Chapter 16: Moon in the Pool

Although the person Zhu Gaoxu wanted to see was his biological mother, he did not dare to run around in the yard. After all, there were more than just his mother and concubines in the backyard of the Prince of Yan.

Ma He walked into the Moon Cave Gate, but he didn't walk around. He stretched his neck to look around, but he didn't see any servants. At this moment, Ma He's face suddenly lit up, and he waved his hands, pinching his throat for fear of being too loud, and called out, "Master Chi Yue, Master Chi Yue..."

After a while, a woman approached the moon cave gate.

Zhu Gaoxu took just one look and was stunned.

The woman should be a Taoist priest, wearing a light grey long gown without any bright colors, holding a whisk in her hand. Even in the backyard of the palace, she still wore a narrow veil hat, a semi-transparent gauze scarf on her face, and a layer of cloth inside the scarf to cover her mouth and nose.

If someone else wore a veil in the mansion, Zhu Gaoxu would definitely not understand what the purpose was. But this woman's veil had at least one purpose, which was to cover up her shocking appearance!

Although she was wearing a loose Taoist robe, plain clothes without any color, and her appearance was mostly covered, the woman was still very beautiful. Pure and cool, this feeling came over him. Zhu Gaoxu finally believed a saying that a real beauty can look fashionable even if she is wrapped in rags.

Zhu Gaoxu felt a lot of emotions at the first glance. He also felt a pity. Why? Perhaps it was because such a woman was actually a Taoist priest!

Where did such a person come from in Prince Yan’s Mansion?

Zhu Gaoxu came to his senses and realized that he did have an impression of her. However, he had only met this woman a few times, so his memory was not very deep.

Taoist nun Chi Yue was not very old, probably about the same age as Zhu Gaoxu, but it was rumored that she had received teachings from Zhang Sanfeng, so she was revered as a real person. Her family background was not low, her father was Jing Qing, the second place in the imperial examination during the Hongwu period, and also an official in the imperial court; it was rumored that she met Zhang Sanfeng's guidance when she was nine years old, and then she chose to become a nun and practice Taoism.

It was only about two or three years ago that King Yan heard of her reputation. She was such a miraculous person; and she was not some Maoshan Taoist priest of unknown origin, her father was the runner-up in the Hongwu imperial examination!

It happened that Princess Xu was not in good health, so the King of Yan invited Jing to the palace to pray for the princess. Unexpectedly, the princess and Jing hit it off at first sight and fell in love with each other. The princess even recognized her as her adopted sister...

So, Zhu Gaoxu actually wanted to call this young woman "Aunt"?

...Just then, the woman glared at Zhu Gaoxu fiercely. Zhu Gaoxu then felt that it was really rude of him to stand there and look at others without saying anything.

The eyes were covered by a veil, but they were still bright and lively, and the look was very sharp. However, even if the bright eyes showed a look of anger, it was still charming, like a coquettish look.

When they first met, Zhu Gaoxu was indeed turbulent and impetuous, but he quickly calmed down.

This woman lives in the Prince of Yan's Mansion and is on equal terms with the princess and the princess' sisters. Even if there is someone who can ignore her status as a nun and have any ideas about her, that person must be Prince of Yan, Zhu Di!

Zhu Gaoxu flirted with Prince Yan's woman at this time? It seems that only a person with a large bucket of water in his brain would do such a stupid thing.

"I just remembered that Master Chi Yue is someone close to my mother. I almost forgot about it when I was in the capital for a few months." Zhu Gaoxu said casually, "Please tell Master Chi Yue to tell my mother that I am back and want to go and pay my respects to her."

"The princess is recovering from illness." Jing said without a single unnecessary word. Her voice was particularly pleasant, reminding people of the delicate and quiet spring water and the bright moon in the pool. She paused for a moment and then said, "Follow me."

No need to inform? Zhu Gaoxu didn't care and followed her into the Moon Cave Gate.

Ma He's voice came from behind, "I will not go any further. I respectfully send Prince Gaoyang off."

Where Princess Xu lived, there were double-eaved hip-and-gable roof buildings scattered among the buildings. It gave people the illusion that they were not in the northern region and was completely different from the urban scene of Peking.

The weather was quite hot, and the Taoist robe that Jing was wearing was thin. It was fine when she was standing still, but once she moved, the thin material would stick to some places from time to time. As her body swayed, her graceful figure was looming.

Zhu Gaoxu looked at Jing's back and pieced together the moments in his mind, forming a picture of a flexible and graceful figure. A woman's natural waist, no matter what, her movements and postures are different when she walks.

Zhu Gaoxu secretly had no respect for this woman who looked like an elder, but his words and actions were very restrained. When Jing didn't speak, he didn't speak either, so as to avoid making small talk and seeming to be frivolous.

The two walked through a corridor, then walked into a brick-paved road sandwiched between walls on both sides, and after walking around for a long time, they finally entered a brick-and-wood square door. On one side of the corridor was a courtyard, and on the other side was a whole row of houses.

When he walked to the princess's door, Zhu Gaoxu heard a coughing sound from inside.

Zhu Gaoxu brewed his emotions for a moment, forcing himself to think about all the stories of filial piety and loving mothers in his mind. He stepped into the door and bowed with a bitter face, "I am back. Is your mother's illness serious?"

Two maids stood on both sides of the curtain, and they all knelt down to greet Zhu Gaoxu. At this time, a corner of the curtain was lifted, and Princess Xu stuck her head out, her face was very haggard, and she was lying down. Princess Xu looked at Zhu Gaoxu and said, "Gaoxu, I am relieved to see you. This morning, your eldest brother and third brother came to say that your horse was broken and you would be late. I was worried all morning, and finally waited for you to come back. How did you become like this?"

Zhu Gaoxu quickly followed this idea and said, "I just came back a while ago and didn't have time to do anything. I walked more than 2,000 miles without changing clothes. I was afraid that my mother would worry, so I just saw my father and hurried over to report that I was safe."

If Princess Xu hadn't mentioned this, Zhu Gaoxu would have forgotten that he looked like a beggar. Just now, when Jing glared at him, it seemed that she was also surprised by his appearance.

Princess Xu smiled, "Mother feels that you have become much more sensible after your trip to the capital."

Zhu Gaoxu's heart skipped a beat after hearing this: Mothers usually know their sons very well, and if they are not careful, they will be exposed! He can't stay with the princess for too long.

He thought for a moment and asked again, "Is mother's illness serious?"

Princess Xu finally remembered to answer this question, "It's okay. The weather was hot, and I craved for a little more cool air. I caught a cold. I will be fine after a few days of recuperation. You don't have to worry."

After a while, she said again, "Gao Xu, why are you standing so far away? Come here and let me see."

Zhu Gaoxu walked over bravely, squatted down outside the curtain, and let Princess Xu take a closer look at him. I mentally convinced myself to calm down: my body was still the same as before, and it was impossible for the princess to see any clues.

He let Princess Xu look at her for a while, and then said quickly, "My mother is still ill, so don't worry too much. I can't stay any longer, you have to rest and rest."

Princess Xu smiled and said, "You are still like that. Every time you come, you are anxious and have to leave. Just go."

Zhu Gaoxu stood up and bowed, "My son, please retire. My mother and concubine are getting better. I will send someone to my son's house to inform you."

Princess Xu nodded.

Zhu Gaoxu took two steps back, turned around and went out. He took a deep breath silently and let it out slowly. He finally finished dealing with his parents. It was really hard and not easy to muddle through.

At this moment, his tense heart relaxed a little, and he suddenly felt extremely sleepy. He wanted to lie down on the spot and take a nap first.

Suddenly, a cold voice came to my ears, "The princess asked me to escort you out of the cave."

Zhu Gaoxu had just breathed a sigh of relief, his attention distracted and relaxed, when he was suddenly startled. Jing's walking seemed to be silent.

She spoke first, and Zhu Gaoxu said, "Master, you know how to maintain your health. Please take care of mother."

"Okay." Jing responded. Her eyes swept across Zhu Gaoxu's face, as if she was puzzled, or she felt that Zhu Gaoxu was very calm when she saw her today.

What was Zhu Gaoxu's attitude when he saw Jing before? He really couldn't remember, he had forgotten it.