chapter 18

There is a pavilion in the palace called the “Star-Gazing Pavilion.”

It is said that the current State Preceptor is the wisest and purest person in the world.

However, his temperament is eccentric; he even dares to rebuke the emperor and does not enjoy imperial favor.

After a long time, the door of the Star-Gazing Pavilion was knocked upon once again.

I was choked by the thick dust, coughing uncontrollably.

After a while, the dust gradually settled, and my vision cleared.

I saw a rather young and handsome Little Monk.

His brows and eyes were like a painting, his teeth white, his lips red.

He chanted a Buddhist verse.

“Little Monk Miaofa.”

His voice was hoarse, like that of an old man.

Startled, I took a step back.

Miaofa seemed completely unaware, closing his eyes with a gentle smile.

“Goddess, have you been well?”

“Do you want to drink wine?”

A hundred emotions welled up in my heart.

I did not know whether to ask him first, “Can you see me?” or “A monk isn’t supposed to drink wine, is he?”

Or perhaps, “Have we met before?”

Yet Miaofa seemed to know what I was thinking.

He said, “This poor monk recognizes the sound of your footsteps.”

I frowned, “You are a rather strange monk.”

He was not offended, only laughed softly.

“The Goddess says so, and it makes this Little Monk a little sad.”

I rubbed my arm, nearly getting goosebumps.

An awkward silence fell.

Miaofa sighed.

“At the Little Highness’s hundred-day banquet, the sky was filled with rosy clouds, and a hundred birds sang in chorus.”

“An Immortal wandered here and bestowed the name ‘Phoenix’ upon the Little Highness.”

“The Emperor took it as a good omen and ordered the painter to create the ‘Goddess Painting.'”

I was stunned.

Ten years ago, had another Goddess come to the palace?

Miaofa lowered his gaze and simply said,

“The ‘Goddess Painting’ is kept in the Eastern Palace.”

He seemed to have more to say.

But I left too quickly for him to speak.

I did not see it either.

After I left the Star-Gazing Pavilion,

Miaofa’s youthful face aged at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Morning, he was rosy-cheeked; by evening, he was but withered bone.

He finally opened his eyes.

Had I been there, I would surely have cried out in surprise.

Miaofa’s eye sockets were hollow, empty of everything.

But judging by their shape-

He once had a pair of exceedingly beautiful eyes.