Chapter 33: Want to Do Something Else with Me?

Chapter 33: Want to Do Something Else with Me?

"Don't!"

Rumble, rumble.

Pei Yuhuai rubbed his empty stomach, a bit embarrassed: "I'm hungry, let's hurry back."

After all that exertion, and having not eaten all day, he was completely wiped out.

Lan He's eyes moved to the offerings on the table.

Pei Yuhuai quickly shook his head: "No, no, I'm not eating that. Today I've already... eating Guanyin Bodhisattva's offerings would be disrespectful. Let's go back."

Lan He suppressed a smile and reminded him with amusement: "Your Highness plans to go out looking like that?"

"What's wrong with the way I look?"

"Look down."

Pei Yuhuai looked down and almost choked on his own breath, turning beet red, his bravado deflating a few notches: "Th-this... how can I go out looking like this..."

"We need to hurry back so you can wash up and change."

So no food for a while, then.

God, he was hungry.

Pei Yuhuai rubbed his stomach, and Lan He didn't miss a single movement.

Lan He escorted him back to that small courtyard and went to boil some water himself.

After all that ruckus, Pei Yuhuai was starving, his stomach touching his back. He barely had the strength to bathe, especially since his whole body ached like crazy.

Soaking in the hot water eased some of the soreness and pain, so he stayed in a little longer.

Lan He was in the other small room.

Looking at the scratches all over his body, he savored the craziness of what just happened, while a wild joy grew inside him.

Getting Pei Yuhuai to willingly fall into sin before the Buddha was way more satisfying than forcing him.

More importantly.

He realized Pei Hang wasn't completely devoid of past-life memories—at times, when he saw Buddhist statues, he'd show odd emotions.

These weren't the kind of feelings a Marquis's heir should have.

Maybe one day, he'd remember his past life too. When that time came, Pei Hang, oh Pei Hang, what would he think, how would he deal with this villain?

In his past life,

Pei Hang had been a revered monk, devoutly devoted to the Buddha, born into Buddhism, raised in a temple since he was a kid, a beautiful young monk.

It wasn't until the young monk came of age that he first went down the mountain with his master to beg for alms.

Under a bridge, he came across the drowning son of a general and saved him, and from then on, their fates were bound together.

He asked: "Which family does this young master belong to? Why were they bullying you?"

Back then, Lan He's surname wasn't Lan yet—it was Ling. He was frail and weak, timid, his eyes full of inferiority and fear.

As General Ling's legitimate son, not only did he have no martial skills, but he was also sickly and frail, often bullied by all kinds of people, both in and out of the household.

General Ling turned a blind eye and never got involved. Occasionally, if he did notice, he'd just scold him with disgust: "Useless piece of trash, better off dead."

He almost died under that beautiful bridge.

It was a Buddha who gave him a new life.

A stunning Buddha.

The crimson mark between his brows made him glow, utterly out of place in this filthy mortal world—elegant, serene, like a celestial being descending to earth.

The Buddha said: "This humble monk's Buddhist name is Lan Hang."

A Buddhist disciple was always a Buddhist disciple.

Always as cold as ice and as calm as water.

He went crazy wanting to drag this Buddhist disciple down from his altar, to hide him away, to keep him somewhere only he could see.

When he died,

he thought he'd never see that light again—until he saw Pei Hang, who had the exact same aura from his past life, even with a different temperament, even with a different identity.

Pei Hang.

Lan Hang.

They were one and the same.

He still wanted to hide that person away, but he couldn't stand to keep him in the dark. So he'd just watch over him instead—and if he dared to resist, then he'd hide him.

Hide him somewhere only he could see.

Lan He smiled, his eyes drifting to the protective charm nearby, his heart burning with warmth.

-

Pei Yuhuai must have been truly exhausted—after bathing, he fell into a deep sleep without even eating.

It wasn't until evening,

when Venerable Nun Nianzhen returned to the mountain and came to find them, that Pei Yuhuai slowly woke up.

He didn't have time to think about what had happened before he fell asleep. Seeing Venerable Nun Nianzhen back, he was eager to hear what was going on down the mountain.

The three of them sat at the table.

Venerable Nun Nianzhen said to Pei Yuhuai: "Your letter was delivered to the Marquis's residence. The Marquis and his wife are both deeply worried about Your Highness and hope he returns soon."

"Then... my father and mother are both okay?"

"The whole household is fine. However, the lady was so worried it affected her health, but she's out of danger now."

"That's good, that's good. I made my mother worry."

"No need to feel guilty, Your Highness. This place isn't far from the capital. Once you've rested, you can return to the residence."

Lan He noticed the troubled look on Venerable Nun Nianzhen's face and asked: "Venerable Nun, why do you look so worried? Did something else happen?"

"Not entirely. The capital is on edge these days. I heard the Emperor is in a rage, and the Crown Prince volunteered to investigate the assassination of the National Preceptor. He did manage to uncover some leads. By the time I came back, the Crown Prince had already left the capital overnight."

Upon hearing this, Lan He's expression shifted slightly: "Venerable Nun, do you know what the Crown Prince discovered?"

"I have a rough idea."

Nian Zhen looked around cautiously before speaking in a low voice: "I came down the mountain this time at the Crown Prince's request. Seeing how worried he was about the National Preceptor's whereabouts, I informed him that the Chan Master was safe."

Lan He gave a nod.

"After hearing this, the Crown Prince originally wanted to come up the mountain to pay his respects to the Chan Master, but he was pressed for time, so he asked me to deliver this letter to the Chan Master. Please have a look."

Pei Yuhuai also leaned in, asking curiously: "If the Crown Prince knows the National Preceptor is safe, why is he still rushing out of the capital? Did the culprit escape the city?"

Lan He stayed silent and unfolded the envelope.

"What does it say? I can't see it clearly. Read it aloud."

Lan He folded the envelope shut, his brows furrowed: "The Crown Prince's journey won't be smooth. Those people are lurking in the shadows—how can they be caught in one fell swoop?"

Nian Zhen also looked troubled: "May Buddha protect us."

Pei Yuhuai: ???

I don't understand a word you're saying.

Grumble, grumble.

His stomach chose that moment to growl, and both pairs of eyes turned to Pei Yuhuai at once. He patted his stomach awkwardly: "I... I'm hungry."

Nian Zhen: "? Has the Young Prince not eaten yet?"

"Not yet."

Lan He went with Nian Zhen to fetch the vegetarian meal, and after chatting a while longer, Nian Zhen finally left.

Stuffed and content.

Pei Yuhuai's brain could finally start working again.

He lay back on a chair in the courtyard, gazing up at the star-filled sky, feeling an unusual sense of calm and contentment, still savoring the day's recklessness.

How to put it—his feelings were complicated, a mix of guilt and fear, but mostly it was thrilling and exciting.

Pei Yuhuai licked his lips. He raised one hand to form a circle, held it over his eye, and closed the other eye to look at the sky—it was clearer that way.

All of a sudden.

An eye appeared right in front of him.

"Ah..."

Startled, Pei Yuhuai yelped and tumbled off the chair, landing in a steady embrace.

Their eyes met.

Pei Yuhuai couldn't help but shout: "Are you crazy? You scared me half to death!"

"Sorry."

"Is that supposed to be an apology? Can't you even crack a smile?"

Lan He raised the corners of his mouth into a wide grin.

What a fool.

Hmph!

"Stop grinning. You look like an idiot."

Pei Yuhuai pushed his face away, jumped down from his arms, and put his hands on his hips: "Are you so bored that you've got nothing better to do?"

"Hmm? Does the Young Prince want to do something else with me?"