In the hall, incense burned, and amidst the faint mist, the elderly monk before the Buddha appeared compassionate. The intricate and profound Buddhist scriptures flowed from his mouth in a calm, steady voice, which seemed to carry an aura of tranquility.
Tang Ning had initially been thinking about the words that Master Xin Deng had spoken to her before, but after a while, she too became immersed in the profound teachings of Buddhism.
When the bell in the temple rang, the old monk in front of the hall struck the wooden fish with a mallet.
The morning sermon had ended.
"Master Xin Deng is truly worthy of being called a great monk. Even someone like me, who doesn't understand Buddhism, feels like I actually understand it a bit now. The scriptures no longer feel as boring as before," Qian Qiyue whispered.
Madam Qian glanced at her: "Master Xin Deng is naturally unique. He was originally a prince from a small country in the southern regions, born with a natural wisdom and a connection to Buddhism since childhood. He requested to become a monk when he was in his teens, but instead of staying in the southern temple, he walked the land, traveling across various countries in search of the profound mysteries of Buddhism."
Tang Ning was surprised: "Then why did he come to Da Wei?"
Madam Qian shook her head: "I don’t know. I just heard that his homeland, the small country he came from, was destroyed long ago. He traveled across many countries spreading Buddhist teachings and gained a lot of respect. Later, he entered Lingyun Temple, where he was greatly favored by Emperor Taizu."
"Taizu?" Tang Ning was taken aback by hearing the name of Emperor Taizu. "So, he had already entered Lingyun Temple when Taizu was still alive? How old is Master Xin Deng?"
Madam Qian said, "I don't know that either."
It was the old Madam Fu, standing nearby, who suddenly spoke: "He’s past his advanced years."
Qian Qiyue was shocked and widened her eyes. "Past his advanced years? Does that mean the old monk we saw just now is already over eighty?"
Not only Qian Qiyue, but even Tang Ning seemed momentarily stunned. Despite his age, Master Xin Deng showed no signs of stooping and spoke with vigor, hardly resembling an eighty-year-old man.
Old Madam Fu continued, explaining, "When I was young, Master Xin Deng had already been giving Buddhist sermons in the capital. At that time, Emperor Taizu was still alive, and Master Xin Deng seemed to be nearly thirty. Later, he spent ten years traveling through various countries giving sermons, and after entering Lingyun Temple, he has been here for over thirty years."
"However, in recent years, he rarely gives sermons. He only appears on occasion for national events or when someone from the palace comes. Most of the day-to-day matters in Lingyun Temple are now handled by Master Liao Wu, who is by his side."
Old Madam Fu did not visit Lingyun Temple often. Although she had a compassionate heart, she wasn't particularly devout and had more of a respectful yet non-believing attitude toward the Buddha and divine matters. She always focused on acting in accordance with her conscience. Her daughter-in-law, however, liked to pray to the Buddha and visited Lingyun Temple regularly.
Tang Ning listened to Old Madam Fu's words thoughtfully.
Rong Yue, who stood by, asked, "Tang Ning, why are you suddenly so interested in Master Xin Deng?"
Tang Ning replied, "I'm just curious. I was thinking of asking him about the Buddhist teachings later."
Old Madam Fu chuckled, "Then you might be disappointed. Tonight’s Dharma assembly is being hosted by Master Liao Wu. Master Xin Deng is too old to come out."
Tang Ning only smiled in response. She had the feeling that Master Xin Deng knew everything about her. Moreover, she sensed that she and Master Xin Deng would meet again soon, and not too far in the future.
After leaving the Great Hall, the elderly Old Madam Fu, feeling tired, was the first to express her fatigue. Before returning to rest, she pulled Tang Ning aside to remind her, "Earlier, you suffered some ill-treatment from Princess Ji of the Ji Wangfu. The Ji Wangfu is very protective, and they might hold a grudge about what happened today. You should be extra cautious over the next couple of days."
Tang Ning smiled, "She lost so much face today, she’ll be avoiding me. Besides, there are so many people in the temple. They wouldn't dare make a move openly."
Madam Qian added, "You should still be careful. That Xie Yuyan is malicious. She once resorted to violence to steal a marriage, and her heart is narrow and wicked..."
As Madam Qian spoke, she couldn't help but glance at her son, Qian Qingran. She suddenly felt that worrying about Tang Ning was not as important as worrying about her son.
She glared at Qian Qingran, clearly frustrated.
It was all his fault for attracting too much attention. Recently, she had been annoyed every time she saw people from the Ji Wangfu.
Qian Qingran looked helpless. He had no idea that by saving the Fourth Prince that day, he had gotten involved with Princess Wenqing. He wasn't the only one who had helped the Fourth Prince, yet Princess Wenqing had taken a special interest in him. She kept "coincidentally" meeting him, greeting him as "Qian Langjun" and acting as though she was in need of his assistance—whether it was a sprained ankle or feeling dizzy, she was always in some sort of distress, almost throwing herself at him.
He was just as annoyed as anyone else.
Tang Ning knew about the Qian family's situation. Earlier, Qian Qiyue had mentioned it to her. Seeing Madam Qian’s displeased expression and Qian Qingran's frustration, she couldn't help but laugh softly, "Aunt, don't worry. I'll be careful..."
After a pause, she added:
"Big Brother Qian, you should be careful too."
Qian Qingran: "..."
Was she mocking him? She was actually laughing at him!
When he looked up, Tang Ning smiled mischievously, her eyes twinkling.
Qian Qingran remained silent. She really was making fun of him!
...
After the morning sermon, the temple’s midday meal was followed by rest, and as dusk approached, the evening Dharma assembly began. Unlike other Dharma gatherings, the Yulan Festival was particularly "lively." It included the purification of the altar, reciting scriptures, offering food to the monks, and at the end, the burning of the Dharma boats, spiritual houses, and releasing floating lanterns to pray for blessings.
Behind Lingyun Temple, there was a large open area with a deep pond beside it. The ceremony was held there.
Tang Ning excused herself, claiming she was tired from the early start and returned to her room to rest. Rong Yue took Xue Ru, who was visiting the temple for the first time, to the Lingbi Hot Springs in the back mountain. Hang Li led a group to protect them, while Tang Ning stayed in her room, reading the Buddhist scriptures she had borrowed from the monks earlier.
The visit of the Fourth Prince's wife was something she had expected.
Tang Ning clasped her hands together in front of the Buddhist scriptures: "What guidance does the Fourth Prince's wife have for me?"
With just one sentence, the Fourth Prince's wife knew that Tang Ning was upset with her.
The Fourth Prince's wife lightly pressed her lips together: "Are you angry that I didn’t stop Princess Ji and the Grand Princess this morning?"
Tang Ning glanced at her indifferently. Although the woman was dressed as a wife, she was actually quite young—she was even younger than Princess Wenqing.
The Fourth Prince's wife wasn’t particularly beautiful, just average, but she had an elegant demeanor. At that moment, her eyes carried an expression of apology and grievance, which made her seem especially sincere.
"I know that I should have stopped them when we were in the hall together, but you know how the Grand Princess is. A few words from her would have been enough. If I had stopped her, she might have made things worse, and it would have been even more difficult for you. I also didn’t expect Princess Wenqing to suddenly lash out."
Tang Ning leaned back on the couch, her expression indifferent: "So, you think I should thank you for always thinking of me?"
"County Mistress..."
"Fourth Prince's wife, do you think I’m stupid?"
Tang Ning supported her chin, her face cool: "You couldn’t stop them from making trouble, but you could stop me from making trouble for them. Last time, during the Qixi Festival, you stepped on me to please Princess Leyang. I pretended I didn’t see it out of respect for my brother’s face. This time, you’re using me to make yourself look good in front of Princess Leyang and the Ji Wangfu."
"So, do you think that because my brother chose the 4th Prince, you can treat me however you like?"
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T/N:
The Monk
You can read ahead to chapterr 470 (100+ extra chapters) here
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