Let’s Squander A Billion First!

Chapter 525: Chapter 525 Difficult to be a Hostage (20)

Chapter 525: Chapter 525 Difficult to be a Hostage (20)

The Taoist Temple wasn’t large, but the environment was good, and there were only a few Taoist priests inside.

“Your Highness the Third Prince, Thirteenth Prince,” the Temple Master of the Taoist Temple personally came out to greet them, “My apologies for not having greeted you from afar, please forgive me.”

Chuzheng was sure she had never seen this Temple Master before.

No one had introduced him just now, but the Temple Master recognized her right away.

There wasn’t a ghost… it was that this Taoist priest had some skills.

Lian Qiong pressed his palms together and gave a respectful bow, “Temple Master.”

“Your Highness the Third Prince,” the Temple Master returned the gesture, “Please, come inside.”

Lian Qiong lowered his hands and reverted to his languid demeanor, then introduced him to Chuzheng, “This is the Temple Master of the Taoist Temple, very formidable. If the Thirteenth Prince wants to ask about marriage prospects or romantic luck, he can do so here, it’s very accurate.”

“I have nothing I wish to ask,” Chuzheng said.

“Really?”

“It’s better to ask oneself than to ask the heavens.”

The Temple Master turned around, “The Thirteenth Prince seems to have quite a bit of wisdom after all.”

Chuzheng, fearing the next thing the Taoist priest would say was whether she wanted to become a Taoist priest herself, nervously stepped back.

“So what the Temple Master means is that I lack wisdom?” Lian Qiong noticed Chuzheng’s reaction and stepped forward to block the Temple Master’s line of sight.

“Your Highness the Third Prince…” the Temple Master sighed, “You are too burdened by fierce energy.”

Lian Qiong chuckled lightly, “Temple Master, don’t make wild accusations. Where do you see me having such fierce energy?”

The Temple Master shook his head, seemingly unwilling to elaborate further, as if not knowing where to start.

Without persisting, Lian Qiong stepped back, “Thirteenth Prince, are you sure you don’t want to ask about your romantic fortunes?”

“Not interested.”

“Then what are you interested in?”

“You.” If I wasn’t interested in you, I’d be stuck in this loop forever, so tell me, do I have an interest in you or not?

Lian Qiong: “…”

Touching his earlobe, Lian Qiong felt it was a bit warm. He shifted his gaze, surveying the surrounding environment and fell silent.

The Temple Master led them up to the loft, which was open-plan and provided a view of the outside scenery.

Looking farther, one could even glimpse the outline of the Imperial City.

After burning incense, the Temple Master invited them to take a seat.

“Has Your Highness the Third Prince returned for a specific purpose?” asked the Temple Master as he brewed tea.

“Temple Master, don’t you refrain from concerning yourself with these worldly matters?” Lian Qiong reached for the tea, but the Temple Master pressed his hand down with the tea tongs, “Your Highness, be patient.”

Lian Qiong withdrew his hand, smiling lazily and didn’t continue the conversation.

The Temple Master’s tea brewing was highly skilled, a pleasing sight to watch, with the tea cups clinking softly from time to time.

“Your Highness, Thirteenth Prince, please.”

Suddenly, Lian Qiong stood up, “Thirteenth Prince, you have tea with the Temple Master; I’ll be right back.”

Chuzheng looked at him.

Lian Qiong gave her a smile, “We’ll go see the sunset later; Thirteenth Prince, make sure not to leave first.”

His tone was indulgent, carrying a hint of pampering.

Chuzheng watched Lian Qiong leave and the Temple Master reminded her, “Thirteenth Prince, tea loses its flavor once it gets cold.”

Chuzheng picked up the tea cup and took a sip.

“What does the Thirteenth Prince taste?” the Temple Master asked.

Chuzheng was on guard, “I didn’t taste anything, I don’t like drinking tea.”

Don’t think about tricking me into becoming a Taoist priest.

She put down the tea cup and asked what she was curious about, “How did you know who I am?”

“I had the fortune of seeing you once…” The Temple Master paused, “I saw the Thirteenth Prince once from afar.”

“Oh.”

The Imperial City was only so big; it was normal for the former owner of her identity to have been spotted occasionally.

“You and he are close?” It was apparent that Lian Qiong was familiar with this place, and his way of speaking to the Temple Master didn’t seem too detached, signaling that their relationship was not poor.

“The Third Prince’s mother, before she married, had the fortune to rest and recuperate in the mountains for a time when she was still a little girl… Later, she entered the palace, gave birth to His Highness, and occasionally, when His Highness grew older, she would bring him here to stay for a few days. Afterward… he would come by himself, saying that it was less oppressive here than in the palace…”

Chuzheng sneakily picked up her tea to drink again.

It was quite delicious.

The Temple Master continued, seemingly not noticing her little movement, “The Prince is very bright. But sometimes, being too bright is not necessarily a good thing.”

The Temple Master sighed and looked toward Chuzheng.

Chuzheng set down her teacup, straightening herself instantly, radiating an aura of refined grace and nobility.

“The Thirteenth Prince is indeed a bit special.”

“Specially wealthy.” Chuzheng quipped.

“Hmm?” The Temple Master paused but showed no intention of delving deeper, “You are the first person that the Third Prince brought up the mountain.”

Chuzheng’s calm gaze met the Temple Master’s deep and tranquil eyes.

“Since childhood, the Third Prince has disliked playing with others. He would rather be alone, and you are the first one he has brought here.”

“…” What should I say now to appear cultured yet not rude? “So what?”

“The Prince has too many concerns in his heart. If it’s convenient for you, Thirteenth Prince, please talk more with the Prince,” the Temple Master said now as an elder, not as the master of the Taoist Temple.

“Hmm.”

Chuzheng gave a noncommittal response.

Hearing this, the Temple Master did not say more.

The two sat in silence, surrounded by the fragrance of tea.

“Temple Master.” A Little Taoist Priest called out to the Temple Master from a distance.

The Temple Master stood up, “Thirteenth Prince, feel free to look around. Please excuse me for a moment.”

He paused, then added, “Thirteenth Prince, you face an impending bloody disaster. Please be cautious.”

“…” Taoists always con people this way.

But this Taoist seems somewhat capable…

So which bastard is trying to mess with me in secret?

Once the Temple Master had left, Chuzheng immediately poured herself another cup of tea.

The little fellow didn’t lie to her; the tea really was delicious.

–

After finishing her tea, Chuzheng felt too lazy to move, so she just sat there alone until a clap of thunder in the distance startled her nearly to her feet.

Scared the life out of someone.

A perfectly good day for…

With a lash of the heavens…

The rain poured down, and in the blink of an eye, the distant mountains were shrouded in a misty veil of fog that obscured them.

Well, so much for watching the sunset now.

The rain was blown inside, caressing Chuzheng’s cheeks, cool and damp, mingled with mountain air, and actually a bit chilly.

Chuzheng moved further inside.

But the rain grew heavier, quickly wetting the pavilion.

Chuzheng could only stand up, leaning against the wall, looking somehow pitiable.

Seeing that the rain showed no sign of stopping, Chuzheng decided to leave the pavilion.

No sooner had she stepped down than Chen Fei arrived, sword in hand: “Thirteenth Prince, have you seen my master?”

Chuzheng shook her head.

Chen Fei turned and left.

By the time Chuzheng arrived at the main hall of the Taoist Temple, Chen Fei seemed to have searched the entire temple and was now speaking with the Temple Master.

The Temple Master said, “The Prince must have gone up the mountain.”

Chen Fei seemed to think of something, “I will go look for him immediately.”

The Temple Master also called others, “Let’s search together. We must protect the Prince at all costs.”

The Taoist Temple was situated midway up the mountain, and its Taoist priests joined in the search heading uphill.

Chuzheng didn’t move; she just watched the downpour outside, which had become so heavy that it was nearly impossible to see anything.

[Miss, could you please also help search?]

Chuzheng: “…”

Are you the devil?!

[You are!]

With such heavy rain, you want me to search for someone? I won’t go! If you want to search, go by yourself!

[It’s precisely because the rain is so heavy that we need you to help search.]