Time Travel: The Heroine Has Arrived!

Gu Shengyin finally encountered the secluded courtyard hidden amidst the bamboo forest—more precisely, it should be called a Bamboo Building.

Gu Shengyin looked around and saw no one; Ji Yu was either inside the Bamboo Building or somewhere else. Although the Emperor did not confine the movements of his eldest son, he never allowed him to take a single step outside the Qianlong Temple, which was a form of captivity in disguise.

"This young master, greetings," Gu Shengyin was caught off guard when a clear voice came from behind her.

She turned her head slightly and her eyes widened slightly the moment she saw the newcomer.

This man was truly…

Gu Shengyin didn't know how to describe him; perhaps it was because he had lived in the temple for so many years, this Crown Prince didn't seem to be a part of the mundane world at all.

Ji Yu was just a member of a religious order who practiced self-cultivation, hence he did not need to be tonsured. His long hair was tied back with a green headband, and he wore a decoration-free green robe. The material was devoid of any patterns, yet it made one feel that no jewels or fancy clothing could outshine it, more fitting for him than anything else.

He stood in front of Gu Shengyin, holding a peach blossom he had just plucked from a branch, and greeted her with a warm smile, "Young master, greetings."

Gu Shengyin vaguely remembered the story of Buddha's smile upon twirling a flower, and Ji Yu's smile hinted at an ethereal detachment from the earthly world.

Regaining her composure with a smile, she bowed slightly, "I followed my family here to the Qianlong Temple to fulfill a vow. Drawn by the beauty of the mountains, I wandered here unconsciously and feel a bit tired. May I trouble the member of a religious order for a cup of water?"

Ji Yu bore a resemblance to Ji Ye, and that was why Gu Shengyin recognized him at first glance.

Hearing Gu Shengyin's words, Ji Yu paused for a moment, then with an amused laughter, said, "Young master, please follow me."

He led Gu Shengyin towards the Bamboo Building and only upon entering did she realize that the building also had a separate courtyard with a man-made vine trellis providing shade, indeed a quite intriguing place.

By now, Hu Zhu and Lin Lang had approached Gu Shengyin.

Ji Yu invited Gu Shengyin to take a seat and then entered the building.

When he emerged, he was carrying a pot of tea in his hand.

Gu Shengyin thanked him and took it from his hand.

"Miss!" Hu Zhu whispered a reminder that she should not consume this unidentified substance so carelessly.

Gu Shengyin smiled unconcernedly and took a sip from the teacup.

"Oh?" Gu Shengyin exclaimed, "Excellent tea!"

Ji Yu gave a modest smile, "It is but a minor skill, unworthy of the young master's praise."

Gu Shengyin thought, how else could I continue this conversation with you?

Thus, using tea as a starting point, Gu Shengyin began to chat with Ji Yu.

Unexpectedly, the two of them hit it off quite well. Initially, Gu Shengyin approached Ji Yu with a motive in mind, but as they conversed, she discovered that Ji Yu shared many similar perspectives on various matters, much to her astonishment.

Before they knew it, they had spoken for quite a significant span of a Shichen.

When they took a break, Hu Zhu quietly reminded Gu Shengyin that it was time to leave. Gu Shengyin's eyes sparkled with reluctance as she gazed at Ji Yu, "It's rare to find a kindred spirit in life, meeting the member of a religious order today truly is a blessing of my lifetime."

Ji Yu, too, seemed quite elevated but simply said to her, "This Bamboo Building is remote, shall I escort you out?"

Gu Shengyin and her servants followed Ji Yu on the path they had come. As they passed through a dense part of the forest, they suddenly heard a series of strange sounds.

The sounds were intermittent, occasionally mixed with faint moans, causing Hu Zhu and Lin Lang to blush on the spot.