Holding the script, I want to give up.

"Um, where are we going?"

Shangguan Zitong lifted the side curtain and saw the carriage drive past the bustling market and head out of the city. She asked curiously.

Yuantong Temple.

Huangfu Hongxi closed his eyes to rest.

"Oh."

Shangguan Zitong lowered the side curtain and saw that he was taking a nap, so he idly played with the nine-linked rings in the car.

With a snap, she easily solved the nine-linked rings.

"Tsk tsk tsk, no difficulty at all."

Shangguan Zitong muttered to herself, her gaze sweeping across every corner, trying to find something fun. Finding nothing, she closed her eyes for a short rest.

"Your Highness, we have arrived."

The coachman stopped the carriage and respectfully called out to the people inside.

"Yes, it's time for the Crown Princess to get off the carriage."

After Huangfu Hongxi finished speaking, he got out of the car and waited for her.

"Cough...cough, I can manage on my own."

Shangguan Zitong coughed a few times, ignored his outstretched hand, bent down, lifted her skirt, and slowly got out of the car.

"...Then let's go."

Huangfu Hongxi wasn't annoyed that she was unwilling to help him up; he figured there would always be another chance in the future.

"Shall we walk up? Or will we take a sedan chair?"

Holy crap, so many steps! No wonder she's panting like a log. Even walking a dog isn't this bad! She stared at the seemingly endless steps, lost in thought, wanting to tear Huangfu Hongxi to pieces.

"Yes, sincerity is key. If you get tired, I can carry you up the mountain, since you're not in good health."

Huangfu Hongxi smiled faintly at her.

"No need, I believe I can do it."

Shangguan Zitong lifted her skirt and climbed the steps. Seeing this, Huangfu Hongxi gave the coachman a few instructions and then silently followed.

Huangfu Hongxi, you heartless bastard! You can leave, but I can't. I'm exhausted.

Shangguan Zitong stopped halfway down the steps and sat on a stone bench under a maple tree to rest. Huangfu Hongxi also stopped to wait for her, quietly watching the scenery below the stone steps.

A gentle autumn breeze brings a touch of coolness. Fallen maple leaves dance in the air, adding a touch of melancholy. In the distance, the mountains appear dark and inky, with birds flying overhead adding a splash of color.

"Ah Li, why don't you take over my body?"

"Climb for me, I really can't climb anymore."

Shangguan Zitong bent down and rubbed her calves. If she had known she was coming to a temple, she would have regretted not changing into a skirt or pants to climb the mountain.

[No suitable opportunity yet, host, good luck.]

The system also wanted to climb for her, but Huangfu Hongxi's luck was too strong, so even if it wanted to possess her, it couldn't.

"You're even more of a dog than me, you little rascal."

"Your Highness, why don't you go ahead? I'll wait for you here, shall I?"

"I'm tired, I really can't climb any further."

Shangguan Zitong simply stopped massaging him, tilting her head and looking at him with a bitter, aggrieved expression. She was truly exhausted; for someone who hadn't exercised in a long time, this was practically public torture.

"Come up, I'll carry you."

Huangfu Hongxi got up and squatted down in front of Shangguan Zitong. He thought she was very spoiled, but it was normal, after all, she was a princess of a country.

"Don't let this interfere with our business. I won't mind that you're heavy. What are you waiting for?"

Huangfu Hongxi felt a little awkward seeing that Shangguan Zitong remained unmoved. He wanted to say a few words to ease the tension.

"Oh, here we come."

Shangguan Zitong reluctantly clung to him, and he carried her toward the temple gate. She was actually not heavy at all; she was very light. He only said that to provoke her.

"Hmph! You're the heavy one. I'll always be eighteen, always as light as a feather. If you hadn't insisted on climbing this mountain, I wouldn't have come. Didn't we agree I could go wherever I wanted? I never said I wanted to come to a temple!" she thought to herself, cursing him.

However, being carried on someone's back feels pretty good, at least you don't have to walk yourself.

Seeing that they were getting closer to their target, Shangguan Zitong said to Huangfu Hongxi, "Thank you, you've worked hard."

Hearing this, he was in high spirits and said, "I wasn't saying you were heavy; actually, you're quite light..."

Upon reaching the temple gate, he slowly put her down. Shangguan Zitong noticed the large beads of sweat on his forehead and, remembering that he had carried her halfway up the steps, took out a handkerchief from her sleeve to wipe his sweat.

Huangfu Hongxi was starting to get carried away and was starting to lose interest in following the original plan.

No, he couldn't let a moment's loss ruin his life. He had to imprison her forever; an eternal shackle was the best option. Huangfu Hongxi reflected to himself.

“Esteemed benefactors, Master Wugou has been waiting in the meditation room for quite some time. This humble monk will take you there.”

A sweeping monk approached them and bowed.

"Isn't Master Wugou at Lingyin Temple in Nanning?"

Shangguan Zitong also bowed to him and asked curiously. She hadn't encountered him last time in Nanning.

“Amitabha, benefactor, Master Wugou has been traveling here and said that a destined person will come to find him, so he is staying here for a while to wait.”

The monk turned the prayer beads in his hand and said.

"Then we'll trouble you to lead the way."

Huangfu Hongxi bowed to him and said.

"Please come this way, esteemed benefactors."

After the monk finished speaking, he led them toward Master Wugou's meditation room.

......

Inside the meditation room, Shangguan Zitong and Huangfu Hongxi took off their shoes and knelt on the soft cushions, sitting opposite Master Wugou.

"Please have some tea, esteemed patrons. I have been waiting for you for quite some time."

Master Wugou pushed one of the cups of tea toward the two of them.

"Thank you, then I won't be polite."

"I suppose I am the one destined for you, Master."

Shangguan Zitong took the cup of tea and slowly drank it, while Huangfu Hongxi's hand froze in mid-air.

“I am indeed referring to this female benefactor. Male benefactor, please wait outside the meditation room.”

Master Wugou bowed to Huangfu Hongxi, who then got up and walked out of the room to admire the thousand-year-old ginkgo tree in the courtyard.

"Master, what is a destined person?"

Shangguan Zitong put down the tea set in her hand.

How is this tea?

Master Wugou asked.

"Hmm... after the bitterness comes a sweet taste."

Shangguan Zitong couldn't taste anything at all; she drank tea like water. She figured she couldn't be wrong to answer based on her memory of tea's flavor.

"It's not tea, it's just ordinary water."

“Amitabha, benefactor, you must not lie.”

Master Wugou looked at her and said.

"Um... I just don't have a sense of taste."

Shangguan Zitong thought, "So what if she has no sense of taste? Is she supposed to tell everyone that she has no sense of smell, no sense of taste, and is paralyzed on one side?"

“A monk does not speak nonsense, benefactor. I cannot see your path clearly; it is confusing and unclear.”

"You saved someone who was already dead and suffered a backlash, and you're from another world, right?"

Master Wugou turned the prayer beads in his hand and said.

"How did you find out?"

"Then how should I crack it?"

Shangguan Zitong asked doubtfully.

"Ah Li, is he the Heavenly Dao you speak of?"

No, he was just a very accomplished monk who had seen through the illusions of the world.

"It cannot be said, for cause and effect, retribution, all follow a cycle."

"Perhaps a phoenix-like rebirth can also solve this problem."

“Benefactor, I have said all I need to say. Please understand it for yourself.”

Master Wugou bowed to her, and Shangguan Zitong returned the bow before getting up, putting on her shoes, and walking towards Huangfu Hongxi outside the room.

"Hmm... Master wants you to come in. I'll go eat first, and then I'll wait for you here."

She was hungry and went straight to find food. After saying those words as she passed by him, she went to mooch a meal. Seeing her like this, Huangfu Hongxi didn't say anything and went directly to discuss the Dao with Master Wugou.

"Master Wugou".

Huangfu Hongxi bowed, removed his shoes, and knelt down; the whole process was smooth and natural.

"You must not have eaten yet, please eat first."

Wugou pushed the monks' food, which the monks had brought, in front of him, indicating that he should finish eating before asking questions.

"Thank you for your hospitality, Master."

Huangfu Hongxi ate leisurely without any hurry.

"How about a game of chess between you and this old monk?"

After everyone finished eating, Wugou asked the young monk to clear away the bowls and chopsticks and set out the chessboard.

"can."

Huangfu Hongxi played white pieces, and Wugou played black pieces; the two began their game. Shangguan Zitong, having finished her meal and not seeing him, wandered around the temple. Tired from walking, she sat down under a ginkgo tree and took a nap.

"This old monk observes that your chess game is filled with a chilling atmosphere."

"Your path is built upon a mountain of white bones."

"It would be best for you to cut your losses in time."

After finishing speaking, Wu Gou bowed and got up to leave.

"There is no turning back when the bow is drawn."

Huangfu Hongxi sat quietly for a while, then grabbed a handful of white pieces and scattered them on the chessboard to disrupt the game. He got up, put on his shoes, and went to find Shangguan Zitong.

Perhaps she had been waiting too long, for she had already fallen into a deep sleep, a thin layer of golden ginkgo leaves piling up at the hem of her skirt. The wind gently blew away the leaves that had fallen on her, and also stirred the strands of hair by her ears.

Huangfu Hongxi was taken aback by the sight; she was like a goddess, untouched by worldly affairs. He picked her up and carried her down the mountain, but when he got tired halfway down, he carried her on his back.

"Your Highness, has the Crown Princess's dissociative identity disorder flared up again?"

The coachman, who was sitting cross-legged under the tree, got up to greet them when he saw that they had come down the mountain.

"No, she just got tired of climbing and fell asleep."

"Let's head back home. Drive slowly."

Huangfu Hongxi gently carried her into the carriage, afraid that she might bump into something.

"Yes."

Upon seeing this, the coachman quickly got into the carriage and leisurely drove towards the Crown Prince's residence.

......