Time Traveling: the Only Beloved Husband

Shen Xiangyan and Xia Rong rested once again midway up the mountain before climbing further. The incense at Foguang Temple was flourishing, with throngs of people coming every year to burn incense and worship Buddha. Upon entering the main hall, they saw a golden Buddha statue in front of them. Xia Rong knelt devoutly before the statue, offering incense and making wishes. Shen Xiangyan followed suit, bowing three times. He had never believed in Buddha, but his current situation was clearly a miraculous recovery, leaving him no choice but to acknowledge something beyond himself.

Kneeling before the Buddha statue, Shen Xiangyan sincerely thanked the heavens for granting him this opportunity to be revived and to find someone to spend his life with in this place. However, that was enough for him. He remained inherently self-reliant and wouldn’t make any wishes to the Buddha. His priority was Xia Rong alone, and he would ensure her lifelong happiness and peace.

After offering incense, Xia Rong tugged at Shen Xiangyan’s sleeve, asking him to wait for her in front of the hall. Shen Xiangyan obediently stood there as instructed, but before long, a venerable monk with kind eyes approached him steadily. Bowing respectfully, the monk greeted him with a “Amitabha.” Shen Xiangyan returned the gesture.

“The humble monk goes by the name Shiji. I sense a connection with you, would you be willing to accompany me to my residence for a cup of tea?”

Shen Xiangyan listened to the monk’s words. If it weren’t for the setting, he would have thought he encountered a con artist from the rivers and lakes. After a moment’s thought, he agreed and followed Master Shiji to his residence. However, he didn’t forget to leave someone behind to wait for the rightful master, in case Xia Rong returned and couldn’t find him, causing worry.

After speaking with her husband, Xia Rong went to the temple to donate some money for incense and prayed for safety before feeling satisfied and preparing to return to her husband. However, she was intercepted on the way back by a young maid by her mother’s side. Although Xia Rong was puzzled, she couldn’t refuse her mother’s summons.

When Xia Rong and the others arrived, the maid personally went forward to invite them into the house. Once inside, Madam Xia approached Xia Rong and helped her up when she tried to bow. “My child, why are you being so formal? You don’t need to bow to your own mother. Sit down and talk with me.”

Facing her suddenly affectionate mother, Xia Rong felt a bit wary. Her mother had always been distant, so she wondered what she wanted to discuss today. Xia Rong was not good at making polite conversation, and now she was even more unsure how to respond. She simply murmured a “yes” and remained silent.

Madam Xia didn’t mind her son’s demeanor. She instructed the maid to bring him a cup of tea before softly continuing, “Since we sent you to the Shen family, your father and I haven’t been able to sleep well. Originally, because your elder sister was in poor health, we spoiled her. We were afraid she wouldn’t adapt if she married too early, so we had the idea of arranging you for marriage.”

As Xia Rong listened to her mother’s words with her head lowered, her heart skipped a beat. She didn’t know why her mother suddenly brought up this matter. Madam Xia paused briefly before continuing, “During this time, your father and I often think back to when we negotiated the marriage alliance with the Shen family. We felt guilty towards them. Although we were reluctant, we finally decided to marry off your elder sister to them. That way, your father and I can have some peace of mind.”

Upon hearing her mother’s words, Xia Rong lifted her head incredulously, her eyes wide open. “Mother, then what about me…”

Before Xia Rong could continue, Madam Xia interrupted, taking her hand. “Mother knows we’ve wronged you, but rest assured, your elder sister won’t mistreat you after she’s married. You two will have each other for company.”

Xia Rong withdrew her hand from her mother’s grasp. The thought of her husband marrying someone else made her feel as if a piece of her heart had been torn away. No, her husband had said he only wanted her. With determination, Xia Rong gathered her courage and said to her mother, “Mother, my husband said he only wants me. Naturally, he won’t marry my elder sister.”

Madam Xia calmly sipped her tea upon hearing this. “Silly child, even if polygamy isn’t common nowadays, every man desires to have a wife. Do you want your husband to be looked down upon by others? Rest assured, as long as you agree, your husband won’t say anything.”

Madam Xia treated her like a child, dismissing the idea that a man would only want one wife. Otherwise, where would Xia Rong have come from?

Xia Rong’s hand trembled as she held onto her sleeve. She feared the truth being revealed. She knew she was different, and her husband loved and cherished her, but did he truly not want to marry a woman? If circumstances hadn’t forced his hand, would he have chosen her as his spouse?

Madam Xia didn’t expect to convince Xia Rong in one go. She had already arranged for Xia Ji and Shen Xiangyan to meet. Later, if he happened to take Xia Rong for a stroll and they encountered the two of them behaving intimately, he wouldn’t have a choice but to believe.

Seeing the signal from the maid, Madam Xia knew everything was arranged. She stood up, adjusting her clothes slightly. “I heard there’s a nice forest behind the temple. Little master, accompany me for a walk.”

Xia Rong’s mind was in turmoil, unsure of what her mother had said. When someone pulled her to go, she didn’t resist.

Meanwhile, in Master Shiji’s room, Shen Xiangyan enjoyed several cups of tea brewed by the master himself. They conversed pleasantly. Shen Xiangyan learned that Master Shiji was actually the abbot’s younger brother. As he was given two strands of Buddhist beads upon leaving, a servant boy ran towards him. The boy introduced himself from Madam Xia’s side and said Xia Rong urgently needed him, hence the summons.

Shen Xiangyan, hearing it was his beloved who sought him, didn’t hesitate to follow. He questioned the boy along the way about the urgency, but the boy only said he was sent to fetch him, avoiding any further inquiries. Shen Xiangyan found the situation suspicious. If Xia Rong needed him, why didn’t she send someone from her side instead of a servant boy from Madam Xia’s side?

Although he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was amiss, he decided to proceed cautiously. After all, if it was indeed Xia Rong who needed him, he couldn’t afford to ignore it. So, he followed the servant boy without revealing his suspicions.

As Madam Xia and Xia Rong walked through the woods, they neared a pavilion where Xia Ji’s voice could be heard. “You said someone sent you to invite me here, but where is he?”

“Please wait a moment, Miss. My master will be here soon,” a maid replied.

Madame Xia smiled at Yuma and said, “Let’s wait here for a while. I’m curious to know who invited our Ji Ji. As a mother, if I were to go over now, Ji Ji would surely be annoyed.”

Yuma nodded in agreement, and the group waited under the cover of the trees. Meanwhile, Xia Rong couldn’t understand why his elder sister was waiting here for the meeting, especially when their mother didn’t stop her. After all, if a man from outside came, it could tarnish Xia Ji’s reputation.

Just as she was pondering this, footsteps approached from the other side of the forest, accompanied by a man’s voice. “Is the beauty we’re expecting here?” The man hurried into the pavilion. When Xia Ji’s angry voice echoed from inside, Madam Xia’s face turned ashen. “Hurry up and bring the young lady over here!”

Though Xia Ji couldn’t see the man’s face clearly from a distance, she noticed his blond hair ornament from afar. Before Xia Rong could comprehend what was happening, she felt a hand pulling her. It was a familiar touch, the gentle texture of silk. She didn’t need to guess to know it was her husband.

After bidding farewell to Madam Xia, who looked rather grim, they left the woods. Originally, they had come out for a leisurely stroll, but things had taken an unexpected turn. Luckily, Shen Xiangyan had been cautious, or they might have fallen into Madam Xia’s trap.

Seeing the time, it was clear they wouldn’t make it down the mountain before dark. Shen Xiangyan explained to the monks that they intended to stay the night, and they were quickly accommodated with a guest room.

The lodging for temple guests was modest, but it was in line with the simplicity of a Buddhist sanctuary.

Having heard that the vegetarian dishes in the temple were good, Shen Xiangyan instructed He Xin to bring some back. They were all common vegetables like cabbage, radish, and wood ear mushrooms, but prepared with care. Seeing Xia Rong looking burdened across from him, Shen Xiangyan handed him a bowl of white rice. “Rong’er, try this. I heard the vegetarian dishes here taste pretty good.”

Xia Rong tasted the food and found it satisfactory, but after the conversation with his mother earlier, he had lost his appetite. He picked at the rice with his chopsticks, unable to eat. Shen Xiangyan didn’t say anything, simply took the bowl from Xia Rong’s hands and began to feed him, picking up bits of vegetables with his chopsticks and offering them to Xia Rong.

Feeling embarrassed at being fed like a child, Xia Rong attempted to take the bowl back. “Husband, I can do it myself.”

Ignoring his resistance, Shen Xiangyan gently insisted, “Be good, open your mouth.” When a mouthful of wood ear mushrooms approached, Xia Rong reluctantly complied and ate it. They continued this back-and-forth, sharing the meal until Xia Rong had eaten most of the rice, and only then did Shen Xiangyan relent.

After dinner, Shen Xiangyan had the servants tidy up before he picked up Xia Rong and let him sit on his lap. “Rong’er, is there something on your mind? Would you like to tell your husband about it?”

Sitting on his husband’s lap was a position Xia Rong had become accustomed to. He shifted around until he found the most comfortable spot and then nestled into his husband’s embrace. Xia Rong couldn’t help but wonder if his husband would hold someone else like this too. He didn’t want his husband to belong to anyone else, but would expressing this make his husband think he was jealous? Would his husband stop liking him if he said such things? He couldn’t be sure whether he should speak up or not.

“Rong’er, we’re husbands, and we’re going to spend our lives together. I can’t possibly guess what you’re thinking every moment, right? If there’s something you want to tell me, of course, I’ll tell you directly if I have something to say too. That way, we can avoid unnecessary misunderstandings between us.” Shen Xiangyan gently stroked Xia Rong’s back as he softly reminded him of the way husbands should interact with each other.