I was reborn after cheating on the aloof and powerful man.

Chapter 117 Why are you so good to me?

"The Buddha is merciful and protects all beings. This humble monk is merely one of the many beings who are protected by the Buddha. Today I am a monk, tomorrow a demon; I have a thousand faces and a thousand appearances, yet I am still this humble monk. Why should Your Highness be so fixated on my outward appearance? Why not take a closer look at my true self and see if I am a Buddha or a demon?"

"Buddha and demon are both in a single thought. A thought arises from causes and conditions. Junior sister is but a mortal, how could she possibly see through senior brother's karma? Junior sister is young and lacks wisdom. She only feels that being a Buddha or a demon is nothing more than the karmic obstacles arising in people's hearts. Junior sister's wish is very small, only that the world be at peace. I wonder what senior brother Jiewang thinks of this wish?"

"That would be wonderful! That is also my wish."

Inside the main hall of Liangyi Palace, Fei Xi and the monk Jie Wang exchanged words, their seemingly peaceful conversation concealing a sharp edge. Their dialogue resembled a game of strategy, a back-and-forth exchange where neither would yield an inch.

In the end, the two smiled at each other, like long-lost friends, and the atmosphere was harmonious.

But this scene infuriated Gu Mingfeng, who was standing nearby. He barged between the two, glaring at the monk with hostility.

"Now that you've finished speaking, you can get lost!"

The monk, as if looking at an ignorant child, wore a compassionate expression and spoke in a gentle tone full of tolerance.

"Now that I have delivered my message, I should take my leave. But before I go, I have a word for you, Prince Gu. A man's courage alone cannot accomplish great things. In the future, Prince Gu, please think twice before you act. If I had not arrived in time, the consequences would have been unimaginable."

The monk Jiewang's words instantly darkened Gu Mingfeng's face, his eyes flashing with anger and dissatisfaction.

He glared at the monk in front of him, his fierce tone seemingly tinged with a hint of grievance:

"None of your business! Don't think I don't know that my death is a good thing for you. My mother isn't here, so you don't need to put on this act. Don't think I'll fall for your tricks again!"

“Young Master Gu, I have already explained what happened before, but you only listened to half of what I said before running away. His Highness is not blaming you, but is worried about your safety, which is why his tone was a little hurried. You can be angry with me, but you must not betray His Highness's love for his son.”

His pure and innocent face was full of genuine concern, but the person he was showing concern for didn't appreciate it at all.

"My mother loves me the most, of course. She has no right to interfere. One day, I will make her see your true colors!"

"Ha, it's excellent that Young Master Gu has such confidence."

Monk Jiewang was not annoyed at all, and accepted Gu Mingfeng's provocation with a smile.

Turning around, he removed the Buddhist prayer beads from his wrist and handed them to Fei Xi, who was engrossed in eating melon seeds.

“Princess, the journey to the desert may be fraught with peril. This string of prayer beads has been with me for many years, and through my daily chanting and prayers, it has acquired a little spiritual energy. I present it to you today in the hope that it will ensure your safe journey and that all your wishes will come true.”

Fei Xi took the still-warm Buddhist beads and looked at the monk in front of her with some doubt.

The monk said no more, smiled slightly, and before Fei Xi could say anything, he performed his farewell ceremony and turned to leave.

"You should throw these prayer beads away! Don't be fooled by his appearance. This monk is full of bad intentions. Who knows what's mixed in with these prayer beads? Wearing them for too long will make you lose your mind and become a puppet who only listens to him."

Seeing Fei Xi accept the Buddhist beads from the evil monk, Gu Mingfeng was so angry that his cheeks swelled up.

"Yes, I know. I'll keep these prayer beads for now; they'll be useful. Are you alright getting up so quickly? How have you been feeling lately?"

Not long after helping Gu Mingfeng open his Ren and Du meridians that day, his master had an accident.

Fei Xi focused all her energy on curing her master's poison. Thinking that Gu Mingfeng was not seriously injured and that there were imperial physicians in the palace, she no longer paid attention to Gu Mingfeng's injuries.

When Gu Mingfeng came to see her today, Fei Xi knew that Gu Mingfeng was alright as soon as she saw that he was walking normally and in good spirits.

But she still stepped forward, took his hand, and carefully took his pulse.

"...There are still some superficial injuries, but they will heal in a few more days. It was actually a good thing that your internal energy was exhausted that day. Although you had a good teacher before, your knowledge was too scattered. Even with diligent practice, your specialization is still limited."

"These past few days you must have already felt the benefits of opening up your Ren and Du meridians. You are naturally intelligent, so it's fine for you to pick up all your previous martial arts and practice them together. However, I still suggest you don't do that. I have a book called Taiqing Xuanshang Jing here. If you practice your internal energy according to this manual, before you turn thirty, the effect will not be much worse than eating the Undying Flower."

The hand holding his had some calluses, which made Gu Mingfeng feel a slight itch and couldn't help but drift off into a daze.

So after hearing Fei Xi's words, he was stunned for a while before he understood what she meant.

He understood perfectly and had no doubt that Fei Xi was exaggerating.

His face, which had just been filled with anger, was instantly filled with joy. However, amidst his happiness, Gu Mingfeng asked with a mixture of doubt and anticipation:

Why are you so good to me?

As soon as he said it, Gu Mingfeng immediately added,

"If you're going to be nice to me, you can only be nice to me! You can't even look at anyone else, especially that monk from earlier, you're not allowed to talk to him again."

……

The only response to Gu Mingfeng's question was a Buddhist scripture that had insulted his head.

Fei Xi threw a book at the arrogant nobleman who dared to act so arrogantly towards her.

The monk Jiewang was a man of Princess Lu Mingyue.

In her previous life, when Fei Xi met this person, he was not called Jie Wang, nor was he a monk. Instead, he was Pei Chi Hui, the powerful Prime Minister Pei.

Fei Xi had always believed that this man was a male concubine kept by the Eldest Princess. Harboring resentment towards the Eldest Princess, he gained favor with Emperor Hua after being introduced to her by the Eldest Princess, and seized an opportunity to betray the Eldest Princess, becoming the ultimate winner in the court.

But watching Gu Mingfeng's conversation with this person today, Fei Xi felt as if she had overlooked something.

"Young Master Gu, you seem to particularly dislike Senior Brother Jiewang. How did you come to know him?" Fei Xi asked knowingly, hoping to get an answer from Gu Mingfeng.

Despite not getting angry at all after being hit, Gu Mingfeng curled the corners of his mouth, flipped through the scriptures in his hand, and casually replied:

"He is my mother's godson."

Pfft! Fei Xi almost lost control of her expression; it's no wonder she misunderstood!

*

Inside the Hall of Literary Glory, when Emperor Hua saw the monk below him, a smile instantly appeared on his stern face, and his words were full of concern.

"You've come. I owe you a great debt this time. Come before me. How has Mingyue been lately?"

"Your Majesty, the Princess is well," Jie Wang replied respectfully, taking two steps forward and bowing slightly.

Emperor Hua sighed softly, seemingly weary: "I am getting old, and lately I feel increasingly powerless. There is not a single person in the court who gives me any peace of mind; they are all thinking about vying for power and profit, neglecting the affairs of the country."

There was silence below, and Emperor Hua didn't need the monk to reply.

Changing his tone, he looked at the monk below him with affection and said, "I know you are devoted to Buddhism, but I need you. Please return to secular life and help me."

Upon hearing this, Jiewang took a deep breath, bowed his head, put his palms together in a gesture of respect, and slowly said, "Your Majesty is blessed with great fortune and has countless talented and extraordinary people around you. This humble monk is merely a country monk and I am afraid that I am not capable of undertaking such an important task and that I will fail Your Majesty's expectations."

Hua Di frowned, then relaxed his expression, and said in an unquestionable tone:

"If I say you can do it, then you can. But what are your concerns? I will personally explain to Zen Master Hongfa, so you don't need to feel any burden."

"If Your Majesty truly needs this humble monk, I will certainly do my duty. However, I have already entered the Buddhist order, and I hope Your Majesty will not make things difficult for my master."

Seeing the monk take a step back, his face displaying a filial devotion devoid of any desire for power, Emperor Hua felt a warmth rise in his heart and relentlessly replied:

"You... fine, I agree."