The guest monk’s footsteps were very light, causing Li Jiāo’s breathing to become lighter as well.

For a moment, she felt somewhat regretful.

Would she be discovered?

Li Jiāo’s mood grew heavy.

The guest monk at Da Fu Temple had spent years receiving female relatives from wealthy families and possessed considerable perception. Seeing her condition, he comforted her: “Young benefactor need not be nervous. The Master is very gentle.”

“Master, have you seen Master Wumei?”

The guest monk smiled and shook his head: “This poor monk has not had the opportunity to meet her. I once heard my master’s brother mention her. For so many years, the Master has never seen outsiders—it is truly rare for the young benefactor to be able to meet her.”

Hearing the guest monk say this, Li Jiāo’s bit of regret instantly vanished without a trace.

What was there to fear? It was Grandmother who had pushed her forward. Only people from the Li Residence and Da Fu Temple had seen the hand-copied Buddhist scripture. As long as she insisted on not telling, how would that Master know it was an impersonation? She had never heard of anyone being asked to write on the spot just because their calligraphy was outstanding. As long as she got through this moment, no one among the capital’s noble daughters would be able to surpass her glory in the future.

Li Jiāo thought about these things, secretly encouraging herself.

The guest monk stopped at the entrance to Sparse Shadow Nunnery. A middle-aged nun took the hand-copied Buddhist scripture and led Li Jiāo inside.

Li Jiāo couldn’t hide her curiosity, using her peripheral vision to secretly observe the surrounding scenery, thinking that this trip to Sparse Shadow Nunnery would give her much to talk about later—at least outsiders had never seen the scenery within the nunnery.

Li Jiāo’s thoughts wandered all along the way. When she snapped back to attention, the nun had already brought her before Master Wumei.

“Is this that young lady?” Master Wumei spoke, her voice clear and cold, without a trace of worldly air.

“Master Uncle, this is Second Miss Li who copied this Buddhist scripture.” The nun respectfully presented the hand-copied Buddhist scripture to Master Wumei.

Master Wumei reached out to receive it, lovingly stroking the Buddhist scripture, then smiled at Li Jiāo: “Young benefactor, come forward.”

Li Jiāo immediately became nervous and hurriedly paid respects to Master Wumei.

Master Wumei smiled: “No need for excessive courtesy. This poor nun did not expect you to be so young.”

She suddenly pointed at the Buddhist scripture in her hand and asked Li Jiāo: “Did the young benefactor hand-copy this?”

Li Jiāo’s heart beat rapidly. Gathering her courage, she uttered one word: “Yes.”

Master Wumei gazed at her, emotions she couldn’t understand flowing in her eyes.

The room was silent. Li Jiāo even had the illusion that this Master before her, the former Grand Princess, would continue looking at her for a long, long time.

She secretly clenched her fists, her palms full of damp sweat.

“Though it is regular script, it’s difficult to conceal its free-spirited elegance and beauty,” Master Wumei murmured.

In this world, she knew of only one person capable of achieving this.

Under such praise, Li Jiāo couldn’t help but raise her head, boldly examining Master Wumei’s appearance.

Master Wumei had cold, concentrated brows and eyes, an outstanding bearing, with fine lines at the corners of her eyes that added the quiet beauty of years, making it impossible to discern her age.

Master Wumei must have been a one-in-ten-thousand beauty in her youth, Li Jiāo couldn’t help but sigh.

With the dignity of a princess and peerless elegance, why would such a person shave her head and become a nun?

Amid such contemplation, Li Jiāo heard Master Wumei ask: “Young benefactor, can you recite the Recluse of Azure Lotus’s ‘Bring in the Wine’?”

“I can.” Li Jiāo couldn’t help but smile.

Such a masterpiece passed down through the ages—what scholar wouldn’t be able to recite it?

“Come.” Master Wumei stood up.

Li Jiāo followed her into the inner room.

The interior was like a snow cave, with only a couch, a desk, and several chairs.

Master Wumei pointed at the desk: “Young benefactor, this poor nun would like to ask you to write ‘Bring in the Wine’ for me. Would that be possible?”

Li Jiāo immediately froze.

Master Wumei’s gaze looked at her indifferently. Beneath that calm-as-water gaze, undercurrents flowed.

The color drained completely from Li Jiāo’s face, her delicate face whiter than the snow cave.

“I—” She opened her mouth, but her throat seemed stuffed with cotton, unable to utter another word.

Master Wumei didn’t urge her aloud, but her gaze was too profound, making Li Jiāo deeply aware that she couldn’t possibly find an excuse to decline.

The reason Master Wumei had agreed to see her was to watch her write, not because she had suddenly developed an interest in having her write after meeting her!

Under such a gaze, Li Jiāo steeled herself to pick up the brush. The brush tip hesitated to fall, and finally, a drop of ink stained the white paper spread on the desk into a black blotch.

Along with the falling ink came her cold sweat.

Master Wumei lightly furrowed her brow and suddenly understood.

From when Li Jiāo entered until now, her consistently peaceful expression has finally changed.

Ice and snow pressed down oppressively.

Li Jiāo’s hand holding the brush began to tremble, and eventually her whole body shook like a sieve, no longer possessing half the bearing of a scholarly noble daughter.

Master Wumei sighed in disappointment and instructed the nun waiting outside: “Jingxi, lead this young benefactor out. Tell the master’s nephew at Da Fu Temple that they brought the wrong person.”

“Yes.” The middle-aged nun glanced at Li Jiāo, who stood there like a wooden chicken, and secretly shook her head. “Female benefactor, let’s go.”

Li Jiāo seemed to have lost her soul, following the nun outside in a daze. Behind her suddenly came Master Wumei’s voice: “Jingxi, bring the right person to see me.”

Jingxi’s whole body trembled as she respectfully replied: “Yes.”

The path at Sparse Shadow Nunnery was quickly walked to its end, and the guest monk waiting outside came forward to meet them.

Jingxi frowned: “Junior Brother, this is not the female benefactor who wrote that Buddhist scripture. You brought the wrong person.”

The guest monk looked at Li Jiāo with shock, that glance making her feel utterly ashamed, unable to help but step backward.

“This… this is truly unexpected…” After a long while, the guest monk managed to squeeze out these words.

“Junior Brother, hurry back. Master Uncle is still waiting.”

“Waiting?” In extreme shock, the guest monk’s reactions were much slower.

Jingxi helplessly explained: “Naturally, waiting for Junior Brother to bring the female benefactor who truly copied the Buddhist scripture.”

Master Uncle had agreed to see an outsider for the first time in so many years, only for such an error to occur—it was truly unpleasant.

The guest monk solemnly promised: “Senior Brother, rest assured. This time there absolutely will be no mistake.”

Jingxi nodded and turned to enter the nunnery.

Li Jiāo’s heart felt as if a large hole had been broken in it, whistling with wind, stepping deep and shallow as if walking in ice and snow.

On the way back, no one spoke words of comfort, and even the quiet mountain wind seemed to have stopped.

“Second Miss Li has returned—” Commotion arose throughout the temple.

Seeing Li Jiāo’s strange expression, everyone became even more curious. Those who could conveniently go directly to the guest hall where Old Madam Jiang was, while those who couldn’t sent servants to gather information.

As soon as the guest monk led Li Jiāo through the hall entrance, the hall immediately fell silent, and then joyful voices and laughter rang out again.

“Oh my, our Second Miss has returned! Come quickly, come quickly.” Lady Li called out with a laugh.

A nearby lady laughingly interrupted: “You’re so quick to speak. Even if Second Miss comes, she should come to Her Ladyship’s side first. We should be secretly delighted just to have the fortune of hearing Second Miss tell us about her experiences in the nunnery.”

Old Madam Jiang couldn’t hide her smile upon hearing this, until the guest monk approached and she sensed something was wrong.

The guest monk paid respects to Old Madam Jiang and chanted a Buddhist phrase: “Old Madam, I’m afraid there has been some error. The Master at Sparse Shadow Nunnery wishes to see is not this young lady.”

At these words, inside and outside the hall, you could hear a pin drop.