Section Three.

He leisurely said: "I have no home or family, so why build a mansion? Isn't it better to stay away from the hustle and bustle in the temple? Why bother to mingle with those worldly people!"

He turned his head to the east and said, "The sun is neither painful nor itchy, and there is no warmth even when basking in it. I came to see someone off." He looked down at her and his lips curled up. "It's good that you didn't leave."

If the national teacher seen before was as light as a gentle breeze, then now he is as gorgeous as a peony. The ceremonial robes of the Dalai Dynasty are the most luxurious among all dynasties, and the higher the rank, the more intricate they are. The crimson color is usually used by the royal family, and the outer layer of the ceremonial robes is made of plain silk. The delicate embroidery on the silk reveals a subtle beauty, which is even more stunning when seen through a layer.

She suddenly felt a bit scared, not knowing where things went wrong, and went straight ahead in a direction she couldn't understand without looking back. She quickly waved her hand and said, "Excuse me, I'm not asking for myself, but for the Guizi girl who just left. Her name is Zhuanzhuan. She is beautiful and gentle. If you are interested, I can arrange a meeting for you."

He half raised his head, let out a long sigh, and stopped speaking. Leading the way ahead, he walked through the flowers and brushed against the willows.

She touched her forehead and felt that she might have been overthinking. Let's stop here with this matter, forget about that night, maybe it was just a dream.

She said: "Apu taught me some things, and I already had a foundation myself, so I learned quickly."

However, entrusted by others, she is determined to fulfill the entrusted task, so she is very willing to talk to him.

The lotus lamp didn't react much to his cryptic tone, and he just said, "Thank you for the goodwill of the divine envoy. I still have some matters to trouble the National Teacher with, so I need to stay here for two more days." The sky street outside the divine palace was deep and remote, with only a few tall and straight trees standing, without much shelter. The wind blew and made people shiver. She pointed to the palace gate and asked, "It's so cold here. Would the divine envoy like to go in?"

She casually agreed and thought for a moment, saying, "There's no need for formalities, you can call me Lian Deng from now on!" After speaking, she blinked her big eyes and looked at him. In Central Plains, people value reciprocity. Since she introduced herself first, shouldn't he also show some gesture in return?

He stopped, turned around, and looked back at her, with a half-smile, saying, "I'm doing well because I haven't encountered any setbacks so far."

Just because our names sound similar, do we have to be grouped together? Lian Deng never thought about having any connection with him and said indifferently, "Don't overthink it, Chun Guan. A Pu has no such intention. Besides, I don't need anyone to take care of me. I can live well on my own."

His expression seemed content yet melancholic, as he touched his beard while shaking his head. "Not at all casual. In my opinion, Wang Lang seems to have entrusted you to me. Since even our names are connected, I will have to take care of you more in the future."

He seems unafraid of the cold, the fabric of his robe is thin and drapes, stretching the silhouette elegantly. The lapel is casually fastened, exposing his neck to the cold wind without changing his expression. While others are enduring the cold winter, his attire seems more suitable for summer. Just by looking at him, Lian Deng feels cold, but he doesn't mind. With his hands behind his back, he says, "Shenhe's original terrain is high, and the winds converge here. Wait until tomorrow, the wind will be calmer." It seems that he just noticed her words, then pointed and said, "Let's go inside, since we have nothing to do, I'll take you for a walk in the garden."

In addition to Chang'an, there are many beautiful places in the Central Plains. If the lady is interested, she can travel around.

Lotus Lamp said: "It's already the sixteenth day of the Lunar New Year." He looked at him with confusion and said, "Spring Official, please don't misunderstand. I am inquiring on behalf of someone else."

Lotus Lamp saw that the wide sleeves of the other party were wet, feeling somewhat guilty, took a step back and cupped his hands, saying, "I'm sorry, I acted without thinking. It was my recklessness."

He paused for a moment, then said seriously, "People say that the national teacher is a fairy, and he does have extraordinary abilities. If that can be called a fairy, then he is one!"

He blinked his eyes, "I was taken in by the national teacher when I was young, and it has been twenty-three years since then."

Not only is it a joke, but there may also be a risk to one's life. He laughed loudly and assumed the posture of an informant, whispering in a low voice, "It's fine to ask about the age of the National Teacher with me, but you must never mention it in front of him. He usually has a very good temper, but if he gets annoyed, things will not end well."

However, she miscalculated. Passing through a gate with a layout similar to the Bagua, the scenery inside was completely different from what she had expected. The snow here seemed to melt faster than outside. Just now, when she sent away Tannu and Zhuanzhuan and the books, the area around Shenhe Yuan was still covered in ice and snow. But when she arrived here, the snow melted at a visible speed. She fixed her gaze on a mountain rock. The area covered by snow on the surface of the rock gradually became smaller and smaller, slowly contracting from the size of a bowl or a cup to a white dot, and then disappeared completely.

The lotus lamp breathed a sigh of relief, and now all the problems of the turnaround have been thoroughly investigated. As for matchmaking, there is no need to rush for the time being. Wait until we are more familiar with each other, or perhaps entrust it to Lu Changshi.

So he is called Fangzhou? It really has a similar meaning. Lian Deng smiled and said, "Apu is a casual name, as if it comes from the "Taisho Tripitaka". I didn't expect it to match the name of Chun Guan, which is quite a coincidence."

放舟道 : "They have been staying at the Taishi Bureau these days, and they also have a place to stay in Chang'an City, temporarily not returning to the Temple of the Divine Spirits."

She reached out to touch it, and the surface of the stone was icy cold. She looked at him in surprise, and he smiled gracefully, "The flowers, plants, and trees in the temple are all treasures of the national teacher. What if they freeze? No need for further explanation, she clasped her hands together and continued forward.

The skills of the Spring Official should be very impressive. It was also expected that she would fight back. With sharp eyes and quick hands, he grabbed her wrist. He pulled up his sleeve to show her and helplessly said, "I am only shielding you from the falling snow. Madam, you are an honored guest, and no one in the divine palace would harm you. You can rest assured."

What about Chun Guan? Has he also built a mansion in Chang'an?

Lotus lamps were carried while mounting the horse. The lamps were gently pressed on her shoulder as she turned the horse's head and rode alongside Tan Nu. All that needed to be said had been said at home, and it was not appropriate to speak further in public. They waved goodbye and rode their horses towards the exit of Shenhe Yuan.

The lotus lamp was horrified, and my scalp was tingling. Before I could ask for an explanation, I saw him suddenly turn his gaze and the smile on his face disappeared. She didn't understand, turned her head and saw a group of people walking on the nearby corridor. The leader was wearing a crimson robe with large sleeves, a long skirt, and a jingling belt around his waist, all dressed up in a grand manner.

They went to the city to find someone. I'll take a step first and meet them in a few days. She smiled slightly and said, "Did God give you leisure today to come out and sunbathe?"

She felt curious, "How many years has Chun Guan been in the Temple of the Gods?"

He smiled generously, "It's a good thing to stay vigilant. There's no need to worry inside the palace, but it's different outside in the future... Is Madam's martial arts taught by Professor Wang Apo? To have such a foundation in just two years is remarkable."

Did they abandon you and leave?

Actually, Lotus Lamp just wanted to go back and hold the fire basin, but since he had already said it, he couldn't refuse and nodded in agreement. However, he was muttering in his heart that the snow had just stopped not long ago, and the rocks and trees in the garden were not clearly visible, so he didn't know what there was to see. But since the other person was interested, he had no choice but to accompany him even if it meant risking his life.

He didn't say why it was not good, but Lian Deng saw something from his suddenly dim eyes, which made his heart flustered.

She walked with a lingering pace, pondering as she went, seemingly able to approach the topic indirectly. She said, "I just arrived in Chang'an and I'm unfamiliar with everything. I stayed in the temple for two days and only got to know Lu Changshi and you. I heard that there are five Lingtai officials, but I haven't seen the other four. Are they not in the temple?"

The lotus lamp is stuck, and she always doesn't know how to deal with inexplicable advances. What she is considering now is to entrust the matchmaker. She has found out the name and knows that the person is over 23 years old and seems to have not yet reached the age of 30. What else? It seems that only his marital status is left. It's not easy to bring up this topic. How should she ask? Should she directly ask if the divine envoy has been engaged? Although she grew up in the Western Regions, she is also shy about such questions.

Someone suddenly spoke behind her, and Lian Deng turned around to see the enchanting Chun Guan.

The Dali dynasty was a relatively open era, and women had a certain degree of say in marriage. If a woman is interested in a particular man, it is common for the woman's family to send a matchmaker to propose marriage. Therefore, in Lian Deng's view, as long as everything is clearly communicated, there shouldn't be any major issues. However, the Chun Guan immediately murmured to himself, "Boat, Lian Deng..." and then smiled shyly, with a rather coquettish expression.

As the chief steward in the palace, the Changshi is well-versed in social etiquette. He offered horses and even money and silk as gifts, but was politely declined by Tannu. "We are grateful for your hospitality these past few days. However, we cannot accept the money. We will only borrow two horses from the Changshi and will definitely return them next time."

Speaking of the National Teacher, he is indeed like a mystery. When he talks to you, he is not unapproachable and superior, but there is an invisible gap between you that cannot be bridged. You can only look up to him from afar across the river.

This answer is ambiguous, it's the same as not answering at all. Lian Deng was a little disappointed, but he remained calm and said, "No wonder Chun Guan warned me that it's taboo to talk about the age of the national teacher in the palace. Now I understand. Thanks to Chun Guan's warning, otherwise it would have been a big joke."

Chunguan began to explain in great detail the origins of every plant and tree. This is a unique stone from Mount Tai, and that is a product of West Lake. Everything was described vividly and with great enthusiasm.

It may not be accurate to say that he is enchanting. There is nothing feminine about his speech and appearance, but he gives Lian Deng that kind of feeling. She is a straightforward person and does not understand his many roundabout and tactful ways. For example, when he looks at people, he does not stare directly or squint slightly, nor does he hold people in his gaze or hesitate for a moment. He doesn't have those coquettish eyes. In short, it's quite strange. The first impression of a person can last a lifetime. In any case, this Chun Guan has left a distinct mark on her. When he suddenly proclaimed his intention to marry her, it truly surprised her. It's not that he is not good, but he is difficult to figure out. It takes a lot of effort to understand the intricate heart of a beloved with a clever mind.

The lotus lamp followed behind him, and his hands involuntarily clenched. She still remembered that night when the flute player chased into the Linlang realm, suspended above her, only a foot away at that time, she could smell the ink scent on him. But just now, when Chun Guan suddenly raised his hand, the scent from his sleeve wafted in the wind, strangely similar to that flute player. She may not pay much attention to people's appearance, but she has a keen sense of smell. Just like the air before a sandstorm, similar to sulfur, or the scent of soap nuts carried by sand dunes before rain, once remembered, it cannot be forgotten for a lifetime.

He ignored the latter half of her sentence and sighed, "Sixteen years old, it's the age of blooming flowers."

Lotus lanterns escorted them out. Lu Qing had prepared two good horses at the gate early on, and when the young ladies led them over, their manes fluttered in the wind, and their hooves, newly shod, clattered on the green bricks.

Boatman had no intention of letting her off so easily, with arms crossed, head slightly tilted, and a sidelong glance, "Are you very curious about me? They say people from the Western Regions are bold and unrestrained. You grew up in the Western Regions, why didn't you learn their essence? Just say what you want to say, why beat around the bush!"

The sky is clear and the sunshine after the snow is not warm enough, but it still feels comforting on the body. Lian Deng tucked her sleeves and watched them gradually walk away. A gust of wind blew over, scattering the accumulated snow on the branches with a rustling sound.

He turned his head and asked, "Was this name given to you by Wang Apu? The lotus lamp is placed opposite the boat, and we have finally arrived home by fate."

His expression became elusive after hearing it, and there was a hidden meaning in his smile. He scratched his head with one finger and said in a drawn-out tone, "This question really leaves me at a loss... Madam has been away from the Central Plains for a long time and does not understand the customs of the Central Plains. Generally, when it comes to marriage, there is usually a willingness to form a marital relationship through kinship." He asked her in a gentle voice, "Madam, how old are you this year?"

Perhaps she overreacted. Chun Guan seemed pleased with her reaction and comforted her, saying, "Don't be afraid. I only said that for your own good. Actually, I don't know the age of the National Teacher, nor have I ever thought of asking. You should just treat him as a deity. After all, the age of deities is always a mystery!"

If disguising oneself is not difficult for them, she begins to suspect whether the person that night could be him. However, the national teacher is not an ordinary person after all. I'm afraid he may not have the courage to impersonate him.

Lotus Lamp thought she had been very tactful, but she didn't expect him to see through her. She touched the back of her head and said awkwardly, "Since the Divine Messenger is so generous, I won't be polite... May I ask if the Divine Messenger has ever been engaged or if there is a lady he fancies?"

Lou Qing smiled and did not force it. People who understand the principles do not make others dislike them. Their future is uncertain, so they should try to avoid getting involved as much as possible. Especially when it comes to money, if something bad happens in the future, talking about how much money was given and how much assistance was provided will not benefit the Tai Shang Shen Gong.

The lotus lamp listened to his admonition and nodded. After walking a little further, most of its leaves lost their silver coating, and the snow melted into water, dripping continuously from the branches. Suddenly, he approached her, spreading his wide sleeves and covering her underneath. The lotus lamp was not a delicate young lady. Once feeling danger, all its actions were reflexive. She didn't know what he was going to do. He approached swiftly, leaving no time for her to think, so she immediately struck out with a palm.

Twenty-three years old, still taken in by the national teacher... The lotus lamp flickered and said, "I saw the national teacher yesterday. The national teacher is younger than I imagined... I traveled from Dunhuang to Chang'an, a journey of four months, and heard many rumors about the national teacher along the way. So when I saw the true face of the national teacher for the first time, I thought I had mistaken the person." She stopped and hesitated, asking him, "Chun Guan, is the national teacher a fairy?"