"Moyue, you are so good, what should I do with you? I would rather you were a bit worse, then I wouldn't have to worry so much."
She inhaled his chest, taking a deep breath, and suddenly threw herself into his arms, her eyes misting with sadness as she spoke.
Moyue held her tightly, his chin gently resting on her head, his voice tender: "Yao'er, don't worry. No matter what decision you make, I'll be by your side."
Yu Yao'er's head rested on his chest, feeling even more conflicted in her heart.
She knew that Moyue had deep affection for her, but she couldn't let go of Xuanjing and the children.
The night was as dark as ink, with the stars hidden away. Xuanjing stood in a quiet courtyard within the palace.
The moonlight penetrated the sparse clouds, casting a faint glow on his neat and simple monk's robe, revealing a sense of detachment from the world.
He closed his eyes and concentrated, trying to calm the turmoil within him with Buddhist teachings, but the inexplicable anxiety and unease, like waves in the dark night, one after another surged up and could not be calmed.
"Ah my Buddha, all things in the world have causes and effects. Is this journey of mine to uncover the truth, or have I fallen into another cycle of cause and effect?"
Xuanjing hummed and opened his eyes, a complex and profound gaze in his eyes.
Several days have passed, and there is still no sign of Du Guo Ye, nor any news of him at all?
Xuanjing couldn't help but inquire of the palace officials, and only then did he learn that Du Guo Ye had left the capital city overnight and disappeared without a trace.
He frowned slightly, he didn't know why Du Guo Ye left the capital overnight, or if there was some urgent matter.
His unease grew in his heart.
This feeling came out of nowhere, and he decided not to wait any longer, thinking for a moment and deciding to bid farewell to Emperor Xuanwu.
The next day, in the imperial study, the gilded beast incense burner emitted a wisp of light smoke, the fragrance was refreshing and smelled extremely pleasant.
Xuanjing clasped his hands together in a prayer pose, saluting Emperor Xuanwu, "Your Majesty, Monk Xuanjing greets you."
Emperor Xuanwu nodded slightly, his eyes filled with a hint of confusion, "Master Xuanjing, why do you suddenly wish to leave? Is there something that the emperor has not provided for you?"
Xuanjing clasped his hands together in a prayer pose and bowed respectfully to Emperor Xuanwu: "Your Majesty, Master Xuanjing has concluded his affairs in the capital and wishes to return to the monastery to continue his meditation. Therefore, I have come to bid farewell to Your Majesty."
Emperor Xuanwu was puzzled in his heart. As far as he knew, it seemed that Cloud Smoke had not been found yet?
How can things already be concluded?
Thinking about the report from the palace officials, saying that the Crown Prince had left the capital overnight and unknown to where.
He turned his thoughts and immediately understood the reason. It seemed that Master Xuanjing was too impatient and wanted to find Cloud Smoke himself.
Thinking about it like that, there was no need to force it.
Emperor Xuanwu nodded slightly and looked at Master Xuanjing, his expression tinged with regret: "Master Xuanjing, your Buddhist teachings are profound. I regret that you are leaving this time. If there is ever an opportunity in the future, I hope Master Xuanjing will return to the capital and enlighten me."
Xuanjing bowed slightly, "Your Majesty's favor is deeply appreciated. If I have the opportunity, I will definitely come again."
After leaving the imperial study, Xuanjing felt a sense of loss in his heart.
He had come to the capital this time to find Cloud Smoke, but he had gained nothing.
The Crown Prince, Du Guo Ye, had also left the capital overnight, leaving no trace of his whereabouts.
After waiting for many days, there was still no news, and instead, his heart became increasingly uneasy.
He stood under the palace wall, lost in thought, wondering where to look for Cloud Smoke.
Thinking and thinking, a face suddenly flashed through his mind—a beautiful and gentle face of Yu Yao'er.
He slightly raised the corners of his mouth, a gentle smile spreading across his face.
He remembered that she had said that Cloud Smoke had sent herself to Wanfo Temple for Lin Youwei.
Twenty years have passed, and I suppose they have both married and had children by now.
If they are hiding in the vicinity of the capital, there will always be ordinary people who know them.
Xuanjing quickly left the palace and began to inquire about the whereabouts of Cloud Smoke and Lin Youwei.
Imperial study, the palace.
The wisp of light smoke rising from the gilded beast incense burner still slowly ascended, the faint fragrance diffused in the air, yet it could not soothe Emperor Xuanwu's somber mood at this moment.
His brows were tightly knit, and he sat in the wide dragon chair, his fingers gently tapping on the armrests, making a rhythmic sound.
He couldn't understand, why would Master Xuanjing, an outcast, be so obsessed with finding Cloud Smoke, and he would not believe that there was no secret behind it.
Especially, this matter also involved the concubine and prince, which made him more vigilant in his heart.
After pondering for a moment, Emperor Xuanwu summoned his bodyguard chief, Moon Shadow, who stood at his side.
Moon Shadow appeared silently like a ghost, dressed in black robes, tall and straight, his eyes reflecting a sense of stability and reverence.
"Greeting the emperor."
Moon Shadow respectfully bowed his head and knelt to the ground.
Emperor Xuanwu looked at him and whispered, "Follow Master Xuanjing secretly, and report his movements at all times. I want to know why Master Xuanjar is so obsessed with finding Cloud Smoke, and what kind of secret is hidden behind it. This matter is of great importance, and you must not take it lightly."
Moon Shadow respectfully replied, "Yes, Your Majesty."
As the leader of the Hidden Dragon Guards, besides being responsible for protecting Emperor Xuanwu's safety, he is also tasked with gathering intelligence for the emperor.
"Master Xuanjing's cultivation is profound, do not follow him too closely, otherwise he may discover you. Go ahead."
Emperor Xuanwu gave a reminder, waved his hand, and then let him go.
"Yes."
Moon Shadow respectfully answered, then disappeared like a ghost in an instant.
Only leaving Emperor Xuanwu lost in thought in the imperial study, and that still quietly burning gilded beast incense burner.
After Moon Shadow left the imperial study, he immediately used his martial arts skills to pursue in the direction where Master Xuanjin had gone.
He moved like a ghost, traversing the rooftops of the palace and the shadows of the streets, always keeping a certain distance from Xuanjin.
Master Xuanjin was full of thoughts on how to find Cloud Smoke, and was completely unaware of the pursuit behind him.
He walked through the streets and alleys, asking anyone he met about the whereabouts of Cloud Smoke and Lin Youwei.
No one knew where Cloud Smoke was, but the name of Lin Youwei was still known to some ordinary people.
Lin Youwei lived near the capital and would often bring his sons into the city to do business, so he naturally knew many people.
"Good sir, have you heard of Lin Youwei and Cloud Smoke? They are about forty years old."
Xuanjin clasped his hands together and asked the old man selling tea on the roadside.
The old man was slightly taken aback, looked up and down at Master Xuanjin for a moment, and then smiled: "Master Xuanjin is looking for Lin Youwei? His home is in Lin Village, not far from the capital. Leave the city and walk southward along the road. After passing through two villages, you'll see a large mulberry tree at the village entrance. That's Lin Village."
Xuanjin clasped his hands together and showed gratitude on his face, "Ah my Buddha, thank you for the information, kind sir."
After speaking, he quickly left the city and followed the old man's directions, heading southward.
Moon Shadow, hidden in the shadows, glanced at the direction where Master Xuanjin had departed, following him at a distance but not too close to avoid being discovered.
The night was dim and in a rustic cottage in Lin Village, the light flickered.
Cloud Smoke was busy preparing dinner for her family, and the years had left their mark on her once delicate face.
"Tap, tap, tap..."
Suddenly, a light knocking sound came from the door. Cloud Smoke wiped her hands on her apron and walked out to the courtyard, suspiciously opening the door.
She looked and saw a young man in a monk's robe standing at the door, his face was handsome beyond measure, his eyes were profound, and his demeanor was extraordinary.
Cloud Smoke's heart grew even more confused as she didn't understand why a monk had come to her house.
Nevertheless, she politely asked, "Teacher, is there something you need?"
Xuanjin calmly looked at her, and it seemed to be consistent with the age Cloud Smoke had described as Yu Yaoer.
He smiled slightly, clasped his hands together, "Ah my Buddha, are you Miss Yun Yan?"
Upon hearing this, Cloud Smoke's expression changed. After she left the palace, she had reverted to her family name.
Cloud Smoke was given the name Yun Yan by the Concubine Empress, and it had been almost twenty years since anyone had called her that way.
Few people knew this name.
She didn't know who this monk was, why he knew her name as Yun Yan, and what he wanted with her.
"I don't know what your majesty is looking for Miss Yun Yan?"
She looked at Master Xuanjin with a vigilant gaze and whispered the question.
Seeing her cautious eyes fixed on him, Xuanjin realized she was indeed Cloud Smoke. He smiled faintly and said, "Lady, I am Master Xuanjin. I have come here today to inquire about some past events."
Cloud Smoke frowned slightly and hesitated in her heart. She was silent for a moment, then she turned aside and let Master Xuanjin into the house: "Please have a seat, Master Xuanjin. What do you wish to ask?"
The two sat down inside the house.
Master Xuanjin scanned the room and finally settled his gaze on Cloud Smoke, examining her for a moment before slowly opening his mouth: "Lady, do you remember the Concubine Empress Min in the palace twenty years ago?"
Cloud Smoke's face turned pale again, and her tea cup almost fell.
She forced herself to compose, "Master, what are you talking about? As a woman of the house, how could I know about the palace?"
Master Xuanjin looked at her deeply before suddenly pulling out a dragon pattern jade pendant from his chest, "Lady, do you recognize this jade pendant?"
When Cloud Smoke saw the jade pendant, her eyes immediately grew frantic. She tremblingly took the pendant and tears welled up in her eyes. Her emotions became very excited.
"Your Majesty, it's all the maid's fault..."
Cloud Smoke got down on her knees, holding the dragon pattern jade pendant in her hand, and cried bitterly.
Lin Youwei happened to return from his work outside when he saw a monk in his home, and his wife was kneeling on the ground and crying. He was a little confused at first.
But as soon as he saw the jade pendant in Cloud Smoke's hand, his face changed instantly.
He recognized it at once. This jade pendant was the one that Cloud Smoke had taken out of the child in the palace many years ago. He had even tried to steal it, wanting to sell it to get money.
But because it was a dragon pattern jade pendant, which clearly belonged to the imperial family, he feared that no one would dare to accept it.
Lin Youwei was also afraid of getting into trouble, so he abandoned the idea of selling the jade pendant to get money.
He looked at Master Xuanjin's face, although he didn't know who this monk was, he had a rough idea about it in his heart.
If the child hadn't died, he would probably be about this age now.
Thinking back to the past when he had instigated Cloud Smoke to abandon that child, he feared that perhaps the monk was there to seek revenge.
Thinking about this, Lin Youwei became scared.
