Chapter 211
“Why?!” Ye Mu looked at him in shock.
The Silent Master said, “Because some people are not meant to be born into this world.”
He smiled again when he said this, but Ye Mu was able to detect the sadness underneath his smile.
He tried to lead Ye Mu through the crowd, but Ye Mu stopped walking altogether.
“Is it because of the Empress Dowager?”
The Silent Master’s back was facing Ye Mu.
“The truth is, the emperor and I already knew a long time ago that the Empress Dowager would often look for you to listen to you preach about Buddha. That happened before the current emperor had returned to the palace.”
When the Silent Master heard this, he turned sideways and slowly looked at her. At that moment, he looked both noble and aloof. His blue clothes fluttered in the wind; he looked as if he was about to fly away in the next moment.
“Then why didn’t you say anything? Aren’t you afraid that I’m one of the Empress Dowager’s people? Aren’t you afraid that I will do something evil to you?”
Ye Mu shook her head, “Of course I was worried at first. But because my condition continued to deteriorate, I had to receive help from you. But you never did anything evil to me even though you had so many chances when you were treating my illness. So, the emperor and I concluded that you should be a good person.”
After he listened to her explanation, he suddenly revealed a smile. It was obvious he was trying to hold back his tears with that smile.
“Perhaps, just perhaps, I am a good person.”
“It’s getting late, let’s return.” The Silent Master started walking again when he said, “But the relationship between the Empress Dowager and I is not the kind of relationship you’re imagining.”
Ye Mu froze for a moment; she didn’t know how to respond. Soon, the Silent Master’s voice returned to his usually gentle and kind tone.
“I will help you soothe out your internal energy later, but you can’t head back to Tianshou Temple today. I forgot to tell you that all the rooms there are occupied.”
“Is the room that I usually occupy taken too?” Ye Mu looked at him with a condemning gaze.
“Yes.” The smile in the Silent Master’s eyes deepened.
Ye Mu looked up at the darkening sky and said, “If I return to the palace now, I’ll be scolded since it’s already very late. Should I squeeze into a room with you?”
The Silent Master was a monk, so Ye Mu was not afraid that he’d turn into a beast.
But the Silent Master shook his head and said, “If you squeeze into a room with me, you might die an even worse death.”
From his tone, he didn’t seem to be joking. Ye Mu shrank her neck back in fear.
By now, it was already very late into the night. The palace was already locked up for the night, so most people would never be able to enter at this time.
Ye Mu snuck into the palace. The palace guards all recognized her, so they quickly opened the door and let her through.
“Miss Ye, why did you return so late?”
One of the guards asked curiously.
Ye Mu was slightly embarrassed as she said, “There are too many worshippers at Tianshou Temple today, so there aren’t any rooms left. I had no choice but to return.”
The guards nodded his head and suddenly said, “Then you should have a good night’s rest. I heard that His Majesty lost his temper today. You should stay away from him for now.”
“Huh?” Ye Mu turned to look at the guard, “The emperor lost his temper today? Why?”
The guard stroked his head and said, “I don’t know the details, but it’s best if you stay away.”
Ye Mu nodded her head, thanked him, and then walked towards the inner palace.
She walked quickly, and in a short while, she was on the road back to where she lived. When she turned to look around, she saw that the palace where Mo Linyuan currently resided in was brightly lit. Why was he still awake at this hour?
Ye Mu temporarily forgot the advice the guard had given her because she was curious and headed toward where Mo Linyuan lived.
When she got closer, she discovered a row of people kneeling outside the palace. Wen Feng was one of the people kneeling too!
Ye Mu quickly walked to Wen Feng’s side and asked him, “What happened to you? Did you get in trouble?”
Wen Feng was surprised to see Ye Mu, “Miss, why are you back today?”