Chapter 38
Chapter 38: Happy Just To See Him?
Late in the second month, spring was in full bloom in Shengjing. At the foot of the mountain below Guanyin Temple, the trees were lush with green branches and soft leaves. Sparrows rested on the treetops, then, startled by human voices, flew up into the blue sky dotted with a few thin clouds.
The young Young Master dismounted from his horse. Standing in the sunlight, he was tall and straight as jade.
His brocade robe was cut just right. He looked both upright and gentle, with fair skin and calm eyes.
He seemed to glance at Luo Ning.
In Luo Ning’s memory, he had worn a monk’s robe. At that time he had already been a bit older, wandering for years, with time leaving its marks on his face.
He was nothing like he was now, a pampered Eldest Young Master, noble and refined like a piece of fine jade.
“Old Madam.” He first bowed to Luo Ning’s Grandmother, then cupped his hands to the others as a greeting.
When he lifted his eyes, his gaze fell on Luo Ning’s face.
Luo Ning happened to be looking him over too. Their eyes met. He really was looking at her.
Luo Ning had complicated feelings.
This man had no grudge with her. In her past life they had only met a few times and barely had any dealings.
After a brief pause, Pei Ying did not retreat. Instead, he took one step forward and cupped his hands to Luo Ning again.
Luo Ning gathered her sleeves and returned the salute.
“Miss Luo, I heard Her Majesty the Empress Dowager praise you last time. Back then on the Official Road, that long blade was so terrifying, yet you dared charge forward. You truly live up to being the daughter of a military family. Your courage is admirable,” Pei Ying said.
His tone was very sincere.
Grand Princess Jia Hong gave him a quick look.
In the Current Dynasty, Military Generals were not valued, while the Luo Family had been granted a Noble Rank.
For Pei Ying to praise her as “daughter of a military family” sounded a little like stepping on her. Grand Princess Jia Hong was afraid the women of the Luo Family might take it to heart.
But Luo Ning was quite generous: “You flatter me. It is only my duty to be loyal to the Empress Dowager.”
Their talk was pleasant enough.
The women of the Luo Family then went up to the temple with the Princess.
The Reception Monk first settled them into side rooms, then sent a Novice Monk to inform them they could go to the main hall to burn incense.
The main hall was cleared out on purpose to make room for Grand Princess Jia Hong.
The Princess invited the Luo Family’s Old Madam to go with her.
Luo Ning and the others followed to pay respects to the Bodhisattva.
The Head Monk was going to give a sermon, but Luo Ning and the others were not interested.
Cousin Luo Wan asked her: “Do you want to walk around? The apricot and pear blossoms in the Rear Courtyard are all in bloom.”
Luo Ning nodded.
The two of them slipped out quietly.
The sisters walked slowly side by side and chatted about many things. Besides Luo Yin being beaten, they talked about other little happenings in the Inner Capital.
“Big Sister, Young Master Pei kept looking at you just now,” Luo Wan said.
Luo Ning said: “I noticed too.”
She was not shy at all, so Luo Wan went on: “Young Master Pei is already over twenty. He has not lost a wife, yet he is still not married.”
Luo Ning was also a bit curious. She asked her Cousin: “Why is that? Have you heard?”
“I only know a little. They say he and Her Majesty Empress Zheng were childhood sweethearts. The Empress Dowager set up the Imperial Academy. Young masters from noble families and daughters of noble families all had to enter the palace to study with the Imperial Princes and Princesses.
“The Imperial Academy and the Ladies’ Academy share a wall. They often exchanged poems across the wall. The polo field was also only separated by one wall. They could watch each other from the stands,” Luo Wan said.
“That’s all?”
“They used the same Palace Gate to enter and leave the Imperial Academy. Those young masters and young ladies often went in and out together. At that time, among the students, Pei Ying and Madam Zheng were the best. Whether in their studies or in mounted archery, they were far ahead of everyone else.
“After Madam Zheng became the Empress, Pei Ying went traveling. He rarely appeared and was away from the Capital City for years,” Luo Wan said.
Then she lowered her voice very much. “Don’t spread this. If we speak carelessly about the Empress, we will lose our heads. This was secretly told by Miss Chen, the daughter of the Commandery Princess of Yanping. She was also studying at the Imperial Academy then. No one else dares to talk about it.”
Luo Ning was silent.
So, it was because of Empress Zheng.
Luo Ning suddenly felt relieved.
She had always thought, how could Pei Ying become a monk just because he could not marry her?
That reason was strange and made no sense. Luo Ning had never believed it.
Even after she died and became a ghost, she had never cared about it.
Pei Ying was two or three years older than Empress Zheng. The two of them had been standout figures at the Imperial Academy. They had heard of each other and often ran into each other.
After several years, it was only natural that feelings would grow.
“…What about Prince Yong?” Luo Ning asked.
Luo Wan said: “Miss Chen also mentioned Prince Yong. Prince Yong did not study at the Imperial Academy. The Empress Dowager Madam Cui gave birth to four Imperial Princes. Three of them studied with the Crown Prince as his companions. She did not invite anyone else to be his study companion.”
The Crown Prince had his own study.
She added, “Miss Chen also said that back then, the Crown Prince often went to the Imperial Academy to visit Madam Zheng. Their relationship was pretty good. But later, he had too many Imperial Consorts, and his feelings with the Empress became rather ordinary.”
Empress Zheng still had no children to this day.
In the past life, after the Emperor died, the Young Emperor that Madam Cui and her daughter-in-law supported was born to a beauty. Affairs of the Former Dynasty were handled by Prince Yong.
When the Young Emperor died of illness, Prince Yong finally ascended the throne.
Luo Ning had only known that Prince Yong and Empress Zheng were deeply in love, and that he was willing to risk the anger of the world for her. She had never heard of any old story between Pei Ying and Madam Zheng.
It really was a new discovery.
“You really do learn a lot going out to socialize,” Luo Ning said with a smile.
Luo Wan’s face turned red. “Miss Chen just likes to talk.”
“Being well informed is a good thing. I know you understand what can and cannot be said. Besides with me, you will not go around repeating it,” Luo Ning said.
Luo Wan nodded again and again, her eyes shining: “I have not even told my mother. I am afraid she will scold me. Only you, Big Sister, truly understand me.”
The sisters both laughed.
At noon they ate a vegetarian meal at Guanyin Temple.
After the meal, their Aunt helped Grandmother lie down for a short rest. In the afternoon they still had to listen to the monks chant scriptures, and they would stay here for the night.
Luo Ning did not have the habit of taking a nap. Seeing the sea of flowers around the mountain temple and the Thousand Hand Guanyin statue standing in the center, both kind and solemn, she wanted to walk around and pay her respects again.
She hid her long whip inside her sleeve and went out alone.
There had originally been many pilgrims today, but once Grand Princess Jia Hong arrived, the temple sent everyone away. Now, besides a Novice Monk sweeping the path, there was no one else on the mountain road.
From a distance, Luo Ning heard the sound of a flute.
The flute melody was gentle.
At first, it sounded very familiar, like a tune she herself had composed.
But after listening again, it did not sound quite the same.
The flute music came from a pavilion ahead. Luo Ning vaguely saw a corner of a pale jade brocade robe, like the one Pei Ying wore.
She stopped walking.
Standing on the mountain path, Luo Ning tilted her head and kept listening to the flute.
It sounded familiar, yet not fully the same.
Luo Ning had to listen carefully, focusing all her attention to tell.
Someone behind her said: “Are you going up or down?”
Luo Ning jumped in surprise.
She turned around and saw Prince Yong, Xiao Huai Feng, standing behind her.
Xiao Huai Feng wore a dark robe. Golden thread embroidered cloud patterns along the cuffs and front. He was tall with broad shoulders, so the robe looked as stiff and sharp as black iron armor on him.
His face showed no expression. His dark eyes were deep and unreadable.
“Prince.” Luo Ning saluted.
Prince Yong was tall. When he lifted his gaze a little, he could see the man playing the flute in the pavilion above.
His expression still did not change, only his eyes gaining a bit of impatience. “Don’t stand here blocking the way.”
He added, “A bit of flute music can already entrance you. Your will is not firm. You need more training. I do not want a foolish Princess Consort.”
Luo Ning’s cheeks turned red. She wanted to explain.
But she did not know how to begin.
She could not say that she had proudly thought her own tune was famous across the world, to the point that even Young Master Pei would play it, could she?
And now that it sounded both like and unlike her tune, it was even harder to say that.
Without that explanation, it really did look like she was standing here, utterly lost in secretly listening to Pei Ying’s flute, which was rather embarrassing.
She lowered her head awkwardly. “Yes, this humble woman will remember.”
She stepped to the side.
Prince Yong said: “Come up the mountain with me.”
Luo Ning had no choice but to follow.
The Head Monk received Prince Yong and chose a meditation room at the top of the mountain, giving a special sermon just for him.
From this, Luo Ning learned that Prince Yong had come to Guanyin Temple this time at Prince Chen’s request, to light three thousand lamps for Prince Chen’s late consort.
The Head Monk lectured Prince Yong alone. Luo Ning could not really understand.
In the warm meditation room after lunch, with her stomach full, Luo Ning grew sleepy.
Several times she forced herself to sit up straight.
After one full hour, it felt like a lifetime to her.
When it was finally over, she was the first to step out of the meditation room. The fresh air and sunlight made her feel alive again. Even her eyes seemed brighter.
Prince Yong was still behind her, so she did not dare stretch, but the joy on her face could not be hidden.
She did not notice the person standing at the door of the meditation room.
“Miss Luo.” Pei Ying spoke.
When Prince Yong came out of the room, he happened to see Luo Ning turn her head to look at Pei Ying.
The joy on her face had not faded yet. He saw every bit of it.