreams she didn’t want to see that heartless man who had killed her.

She motioned for Xiaolian to leave and walked around the courtyard by herself.  Unconsciously, she reached the abbot’s courtyard.  The old abbot was playing chess under a tree.

Wang Baochuan, in a daze, went over to ask the master to interpret her dream.  She told the abbot everything she had dreamed in her previous life and asked him to interpret it.

The abbot looked at her eyebrows and hesitated for a moment before saying, “Anyone who appears in a dream should not be able to see their eyebrows and eyes clearly.  If you clearly saw the person’s appearance, and the person in the dream was a young man, then if the person is not already deceased, they must be someone you are destined not to be with.”

“What does it mean to be destined not to be with?” Wang Baochuan asked.