Chapter 20: You Came to Me of Your Own Accord!

Chapter 20: You Brought This On Yourself!

Back up.

Back up.

Pei Yuhuai was screaming internally, but didn't dare make a sound. As he backed away, a shiny string of spit still hung from the corner of his mouth, pulling into a long, thin line.

Then it swayed and snapped.

Lan He, on the other hand, was totally unbothered, even taking his time to reach out and touch his reddened lips.

Pei Yuhuai was panicking. He shook Lan He's shoulders and pointed outside the carriage, hissing in a low voice, "The Crown Prince is here—don't let him come in!"

Speak of the devil and he shows up.

The Crown Prince had already walked up beside the carriage, close enough to hear even the slightest sound. Pei Yuhuai was so scared he barely dared to breathe.

It felt weirdly like getting caught cheating.

If the curtain were lifted, anyone outside would see the Marquis's Heir in the carriage, all disheveled, his lips a bright, shocking red.

And the composed, proper Grand Preceptor, leaning against the carriage wall, panting hard.

Luckily, the Crown Prince went around to the front of the carriage, with no intention of coming in. Instead, he bowed politely and called out.

"Is Master in the carriage?"

Lan He took a deep breath, trying to make his voice sound normal before answering, "What urgent business does Your Highness have?"

"Master, today when I got back to the palace, Father said Master did a divination for Ruo Ning. I'm worried—is her marriage fate really as you said?"

He was also afraid it was just a stopgap on Lan He's part.

It hit too close to home.

Pei Yuhuai moved very carefully, propping himself up next to Lan He, his face buried in Lan He's hair as he whispered softly, "See? Even the Crown Prince thinks so. You said that on purpose, didn't you?"

This monk was a real piece of work.

Lan He pulled himself together and spoke to the outside, "The Crown Prince need not worry. Since I said it, it's not an empty promise—the Princess will live a long, happy, and fulfilling life."

"Then, if her marriage fate truly lies with the Sang Kingdom's royal family, why delay it by a year? I don't understand, Master. Please explain."

"Heaven's secrets can't be revealed. Your Highness need not worry. Everyone has their own fate, and no one can change what's destined... ah..."

Lan He let out a stifled groan, grabbing Pei Yuhuai's wandering hand, glaring at him, eyes red.

Pei Yuhuai, caught red-handed, wasn't scared at all. He grinned and used his other hand to play with Lan He's hair, laughing like he didn't have a care in the world: "Grand Preceptor, your hair feels really nice."

Who knows if he was actually talking about the hair.

Lan He glared at him, annoyed, also lowering his voice: "How bold of you."

Heh.

Pei Yuhuai was feeling playful. He deliberately leaned in until their foreheads were almost touching: "Grand Preceptor, don't make a sound. If the Crown Prince hears—heh heh—I'll say you forced me, and your reputation will be destroyed."

He suddenly remembered how this guy had threatened him the same way on the street last time.

Suddenly, he wasn't scared anymore.

Lan He took a deep breath, his ears so red they looked like they'd bleed.

Pei Yuhuai's eyes went wide as he stared at him.

Finally, he'd gotten the upper hand.

How could he be so good-looking? No matter how much he looked, he couldn't get enough. He really should just give up being a monk.

The Crown Prince outside waited a while and heard nothing more, and asked, confused, "Master? Master?"

Lan He's face changed, and he had to keep talking, "It's nothing. Everyone has their own fate, and no one can change it. Your Highness doesn't need to worry—please head back to the palace as soon as possible."

He sat bolt upright, with a restless cat clinging to him—it was maddening.

The Crown Prince seemed to sense something was off and asked worriedly, "Is Master feeling unwell? It sounds like Master's voice is a bit different."

Lan He's fingers curled into tight fists.

Pei Yuhuai saw it and was thrilled, feeling a smug sense of victory. Too bad that triumph wouldn't last long.

Lan He sat there like a statue.

"Thanks for your concern, Your Highness. It might just be a cold."

"Then I'll have the imperial physician come."

"No need. I can write my own prescription. Your Highness should head back to the palace and help Your Father."

"But..."

"Amitabha. I need to get back to my place."

Lan He reached up and pulled the silk cord inside the carriage twice. The young monk driving got the signal, bowed politely to the Crown Prince, and drove off.

The Crown Prince could only watch the carriage get farther and farther away.

Pei Yuhuai felt the carriage move and jumped: "We're just leaving? You've got some nerve, ignoring the Crown Prince like that."

Lan He closed his eyes and didn't say anything, mentally planning his next move.

"Cat got your tongue? Not saying anything? No reaction at all? You really are a monk—long hair or not, you're still a monk. Fine, I'm here. Stop the carriage. I'm going home."

Lan He still didn't say anything.

"??"

Why isn't it stopping?

Pei Yuhuai threw open the curtain—and sure enough, this wasn't the road to the Marquis's place, nor the road to Qingwu Manor. This was clearly the road out of the city.

"Where are you going? I'm already home—why did you change course?"

Lan He gave a sinister smile: "His Royal Highness the Hereditary Prince is so restless. Let me help cool you down. What, you don't like that?"

"What are you doing? Trying to get revenge on me? What can a monk even do? Tsk, scared as a mouse, chanting Amitabha all day. So boring."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes, let me down now."

"Don't forget, young lord, this humble monk cannot break his vows a second time, but there are other things that can help you cool down. For instance, the 'horn master' (a sex toy) used last time—if you liked it, I could also provide you with a 'buzzing bell' (another toy)."

"???"

Pei Yuhuai was stunned, his eyes as wide as saucers.

Last time, he hadn't even seen what it was, assuming the stinky monk had just grabbed some random thing. He never expected it to be an actual specialty toy.

And there was more than one kind!

"You—you perverted monk!" Pei Yuhuai pointed at him. "How does a monk like you even have these things? You're an insult and a disgrace to Buddha, and you still dare to chant his name!"

Lan He calmly raised his head and met his gaze. "It was you, young lord, who forced me to break my vows and humiliate the Buddhist faith. Have you forgotten, young lord?"

"I..."

At the mention of this, Pei Yuhuai felt a twinge of guilt.

In his memory and understanding, he had forced Lan He, forcing a monk to beg for mercy in bed, and he'd only gotten worse, more vicious and inhuman.

Last time, after all, it was to save him—the method was wrong, but it still saved him.

So from that angle, it seemed like he was the one at fault.

Pei Yuhuai's face darkened, not wanting to admit his wrongdoings, and he snapped, "I already said it was an accident. Why are you, a monk, being so petty? Buddha won't blame you; if anyone's at fault, it's me. I'll go to Jiyuan Temple in a few days and sincerely confess my sins."

"Then why not compensate this humble monk for his losses right now?"

"What?"

Whoa...

The horse sped up, not heading out of the city, but into a secluded spot where there was a pristine lake.

Before Pei Yuhuai could even see where he was, he was jolted dizzy, bounced up and down.

He landed right in Lan He's arms.

Lan He looked down at the bewildered young lord, raising an eyebrow with disdain. "The young lord is nothing special—only brave with words, not daring to make a move when you're alone."

That was too insulting.

Pei Yuhuai's temper flared up instantly. He climbed on top, straddling Lan He, and grabbed his chin. "Fine, you stinky monk, you dare look down on me? You asked for this!"