novelaction Chapter 386: I didn't smell it.
Chapter 386: I didn't smell it.
Time flies, from spring to summer.
Dianchi Town remains a riot of color, with vendors calling out their wares everywhere and people bustling about on both sides of the street.
Fang Xiaoxiao and Pei Yan were riding tall horses, watching this grand and bustling scene.
In the blink of an eye, they had been here for three decades.
Pei Yan smiled as he looked at Fang Xiaoxiao's pretty face.
"My wife, thanks to you, my life was saved, otherwise I'm afraid..."
Before he could finish speaking, Fang Xiaoxiao interrupted him.
"Come on, it was so dangerous back then. I don't know who gave you the courage. Was it Fish Leong?"
She returned slowly with a displeased expression.
Thinking back to that time in Majiatun, that bandit leader was truly despicable, daring to resort to underhanded tactics. Fortunately, Pei Yan was there to shield her from the knife; otherwise, as a frail woman, she probably wouldn't have survived that blow.
Fang Xiaoxiao thought to herself, hoping for the best.
Pei Yan didn't understand anything about Liang Jingru; she only knew that she had done what she was supposed to do.
"In the face of danger, I must protect my wife."
"Thank you then. It's getting late, let's hurry out of the city and follow Fang Rourou's advice along this official road. We should be back in the capital in about half a day."
Fang Xiaoxiao pointed to a road in front of her that could accommodate about two carriages and was paved with bluestone slabs.
They learned this from inquiries when they parted ways with Fang Rourou.
It turns out that Dianchi County is not particularly far from the capital city, about 200 li away. Based on the daily journey of 50 li on horseback, it would only take about one or two days to reach the capital.
However, Fang Xiaoxiao felt that traveling day and night was too tiring, so she decided to travel back to Kyoto while having fun.
The two stopped talking and continued walking straight ahead.
As the sun sets, the red clouds on the horizon are breathtakingly beautiful.
The two people and two horses, their reflections mirrored on the bluestone slabs, looked extremely beautiful.
Little did they know that in the nearby woods, pairs of sinister eyes were fixed on the two of them.
A seemingly honest man dressed in coarse linen clothes turned and walked toward the carriage parked not far behind him.
Inside the carriage.
The eldest prince, Pei Zuozheng, was playing chess with his teacher, Zhang Xuzi, the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy.
The ivory chess pieces are divided into black and white and are placed on the chessboard respectively.
However, only two or three pieces were placed, making it seem rather deserted.
Pei held black pieces in his left and right hands, a gentle smile on his face.
"Teacher, do you think it's better for my stone to land in the middle or on either side?"
Zhang Xuzi, who was addressed as "teacher" by the eldest prince, stroked his beard and smiled.
"The Crown Prince may choose where he wishes to reside; it is not appropriate for me, as his teacher, to offer him any guidance. Now that you are about to succeed to the position of Crown Prince, you will become the ruler of the country in the future."
He spoke in a seemingly light and airy manner, like a gentle breeze passing by, without any force whatsoever.
But Pei Zuo listened carefully and attentively, knowing what he should do next.
They killed Pei Yan, and on their way back to the capital.
Pei Yan's identity had already been thoroughly investigated by him.
He conspired with other ministers to spread rumors that Crown Prince Pei Yan was plotting a rebellion, bribing the Crown Prince's guards and maids to frame him, all in order to make his father believe that the Crown Prince harbored rebellious intentions.
A year has passed now. He thought Pei Yan was dead, but he never expected that not only was he alive, but he was still alive right under his nose.
One child fell.
……
Summer is not only hot, but also particularly prone to sudden heavy rain.
Fang Xiaoxiao and Pei Yan braved the heavy rain and quickened their pace, finally finding a dilapidated temple.
To this day, the Great Yu Dynasty has suppressed Buddhism, so many dilapidated temples can be seen in various places. These were built by villagers who contributed manpower, labor, and money during the heyday of Buddhism, but were later abandoned and left unattended due to the decline of Buddhism.
However, when Fang Xiaoxiao pushed open the dilapidated temple door, which was covered with cobwebs, she saw a monk wearing patched robes and with a scar on his head standing in the temple hall looking at them.
The monk had a gentle face, a white beard, long, narrow eyes, and a straight nose; he must have been a handsome man in his youth.
This was Fang Xiaoxiao's first reaction.
The rain in the sky grew more and more intense, pouring down like a torrential downpour.
The monk smiled and gestured to Fang Xiaoxiao and Pei Yan, saying, "Esteemed benefactors, it's raining heavily outside. Please come in and take shelter from the rain."
Fang Xiaoxiao and Pei Yan exchanged a glance, then led their horses into the dilapidated temple.
Upon entering the temple, one is immediately struck by its dilapidated state. The gold paint on the Buddha statues has peeled off, and the offering tables are covered in dust and cobwebs. Many of the blue bricks on the ground are cracked, and weeds stubbornly grow from the cracks.
Fang Xiao walked cautiously when suddenly her nose twitched slightly. A faint scent of rouge, mixed with the damp, decaying smell, reached her nostrils.
A question arose in her mind: how could such a dilapidated temple smell of rouge?
Fang Xiaoxiao couldn't help but turn to look at Pei Yan and whispered, "Did you smell a strange fragrance?"
Pei Yan wrinkled his nose, sniffed carefully, and shook his head: "I can't smell it."
Fang Xiaoxiao frowned, took another deep breath, and made sure she wasn't mistaken. Her gaze began to search around the temple, trying to find the source of the fragrance.
At this moment, the monk came over, put his hands together and said, "Esteemed benefactors, this temple has been in disrepair for many years and is in such a dilapidated state. I hope you will not find it offensive."
Fang Xiaoxiao looked at the monk and tentatively asked, "Master, has any woman ever been to this temple?"
A fleeting hint of panic crossed the monk's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure and replied, "Amitabha, you jest, benefactor. This deserted temple has been neglected for a long time; how could a woman have come here?"
Seeing the monk's evasive words, Fang Xiaoxiao's doubts deepened. She decided to search more carefully herself, hoping to find some clues.
Just then, the rain outside suddenly intensified, and a howling wind blew into the temple, sending a chill through everyone.
The monk put his hands together, bowed slightly, and said with a kind expression, "Esteemed benefactors, there is a guest room in the temple where you may rest."
Fang Xiaoxiao and Pei Yan exchanged a glance, both with a hint of doubt in their eyes, but still followed the monk toward the guest room.
The guest room, though simply furnished, was surprisingly clean. The white bed was neatly made with blankets, exuding a faint, dry scent. A small table in the corner was spotless.
Outside the window, the rain continued to pour down, pounding against the glass as if trying to drown the world. The darkness of night enveloped everything, with only the occasional flash of lightning briefly illuminating the small room.
Before they knew it, the night had deepened. The monk slowly entered, carrying two bowls of steaming porridge. His face still wore that seemingly compassionate smile as he said, "Esteemed benefactors, this is porridge that I obtained through alms-giving. Please enjoy it."