A Quiet Homecoming

Madam Xie had certainly met Chen Yao before, but she seemed to have forgotten just how stunning the eldest miss of the Hou residence truly was.

"Miss Jiang is indeed exceptionally beautiful—one look at her and you can't help but adore her," she said with a warm smile.

Hearing someone praise her daughter, Lady Pingyuan was naturally delighted, especially since Madam Xie, as the future mother-in-law, seemed satisfied. That put her heart at ease considerably.

Still, she waved a hand in modest denial. "Madam Xie flatters her."

Chen Yao remained silent.

"If Madam Xie knew what I'm really like, she wouldn't say that," Chen Yao sighed dramatically in her mind.

Her tone was cheeky, carrying a hint of guilt for disappointing the mother of the male lead, who was clearly a fan of pretty faces.

System 04 had long grown immune to its host's narcissism. It replied coolly, "Well then, why not just marry the male lead properly and stop causing trouble?"

Chen Yao: "Politely decline."

She was just a vicious supporting female character who obediently followed the plotline. She absolutely refused to use her brain, so if something went wrong later, she wouldn't have to take the blame.

System 04: What a slacker host. It knew it all along!

After the compliments came to an end, they all sat down to a vegetarian meal.

Honestly, ancient cuisine rarely suited Chen Yao's palate, and the temple's pure vegetarian fare was even harder to stomach.

Everything was just greens and radishes—a bland medley that was practically begging for a cornbread to go with it.

And sure enough, she soon spotted a little novice monk bringing out a bowl of cornbread—pale yellow, studded with bits of bran.

Chen Yao: "…"

"Wah, System, I can't live like this," she wailed inwardly.

System 04 clicked its tongue in disappointment. "Look at the female lead—she's eating it without batting an eye. Only you're so picky."

Chen Yao was unabashed. "Vicious supporting characters are supposed to be picky."

That said, she still had to grit her teeth and eat. She lightly picked up a piece of greens with her bamboo chopsticks and brought it to her mouth, chewing slowly and in small bites.

In the end, she barely managed half a meal…

Chen Yao decided that once she returned to her room, she'd have Chuntao fetch some pastries and fruit to make up for it.

But clearly, Lady Pingyuan wasn't about to let her off so easily.

After the meal, as she chatted with Madam Xie, she subtly—no, practically explicitly—mentioned the Guanyin Hall at Yunfu Temple.

"I hear there's a hibiscus tree in the side courtyard. The love divination slips there are said to be the most accurate," Lady Hou said, looking at her daughter with a smile.

The hibiscus tree—the symbol of union and affection. Those in the know would understand.

Chen Yao nodded wearily. "Yes, Mother."

Jiang Lingxuan, who had known from the start that she was just background scenery today, also gave a gentle response.

Of course, she wouldn't actually go, and even if she wanted to draw a love slip, now wasn't the time.

Chen Yao returned to her room in the guest courtyard first.

She estimated she'd have to go perform before the male lead in the afternoon, so she needed to fill her stomach first.

Otherwise, if her stomach suddenly started growling mid-scene, that wouldn't just be willful—it would be utterly mortifying.

*

In the Guanyin Hall.

Incense smoke curled upward, and at the center stood a towering golden statue of Guanyin, seated on a lotus pedestal, holding a jade vase. Her eyes were lowered, her face exuding the compassion of one overlooking the mortal world.

Chen Yao lowered her eyelids, knelt on the cushion before her, and pressed her palms together before bowing lightly.

Although her mind was completely blank and she had nothing to pray for, at least her attitude was devout enough.

Following the principle of "you're already here," she ended up drawing a divination slip like everyone else.

Looking at the wooden slip engraved with "Forty-Sixth Sign," Chen Yao blinked. She couldn't tell whether it was good or bad.

"Let's go," she said, rising with Chuntao's help. After smoothing her skirt, she walked toward the exit of the hall.

The place for interpreting the slips was naturally by the hibiscus tree in the side courtyard. Pilgrims praying for blessings or love could also tie a red ribbon onto that matchmaking tree for good luck.

And then, unsurprisingly, under that towering hibiscus tree that seemed to stretch like a sea of clouds, Chen Yao saw a noble young man standing gracefully in the wind, as upright as a bamboo.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, falling upon the man's face, making him appear even more handsome, as if he were a celestial being.

Chen Yao blinked.

Then she composed her expression into a stern mask and reluctantly walked over.

"Young Master Xie." She gave a slight bow.

But in her mind, she couldn't help complaining, "The male lead's surname really gives him an unfair advantage—it sounds like 'thank you' all the time."

System 04 was quick. "I'll hook you up with one next time."

"Hehe, you're the best."

Chen Yao pursed her lips. She wasn't stupid; by now she obviously knew that the person she'd offended this morning was the young master of the Xie family—and her nominal fiancé.

She could only say she was glad she wasn't planning to actually marry him.

Xie Qingyan's attitude remained gentle. "Miss Jiang."

Chen Yao studied his expression carefully. He didn't seem to have taken this morning's incident to heart.

After exchanging greetings, her demeanor visibly relaxed.

Then she brushed past him and approached the monk seated at a table beneath the tree, lifting her chin slightly to signal Chuntao to hand him the wooden slip she'd drawn.

"This benefactor, are you here for love divination?" the monk asked gently, his brows kind and his face benevolent.

"Whatever—I just drew it for fun," Chen Yao said.

With a nod, the monk slowly opened the thick book beside him, searching for the corresponding verse that matched the number on the slip.

"It's a highly auspicious sign," the monk said with a smile. "The verse reads: 'Guan guan cry the ospreys, on the islet in the river…'"

Okay, stop reading. She already knew that one.

Chen Yao hadn't paid much attention to his interpretation. Instead, she became intrigued by the countless red ribbons dangling from the hibiscus tree like silk threads.

"Can anyone tie these ribbons?" she asked casually, tugging at one that drifted in front of her face.

The monk paused his interpretation, but he could tell that the distinguished lady before him wasn't really interested in her own divination results, so he didn't press the matter.

He simply replied gently, "Yes, you may tie them as you wish. There are more ribbons in the corner if you need them."

Chuntao was quick to react. "Miss, I'll fetch one for you."

Chen Yao nodded.

The red ribbon was brought over quickly. She looked up at the ribbons hanging at various heights on the tree and said matter-of-factly to the monk, "You tie it for me. It has to go at the very top."

The monk seemed well-versed in dealing with such requests. He pressed his palms together and said, "What matters is sincerity. Where the ribbon is tied, high or low, is all up to heaven's will, not human effort."

Unfortunately, answering without addressing the question didn't work on Chen Yao.