On Nianyao’s end, she carefully held the bundle she had just picked up from the ground, now covered in dust.
Even as she neared the Buddha hall, she still hadn’t shaken off the lingering sensations from earlier.
Unconsciously, she reached out and placed her fingers on her lips.
The man’s lingering scent seemed to seep from her lips into her mind, unsettling her.
Her gaze fell on the bluestone-paved ground. She instinctively wanted to bite her lip but stopped herself just before her teeth clamped down.
Feeling restless and flustered, Nianyao looked up and knocked on the closed wooden door outside the Buddha hall.
The hall was rather quiet; even up close, she couldn’t hear any sounds from inside.
As Nianyao raised her head, she noticed the incense smoke drifting from within the hall, lingering in the air.
The sandalwood fragrance soothed her senses, calming her thoughts somewhat.
“Creak—”
The wooden door opened from the inside. The person who appeared had drooping eyelids and looked listless.
However, his appearance differed from that of ordinary eunuchs—at least in Nianyao’s eyes.
He could rival the top scholar from the previous imperial examination.
Xu Mo looked up, glanced at Nianyao, but his eyes remained devoid of any emotion.
As if Nianyao, with her striking beauty, was no different from the palace maids who had been sent here before.
Nianyao spoke cautiously, “May I ask, are you the one in charge of this Buddha hall…?”
Xu Mo finally spoke, his voice as deep as the aura he exuded—like an ancient well, undisturbed by any provocation.
“The previous supervising eunuch passed away from illness. For now, I’m temporarily in charge.”
Upon hearing this, Nianyao straightened her posture slightly.
This was her future supervisor. She wanted to make a good impression so he wouldn’t give her a hard time later.
Nianyao revealed her dimples. “This servant is named Nianyao. Previously, I was…”
Before she could finish, Xu Mo turned and walked away.
“Which palace you were from before doesn’t matter. Now, being part of the Buddha hall is enough.”
Unable to gauge his temperament, Nianyao closed her mouth and said no more. She clutched her bundle, lifted her feet, and followed Xu Mo inside.
The Buddha hall was as desolate and quiet as Nianyao had imagined.
It was a small courtyard with two entrances and exits. Unlike the vast imperial palace, the Buddha hall seemed like a forgotten, secluded corner.
The front housed the main hall where Buddha statues were enshrined, while the back was the courtyard where palace maids and eunuchs lived.
It wasn’t large and even felt somewhat desolate, but it was clean and far from the noise.
Even Nianyao’s earlier unsettled heart gradually calmed down here.
She tilted her head slightly, looking at Xu Mo leading the way. For a moment, she felt nervous, not daring to let her eyes wander.
Only when Xu Mo stopped and looked at Nianyao with those emotionless eyes did she react.
But facing Xu Mo, she didn’t know what to say, stumbling over her words. “This… this is…”
Xu Mo turned, pushed the door open, and spoke concisely.
“Your quarters.”
Nianyao nodded. Seeing that he showed no displeasure, she could only assume he held no dissatisfaction with her yet.
She peered inside through the door Xu Mo had just opened and was surprised to find only one bed inside.
So… a single room?
Turning back to look at Xu Mo, Nianyao’s eyes lit up with delight.
“Is this… just for me to live in alone?”
Xu Mo nodded.
“The Buddha Hall is a quiet place with few people. It’s sufficient for you alone.”
Nianyao understood the implication in Xu Mo’s words.
There weren’t many palace maids or young eunuchs in the Buddha Hall, so even in this small courtyard, there was a room just for her.
Unable to conceal the joy on her face, Nianyao gave a slight curtsy to Xu Mo before her.
“Thank you…” Her words caught in her throat before she could finish.
Nianyao asked somewhat apprehensively, “I wonder how I should address you, Eunuch?”
“Xu Mo.”
Xu Mo? It was quite rare for a eunuch in the inner palace to have such a name.
After all, most eunuchs were given names by their masters, and few were able to keep their original surnames.
Nianyao grasped the meaning and quickly continued her previous words.
“Thank you, Eunuch Xu.”
Xu Mo said nothing, leaving as indifferently as before, leaving Nianyao alone.
Nianyao pushed the door open and entered, immediately smelling a musty odor.
By the light filtering in from outside, she surveyed the furnishings around her.
It wasn’t much different from her room in the Shouning Palace, even slightly larger.
But the room was bare—aside from a bed and a set of table and chairs, there was nothing else.
Nianyao took out a handkerchief and began wiping down the bed and tabletop. After tidying up for quite a while, it finally began to look somewhat lived-in.
Sitting on the worn-out chair, Nianyao’s thoughts drifted aimlessly.
She was now considered disfavored by her master and had come to the Buddha Hall.
But if she spent her whole life here, she would be ruined.
Nianyao pondered how she could leave the Buddha Hall and still help her poor younger siblings.
Just as Nianyao was lost in thought, the image of that man’s eyes suddenly flashed through her mind.
Like a hawk, greedily watching its prey.
Nianyao remembered how she had inexplicably opened her eyes to find herself on Pei Jinyan’s bed.
She couldn’t help but cover her face.
Just as Nianyao’s cheeks flushed like peach blossoms, a soft cough suddenly came from outside.
Nianyao straightened up immediately, but her hands and feet felt clumsy, unsure where to place them.
Nianyao looked up to see a young palace maid holding a large ladle.
She wore her hair in two buns, her face round and plump, with eyes as large and clear as grapes, innocent and guileless.
Looking at Nianyao, her eyes held undisguised admiration.
“Um, sister, it’s time to eat.”
Seeing such a soft and sweet little girl, Nianyao didn’t withhold her smile.
Her dimples appeared faintly as she responded crisply.
“Coming.”
However, when Nianyao sat down and saw the food before her, she froze.
The young palace maid, thinking she didn’t like the food, turned to her curiously.
“Sister, do you want something else?”
Nianyao shook her head slightly stiffly.
Her gaze fell on the fragrant…
meat.
This plate of stir-fried venison was vibrant in color, and just the smell alone made Nianyao’s mouth water involuntarily.
As if sensing Nianyao’s astonishment,
Xu Mo looked up and met Nianyao’s eyes.
“Pan’er is still young and needs to eat more to grow.”
Nianyao turned her head to look toward the front courtyard.
Even so, this was the Buddha Hall.
Xu Mo added, “The Buddha is benevolent and does not wish for people to go hungry.”
Nianyao understood.
She picked up her portion, smiling brightly.
“Thank you.”
Nianyao lowered her gaze.
Wasn’t it said that those sent to the Buddhist hall were all people the master had cast aside? She had already prepared herself for a situation where she wouldn’t have enough to eat or wear.
But now, it felt as if she had entered a paradise.
Nianyao picked up a piece of venison.
Tears were almost falling from her eyes.
It was so delicious!