Chapter 6: Xingzhi Temple (6)
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The imposing presence and oppressive aura emanating from Xiao Fu made Lin Zikui stiffen, struggling to catch his breath.
Sensing this, Lin Zikui turned his head slightly, his hand sweating as it gripped the attendant’s arm. “I-I’m fine, I didn’t walk as fast as you.”
Xiao Fu raised an eyebrow, his fingers lightly resting on Lin Zikui’s shoulder.
Lowering his head, Lin Zikui’s face flushed red, his shoulder tensing. “Second Young Miss… I mean, you’re a woman, and I’m a man. Your hand on my body like this… it’s inappropriate.”
“We’re engaged, a simple touch between us shouldn’t be a problem,” Xiao Fu retorted, his voice surprisingly pleasant. He noticed Lin Zikui’s embarrassment, finding it amusing how a well-spoken scholar could be so bashful.
As he leaned closer, Xiao Fu caught a faint scent of medicine emanating from Lin Zikui’s body.
“Besides, I look like a man, and you are one too. It’s not unusual for men to be close, is it?”
Lin Zikui was speechless.
Xiao Fu then reached out to remove the blindfold covering Lin Zikui’s face, who instinctively closed his eyes.
“You can open your eyes,” Xiao Fu said.
Lin Zikui’s eyelashes trembled. “I’m afraid of the light.”
Xiao Fu’s hand gently covered his eyelashes, casting a shadow over his face. “Lin Lang, I’ll shield you from the light.”
Lin Zikui dared not open his eyes, turning his face away. “Second Young Miss, why do you want me to open my eyes?”
Xiao Fu: “Of course, to look at me.”
…….. This!
Lin Zikui felt utterly flustered, not knowing where to hide, his tongue tied. “Second Young Miss, you’re not yet married, this, this isn’t appropriate!”
“What’s inappropriate about it? We’ll be married sooner or later,” Xiao Fu said in the most casual tone. “Husband Lin, will you look or not?”
It was such a hassle to put on this female attire. He couldn’t just not look!
“…Alright, I’ll look, I’ll look.”
Lin Zikui, not accustomed to the brightness outside, slowly opened his eyes. Indeed, he felt Xiao Fu’s hand blocking most of the sunlight. He lifted his eyelids and gazed at Xiao Fu.
Today, Second Young Miss was not dressed as a man but instead wore female attire. Her black hair flowed smoothly over her shoulders, her features clear and beautiful, her eyes dazzling and captivating. She resembled a holy image of Guanyin, undoubtedly the most beautiful person Lin Zikui had ever seen.
He didn’t dare to offend her, just one glance and he closed his eyes again, his face burning red. “Second Young Miss, I’ve looked. I still have to go back to study. Please let me go.”
Xiao Fu didn’t respond immediately, instead, he scrutinized his embarrassed expression with a slight smile in his eyes. “Lin Lang, did you think I looked good when you looked at me just now?”
“…Y-Yes, you looked good.”
Lin Zikui hesitated, lowering his head, suddenly remembering what that mother had said about the thousand-year-old fox spirit that seduced scholars.
Turning his head, he saw his own attendant staring at Second Young Miss with his mouth agape, seemingly completely mesmerized.
A shiver ran down Lin Zikui’s spine. He tentatively asked, “Second Young Miss, did you come to the temple alone from Jinling this time to offer prayers?”
Xiao Fu replied, “Didn’t you see I brought guards with me?”
But those guards were all men. How could she, a woman, be comfortable?
Could it be that those men weren’t guards at all, but souls she had ensnared?
Lin Zikui wasn’t disrespectful towards spirits and demons; he believed in such things too. Remembering how he had been caught off guard by her earlier, he felt a sudden panic and hesitated. “If the Guanyin Hall is efficacious, did Second Young Miss visit it? If not, perhaps… I could take you there.”
“I visited a few days ago, won’t be going again,” Xiao Fu replied, perhaps aware of what he was thinking and about to laugh. “Lin Lang, do you live in the Hall of Purifying the Heart? If you can’t see…. I’ll accompany you.”
Hearing her evasion, Lin Zikui’s heart suddenly skipped a beat. He politely declined, “No need, Second Young Miss. My attendant will accompany me back.”
Finally, Mo Liu, who had been speechless, had a chance to speak. His tongue tied, he stuttered, “Y-Yes, I’ll, I’ll accompany Young Master back.”
Xiao Fu wasn’t so easily brushed off, following the two of them. “Lin Lang, if you have vision problems, how do you study?”
“Mo Liu reads for me. He reads aloud, and also helps with my writing,” Lin Zikui explained, reaching out to write in Mo Liu’s palm as he spoke.
“Second Young Miss, you may not know, but my Young Master is a prodigy. He has extraordinary talent since childhood. I only need to read something to him once, and he can memorize it all,” Mo Liu felt the writing in his palm.
Temple?
He glanced at Lin Zikui.
“Mo Liu,” Lin Zikui interrupted, nodding slightly.
Xiao Fu let out a subtle “oh,” her tone teasing, “Is he really that talented?”
Lin Zikui waved his hand. “It’s nothing extraordinary. Second Young Miss, please don’t listen to my attendant’s nonsense.”
“I’m not talking nonsense…”
Mo Liu had just realized what was going on. This “Red-clothed Fox Spirit” wasn’t a demon, but Second Young Miss Xiao. As Lin Zikui indicated the word “temple” in his hand, it meant they were going to the main hall.
Why?
Did Lin Zikui also suspect her of being a demon!?
Mo Liu couldn’t hide his anxiety. In an instant, he dared not speak carelessly, guiding them towards the direction of the Guanyin Hall.
Xiao Fu noticed something was amiss with this route.
Xiao Fu asked, “Are we going to the front hall?”
Lin Zikui explained, “…Yes, I lost something earlier and need to retrieve it from the front hall.”
Xiao Fu didn’t pay much attention, following him into the Guanyin Hall. Lin Zikui glanced sideways, watching him gaze up at the statue of Guanyin. A huge weight lifted off his heart. He chastised himself for his absurdity, suspecting Second Young Miss Xiao of being a demon! He felt like he deserved a slap, even waking up in the middle of the night, he should have slapped himself! How foolish he had been!
Xiao Fu asked, “Lin Lang, what are you here to get in the Guanyin Hall?”
Lin Zikui’s gaze darted away, stuttering, “I-I’m here to pray to Guanyin…”
“Didn’t you pray earlier?”
“I prayed for success, now I want to pray for…”
Xiao Fu: “For marriage?”
Lin Zikui could only nod and admit it.
He knelt on the cushion, bowing and kowtowing, offering incense. But Xiao Fu didn’t pray.
As he stood up, Xiao Fu asked again, “Lin Lang, are you praying for our marriage?”
“Yes….” Lin Zikui’s prayer was indeed for this.
Since this marriage was inevitable, and he had no room for regret, everything was up to the other party. So, he made a vow before Guanyin: “If Second Young Miss Xiao is willing to marry me and become my wife, I will not fail you in this lifetime. Once I’ve said it, it’s as unchangeable as gold. If I violate this oath, I shall face endless calamity and divine punishment!”
Xiao Fu, unaware of the straightforward nature of this scholar, was surprised by his solemn vow. As Lin Zikui was about to trip over the threshold, Xiao Fu grabbed his arm, saying, “Watch out, there’s a threshold here.”
Once they were out of the main hall, in a lowered voice, he responded, “Lin Lang and I share mutual feelings. How could our marriage not happen?”
“Second Young Miss Xiao… I… I feel the same way.” Lin Zikui glanced at her shyly, his cheeks flushing red when he realized he was caught.
Xiao Fu found his blushing cheeks adorable, feeling a tug at her heartstrings.
Marrying him, this Young Lady from the Xiao family is fortunate. But then…
Should he really snatch him away?
This thought only crossed his mind momentarily.
Xiao Fu knew his own temperament. He couldn’t sustain interest in anything for long. His brief infatuation with Lin Zikui would likely fade within seven days, at most.
With confirmation from Mo Liu that Xiao Fu was not a demon, and seeing her ethereal beauty, coupled with her affection for Lin Zikui, he became more friendly and open. He answered all of Xiao Fu’s questions.
Xiao Fu asked, “If there comes a day when you can’t speak, will your Young Master be unable to study?”
“Just…” Mo Liu was about to answer yes when he suddenly remembered something and shook his head. “The physician said that my Young Master’s eye condition isn’t severe. As long as he reduces his reading and spends more time outdoors, his condition will improve. For now, I read to him, and that’s sufficient. By next spring, when the imperial examination comes around, his eyesight should have recovered enough for him to handle the exams.”
Xiao Fu glanced at the silent Lin Zikui and asked, “Mo Liu, does your Young Master have a girl he fancies?”
Mo Liu immediately replied, “My Young Master has only ever had thoughts of marrying you, Second Young Miss. He mentioned it many times on the way to Jinling.”
Lin Zikui couldn’t help but grip his arm.
Apologetically, he said, “Second Young Miss, I’m sorry. Mo Liu is young and tends to talk nonsense. He didn’t mean to offend.”
Xiao Fu: “When Lin Lang said he was talking nonsense, does that mean he has no intention of marrying me?”
“No, no, that’s not what I meant!”
“Then what did you mean?”
Lin Zikui seemed at a loss for words, his face flushed as he stuttered, “What I meant was… I am just a mere Graduate now, how can I be worthy of Second Young Miss?”
Xiao Fu smiled warmly, his aura of dominance and aggression dissipating. With a teasing glint in his fox-like eyes, his presence felt as gentle as a spring breeze, as he said, “I find Lin Lang to be quite handsome, and I am quite fond of scholars with knowledge.”
Lin Zikui met his gaze, feeling like he was being boiled alive, his whole body flushed with heat. “Second Young Miss…. You honor me.”
Not far away, seated side by side on the blue-tiled red wall, were two individuals, one taller than the other.
The shorter one was nibbling on a pear, innocently asking, “Brother Wu, Lord Marquis, will he really going to get married?”
The taller one replied, “Our Lord Marquis is a bit playful, but this time, he’s playing with something new.”
Pointing, Jinzun said, “That person?”
Yuanwu said, “In the seven years Lord Marquis spent in the northern pass, have you ever seen such a refined and elegant scholar?”
Jinzun nodded and asked, “Does Lord Marquis like men?”
Yuanwu hushed him and cautioned, “Keep it to yourself! This matter is not something we can discuss openly in the court. If word gets out, who knows how others will take advantage of it! Lord Marquis has already suffered enough grievances, do you understand?”
Jinzun didn’t fully understand, but he still replied, “I understand. I’ll keep it to myself.”
Xiao Fu accompanied Lin Zikui to the entrance of the Hall of Purifying the Heart. Lin Zikui suggested, “Shall I have Mo Liu escort Second Young Miss back to the Eastern Guest Hall?”
Mo Liu whispered, “Young Master, shouldn’t we invite Second Young Miss in for a while?”
Lin Zikui’s voice grew even lower, “For an unmarried man and woman, what’s proper?”
Xiao Fu couldn’t contain his laughter.
Back in the court, Xiao Fu used to enjoy verbally thrashing those overly refined scholars, watching them turn red in the face and stutter in anger, finding it quite satisfying.
But now, watching Lin Zikui, he couldn’t help but feel that not all literary men were irritating.
Lin Zikui had Mo Liu escort him back, and soon after, Mo Liu returned, carefully holding a basket of grapes.
“What are these grapes for?” Lin Zikui inspected them closely. Each grape was translucent green, glistening with dewdrops. He had never seen such exquisite grapes before!
In Jinling, they might cost one or two golds!
Mo Liu explained, “Second Young Miss asked me to bring them back for you. She also treated me to a cup of tea.”
Pointing at him, Lin Zikui admonished, “Mo Liu, Mo Liu, how could you accept gifts from others! You’re such a glutton.”
“I, I… I couldn’t refuse Second Young Miss’s kind gesture. Besides, it seems she has taken a liking to you at first sight. By accepting her fruit, I reciprocate her goodwill. You can send a thank-you gift back, and with this exchange, your relationship will surely get closer!”
Despite his young age, Mo Liu had learned quite a bit about human relationships and etiquette at the Yingtian Prefectural Academy. He understood the principles of reciprocity and mutual respect.
He encouraged his Young Master, “The ink treasures you wanted to give to Lord Xiao last time, wouldn’t they be perfect for Second Young Miss? Those paintings are your most prized possessions.”
“My paintings… Forget it.” Lin Zikui felt reluctant to part with them. His purse was tight, and he only had a piece of green pine pendant left by his mother, which was a valuable heirloom.
His mother had said it was meant for his future wife.
Lin Zikui took off the pendant and held it in his palm, gazing at it for a long time.
Second Young Miss was nothing like he had imagined.
She wasn’t like a traditional young lady; instead, she was playful, teasing him like one would play with a cat.
Did she really like him?
Immediately, Lin Zikui picked up the bamboo basket, lifted the door curtain, and headed straight to the East Guest Hall.
In the courtyard of the East Guest Hall, Marquis Xiao sat on a swing under a tree, holding a roll of miscellaneous books, tossing grapes into his mouth. He couldn’t taste anything, he just enjoyed the sensation of bursting juice.
Meanwhile, Yuanwu was practicing punches against a tree stump, denting it with each blow. Jinzun hung upside down from the eaves for training but got bored and jumped down, lying on Marquis Xiao’s shoulder, asking, “Lord Marquis, practicing?”
“No, Jinzun. Did you find out what I asked you to?”
“Yes, Lord Marquis is right. The old Taoist in the backyard. He’s got skilled guards with him.”
“Did you get inside?”
“Yeah, I did.”
Xiao Fu asked slowly: “Did he notice you?”
Jinzun shook his head: “No, he didn’t. The old Taoist was just meditating, chanting, occasionally going to the study. I looked for what you wanted, but couldn’t find it.”
Xiao Fu: “What about the hairstyle you were supposed to learn? What’s the use of keeping you three if none of you can even do a simple hairstyle?”
Lin Zikui walked to the front of the East Guest Hall, through the courtyard gate, and saw a young man hanging around the Second Young Miss, whispering something in her ear.
They seemed intimate, not like master and servant.
The young man even reached out to stroke the Second Young Miss’s hair.
Lin Zikui froze for a moment, then leaned forward to carefully discern. In his hesitation, he stepped on a twig, causing Yuanwu to turn his head, asking, “Who’s there?”
Lin Zikui didn’t have time to run, so in his panic, he could only hurriedly grab the green pine peace charm hidden in the bamboo basket into his palm.
Upon hearing the voice, Xiao Fu glanced over.
Lin Zikui handed the basket of grapes to Yuanwu with a firm tone, “The Second Young Miss’s kindness is too precious. I cannot accept it without merit.”
He didn’t look at Xiao Fu, just handed it over quickly and left. He wasn’t paying attention to the path and stumbled, falling down. He awkwardly got up, limping as he stood. When Mo Liu chased after him and saw him fall, he hurriedly helped him back.
Yuanwu stood behind for a while, then placed the grapes on the table. “Lord Marquis, the scholar fell.”
Xiao Fu calmly said, “Oh,” as if he didn’t hear or care, not even glancing over.
In the grape basket, there were also several large and round oranges, returned by Lin Zikui. Feeling humble, Lin Zikui was filled with mixed feelings.
Not far away, Taoist Ling Yuan, who happened to pass by, saw Lin Zikui limping and decided to send him some medicine later.
Back at the Hall of Purifying the Heart, Lin Zikui picked up a book and had Mo Liu read it to him.
Mo Liu’s throat grew dry and scratchy from reading. Exhausted, he fell asleep after nightfall. Lin Zikui saw him curled up and asleep, so he brought a charcoal basin to warm him by the bedside.
Feeling the chill of the night, Lin Zikui wrapped himself in a quilt, holding a lamp and leaning in closely to continue reading.
The candlelight cast his shadow long, illuminating his refined profile.
Outside the window, the trees swayed gently in the moonlight. It wasn’t until after midnight that the lamp in his room went out.
The next morning, Lin Zikui pushed open the door and saw a box of common ointment for bruises and injuries lying on the ground outside, dewdrops forming on its surface.
He bent down to pick it up, his expression dazed, and glanced towards the direction of the East Guest Hall.
It turned out that his embarrassing fall had caught the Second Young Miss’s attention.
Author’s Note:
Lin Zikui: He’s so considerate, bringing me medicine.
Taoist Ling Yuan: You’re out of your mind!
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