Memories of the past welled up in her mind. Seeing Jinxuan again felt like an eternity had passed.
Seeing her being so straightforward, Wei Dongling sighed silently to herself. What could she do? She was also helpless!
"Dongling," Qi Jinxuan grabbed Wei Dongling's hand. Her eyes glistened faintly, as clear and charming as they were when she was eight. She parted her red lips and said softly, "We've been sisters for so long. Please do me this last favor."
Looking at Qi Jinxuan's plumper hands, Wei Dongling lowered her eyes and asked, "What do you want me to do?"
Qi Jinxuan said in a soft voice, "I heard that the County Mistress of Rong'an asked the Empress Dowager to issue an imperial decree, and the Yu family has broken off the engagement with you."
Wei Dongling nodded but didn't say a word.
Qi Jinxuan continued, "Young Master Yu is not a good match for you anyway. I won't be at ease if you marry into his family. It's better that the engagement is broken off."
Wei Dongling was a bit stunned. She didn't quite understand what Qi Jinxuan meant.
Qi Jinxuan waved her hand to let Lvkou retreat. Then she said to Wei Dongling seriously, "Prince Yun intends to become a monk. I want you to go and dissuade him, by any means necessary."
By any means? Wei Dongling mocked herself, "How can I persuade him?"
Qi Jinxuan's beautiful eyes flitted. She said in a deep voice, "Prince Yun has feelings for you. After I marry him, I will also agree to him taking you as a concubine. It's not a bad idea for us sisters to serve the same husband. Dongling, I need you to dissuade him. I can't live without him!"
Qi Jinxuan actually proposed that they serve the same husband? Wei Dongling suddenly thought that her best friend of eight years was extremely naive. Instead of getting angry, she smiled and raised her eyebrows. "Have you ever asked for my opinion?"
Qi Jinxuan asked in surprise, "It would be great if we could marry into the prince's mansion together to serve Prince Yun. We sisters could still be as close as before. Besides, it's a great honor for you to become a concubine in the prince's mansion. Don't you want to?"
Wei Dongling sneered and retorted, "I don't have any feelings for him. Why should I be willing?"
Qi Jinxuan was silent for a moment. Her tone softened. She said softly, "Are you still angry with me because of the cruel words I said to you in the past? Dongling, can I apologize to you?"
It was she who said they would break off their friendship back then! And now it was also she who said such a light apology!
Wei Dongling suddenly thought it was extremely ridiculous. She gently put the teacup back on the table. Lowering her eyes, she said, "I can't remember anything about the past. I can't agree to you today. Not for any other reason, but because I'm not willing to serve the same husband with another woman in my life, no matter what my status is. That's all. If I have to, I'd rather be alone for the rest of my life."
Qi Jinxuan stared at her blankly. Suddenly, she felt that after all these years of being best friends, she had never really understood Wei Dongling's heart.
Looking at the familiar face in front of her, Wei Dongling sighed softly. "I came to Lanshan Temple today to dissuade Prince Yun. But whether he will listen to me is another matter. I will do my best. Please take care, Miss Qi!" With that, she got up, saluted, and left.
From now on, let's just drift apart in the mortal world.
Outside the door, beside the corridor, Lvkou saw Wei Dongling coming out. Her eyes were smiling. She rushed forward and grabbed her hand. She exclaimed happily, "Stewardess, no, Miss Wei! I haven't seen you for a long time!"
Wei Dongling pinched Lvkou's tender little face and said with a smile, "I miss you so much too! How have you been recently?"
Lvkou nodded and said with a smile, "Everyone is fine. The general returned to the mansion some time ago and gave us a lot of rewards!"
Wei Dongling looked at the happy Lvkou with a gentle smile on her face. Her heart was filled with tenderness.
Lvkou wanted to say something more to Wei Dongling when she heard Qi Jinxuan's soft cough from the meditation room. Lvkou immediately paused. She lowered her head, saluted, and was about to leave.
Wei Dongling grabbed her hand and put a gold ring into Lvkou's palm. This was the meeting gift that Lin Baiwan casually took off from his finger and gave to Wei Dongling when they first met.
Wei Dongling closed Lvkou's small hand and tidied up the loose hair on her temples. She said in a low voice, "I don't know when I'll see you next time. Keep this as a souvenir."
Lvkou couldn't refuse, so she curtsied and thanked softly.
Wei Dongling turned around and strode away.
Pinhao knocked on the door for a long time, but Shangguan Yun didn't answer. Wei Dongling waved her hand at him and pushed the door open and walked in on her own.
In the wing room, Shangguan Yun in a blue robe ignored the knocking on the door. He was bending over the desk and painting. When he suddenly realized someone had come in, he raised his eyes unhappily. When he saw who it was, he lowered his eyes and sighed, "It's you?" With that, he quickly tried to put away the painting on the table.
Wei Dongling glanced at the painting on the table. The person in the painting playing the zither in a wild and unrestrained manner looked very familiar. Seeing this, she stood still on the spot and didn't know what to say.
Looking at the cold vegetarian meal on the table, Wei Dongling sighed. She stepped forward, picked up the vegetarian meal, and said, "Don't be angry with your own body. You still have to eat!"
Shangguan Yun stared at her with his handsome eyes. He nodded and said with a soft smile, "Actually, it's not what you think. I just don't want others to decide my marriage."
He must be afraid that she would blame herself for explaining like this.
Wei Dongling sighed silently in her heart. She grabbed Shangguan Yun's sleeve and pulled him to sit down at the table to eat. She served the dishes for him personally. She filled a bowl with tofu, potatoes, and green vegetables for him. Then she sat opposite him with a smiling face and didn't say a word.
Shangguan Yun felt a bit embarrassed under her gaze. He had to pick up the chopsticks silently and slowly put the dishes into his mouth.
Wei Dongling stared at his elegant way of eating and lowered her eyes. "I can actually understand you. Since ancient times, marriage has followed the orders of parents and the words of matchmakers. How many people can choose their own partners? Those in the royal family are even more helpless. Many princes and princesses are forced into marriages to become sacrifices for the country."
Hearing her say this, Shangguan Yun slowly put down his chopsticks. Wei Dongling took the chopsticks, picked up a piece of tofu, and put it into his bowl. Raising her eyebrows, she asked, "What? Do you want me to feed you?"
Shangguan Yun suddenly remembered that when they were at Grandpa Liu's house in Nanfengling, Wei Dongling had a serious injury on her back. He had also picked up the dishes and fed her bite by bite like today. Remembering the past, Shangguan Yun's eyes were smiling. He slightly opened his lips, indicating that he wanted Wei Dongling to feed him.
Wei Dongling rolled her eyes and sneered, "You wish! You're such an adult! Eat by yourself!" With that, she handed the chopsticks over.
Shangguan Yun sighed helplessly and took the chopsticks to continue eating.
Wei Dongling said again, "It's a pity for such a handsome man like you to stay in Lanshan Temple and ring the bell and worship the Buddha every day. If the thousands of young girls in the capital know about it, they will probably cry their eyes out."
Shangguan Yun's voice was hoarse. He asked, "What about you? Will you cry for me?"
Wei Dongling hesitated for a moment and replied, "I will feel sad for you, but I won't cry. I'm sad because we're friends. I know this is not your wish, and I also know that you won't be happy even if you stay here. But I'm helpless. I won't cry because this is your choice, and I can only respect your choice."