An eight-year-old kid emptied his scumbag father's warehouse and followed his grandparents into

The Zen room was brighter than I'd imagined. The windows were covered with fine mulberry paper, letting in light but keeping out drafts.

There was a rush mat on the ground, a plain white porcelain tea set was placed on the low table in the middle, and an ancient bronze incense burner by the window was emitting green smoke, but it was not the sandalwood incense from ordinary temples. Instead, it seemed to be mixed with mint and tangerine peel unique to Lingnan, and the smell was particularly refreshing.

"This is..."

Asking them to sit down, Jing Chunxi picked up the teacup and saw that the tea soup was as clear as amber, with two young leaves shaped like sparrow tongues at the bottom of the cup.

"The wild tea growing on the cliffs behind the mountain only yields half a pound of tea each year." The monk added a spoonful of hot water with a wooden spoon and pushed it to Xu Zize and Aunt Wei. "Try it, benefactor. The true flavor comes from the third brew."

"My father specially wrote a letter and asked Xiaokang to come and ask the master for advice." Xu Zize took a sip of tea before starting to speak.

Master Huitong continued to make tea with warm water.

Every time the Master looked up, he paid special attention to Jing Chunxi. Xu Zize suddenly grasped Jing Chunxi's wrist. His fingertips were slightly cool, but his voice was warm: "Master, you just mentioned stargazing... I wonder what else you've seen?"

The smoke from the incense burner suddenly stagnated. A bird flew past the window, the sound of its wings flapping distinctly.

Master Huitong lowered his eyes as he poured tea, his slightly arched white eyebrows reflected on the water. "I'll just listen to the astrological theory. The great donor has already achieved his wish, hasn't he?"

After saying that, he looked at Jing Chunxi again, "It's the little donor..." He hesitated and suddenly tilted the teapot towards Jing Chunxi, "Rest on the sycamore tree."

Upon hearing this, Aunt Wei suddenly sat up straight, put down the teacup in her hand, stood up and said, "I'll go add some water for the master!" After saying that, she walked out the door without picking up anything.

Master Huitong smiled as he looked at her from behind. "Lady donor, you have endured hardships and now you have gained happiness. From now on, your family will live in peace and prosperity, and you will have two sons and two daughters."

When the old monk laughed, a speck of dust fell from the beam of the Zen room and floated in the sunlight like a mayfly.

"Mu Wei thanks the master for his guidance!" Aunt Wei turned around to thank him. When she turned around, her brows relaxed and her steps as she walked out became much lighter.

The mage tapped the tea table with his fingertips and looked out the window.

"The peach tree had already died, but luck brought it back to life." He suddenly spoke, his voice as calm as an ancient well, but it made the teacup in Jing Chunxi's hand tremble violently.

Xu Zize's pupils suddenly shrank, and his heart trembled. He looked at Jing Chunxi, who was a little frightened, with eyes full of pity, and leaned closer to her.

The master pulled a copper coin from his sleeve and gently placed it in front of Jing Chunxi. The characters "Yongchang" were clearly visible on the coin—it was a coin from a previous dynasty, and the two characters were the reign title, which might indicate her past life.

“He attained enlightenment at a young age, and the world turned upside down. He has made an indelible contribution to his family and country.” The mage pointed his finger at the center of the copper coin, and the coin actually began to spin upright.

Jing Chunxi's face turned pale. She was eight years old when she was reborn. On that day, she had a nightmare and began to overcome the tribulation for her mother, brother, and her maternal grandfather's family. In the process, she also became involved with the people around her, including the current emperor.

Xu Zize suddenly held her cold hand, and thinking of everything they had done in the past, his heart was filled with gratitude and admiration. If she had not been someone close to him, what would his past life have been like?

"If you don't take what God gives you, you will suffer the consequences." The mage put the teacup down heavily and looked at the two people holding hands in front of him. "Look carefully at your hands."

Those three words resounded like thunder. Suddenly, a red mark appeared on the wrists of Jing Chunxi and Xu Zize, emitting a faint glow.

The mage stood up and opened the window. The out-of-season white plum tree in the courtyard rustled and dropped many petals.

"catch."

As soon as the word fell, the green smoke in the Zen room suddenly condensed into a red line, entwining the two people's wrists together, and then disappeared in an instant.

"When you reach the age of 15, burn these two talismans." Two triangular pieces of goose yellow paper were folded and handed over. Xu Zize quickly helped Jing Chunxi take them, placed them in her palms, and then covered her small hands with his broad palms.

Back in the courtyard where they lived, Xu Zize stayed in her room and confessed his love to her for the first time.

Moonlight shone through the window lattice onto the blue brick floor. His voice was a little trembling, but every word was clear: "Xier, these days I have been thinking that if it weren't for you, I would have died long ago..." At this point, his Adam's apple rolled, and his fingertips unconsciously stroked the jade pendant on his waist.

"No matter what, Brother Xiaokang only has you in this life." He said the last sentence very solemnly, the candlelight dancing in his deep eyes. "After returning to the capital, Brother will immediately ask the emperor for permission to marry you. Are you willing?"

Jing Chunxi thought all night long with his pillow propped up, staring at the linen pattern embroidered on the ceiling of the tent in a daze.

Outside the window, the bamboo shadows are swaying and rustling.

She turned over, and amid the rustling of the quilt, she suddenly understood - everything in her past life was like death.

And this passionate love in this life is right in front of her. If it weren't for today's confession, she would have already felt that deep love.

If you hesitate because of those illusory things, wouldn’t it be a pity to miss them?

She bit her lip and smiled softly. If he betrayed her, the worst that could happen was that she asked for a divorce letter, and then she could use her space to protect herself and travel all over Daqing.

Thinking of this, I felt relieved and finally fell into a deep sleep at dawn.

There were so many souls to be commemorated and lamps to be lit that it took them two whole days to perform the rituals and burn incense.

The main hall was filled with the lingering scent of sandalwood incense, and the monks' chanting rose and fell like the tide. Jing Chunxi followed behind Xu Zize, watching his tall figure appear and disappear amidst the incense.

When offering incense to the retired emperor and the empress dowager, she simply bowed three times quietly before inserting the incense into the bronze incense burner. Curls of green smoke rose, and Xu Zize's profile appeared particularly solemn in the smoke.

When it came to Empress Xiaozhen, the situation was quite different.

Master Huitong came over with a rosary in his hand, his eyes sharp under his gray eyebrows: "Female donor, please kneel here." He pointed to the cushion beside Xu Zize.

Jing Chunxi's heart skipped a beat, and she looked up to meet Xu Zize's encouraging gaze. She pursed her lips, lifted her skirt, and knelt on the slightly faded mat.

When she bowed three times, she heard Xu Zize's deep voice particularly clear amid the sound of chanting: "Mother, the blood feud of more than 300 members of the Tao family has finally been avenged, and the bloodline is still preserved..." His voice was a little choked, and his slender fingers tightly clenched the corner of his clothes.

After a long moment, he held Jing Chunxi's hand and bowed deeply with her again: "My dear mother, I already have someone I love, Xi'er—Jing Chunxi."

He raised his voice slightly, as if afraid that the deceased soul couldn't hear him, "If it weren't for her, you wouldn't be able to see me today."

Jing Chunxi felt his palm burning hot, and when he turned his head, he met his eyes filled with deep affection.

Xu Zize continued, "The Tao family's revenge was achieved, and my father was restored to the throne. Xi'er played an indispensable role."