Why My Domineering Prince Regretted Filing for Divorce?-Chapter 389 - 343 Who Do You Care About?_3

Shantong’er thought for a moment and said, "Later, I was bought by someone and brought to a very beautiful house to play with a little young master."

"Then, how did you end up joining a monastery?"

"That little young master got sick. They made me join a monastery, saying that if I did, the little young master would get better."

"..."

Listening to him recount all this with almost no emotion, Shang Ruyi felt both sorrowful and pained. Still, she understood that the child was probably bought to accompany a wealthy family’s child to play. He was originally just supposed to be a study companion, but when the wealthy child got sick, there was a folk belief that if a child’s illness couldn’t be cured, one should devote themselves to serving the Buddha for peace. Most parents couldn’t bear to have their own child do this, so they would find another child to join a monastery instead.

This was how Shantong’er was manipulated into joining a monastery.

Looking at him, merely a boy of about ten, with big, round, clear black eyes like a clear spring, she couldn’t imagine he had experienced so much already.

Shang Ruyi felt a bit of sympathy for him, reaching out to pat his smooth head, "So, you became a monk here?"

Shantong’er looked up, just about to say something when suddenly, a scolding voice of a monk came from outside the side hall—

"Shantong’er, you’re stealing food again!"

Both of them hurriedly turned to look, only to see a big monk walking in from outside. Shantong’er, upon seeing him, quickly stuffed the last piece of bun into his mouth, his cheeks bulging, and then said, "Senior Brother..."

The monk came in, and seeing Shang Ruyi, paid his respects before reaching out to grab Shantong’er, "You little brat, the kitchen was raided just now, and I knew it was you!"

Shantong’er didn’t run, just hung there with his limbs curled like a little puppy, chuckling, "Senior Brother, I know I was wrong."

The monk said, "You admit you’re wrong every time but never change, right?"

"Hehe."

"Today, you’re not getting off easy; I have to discipline you."

Shang Ruyi, watching from the side, felt a bit sympathetic and quickly said, "Master, please forgive him."

The monk glared at Shantong’er in his hand, then looked at Shang Ruyi, "Donor, you don’t know how bad this kid is. He often sneaks into the kitchen at night to steal food. He eats a lot; if he steals half a basket, half the temple will starve tomorrow."

Shang Ruyi looked at Shantong’er in surprise, not expecting such a young child to eat so much.

The monk continued angrily, "Eating a lot is one thing, but he often sneaks out to play and disappears for days. He doesn’t recite the sutras or meditate when told..."

While scolding, he raised his large palm like a fan and slapped Shantong’er on the buttocks a few times.

Shantong’er cried out in pain, begging, "Senior Brother, please spare me."

Shang Ruyi, still feeling sorry for the child’s pitiful situation, said, "Master, he’s still young and doesn’t understand, so don’t blame him. How about this—"

As she spoke, she reached for her money pouch.

But having left in a hurry, she didn’t have any money on her. Seeing Shantong’er looking at her expectantly, Shang Ruyi thought for a moment, then took off a pair of earrings from her ears and handed them to the monk, "Consider this as buying him some buns; please don’t blame him."

These earrings weren’t given to her by Madam Guan earlier and weren’t anything precious, but since they were made of pure gold, they were worth some money. The monk’s eyes lit up when he saw them, and he immediately released Shantong’er and took the earrings, thanking her repeatedly, "Thank you, Donor."

Shantong’er stood by, eyes wide, looking at Shang Ruyi and then at the earrings in his senior brother’s hand.

After a long while, he said to Shang Ruyi, "Thank you."

Shang Ruyi smiled gently and said, "Listen to your senior brother, don’t steal food, and don’t be so carefree."

Shantong’er said nothing, just stared at her as if he’d never been treated this way before. The big monk, beaming with joy, thanked her repeatedly and then left with Shantong’er in tow.

After this incident, Shang Ruyi had lost the mood to pray and worship. She glanced back at the Bodhisattva, quietly observing the lively world with lowered eyes, smiled, and then turned to leave, heading towards the quarters.

As she walked, her steps felt heavy again—she didn’t know if Yu Wenye had gone to sleep.

Right now, she still didn’t want to face him alone.

When she reached the door, she found it shut tight, with no lights inside, suggesting he was already asleep.

Shang Ruyi sighed with relief and reached out to push the door, but just as her hands touched the door, it suddenly opened from the inside. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Yu Wenye was standing at the doorway, quietly looking at her!