"Lady benefactor, don't think you can trick me again. I'm not eating that black mud."
Little Wukong held his head high and puffed out his chest, pride filling his eyes.
Wasn't he impressive? He hadn't fallen for her trick this time!
"Fine, then. If you won't eat it, I will."
Jiang Yourning gave Jiang Wanrong another piece, then took one out for herself and popped it into her mouth.
This liquor-filled chocolate tastes pretty darn good. So fragrant, and ridiculously cheap, too.
Jiang Yourning's eyes shone with bliss.
Jiang Wanrong had initially thought it was mud as well, but after hearing her younger sister say that, she felt reassured enough to put it in her mouth.
With one bite, sweetness spread across her tongue, along with something that tasted a little like liquor, yet was richer and more fragrant than any liquor she had ever tried.
It really was delicious.
Seeing both lady benefactors eating with such blissful expressions, little Wukong began to regret his decision.
So it really was something delicious!
It was all this tasty thing's fault. Of all the colors it could have been, why did it have to look like mud?
Boohoo...
A little monk had his dignity, too. These two lady benefactors were definitely putting on those expressions to trick him!
He wouldn't fall for it!
Jiang Yourning couldn't be bothered with any of that. She waved the chocolate in her hand before little Wukong's eyes again.
"I've already tested it for poison for you. Are you sure you don't want any?"
Little Wukong immediately declared with his chest puffed out and his spirits high:
"You're the one telling me to eat it, lady benefactor. It's not because I want to."
Little Wukong took the little ball from Jiang Yourning's hand and bit into it. His face contorted the very next instant.
Beside them, Jiang Wanrong had been about to stop him, but lowered her hand after hearing Jiang Yourning's thoughts.
Kiddo, I refuse to believe you won't take the bait.
This one's wasabi-flavored. It'll send you straight to heaven in a moment.
The pungent bite made little Wukong's eyes turn red.
He wanted to spit it out, but his master had taught him that wasting food was shameful.
Little Wukong could only keep chewing and swallow it all down.
Boohoo, Master, you've really done Wukong in! Wukong got tricked again.
With tears swimming in his eyes, little Wukong wanted to look up and accuse Jiang Yourning.
But belatedly, once the pungent sting in his mouth faded, he realized it actually tasted rather nice. A little fragrant, even.
Little Wukong couldn't resist smacking his lips.
This lady benefactor hadn't really tricked him after all.
Oh, well.
He would reluctantly forgive her and take them to eat the vegetarian meal.
As they passed a row of monastic quarters, Jiang Yourning caught something out of the corner of her eye and instantly focused her attention on it.
Oh, shit, why is that damned lunatic here?!!!
The sudden outburst in Jiang Yourning's thoughts startled Jiang Wanrong.
She turned to look and spotted a somewhat familiar figure at a stone table outside one of the rooms. Her heart gave a jolt, too.
Was the world really this small? They could run into him just by coming to a temple to burn incense?
That was far too frightening.
After the three of them passed the little gate outside the monastic quarters.
Over there, Chu Haoze also looked their way. Surprise flashed through his eyes, but it was soon joined by a sinister, brooding gleam.
Those two women again.
They had coldly stood by and watched him suffer humiliation at the Cloud Fragrance House last time. He hadn't expected to encounter them again today.
And for some reason, the slightly thinner woman seemed to be inexplicably tugging at his thoughts.
All these people deserved to die!!!
Naturally, Jiang Yourning had no idea what the male lead was thinking.
She looked at the Novice Monk beside her and spoke again. "Little Wukong, when did that man arrive?"
"Do you mean the injured benefactor who came here to recuperate?" Little Wukong said slowly. "A lady benefactor a little older than you brought him here. It's been seven or eight days now."
"Then do you know just who this lady benefactor who saved him is?"
A trace of murderous intent lurked in Jiang Yourning's smile.
"No, I don't."
Without my sister to save this scumbag who relies on women to climb the ladder, another woman just fills the gap. I wonder which family's unlucky daughter is going to get tangled up with him.
You damned psycho, you've already got another woman, so don't come wreaking havoc on our Jiang Residence again.
"..."
Jiang Wanrong paused again.
But since her younger sister found this man so irritating, why couldn't she consider simply killing him?
Assassinating other princes might not be so easy, but didn't this one have hardly any power base or influence?
Not to mention that he was staying at Huayin Temple now. Wouldn't arranging a little accident be a piece of cake?
Perhaps...
She should make some plans on her younger sister's behalf?
Inside a pavilion.
Jiang Yourning and Jiang Wanrong were enthusiastically digging into their meals.
No wonder even the emperor puts away two big bowls whenever he comes here each year. It's all vegetarian, but it's so delicious!
Jiang Yourning was delighted.
Jiang Wanrong nodded unobtrusively.
The food really was quite good.
Especially when she sat with this younger sister who made everything she ate look delicious, the food seemed more than just a little tastier.
After filling their stomachs, Jiang Yourning and Jiang Wanrong followed little Wukong to a courtyard.
"Lady benefactors, please rest here for a while.
"The other benefactor has already arrived."
"All right, off you go, off you go~"
Jiang Yourning waved at little Wukong.
Little Wukong looked back three times with every step, reluctance in his eyes.
This woman was a little mean, but also a little nice.
Still, she was quite interesting.
He wondered whether she would come again, and whether she would remember him if she did.
Once there were no outsiders around.
Jiang Wanrong suddenly spoke.
"Ningning, which room would you like? I'm a little sleepy and want to rest."
"That one, then."
Jiang Yourning casually pointed at a room.
My sister really is too frail. Looks like I'll have to take her hiking more often.
"Then I'll go rest first. See you this afternoon."
With a calm, flawlessly composed smile, Jiang Wanrong headed for the room farthest from Jiang Yourning.
Jiang Yourning chuckled:
"Tsk, you really are my wonderful big sister. With you staying farther away, it'll be that much safer for me to stir up trouble later, won't it?"
Jiang Yourning turned and entered her room.
The moment Chun Tao saw Jiang Yourning return, she put on a woeful expression.
"Miss, was the scenery at Huayin Temple lovely?
"Did roses bloom in rosy rows, while gentle streams in trickles flowed?
"Did pear groves fill the air with scent, while colorful butterflies fluttered past?"
"Don't you barely know a handful of characters? Since when did you start rhyming? Speak plainly!"
Jiang Yourning rolled her eyes at Chun Tao.
"Miss, am I not good enough? Have you finally grown tired of me? Or did some little hussy out there steal your attention?
"I used to accompany you wherever you went, miss. Why do you leave me all alone in an empty room now?"
To think she had specially put on the clothes and jewelry she kept tucked away at the bottom of her trunk so she could accompany her young mistress around Huayin Temple, only for her young mistress never to have intended to take her along at all.
All her heartfelt devotion had been thrown into the water. Chun Tao felt wronged, and Chun Tao had to say so.
"Stop, stop. You're making your young mistress sound like some womanizing scoundrel.
"I don't have anyone on the side, and right now you're the only one in my boudoir.
"Don't you just want to look around Huayin Temple? It's not like I tied you up with a rope. Can't you go out and explore by yourself when I'm not here?"
Jiang Yourning rolled her eyes at Chun Tao.
Chun Tao immediately broke into a beaming smile.
"Can I really look around on my own?"
Before you continue