Chapter 8

Chapter 8

That day, I wrote over a thousand copies and ordered them to be plastered all over the north, south, east, and west walls of the Princess Manor. This way, everyone on the four surrounding streets could see them.

That night, Li Chengze was scolded by Emperor Father.

Emperor Father ordered him to come and apologize, and to personally peel off every single sheet of paper from my manor walls, page by page.

As he peeled them off, I watched him, following him as he made a full circuit around the Princess Manor.

Only after we finished did I realize just how large the Princess Manor truly was.

When Li Chengze took down the last sheet, he stared at me coldly, a mocking smile curling on his lips.

“Congratulations on winning Emperor Father’s favor, but don’t you dare become arrogant because of it.”

“I can hardly compare to Your Highness the Crown Prince’s favor. You can still be summoned by Emperor Father late at night, unlike me, who hasn’t seen Emperor Father in three months.”

Li Chengze let out a cold snort and swept away, his sleeves fluttering.

I returned to the Princess Manor in high spirits, yet I had a faint feeling that someone was following me.

I said flatly, “Get out here!”

Xie Wuyang actually came rolling out from the bushes-literally rolling and rolling-until he came to a stop and knelt silently at my feet.

???

I asked, “What is wrong with you?”

Xie Wuyang thought for a moment. “This subordinate only knows how to roll like this. I don’t know any other way to ‘get out.'”

Me: …

Lü’e couldn’t hold back her laughter.

She whispered in my ear, “Princess, Xie Wuyang has an injured brain. He remembers nothing except his name. He isn’t very bright right now and believes whatever people tell him. The Captain of the Guard saw that he had a sturdy build and knew a bit of martial arts, so he kept him in the manor as a guard.”

I fell silent. So he was a fool, though a handsome one at that.

“Li Cheng’en kicked you today. Does it hurt?”

“It hurts. It’s bruised.”

As he spoke, he began to unbutton his tunic with startling speed.

His pale, bare flesh suddenly flashed before my eyes.

I was shocked. “How dare you! Get lost!”

He curled up aggrievedly, clutched his head, and rolled away again like a spinning top.

I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Hey! Stand up and walk back.”

Xie Wuyang stood up and gave me a brilliant smile.

What white teeth…

I dazed for a moment.

Teeth that white didn’t look like they belonged to someone from an ordinary family…

My joy did not last long before someone arrived from my Imperial Mother’s palace.

The messenger, a smiling governess, said, “Her Majesty says the Princess’s previous transcription of the Avatamsaka Sutra was very well done. She asks the Princess to transcribe a copy of the Lotus Sutra for her as well.”

I stared at her fixedly.

The smile on the governess’s face gradually began to falter.

I said directly, “Is Imperial Mother trying to vent her anger on behalf of Li Chengze?”

“The palm and the back of the hand are both flesh. To Her Majesty, the Princess and the Crown Prince are the same. Transcribing sutras to pray for one’s mother is the way of filial piety. If the Princess is unwilling, I shall report back to the Empress accordingly.”

“Heh!”

I lowered my eyes as a sense of loathing slowly welled up.

“Tell Imperial Mother that I will transcribe it. When I am finished, I will deliver it to her in person.”

The governess took her leave.

I tossed the Lotus Sutra aside and thought emotionlessly: If I never finish it, I won’t have to go see her.

But in the end, I was still restless.

I took Lü’e to go climbing.

At the foot of the steps of Wan’an Temple, someone was kowtowing with every step as they climbed the mountain.

Lü’e said that only by doing this could one show their sincerity, making the wishes made before the Buddha more likely to come true.

She added, “Princess, if you have any wishes, just say them. I will kowtow in your place and pray for the Buddha’s protection.”

I remained silent for a moment. “No need. I have nothing to pray for.”

At that time, I was filled with loneliness, feeling as though I had nothing left to care for in this world.

Little did I know that later, I would plead with every god and Buddha in the heavens, praying only for time to turn back so that everything could be reclaimed.

The vegetarian meals at Wan’an Temple were excellent, and I stayed on the mountain for three consecutive days.

Three days later, I brought a portion of the vegetarian food down the mountain with me.

I spurred my horse and headed straight for the Imperial Palace.

Just as I entered the palace, I ran into a furious Li Cheng’en.

He glared at me with indignation.

“So you finally decided to come back. Imperial Mother fell ill from anger because of you. Instead of attending to her in her palace, you went out to enjoy yourself. I’ve never seen such an unfilial person.”

I moved to go around him. “Move!”

He grew enraged and kicked the box of vegetarian food out of my hand.

“Fawning over power again? Coming to curry favor with Emperor Father?”

The food box tumbled across the ground, and the meal spilled everywhere.

My eyes narrowed. I kicked Li Cheng’en, sending him crashing to the ground.

I grabbed Li Cheng’en by the collar with a vicious grip and said coldly, “He is my father. What is wrong with me being good to him?”

I never expected Li Cheng’en to suddenly pull out a hairpin and stab at me.

I didn’t have time to dodge and could only widen my eyes as I tried to retreat.

Suddenly, a hand moved swiftly to block my front. The hairpin pierced through his palm, and crimson blood splattered out.

With his other hand, he gripped the hairpin tightly, pulled it out of his palm, and threw it far away.

It was Xie Wuyang.

His face was deathly pale and blood poured from his palm, yet he still pulled me up and shielded me behind him.

At that moment, my blood boiled with rage.

I pushed him aside and began kicking Li Cheng’en like a madwoman, venting the hatred in my heart with every strike.

It wasn’t until several guards stepped in to protect him and Xie Wuyang held me back that I finally stopped, my strength spent.

I stared at Li Cheng’en, and he stared back at me.

We both looked as if we wanted to tear the other apart and eat their flesh raw.