After speaking, he nodded slightly and headed straight into the temple.
The young monks exchanged meaningful glances.
Everyone said the current Grand Secretary and his wife were deeply devoted to each other—it was indeed true.
Meanwhile, Jiang Yu was wondering why Pei Xiao entered Azure Cloud Temple as if it were his own home, so familiar with the place?
Jiang Yu warily looked up at his profile, some words lingering on the tip of her tongue but left unspoken.
“Have you forgotten, Madame, that three years ago when you were critically ill, we came to Azure Cloud Temple to worship the Buddha?”
Pei Xiao saw through her thoughts at a glance, scrutinizing her with an ambiguous gaze. “Since when have you learned to keep your thoughts hidden in your heart?”
Jiang Yu’s eyes flickered, avoiding his gaze as she looked toward the meditation room not far away.
The old meditation room had a Rose of Sharon tree planted in its courtyard, standing tall and lush like a canopy.
It was the season of falling blossoms, adding a touch of vibrant color to the cold, silent temple.
Only then did Jiang Yu recall that three years ago, when she awoke from her coma, it was in this unfamiliar meditation room at Azure Cloud Temple.
According to Qingdai, she had remained unconscious, unresponsive to any medicine.
Pei Xiao then brought her up the mountain, where he copied scriptures and chanted Buddha’s name every day, praying to the Buddha for her swift recovery.
Coupled with Pei Xiao’s meticulous care, Jiang Yu finally woke up half a month later.
She still remembered the first thing she saw upon opening her eyes: him in white robes and a jade crown, sitting by her bedside with Buddhist beads in hand, devoutly murmuring her name.
Like a Buddhist disciple descended to the mortal realm—how could such a sight not captivate one for eternity?
As she was lost in thought, Pei Xiao had already carried her into the meditation room where she had stayed before.
The room’s furnishings remained exactly as they were three years ago. Beside the desk stood a large wooden chest filled entirely with the scriptures Pei Xiao had copied during that half-month.
This place was in the remotest corner of Azure Cloud Temple, originally secluded, so the monks likely seldom visited.
Yet the courtyard was clean and tidy, and the sandalwood incense Pei Xiao often used was burning.
Jiang Yu glanced at Pei Xiao with suspicion. “Have you returned here since then, husband?”
“Patron Pei carries unresolved worries in his heart, making it difficult to find peace. Thus, he often comes here to chant scriptures and recite Buddha’s name, seeking tranquility and fulfillment.”
At that moment, the abbot of Azure Cloud Temple, Huijue, also caught up and nodded to Pei Xiao.
Huijue’s skin was smooth, and he did not appear old, yet he carried himself with the gravitas of maturity.
A flicker of annoyance crossed Pei Xiao’s face. Unwilling to engage with him, he placed Jiang Yu on the bed. “My wife was bitten by a small snake last night. Could you please examine her condition, Great Master?”
Great Master Huijue did not rush to inspect the wound, nor did he even check her pulse. Instead, he motioned for a young monk to bring a jar of ointment. “Apply this medicine once in the morning and once at night. Keep the wound dry and avoid letting it fester. It should heal in half a month at the earliest.”
Pei Xiao glanced at the medicine bottle handed over by the young monk but did not take it. Instead, he stared warily at Huijue.
Having suffered from the same snake venom himself, he knew well how potent it was.
How could this old monk dare to make claims without even examining the wound?
“Since when has Great Master Huijue possessed the ability to know without divination?”
“It is not that I possess foresight, but rather that Patron Pei is overanxious out of concern.” Huijue emphasized the words “overanxious out of concern” heavily, his wise and perceptive eyes seeming to penetrate the mysteries of heaven.
Yet Pei Xiao’s smile froze at the corners of his lips, even tinged with displeasure.
Ignoring his reaction, Great Master Huijue continued, “The venom on Madame’s foot was promptly sucked out and did not spread to her vital organs, so naturally, it is not a serious matter.
Patron Pei disregarded his own safety to detoxify his wife—such profound affection is truly commendable and moving.”
Though Great Master Huijue’s words were full of praise, the atmosphere in the room grew unusually awkward.Jiang Yu never expected Pei Xiao would risk his life to suck out the venom for her.
One moment he wanted to kill her, the next he protected her—utterly unpredictable.
At this moment, Pei Xiao’s expression remained equally inscrutable as he chose not to respond further to Great Master Huijue.
“In that case, we won’t trouble Great Master Huijue any longer.” Pei Xiao gestured politely, clearly hinting for the guest to leave.
Seeing Great Master Huijue remain unmoved, Pei Xiao flicked his sleeve and strode ahead.
Great Master Huijue’s gaze lingered on Jiang Yu for a moment, carrying an indescribable concern. “Madam, have you been well these past three years?”
Jiang Yu had little interaction with Great Master Huijue, yet his question felt like a reunion between old friends.
Who in Southern Qi didn’t know that Jiang Yu had married well, living a life envied by all the noble ladies in the capital?
Why would Great Master Huijue ask such a question?
Intuition told Jiang Yu that Great Master Huijue knew something.
She smiled gently. “Everything has been fine, though there are inevitably some dissatisfactions.”
Her response was perfectly measured, just enough to test Great Master Huijue’s reaction.
One sat by the bed, the other stood at the doorway—the greatest distance between them—yet Jiang Yu heard a faint sigh of regret.
She nervously clenched her hands.
Just then, Pei Xiao returned and stood by the window. “It’s time for lunch. What would Yu’er like to eat?”
His voice was gentle, but he blocked the sunlight streaming through the window.
The meditation room grew somewhat chilly with his arrival.
Great Master Huijue finally withdrew his gaze and bowed. “Life is often unsatisfactory. Let go of the past, and the present becomes fulfillment.”
Chanting “Amitabha,” Great Master Huijue turned and left.
His implicit meaning was clearly advising Jiang Yu not to overthink and to cherish her current marital harmony.
But as he spoke, he also glanced at Pei Xiao, as if addressing him as well.
Pei Xiao paid no mind, asking only Jiang Yu: “Yu’er, would bird’s nest congee be acceptable?”
Leaning against the doorframe, his eyes warm, he continued: “The usual golden nest, Liangzhou glutinous rice, freshly simmered with yellow rock sugar? Soak the bird’s nest in warm water, steam the rice first?”
Jiang Yu had little appetite and nodded absently. “Bird’s nest congee then.”
Pei Xiao said nothing more, gently closing the door as he left.
After he walked away, Jiang Yu sat up again, watching his retreating figure.
Suddenly she remembered—the method Pei Xiao just described for making bird’s nest congee was exactly what she had taught him three years ago.
Did he still remember it so clearly?
Jiang Yu also recalled when she first woke from unconsciousness back then, craving bird’s nest congee.
Pei Xiao had rushed down the mountain overnight to buy some, but returned with shredded tremella instead.
He’d been laughed at by the young temple monks, who mocked him for “not knowing worth from waste.”
Even mountain monks recognized bird’s nest, yet he didn’t.
At the time, Jiang Yu saw his ears turn red and comforted him: “Husband is the eldest son of the Grand Tutor Residence—your hands are meant for writing and painting. Is it not normal you wouldn’t recognize bird’s nest?”
Pei Xiao remained silent the entire day over the incident.
That evening, he brought her a new bowl of bird’s nest congee.
It turned out he’d spent the whole day in the kitchen learning how to prepare it.
Jiang Yu had heard people say the Pei family’s eldest son was raised in extreme privilege, never expecting him to be so meticulous in private.
Although…
The congee Pei Xiao finally made still contained bits of down and debris.
Still, appreciating his effort, Jiang Yu forced herself to finish it despite her frown…In the past, Jiang Yu naturally believed he loved her.
But the more perfect this mask had been, the more cruel the truth she now touched felt.
Jiang Yu couldn’t live forever behind this mask—she had to find a way out.
Only by uncovering Pei Xiao’s true nature would Jiang Yu know how to respond.
Yet Great Master Huijue spoke vaguely and appeared quite familiar with Pei Xiao, clearly unwilling to tell Jiang Yu everything.
The one Jiang Yu could still rely on remained Meng Qingyao.
Jiang Yu touched the wound on her ankle.
They were now at Azure Cloud Temple, and from the conversation between Pei Xiao and his servant, Meng Qingyao was soon to be brought to Azure Cloud Temple as well.
Meng Qingyao had already lost her mind, so Pei Xiao wouldn’t pay her much attention.
Moreover, Azure Cloud Temple was an imperial temple; someone with a heavy killing aura like Qian Ren wasn’t permitted to enter.
With no eyes or ears of Pei Xiao here, Jiang Yu only needed to find a way to divert Pei Xiao’s attention to speak with Meng Qingyao.
Lost in thought, Jiang Yu glanced out the window.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen.
Pei Xiao stood by the counter, head bowed, silently cleaning bird’s nest.
“Patron Pei, have you stopped finding young ladies from wealthy families troublesome and meddlesome now?”
A teasing voice came from behind.
Pei Xiao didn’t turn around, continuing to clean the feathers from the bird’s nest while frowning. “They’re still troublesome, even more so now.”
Great Master Huijue smiled without replying, stepping forward to glance at the soaked bird’s nest in the bowl. “Patron Pei, you’ve picked it quite clean.”
Though his words complained of trouble, his actions showed no carelessness.