Chapter 814: Each with Their Own Thoughts
Lin Shishi was certain that Yun Jiao was still near the Zhaoti Temple; it was just that she had found some way to conceal herself. Clearly, she had asked Lin to pass a message to Jiang Youzhi to meet her outside the temple.
However, Yang Ying was convinced that Yun Jiao had returned to Great Chu. She told Lin to live well, saying she would send someone to come for her, which certainly meant taking her back to Great Chu—not to the heavens!
Lin Shishi lowered her eyes and spoke softly, "Fairies surely exist."
"Isn’t there a fairy in the ’Journey to the West’ that Miss Gu mentioned?"
"Stories like ’Journey to the West,’ who had heard of them before, and who could have imagined such tales? How do we know if they aren’t based on Miss Gu’s own experiences?"
Wanyan Zhang murmured, "Is it so?"
He waved his hand, "You all leave, let me be alone."
Lin Shishi and Yang Ying quietly stepped out, closing the door behind them.
Wanyan Zhang sat by the edge of the bed, staring absently at the pouch in his hand.
It’s uncertain how long had passed before he, clutching the pouch, slowly lay down on the bed.
The pillow retained her scent, along with a faint aroma of milk.
Not long after, Lin Shishi slightly opened the door to peek inside. Seeing Wanyan Zhang lying on the bed, seemingly asleep, she quickly instructed someone to bring in a brazier.
Then she carefully covered Wanyan Zhang with a blanket.
In fact, Wanyan Zhang was not asleep; he held the pouch tightly, closed his eyes, and did not want to open them.
This night, more than just Wanyan Zhang lay unsleeping in anticipation.
In a house within Huining City, Jiang Youzhi sat under the light, absorbed in thought.
Two days ago, he already heard that soldiers had surrounded the Zhaoti Temple, forbidding entry or exit. He instantly realized Jiao Jiao was going to the temple to pray.
Early today, he followed the Prince Mansion’s convoy far out of town. Passing by the Zhaoti Temple, he noticed the tight security but didn’t stop, riding the horse straight on.
By afternoon, he turned back toward the city, passing the temple again.
He found soldiers searching for something around the temple vicinity.
As he rode by, he overheard a soldier muttering, "It’s clearly impossible to find; isn’t this just a waste of time?"
That was the only sentence Jiang Youzhi heard; he dared not ask and rode back to the city.
That evening, someone returned with news: The Second Crown Prince had accompanied a lady from the mansion to Zhaoti Temple to fulfill a vow.
Unexpectedly, right at the temple entrance, before hundreds of eyes, the lady vanished.
The Second Crown Prince dug three feet into the ground but found nothing.
Reportedly, the lady was as beautiful as a celestial being. Now, rumors have arisen in the city, claiming that she was indeed a fairy who merely returned to the Heavenly Court.
Jiang Youzhi did not witness Yun Jiao’s disappearance firsthand.
However, she had sent word asking for him to wait outside the temple, implying she was still there.
All he could do now was to return near the temple three days later, hoping to meet Yun Jiao.
Currently, Yun Jiao and You Er were lying in the herb warehouse.
The herb warehouse was still packed with items from the Duke Mansion’s storage. In recent days, she had spent some time every night organizing things to create a small empty space.
On the empty ground, she laid down two layers of mats and three mattresses.
This was her and You Er’s bed.
On the counter beside them were the food items Yun Jiao had secretly brought in over the past few days.
There was a whole chicken, a whole duck, various pastries, and boiled eggs.
She had no idea how long they would have to stay in the warehouse.
Fortunately, the warehouse had a restroom; by turning the tap, water flowed continuously.
This solved their eating and drinking needs, and washing You Er’s diapers was convenient too.