Yan Shengqian’s expression slowly dimmed. She turned her head to the side to blankly look at him. “Do you know what marrying someone means?” 

  “Of course.” Ning Jinchen lowered his eyes. “It’s getting onto a bridal sedan and becoming someone’s wife.” 

  Qian-er smiled, but there were tears in her eyes. “Huh, you really do know what its means. Do you also know that once I marry someone else, I won’t be able to keep you company anymore?” 

  Ning Jinchen froze in surprise. His hand stiffened around the rosary necklace. A long time later, he unfroze. “This day would happen sooner or later. Fortunately, I didn’t waste your time.” 

  The words echoed in Qian-er‘s mind. She laughed to the point that she was bent over at the waist. Tears plopped downwards too. “What does Buddha say?” 

  Ning Jinchen closed his eyes again and quietly said, “Idealism, fulfill one’s desire, forget yourself.” 

  “Why won’t you listen to Buddha’s words then?” Qian-er wiped her tears and looked up at him. “Don’t you like Buddha the most?” 

  “How am I not listening?” Ning Jinchen slightly smiled. “Everything that Buddha has said, I remember it all in my heart and follow them.” 

  Qian-er giggled. Her smile looked worse than when she had been crying. “Repeat after me.” 

  “Hmm?” Ning Jinchen blinked. 

  She took a deep breath and straightened up to look at him. “Buddha said.” 

  “.…… Buddha said,” he repeated. 

  “Idealism.” She took a step towards him. 

  “.…… Idealism.” 

  “Fulfill one’s desires.” She took another step. 

  “.…… fulfill one’s desires.” 

  “Love me.” On the third step, she stopped in front of him. Her eyes were directly looking at him. 

  “.…… Love……” Ning Jinchen furrowed his brow. “The last words are forget yourself.” 

  “I don’t care, love me!” Yan Shengqian stubbornly stared at him. “I listened to your recite Buddhist scriptures for six years. How could I be wrong?” 

  Ning Jinchen was shocked. An unclear emotion quivered in his heart, but in the end, he only calmly said, “Amitabha.” 

  Qian-er wished that she could have been slightly more mature and not cry in front of him so frequently. And yet, she could never resist becoming a crying mess in front of him. “You stupid monk. You’ve been reading Buddhist scriptures for so long, but you don’t understand what Buddha is saying. You should follow your heart. Your feelings are the most important thing, but you still value practicing Buddhism as if that’s the most important thing! 

  Ning Jinchen pursed his lips. He thought; this was probably his tribulation. It would be fine once it passed. 

  “In three days, the bridal sedan will come,” Qian-er said with reddened eyes. “I don’t want to get married!” 

  “You’re engaged. How can you not get married?” He stood up, brushed off a leaf from his body, and turned to leave. 

  “I don’t want this engagement. If you’re willing to take me away, I’ll go with you.” Qian-er looked at his back figure with a heated gaze. “Even if you want to recite Buddhist scriptures for the rest of your life, I’ll still follow you. Forever!” 

  How absurd. 

  Did emotions lead everyone in the mortal word to act so absurd? Ning Jinchen smiled. He calculated the time. He should be rushing back to the marquis’s estate now. 

  — 

  The marquis’s wife was currently very sick. Ning Yuxuan was sitting on the side of the bed and filled with anxiety. On the bed, Ji Man cracked her eyes open with tears streaming down. “It’s going to shatter……” 

  “What’s going to shatter?” Ning Yuxuan held her hand in distress. “No matter what it is, I’ll have someone repair it. There’s nothing that can’t be repaired.” 

  “The dream……” More and more tears fell. Ji Man felt so upset as she cried. “How can you repair a dream?” 

  While Marquis Moyu was stunned, Ning Jinchen rushed into the room and fed lifesaving medicine to Ji Man. 

  Ji Man’s eyes remained open for a moment to look at him, then she closed them again. 

  “What did you feed her?” Marquis Moyu said with a sunken expression. 

  “Mother’s soul is being pulled away by something. Now that she’s eaten that medicine, it’ll be fine,” said Ning Jinchen, “I came down from the mountain to repay my parents’ kindness by saving her life.” 

  Ning Yuxuan froze in surprise for a long time. Seeing that Ji Man was still breathing and everything looked fine, he put down his worries. 

  Ning Jinchen decided to remain in the marquis’s estate for three more days to care for Ji Man. He would use this time to contemplate as well. After three days, it would be time for him to return to the mountain. 

  Qian-er had already been engaged to a good family. In the end, it wasn’t his place to meddle with the mortal world’s ordinary affairs. 

  — 

  He choose to leave the marquis’s estate in the evening. He didn’t tell anyone that he was leaving and only left a letter for his parents. If he became an immortal, he would continue to protect his family. 

  Perhaps, he could protect her too. 

  As he was walking on the street, there was a flurry of sounds as a wedding procession passed by him in the opposite direction. Ning Jinchen stopped to watch for a moment. No emotion showed on his face. He turned and left. 

  Inside the bridal sedan, Qian-er‘s head was covered with wedding veil. She thought of that memory from several years ago. They had climbed onto a tree together. 

  He had asked her, “What is that?” 

  “This is a wedding procession,” she answered, “The groom is going over and bringing the person he likes to his home on a red bridal sedan to marry.” 

  She had waited for six years, and her heart hadn’t died yet. But in the past three days, her heart had turned into ashes. He would never come for her, just like how he hadn’t been willing to repeat those words and say that he loved her. 

  — 

  The teenager, who had a wonderful aptitude for reaching enlightenment, returned to the mountain. His hair was shaved. 

  Monk Xuwu happily hugged his disciple’s thigh and cried. “The day that I’ve been waiting for has finally arrived.” 

  Ning Jinchen was no longer called Ning Jinchen. He used a Buddhist scripture title as his name, Buddha said, as his monk name. 

  “Buddha said, “Idealism, fulfill one’s desires……” 

  Love me. 

  Translator Ramblings: I think Ning Jinchen likes Qian-er, but his like for her is a platonic one. She was his first and only friend. Because he’s never had a friend before and minimal contact with other humans, he doesn’t know how to name his emotions for her. I think he’s someone with really high IQ, but low EQ because of his upbringing. 

  What do you guys think of this story arc? I was rooting for Qian-er, but I also like that the author didn’t write a bunch of stories about infatuated girls and their happy endings. It feels sad that Qing-er is heartbroken, but it could be paving the way for her move on with her life and find a new happiness. I wish the author had written a short blurb from Qian-er ‘s point of view once she’s more mature and how she views her younger self.

  Chapter 504 – Could you understand a single man’s suffering? (1) 

  Guibai had been feeling sad for a while. Moreover, as the days passed by, his sorrow got worse. He was already in his twenties, and he had been working for the marquis for over a decade. He had been there when the marquis married madam, and even later, when the marquis’s children had been born. Miss Sangyu was already three years old, but he hadn’t even married yet! 

  Looking at his gradually aging face in the mirror, Guibai felt very depressed. He had been wanting to get married for a while now, and the marquis had been helping him look around. However, whenever a good wife candidate was found, the other party would either not be interested because he was too busy with work and wouldn’t have time to look after a family, or the woman would run off with her childhood sweetheart. 

  After several failed attempts, he was discouraged and decided to resign himself to his fate. If he ever happened to meet a suitable woman, he would marry her. 

  However, he followed after the marquis each day. It wasn’t a big deal that he hadn’t found a woman, really. No, the crucial point was that he had watched the marquis’s fortunate and blissful married life. Whenever the marquis had nothing to do, he would hug his wife or hold his daughter’s hand while they strolled around. So annoying and dislikable! 

  Not only that, but Chinese Valentine’s Day had come again. Guibai detested this holiday the most. After peace and prosperity had been reached, there was increasingly no limits to how well the marquis would treat madam. For example, when madam said she wanted to see flowers, the marquis ordered people to bring all sorts of blooming flowers in the capital over to Feiwan Courtyard. There had been over a thousand containers of flowers, ah. Even if his lord had the money, he shouldn’t waste it like this! 

  If one day, madam said she wanted to see the sea, would the marquis have the capital flooded so that madam could see it without going anywhere? 

  On the first Chinese Valentine’s Day after the fourth prince ascended the throne, the marquis took madam to go stroll around by a river. A river full of water lanterns were released for madam to see and enjoy. In order for that to happen, Guibai had led a group of people to place all of those water lanterns by hand into the river. 

  On the second year’s Chinese Valentine’s Day, the marquis said he wanted to give madam a surprise, so over five hundred sky lanterns were released. Once again, it was Guibai that had to lead a group of people to light up all of those lanterns. 

  On the third year’s Chinese Valentine’s Day, the marquis brought madam out of the capital to go sightseeing, which led to a group of important officials anxiously rushing over to the estate to look for the marquis. It had been Guibai that remained in the estate and handled those officials. 

  Who could understand the heart of a single person that had to attend to a married couple? He could only help his master with the chores related his master’s romantic gestures while he stayed a lonely man that was almost thirty years old! 

  Guibai glanced at himself in the mirror again. He didn’t know why, but after buying this mirror, he hadn’t been able to put it down. From time to time, he would feel self-pity. 

  Ji Man had just received some news. She rushed out and looked at him as she said, “Guibai, help me pick up someone. She came back from the borderlands today. She’s probably at the capital’s relay station. I just need you to bring her over here.” 

  Came back from the borderlands? Guibai could guess who this person was. It was the woman that used to help madam with her work, Miss Shui. This woman was quite clever, knew how to do business, and had once helped madam earn a large sum of money. Later on, Honored Concubine Ling had taken madam’s account books and lodge an accusation against madam and her. Implicated by Nie Clan’s bribery case, Miss Shui had been imprisoned. 

  (T/N: Just in case it was too long ago, Honored Concubine Ling is Qi Siling, the one that the marquis divorced.) 

  Miss Shui would have been executed, but marquis sent people over to plead leniency on her behalf, and her punishment was changed to exile. Now that the situation in the imperial court was stable, it would be okay to bring her back. 

  For a woman to be exiled, how could her fate possibly be good? She had probably experienced all sorts of life’s sufferings during this period of time. 

  Guibai was actually quite happy to go and pick her up. It meant that he could escape from the task that the marquis had given him! 

  Although, at the current moment, the marquis hadn’t given him a task yet. 

  After efficiently harnessing a horse and hitching it to a carriage, Guibai set out the relay station that was outside the capital. On the way over, he had already drawn conclusions. Miss Shui would probably come back to the capital with a nervous or a sensitive mental state. He would do his best to show her humanistic care and not scare her or make her feel discriminated. 

  However, she turned out to be a confident and poised woman. She was wearing a purplish pink dress, and her hair was neatly combed. Other than her somewhat dim gaze that kept drifting towards the ground, everything else about her seemed normal. 

  Guibai thought; the stronger a woman appeared on the outside, the more vulnerable her heart was. He definitely couldn’t hurt her. 

  “Madam sent this one to pick you up. Miss Shui, it must have been a hard journey here,” said Guibai respectfully. 

  Miss Shui lighty nodded and responded, “I’ll have to trouble you then.” 

  After that drastic upheaval back then, she had thought for sure she was going to be beheaded. She had gone from poor to rich because she had met a noble, that was also why her father had been able to peacefully live out his last days and why she had been able to punish their greedy relatives. If she had to pay for that good fortune with her life, she didn’t mind. 

  However, she was surprised that not only was she saved from death, she was also able to return to the capital, which meant she was able to burn incense in front of her father’s grave. All the bitterness she had suffered up to now, it wasn’t a big deal. 

  After boarding the carriage, Miss Shui’s gaze showed that she was still slightly absent-minded. As soon as she returned to the capital, she couldn’t help thinking about the past. How had the account books she had given madam ended up in another person’s hands? That was what caused the great disaster later. 

  Guibai couldn’t resist taking out the mirror to look at himself. This woman had suffered a lot of torment. And yet, she remained calm and easy-mannered. Shouldn’t he pull himself together and try to find a wife again? 

  The carriage entered the capital. Based on the sky, it wasn’t early anymore. There were crowds of people everywhere to look at the colored lanterns. Guibai guessed that there wouldn’t be many people left in the estate if he went over there now. He was sure that the marquis and madam had already gone out.

  Chapter 505 – Could you understand a single man’s suffering? (2) 

  “Miss Shui, you’ve been gone from the capital for a long time. Do you want to take a look around?” Guibai kindly suggested. “It’s very lively today.” 

  Miss Shui looked at him in surprise. “We don’t need to go to the marqui’s estate first?” 

  “No, it’ll probably be perfect if you go back later to pay your respects.” As Guibai said this, he left the carriage at Ji Rice Store and led Miss Shui out of the carriage. “Today happens to be Chinese Valentine’s. Miss Shui, feel free to look around.” 

  Miss Shui thought about it and agreed. This person looked upright and didn’t seem like a person that would harm her. When she had gone over to meet madam in the past, she had seen him from afar twice and thought he had out-of-ordinary bearing. Although he was only an attendant, he had the ability to attract people’s attention. 

  At that time, she had asked around for his name. It was Guibai. However, after many bumps in the road of life, she had become a middle-aged woman. While she was still attractive, she guessed that he was already married by now. 

  Sometimes, if you missed that opportune timing, then it was simply hopeless. 

  Starting from the rice shop, they headed towards the capital’s moat. There were many people on the streets as well as small stalls set up there that sold things that women liked. 

  As Guibai walked side by side with Miss Shui, his heart kept beating loudly. He sneakily glanced at the person next to him several times, and his heartbeat got louder and louder. 

  “Sir, how about buying a sachet for your wife? This design matches her very well,” an owner of a stall called out to Guibai. 

  Guibai froze in surprise for a moment. He blankly took out the money, then turned his head to face Miss Shui and offered the sachet to her. “Wife?” 

  Miss Shui was startled, but afterwards she couldn’t help breaking into laughter. She glanced at the sachet in his hand for a moment, then took it. “Since it’s a holiday, I’ll accept it.” 

  “Sir, how about buying a hairpin for your wife? This lotus hairpin is very pretty.” 

  “.……” Guibai took out money again. 

  “Sir, how about buying a lantern? Today’s Chinese Valentine’s Day. It’s the perfect day to buy one and release it with your wife.” 

  “.……” Guibai continued to buy things. 

  A short walk later, there was no more money left in his bag. The woman next to him, who was holding a pile of stuff, was laughing so hard that she almost couldn’t breath. 

  Guibai blankly looked at her. He was surprised that she could laugh so happily. Spending that money had been worth it. After all, she was madam’s important guest. 

  After Miss Shui was done laughing, she lectured him, “How could you just buy anything that other people tell you too? Does your wife not take charge of your spending?” 

  Guibai couldn’t resist taking out his mirror and looking at himself, then he somewhat anxiously said, “This one hasn’t married yet.” 

  Smile stiffening, Miss Shui looked at him as she said, “At your age……” 

  He was old enough to have a few children already. How could he not be married?! 

  Guibai was somewhat embarrassed. Fortunately, sky lanterns were being released one after another at this time. In a short amount of time, the entire sky was lit. He quickly pointed at the sky. “Look!” 

  Miss Shui tilted her head back to look. The capital was truly very prosperous. If she compared the capital to the bleak borderlands, it was like returning to heaven. 

  The two of them kept their heads tilted back to look at the sky. A passerby bumped into Miss Shui and she, along with the pile of items, was pushed into Guibai’s arms. When she raised her head in panic, she happened to meet Guibai’s lowering head. 

  Because Guibai was too tall, their lips naturally didn’t touch in a kiss. But, they were so close, and the ,ood felt very ambiguous because of the holiday. It felt as pink bubbles were all around them. 

  Startled, Guibai took a step back. He looked left and right as he stuttered, “Let’s…… go back.” 

  Miss Shui pushed her hair back and nodded. “Right…… yes.” 

  Awkwardly laughing, the two of them looked away from each other. After going back for the carriage, they headed to the marquis’s estate. 

  However, when they arrived, they found out the madam and the marquis had been waiting for them this entire time in the main hall. Ji Man had already dozed off. When Ning Yuxuan saw him entering the hall, he looked at him with great displeasure. “Why did it take you so long to pick someone up from the relay station?” 

  Ji Man woke up from the noise. As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw Miss Shu. She quickly stood up and said, “You’re finally back!” 

  Somewhat embarrassed, Miss Shui put down the items and knelt down to salute, “This humble woman……” 

  “No need for formalities. You suffered for so long.” Ji Man hastily went forward and helped her up. Then, she swept a glance over the items on the floor and looked at Guibai in surprise. “You two……” 

  Guibai also knelt down and summoned up his courage to say, “This one didn’t know that the marquis and madam were waiting here. This one thought that since today is Chinese Valentine’s day, my lord and madam would have definitely gone out……” 

  Ning Yuxuan’s blackened expression looked very ugly. It looked as black as the bottom of a pot. “Madam has been waiting here since you left. She wouldn’t go anywhere. Why didn’t you come back to report first? Where did you bring Miss Shui?” 

  Ji Man stood up and tugged Ning Yuxuan’s sleeve. In a quiet voice, she said, “You won’t even give your employee the freedom for a romance. I prepared a candlelit dinner for us. How about we go back to our room first?” 

  “What about them?” Marquis Moyu furrowed his brow as he looked at Guibai. 

  “Just have Guibai bring Miss Shui to the guest quarters so she can rest.” Ji Man hugged his arm as she said, “Only bosses that can show understanding towards their employees are good bosses. You should give Guibai time off for romance. If you don’t, his ancestors from the previous 18 generations won’t let you off. He’s already at this age, and he’s still not married.” 

  Marquis Moyu twitched his lips. He swept his gaze over the two people kneeling on the floor. “Alright, Guibai, go bring Miss Shui to the quest quarters to rest. We’ll talk tomorrow.”