Spring Courtyard Forbidden Pet

Ye Zhen stood in front of the door and then she remembered that she was wearing an ill-fitting Taoist robe, no makeup on, and her long hair was only loosely tied up with a flowing silk handkerchief. It was really inappropriate.

Is there any condition in Keguanli for her to clean up?

Ye Zhen was a respectable person and had been a mistress in her previous life. Her every word and action was respectable for the Marquisate. She would dress up even when she was sick. She would never meet anyone in such a slovenly state.

But what is more important than her dignity now is Li Xuan'an's safety.

She bowed, her voice so thin that it could not withstand the wind, "Second Master's kindness in saving me, Ye Zhen has no way to repay you. I wonder how your injury is?"

There seemed to be some slight noise in the room, and Ye Zhen's breathing suddenly became heavy.

After a while, the door opened.

She lowered her head and called out, "Second..."

Sancho's round cheeks were reflected in Ye Zhen's pupils, and the smile at the corner of her eyes suddenly disappeared.

Sancho looked at her, not jokingly as before, "Miss Ye's fever has just subsided, go back and rest quickly, it's not good to catch a cold."

Ye Zhen mustered up her courage and asked, "Can I meet the Second Master?"

Ye Zhen knew that this was not logical, but if it weren't for Li Xuan, she might have died last night.

When Sancho wasn't smiling, he looked quite majestic. "Nothing is wrong, sir."

She didn't believe it, but she couldn't insist on it any longer. Firstly, she was afraid of disturbing Li Xuan'an's rest, and secondly, many Taoists were looking here.

"Your face is still as white as paper. You can thank me later when you get better."

How could Ye Zhen not hear that Sancho was chasing her away, but what if Li Xuan said something to her?

However, there were only two weak coughs from inside, and Sancho closed the door without mercy.

It was as if the light in Ye Zhen's eyes had been blocked, and her heart was filled with despair.

A Taoist priest passing by pointed and said, "The Imperial Master came up here in the middle of the night carrying someone on his back. I thought he had a special relationship with her."

"Don't you think about the status of the Imperial Master? How can you be a person who covets fame, wealth and beauty? Yesterday I was trying to save someone. Be careful not to blaspheme the Imperial Master if you think too much."

"The Three Pure Ones are wise, but I am a foolish disciple."

The Taoist boy put his hands together and bowed three times on the spot, looking regretful.

Ye Zhen's steps back to her room were unsteady, but Liuxia supported her steadily. "Let me change the medicine for you. The pain will go away after that."

Ye Zhen waved her hand, "Wait a while, it doesn't hurt now."

Seeing that she looked tired, Liuxia said, "Please take a rest first. I will keep an eye on the time. We will change in about two cups of tea."

Ye Zhen lowered her eyes, "Go and have a rest."

"Okay, I'll be outside."

This time, Ye Zhen touched the back of her neck when she lay down. It was a little painful, but it was not worth her attention. She thought of the words of the two Taoists just now for no reason, and her heart gradually became clear.

Li Xuan is the Grand Master of the Great Zhou Dynasty and a god in the hearts of the people. He helped me many times because he saw that I had no way out. He looks cold, but he is actually patient and kind to others and will not stand by and watch someone die.

He said that he was paying off the karmic debt for the Marquis' Mansion, so it must be true.

In her two lifetimes, no one had ever taken the initiative to protect her. So it was her problem, and she was overthinking it.

If she saw Li Xuan, should she ask what she could do to stop being connected to him by fate?

While thinking this in my heart, my hand was stroking the rosary on my wrist through my clothes, and my mind couldn't help but think of that person.

"Second Miss, let's change the medicine."

Liuxia came in quietly, afraid to disturb her rest.

Ye Zhen did not refuse again. Liuxia was very careful and changed the medicine smoothly before saying, "I can still smell the scent of sandalwood on this gauze. Taoist Yuchenzi and I didn't come here last night. Did the Second Master help you bandage it?"

Ye Zhen lay on the pillow and clenched her fists when she heard that. "I don't know."

Liuxia affirmed, "It must be. The temple is full of Taoists. Since this concerns your reputation, Second Master will never let anyone else in."

A trace of self-mockery flashed across Ye Zhen's eyes. "What reputation do I have in the capital right now? I just hope I won't cause Second Master to be criticized."

Liuxia suddenly thought of people outside saying that she seduced the Imperial Master... She felt annoyed and angry at the moment, but was afraid that Ye Zhen would be sad after hearing it, so she dared not mention it again.

Ye Zhen couldn't sleep in the afternoon, so she picked up a few Taoist books on the shelf and read them, but she couldn't concentrate because of the noise coming from next door.

The abbot of Baiyun Temple first said some polite words in front of Li Xuan'an's door, and was then invited in by Sancho.

Ye Zhen held the book in her arms and listened with her ear pressed against the wall.

She wanted to hear if Li Xuan was still coughing, if his voice was weak, or even... if he would mention her.

The master of the temple and Sancho were endlessly polite, and their words were full of compliments to the imperial master. They kept saying that His Majesty valued the imperial master, or that Baiyun Temple was fortunate to serve the imperial master...

As a Taoist priest, he was far inferior to Li Xuan. No wonder he could only be the master of a Taoist temple outside the city. Because there was only one Taoist temple outside the city, Li Xuan came here for two days every month to make it convenient for the people, which made Baiyun Temple famous.

"Cough cough."

A weak cough immediately made Ye Zhen nervous, and she clutched the book in her hand even tighter for some reason.

It’s Li Xuan!

After all, there was a wall between them, and his voice was weak. He had to pause after every few words, and it was too muffled to hear clearly. Ye Zhen wished he had the ability to pass through walls.

"I am sorry for disturbing Baiyun Temple." Li Xuan said politely, and then said, "The identity of the assassin is unknown. I am grateful to the temple master for not minding the trouble I have caused."

"The national teacher is destroying the small path."

Ye Zhen heard the noise of tables and chairs. It must be Li Xuan'an bowing, and the abbot stood up to help him.

After another round of politeness, the master soon revealed his true colors. It turned out that the capital had received news that someone wanted to take the opportunity to curry favor with Li Xuan, and asked the master to sound out the state master.

The abbot had just started talking when he noticed that Li Xuan was coughing badly. He just told him to rest well and left.

Sancho sent the man away with a few grumbling words, and Li Xuan just said, "He has to maintain the temple expenses every year, so it's natural for him to get closer to the nobleman."

"When I get better, I'll repay him for his kindness."

Ye Zhen was a little disappointed. Li Xuan didn't mention her from beginning to end.

But there was no need for him to mention it.

*

Baiyun Temple is not very big. They live on the west side of the main hall. The east side is where pilgrims usually draw lots and ask for divination. The backyard is the Taoist room and kitchen.

Because Ye Zhen was a woman, it was inconvenient for Liuxia to go in and out of the backyard, so Xiaodao temporarily built an open-air stove in the west yard. If they needed anything, they had to trouble Yu Chenzi to get it.

Ye Zhen told Liuxia not to be too meticulous, to just make do with it, and not to bother anyone if possible.

Ye Zhen had no appetite in the evening and only ate a little vegetarian porridge. Liuxia took advantage of their evening lessons and hurried to the pool to wash, after all, it was very uncomfortable to wear a Taoist robe.

After Ye Zhen took the medicine, she could vaguely hear the Taoist priest in the main courtyard performing evening prayers while lying on the bed, and she couldn't fall asleep anymore.

As I tossed and turned, the door was pushed open.

She thought it was Liuxia, "So fast?"

A hoarse but gentle voice suddenly broke into Ye Zhen's ears, "I'm not happy."

Ye Zhen sat up suddenly, and in the light of the candle, looked directly into Li Xuan'an's dark eyes. The teardrop mole at the corner of his eyes was slightly red, which made his pale and delicate face look more lively.

"Second Master?"

There was surprise in Ye Zhen's eyes, but her tone was unconsciously filled with joy.

Li Xuan put two fingers together and pointed at the candle. The light went out in an instant and she could no longer see his expression.