Chu Yunge watched as Qingchen suddenly took big gulps of air. “What’s wrong with you?”
“Nothing.” Qingchen slowed his breathing and habitually revealed a soothing smile.
Chu Yunge let out a breath of relief, then wrinkled her nose. “Good, as long as you’re fine. But if you don’t want to smile, you don’t have to.”
Qingchen’s smile froze on his face before he slowly withdrew it.
The vermilion dot between his brows flickered faintly in the candlelight, while dark waves gathered in his eyes.
His face became expressionless, unlike his usual spring-breeze warmth and ever-gentle tolerance.
It wasn’t as pleasing to the eye anymore, and even a bit fierce, but for some reason, Chu Yunge felt more at ease looking at him.
“Although you look a bit fierce now, why do I feel much better about it?”
Chu Yunge rubbed her chin. “Sometimes before, I felt like your temper wasn’t human-like, like you were really about to become a Buddha.”
“If it were me, I couldn’t stand it. People have emotions and desires. If you don’t vent your temper, holding it in too long will cause big problems.”
So many modern people had issues dealing with clients and needed to vent or travel or quit to adjust, yet Qingchen hadn’t rested or vented in ten years.
“With that said, Qingchen, don’t you think your annotation is a bit strange too? Fail to become Buddha and become a demon, breaking precepts brings ill omens—these Buddha and demon things sound like they’re just a thought apart. Normally, that wouldn’t happen unless the person was pushed to it.”
TV dramas always portrayed it that way—either forced or suppressed too long. Chu Yunge couldn’t help but slap the table.
“My Master Qingchen, I now have reason to suspect that your turning into a demon was because you suppressed yourself too long. Not breaking precepts is just you constantly holding back. If you found a way to vent, it’d be unstoppable, right?”
Chu Yunge didn’t understand Buddhist principles, but she knew that if people suppressed themselves too long and were pushed too hard, problems would arise.
She hadn’t had time to read the book, but in the edited anime clips she’d watched, Qingchen seemed to have been forced into breaking his precepts and turning demonic, even retaliating against the princess.
Chu Yunge suspected the princess had truly forced Qingchen in the end, making him break his lust precept, which led to his complete eruption.
Thinking of what she’d done before, Chu Yunge felt a pang of guilt. Although she was certain she wouldn’t force Qingchen, accidents happened often. To avoid being settled with later, she hurriedly said, “Master Qingchen, from now on, if anyone bullies you, retaliate on the spot. Don’t hold it in and keep it in your heart.”
“Like before, when I snatched you back and treated you that way, even poisoning you… If you want revenge or to curse me, go ahead and vent.”
Qingchen was stunned by Chu Yunge’s words. He hadn’t expected that failing to become Buddha and becoming a demon could be interpreted this way.
For some reason, her twisted logic seemed quite reasonable.
But how had the topic turned to cursing her?
He paused. Calculating it, the princess’s actions were indeed unforgivable.
Yet it was also this princess who pointed out his pain, affirmed he was human, and even let him curse her to vent.
He couldn’t help but laugh, and this time, the smile came from the heart.
“No need, Your Highness. Today, because of you, I’ve gained much already. Consider it even.”
Chu Yunge saw his smile held no reluctance. “Your temper really is good.” And truly gentle.
But people were cheap-skinned. The kind were bullied. Chu Yunge couldn’t help but worry.
“But if you’re like this, you’ll really get bullied again.” Chu Yunge thought for a moment and said seriously, “Master Qingchen, remember: to save others, first save yourself.”
This was the deepest Buddhist-sounding phrase she could come up with.
Qingchen’s brow twitched slightly, and his furrowed brows relaxed, like white clouds unfolding atop a mountain peak.
“Good. Qingchen will remember.”
“Remember what?” Pei Ji’s voice arrived before he did.
He had changed into a deep blue robe with dark patterns, his hair bound in a jade crown, accentuating his upright figure like a cypress. He stepped over the threshold, raised a brow at them, wanton and flamboyant.
What a dashing young man.
Truly a feast for the eyes, too bad she couldn’t eat him.
Chu Yunge withdrew her gaze. “Everyone’s here, so let’s eat.” Couldn’t eat people, so eat dinner instead.
As soon as Pei Ji entered, he saw their hands clasped together again, and he felt that Master Qingchen’s gaze toward Chu Yunge had changed, somehow gentler.
Master Qingchen had always been gentle before, but his gaze toward the princess and others showed no distinction, just impartial kindness.
But now, Master Qingchen’s gaze toward the princess had changed.
Pei Ji couldn’t describe it, only that the smile in his eyes was too obvious, too soft—different from his own, in any case.
Pei Ji glanced at Chu Yunge, wondering if she was bewitching people and confusing Master Qingchen.
Pei Ji thought, this wouldn’t do. Master Qingchen was a monk; he had to save him.
With that, Pei Ji directly picked up a nearby chair and placed it beside Chu Yunge.
After sitting, he unhesitatingly reached out and took Chu Yunge’s other hand.
The action was seamless.
Seeing Qingchen look over, Pei Ji raised a brow and mouthed silently: See that, Master Qingchen? The princess has many men. Don’t stir mortal desires; breaking precepts leads to becoming a demon.
Qingchen looked at their joined hands, then at Pei Ji’s flaunting eyes, and lowered his gaze.
The gentle smile in his eyes gradually vanished.
Chu Yunge looked at Pei Ji’s hand. “Do you still want me to eat?”
Both hands occupied, how was she supposed to eat?
Chu Yunge shook free of Pei Ji’s hand and picked up her chopsticks.
Pei Ji pursed his lips. Miscalculated—no positional advantage; he’d taken her right hand.
Dinner had long been prepared. Chu Yunge waved for the servants to leave.
Glancing at Chu Yunge and Qingchen’s still-clasped hands, Pei Ji lowered his eyes. “Then I want to detox too…”
“Didn’t we just detox you last night? Or was our sleeping position bad, not enough contact?” Chu Yunge asked oddly. Actually, Qingchen had less toxin left.
Pei Ji’s eyes lit up as he nodded. “Exactly.”
But Chu Yunge frowned. “You said before that I draped my limbs all over you, hugging you in your sleep—was that not enough contact?”
Pei Ji panicked for an instant. How could she say out loud that she’d hugged him while sleeping? He glanced at Qingchen. “Don’t say nonsense.”
Qingchen listened to their conversation, a habitual smile on his lips that somehow felt stiff.
He released Chu Yunge’s hand and stood. “Then let the Little Marquis detox first. This monk is fine for now; I won’t die yet.”
Before Pei Ji could react, Chu Yunge grabbed Qingchen’s hand and pulled him back to his seat. “Didn’t I just tell you? Worst case, tonight let him detox with Yan Feng.”
“What?” Pei Ji watched Chu Yunge care for Qingchen, unsure of his feelings, then heard the latter part and was shocked. “What do you mean, detox together?”
No one noticed the sound of a branch snapping behind the sleeping palace.
A youth with a red forehead band tied between his brows accidentally fell from the tree, twisting midair to return to it.
“Detox together?” Qingchen’s lashes trembled. “That might not be appropriate. Otherwise…”
Before Qingchen finished, Pei Ji exploded first.
His face flushed red, unsure if from shame or anger. “Chu Yunge, sleeping with one isn’t enough for you? You actually want to sleep with two in one night—you’re insane!”
Chu Yunge: “…” What did he mean by sleeping with two people in one night?
She’d only been thinking of detoxing at first, but Pei Ji’s loose tongue made her heart stir.
And yet, she couldn’t eat him.
This Pei Ji, pure love himself, yet stirring her lust—utterly hateful.