Chapter 11

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation

Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

The monk was a little stunned. Then, he remembered that he would complete his spiritual practice next year and would not need her anymore. 

At that time, where would the widow go?

When he snapped out of his daze, the widow had already left with a smile, and he shook his head. At that time, he could bring the widow to the palace and have her help in the imperial kitchen. 

Without him taking care of her, she might not be able to survive. 

Chu Yue’s “illness” only lasted for three days. Then, she recovered fully. The prescription was one to strengthen the body, and she gave Yingda money to help her get the ingredients. After cooking them, she gave them to Hupo. 

She did not drink the medicine, but it was clear that after her episode of “sickness”, she became closer to the monk. 

It was rare for her to be able to get closer to him, so it was only natural for her to strike while the iron was hot. 

Half a month went by, and the snow began falling harder. At that moment, Chu Yue was warming up water in the kitchen so that the monk could soak his feet. 

Once she was done, she brought the bucket of water over. 

The monk came over to open the door. When he saw her carry the bucket of water, he said, “Have Yingda perform this sort of manual labor.”

“I’m used to manual labor. Besides, if I can serve you, even if I’m tired, it’s nothing.” Chu Yue pursed her lips and giggled. 

Clearly, it was an honor for her to be able to serve him, and she liked doing it.

The monk did not have the habit of soaking his feet. He would occasionally wash his feet, but ever since the widow recovered from her “illness”, she started boiling water for him to wash his feet every day. 

She said that soaking his feet was comfortable, and it could also strengthen his body. 

“Master, your toes are really beautiful. It’s just you’re rather hairy, aren’t you?” While washing his feet, the widow smiled bashfully. 

The first time she washed the monk’s feet, he felt a little ill at ease, but he could not bear to see her sad face when he did not allow her to do it. 

Now, he was quite used to her washing his feet, and it was very comfortable as well. It was just that when she massaged his feet, her strength was not enough. But it made sense. She was a woman, so it was inevitable that she would not have a lot of strength. 

The monk said nothing. He just enjoyed her hands kneading his feet. 

As Chu Yue massaged him, she caressed his soles with her delicate hands. The monk’s eyes were shut, but his eyebrows moved a little. 

However, he did nothing. 

Chu Yue touched his toes and said, “My greatest fortune is being able to be your chef. I don’t know whether it is appropriate for me to think of things this way and whether I will interfere with your spiritual practice, but I just want to serve you the rest of my life. I long for nothing else.”

The monk said nothing. But when she left, he opened his eyes, and there was a resigned look in his eyes. 

He truly did not know how he was supposed to persuade the young widow to give up. She was always considerate when it came to him, and she cared for him meticulously. Yet she wanted to follow him and serve him for the rest of her life. 

The monk picked up a Buddhist scripture and started reading it, but even after looking at the words for a long time, he did not manage to absorb anything. 

He put on his shoes and walked out. Luckily, Eunuch Feng had sent a book of reports over, so he went to the room next door to handle them. 

Eunuch Feng called out to Yingda and asked him softly, “What’s going on? Why do I feel that our master is not happy?”

“The master has been really happy lately,” Yingda said with a shake of his head. 

Even though his master said nothing, Yingda had grown up with him, so there was no way he would not be able to tell his moods. 

Eunuch Feng frowned and said, “I wouldn’t be mistaken. The master has been in a pleasant mood lately though.”

“It should be because of the widow,” Yingda said. 

“What do you mean?” Eunuch Feng quickly asked. 

“I don’t know.” Yingda shook his head. 

Eunuch Feng began making guesses. He, too, had grown up with the master, but he was a little more shrewd. “How well does the master sleep?”

“His sleep has been pretty good. But over the past few days, he only goes to sleep when it’s very late at night,” Yingda said. 

Eunuch Feng’s eyes lit up a little. “Did the widow say something?”

Yingda shook his head. “I wouldn’t know.” He did not dare to approach the room to listen. “But the master really likes her serving him.” This was something he was very certain of. 

Every single time she came, the master was very happy. Even though it did not show on his face, those who were familiar with him could tell that the master was in a good mood. 

Eunuch Feng sighed. “She truly has quite a lot of tricks up her sleeves. If it were not for her status, she would be able to achieve great things.” 

He was a eunuch and had seen a lot of the methods women used in the palace. Even so, he had to admit that the widow had her own ways as well. 

How could her methods be normal if she were able to make her master not able to sleep at night?

Eunuch Feng was especially amazed by her when he learned that she had been personally washing the master’s feet, because it meant that she had come into direct contact with him yet the master did not find her an annoyance. It made it clear that the widow had some good tricks. 

However, Eunuch Feng still stood by the fact that she was a widow and could not change anything about her life. On the day his master completed his spiritual practice, he would end his relationship with her. 

But she had served him well, so he would ensure her a life of riches and glory. 

Whether she would receive it would then depend on her own luck. 

Eunuch Feng came back to serve his master. The monk read through the reports and asked, “Did any disasters occur because of the blizzard this year?”

“Master, you do not need to worry. After you were crowned emperor, you reduced taxes by three-tenths, and the people have enough money to spare. The snow this year fell hard, but it did not cause any disasters,” Eunuch Feng said. 

When the monk heard this, his expression became gentler. But halfway through reading the reports, he stopped. 

Eunuch Feng knew that his master would order him to do something when he stopped reading, so he began listening intently. 

“Once I am done with my spiritual practice, bring the widow into the palace and arrange a job for her in the imperial kitchen.”

Eunuch Feng was shocked. 

His master wanted to bring the widow into the palace!

“Understood.” Yet even though he was in great shock, Eunuch Feng did not dare to say anything. He just agreed to it. 

Once done with the matter, the monk continued dealing with the reports. His mood was slightly better. If he moved her to the palace, she would not be too disappointed, right?

After Eunuch Feng left the room, he said that he wanted to meet the widow. 

Yingda called Chu Yue over. 

“Ma’am, you have been taking care of the master very well. This is your wages this month. I hope that you will continue working hard and will have a bright future ahead of you,” Eunuch Feng said with a smile. 

Chu Yue did not really care about her future and did not take the silver. “My wages this month should be used to buy the charcoal.”

Eunuch Feng gave her a look. ‘You wouldn’t be able to buy a lot of golden animal charcoal with just this bit of money, you know? The amount of charcoal you use isn’t that much smaller than what the master uses. How much money do you think would be needed to buy that charcoal?’

“Then, I will go back and ask the master about it,” Eunuch Feng said. He went into the room to ask, and soon, he came out. “The master said that the charcoal is a gift to you. You will still receive your wages.”

“Oh, I feel ashamed about this. The master is already very good to me, so how can I just take what is his without paying him?” Chu Yue shook her head. 

The monk stood in the courtyard, so there was a wall between them. When he heard her words, a smile bloomed on his face. 

“The master already said that it’s for you, so take it. You just have to serve him wholeheartedly. That is the best way for you to repay him.” Eunuch Feng words hinted at an underlying meaning. 

‘This stupid eunuch is seriously constantly trying to seize the monk’s weakness, huh?’