Ci 'en Temple in the southern suburbs of Chang' an.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda in the West Courtyard.
Every year, after the imperial examination, there would be new Jinshi coming here in groups of three to five to enjoy the scenery. They could visit the old temple, explore the beautiful scenery, or climb the pagoda to overlook Chang 'an.
But the most important one was the Yan Pagoda Inscription.
The Jinshi could inscribe their names under the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. No one knew when this rule came into being, but it had become a custom to visit the Big Wild Goose Pagoda after passing the imperial examination.
There was a saying, "Inscribing the imperial examination of the Yan Pagoda, showing off your family to the world!"
Pan Yu stood on the seven-story Yan Pagoda, leaning on the railing and looking south. Her clothes were dancing in the wind, but surprisingly, there was no one around her.
Other Jinshi were enjoying the pleasure of overlooking Chang 'an on the other side. Why would they come to see the boundless mountains?
But immediately, someone would notice her existence and come forward to greet Pan Gongzi or Lord Pan!
She would then blend into the crowd and point out the historical sites. Sometimes, she would be flattered, and sometimes praised.
She dealt with it calmly and inadvertently glanced back at him.
The mountains were vast, and there were no geese.
When she came to the bottom of the pagoda, the monks in the temple had already prepared a brush, ink, paper, and inkstone for the Jinshi to inscribe their names.
The Jinshi took the brush and inscribed their names one by one. They wrote carefully and neatly.
If they were Prime Ministers in the future, they might leave their names in history at this moment.
However, after thousands of years, when the later generations visited the historical site and called on their friends, would they really notice the densely packed names engraved on the wall?
Pan Yu finished writing with a single stroke and left the words' Pan Yu, Bright Jade 'on the white paper. His handwriting was elegant and beautiful, and it had already eliminated the feminine aura from before. If Wang Wenrui was here, he would definitely praise it.
Someone sighed. It was a pity that Xu Xian was on a mission and did not wait until this time. Otherwise, he might have taken advantage of the mood to compose a poem.
Pan Yu took the brush again, thought for a moment, and wrote "Xu Xian's Chinese characters". After examining it for a long time, she handed it to the waiting monk.
While touring the temple, Pan Yu found time to visit the Abbot of the Ci 'en Temple. This was the main purpose of her trip.
In the meditation room, a skinny old monk sat cross-legged on a futon. However, his hands were not neatly tucked in his abdomen like ordinary monks who meditated. Instead, they were casually holding onto his ankles. His posture was not straight but stooped. He wore an extremely gorgeous kasaya, like a dead wood wrapped in silk and satin. His appearance was quite strange.
Even a layman disciple could accuse him of not understanding Buddhist etiquette. However, this old monk was the Abbot of the Mercy Temple.
Smoke curled up from the sandalwood incense. It was supposed to be a solemn scene of an old monk in meditation, but his face was not dignified at all. Instead, there was a smile on his face.
That smile was not the kind of clear and thorough understanding smile, but more like a child who stole candy, or a poor man who went out to pick up a big yuanbao. This scene gave Pan Yu the feeling that a child stole a monk's kasaya and wanted to learn how to meditate like a monk. However, he couldn't learn it, so he felt very happy in his heart. He wanted to laugh but had to hold it back.
In addition, his head was smooth. Not only did he have no hair, but he also did not have a beard, which made him look even more funny. It was really impossible for people to respect him.
Pan Yu was a little annoyed. After entering the meditation room, she took out the speech that she had prepared and said a lot. She even offered a very high price. However, it had been an hour since she came in, and the monk just did not say a word.
Any high official or noble who wanted to see the Abbot of the Mercy Temple had to donate 500 taels of money first. Even if they saw him, they couldn't discuss Buddhism with him because the Abbot of the Mercy Temple always smiled and did not speak. It was said that he practiced silent meditation. It was said that he had not said a word for ten years.
Of course, it was said that there were many pilgrims who understood some profound Buddhist principles from his smile.
"Master Fa Shan, I know that you practice silent meditation. However, what do you mean? Why don't you write it down and show it clearly to me."
The monk slowly opened one of his eyes. Even his eyes were filled with smiles. He suddenly opened his mouth and said, "Prince Pan, what did you understand from the rich monk's smile?"
Pan Yu was stunned. "Don't you practice silent meditation?" It was said that the high monk who had not said a word for ten years actually spoke.
The monk blinked his eyes. "Didn't I just practice for an hour?"
Pan Yu said, "Then dare I ask, what is the rich monk?"
The monk said matter-of-factly, "This poor monk is talking about those poor monks who go around begging for food. I am the abbot of the Ci 'en Temple. I don't have to worry about food and clothing. Of course, I am a rich monk."
Pan Yu was speechless. She did not know how many "poor monks" heard this sentence. They would have the urge to slap the alms bowl on his face. However, even though this monk was greedy, he was easy to deal with.
"Master, what do you think of my proposal just now?"
She had already offered a high price to make the monk change his words and agree to her marriage with Rou Jia.
However, she did not understand why the smart and wise Empress would worship such a monk. Moreover, she would change her original decision because of a monk's words.
"Prince Pan, you have not answered. What did you understand from the rich monk's smile?"
Pan Yu looked at him and said lightly, "Master's Buddhist teachings are profound and you understand the affairs of the world. Naturally, you will laugh at the laughable people in the world!"
"Lies!"
Pan Yu tried to change her words. However, she still got the same word — — "Lies!"
This happened three or four times. Pan Yu finally lost her patience. She suddenly stood up. "I don't think you are a monk. You look more like a bald thief!" She was about to leave.
The monk laughed heartily. "Truth!
Prince Pan, please stay. The rich monk agrees to your proposal. "
Pan Yu stopped and looked back. She took out a brocade box filled with banknotes and threw it on the praying mat. "Then I ask the abbot to speak out for justice. Do not be used by me to deceive His Majesty. Let this one fulfill my wish. There will be other rewards in the future."
"How do you know that the rich monk is not speaking out for justice?"
"You!"
The monk slowly said, "If Pan Yu marries Princess Rou Jia, Yin and Yang will not be in harmony. There will be an unexpected disaster in the future!" It was what he said to the Empress that day.
Pan Yu narrowed her eyes. "What does the master mean?"
The monk tried to change the topic. He only smiled and said, "How can a person who is outside the realm interfere with the matters of the realm? There is no need for the rich monk to say more. Your wish has been fulfilled."
Pan Yu thought for a moment. She cupped her hands and said, "Thank you, master, for your kind intentions."
The monk ordered, "Come, bring the goose meat that I have marinated and give it to Prince Pan."
Facing Pan Yu's strange gaze, the monk put his palms together. "This poor monk practices Hinayana Buddhism."
Pan Yu nodded. She was well-read and naturally knew about it.
In Hinayana Buddhism, one could eat three pure foods. They were goose, deer, and calf meat. It was not a violation of the precepts. However, in this era, there were very few Buddhist disciples practicing Hinayana Buddhism.
Moreover, she secretly suspected that if the monk did not want to speak, he would practice Silent Meditation. If he wanted to eat meat, he would practice Hinayana Buddhism. If he wanted to get close to women, would he have to start practicing Great Joy Meditation?
At the moment when Pan Yu was about to leave, the monk suddenly said with a smile, "That's right. The rich monk practices Great Joy Meditation. However, it has nothing to do with women.
If you can get rid of all your troubles, you will understand the mystery of Great Joy. If your heart is always happy, you will not even want a Buddha. "
Pan Yu's footsteps stopped, and he went out without looking back.
The monk weighed the brocade box in his hand and said with a smile, "Prince Liang sent a thousand taels of gold, and Prince Pan sent ten thousand taels of silver. As a rich monk, I can't be poor even if I want to."
Looking out the window at the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, she could not help but remember that a long time ago, there was a monk in the temple who believed in Hinayana Buddhism. One day, a flock of wild geese flew in the sky. A monk saw the geese and said, "Everyone has nothing to eat today. Buddha should know that we are hungry!"
Before he finished his words, a wild goose fell dead in front of the monk. He was surprised and told all the monks in the temple that this was Buddha teaching them.
At the place where the wild goose fell, he buried it with a solemn ceremony and built a pagoda.
At that time, was the joy in the monk's heart for Buddha or for the meat?
Or rather, what was the difference between the two?
If the heart was happy, there was no need for longevity outside.
Pan Yu had just returned home when she received news from the palace: the Empress had made up her mind to marry Princess Rou Jia to Pan Yu.
Compared to the illusory words of Shi Zi, the Empress trusted her own judgment more.
…
In a small courtyard in Mount Zhongnan, Xu Xian stood up from his chair and said, "Brother Zhong, long time no see!"
The rolling black smoke suddenly stopped and gradually dissipated, revealing a human figure. Zhong Kui strode over and held Xu Xian's hand. He said in surprise, "Brother Xu, why are you here?"
"I was ordered to … to handle your funeral. Now that the funeral is over, I am about to leave."
Xu Xian felt that the spiritual power in his body had become purer. He knew that Zhong Kui must have had some kind of adventure, but it was not the time to talk about this.
"Your sister is inside, go and see!"
Before Xu Xian's voice died away, he heard a cry behind him, "Brother!"
It was Zhong Li who heard the noise and rushed out of the door. He held onto the porch and looked at Zhong Kui in disbelief.
Zhong Kui was excited to see his long-lost family. "Xiao Li, I'm back."
Zhong Li's eyes reddened and his voice trembled, "You … you really didn't die?!"
She reached out and touched Zhong Kui's hand. It felt no different from a living person, not like a ghost. Only then did she truly understand what Xu Xian said.
Zhong Kui sighed, "It's a long story, but it's a blessing in disguise!
I will take good care of you in the future. "He was now a cultivator and no longer a poor scholar, so his words were full of confidence.
Zhong Li suddenly became angry. "If you want to die, then die. If you want to live, then live. Who needs your care? What did you take care of me?" He turned and ran back into the house, a few drops of tears falling from the corner of his eyes.
Zhong Kui was stunned and wanted to chase after her, but he was held back by Xu Xian, who gestured for Yun Yan to go in and comfort Zhong Li.
Xu Xian saw that Zhong Kui was speechless after being reprimanded by his sister, and the awe-inspiring aura from before had completely disappeared. He smiled and sighed. "Brother Zhong, you committed suicide because of a moment of anger and left your sister alone. That's not what a man would do. It's no wonder she's angry!"
Zhong Kui's face was red, but fortunately, his face was dark, so it did not show. He only said, "Brother Xu is right, Brother Xu is right!"