My stepsister tried to steal the prince's hand in marriage, but little did she know I had been

Her face was not unfamiliar to many of the monks at Jinhua Temple, so when she and Wen Shuyao stepped into the temple, a monk came to greet them.

"Benefactor." The monk stood outside the hall, his face as compassionate as the bodhisattva inside.

Upon seeing the visitor, Old Madam Chu was startled and bowed to the monk, saying, "Master Zhiming, why have you come out in person?"

The man before you is Master Zhiming, the abbot of Jinhua Temple.

Master Zhiming was famous for the accuracy of his divinations. It is said that he once cast a divination for His Majesty when he was a child and predicted that His Majesty, who was then a child abandoned in the cold palace, would be able to ascend the throne.

And as it turned out, his divination was correct.

Madam Chu had also consulted Master Zhiming for a divination, which was for the sake of her daughter who died young.

Master Zhiming, with a look of compassion, lingered on Wen Shuyao for a moment, a strange light shining in his eyes.

"The young lady beside you..." Master Zhiming said quietly, "has an extremely noble destiny."

These four short words caused Old Madam Chu's expression to change drastically.

Wen Shuyao, whose expression was calm, also had a flicker in her eyes.

The saying "one's destiny is extremely noble" should not be said carelessly.

Of all the women in the world, only the Empress truly deserves that title.

She quickly changed the subject: "I came to Jinhua Temple today to ask for a certain medicine."

Fortunately, no one was around. She lowered her voice and said cautiously, "I've heard that Master Zhiming has a medicine that has a miraculous effect on male impotence..."

Master Zhiming raised his hand, chanted a Buddhist prayer, and then said, "But this illness requires the right medicine for the right ailment."

"Given Miss's fate, this medicine is really unnecessary."

Upon hearing this, Old Madam Chu was struck dumb.

Even Master Zhiming says this disease is incurable, so what should be done? Is Wen Shuyao destined to live a life of widowhood?

She took a few steps back, wanting to speak, but after opening her mouth, she could only say dryly, "Is there really no solution to this?"

Unlike her unease, Wen Shuyao's eyes lit up.

Master Zhiming's words were a reassuring reassurance to her.

She only wanted to make money by using her status as Princess Jing, and had no other intention of having any relationship with Prince Jing.

"Thank you, Master Zhiming!" Wen Shuyao replied crisply, her eyes crinkling with joy.

Seeing that Old Madam Chu was still unwilling to give up and wanted to continue asking questions, she quickly took Old Madam Chu's arm and said, "Grandmother, Master Zhiming is very busy. We shouldn't bother him with these matters."

After saying this, she hurriedly bowed to Master Zhiming, and then left with Old Madam Chu.

Watching the grandfather and grandson's departing figures, Master Zhiming placed his hand on his chest and slowly said, "Amitabha, a monk does not lie. Every word I have said is true..."

If you're not sick to begin with, why do you need medication?

After being led away from the main hall by Wen Shuyao, Old Madam Chu realized that she had left the main hall when she looked at the dense bamboo forest on both sides.

"Why are you stopping me?" Old Madam Chu said irritably. "I'm doing this all for your own good."

Wen Shuyao's beautiful eyes widened, and she said innocently, "But I saw many ladies and young misses coming this way from afar. If they were seen by others, it would inevitably spread."

“Grandmother, I’m not married to Prince Jing yet.” Wen Shuyao lowered her voice. “If Prince Jing finds out that I’m in such a hurry, it might not be good.”

The old lady Chu's anger faltered; that was indeed true.

Men are very concerned about their image, so this kind of thing should never be made a big deal out of.

"Never mind." She closed her eyes. "When I return to the manor soon, I will ask your cousins ​​to search for renowned doctors in various places."

"Yaoyao, I will never let you suffer any injustice." Old Madam Chu patted Wen Shuyao's shoulder, her voice extremely gentle.

Wen Shuyao was on the verge of tears; the good life she wanted was not what Old Madam Chu envisioned...

Despite her reluctance, she had no choice but to nod and say, "Grandmother, I know you mean well, but now is really not the right time to look for medicine. Why don't we wait a little longer?"

"Wait?" Old Madam Chu frowned. "How long do we have to wait?"

“Let’s wait until…” Wen Shuyao’s eyes darted around, and she said in a low voice, “After I marry Prince Jing, how about that?” Old Madam Chu glanced at her, pondered for a moment, and finally agreed.

As the grandfather and grandson talked, they were completely unaware that their every word and action had been observed by two people behind the bamboo grove.

Xie Jinghan's handsome face remained expressionless, still bearing that indifferent look.

Instead, his guards looked displeased: "Who exactly leaked the news? Your Highness, you are clearly in the prime of your life..."

He was interrupted halfway through his sentence by a glance from Xie Jinghan.

"Don't forget the important matter," Xie Jinghan said coldly.

The guard immediately fell silent. He stood still, and all he could hear, besides the whispers of the two outside the bamboo grove, were a few hurried footsteps.

He was somewhat worried: "But there are still people outside..."

If we were to make a move at this time, it might harm the future princess.

Before he could utter the words he was about to say, he saw Xie Jinghan gracefully land outside the bamboo forest.

Wen Shuyao was talking to Old Madam Chu when she caught a glimpse of a man beside her and immediately shielded Old Madam Chu behind her.

When she saw the man's face clearly, she was stunned.

She would never forget that face—it belonged to Prince Jing…

Could it be that he overheard everything I just said?

Old Madam Chu also looked embarrassed. Although she was an elder, she had never been able to put on airs in front of a junior like Xie Jinghan.

Just as Old Madam Chu coughed lightly, preparing to speak, Xie Jinghan stepped forward.

This step was extremely swift; as if in the blink of an eye, Xie Jinghan appeared beside Wen Shuyao.

And one of his hands was around Wen Shuyao's waist.

Old Madam Chu froze, not yet regaining her senses, when another person rushed out of the bamboo forest, shouting, "Catch the assassin!"

In the blink of an eye, under the watchful eyes of Old Madam Chu, a sharp arrow flew straight towards Wen Shuyao, and Xie Jinghan, who was holding Wen Shuyao in his arms, caught the arrow in his palm.

With the crisis averted, Xie Jinghan released his grip and stood a good two arm spans away from Wen Shuyao.

"Yaoyao!" Old Madam Chu's eyes widened in fury, and she immediately rushed forward.

"Yaoyao!" Old Madam Chu grabbed Wen Shuyao's shoulders and looked her up and down. "Are you hurt anywhere?"

Wen Shuyao had just come to her senses when she met Old Madam Chu's worried gaze. She quickly shook her head and said, "His Highness Prince Jing acted in time, and the arrow did not get close. Don't worry."

As she spoke, she subtly shielded Old Madam Chu behind her.