Did Miss become a nun today?

After leaving the teahouse, Xie Yunchu took a detour to the scripture shop.

"Miss, you haven't finished watching the last one yet."

"It'll come in handy eventually."

Recently, the books in her room have changed from storybooks to Buddhist scriptures. There are a huge number of Buddhist classics, but she still has a lifetime to live. Even if she can't finish reading them all, she will still benefit greatly.

Lan Yue couldn't stop her, so she could only let her get into the carriage with a stack of books.

Around noon, Xie Yun Chu led Lan Yue into the restaurant.

Lan Yue glanced at the dishes the young lady was pointing to and saw that there were meat dishes. She was slightly relieved. Fortunately, the young lady was only reading Buddhist scriptures and had not given up meat.

With no outsiders around, the master and servant didn't follow many rules.

Just as the food was served, a hand with distinct knuckles lifted the curtain and walked in. Upon seeing the person, Lan Yue quickly sat up and bowed.

Xie Yun Chu paused, "Big Cousin?"

Pei Changyu was dressed in official robes, his posture as slender as a pine or bamboo, his black hair meticulously combed, always aloof and dignified, yet his face could be described as alluring.

My older cousin is now working in the Ministry of Revenue. He's very busy, and he even has to squeeze in time for meals.

"What's my cousin doing here?"

Pei Changyu waved his hand, indicating that she didn't need to get up. "I saw the Marquis's carriage on my way home today, so I stopped by to take a look."

Why did my cousin go out alone today?

"I had nothing to do at home today, so I came out for a walk. Has my cousin eaten yet?"

Xie Yun Chu was just asking casually. Pei Chang Yu preferred quiet and rarely came to the main courtyard to eat together. In all the time she had been in the Marquis's residence, she could count the number of times she had eaten at the same table with him on one hand.

For the first time ever, he answered, "I haven't eaten yet."

She was momentarily at a loss for words, but Lan Yue cleared her throat, bringing her back to her senses. "I just ordered some food. If you don't mind, cousin, would you like to sit down and have a meal with me?"

Pei Changyu nodded, "Then thank you very much, cousin."

You agreed?

They even sat down?

Xie Yun Chu became reserved, straightened her back, and dared not make a sound while eating. She did not dare to pick up the dishes that were far away, and only dared to glance at them out of the corner of her eye.

Just then, a pair of chopsticks suddenly placed a piece of fish on her plate. "I remember my cousin likes to eat fish, eat more."

She nodded haphazardly, then heard the person opposite her chuckle softly, "Cousin, are you afraid of me?"

She shook her head. "No, cousin misunderstood."

Pei Changyu stared at her with his dark eyes for a long time, and finally seemed to give in, asking, "Do you and my second brother eat like this, cousin?"

Of course not. She spends more time with her second cousin, so she doesn't have as many reservations, but she can't do that in front of her eldest cousin.

Last time, because he made noise while eating and was unruly at the dinner table, my second cousin was glared at by my eldest cousin and was later punished by having to copy a book.

Copying Buddhist scriptures is acceptable, but copying other books is not.

"You don't need to be so nervous in front of me. I'm your cousin, just like your second brother. I won't be harsh on you."

Nobody would believe that!

When she was little, wasn't she always punished by copying books and practicing calligraphy?

But in retrospect, copying books and practicing calligraphy was for her own good, and it seems that she was never criticized for anything else.

Pei Changyu pushed the plate of fish in front of him towards her, his voice cool but his tone gentle, "Since my cousin dislikes me, then I'll take my leave. Eating at home is just as good."

Xie Yun Chu looked up and saw that he had indeed gotten up to leave.

Before she could say anything, he had already disappeared from sight and gone downstairs.

Her heart skipped a beat, and she ran out, only to catch a glimpse of his retreating figure.

Frustrated, I wondered what she was doing.

My older cousin is also a son of a noble family, and he can't even tolerate having a meal with her?

She blamed herself for being useless; what was there to be afraid of about her eldest cousin? She had grown up with her second cousin, so naturally she had grown up with her eldest cousin as well.

Because he was a few years older than her, mature beyond his years, calm and reserved, she always forgot that her older cousin was only in his early twenties.

She lost all interest in eating. It was just a meal, yet she drove people away. She really had no manners.

He didn't even eat, but had the waiter pack up his food and take it back to the Marquis's residence.

As soon as he entered, he asked the housekeeper, "Have you seen my eldest cousin return?"

"Yes, I'm back. I just got back to the courtyard. Miss, is there anything you need...?"

Before the housekeeper could finish speaking, she immediately instructed Lan Yue to take the food she had brought back to the kitchen to heat it up, while she herself went to Songhe Courtyard, where Pei Changyu was staying.

The steward couldn't help but mutter to himself, "How strange! Today, Miss actually asked about the eldest son. In the past, she always asked about the second son."

Xie Yunchu hesitated at the entrance of Songhe Courtyard, not daring to go in. It was Guanyun, who was beside Pei Changyu, who saw her and came to greet her.

"Miss Cousin? What brings you here? Are you here to see the eldest young master?"

She nodded. "Was my older cousin angry when he came back today?"

Guan Yun thought for a moment, "Probably not, his expression looks normal."

The eldest son is very calm; even if he were really angry, you wouldn't be able to tell.

Guan Yun first invited her in, poured her some tea, and then said, "Please have a seat, I'll go and inform the young master right away."

Before long, Pei Changyu entered the room, changed his clothes, and wore a light-colored robe, which made him look less dignified and more scholarly.

She bowed and said, "Cousin, I apologize for my rudeness today."

He smiled gently, "It's alright, I didn't take it to heart."

But she felt guilty.

"Big cousin, it's not that I hate you, it's just... I'm a little scared."

Pei Changyu was stunned. "What are you afraid of?"

She was too embarrassed to say, and he didn't insist on getting an answer. He stepped forward and patted her head, asking, "Am I too serious usually, and did I scare you?"

"Was I too strict with you when you were young, causing you to fear me?"

Probably both. Xie Yun Chu is not a coward, nor is she completely ignorant.

Her older cousin's strictness was for her own good, but... her memories of being with him were a bit painful.

Her silence was deafening; she said nothing, yet it was as if she had said everything.

But Pei Changyu was not angry at all; instead, he comforted her. If it were Pei Changfeng, he would have lost his temper with her long ago.

"Your parents have no daughters, only you, so of course I love you dearly. Don't overthink it. If you think I'm too serious, I'll just smile more from now on."

Now it was her turn to be puzzled. Was her older cousin really that easy to talk to?

"Isn't my cousin angry?"

When have I ever been angry?

That's right. The time when he looked most serious was when he was scolding his second cousin; he never even raised his voice.

Why was she afraid of her older cousin before?

To apologize, she stayed at Shokakuin for a meal.

Her older cousin served her food and soup, which she accepted. After the meal, she stayed for a cup of tea.

"How does it taste?"

She didn't know much about tea, but simply said, "My cousin's tea is naturally delicious."

Outside the tea room is a pond, quiet and elegant, perfect for reading.

"If you like it here, you're welcome to come often."

You don't have to.

After leaving Songheyuan, Xie Yun Chu let out a long sigh of relief.

Lan Yue teased, "Miss is most afraid of the eldest young master. Madam was worried for a long time that you two wouldn't get along. Now, she can finally rest assured."

Yes, she used to be distant from her older cousin, and her aunt thought her son was bullying his sister, so she dragged him over and gave him a beating.

She used to be such a worry, causing a lot of trouble for the Marquis's mansion.

Before she even returned to her courtyard, she heard that Pei Changfeng had come back today. As soon as she stepped through the door, she was summoned by the main courtyard. She immediately sensed that something terrible was about to happen.

Pei Changfeng hasn't been home lately, so she's sure to get scolded today. Her aunt will definitely make it up to her then.

This is not a good thing.

Sure enough, just as she finished talking to her son, someone came to summon her.

She didn't want to marry anyone, and that very day she claimed to be feeling unwell and stayed in bed.

Feeling unwell for several days, she took the opportunity to suggest going outside the city to fulfill a vow.

"Aunt, I survived a great ordeal at Yong'an Temple last time, thanks to Buddha. Now that I'm fully recovered, I'd like to go to the temple to pay my respects."

"Also, my mother's death anniversary is in two days, and I'd like to go and offer some incense for her."

Cen Jingyan was unaware that she had recently been studying Buddhist scriptures and did not think too deeply about it. In addition, she couldn't refuse the reason of the anniversary of her death, so she agreed.

"Perfect, let Changfeng accompany you, he can look out for you on the way."

Xie Yun Chu's eyelids twitched. "No need. The Buddhist temple is peaceful. I'll be staying for a while longer. Besides, the nunnery is full of female guests. It's inconvenient for a man like my cousin to go alone."

That makes sense. Cen Jingyan didn't stop her, only offering a few words of advice.

Once the matter was settled, the Marquis's carriage set off for the city gates on the third day.