CHAPTER 376: CHAPTER 376 BUDDHIST HALL

Before Young Master Su entered the palace, the Ninth Prince was always feeling weak and listless.

Now he had a companion of the same age, and a lively one at that.

The Ninth Prince was infected by the energy and felt much better.

After taking medicine and playing tag with Young Master Su, he worked up a sweat, and the lingering symptoms from his prior fall into the water were almost completely gone.

Duke Zhen’s Mansion, Buddhist Hall.

Throughout the afternoon, Su Jin copied ten family rules, her hand too tired to lift.

When it was time for dinner, the main kitchen sent two dishes.

A plate of vegetables.

A plate of tofu.

The plain fare left Su Jin completely uninterested.

"Why is the food so bland?" Xingxing cried out.

The maid said, "Princess Nanzhang specifically instructed the kitchen to prepare this for the Eldest Young Madam. Eldest Young Madam, please make do with it."

Specifically made for her?

Princess Nanzhang was indeed very considerate towards her.

This was her excuse to boldly enjoy privileged meals.

Su Jin instructed the maid to take the dishes away.

The maid dared not disobey.

As the maid carried the food box out the door, she saw Xie Jingchen approaching, with a Hidden Guard behind him carrying two food boxes.

Xingxing came out and saw Xie Jingchen, she turned back and shouted, "Miss, Master is here."

Su Jin remained seated, her whole demeanor deflated.

Xie Jingchen walked up to her.

Su Jin handed him the paper and pen.

"What is this for?" Xie Jingchen asked.

"To write a divorce letter," Su Jin replied grumpily.

"Write what?" Xie Jingchen’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.

Su Jin suddenly felt guilty, "For you to help me copy the family rules."

The Hidden Guard put down the food boxes, Xingxing brought out the dishes, which were aromatic and appetizing.

Seeing Su Jin devour the food, Xie Jingchen said, "Eat slowly."

"I didn’t eat at noon, how could I not be hungry?" Su Jin said.

"I can’t believe you obediently stayed in the Buddhist Hall to copy family rules," Xie Jingchen said in surprise.

"One can’t be so lucky every time," Su Jin said wistfully.

Xie Jingchen helped her to some dishes.

Hoping Xie Jingchen would get her out, Su Jin gave him a piece of braised pork rib.

Even though this was the Buddhist Hall, having a meal with Xie Jingchen felt no different from being in the Agarwood Pavilion.

But there was a difference, as they hadn’t finished eating when the Old Madam sent someone to convey four words: "This will not be repeated."

Sneakily sending some food was one thing, but openly sending it to the Buddhist Hall as well!

A place for peace and meditation couldn’t possibly be tainted with meat.

Su Jin looked at Xie Jingchen and said, "I want roast duck tomorrow."

"Okay," Xie Jingchen replied with indulgence.

The message婆子 was almost driven mad with anger.

She’d never seen someone so provocative.

The婆子 performed a curtsey and left in haste.

After Su Jin was full, she lazily stretched and, with nothing better to do in the Buddhist Hall, continued to copy the family rules.

Xie Jingchen then returned to the Agarwood Pavilion.

After copying one round of family rules, Su Jin grew weary, and Xingxing brought water to assist her with a bath and changing clothes.

Once in bed, Su Jin collapsed and fell asleep immediately.

Contrarily, in the Agarwood Pavilion, Xie Jingchen tossed and turned, unable to sleep, the emptiness in his arms unsettling him.

After struggling for a quarter of an hour.

He donned his brocade robe and made his way to the Buddhist Hall via the rooftops.

Seeing Su Jin sound asleep, Xie Jingchen wore a dark expression.

He’d never seen someone with such peace of mind, sleeping so soundly while being punished for reflection in the Buddhist Hall.

He took off his brocade robe and lay beside Su Jin. Su Jin, like a lazy cat, snuggled into his embrace, then drifted back to sleep.

This action inexplicably angered Xie Jingchen.

Would she react like this no matter who lay in this position?

He thought he’d sleep well once in the Buddhist Hall, but he was even more awake.

The night was endless, and not far away in the Imperial Palace, someone else was unable to sleep like him.

The Ninth Prince stood by the bed, hugging a quilt, looking at Young Master Su.

It was the first time in his life that he had fallen off the bed, and it was because someone had kicked him off.

Luckily, there were blankets prepared on the floor, so it didn’t hurt that much.

Looking at Young Master Su’s sleeping posture, the Ninth Prince felt he wouldn’t be able to sleep well tonight.

The Ninth Prince climbed back into bed with his quilt.

Early the next morning.

The palace maids and eunuchs entered the hall to attend to the Ninth Prince and saw their prince sleeping soundly on the floor while holding a quilt.

The spacious bed, meant for the Ninth Prince alone, was occupied by Young Master Su.

The palace maids and eunuchs were furious.

The little eunuch went over to pull Young Master Su, "Get up, quickly get up!"

"Let me sleep a little longer," Young Master Su muttered.

"Get up now!" the little eunuch shouted.

Young Master Su opened his eyes.

The palace maids woke the Ninth Prince, worrying that the cold floor might make him sick again after he had just recovered from falling into the water.

The Ninth Prince groggily climbed back into bed and went back to sleep.

Su Yang got out of bed, rolled onto the floor, and fell asleep on the quilt.

Palace maids, "...."

Eunuchs, "...."

Why do they feel like dragging him out for a beating?

What kind of eunuch is still asleep at this hour?

Thinking about Young Master Su’s drowsiness and the mysterious backing that made people both question and fear,

the palace maids and eunuchs said nothing further and went about their duties.

Su Yang woke up after a short nap.

He woke up at the same time every day.

Then went outside to practice his horse stance.

Rain or shine.

After stretching, Young Master Su got dressed and went outside.

Seeing him practice his horse stance, a crowd gathered to watch.

Young Master Su quietly returned to his room.

...

When Su Jin woke up, Xie Jingchen had already left, and she didn’t know that he had slept in the Buddhist Hall last night.

Breakfast was delivered by the Hidden Guard, and only after she finished eating did the kitchen maid bring plain buns and porridge.

Su Jin didn’t even glance at it and stood outside the Buddhist Hall enjoying the breeze.

The weather had moved into summer, with cool mornings and evenings and scorching midday sun.

The secluded Buddhist Hall required no ice to keep cool, likely the best spot in the entire Duke Zhen’s Mansion to escape the heat.

After resting for a while, Su Jin began copying the family rules again, as Xie Jingchen hadn’t promised to rescue her. Indeed, chasing dogs in the street was improper conduct, and she accepted the punishment.

Only, the Old Madam had doubled the punishment out of personal enmity, and this account she would keep for future settling.

After breakfast, Princess Nanzhang visited Qihao Hall briefly before heading to the palace to ask the Empress Dowager for the Bihun Ointment.

Bihun Ointment was a tribute item, and even the Empress Dowager didn’t have much of it. There was only half a box left from this year’s tribute, which the Empress Dowager intended to save for emergencies.

The Emperor was very fond of Su Jin, and since the injury of Yongcheng Bo Mansion’s grand lady was caused by Su Jin, naturally the Emperor should take responsibility, and meanwhile, the Empress Dowager informed him that Duke Zhen’s Mansion had Su Jin copying the family rules five hundred times, allowing her to leave the Buddhist Hall only when finished, to ensure the Emperor didn’t summon her to the palace unknowingly, providing her a way out.

For a small matter like acquiring ointment, the Empress Dowager wouldn’t personally seek out the Emperor; instead, it was the Empress who went.

However, the Emperor wouldn’t see her.

Outside the Imperial Study.

The little eunuch looked at the Empress and said, "The Emperor is busy reviewing memorials and asks that the Empress return."

The Empress bit her lip.

This was the seventh time she had been turned away while seeking an audience with the Emperor since Princess Shouning’s punishment.

The Empress spoke emotionlessly, "Inform the Emperor, this is about the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion."

The little eunuch paused, then turned back.

Upon hearing it concerned Su Jin, the Emperor furrowed his brows.

Did she cause trouble again?

Even if she did, it wouldn’t be something that would involve the Empress, right?

Believing the Empress wouldn’t dare deceive him, the Emperor said, "Let the Empress come in."