Free Web NovelChapter 159: Chapter 158: Palm
Fingers brushed over the tassels of the cord, and Yunluo sighed; wasn’t she just easily deceived?
If not, how did she get fooled by the second house for most of her past life?
Fortunately, she now had a chance to understand and would no longer be deceived by Mu Lianhui’s words.
By evening, Princess Nanyan finally recovered, and along with Princess Yunhua, they perked up to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager and the Imperial Consort.
Princess Yunhua sent someone to call Du Yunluo.
After all, the Empress Dowager was old, and having sat in a carriage all morning, even after resting a while, her face still showed fatigue. She took Princess Yunhua’s hand and said, "It’s all your fault, girl; your grand empress dowager feels like her bones are going to fall apart."
Princess Yunhua pursed her lips, took the Beauty Hammer from Aunt Ming, and gently tapped the Empress Dowager with it.
The Empress Dowager closed her eyes and enjoyed it for a moment, sighing, "If you hadn’t dragged me out, I really might be too weak in a few years."
Princess Yunhua laughed and said, "You’re joking, Grand Empress Dowager. Everyone in the palace knows you love the Grand Prince most. You won’t admit to getting old before seeing him marry."
Rarely, the usually serious Empress Dowager also laughed heartily: "You girls don’t understand at all. At my age, I can’t help but admit I’m getting old."
Du Yunluo looked on, feeling a bit sad inside.
The Empress Dowager was quite right; who can understand the mindset of old age until they’re there?
Strong and decisive as the Empress Dowager is, she too has to concede to old age.
Du Yunluo remembered clearly that the Empress Dowager would pass away in just eight years.
Not seeing Mu Lianhui, the Imperial Consort asked a question.
Du Yunluo replied, "The Lady seems to have gone to the main hall."
Imperial Consort understood and nodded, "Never mind, she just likes to stay in the main hall, standing there for hours."
"Going to the main hall is good," the Empress Dowager added, "before the Bodhisattva, if one can realize something, it’s fortune."
Princess Yunhua stayed with the Empress Dowager, and Princess Nanyan and Du Yunluo left one after the other. Many palace maids followed them out of the palace, so near the secluded side rooms of this Buddhist temple, it didn’t seem empty; every now and then, you could see a palace maid passing by.
Princess Nanyan turned, smiled, and said, "I want to take a walk to the main hall; are you coming, Miss Du?"
Du Yunluo was about to refuse but then remembered the cord in her sleeve, and nodded. If she stayed near the side rooms, she wouldn’t find a chance to pass the item to Mu Lianxiao.
Moreover, in Du Yunluo’s heart, she had a feeling that accompanying Princess Nanyan was safer than dealing with Princess Yunhua and Mu Lianhui.
The two headed to the front main hall together.
Guoning Temple covered a vast area, with its central axis featuring the Mountain Gate, Second Mountain Gate, releasing pool, Heavenly King Hall, Great Heroic Hall, Guanyin Hall, Dharma Hall, and Sutra Library from south to north, with the Lohan Hall, Buddha Tower, and Bell Tower on the east and west sides.
From the side room, passing the Relic Hall, Du Yunluo didn’t see Mu Lianhui.
Princess Nanyan didn’t stop, walking to the front of the Great Heroic Hall before looking up at the plaque bestowed by Emperor Gaozu.
Du Yunluo followed her gaze, glancing twice. Emperor Gaozu’s calligraphy appeared bold and majestic, as if he was writing not on xuan paper but upon the country he ruled.
"I want to go in and pay my respects; are you coming?" Princess Nanyan asked her.
Du Yunluo nodded, and the two slowly ascended the stone steps and entered the hall.
Inside the hall, there was a golden statue of Sakyamuni.
Princess Nanyan handed her hand warmer to a palace maid, knelt respectfully on the mat, clasped her hands together, and chanted scriptures.
Du Yunluo also handed over her hand warmer, turned around, and saw someone ascending the steps. She focused and couldn’t help but purse her lips.
The visitor was Li Luan.
Li Luan entered the hall, and Princess Nanyan seemed unaware until the palace maids saluted. She then came to her senses and quickly stood up to greet.
"All of you leave; I want to speak with the County Princess," Li Luan said, standing with his hands behind his back.
The palace maids filed out in turn.
In the backlight, Du Yunluo couldn’t see Li Luan’s expression clearly. She hesitated in place until Li Luan’s peach blossom eyes lazily glanced over her, and she smiled at Nanyan, avoiding the main entrance, and instead sneaked around to the back.
Du Yunluo wasn’t uninterested in what Li Luan and Princess Nanyan would discuss, but since Li Luan had spoken, how could she foolishly linger there?
Even if Princess Yunhua gave her ten times her courage, she wouldn’t join this intrigue.
Du Yunluo quietly stepped out the back of the hall. As soon as she turned the corner, she saw Mu Lianxiao coming leisurely, and they met eyes, both momentarily stunned.
Since Mu Lianxiao escorted Du Yunluo back home before Shangyuan, they hadn’t seen each other again. Now suddenly encountering each other, they didn’t know what to say for a moment.
Recalling that Li Luan and Princess Nanyan were still inside, Du Yunluo gestured for Mu Lianxiao to be quiet and then pointed inside the hall.
Mu Lianxiao stood beside Du Yunluo, glanced through the carved latticework of the hall door, and though he saw no figures, he had a good hearing and faintly heard some voices.
"Who?" Mu Lianxiao mouthed the words.
Du Yunluo’s cherry lips parted slightly, just about to speak, fearing those inside might hear, she reached out to grab Mu Lianxiao’s hand and began writing in his palm with her finger.
When Du Yunluo’s hand reached out, Mu Lianxiao tensed slightly, but then relaxed, carefully watching her strokes on his palm.
His hand, accustomed to hard training, was somewhat rough, making Du Yunluo’s delicate hand appear even fairer by contrast.
Her finger, as slender and graceful as a green onion stalk, with its rounded, beautiful, lacquer-stained nail, didn’t exert much force. Her fingertip moved softly across his palm, along with the slight pressure exerted by the nail, left a tingling trace.
Not just his palm; Du Yunluo’s finger seemed to caress across his very heart and lungs, causing Mu Lianxiao to feel a tickling sensation mixed with something achingly sweet, invigorating faster and faster heartbeats.
The westward winter sun cast warm light over Du Yunluo, her snow-white skin seemingly cloaked in a bright glow. As Mu Lianxiao’s gaze lowered, he could see the fine hairs on her nose tip, and her long lashes cast an arc-shaped shadow under her eyes, so beautiful he couldn’t bear to look away.
It wasn’t until Du Yunluo finished writing and looked up at him that Mu Lianxiao realized he hadn’t understood what she wrote.
Using palm writing brought them close, with eyes meeting eyes, both of them momentarily dazed.
Du Yunluo lowered her head and, used to being close to Mu Lianxiao, instinctively took his hand, not having thought twice, forgetting to consider propriety; this behavior between the two seemed somewhat excessive.
Especially here, at Guoning Temple, where any palace maid or eunuch might appear, and moreover, Li Luan and Princess Nanyan were just within a wall’s breadth inside the hall.
Earlier, in the Imperial Garden, walking alongside Mu Lianxiao had already had Princess Nanyan teasing about their affection; now, if anyone saw them like this, they’d likely find it even sweeter.
Hurriedly letting go of Mu Lianxiao, Du Yunluo had barely taken a step back when Mu Lianxiao caught her hand. Holding back a gasp, she looked up, and Mu Lianxiao had already taken a step forward.
Du Yunluo allowed herself to be led by him, followed around the Great Heroic Hall until they entered the Heavenly King Hall, where Mu Lianxiao finally halted.
Though they stopped walking, his grip remained firm.
