The person who walked out was all too familiar.

Jiang Zhan exclaimed in surprise: “Seventh Brother Yu!”

Yu Jin acted as if he’d just noticed Jiang Zhan and the others, showing a surprised expression: “Why is Second Brother Jiang here?”

Jiang Zhan pointed to Jiang Si beside him: “I’m accompanying my sister to offer incense. Why is Seventh Brother Yu here?”

“Uh, I’m here to offer incense too,” Yu Jin smiled, glancing briefly at Jiang Si without lingering, maintaining a proper and respectful demeanor.

“Why would Seventh Brother Yu come all the way here to offer incense?” Jiang Zhan glanced at the young novice monk, not thinking the novices here were any cleverer than those in the capital’s temples. Why had everyone suddenly come to Ling-wu Temple?

Yu Jin smiled: “I heard this place is very efficacious, so I came to make a wish.”

“Little Master, what is your temple most efficacious for?” Jiang Zhan belatedly asked.

The young novice smiled sweetly, his missing tooth creating a gap: “For matchmaking, of course!”

Why did such a handsome patron always ask such silly questions?

Jiang Zhan was stunned for a moment, suddenly glancing at Jiang Si, and then at Yu Jin.

Matchmaking?

His fourth sister had asked him to accompany her to offer incense, and it was actually for matchmaking.

In that instant, the Second Young Master Jiang didn’t find it amusing at all but rather felt a bit upset.

He had followed along so eagerly, only to possibly benefit some bastard in the end.

“I didn’t expect Seventh Brother Yu to believe in this,” Unable to direct his anger at his sister, Jiang Zhan mocked Yu Jin instead. “You’re not much older than me, are you already in such a hurry to find a wife?”

Yu Jin smiled, glancing at Jiang Si with deep meaning: “I am quite urgent. A good girl might be taken by someone else if I’m a step too late. So I’ve come to make a wish. If the heart is sincere, the gods will respond.”

He had been away in the southern frontier for many years, finally making a name for himself and earning the right to return to the capital to pursue what he wanted. But he returned to news that she was already engaged.

At that time, he had almost drawn his sword to chop up that damned cousin, but people said Fourth Miss Jiang was quite satisfied with the marriage.

He had temporarily spared the cousin’s dog head.

Fortunately, their engagement didn’t work out in the end. When he heard they had broken it off, he felt as if he had come back to life.

At that moment, he vowed never to let go again. No matter what means he had to use, he must have Jiang Si.

He didn’t believe any other man could think of that girl as desperately as he did.

Since marriage was arranged by parents and matchmakers, she originally had no chance to interact with her betrothed, let alone develop feelings for him. So why couldn’t he be that person?

He would patiently wait for her to nod in agreement, then seek the Emperor’s blessing for their marriage, rather than forcing her to marry him with an imperial decree.

For the most important moment in a woman’s life, he hoped she would be willing and happy, looking forward to it.

Jiang Zhan became interested: “So, Seventh Brother Yu has someone he likes?”

“Mm.” Yu Jin softly acknowledged.

“Seventh Brother Yu just came to the capital, and you already have someone you like? Quick, tell me who this girl is. Perhaps I can help,” Jiang Zhan pressed.

He felt Yu Jin’s appearance here was too coincidental. This guy couldn’t be after his fourth sister, could he?

Yu Jin smiled: “I’ve known her for a long time.”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhan relaxed: “Oh, so it’s a childhood sweetheart. Then I can’t be of much help. Seventh Brother Yu, you’ll have to work hard!”

Yu Jin nodded solemnly: “Mm, I will.”

Jiang Si listened silently, her heart growing bitter.

The current Seventh Prince went to the southern frontier when he was barely twelve. Who could his childhood sweetheart be other than the Holy Maiden A-sang?

A-sang was dead, so he settled for her, someone who looked similar. He was no better than Ji Chong-yi.

She was truly blessed in three lifetimes to encounter two devoted men in a row.

“Second Brother, Young Master Yu, please continue your chat. I’ll look around first.”

Yu Jin opened his mouth to say something but was pulled away by Jiang Zhan: “What a fortunate encounter. Seventh Brother Yu, let’s go have some tea.”

Jiang Si brushed past Yu Jin without a sideways glance.

Ignoring him? Yu Jin, unperturbed, flicked his fingers lightly.

Jiang Si stumbled.

“Miss—”

Before A-man could react, Yu Jin had quickly steadied Jiang Si, then immediately let go and stepped back, the picture of a proper gentleman: “Miss Jiang, please be careful.”

Jiang Si: “…”

“Fourth Sister, are you tired? Why don’t you rest in a room before continuing your tour?”

“No need. Second Brother, please enjoy your tea with Young Master Yu.” Jiang Si didn’t even glance at Yu Jin as she quickly left.

This scoundrel wasn’t so shameless in her previous life. Could it be that she was too easily fooled before, never giving him a chance to show this side?

The more Jiang Si thought about it, the darker her expression became.

“Does Miss Jiang have some misunderstanding about me?” Yu Jin sighed softly. “Second Brother Jiang is from an Earl’s family. Perhaps Miss Jiang feels it’s inappropriate for Second Brother Jiang to be friends with someone like me.”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhan hurried to explain to Jiang Si: “My fourth sister isn’t like that. She just has a cold personality. Seventh Brother Yu, please don’t take offense.”

It seemed he would need to advise his fourth sister later to show more respect to his lifesaver.

The young novice, having received another packet of sugar candies, cleverly walked beside Jiang Si, introducing her to the temple’s situation.

“Little Master, where can I get a safety talisman?”

“Female patron, please follow this humble monk.”

The novice quickly led Jiang Si to a side hall.

Worshippers were coming and going continuously in the hall. At the far end, a row of shelves was filled with various safety talismans. Beside it, a monk was taking down a talisman to give to the worshipper at the front of the line.

“Is it always this busy?” Jiang Si didn’t rush forward, discreetly gathering information from the young novice.

“It’s not usually this crowded. Safety talismans are only available every fifth day. The female patron has come at just the right time,” the novice’s smile was as sweet as the candy he’d eaten. “What kind of safety talisman does the female patron want? This humble monk can queue for you.”

“Uh, are there different types of safety talismans?”

“Of course! There are talismans for physical safety, for smooth relationships, several types.”

“Can I ask for all of them?”

The novice hesitated for a moment, then nodded, considering the two packets of candy: “If the female patron donates more oil money, the Buddha won’t mind your greed.”

Soon, several talismans were in hand. Jiang Si’s gaze fell on the talisman with the words “Peace and Good Fortune” and didn’t move away.

This was the same kind of talisman found on the female corpse!

“This talisman, what is it mainly for?”

The novice glanced at it and smiled: “Very few patrons ask for this type of talisman. Female patron, do you see the line of Sanskrit text below the words ‘Peace and Good Fortune’? This is our Buddhist exorcism mantra. Usually, only people who have experienced accidents would ask for this type of talisman for protection.”

Jiang Si’s heart skipped a beat.

A 13 or 14-year-old girl from a wealthy gentry family who had experienced an accident – this narrowed down the range considerably.

Jiang Si exchanged a glance with A-man.

A-man grinned: “Little Master, didn’t you say this place is most efficacious for matchmaking? I imagine young ladies like our miss wouldn’t ask for this kind of safety talisman.”

“That’s not true. The young lady from the Li family in Da-yang Town asked for one just last month. However, that female patron hasn’t been here for a while.”