When the prince is reborn, he will only hit me if he doesn't hit the wall!

Before New Year’s Eve every year, Xu Xinyue would go to Puji Temple and light a perpetual lamp for her mother.

This year, Xu Yuanshan had difficulty walking and was unable to accompany her.

Xu Xinyue went to Puji Temple only accompanied by Xiaoshu, Xiaochan and a few guards.

She clasped her hands together, knelt on the cushion in front of the Buddha, and prayed sincerely.

After lighting the eternal lamp, Xu Xinyue was about to leave, but suddenly she remembered that Zhang Yuqing, whom Shopkeeper Wang had mentioned a few days ago, seemed to be staying here temporarily as well.

I came here by chance today, and we have never made an appointment to meet before. I wonder if we will have the chance to meet.

It is said that many deans of academies have sought to meet with them many times but were unable to do so.

At this moment, the abbot stood behind Xu Xinyue without her noticing, and when he spoke, Xu Xinyue was startled.

Xu Xinyue calmed down and bowed: "Abbot."

The abbot didn't say anything more and directly stated his purpose: "Amitabha, the distinguished guest in the backyard invites you to a gathering."

Xu Xianyue was puzzled: "A distinguished guest? Inviting me? Who?"

She came in a low-key manner today, without any princess's ceremonial guards, and was wearing the clothes of an ordinary wealthy family. How could someone suddenly invite her?

The backyard, isn't it?

Xu Xinyue had a rough idea in his mind.

Whatever, we have to meet each other eventually.

"The abbot leads the way."

We followed the abbot through several winding walls and finally stopped at a Zen temple planted with white plum trees.

The white plum blossoms are falling like snow, although not as precious as the plum blossoms in the palace garden. The cold wind and the snow are so isolated here that it is quite interesting.

The abbot didn't say much and left. Xu Xinyue stepped over the cave door, walked slowly in, went to the entrance of the Zen temple, and knocked lightly on the door.

Not long after waiting, there was a slight sound from inside: "Please——"

Xu Xinyue pushed the door open and walked in, only saying: "Master Zhang——"

Before he could finish his words, he was pulled inside by a strong force: "Mr. Zhang, you are really good at grinding!"

"I've been waiting for you here for so long, but you waited until today to come and see me."

Although she had guessed it before, after seeing it with her own eyes, Xu Xinyue still found it hard to believe: "——Uncle Zhang?"

"Your outfit..."

"Well, I used to dress like this when I was young, and it attracted countless people of my age to imitate me."

His hair was neatly arranged, with half his black hair loose and half tied up. He wore a feather crown on his head and a double-layered black-and-white robe with wide sleeves and no waistband.

No matter what posture, whether standing or lying, each has its own extraordinary handsomeness, unrestrained and unrestrained charm.

Xu Xinyue began to believe what people said, that he was "a brilliant and romantic man with countless admirers" back then. Most of these admirers must be women...

When getting along with Xu Xinyue, Uncle Zhang did not behave as he did with the deans of those academies. He was casual as usual.

Xu Xianyue knelt upright on the futon, while Uncle Zhang lay with one leg curled up and the other bent, casually pointing at the snacks on the table: "Take whatever you want to eat, they are all your favorites."

Xu Xinyue pinched a piece of cake, took a bite and asked him, "Uncle Zhang, if you had already planned this, why didn't you tell me that day?"

"I have been retired for many years. It takes time and momentum to show up in public. Since you think so highly of me, how can I let you down?"

After a short while of being serious, he boasted about himself:

"Oh, I never expected that my fame would still be as great as it was back then!"

"At that time, I was also afraid that the result would not be satisfactory and disappoint you. After all, you have high hopes for me."

After taking a sip of tea, he added, "My reputation is also the reputation of your academy, so naturally the bigger the better."

Ordinary literati are the most reserved and introverted. If they talk about seeking fame, wealth and reputation, even if they have something in mind, they will probably not speak it out loud.

Uncle Zhang, however, had no scruples at all and confessed his true feelings directly to Xu Xinyue.

"I see. Thank you for your concern, Uncle Zhang. I was indeed worried that the academy was not well-known enough. Even if I kept those books privately, people would say that they were not worthy and would be coveted by others. They were originally ownerless. If they were to fall into the hands of a villain again, it would be troublesome."

"I never thought there was a hidden dragon and crouching tiger next to me."

Uncle Zhang glanced at her, poured some tea into the empty teacup in front of her, and said lightly: "Dragons and tigers can't lie down anywhere. They have to be in auspicious forests and auspicious lakes to be willing to hide..."

"Uncle Zhang, what did you just say?"

"Nothing special, you want to start a college, what's your idea, tell me."

Xu Xinyue smiled and said, "Now that Uncle Zhang is here, I don't think I need to find another name. I will build the academy in Uncle Zhang's name and recruit talented people."

Uncle Zhang was puzzled: "Then I will be the one who benefits from this matter in the end, but it was you who collected these classics, and you were the one who advocated the establishment of this academy. If you retreat behind the scenes, wouldn't it be all my credit?"

Xu Xinyue said nonchalantly: "Although I found this book by chance, its origin is unknown, so it cannot be considered my credit. My original intention was just to make the best use of it."

"I'm not that selfless and great, but the Xu family is not rich. Rather than keeping the treasure in my possession and being coveted by others, it's better to give it away and let the world see it together."

"Isn't there still Prince Rong's Mansion?"

"Being affiliated with the royal palace means being affiliated with the royal family. Most of it should be presented to His Majesty. How can I decide to keep it in the world so that all students in the world have the opportunity to see it?"

"The Royal Academy has a threshold for admission. Only royal relatives or sons of important officials can see it. This is not my original intention."

Uncle Zhang had nothing more to say. "You have better ideas than your father. If you trust me, let me handle this matter."

Xu Xinyue picked up the teacup and gently clinked it with the person opposite her, saying coquettishly, "It's a deal."

"Uncle Zhang, if you are short of silver or materials, please don't be polite to me."

"This is the best place for those books. As for whether the academy stores originals or copies, Uncle Zhang will decide."

"Don't worry, I won't be polite to you. Right now, I only have a reputation. I am very poor and have nothing to lose."

"It just so happens that the only thing I have left right now is silver, so it's most appropriate for me to cooperate with Uncle Zhang."

"By the way, did Uncle Zhang go to my wedding to have a drink?"

"I drank it. Old Xu held me and drank for half the night. I cried for half the night. I cried so hard that my head was still beating. But I can understand it. Anyone would cry if such a big baby was given away like this."

The two chatted for a long time before Xu Xinyue left.

Apart from that worry, Xu Xinyue's steps even seemed particularly brisk when going down the mountain.

She got on the carriage of Prince Rong's mansion lightly and eagerly, and couldn't wait to share her joy with others. When she lifted the curtain, she subconsciously said happily: "Qin Yuechuan, let me tell you..."

Halfway through his words, his smile froze and he stopped talking.

The carriage is now empty and quiet, with no familiar figures seen in the past.

Xu Xinyue then remembered that Qin Yuechuan was now far away from Kyoto.

Probably in the near future, for a long time, there would no longer be someone waiting in the carriage of Prince Rong's mansion, smiling and responding to her, and listening to her talk about her troubles.

Xu Xinyue smiled to herself and said, "Forget it. I'll go talk to Daddy Yaoyao and the others."

Having said that, Xiao Shu and Xiao Chan always felt a little lonely when they saw Xu Xinyue lying on the window and looking out.

It would be a bit difficult to adapt to the moment someone who has been with you for a long time leaves you.

Suddenly, Xu Xianyue, who was leaning against the window, said in surprise: "Xiao Shu, that pastry shop is still open. Come on, I want to eat jujube paste cakes, jade pear cakes, and silk rolls. I heard that they are limited at the end of the year!"

Xiao Shu paused, then quickly responded: "Oh, oh, okay, I'll go buy it."

Okay, Your Majesty, I don’t have any incense.

Xiao Shu got off the carriage and headed straight for the largest pastry shop in Kyoto that Xu Xinyue pointed out.

The streets are sparsely populated right now, even though it is daytime. Most shops are closed at the end of the year, and only a few large shops are still in business.

There are few customers at the moment, only a few scattered vendors who are still selling goods with their carts and their hands in their pockets.

Xu Xinyue was chatting with Xiao Chan casually when she suddenly heard the driver shouting, "No, no, do you think the palace is an orphanage? They'll take anything!"

Xu Xinyue raised her voice and asked curiously, "What's wrong?"

The driver immediately replied, "It's alright, Princess. There is a child holding something dirty and asking us to take it in."

"Take in?"

Xu Xinyue lifted the curtain and looked outside, and indeed saw a little boy about ten years old, wearing a coarse cloth jacket and gray-blue cotton pants. His little face was red from the cold, and he was holding a gray and white short fluffy object in his arms, blocking the way of the carriage.

Seeing Xu Xinyue looking over here, she ignored the guards' attempts to stop her and said, "Are you the princess? I'm not a bad person, and what I have in my hand is not a dirty thing. It's just a little raccoon. Please take it in and save it."

Xu Xinyue only said to the guard: "Give him some silver."

The child seemed to be distracted and insisted, "I'm not a beggar, I don't want money, but if this little cat follows me it will be hard for it to live long, and my family won't let me take it in, so I just want to find a good family for it, please save it."

He cried again, "This raccoon may have damaged its voice from wandering around. It doesn't bark and is very quiet. It won't disturb you."

"It was originally snow-colored. Snow-colored raccoons are weak among their kind and are always bullied. It is also mute. If no one takes it in, it will probably die. I only ask you to save it. I don't want money."

Xu Xinyue listened to him and felt that he was kind-hearted, so she asked the guard to give him some silver and waved her hand, saying, "Come forward, let me take a look."

After getting the consent, the little boy grinned and walked forward, standing on tiptoe, holding the cat in his arms high in front of her window so that Xu Xinyue could see it clearly.

Although his hair was messy, mixed with dirty gray and white, his eyes were dark green, like a pair of top-quality transparent glass beads.

It has pointed ears, round eyes and a well-proportioned body. It should look good if it is cleaned.

She suddenly recalled that during the winter hunt, Qin Lingruo seemed to have always been talking about wanting to raise a white pet...

So he casually asked, "Does it have a name?"

The little boy was overjoyed: "Yes, yes, I found it outside the city, in a dilapidated temple beside the Sheyang River."

"It's called 'Asher'."