Xie Lang took the bamboo tube and shook it a few times. The bamboo sticks made a rubbing sound, and after a while, one fell out onto the ground. Before the young novice monk could squat down, Xie Lang had already reached out and picked it up. He tried to take a peek at it, but failed to make out the words.
Shen Mingzhu, standing beside him, nearly burst out laughing. She said to Xie Lang, "Quickly give it to the young master."
The young novice monk: "······ Well, benefactor, you should let the little monk take a look at this oracle stick first."
Xie Lang sighed and handed it over. He stared nervously at the young novice monk, his hands hidden in his sleeves tightly clenched, and he subconsciously held his breath.
"This is actually······"
The young novice monk hesitated slightly as he spoke. Looking at Xie Lang apologetically, he said, "Sorry, two benefactors. This is not an oracle stick for seeking marriage. I don't know who misplaced it in this tube when cleaning."
Xie Lang deflated immediately, the corners of his mouth drooping slightly. "Then what kind of oracle is this?"
Seeing Xie Lang's disappointment, the young novice monk hung his head even lower. He presented the oracle text with both hands and said to the two of them, "I'm······ I'm sorry. If you two don't mind, how about seeking the oracle again?"
Xie Lang sighed and took the oracle text. "Forget it. Seeking the oracle too many times in a day may not yield an accurate result."
As he said this, Shen Mingzhu leaned over to take a look and saw two lines of words written on the bamboo stick -
After mountains and rivers wind and bend, there seems no way through;
When the willows are shady and flowers in bloom, another village appears. (A quote)
When they saw these words, both of them paused for a moment and subconsciously looked up at each other.
Shen Mingzhu was quite surprised.
Although this was not an oracle stick for seeking marriage, it seemed quite accurate somehow. Could it be that she and Xie Lang were really like this? Their first marriage could be regarded as a major hurdle, and after they opened up to each other, their relationship had been flourishing.
It was really······
When Shen Mingzhu looked up again, she saw Xie Lang beaming as he said to the young novice monk, "Thank you, young master. I'm very satisfied with this."
The young novice monk looked up at him in surprise. Then he saw Xie Lang take out a gold ingot and put it in front of him. Xie Lang said, "This is the incense money. Thank you for your trouble just now."
The young novice monk didn't expect that the person in front of him would still give him incense money even though he had made a mistake. He was momentarily stunned, then took it and said with a smile, "Then the little monk will go and get the red silk for the two benefactors to write on."
After saying that, the young novice monk quickly turned around and left, unable to hide the smile on his face.
"What's wrong?" Seeing the smile on Xie Lang's face, Shen Mingzhu couldn't help but say, "If you like it, you can seek the oracle again when we leave."
Hearing this, Xie Lang glanced at Shen Mingzhu. "If you seek the oracle too many times, it won't be accurate."
Just as he finished speaking, Shen Mingzhu saw the young novice monk walking over with two pieces of red silk. Taking a closer look, she found that there were two mandarin ducks embroidered on them. Compared with those on the trees, they were even more beautiful.
Xie Lang took them over with satisfaction and said to the young novice monk, "Thank you, young master."
Then he took out another piece of gold.
The young novice monk was smiling from ear to ear. He pointed to the front and said to Xie Lang, "You two benefactors can go and write over there."
Shen Mingzhu, who was watching: "······"
Shen Mingzhu rarely felt choked. Looking at the expression on Xie Lang's face, she couldn't help but want to laugh.
Taking the red silk, she thought for a while, wrote a sentence, and then hung it on the tree under Xie Lang's expectant gaze.
"What did you write?"
There was an undisguised curiosity on Xie Lang's face, but he still pretended to be nonchalant as he said, "What did Your Highness write today? Why don't you let me take a look?"
As he said this, Xie Lang hung his own red silk on the tree.
What a clumsy trick! He had diverted her attention with a topic and then hung up his own note. How childish Xie Lang was!
Shen Mingzhu subconsciously rolled her eyes at him.
The young novice monk was quite smart. Seeing the conversation between the two, he immediately spoke up to make up for Xie Lang, the generous guest. "Two benefactors, the words on the red silk are not supposed to be seen by others. If they are seen, it won't be effective."
Shen Mingzhu looked at Xie Lang with a half - smile and said, "Did you hear that? You're not allowed to look. Yet you keep asking me."
"Then forget it. I'm just a bit curious."
As he said this, Xie Lang casually wrapped his arm around Shen Mingzhu's and turned to the young novice monk. "Thank you, young master. We'll be leaving now."
After leaving the main hall, Shen Mingzhu thought for a moment and decided to leave first. So she said to Xie Lang, "You go back first. I still have some things to do."
Xie Lang was stunned for a moment and said to Shen Mingzhu, "Are you······ Are you angry?"
[No way, is Shen Mingzhu angry? Should I tell her what I wrote now?]
Shen Mingzhu didn't expect Xie Lang to still be dwelling on this matter. For a moment, she couldn't help but feel a bit amused. She said, "No. I really have some things to do. You go back first."
Hearing that Shen Mingzhu had things to attend to, Xie Lang immediately straightened his expression. "Okay. Then come back early."
Shen Mingzhu nodded slightly.
After watching Xie Lang leave, Shen Mingzhu walked forward and headed towards a small courtyard in the distance.
That small courtyard was where Shen Mingzhu used to live. But later, because it was a bit remote, she moved to the current courtyard.
When she entered the courtyard, she saw a man in a cyan robe standing in the yard. Seeing her come, he showed a gentle smile. "Your Highness, you're here."
"Yeah."
Shen Mingzhu responded, her expression calm. Looking at the man who suddenly appeared here, she said, "Why did you suddenly come here?"
Zhou Chengyu smiled, his expression a bit bitter. He wanted to explain something, but finally swallowed the words. He said to Shen Mingzhu, "Your Highness, what have you been doing recently?"
Shen Mingzhu didn't answer. She just stared at Zhou Chengyu quietly.
Seeing her resistance towards him, Zhou Chengyu's heart sank. The bitterness in his eyes deepened. "Your Highness, there's no need to be so on guard against me. I came here this time to tell you something."
Shen Mingzhu didn't say a word and continued to watch the man's actions.
Originally, she didn't plan to come here. But Zhou Chengyu came at such a coincidental time. She had new plans for tomorrow. If this man kept staring at her, it would be difficult for her to carry out her plans.
It would be better to find a way to get rid of him now, so as to avoid being constantly watched.
Thinking like this, Shen Mingzhu said, "Then what are you doing here?"
Zhou Chengyu looked at her deeply and took out a letter from his bosom. He said to Shen Mingzhu, "Your actions these days have been too obvious and have attracted a lot of attention. This letter is from Jiangzhou. I'm not sure which family it's from for the time being, but I think it's related to you, so I managed to intercept it first."
"How do you know it's related to me?"
Shen Mingzhu paused for a moment. Instead of reaching out to take the letter, she took a step back and subconsciously pursed her lips as she looked at him.
Zhou Chengyu was extremely handsome, even on a par with Xie Lang. At this moment, the sadness on his face added a touch of delicate beauty, which made Chuntao, standing beside them, sigh inwardly.
Shen Mingzhu wasn't moved by this.