He Lean quietly closed the small wooden door of the pear blossom, tiptoed along the grayish-white wall for a few steps, and only when he was sure no one had come out to chase him did he run wildly towards the main street at the end of the alley.

  Just as she had run out of the alley, panting and congratulating herself on her successful escape, a speeding carriage came straight at her. He Le An was terrified by the even more frightened face of the coachman, and she wanted to retreat back into the alley, but her feet seemed stuck to the ground, unable to move, and could only hear the coachman yelling like a pig being slaughtered: "Faster! Go! Open!"

  Just as the reins were about to break free from the crazed horse, He Leans small body was about to be trampled by its hooves, and just when she couldnt catch her breath, a flash of crimson pulled her back from the brink of death. Her dazed pupils reflected the Duke of Yues expressionless handsome face: "What? No fare to return to Xiangguo Temple? Are you planning on extorting money like this?" Every word was laced with mockery.

  He Lean felt extremely wronged and her belated fear turned into tears as she exclaimed, "Its all because of you!"

  "If I hadnt come down from the mountain, I would have almost been run over by a horse carriage!"

  "Woe is me! The mountain spirit was right, I must stay away from the homes of princes and nobles to be happy!"

  "I want to go back to Xiangguo Temple! Xiangguo Temple! Xiangguo Temple! Wuuuuuuu!"

  She was a mess of tears and snot, her beautiful little face twisted in distress.

  The King of Yues furrowed brow had yet to relax when a male voice hastily arrived: "Ive met the King of Yue before, just now my horse was startled and for a moment I couldnt control it, I didnt hurt the King of Yue or this... little master, did I?"

  A familiar voice behind her, He Leans mouth was agape as she cried out, but the King of Yue State calmly said, "No." Then, after a few words, he sent the person away.

  He looked at the little monk who was staring blankly with his mouth agape and had forgotten to cry, and said: "Do you know the young master of the Siyibo estate?"

  "I dont know him." At least not in this life, and I dont plan on getting to know him in the future either.

  He Lean clenched her dry lips and wiped away tears, saying firmly: "I must go back to Xiangguo Temple today, no matter what."

  "My mother will die without you, can you really bear to be so heartless?" The voice of the Duke of Yue softened.

  He Lean sniffled and sincerely said: "I will recite scriptures and pray for her safety every day."

  "This is not something that can be solved by just praying."

  "My sincerity will surely move the Buddha."

  "The Buddhas eyes are not blind, and he can see the ruthless and merciless side of you who is watching someone die without saving them. How could he still be moved by you?"

  He Lean pursed her lips and glared at him: "I didnt see anyone die without helping, nor was I ruthless." He asked her to cook a meal for the ancestral rites, she cooked it, and even the humble princess ate some. She neither poisoned anyone nor took anyones life.

  "Youre prepared to abandon him to death, with a heart as hard as iron." The Duke of Yue said: "If you insist on leaving, the Buddha will be disappointed in you."

  "Hehe, Ive taken a deep breath of fresh air. Seriously speaking, my eight characters dont match with the Wang familys, and if I were to stay, it would either be a matter of life and death or half-paralysis. Todays close call with the horse carriage is the best proof. The Buddha will understand and forgive me."

  "Have you ever thought that if you hadnt sneaked away today, you wouldnt have almost been hit by the horse carriage?"

  "I didnt sneak away." He Lan said with a straight face and puffed out his chest.

  "It doesnt matter as long as you escape." The Duke of Yue smiled and said, "I guarantee that as long as you stay in the palace obediently, your life will not be lost."

  "This is a noble and aristocratic place with many rules and taboos. I am just an ignorant little monk, if I unintentionally offend any of the nobles"

  "I promise you, Ill protect you from all punishment. From now on, you are my mothers important chef and a noble guest of the Wang estate." The Duke of Yue said: "In that case, can you return to the Wang estate with peace of mind, reassurance, comfort, and satisfaction?"