For the next few days, Li Xun remained at home, recuperating.
Li Ji locked himself in his room, refusing to come out.
He ignored anyone who knocked on his door.
Gao Shan could only have someone place his meals at the door.
However, for two days straight, the food left at the door remained untouched.
It was taken away almost exactly as it had been brought.
Gao Shan was deeply worried. If this continued, the Prince would surely starve himself into ruin.
He knew the Prince was tormenting himself because he was thinking of the Princess Consort. For the past four years, the Prince had never been able to accept the reality of the Princess Consort’s death, always fantasizing that she might still return.
In truth, everyone knew deep down that the dead could not be revived. The Princess Consort was never coming back to life.
But no one dared to tell the Prince that.
However, that slap from Princess Ningyang had extinguished the last glimmer of extravagant hope in Prince Zhao’s heart.
Now, Prince Zhao refused all food and drink and saw no one. It was as if he no longer wished to live.
Gao Shan tried to use the young prince to persuade the Prince, hoping that for the sake of the young prince, who was still small and needed care, he would not so easily give up on his own life.
But it was no use.
No matter how earnestly Gao Shan pleaded, the door before him remained shut tight. From inside the room, Prince Zhao gave no response.
Helpless, Gao Shan could only give up for the time being.
He had to think of another way.
Just then, Si Yun came to Gao Shan with an idea.
"I heard that an enlightened, eminent monk recently arrived at the Ten Thousand Buddha Temple. He is said to be very knowledgeable. Perhaps he might know some secrets of bringing the dead back to life."
Gao Shan was a clever man and immediately understood her meaning.
The Prince had always believed the Princess Consort could be resurrected; he would surely be interested in such secrets.
Once a person had an interest in something, they wouldn’t be so focused on dying.
Gao Shan went to the door of Prince Zhao’s bedchamber once more and told him about the eminent monk at the Ten Thousand Buddha Temple.
Just as expected.
Upon hearing that the eminent monk knew secrets about resurrection, Prince Zhao reacted at once.
He pulled open the door, revealing a handsome but gaunt and desolate face. His dark eyes stared intently at Gao Shan.
"Is what you said true?"
Gao Shan nodded hastily. "Of course, it’s true. This servant would not dare deceive you, Your Highness."
Li Ji heard his thoughts through the Mind Reading Technique—
’Even though Si Yun was the one who told me this, it’s definitely true. I’m not deceiving the Prince.’
Li Ji decided to go to the Ten Thousand Buddha Temple himself.
Even if there was only a sliver of hope, he had to try.
’What if that eminent monk really knows how to bring someone back from the dead?’
Li Ji changed his clothes, ate a little something, and prepared to leave for the Ten Thousand Buddha Temple.
But just then, Li Xun came running over on his short little legs.
He had just recovered from a serious illness, and his complexion was still pale. Even his chubby little cheeks had thinned out.
"Father, are you going to look for Mother?"
Li Ji was in a hurry to attend to important business and was in no mood to deal with his troublesome son, so he answered perfunctorily.
"No."
Although Li Xun was young, he wasn’t so easily fooled.
He tilted his little face up, his voice childish yet solemn.
"I know you’re going to find Mother, Father. I want to go with you."
Ever since their brief parting by the lake, his mother had left an incredibly deep impression on his little mind.
He even dreamed of reuniting with his mother.
Li Ji had originally intended to refuse, but then he remembered that his son had seen Manman before. They say a mother and child’s hearts are connected. If his son was with him, perhaps it would increase the chances of finding Manman.
So, Li Ji changed his mind.
"I can take you with me, but you have to promise me you won’t run off again."
Li Xun nodded vigorously. "Okay!"
He was bundled up like a little ball of fur and rode with his father in a carriage to the Ten Thousand Buddha Temple.
When Prince Zhao went out, the pomp and circumstance were naturally on a different level.
The entire Ten Thousand Buddha Temple had been cleared. It was quiet inside, without a single worshiper in sight.
The abbot himself came out to welcome Prince Zhao and his son.
The three of them walked into the Great Hall.
As they looked up, they could see the towering, golden statue of Buddha.
The Buddha’s head was slightly bowed, its compassionate gaze watching over all living beings.
The abbot asked in a gentle voice.
"Would the Prince and the Princely Heir like to offer a stick of incense to the Buddha?"
Li Ji didn’t believe in gods or buddhas, but if the Buddha could bring Manman back, he would become His most devout follower.
He flicked the hem of his robe, knelt on a prayer cushion, and clasped his hands together, praying silently.
’As long as Manman can return safely, I am willing to pay any price.’
Li Xun copied him, kneeling on another prayer cushion.
He bowed and kowtowed. As he did, the Lotus Jade Pendant slipped out from his collar and landed softly on the ground with a faint CLICK.
A flash of light flickered across the jade pendant.
...
「Inside Mingxin Temple.」
Worshipers continuously came to pray, while others rose and left.
Some murmured incantations, while others were silent.
A monk rhythmically struck a wooden fish, producing a steady THUMP, THUMP sound.
Hua Manman knelt on a prayer cushion, her hands clasped, praying with all her heart.
’I hope Li Ji and Li Xun are both safe and healthy.’
’I hope Mom can be happy.’
’I hope Hua Yusen’s surgery is successful.’
’And finally, I hope I can return to the past soon and reunite with my family, with Li Ji and Li Xun.’
Hua Manman solemnly bowed and kowtowed.
The moment her forehead touched the ground, the wooden fish was struck lightly.
DONG!
Li Ji’s voice echoed in her ear—
"As long as Manman can return safely, I am willing to pay any price."
The voice was very faint, as if coming from a great distance.
Hua Manman shot upright.
She looked around but saw only the endless stream of worshipers. Li Ji was nowhere to be seen.
Song Yixian noticed her strange behavior and asked with concern.
"What’s wrong?"
Hua Manman retracted her gaze, disappointed. "It’s nothing."
’I must have just been hearing things.’
She continued to kowtow.
This time, she didn’t hear Li Ji’s voice again.
When she had finished her three kowtows and stood up to offer incense, the long-absent voice of the System suddenly sounded in her mind.
"Host."
Hua Manman froze, her heart filled with immense joy.
’System, you’re finally back?!’
System: "...Do not give me ridiculous nicknames."
Song Yixian wanted to go draw a fortune-telling stick and asked if Manman wanted to join.
Hua Manman shook her head and refused.
"You go ahead. I’ll wait for you outside."
She walked out of the Great Hall, eagerly asking in her mind.
’System, why did you suddenly come back? Does this mean I can finally go back to ancient times?’
But the System answered with a question of its own: "Are you sure you want to go back to ancient times?"
Hua Manman answered without a moment’s hesitation.
’Of course!’
System: "But you must understand, even if you go back, you may not get the result you want.
Just like before, you thought you could change the fated outcome.
But in the end, you were still forced to separate from the one you love. You ultimately failed to get what you wished for."
’What do you mean by that?’
System: "Fate is not as simple as you imagine.
For example, right now, you and Li Ji are both praying to the Buddha, and you can even hear the words Li Ji is saying.
But you cannot see him.
Because a vast expanse of time and space separates you."