When Shen Zhang took the lover's knot, his expression immediately turned solemn. He tucked up his robe and knelt on one knee. "I don't know your surname or where your home is. Since we're so fated today and I, Shen Zhang, have accepted this lover's knot, I'll surely go to your home to propose marriage. I can't let you down."
Princess Luoyao never expected happiness to come so quickly and suddenly. Although she liked Shen Zhang, she wasn't sure if he wanted to marry her because he liked her or just because of this mysterious lover's knot. And then there was her identity as a princess...
For a moment, Princess Luoyao looked worried. Shen Zhang's heart sank. He silently blamed himself for being too impulsive.
He got up awkwardly, wearing a gentle smile on his face. "Sorry, miss. I was too abrupt. How could I make a hasty decision about marriage just because of a lover's knot? Maybe you don't even take a fancy to me, Shen..."
Although his smile was still gentle, it was like the sun half - hidden behind the clouds, always carrying a touch of desolation.
Princess Luoyao naturally knew that Shen Zhang had misunderstood. She quickly waved her hand. "No... it's not like that. How could I not like you, Brother Shen? It's just..."
Even the way she addressed him had changed. Shen Zhang was immediately overjoyed. He looked at Princess Luoyao with eager eyes. "Then I'll come to propose marriage some other day. Don't worry. My family is the Shen family. Our family background is decent. And after we get married, I'll surely treat you well."
These were not what Princess Luoyao was worried about. She trusted Shen Zhang's character. It was just that... as a royal princess, she might not be able to decide on marriage by herself.
She thought of her mother. Maybe she could go and plead with her mother, but the chance was still slim...
She tightly held the lover's knot in her hand and looked at Shen Zhang sincerely. "Brother Shen, please wait for me for some time. There are some things I can't say now. After I solve them, I'll surely give you an answer!"
Shen Zhang naturally could tell that Princess Luoyao was not an ordinary girl. She probably really had some hard - to - tell secrets. In matters of marriage, since ancient times, it had been subject to the orders of parents and the words of matchmakers. It was hard for him to control as well, so he understood.
So he nodded. "Okay. Let this lover's knot be our token of love. I believe I'll wait until the day when you solve everything and marry me."
While the two of them were making solemn vows here, the young monk over there remained expressionless. He had long seen through the mortal world. The love affairs of the world had nothing to do with him, or maybe...
The young monk pointed forward. "There are side rooms over there. If you're tired, you can take a rest. Or you can just leave the temple. No one will stop you."
But Princess Luoyao was worried about Shen Zhang's injury. So she asked anxiously, "Is there a doctor in the temple? We got a little injured in the love maze just now."
The young monk showed no surprise at all. It seemed that he knew the love maze was full of traps. It was not uncommon for people coming out of it to be injured.
He just glanced slightly at Shen Zhang's injury. "There's no doctor in the temple, but we all know some basic medical skills. You can help this man inside first, and then go find our abbot. He'll arrange someone for you."
The young monk didn't help because he had to watch the people coming out of the maze and couldn't spare the time for the moment. Princess Luoyao was not a unreasonable person, so she naturally understood.
So she was about to help Shen Zhang towards the side room. But Shen Zhang sat down on a big rock on his own. "You go and rest first. I still have to wait for someone. I came with my younger sister, but she got lost in the maze. I'll rest for a while and then go in to find her."
Princess Luoyao looked incredulous. She stubbornly pulled Shen Zhang. "You're so badly injured and you still want to go in to find someone. Can you go with me to treat your injury first? I'll send someone to look for her."
The two of them were at a standstill. It seemed that neither of them was willing to give in. The young monk also thought the situation was a bit tricky, but he thought life was at stake.
He comforted Shen Zhang, "Sir, please rest assured. There are no particularly fatal traps in this maze. If a person can't find the way out, we'll send someone in to bring her out."
Princess Luoyao nodded beside them impatiently. She wished she could drag Shen Zhang away for treatment right away. Shen Zhang had a strong sense of responsibility and was still worried about his younger sister's situation.
He stubbornly sat on the rock. "Then I'll wait here. After all, she's my own younger sister. I won't be at ease until I see with my own eyes that she's okay."
Wasn't Shen Zhang's sense of responsibility one of the things Princess Luoyao liked about him? At this moment, Princess Luoyao was both angry and in love with Shen Zhang. There was nothing she could do but accompany him here and wait.
The young monk just took a brief look at Shen Zhang's injury. He took out a porcelain bottle from his bosom and slowly sprinkled some powder on Shen Zhang's bare back.
"I can only apply the medicine to these parts for now. I don't know if the skin and flesh on other parts are stuck to the clothes, so I'll apply the medicine to those parts in the side room later."
Saying that, the young monk gave Shen Zhang a pill. Immediately, Shen Zhang felt much more relaxed. Even the pain in the wound area was not so intense.
Even Princess Luoyao was a bit surprised. As a princess of a country, she rarely saw such miraculous medicine.
Looking at their shining eyes, the young monk remained calm. "This is the medicine refined by the abbot, specifically for injuries like yours from a fall. Besides, your injury is not particularly serious, so it has a miraculous effect."
While the three of them were discussing the injury, Xuan Yuanjue and Shen Li were still trapped in the maze.
Shen Li pounded on Xuan Yuanjue's chest. "Put me down! You lecher. I'm not engaged yet. What you're doing is a bit too much."
Although Xuan Yuanjue gently put Shen Li down, he laughed cynically. "What are you afraid of? If you can't get married, I'll reluctantly marry you."
Shen Li regarded these words as a joke and ignored them. She started to explore the inside of the maze. Looking up, she could see the bright moon.
She smiled. "Why is this maze open - air? Wouldn't it allow people to use light - body skills to cheat and fly out?"
Xuan Yuanjue also found it strange. Logically, this maze should be very difficult and few people could get out. There were many strange and mysterious formations inside.
He threw a pebble upwards. The pebble went up smoothly. But although the maze was open - air, it was as if there was a roof. The pebble was actually bounced back. And the direction of the bounce was towards Shen Li!
Xuan Yuanjue quickly rushed forward in one stride, pulled Shen Li into his arms to protect her, and took her to one side.
Seeing the falling pebble, Shen Li frowned. "It seems this maze has a lot of strange things. You're right. We have to be careful."
Although Xuan Yuanjue was reluctant to let go of the fragrance on Shen Li's body, he quickly released her. He nodded. "You know martial arts yourself, so be careful. Don't always make me..."