Chapter 88: The Identity of Shuijingchen

  Upon hearing the sound of the mandarin ducks, Qing Jin halted her footsteps and turned around: "How did you also come out?"

  "The slave saw the young lady come out and quickly followed her out, 'Miss, are you...'"

  "What's wrong with you, what are you thinking about all day? I just stayed in the main hall for too long and came out to get some fresh air. Alright, hurry up and go back inside! I'll stay here for a bit before going back."

  Upon hearing Qingjin's words, Yuanyang carefully observed Qingjin's expression and said: "Then I'll go in first. Miss, you shouldn't stay outside for too long, or both the old madam and the madam will worry."

  Qing Jin nodded at Yuanyang, and Yuanyang quickly turned around and returned to the main hall.

  After seeing the mandarin ducks leave, Qingjin turned around. The imperial palace had too many secrets, so she walked towards a more open area instead. Thinking of this, she thought of the Imperial Flower Garden on her way here, and Qingjin stepped into the Imperial Flower Garden.

  In the garden, the scenery was beautiful, with fresh flowers blooming everywhere. Qing Jin walked quietly among the trees and flowers, her originally tired body and mind becoming cheerful again. Just as she continued walking forward, she suddenly heard a voice coming from among the trees and flowers. Upon hearing someone speaking, Qing Jin subconsciously wanted to turn around and leave, but curiosity got the better of her. She glanced in the direction where the sound was coming from, and caught sight of a dazzling yellow figure.

  Her heart tightened, in the imperial palace, those who could wear bright yellow were either the Ming Emperor or the Crown Prince. She raised her head to look at the sky that had gradually darkened, no matter whether it was the Ming Emperor or the Crown Prince, at this time, in this place, speaking among the flowers and trees, they must be discussing secrets that she, a small person like herself, should not hear.

  Thinking of this, Qingjin wanted to quietly slip away, but at this moment, the two people talking over there were walking in her direction. If she left now, she would definitely be caught red-handed. She was afraid that others would think she was eavesdropping on purpose. As the figures drew closer and closer, Qingjin subconsciously turned around and hid behind a clump of flowers and trees in the shade.

  Looking at the nine-clawed golden dragon on the newcomer's body, she couldn't help but think to herself, what kind of luck is this? She had only come out for a stroll and yet ran into the emperor chatting with someone in hushed tones. It seems that the imperial palace is indeed a place full of intrigue.

  The speaker's voice was getting closer and closer, Qing Jin looked around hastily. The place where she hid in a hurry was still relatively hidden, and the two people who were speaking were facing away from her. Qing Jin couldn't help but carefully look at the two people through the flowers and trees, that bright yellow figure was Ming Emperor, and then looked at the person next to Ming Emperor. A white monk's robe, holy as water. Wasn't this Shui Jing Chen?

  Qing Jin covered her mouth in surprise. "Do you really want to become a monk with all your heart?" Ming Emperor's warm and angry voice.

  "Amitabha Buddha, Your Majesty, I am just a monk." Water Mirror's voice was calm and unruffled.

  "I don't want you to be a monk anymore, return to secular life for me."

  "Why must Your Majesty force others to do what is difficult?" Water Mirror Dust's calm and helpless voice.

  Upon hearing Ming Emperor and Shui Jingchen's conversation, Qing Jin, hiding in a concealed location, couldn't help but take a cold breath. What was the relationship between Shui Jingchen and Ming Emperor?

  "I don't want you to be a monk anymore. What's good about being a monk? I only let you take the Empty Void Great Master as your master in the first place because..."

  "Your Majesty, I have been a monk for so many years and have grown accustomed to being one. Moreover, I only know how to be a monk." Shuijing Chendan repeated this sentence calmly.

  "I will kill Kong Wu!" Upon hearing Shuijingchen's words, Ming Emperor became enraged.

  "Your Majesty, Mirror Dust is a monk and has nothing to do with the Master. Your Majesty should not create unjust karma!" Water Mirror Dust spoke calmly to Emperor Ming.

  "All right, I won't kill you, but you must return to secular life!... Don't say that you only know how to be a monk. I will proclaim it to the world and give you a title and position. Once you return to secular life, you don't have to do anything."

  "Worldly affairs are complicated, I have long been indifferent. As a monk, I am very content with what I do."

  "I know you're tired of the imperial family's complexities, but you were born into it. When I first appointed a crown prince, it was just a temporary measure. After your ordination, I immediately issued an edict to depose the crown prince and appoint you as the new one. After my passing, you will be the master of this land..."

  Upon hearing Ming Emperor's words to Shui Jingchen, Qing Jin could no longer conceal her astonishment. Shui Jingchen was actually from the imperial family! She tried hard to recall things from her past life, wondering why she had never heard of it before, and how Shui Jingchen came from the imperial family. Could it be that Shui Jingchen was Ming Emperor's...

  Just as she hadn't fully digested the news, Ming Emperor's next words were like a thunderclap, Qing Jin couldn't help but take two steps back, but unexpectedly lost her balance, stumbled, and was about to fall backwards. Qing Jin couldn't help but feel terrified, thinking that if she fell, she would immediately alert Ming Emperor. She thought of the words Ming Emperor had just spoken, and if he discovered that she was eavesdropping, her fate would be sealed, and the Anji Hou Mansion would also face disaster. She felt hopeless as she watched herself fall backwards.

  At this critical moment, a black figure appeared, and a pair of hands wrapped around Qingjin's waist, stabilizing her body that was about to fall. Qingjin came back to her senses and met a pair of icy eyes.

  Long Han was far away, Qing Jin couldn't help but want to scream, a pair of big hands covered Qing Jin's mouth in time. Qing Jin saw Long Han's lips form three words: Don't shout.

  Qing Jin nodded towards Long Han Yuan, and Long Han Yuan released his hand covering Qing Jin's mouth.

  "The position of the Crown Prince is related to national stability and the people's peace of mind, can Your Majesty act arbitrarily?" Water Mirror Dust's calm and waveless voice came over, Long Han Yuan turned his body to look in the direction of Ming Emperor and Water Mirror Dust.

  "This position of Crown Prince was originally intended for you..." Emperor Ming said with astonishing words.

  Qing Jin glanced at Long Han Yuan beside her, only to see him pursing his lips, with a profound and mysterious gaze, neither happy nor angry, his expression unfathomable. Qing Jin quickly shifted her gaze away after just one glance, looking towards Shui Jing Chen and Ming Di's direction.

  "Your Majesty, I am already a monk who has renounced worldly life. As an outsider, how can I be concerned with the affairs of the secular world? My heart has long been detached from worldly desires. Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty!" Water Mirror Dust said calmly without any joy or sorrow.

  "Your Majesty? Your Imperial Majesty? Is this how you address me now?"

  Shuijing dust remained silent in response to Ming Emperor's question.

  Half a moment later, it was Ming Emperor who compromised first, saying: "You don't want this imperial power, I won't force you, but you must return to secular life. I will announce to the world in the future and give you the identity of Wang Ye. I want you to marry and have children."

  "Is the Emperor trying to drive me out of the capital?" Water Mirror Dust's voice was calm and waveless. Upon hearing Water Mirror Dust's words, Qing Jin looked at him with some concern.

  Indeed, Emperor Ming was furious and faced Water Mirror Dust King with his full momentum: "How dare you..."

  Feeling Qing Jin's worried gaze towards Shui Jing Chen, Long Han Yan's eyes swept a faint glance at Qing Jin from the corner of his eye.

  Shuijingchen stood beside Mingdi, facing his anger without surprise or fear. His body was empty and clear, standing there with a soft glow emanating from him. He quietly stared at Mingdi's furious expression.

  Half a moment later, he finally opened his mouth reluctantly: "Imperial brother, how can one know the joy of fish if not a fish? I've been a monk for so many years and only wish to continue being one, besides, I'm only capable of being a monk."

  The Emperor heard Shui Jingchen's words and saw his determined attitude, saying: "Alright, you like it, do it first, the emperor will give you some time to consider. Today is Empress Dowager's birthday, I told her that you are back, at this time, you follow me to see Empress Dowager first!"

  "Thank you, Emperor!" Upon hearing Ming Emperor's words, Shuijingchen smiled faintly, and that ethereal quality of hers was fully revealed.

  The Emperor Ming gazed at Shui Jingchen's eyes with a mixture of satisfaction, pride and unspoken complexity.

  Ming Emperor and Shuijing Chen left together.

  Qing Jin was immersed in the words "imperial brother" that Ming Emperor had just spoken to Shui Jing Chen, and suddenly realized that Shui Jing Chen was actually Ming Emperor's younger brother. Wasn't he Long Han Yuan's imperial uncle? But what Ming Emperor meant by his words was that he wanted to give the throne to his own brother. She couldn't imagine what it would be like for someone as holy as Shui Jing Chen to become emperor... Ming Emperor actually wanted to make Shui Jing Chen the crown prince... As she thought of this, she suddenly remembered Long Han Yuan beside her. How could she have forgotten? Long Han Yuan also had his heart set on that position. Thinking of this, she quickly looked up at Long Han Yuan beside her. Had Long Han Yuan heard Ming Emperor's and Shui Jing Chen's conversation just now? Would he be unfavorable to Shui Jing Chen?

  Moreover, Long Han's appearance here was clearly no coincidence. Thinking of this, she raised her head and looked at Long Han with a mixture of vigilance and apprehension.

  "How come you're only afraid now?" Long Han Yan's face was expressionless as he spoke, seeing Qing Jin's wariness and apprehension.

  "What's there for me to be afraid of? I'm just out for a stroll. But as for you, Third Prince, surely you're not also here for a coincidence?" Qing Jin said, taking the initiative.

  "What if I said yes?" Long Han spoke up indifferently.

  Upon hearing his words, Qing Jin fell silent, a flash of hostility and disdain crossing her eyes.

  "In that case, I won't disturb you anymore, I'll take my leave!" Qing Jin said, and then she thought about leaving.

  However, Long Han stood still in front of her, blocking Qing Jin's path and refusing to let her leave.

  "If this prince is not mistaken, the first time was when we met on the street for the first time, and the second time we met, I saved you and your brother. Before that, we had never seen each other, and I hadn't offended Miss Gu Er in any way, so why does Miss Gu Er always seem to have some hostility towards me every time she sees me?"

  Upon hearing Long Han's words, Qing Jin's gaze shot towards him like lightning. Half a beat later, she shifted her line of sight and opened her mouth lightly: "That was the Third Prince's misconception, just as the Third Prince said, why would I have any hostility towards Your Highness the Third Prince?"

  "Really?"

  Qingjin avoided his gaze, ultimately speechless.

  The man's sudden approach made her involuntarily take a step back, pressing herself against the tree trunk behind her. He slightly bent down, his right arm propped on the trunk, and the distance between them was so close that it made her feel flustered for an instant. She avoided his gaze, hearing his calm voice inches away: "Are you very afraid of me? Or do you dislike me? Or is it a case of playing hard to get..." He paused for a moment before continuing, "If it's the latter, at least you should pretend to be someone I'd like. I like gentle women."