In early spring, the warm sun was just right.

Ji Yinshu lifted the curtain to look outside. A ray of light slanted down, falling upon her exquisitely beautiful face.

She looked almost ethereal!

The wind swept through the mountain forests one by one, brushing past her cheeks, very warm.

The ice and snow were gradually melting, and nature was gradually returning to its original state.

Her gentle gaze looked toward the dense forest in the distance, her thoughts drifting far away for a moment…

The coachman leaned to the side, looked back with a smile, and asked, “Miss, are you from Dalin?”

Hearing this, her eyes flickered slightly. She gave a soft “Mm” and asked, “How long until we reach the capital of Dalin?”

The coachman calculated for a moment. “Right now is the snow-melting season. The roads are slippery, so the carriage will move more slowly. If nothing unexpected happens, we should arrive in a little over a month.”

“Can we go as quickly as possible?”

“I can’t guarantee that, but Miss, you’ve paid the silver, so I’ll definitely get you there. Don’t worry!”

She said nothing more. Her fingertips slowly left the curtain, and she lowered her head to look at the urn of ashes she held in her arms.

Her eyes gradually darkened.

The carriage also carefully continued on its way…

One month later.

It was a warm, sunny day.

In the early morning, several bell chimes rang out from a temple with flourishing incense outside the capital city.

Among the forests, the lingering sounds echoed.

People came to this place to offer incense and pray for blessings in endless streams every day.

Almost as soon as the temple gates opened, people would enter.

Seeking romance!

Seeking safety!

Seeking health!

…

The incense never ceased.

It was said that the Bodhisattva at this place was very efficacious—if you prayed, you would receive.

A carriage that had traveled for a month finally arrived at this place.

It stopped outside the temple gate!

The coachman looked at the bustling temple and couldn’t help but sigh, “I didn’t expect you Dalin people to be so devoted to Buddhism. Miss, could it be that you traveled all this way from Huyi just to worship Buddha?”

Ji Yinshu, holding Jing Xuan’s urn, got down from the carriage.

Looking at the temple before her, she said to the coachman, “Pull the carriage to the side and wait for me.”

“Alright!”

She entered the temple gate and found a young monk, saying, “Young Master, I have business to discuss with your abbot. Could you take me to him?”

The young monk placed his palms together and said, “Amitabha. The abbot is currently meditating. Whatever the benefactor needs, please tell this humble monk directly.”

“I must still trouble Young Master to make the trip. Please tell him… I’ve come to inquire about the way of Zen.”

“If that’s the case, then please wait a moment, benefactor.”

“Thank you!”

The young monk went to report.

Every day, countless people came to see the abbot—how could everyone possibly get an audience?

Ji Yinshu waited outside the hall for a long while before the young monk came to inform her, “Benefactor, this way please.”

The young monk led the way, bringing her to the meditation room.

The abbot was inside with his eyes closed, tapping a wooden fish and chanting scriptures.

“Master, the benefactor has arrived.”

The abbot tapped the wooden fish three final times before opening his eyes.

When he saw that the visitor was Ji Yinshu, he was slightly surprised and stood up, saying, “So it’s Benefactor Ji?”

Ji Yinshu was the one who had sent Muo Zhi to this temple, so she naturally had a connection with the abbot here.

She bowed slightly. “Abbot.”

“It’s been a long time. I didn’t know it was you coming, Benefactor Ji.”

“I came in haste this time precisely because I was afraid of disturbing the abbot.”

“The Buddhist gate is always open. You’re too kind, benefactor.” The abbot twisted his prayer beads in his hand.

Ji Yinshu said, “Actually, I’ve come today because there’s a matter I must trouble the abbot with.”

“Please speak freely, benefactor.”

She held out the urn in her hands. “I hope this can be placed in the temple.”

The abbot asked, “This is?”

Ji Yinshu was silent for a moment before saying, “An old friend!”

The abbot didn’t ask more questions. He took the urn with both hands and said, “Rest assured, benefactor. This old monk will make proper arrangements.”

“Thank you.”

“Helping others is also the way of Buddhism.” The abbot handed the urn to the young monk and gave him a few instructions.

The young monk then carried the urn out of the meditation room.

A weight in Ji Yinshu’s heart finally settled.

Jing Xuan, I’ve brought you back to Dalin. Placing her ashes in the temple was the only solution. Jing Xuan had married into Huyi, so for life after life she was the Third Princess Consort of Huyi. After her death, she should rightfully return to the soil of Huyi and receive Huyi’s memorial rites! She fundamentally couldn’t return to Dalin. Even if she returned to Dalin, she couldn’t be buried in the imperial mausoleum, so the only option was to enshrine her in the temple.

After arranging everything, Ji Yinshu asked, “I wonder… how is Muo Zhi doing?”

Last time, Muo Zhi had still been in swaddling clothes.

After several months, he should have grown somewhat, right?

The abbot said, “Rest assured, Xuan Zhi is doing very well.”

“Xuan Zhi?”

“After the benefactor left, this old monk gave him a Buddhist name, called Xuan Zhi.”

“I see. Then may I see him?”

The abbot led Ji Yinshu to a courtyard behind the temple.

From afar, she could see a young monk about ten years old sweeping the ground. The young monk had used soft cloth strips to tie the just-a-few-months-old Muo Zhi to his back.

The little one’s watery big eyes were open wide, his thumb in his mouth, drool flowing.

He didn’t cry or fuss.

Very quiet!

Extremely adorable!

And very healthy!

In just a few months, he had truly grown so much.

His eyebrows resembled Tang Si’s.

His eyes resembled Muo Ruo’s.

Only his mouth resembled her own.

The young monk swept cheerfully while singing a little tune to make Muo Zhi happy. “The wind blows and blows, making the flowers bloom, making the leaves fall. Whose young man is singing? The wind blows and blows, making the flowers bloom, making the leaves fall. My little Zhi is singing. The wind blows and blows, making the flowers bloom, making the leaves fall. Whose young man is singing? The wind blows and blows, making the flowers bloom, making the leaves fall. My little Zhi is singing…”

Singing it over and over again.

Muo Zhi listened while sucking his finger.

From time to time he would let out giggles.

His body also moved about.

Ji Yinshu stood in the distance watching that scene, her eyes gradually moistening.

Yet the corners of her mouth smiled.

In this moment, she firmly believed that the decision she had made back then was not wrong!

She hoped Muo Zhi would continue to grow up happily just like this.

The abbot asked, “Will the benefactor not go over?”

She shook her head. “No, no…”

“Amitabha.”

…

That day, when Ji Yinshu left the temple, the abbot personally rang the great bell in the temple for her.

Once!

Twice!

Three times!

The sound lingered long…

She asked, “Abbot, in this mortal world, what exactly is suffering? What is joy?”

The abbot said, “Joy is suffering, suffering is joy!”

“Then… what is waiting?”

“If the benefactor follows her heart, that is waiting!”

She closed her eyes, facing the warm sun of early spring.

She seemed to see that man approaching her bit by bit.

She could smell the familiar scent on his body, could feel the burning warmth of his body temperature.

Could truly and tangibly touch him.

She said: No matter how many years pass from now on, no matter where, no matter whether thorns or seas of fire lie ahead—this time, let me be the one to risk everything for you!

Jingrong, we are twin butterflies!

If you die, I die! (End of the Second Arc)