After getting married, she spent every night alone in her room; when she asked for a divorce, he kne

Xiao Jinghan put down his teacup and said, "It's only human nature. If it were me, I wouldn't want to marry my daughter into this family either."

Liu Yuansheng: "Then fourth brother..."

Xiao Jinghan gave a slight smirk and said calmly, "Don't worry about him. How old is he? He should figure out his own wife!"

He said it so casually, but Liu Yuansheng was still quite anxious. She could tell that Xiao Jingzhuo was very fond of Sun Zhiyao. If their marriage fell through like this, Xiao Jingzhuo would be heartbroken.

"Isn't there any way to save my fourth brother's marriage?"

Liu Yuansheng muttered to herself. Xiao Jinghan listened and chuckled, saying, "Alright, I promise you, I won't let Jingzhuo stay single, okay?"

"If Sun Zhiyao refuses to marry him, I'll find him a woman with a better family background, looks, and temperament than Sun Zhiyao. There are so many good girls in the world, does he really have to be fixated on Sun Zhiyao alone?"

"But what one truly loves is probably beyond what family background, appearance, and temperament can compare to," Liu Yuansheng muttered softly. "I still hope that Fourth Young Master and Miss Sun can become a couple in the end."

Looking at the dejected Liu Yuansheng, Xiao Jinghan felt inexplicably uncomfortable.

He had always been adept at controlling his emotions, so he quickly let go of the slight discomfort he felt. Instead, he smiled and said to Liu Yuansheng, "If those two are truly destined for each other, let alone the Yuan family, even the King of Hell himself couldn't separate them!"

After saying that, Xiao Jinghan jumped off the couch, stretched his muscles and bones, and asked Liu Yuansheng.

"It's rare to have a free day, how about going out for a stroll?"

Liu Yuansheng's thoughts shattered with Xiao Jinghan's actions, and she simply followed his words, asking, "Where does the young master wish to go?"

"I'm fine with anything, what about you?" Xiao Jinghan said with a bright smile.

Liu Yuansheng paused, "I want to go to Shuiyue Nunnery."

"Suigetsuan?"

"Um."

Xiao Jinghan remained silent, and Liu Yuansheng also held her breath.

But she really wanted to go to Shuiyue Nunnery.

When Jiang Zhihuan told her that Abbess Jing'an wanted to see her, she wanted to visit Abbess Jing'an, but too many things happened afterward, and she just couldn't find the time. Now that she finally had some free time, she naturally had to go and see her as soon as possible.

She originally wanted to go by herself, but when Xiao Jinghan mentioned taking her out, she blurted it out without thinking, and to be honest, she regretted it at that moment.

Just as she was hesitating whether to tell Xiao Jinghan that she could go by herself and that there was no need for him to come along, Xiao Jinghan suddenly said, "Okay, then let's set off immediately."

Xiao Jinghan ordered his attendant, "Have the carriages harnessed, take plenty of servants, and depart immediately for Shuiyue Nunnery."

We walked and stopped along the way, chatting and laughing, and finally arrived at Shuiyue Temple before sunset.

The carriage was piled high with gifts Xiao Jinghan had given to Abbess Jing'an, as well as all sorts of things Ying'er had bought, mostly food. Xiao Jinghan was disgusted by it and threatened Ying'er as he got off the carriage that if she didn't finish eating everything in the carriage by the time they came down the mountain, he would throw her and the food down at the foot of the mountain.

The master and servant often bickered and teased each other, which Liu Yuansheng was used to. Xiao Jinghan never put on airs with his servants and always chatted and laughed with his close attendants. She had even seen the handsome guard in white take silver notes from his pocket and run away as soon as he got them. Xiao Jinghan just laughed and scolded him a couple of times, without getting angry at all.

But once he gets angry, it's something that most people can't handle.

The scenery of Shuiyue Mountain is beautiful at dusk.

The molten gold of the setting sun pressed heavily against the mountain peaks, and a sky full of orange-red rays poured down, dyeing the layered ridges into a gentle reddish-brown, even gilding the pine branches in the forest with a layer of warm, fragmented light.

Liu Yuansheng and Xiao Jinghan, their golden rays elongating their intertwined figures, watched as the setting sun sank behind the mountain peak, the molten sunset clouds sweeping over their shoulders. The two slowly ascended the pine-needle stone steps, the evening breeze carrying the light fragrance of the Taoist temple. Looking up, they saw the vermilion eaves of Shuiyue Temple covered by the setting sun, standing quietly in the depths of twilight.

Upon seeing the distinguished guests arrive, the young nun of Shuiyue Temple immediately went to announce their arrival.

A short while later, Abbess Jingxuan led the nuns out to greet her and Xiao Jinghan.

Abbess Jingxuan bowed her head and clasped her hands, her expression calm and respectful. She first gave Xiao Jinghan a deep bow: "This humble nun, Jingxuan, along with all the disciples of the nunnery, respectfully welcomes the young master of the Duke of Zhenguo to our humble abode. The mountains are quiet and the vegetation is simple. We are grateful that the young master and his wife have traveled a long way through the mountains and rivers. Please come inside and have some tea to rest."

The nuns beside them bowed in unison, their robes fluttering gently. No one made a sound; they stood quietly behind the abbess, waiting for the two to move.

Xiao Jinghan slightly raised his hand in a gesture of support, his voice gentle and polite, without a trace of the arrogance of a noble family: "Master, there's no need for such formalities. It is we who have been presumptuous to disturb your place of quiet cultivation. We were just passing by this place at dusk and found the scenery in the mountains serene and beautiful, so we came to pay our respects. We hope we have not disturbed your masters' meditation."

After saying that, he looked at Liu Yuansheng beside him.

He was humble and proper, while Liu Nianxi, who once made Shuiyue Nunnery her home, was indifferent and showed no reaction to the Empress Dowager Jingxuan.

Master Jingxuan coughed twice, feeling a little embarrassed. "Young Master, Young Master's Wife, please enter the nunnery."

Xiao Jinghan withdrew his gaze with a subtle expression and asked, "Aren't you Abbess Jing'an?"

Master Jingxuan was taken aback upon hearing this. "This humble nun, Jingxuan, has entrusted all matters to me for the time being due to Jing'an's illness."

"I see," Xiao Jinghan said. "Master Jing'an is ill? What illness?"

"It's just a common cold."

A common cold?

If it were just a common cold, would it be necessary to hand over the hosting position to Jingxuan and hide away to recuperate?

Liu Yuansheng found it hard to believe, after all, she had experienced Master Jingxuan's methods firsthand.

"His hands and feet were so slow it was as if he was dragging a thousand-pound weight, and the offerings were arranged crookedly. He had no understanding of tranquility whatsoever. From then on, he was to go to the well to fetch water before dawn every day, and he was not allowed to come back until the water tank was full."

"You can't even handle the smallest things properly, wasting the temple's belongings. Tonight, I'll kneel alone in the Buddha hall until midnight to reflect on my restless nature!"

"He is restless all day long, his eyes are darting around, and when he sees outsiders, he acts coy and shy. He has a worldly and frivolous air about him and has no trace of the purity and self-restraint that a monk should have. He is truly an insult to the purity of Buddhism!"

The sharp and sarcastic words that had been lingering in her ears all came out at this moment, recounting again and again how Abbess Jingxuan had made things difficult for her and humiliated her.

During her years at Shuiyue Nunnery, she lived a very cautious life. Even so, she was still disliked and was often bullied by Jingxuan and the nuns who were close to Jingxuan.

Although Abbess Jing'an always protected her, there were times when she couldn't take care of her. Moreover, the tighter Abbess Jing'an protected her, the more fiercely Jingxuan and the others bullied her.

Later, she became taciturn, timid, and cowardly, and longed for the warmth of a family. So when the Cao butcher's family offered to adopt her, she agreed without hesitation.

As a result, another serious mistake was made.

Memories of the past brought her sorrow, and Liu Yuansheng forced herself to stop reminiscing. Just like last time, she ignored Abbess Jingxuan and the others, and went directly to the dormitory to find Abbess Jing'an.

Xiao Jinghan silently followed Liu Yuansheng the whole time. Seeing that Liu Yuansheng was about to enter the dormitory, he said, "You go ahead, I'll stay outside and enjoy the moonlight in the mountains."

Liu Yuansheng paused upon hearing this.

She almost forgot that Xiao Jinghan was with her.

He suddenly turned around and looked at Xiao Jinghan.

The distant mountains and the sunset cast a gentle backdrop on him, his slender figure casting a long, elegant shadow. His dark hair was gently caressed by the evening breeze, and his eyes and brows were bathed in a soft, hazy orange light. He shed the cold, sharp, and aloof demeanor of a noble young master, leaving only a refined and jade-like appearance.

"I'll be fine soon," Liu Yuansheng said softly. "Don't go too far."

This last sentence sounds like a wife's tender words of advice to her husband.

Xiao Jinghan's lips curled up into a smile. "Alright, I'll just wander around the nunnery and not go anywhere else. Don't worry."

Liu Yuansheng nodded before entering the dormitory.

After her slender figure was enveloped in the dim candlelight of the dormitory, Xiao Jinghan turned around and looked at Abbess Jingxuan not far away.

Abbess Jingxuan looked embarrassed. Seeing Xiao Jinghan staring straight at her, she gave a dry laugh and said, "What are your orders, Young Master?"

"I haven't given any instructions, but I have a question for you," Xiao Jinghan said.

Abbess Jingxuan shuddered inexplicably, lowered her head, and said, "Please speak, Your Highness."

"My wife is always respectful to elders, kind to children, and polite. Why did she ignore you just now?"

Abbess Jingxuan: "This..."

"You have to give me a proper explanation." Xiao Jinghan lifted his robe and sat down. "Remember, tell the truth. If I find out you've lied to me, not even all the Buddhas in the heavens can save you."

Master Jingxuan: "..."

The room was spacious and clean, with a wooden couch by the window, draped with plain linen curtains. A celadon incense burner sat on the table, burning incense sticks year-round, and neatly arranged handwritten Buddhist scriptures, an inkstone, and a plain brush beside it. A scroll of the "Purifying Mantra" in ink hung on the wall, and a meditation cushion sat in the corner. Only a wooden cabinet stored clothes and ritual implements, without any elaborate decorations.

The setting sun slants through the window, landing on the plain white walls, creating a peaceful, quiet, and dignified atmosphere in the room.

Master Jing'an was lying on that wooden couch.

Hearing the door open, she coughed and asked, "Who is it?"

"Master, it's me."

Master Jing'an stiffened and sat up abruptly.

I turned around, looked up, and saw a familiar figure standing in front of the door.

She wore a plain, moon-white silk dress, without any pearls or gold ornaments, except for two small pearls hanging from her ears.

Her dark hair was simply tied in a low bun, secured with a single plain jade hairpin, her attire as understated as that of an ordinary lady from a noble family. Yet, the soft light of twilight fell upon her eyes and brows, making her skin appear as radiant as jade, her eyebrows gentle and graceful, and a touch of pink on her lips. Even in her simple and unadorned attire, her undeniable elegance and gentle grace were more captivating than any elaborate robes she wore, a stunning beauty hidden beneath her understated elegance.

It's Liu Yuansheng.

"Yuansheng?" She stood up happily. "What brings you here?"

"Master Jing'an," Liu Yuansheng said, walking towards her and taking her arm. "Sit down quickly. Why are you standing up?"

As he spoke, he helped Abbess Jing'an sit down.

Master Jing'an's eyes were filled with undisguised joy upon seeing Liu Yuansheng. "I was just thinking of you these past two days, and here you are! It's as if we're telepathically connected. Yuansheng, how have you been lately?"

"I'm fine, Master, why are you sick?" Liu Yuansheng asked.

Master Jing'an: "Alas, I caught a chill last night, so, cough cough, that's why I have a cough."

After saying this, Abbess Jing'an covered her mouth and coughed painfully.

Liu Yuansheng patted her back until she finished coughing, then gently took her pulse.

The room fell silent for a moment. Abbess Jing'an secretly observed Liu Yuansheng and was very pleased to see that her eyebrows were relaxed, her expression was peaceful, and her complexion was rosy.

While feeling relieved, I was also worried and melancholy, and couldn't help but complain about why God always tormented this poor child.

And then there's Jiang Zhihuan. He doesn't show up when he should, and when he shouldn't, he returns to the capital and hides by Liu Yuansheng's side, which only causes her trouble.

After a while of lost in thought, Abbess Jing'an couldn't help but start coughing again. Liu Yuansheng picked up the paper and pen on the table and wrote a prescription while instructing her, "You can't catch a cold again, and you can't overwork yourself or get angry. You should stay in the room and rest for the next few days."

After saying that, he handed the written prescription to Abbess Jing'an, saying, "Here is the prescription. Have someone go down the mountain to get the medicine and brew it. Take it every day, and you should be better in three days."

Master Jing'an: "Okay."

Liu Yuansheng smiled, "I'll send some more tonics later. Did you finish all the ones I sent you last time?"

"I ate quite well. I'm a monk, I don't need those expensive things, so please don't send me any more in the future."

"But you look extremely weak, it's not like you've been carefully recuperating." Liu Yuansheng paused, then suddenly remembered something, "Were the things I brought you taken away by Abbess Jingxuan and the others?"

Master Jing'an's eyes flickered. She never expected Liu Yuansheng to guess so easily. "They did take some. If they want to eat, just give them some. After all, they are the ones who watched you grow up."

Liu Yuansheng sighed, "Master, you are too kind and easily bullied."

Master Jing'an nodded with a wry smile, "So, I couldn't protect you, but fortunately, someone can protect you now."

Liu Yuansheng pursed her lips, offering no further explanation. "Master, did you ask Jiang Zhihuan to contact me about something?"

"You've seen Jiang Zhihuan."

"I saw him."

Master Jing'an: "Did he say anything to you?"

Liu Yuansheng shuddered. "We've only met a few times. He didn't say anything to me. He was very polite to me, like I was a stranger."

"And what about you? What's your attitude?" Master Jing'an asked impatiently.

"Me?" Liu Yuansheng smiled bitterly. "I originally hoped to be with him for life, but then he had an accident. Now I only hope he can live, and I don't ask for anything else."

"The Bodhisattva must have heard my prayers and allowed him to live, but... him and I..."

"Master, one shouldn't be too greedy, should one? Heaven has already granted my request and allowed him to live; I cannot ask for more."

Abbess Jing'an lowered her head, pondered for a moment, and said, "So, you've given up on your feelings for him and decided to spend the rest of your life with Prince Xiao?"

"That's not it," Liu Yuansheng said. "The young master is a very good person. He should marry a woman who is excellent enough and loves him enough to be his partner. My appearance was just an accident. I have already thought it through. I will find an opportunity to ask him for a divorce."