What was her name?
Daiyu took a moment to react, then showed a complicated expression. So… Prince Duan didn’t even know her name?
Well, not exactly. Daiyu quickly dismissed the thought—at the very least, Prince Duan knew her surname was Lin.
She found it rather amusing. They were even further along than a blind marriage arranged in silence: the wedding date had already been set, yet they still had not exchanged names.
“My childhood name is Daiyu,” she said softly. “Dai as in pink and white with dark brows, Yu as in jade.”
“You’ve read Liezi…” Chu Heng looked at her and asked, “Do you not have a formal given name?”
Daiyu shook her head, sorrow hard to conceal on her face. “I only studied for one year. After my late mother passed away, my maternal grandmother sent people to bring me to her home. My father was busy with official duties, and later he also…”
Miss Lin’s parents had both died young; she was raised at her maternal grandparents’ home. Zhao Qing had mentioned these things before. Although Chu Heng had not paid attention at the time, he had remembered them.
“For many people, living always comes with attachments. I am no exception…”
Her parents were clearly the attachments in Miss Lin’s heart, and they had long since passed away, leaving a young girl to live under her grandparents’ roof.
Living under someone else’s eaves… perhaps it was like the years Chu Heng himself had spent living in the palace—rarely enjoying truly carefree days.
With his mind completely cleared by the breeze, Chu Heng finally realized that his question had not only been abrupt but had also stirred up her sorrow—
—a sorrow that should not be touched, given their relationship.
Chu Heng considered for a moment. He could admit fault and correct himself, but when it came to parents and children… he truly could not find anything comforting to say. He could only change the subject. “Would you like some candy?”
Daiyu was startled. “What?”
When one felt low, eating something sweet helped—that had always been Chu Heng’s thinking. He beckoned Zhao Qing over and asked, “Where’s the candy?”
Zhao Qing took a box from the little eunuch following behind and presented it. “Your Highness, have a look. These were freshly made yesterday—new designs.”
How many variations could candy really have?
Daiyu glanced at it casually and saw that all the candies in the box were shaped like flowers, more than a dozen varieties in total.
“Would you like to try some?” Chu Heng asked again.
The previous topic had been too personal, and Daiyu did not want to dwell on it with Prince Duan, so she nodded. “Please let Your Highness choose first.”
Hot water had already been prepared by the palace attendants. After serving both of them to wash their hands, Chu Heng first picked a hibiscus blossom, while Daiyu then chose an osmanthus flower.
As soon as the candy touched her tongue, sweetness filled Daiyu’s mouth. She usually did not like overly sweet foods, but this excessive sweetness happened to balance out the bitterness in her heart. By the time they returned to the carriage, she vaguely felt much lighter.
…
When the procession stopped at the foot of Longhua Temple’s mountain, the monks of the temple were already waiting by the roadside to welcome them.
After all the formalities were completed, the Empress Dowager alighted from her carriage and rode an eight-person sedan chair up the mountain, with Chu Heng and the others’ sedan chairs following behind.
Upon reaching the mountain gate, the Empress Dowager dismounted to pay her respects to the guardian deities on either side. Chu Heng and the others followed suit one by one. After entering the temple, they paid homage to the various arhats, bodhisattvas, and Buddhas. By the time they sat down to rest, the sun was already setting.
The Empress Dowager was advanced in age. After the long day, she lacked energy; after eating her vegetarian meal, she went to rest.
Each person’s quarters had been arranged. Chu Heng’s and Daiyu’s were next to each other, with Yongkang’s behind them. All of theirs were some distance away from the Empress Dowager’s.
Yongkang was utterly exhausted. Seeing the Empress Dowager retire, she also quickly supported herself on her attendant’s hand and returned to her room to rest.
Neither Chu Heng nor Daiyu was particularly robust. After such a day of exertion, they had thought that they would be unable to rise the next day. Unexpectedly, when they woke up, although both still felt some fatigue, they were quite energetic.
Daiyu wondered in confusion—could Buddhism truly have divine efficacy?
In the neighboring courtyard, Chu Heng squeezed his arm and thought to himself, could it be that the old monk had added something to yesterday’s vegetarian meal?
Zhao Qing came in to remind him, “Your Highness, the Empress Dowager is up. It’s time to go pay respects.”
Back when he lived in the palace, Chu Heng had hated the daily morning and evening courtesies the most. After leaving the palace to establish his own residence, he had finally enjoyed a few quiet years—only for the past half month to become restless again.
“Mm,” Chu Heng replied lazily. “Has Miss Lin risen?”
Zhao Qing answered, “The gate of her courtyard is open. This servant will send someone to ask.”
Soon, a palace maid returned with the reply. “Your Highness, Miss Lin is up.”
When Chu Heng stepped outside, Daiyu happened to be coming over from the other side. “Your Highness.”
Chu Heng nodded. “From now on, for morning and evening courtesies, you and I will go together.”
This was the harmonious interaction meant for the Empress Dowager to see. If it was always like this, it would not be troublesome. Daiyu thought so and nodded to show she understood.
At the Empress Dowager’s courtyard ahead, she was reclining on the couch, chatting with Shuangyun, while a palace maid knelt on the footstool, massaging her legs with a beauty hammer.
Seeing Chu Heng and Daiyu arrive side by side, the Empress Dowager was indeed delighted. Before they could even bow, she had them sit.
“How are you feeling?” she first asked Chu Heng.
Chu Heng smiled and replied, “Everything is well. How are you, Mother?”
“I’m old now—nothing compared to you young people,” the Empress Dowager said with a smile. Then she turned and added, “And Lin girl?”
Daiyu smiled and replied, “Thank you for Your Majesty’s concern. I am well.”
“Temples truly nourish people. Both of you look better today than yesterday,” the Empress Dowager observed them. “All thanks to the Buddha for bringing about this heaven-made match between you two…”
As she spoke, the Empress Dowager sat up and took both of their hands, clasping them together.
“The Buddha is watching over you. These days, you must serve the Buddha diligently…”
What the Empress Dowager said next barely registered with Chu Heng and Daiyu. Their attention was entirely on their hands, suddenly forced into contact.
An unfamiliar touch, an unfamiliar body temperature—both of them involuntarily broke out in goosebumps.
Yet they could not resist.
Daiyu struggled to control the smile on her face, while also trying desperately to keep her hand from trembling.
Chu Heng quietly took a deep breath, suppressing the impulse to pull his hand back.
The Empress Dowager truly was… impossible to guard against.
Fortunately, Yongkang came to pay her respects and rescued them. Chu Heng withdrew his hand, stood up to help the Empress Dowager sit properly, then turned and sat down again—his movements smooth and fluid.
The hand Daiyu had withdrawn finally began to tremble slightly. She hid it in her sleeve and could still find bitter amusement in thinking that Prince Duan, this ally of hers, was indeed useful.
Only… because of that sudden, forced intimacy, Daiyu thought of something she would inevitably have to face in the future.
Between husband and wife, it was not enough merely to appear harmonious before others. There were also… other things.
Daiyu first blushed, then turned pale. At that moment, she fervently wished that the wedding day would arrive more slowly.
While Daiyu was lost in thought, Yongkang had already taken her seat. The Empress Dowager questioned her as usual. Yongkang felt weak all over and lacked energy—she was not even as spirited as the elderly Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager smiled and said, “The princess is more delicate. Very well—rest properly today. Heng’er, Lin girl, you two will accompany me to chant sutras.”
Daiyu came back to herself and hurriedly replied, “Yes.”
Chu Heng also assented.
Yongkang looked at Chu Heng. “Fifth Brother, are you really not tired? Don’t force yourself.”
She knew very well how Chu Heng’s health was. After yesterday’s exertion, it was truly unreasonable that he had not collapsed today.
Chu Heng had been feeling that something was off with Daiyu. Hearing Yongkang’s question, he replied absentmindedly, “Why don’t you come along and see?”
Yongkang’s legs ached badly. She had even been helped over just to pay her respects. Hearing this, she shook her head at once. “No thanks. You go on.”
After accompanying the Empress Dowager for breakfast, Yongkang went back to rest. Chu Heng and Daiyu then accompanied the Empress Dowager in chanting sutras for an hour. When it ended, the Empress Dowager went to rest, and Chu Heng and Daiyu slowly walked back toward their own courtyard.
Seeing that Daiyu seemed distracted the entire time, Chu Heng found it rather strange. He thought it had to do with their agreement. Recalling the Empress Dowager’s abrupt actions, he feared something had changed. When only their attendants were nearby, he said, “These days, aside from the morning and evening courtesies, there are other matters. If Miss Lin regrets it, or has developed new concerns, you may say so directly.”
You have your stratagems; I have my ways of countering them. The means of dealing with the Empress Dowager could still be discussed and refined.
Daiyu, pale-faced, said in surprise, “Why does Your Highness say such a thing? When did I ever say I wanted to go back on it?”
Chu Heng pointed at her unconsciously furrowed brow. “You look like you regret it.”
Daiyu instinctively rubbed her brow. Realizing what she was doing, she lowered her hand. When she looked up and saw Prince Duan, the matter that unsettled her only lingered more stubbornly in her mind.
Seeing her small face turn deathly pale, fear evident in her eyes, Chu Heng was utterly perplexed. “Miss Lin…”
“Your Highness!” Daiyu hurriedly said. “It is… just a small personal matter of my own. It has nothing to do with our agreement.”
After finishing, she paused, then added, “The agreement remains as before. Your Highness may rest assured.”
This was telling Chu Heng not to probe further. Their relationship indeed did not warrant delving into matters so personal and private.
Thus Chu Heng nodded. “That’s good, then.”
Daiyu held her chest and took a long while to steady herself before asking, “What does Your Highness plan to do?”
“Meet, talk, read together…” Chu Heng looked at her. “As long as the Empress Dowager sees that you and I are not ignoring each other, that will suffice.”
Thinking of the Empress Dowager’s astonishing behavior, Daiyu felt it best to put her at ease as soon as possible. Otherwise, if the Empress Dowager devised even more frightening measures to bring them together, Daiyu truly would not be able to cope.
But what if the Empress Dowager, seeing them get along well, became even less restrained?
Acting as a respectful couple before others was more difficult than Daiyu had imagined. Still… she had to do it.
Daiyu pressed her lips together and said, “Your Highness, to let the Empress Dowager know, you and I must meet outside.”
“It is summer now; we can stay outdoors,” Chu Heng let out a breath. “Every day for half an hour… no, one hour.”
It was no easy task to lower the Empress Dowager’s guard.
Daiyu had no objections. She only wanted to deal with the Empress Dowager as quickly as possible, so she could have more freedom.
The mountain path was uneven. When they reached an uphill stretch, Chu Heng suddenly extended his hand toward Daiyu and said, “Miss Lin, your hand.”
“What?” Daiyu exclaimed in shock.
Chu Heng said, “Miss Lin, this is the beginning.”
Daiyu’s eyes widened instantly.