Free Web NovelChapter 618: Chapter 617: Why Run Away
Xia Wenjin’s eyes narrowed, and she suddenly lifted her gaze.
There seemed to be a hint of amusement in Master Kong Chan’s eyes, though he himself appeared profound and enigmatic. Clearly, his words were layered with meaning; others might not understand, but Xia Wenjin knew perfectly well.
After a great dream, does one awaken from an empty dream?
That was her past life; now she has been reincarnated, unlike merely waking from a dream.
She pondered for a moment, believing she should nod.
Actually, she had long held a thought in her heart: perhaps in front of Mo Qingfeng, in front of Kong Chan, and in front of these people who practiced the Stargazing Method, her biggest secret seemed not to be a secret.
Mo Qingfeng’s words hinted at something, as did Kong Chan’s profundity, but their meanings all conveyed this.
Xia Wenjin felt turmoil in her heart, avoiding Kong Chan’s gaze, uncertainly asking, "Since it’s an empty dream, it’s nothing more than fleeting smoke and clouds. Living well in the present is the truth."
Kong Chan smiled slightly, saying, "The matter of the dream, you don’t want to touch it again, but there’s no need to overcorrect either! Just let things go with the flow!"
Xia Wenjin was taken aback. Not wanting to touch the matter of the dream, she understood this statement. She didn’t want to tread the same path as her past life, not wanting to marry Huangfu Yuxuan, nor have any connections with the Imperial Family. So, after her father disagreed with her canceling the wedding upon reincarnation, she fled into the Jianghu and never returned.
Thus, when she heard that her father had been deceived by Huangfu Yuxuan into going to the Capital City, she immediately rushed there to stop it.
Thus, upon learning Huangfu Jingchen’s identity as an Imperial Grandson, she immediately withdrew.
...
Up till now, she remains unclear whether it is because of Huangfu Jingchen’s deceit and concealment that angers her more, or because his identity makes her want to escape more.
She had always thought that staying away from the Capital City and the Royal Family would spare her father, brothers, and uncles from being used as stepping stones, resulting in death as in her previous life.
But she had already fled so far, deep into the Jianghu; what use was it?
The Haotian Village that initially got involved with Huangfu Yuxuan couldn’t break free from him. Everything she tried was rather futile than laborious.
Both her uncles were already misled by Huangfu Yuxuan and felt grateful toward him, and her father still valued Huangfu Yuxuan.
And she herself, going round and round, wasn’t she still in the Capital City, even if she could cut ties with Huangfu Yuxuan, had she truly severed all connections with the Imperial Family?
Furthermore, her father even found his biological brother, her second uncle, who is the Right Minister.
...
Thoughts whirled chaotically in Xia Wenjin’s mind, unconsciously sipping the fragrant tea while lost in her own reflections.
Suddenly, her eyebrows lifted; why should she escape?
She had always thought that as long as she avoided, everything wouldn’t happen, but everything was still developing along the path of her past life?
Her so-called avoidance for peace proved completely meaningless.
Since that’s the case, why should she flee?
Then face it head-on!
What Huangfu Yuxuan wants is nothing more than the throne, wanting Haotian Village as his stepping stone, wanting everyone to be at his disposal!
But while she’s here, he can forget about it! At least, she will protect the people of Haotian Village!
It seemed as though she’d decided the future path for herself in a moment, but in fact, Xia Wenjin had just made sense of a few things, allowing the foggy confusion within to clear up.
The sound of water pouring into the teacup pulled her thoughts back together. She looked up, where Kong Chan was setting down the teapot, his voice calm yet insightful: "How is the effect of the Clearing Tea?"
Xia Wenjin was surprised. The tea she drank was very fragrant, she hadn’t expected it to have this name.
She said, "Thank you, Master!" Suddenly recalling something, she raised an eyebrow, saying, "Master Kong Chan, you know I once had a long dream, which wasn’t very pleasant. In the dream, I tried several times to go to Bodhi Temple, but never succeeded. I thought it was because in the dream I acted unwisely, unbefitting to be liked by the Buddha, so I was abandoned by him. But then I thought, in the dream, I’m at most a sword held by others. If the sword’s master can go to Bodhi Temple, why can’t this sword?"
Kong Chan performed a Buddhist gesture with one hand, saying, "Amitabha, Buddha guides all beings, how could there be talk of abandonment? It must be the timing is not right! Moreover, after all, it was just a dream, and now you’ve come, haven’t you?"
Xia Wenjin laughed, saying, "Yes, after all, it was just a dream! I understand now!"
Kong Chan said, "The lecture ahead should have just begun, why not listen a bit?"
Xia Wenjin laughed and shook her head, saying, "No need. I came up the mountain today to seek the Master, and now, I should be heading down already!"
She meant what she said, descending the mountain without even glancing at the lively scene at the Great Hero Hall.
Naturally, she did not see that today was indeed a grand event, attended even by Huangfu Yuxuan.
Upon receiving Qiao Ping’s report, knowing Xia Wenjin was heading towards Bodhi Temple, Huangfu Yuxuan quickly took a fast horse, opting for a shortcut, hoping to have a chance encounter with Xia Wenjin at the temple.
Even though Xia Wenjin had clearly shown no interest in him, he certainly wouldn’t give up. Since Xia Wenjin didn’t feel favorable towards him, he would appear in front of her multiple times, familiarizing her with him; naturally, such encounters could foster affection, couldn’t they?
Unfortunately, he arrived too early, unaware of Xia Wenjin’s delays on the road, nor that Xia Wenjin simply didn’t attend the lecture but took a right turn at the temple gate into another hall, conversed briefly with Kong Chan, and then went straight down the mountain.
Listening to the lecture, Huangfu Yuxuan started by feigning concentration, but soon his mind began to wander.
These past few days, he’d felt quite unsettled. Clever and precocious, he’d been plotting everything since he was twelve.
Back then his father was the Crown Prince, what he needed to plot was defeating his elder brother to become the Imperial Grandson. Thus, he began cultivating his own people early.
Since his father was demoted from Crown Prince to Prince Liang, more plotting was required, and his opponents increased.
But he considered everything still within grasp, never mind the time when Prince Zhuang gained significant momentum, he’d never cared about it.
Yet lately, he felt that many things had gone astray. If Gongyang Puyu hadn’t told him the stargazing calculation, ensuring that the destiny corresponding to the stars was still his, he would almost suspect that there was a problem with the heavenly signs.
Later, it was Gongyang Puyu who urged him again: "Second Young Master, it’s not advisable to delay your marriage any longer. If you truly can’t gain the heart of that lady from the northwest, perhaps you should settle for second best!"
At that moment, Huangfu Yuxuan was delighted and asked, "Sir means I can use some tougher methods?"
Gongyang Puyu shook his head, "You mustn’t. If you gain her true heart, blessings will be upon you, Second Young Master, and no one will ever be able to shake it. This is the best strategy; if she truly won’t yield, Second Young Master can settle for second best, if you can use the orders of her parents and the words of a matchmaker to form a marriage, this is a middle strategy; worst case scenario, spread rumors so she is left with no retreat, form this marriage, this is a lower strategy! Tough methods will only backfire, you mustn’t use them!"
