Chapter 25: That Thought of Yours Is Dangerous

Chapter 25: Your Way of Thinking Is Very Dangerous

He was holding Lan He, not sensing any strange change in his body, only bewilderment: "This world... what does that mean?"

Alright.

Lan He wasn't.

"Nothing, just that in this age we live in, you seem to be hiding a secret. Are you really a monk? Are you actually a monk?"

He had a faint feeling that Lan He harbored some secret, and that secret seemed to be related to himself, like a sword dangling over his head.

He expected Lan He not to answer.

"Yes, I entered the monastic life at five, and have been in the Buddhist order ever since."

"..."

Pei Yuhuai went quiet and did not ask further.

He didn't know why his heart had pounded so strangely just now; it was a feeling he couldn't put into words.

He genuinely revered the Buddha in his heart, but just now he had truly been afraid of that Buddha statue, wishing he could get away immediately.

It seemed...

as if he was avoiding something bad.

After a long pause.

Lan He finally spoke slowly: "Pei Hang, do you want to do it in front of the Buddha?"

Pei Yuhuai: "???"

His eyes went wide in shock, nearly bulging out.

"You... you're really a monk? You're not fooling me? Are you a phony??"

How could a monk be so disrespectful to the Buddhist faith?

This would incur heaven's wrath.

Lan He nodded seriously: "Of course I am. I've always recited scriptures and worshipped the Buddha, hoping the Buddha would witness all that is beautiful."

"You..."

"Don't you want to try being bold in front of the Buddha? If the Buddha has divine power, worst case, we go to hell, right?"

Pei Yuhuai shook his head vigorously: "Your way of thinking is very dangerous."

He wasn't that eager to court death, nor that shameless. He couldn't do it, absolutely couldn't.

Lan He let out a disappointed sigh: "I thought the young lord would be thrilled."

"??"

Who exactly is this pervert?

He was about to say something more when Pei Yuhuai clamped his hand over his mouth: "Stop it, stop it. The Buddha has heard it all. If you don't want to live, I do. Go, go, hurry up."

Pei Yuhuai dragged him out by force.

Lan He smiled as he watched him walk away.

It's not enough.

-

Pei Yuhuai pulled Lan He out of the Buddha hall and was about to head back to the side room to sleep, when it sounded like there were voices at the front gate, with lanterns glowing.

That damn curiosity.

"Lan He, let's go check it out."

Lan He didn't answer but followed along.

Sure enough, someone had come up the mountain. It was none other than Princess Ruoning, and someone else—Sang Qing.

Sang Qing had Ruoning on her back. She was also surprised to see Lan He and Pei Yuhuai.

"Your Highness Prince Sangqing?" Pei Yuhuai quickly stepped forward to help, asking, "What's wrong with the princess?"

Sang Qing looked a little embarrassed: "The princess wanted to come with us to see the sights of the Sang Kingdom, but unexpectedly she fell seriously ill on the way. Helpless, I had to bring her back. I heard there is a Venerable Nun here who is very skilled, and since we happened to pass by, I wanted to come up and pay respects..."

Why would the princess want to go out?

Though puzzled, Pei Yuhuai still shared what he knew: "The Venerable Nun is indeed skilled in medicine and quite capable. Let's bring the princess over."

"Alright."

"Wait." Lan He frowned at Princess Ruoning. "Let this humble monk try first."

"National Preceptor? Right, right."

Sang Qing hastily helped Princess Ruoning inside, and everyone together seated her in a chair. Sang Qing supported her from the side.

Lan He sat across from her. The moment he placed his fingers on her pulse, the princess, who had just been on the verge of death, suddenly opened her eyes.

Everyone else: "??"

Ruoning looked around with a dazed gaze, her eyes finally landing on Lan He. Her pupils suddenly contracted: "National Preceptor?"

"It is I." Lan He stared at her steadily. "Is the princess feeling well?"

"I am fine, thank you to the National Preceptor for saving me."

"No trouble."

Lan He then addressed the others: "Though the princess has awakened, her pulse still needs careful examination. Please wait outside for a moment."

Sang Qing was a bit reluctant: "National Preceptor, I am also very concerned about the princess's health. May I stay?"

"Sang Qing." Ruoning took her hand and shook her head at her. "I'm fine. Go out for a moment. I have something to discuss with the National Preceptor."

"Then... alright. If anything happens, call me. I'll be waiting right outside the door."

"Mm."

Pei Yuhuai also went out with a suspicious look.

Only Lan He and Ruoning remained.

Ruo Ning asked directly, "Imperial Advisor, if you have something to say, please speak frankly. Ruo Ning trusts your words."

Hearing this, Lan He did not beat around the bush and said directly, "I imagine the Princess must have her suspicions as well. Whenever we get close, it feels as though someone is pulling our strings."

Before their meeting in the Imperial Garden, they had already run into each other several times, and each time, they felt an inexplicable pull.

The earlier incident in the Imperial Garden only confirmed his suspicions.

He knew full well that Princess Ruoning had been drugged, but his legs carried him closer against his will, and he even nearly reached out a hand.

Princess Ruoning had grabbed his sleeve at that moment, but what she murmured was "stay away," her expression mirroring his almost exactly.

Ruo Ning nodded: "Ruo Ning understands. Whoever is behind this, it's best if the Imperial Advisor and I keep our distance."

Her body was not unwell, yet she had suddenly fallen severely ill upon leaving the border, falling into a strange coma, aware yet unable to wake, for the entire journey.

Yet the instant Lan He touched her wrist, her eyes snapped open.

Something was definitely off.

"The Princess is right. Until we get to the bottom of this, this humble monk will try to avoid meeting the Princess. Should the Princess ever need assistance, this humble monk will surely help."

"Thank you, Imperial Advisor. In any case, Ruo Ning and the Imperial Advisor have nothing to hide and share no ties."

"Naturally."

"This matter should not be known to others, and Ruo Ning will not speak of it. I hope we both get what we wish for."

"Thank you for your kind words, Princess."

After a moment of silence, Ruo Ning looked toward the door and spoke up shyly, "Imperial Advisor, Ruo Ning has a question to ask you. Would you be willing to answer it for me?"

Lan He smiled knowingly: "The Princess wants to ask about the fate and marriage I mentioned earlier, doesn't she?"

"Yes."

"To be honest, this humble monk misled His Majesty. I didn't speak up to defend you, Princess, and chose to back off instead. I hope the Princess will not hold it against me."

Ruo Ning was startled for a moment.

She had thought everything Lan He said was true, but it turned out to be false. A flicker of panic crossed her face as she pressed, "It's not true? Then why did the Imperial Advisor..."

"Princess."

Lan He paused for a moment, then said, "Fate and marriage hinge on a single thought. Change that thought, and fate follows. If the Princess holds that intention, then what I said holds true, doesn't it?"

Ruo Ning was stunned for a moment, then suddenly understood what he meant. She smiled apologetically: "The Imperial Advisor is right. Ruo Ning will keep it in mind."

Perhaps to avoid any suspicion, Princess Ruoning and Sang Qing took a short rest before leaving the temple.

-

After they had gone, Pei Yuhuai curiously pulled Lan He aside and asked, "What exactly did you say to the Princess? Why did they leave right after you finished talking?? Isn't it dangerous this late at night?"