An Unattainable Flower

"Of course it's not fine. I lost my breath while staring at you, and it is quite inappropriate. I hope that you will forgive me and not chase me away. I have been rejected by my husband's family. Fortunately for me, those at Shangqing Temple are tolerant, or else, I would not have a place to stay in, even if the world is so big," Chu Yue said pitifully. 

"When have I ever mentioned that I wanted to chase you away?" the monk asked.

When he had just learned that she was the new chef who had been cooking vegetarian meals for him, he felt that he had been deceived. 

But after she spoke, he could understand what was going on.

She only dared to meet him after she was rewarded, which was a clear sign that she was worried that she would lose this job after he learned that it was her. 

She had not showed up in front of him before and bothered him. 

If Eunuch Feng had actually dared to send someone over, the woman would definitely not be dressed like this. 

As the monk thought, the displeasure in his heart disappeared. 

"Are you still willing to let me stay and cook for you?" Chu Yue looked up at him with delight.

"If you want to stay, you may. But you are not allowed to bother me."

"Thank you, Master, you are a good man. I'll be able to have a better time this winter now that I have this job," Chu Yue said happily. 

Then, she saw the charcoal the monk used and sighed, 'As expected of the abbot of Longan Temple and the person the stupid eunuch wants to bring down. He's actually using golden animal charcoal.'

Golden animal charcoal was even better than pure hardwood charcoal. It was incredibly easy to use, and when it started burning, it did not produce any smell of smoke but the fragrance of pine. 

When the monk saw how much she longed to have the charcoal, he said, "If you want it, I can give you some." 

"Then I will have to thank you. My maid and I might have bought some charcoal to keep us warm, but it cannot compare to your charcoal. 

"I think this sort of charcoal is very difficult to buy outside so I can't take it without paying you back. After all, I cannot take rewards without doing something to deserve them. Could you deduct the money required to buy them from my wages?" Chu Yue asked. 

"As you wish." When the monk saw that she was not greedy for small gains even though she was a widow, he scrutinized her again. 

"Then, I will not bother you in your training. I will leave now. By the way, what would you like to eat for lunch? I will make it for you," Chu Yue asked in a rather obsequious tone. 

"You can cook whatever you want." The monk knew based on the food she made that all of her cooking suited his tastes. 

The monk did not mind her trying to curry favor with him either. She was a widow, so she no longer had a man to rely on and would naturally treasure her job after she got it. 

Chu Yue nodded and went out of the room respectfully. 

Eunuch Feng was a little anxious as he waited outside. 

It was cold, but he did not seem to find the weather chilly. When he saw the widow come out, he quickly went up to ask her in a whisper, "So… did the mast— did the monk scold you?"

"Why would the master scold me out of the blue?" Chu Yue asked. 

Eunuch Feng was stunned. Before he could say anything, Chu Yue continued, "I spoke to the master just now, and he agreed to give me some charcoal. It's the one he's using in his room. As for the money for it, please deduct it from my monthly wages. And please have Yingda send the charcoal over since I don't have the strength to carry it myself."

After she finished speaking, she turned to go back home. It was still a long time before lunch. 

Eunuch Feng quickly followed after her. Chu Yue looked at him and asked, "Is there something else, Sir?"

"No, I mean, did the master say anything else just now? Was he angry?" Eunuch Feng asked. 

"Angry? Why should he be angry? The master is very kind and of noble character. He is a saintly monk who is rarely found in the world," Chu Yue said with admiration in her voice. "I am a widow and am treated as an unlucky object in the world, but he did not regard me with any sort of bias at all."

Eunuch Feng was pleased when he saw that she was filled with admiration for his master. His master was magnanimous, and his heart had to contain his people. Naturally, he would not sink to the same level as a widow. 

"The master does care for you," Eunuch Feng said meaningfully. 

"I know," Chu Yue stated briefly. 

Both of them understood what the other was thinking, even though they said nothing about it. They knew that if they were impatient, they would not be able to get what they want. 

While Eunuch Feng sent her back, Yingda delivered a huge sack of golden animal charcoal to her doorstep.

Eunuch Feng went to the monk to ask for forgiveness afterwards. "I did not know that the widow actually knew you and that she had even offended you before. I only heard about it from Yingda now.

"I am filled with regret. I should not have given this task to her just because she is a widow and has no one to rely on. Master, do not worry. I will replace her with someone else. I will get you a new chef."

The monk was actually the current emperor. "It's fine. As long as she does not bother me, let her continue as my chef."

He was not so above it all that he could not tolerate a woman like her. 

"Master, you have a magnanimous heart. She will definitely be grateful to you," Eunuch Feng quickly said. 

'That widow actually has a few tricks up her sleeve. When I was outside, I thought she was definitely going to get killed. I didn't expect that she would be able to turn the tides. Looks like I cannot underestimate this widow.'

Perhaps in the future, she might actually be able to speak to his master. 

Even though the chances were close to zero, when someone reached His Majesty's position, they actually did not mind being bound to someone out of true love. 

*****

Chu Yue had already gone back and lit up the golden animal charcoal. 

The entire room filled with the smell of pine, which was a really nice scent. 

"Milady, why would they send us such good charcoal?" Hupo could not help but ask. 

"Send us? I bought this with my monthly wages. It's going to be deducted from my wages," Chu Yue said. 

When Hupo heard this, she understood what was going on. Since they asked money for it, it was good. She could relax. 

Chu Yue brought out the two handfuls of silver and said, "This is the reward they gave me when I went over today. Keep it properly. I might be a little more busy in the future and won't be able to come back as often."

She had already shown her face, so it was about time she started establishing her presence. 

The monk was someone who had already cleansed his heart of all desires, so it would not be easy for her to pluck this unattainable flower. Hence, she would have to put a little effort into it. 

But since he was so handsome, even if she had to put a little effort into it, so be it. Once she got him in her hands, he would be the one serving her. 

When Hupo saw how ambitious her mistress looked, she was a little worried. "Milady, are you going to do something major?"

'The monk is currently my big project.'

"Just focus on nursing yourself back to health. You're too weak. Next time, you'll have to skip rope and jog with me," Chu Yue said. 

Hupo wanted to cry. She knew it, she was dragging her mistress down. 

Chu Yue was still training her body every day. Right then, she had started doing yoga in the room. 

In her previous life, she was a top-class yoga master, but the flexibility of her body in this life was quite bad 

So, she had to train it well. 

Hupo was stunned as she watched. What… was her mistress doing?