Chapter 107: Nonsense

Su Liluo left Liuying at the manor to watch over the house, while taking the rest of her maids with her; Qingyi and Qingyao were absolutely essential to have by her side.

This was Su Liluo’s first time visiting a temple. She looked around with curiosity, yet maintained a polite demeanor. A young monk stood waiting on the steps to welcome her. "Patron Su, please follow me."

Led into the temple, Su Liluo arrived at the main hall. Liuzhu took three incense sticks, and Su Liluo pressed her hands together, holding them high above her head. She knelt before the golden, shining Buddha, closed her eyes, and prayed silently, "Buddha, please bless my late mother so that she may be reborn into a good family, and bless me and the servants in my courtyard with happiness and health."

Su Liluo opened her eyes and kowtowed three times. Liuzhu brought over a bamboo fortune-telling container and said with a bright smile, "Miss, why don't we shake it and see what your fortune holds?"

"Forget it. Let us go to the guest quarters first." Su Liluo had no interest in such things. Liuzhu put the container back in its place, looking disappointed. As Su Liluo was led by the young monk toward the quarters designated for guests, she encountered a nun dressed in gray-blue robes. The nun studied her face and said urgently, "Female patron, please stay a moment."

Su Liluo looked at her in surprise. She found the look in the nun's eyes strange, as if she were looking at an old acquaintance, yet Su Liluo had never met her before. She pointed to herself and asked, "Nun, are you calling me?"

"Indeed. Female patron, please wait. Let me cast a lot for you." Before Su Liluo could reply, the nun had already begun to calculate on her own. After a moment, seeing the nun open her eyes, Su Liluo asked, "What has the nun divined?"

Su Liluo did not entirely trust her, but seeing the woman’s persistence, she felt it would be rude to refuse and awaited the words with indifference.

"Female patron, your destiny shows you are no ordinary person. The phoenix is the king of all birds; you are destined for greatness in the future."

Su Liluo only smiled without a word. The nun, sensing her disbelief, said no more, knowing time would reveal the truth. She joined her palms together. "Amitabha. This humble nun shall take her leave."

Su Liluo stayed at the temple for the night. Early the next morning, she went to the main hall to chant scriptures and pray. Upon exiting, she found the temple grounds unusually quiet. She saw a man walking in from the front and, upon closer inspection, realized he was an acquaintance. She immediately bowed. "This subject’s daughter greets His Highness, Prince Jin."

"Miss Su, please dispense with the formalities. Why are you here?" Prince Jin asked in surprise. Su Hong had always been very friendly toward him, but since the Su family already had a daughter betrothed to the Crown Prince, he assumed Su Hong’s favor was merely personal and had never entertained any thoughts regarding Su Liluo.

Seeing him, Su Liluo finally understood why Su Hong had allowed her to leave the manor so easily to pray for her mother; it turned out he had such intentions. However, since the Prince had asked, she could not remain silent and explained her purpose, though she felt a surge of anger building inside.

After listening, Prince Jin praised her loudly, "Miss Su truly possesses filial piety. I have heard of your mother’s deeds on the battlefield; she is a role model for us all, and I admire her greatly."

Seeing Su Liluo’s dignified and graceful appearance, Prince Jin nodded inwardly, acknowledging that this was indeed the proper manner for the eldest daughter of a Prime Minister’s household. He showed her a measure of goodwill, yet Su Liluo remained unchanged, treating him with the same respectful distance.

Yun Yanyi received the report from a servant. "Prince Jin went to the temple as well? You said yesterday that Su Liluo went to the temple—are they both at the same place now?"

"Exactly. His Highness Prince Jin went early this morning. They have likely already met by now." As the servant spoke, Yun Yanyi suppressed his thoughts and immediately called out, "Someone, prepare my horse! I am going to the temple to offer prayers."

Leng Feng led two horses to the entrance of the Prince Yi estate. Yun Yanyi changed into dark robes and vaulted onto his horse. "Giddyap!" With a snap of the whip, the horses galloped away.

Leng Feng followed closely, with the rest of the guard detail mounting up as well. Half an hour later, Yun Yanyi dismounted at the temple entrance. No sooner had he stepped inside than he saw Prince Jin. Yun Yanyi immediately greeted him, "Prince Jin, are you here to offer incense too?"

"Uncle Yi, why have you come?" Prince Jin looked at Yun Yanyi with suspicion.

"Oh, these few days mark the anniversary of the Great General's passing. She was a rare heroine, and I have come to offer a stick of incense in her memory," Yun Yanyi said with a nostalgic tone.

Prince Jin raised an eyebrow in surprise. "What a coincidence. Miss Su is also here, and for the same reason."

"Is that so? What a coincidence indeed. Miss Su is truly a paragon of filial piety. The Great General has a fine daughter; she can rest in peace knowing this," Yun Yanyi added.

Just then, Su Liluo walked over and heard Yun Yanyi slandering her. "Miss Su has such grace now. Does the Crown Prince regret his choice? To have rejected such a capable woman... what do you think, Prince Jin?"

"Hmm... perhaps." Prince Jin felt extremely awkward seeing Su Liluo, but Yun Yanyi continued unabated. "Sigh, the Prime Minister truly favors Liuo. Even when I petitioned the Emperor, he refused. I was truly heartbroken at the time."

"Is that so?" Su Liluo gritted her teeth, watching this shameless man spout nonsense. Heartbroken? What a pack of lies.

"Your Highness, Prince Jin, I shall take my leave now." Su Liluo didn't even look at Yun Yanyi, turning to walk away with her maids, whispering under her breath, "Shameless..."

Yun Yanyi heard her and let out a stifled laugh, the corner of his mouth curling upward; he seemed to be in an excellent mood.

Prince Jin felt caught in the middle and uncomfortable. He advised Yun Yanyi, "Uncle Yi, this concerns Miss Su’s reputation; we should not discuss it here. I shall take my leave first."

Yun Yanyi felt that the air was much easier to breathe now. He had only spoken a few words, and the man had already fled; it seemed his resolve was not very firm.

Sitting in her room, Su Liluo muttered to herself, "He is truly like a lingering ghost. How did he follow me to the temple? How could he have known I was here?"

She then realized that with Yun Yanyi’s vast network, tracking her whereabouts was simple, especially since the entire Su household knew she was going to the temple.

By evening, Su Liluo had not stepped outside, fearing she would run into Yun Yanyi again. After eating her vegetarian meal, she walked around the courtyard with her maids for a while. After washing up and lying in bed, she tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Staring at the top of the canopy, she let out a groan and sat up, throwing on a robe and pouring herself a cup of water at the table.

Suddenly, there was a sound by the window. Su Liluo calmly set down her teacup and looked at the intruder. "You really did come."

"Was Miss Su waiting for me?" Yun Yanyi chuckled, his tone filled with smugness.

"You are truly arrogant. Tell me, why did you follow me here? As a Prince, do you have nothing better to do than act like a stalker?" Su Liluo asked angrily, her eyes wide.

She expected him to be offended by her insults, but instead, he acted as if he had gone mad, casting a few flirtatious glances her way. It made Su Liluo’s skin crawl. "Prince Yi, have you gone insane from my insults?"

"Luo, you are truly heartless. I haven't sought you out for a few days, and you have already become fickle, coming to the temple with Prince Jin. Are you trying to abandon me?" Yun Yanyi’s gravelly voice made Su Liluo furious. "Can you stop slandering me and Prince Jin? We are perfectly innocent; there is absolutely nothing between us!"

She wanted to find something to plug the man’s mouth. His nonsense was infuriating; thankfully, no one else had heard him, or her reputation would be utterly destroyed.

"Is that so? But I don't believe it. How can you prove it?" Yun Yanyi stepped closer. Su Liluo backed away until her body hit the dressing table. She braced her hands against it, only to be hemmed in by Yun Yanyi, who leaned over her.