After I transmigrated, the cold king clung to me every day.

Chapter 252 Murong Che Shaves His Head to Become a Monk: Xue Xiang Enraged and Slaps Murong Che

At the entrance of the Fourth Prince's residence, Xue Xiang stood with a furrowed brow, her face etched with anxiety and unease. Her eyes were filled with bewilderment as she glanced frequently at the street outside the residence, as if hoping for the appearance of that familiar figure. Her hands unconsciously clenched the hem of her dress, her knuckles turning white from the force.

She paced back and forth at the entrance of the Prince's mansion, her steps hurried and disordered, each step heavy, as if she could dispel the unease in her heart.

Just then, Murong Han returned alone.

Xue Xiang's eyes lit up instantly, a flame of hope igniting within them. She hurried forward, eagerly asking, "Cousin, how is it? Have you found the Fourth Prince?" She tilted her head back, her eyes fixed on Murong Han's face, her gaze filled with anticipation and anxiety.

Murong Han raised his hand slightly, signaling her to calm down, and said with a gentle smile, "Don't worry, he'll be back soon, but... he said he has some things to take care of!"

Upon hearing this, the light in Xue Xiang's eyes dimmed slightly, replaced by deep worry. Her voice trembled slightly as she asked with a hint of timidity, "Your Highness... are you really willing to forgive me?"

Murong Han's expression was solemn, his lips were tightly pressed together, and a complex emotion flashed in his eyes. He was silent for a moment before forcing a smile, raising his hand to gently pat Xue Xiang's shoulder, and reassuringly said, "Of course, Fourth Brother is always kind. He was just too impulsive. Let him calm down, and he'll be fine!"

Upon hearing this, Xue Xiang's face instantly lit up with a radiant smile. Her eyes curved into crescents, sparkling with joy. She excitedly exclaimed, "Really? That's wonderful! I'm so glad His Highness can forgive me!" Then, she glanced at Murong Han with delight and said, "Cousin, I'm going to get ready and wait for His Highness to return!" Before Murong Han could even speak, she skipped and hopped inside like a happy little deer.

Watching Xue Xiang's departing figure, Murong Han sighed softly, his expression growing increasingly grave. His brows furrowed deeply, forming several deep lines, his eyes filled with worry and helplessness. He slowly shook his head and murmured, "Ah, Xiang'er..."

Xue Xiang sat before the carved pear wood dressing table, her eyes brimming with undisguised joy. A smile played on her lips, and her eyes sparkled with a dazzling light, as if countless stars had fallen into them.

She gently picked up the horn comb and, stroke by stroke, slowly and meticulously combed her ink-black hair. Each movement carried a joyful rhythm, the smooth strands of hair gliding through her fingertips, just like her lighthearted mood at that moment.

A maidservant handed her rouge, which she took, lightly dabbed at her cheeks with her finger, and then slowly blended it out. Instantly, her cheeks were tinged with a delicate, blushing pink, like peach blossoms. Looking at herself in the bronze mirror, she couldn't help but laugh out loud, her clear and melodious laughter echoing throughout the boudoir.

But after waiting for a long time, the Fourth Prince still hadn't returned. Xue Xiang waited from afternoon until the sun was setting, her anticipation gradually replaced by unease. She would get up and look out the window, then sit down and fidget with the hem of her clothes, her eyes always fixed on the direction of the Prince's mansion gate.

The sky outside the window gradually darkened, and the once bright sky was slowly swallowed up by the twilight.

The orange-red sunset was like spilled paint, smeared wildly across the sky, before slowly fading away.

The sun slowly sank below the horizon, and night spread out rapidly like a huge black ribbon.

Xue Xiang's brows furrowed deeper, and her anxiety grew more pronounced. She stood up, her skirt swaying slightly with the movement, her face filled with confusion and worry.

"It's so late, why hasn't the Prince returned yet!" Her voice rose involuntarily, tinged with panic. "No, I have to go find him!" With that, she lifted her skirt and hurried toward the Prince's mansion gate, her hair flying wildly in the wind.

When Murong Han saw Xue Xiang rush out, he hurriedly called out to stop her, "Xiang'er~" His voice was filled with anxiety and helplessness, and then he quickly chased after her.

Xue Xiang's hair was disheveled in the wind, her eyes were full of anxiety and urgency, and she hurried along every familiar and unfamiliar street and alley.

In her tireless search for Murong Che, she left her anxious figure in every possible place, yet she never saw that familiar face. Unbeknownst to her, she arrived at an ancient temple.

Her brows were furrowed tightly, and fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead. She murmured to herself, "Your Highness, where are you?" Her voice was trembling with tears, filled with helplessness and anxiety.

At this moment, Murong Han strode over, gently patted her shoulder, and soothed her in a soft voice, "Xiang'er, let's go back! Perhaps he has already returned to the manor!" Upon hearing this, Xue Xiang felt a sense of comfort. She pursed her lips, nodded slightly, and was just about to turn and leave.

Just then, the abbot's calm voice came from the temple: "Now that you have taken refuge in Buddhism, you must sever your worldly attachments and devote yourself to the Buddha."

Then a familiar voice rang out: "My mind is made up; from now on, I will no longer concern myself with worldly affairs."

Xue Xiang's heart skipped a beat, a strong sense of foreboding washing over her. Her face turned deathly pale instantly, and she abruptly broke free from Murong Han's grasp, rushing towards the temple.

Murong Han was shocked and cried out, "Hey, Xiang'er!" He was anxious and chased after her without hesitation.

Inside the main hall of the temple, incense smoke curled upwards, creating a tranquil and solemn atmosphere.

The abbot wore a grey monk's robe, with a small section of his white inner garment peeking out from the collar, giving him an exceptionally clean appearance. His face was gaunt, with deep and shallow wrinkles etched on it by time, like the rings of an ancient tree, recording the passage of time.

A man knelt before the abbot. He had a shaved head, and his bluish scalp gleamed faintly in the dim light. His face had strong features, and his tightly pursed lips revealed a resolute character.

Murong Che had already shaved his head. His hands were clasped together, his well-defined fingers tightly interlocked, the tips slightly white. His eyes were firm and resolute, his gaze fixed on the Buddhist shrine, as if making an unalterable vow to Buddha. Nothing around him could shake his resolve.

The temple gate was flung open with a bang, and Xue Xiang stumbled in. Her eyes searched the hall anxiously, and when she saw Murong Che in front of her, she was struck dumb and froze on the spot.

Murong Che was dressed in a plain monk's robe, and his once thick, black hair had disappeared, revealing his cold, bluish scalp.

He was thin, and his face had lost its former dashing and flamboyant air, becoming exceptionally calm. His eyes, which had once been filled with deep affection and passion for her, were now calm and still, like a stagnant lake, devoid of warmth.

Xue Xiang's eyes widened in disbelief, her lips trembling slightly as if she wanted to say something, but she was too shocked to utter a sound. Her legs went weak, and she almost fell to the ground.

Fortunately, Murong Han reacted quickly and caught her, calling out with concern and anxiety, "Xiang'er~~"

Murong Han looked up at Murong Che, his eyes filled with shock and confusion, his lips trembling as he stammered, "Fourth Brother, how...how could this be?"

Murong Che's face was calm and his expression indifferent. He spoke slowly, his voice sounding as if it came from a distant place, devoid of any emotion: "I have converted to Buddhism and entered the monastic life. The love, hate, anger, and grudges of this mortal world are all irrelevant to me. The past is like yesterday's death; the present is like today's birth."

After saying this, he closed his eyes slightly, as if he had completely shut out all the entanglements of the world before him from the Buddhist realm.

Xue Xiang's legs felt as if they weighed a ton, each step incredibly difficult, her body trembling slightly with each step. She approached Murong Che step by step, tears welling in her eyes finally spilling uncontrollably.

"Is this how you punish me?!" Her voice was choked with sobs, shrill and desperate. "Why! Why did you become a nun?!" With that, she suddenly lunged at Murong Che, frantically pounding his shoulders with her fists, as if to vent all the grievances and resentment in her heart.

Seeing this, Murong Han hurriedly stepped forward, tightly holding Xue Xiang's hands, his tone full of comfort: "Xiang'er, don't be like this, calm down!"

However, Xue Xiang wouldn't listen to any of it and continued to cry out, "I can't calm down! He's my husband! He's actually become a monk!"

At this moment, the abbot stepped forward, clasped his hands together, and said with a compassionate expression, "Female benefactor, please calm down. This is a pure Buddhist site; do not disturb the tranquility of your practice."

Xue Xiang, however, was like a powder keg that had been lit. Her emotions completely spiraled out of control. She turned around abruptly and lunged at the abbot, shouting almost face-to-face, "It was you! Why did you shave his head! You hypocritical, compassionate monk, did you incite him to abandon his wife and children! You spout Buddhist and Taoist rhetoric, yet you've ruined my family!" Her words were fierce and reckless.

Murong Han was shocked and quickly pulled Xue Xiang back, saying urgently, "Xiang'er, shut up! Don't be rude to the master!"

The abbot was taken aback by the sudden accusation. He turned slightly to the side, took a step back, and kept his hands clasped together. His expression remained unchanged as he calmly said, "Female benefactor, everything is due to fate and his own choice."

Xue Xiang refused to believe it. Her hair was disheveled, her eyes were filled with madness and collapse, and she cried and shouted hysterically, completely losing her usual composure and rationality.

Xue Xiang completely lost control of her emotions. Her reason was consumed by anger and despair. Her eyes were bloodshot, her hair was flying wildly, and her right hand was raised high. Her palm trembled slightly from the force of the blow. With a heart full of resentment and unwillingness, she swiftly swung it toward the abbot's face.

This slap, carrying all her despair and pain, seemed to shatter everything unpleasant before her.

Just as her hand was about to land on the abbot's face, Murong Che, who had been standing quietly, suddenly moved. He flashed forward, like a black shadow, swiftly blocking the abbot's path. A crisp "slap" rang out, and the angry slap landed heavily on Murong Che's cheek.

"Murong Che, you—" Xue Xiang's pupils contracted sharply in an instant, and the madness and anger in her eyes were instantly replaced by astonishment.

Her hand was still in mid-air, her fingers trembling slightly, as if she hadn't yet realized what was happening.

Looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar Murong Che in front of her, her lips trembled uncontrollably. She wanted to say something, but shock choked her throat, and she couldn't utter a sound.

Murong Han was stunned by this sudden turn of events, his eyes wide open, his face filled with disbelief, his mouth slightly agape as if he wanted to say something but couldn't. He subconsciously took a step forward, but then didn't know what to do.

The abbot looked surprised, a ripple crossing his usually calm eyes. He kept his hands clasped together, watching the scene before him with a complex expression, and sighed softly, his eyes filled with pity and helplessness.