Miss Tao’er waited at the Taoist Temple until the second day of the sixth month.
On that day, she dressed in bright red wedding clothes and covered her head with a veil.
Over the years traveling the world with Tong Zhihuan, she had seen many scenes of brides in red. But for her, this was the first ti wearing such vivid wedding robes.
“Sir, I feel a little…”
Tao’er pressed her lips together, unable to hide her anxiety.
Chen Changsheng said, “Don’t be afraid. I’ll be with you all the way, and so will they.”
Tao’er nodded, her heart settling a little.
Moyuan and Tong Zhihuan waited by the gate early in the morning.
The groom was due to arrive at noon, so there was still ti.
Yet guests began arriving at the temple even before dawn.
“Moyuan! Moyuan! I’m here!”
A childlike voice carried up from the mountain path.
Moyuan blinked and spotted a little girl in red erging from a bend.
Behind her walked a woman in green robes.
“Slow down! Slow down!”
The green-robed woman shook her head helplessly, unable to catch up.
“Who’s this little one?” Hu Junhan asked. “Since when did you have a daughter?”
Moyuan’s eyes widened. “You talking crazy?! Since when do I have a daughter?”
Yu Hongjin wobbled her way to the temple gate.
But Moyuan imdiately scooped her up by the collar.
“Hey hey hey!” Yu Hongjin kicked her small legs. “Let go, Moyuan, or I’ll bite you!”
Moyuan flicked her forehead with his finger.
“Ouch!”
Yu Hongjin covered her forehead, squinting at him.
Moyuan asked, “Too long since your last beating? Missed ?”
“Who’d miss you?” Yu Hongjin huffed. “I… um… is Mr. Chen back?”
She peeked past him into the temple.
“He’s not back,” Moyuan replied.
“Really?”
Yu Hongjin’s eyes lit up. “Then… is there any wine left? The Autumn… what’s-it-called brew? Got any?”
“Yes.”
Moyuan grinned. “Go ahead. I’ll just tell him you stole it later.”
“Later’s later’s problem!”
Yu Hongjin giggled. “Put down now! Hurry!”
“Fine.”
Moyuan smiled and set her down. Without another word, she darted straight for the wine storage room.
Just then, Yun Xiang reached the gate.
Seeing Moyuan, she gave a respectful bow. “Yun Xiang greets Brother Moyuan. Greets Brother Hu.”
Moyuan nodded warmly. “Miss Yun, you grow more lovely each ti. Mr. Chen is in the backyard. Please go on in.”
Hu Junhan glanced at Yun Xiang, returning the nod.
Yun Xiang bit her lip, seeming a little shy. After murmuring a soft thanks, she lowered her head and entered the temple.
Hu Junhan watched her go, lost in thought before shaking his head almost imperceptibly.
Moyuan nudged him. “Mr. Chen treats Miss Yun differently from other won. Maybe…”
“I know,” Hu Junhan stated calmly.
Moyuan eyed him, tone teasing. “‘I know.’ Tsk…”
He snorted. “So pretentious.”
Hu Junhan shot him a bewildered look. Within monts, the two were bickering again.
…
Yun Xiang stepped into the backyard.
Her gaze swept across the temple courtyard, finally landing on the Green-Robed Gentleman reading in the pavilion.
Years had passed, yet seeing him again, she couldn’t help but be struck by his presence.
Every ti, mories of the past flooded her heart…
Chen Changsheng looked up, visibly surprised by the green-robed woman standing nearby.
“Mr. Chen,” Yun Xiang called softly.
Chen Changsheng closed his book. “It’s been a long ti.”
Her tender eyes seed to speak volus as they t his.
On the Drooping Ridge of Flowing Cloud Temple, the spirit beast Chenghuang awoke from its stone form.
Noticing the woman below, it too paused in surprise.
Chenghuang sensed she held a unique place in Mr. Chen’s world.
Yun Xiang spoke little. She simply sat with him in the pavilion, sharing quiet words now and then.
Glancing at his book, she asked, “What are you reading, Mr. Chen?”
Chen Changsheng lifted it slightly. “Observe Things. Just a casual book.”
“Study of things?” she asked.
“Exactly,” he nodded. “It chronicles humanity’s inventions through history. Truly shows ancient wisdom.”
“I’ve heard scholars in the Civic District call such learning useless. Now I see they’re mistaken.”
“Observing things deeply is no small matter,” Chen Changsheng said. “Done right, it could shift a nation’s destiny. Never underestimate it.”
“Shift… a nation’s destiny?”
Yun Xiang stared, repeating the words in wonder.
“At its peak,” Chen Changsheng smiled, “even the Arcane Spells of Immortals might pale before its thods.”
She blinked, unable to imagine how simple observation could achieve such heights.
Chen Changsheng continued gently, “Observing ans unraveling the why behind things. Why water flows downhill. Why day follows night. Why the moon waxes and wanes. There are reasons for it all.”
Yun Xiang listened, half-understanding. The depth of his words sank in slowly.
If every earthly phenonon held a truth to uncover… then mastering those truths ant wielding them as tools.
Yet this fleeting hope felt fragile. Whatever Mr. Chen spoke of lay beyond ordinary grasp.
After a pause, she asked, “Can observation reveal the cause of anything?”
“Most things,” he replied.
She took a breath. “Then, Mr. Chen…
…what about love?
Can observation find its cause?”
Chen Changsheng froze.
Her eyes held his.
He opened his mouth, then shook his head. “Human feelings are complex. Explanations… seldom co.”
“I see.”
Yun Xiang sighed softly, almost wistfully.
“People aren’t objects,” Chen Changsheng said quietly. “Thus… the heart remains…”
He trailed off.
He knew her aning. So things needed no elaboration.
She simply watched him, silent for a long while.
“But that’s alright, Mr. Chen.”
He looked up once more.
Yun Xiang’s voice was calm. “I don’t know how to Observe Things.
So I suppose… I need no reason at all.”
A peaceful smile touched her lips.
In her heart, she knew. So truths require no explanation.
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