Pingyang Fu of the Red Chamber

Chapter 892: Should the Nun Stay or Leave
"Hurry, hurry! Law"

"Master Hou, the Hou Mansion has arrived."

In front of the gate of Luoyunhou Mansion,

A carriage made of ebony, with a dark sheen, slowly stopped.

Zhang Jinyu wiped his face with his hand, thinking about the present. He had just returned to the mansion. At noon, he finally wanted to get away. Unexpectedly, at the front door, he met Jia Zheng who was welcoming guests. He treated him politely and went over to say hello. Before he could say a few words, Jia Zheng repeatedly invited him to stay and stayed in the house in the middle courtyard for a banquet.

After chatting for a while and drinking some wine, he finally got away and went back to the house. But in the blink of an eye, it was already dark. Thinking of what he had promised the old lady, he could only lift the curtain, get off the carriage, and give the order;
"Ningbian, arrange for someone to send the craftsmen in the mansion to Rongguo Mansion to repair the garden. There must be no mistakes."

"Yes, Lord, I understand. It's just about the mausoleum."

Ning Bian briefly reminded them that the reason these people were left behind after Enke was because they knew the secrets of the mausoleum. If the news got out, it would be a big deal.

Zhang Jinyu jumped off the carriage and patted the dust off his clothes. Thinking about it, it was too long. Shouldn't Prince Zhou have sent someone to the mansion to talk a long time ago? Now there was no movement. That meant one thing. Either he had known about it for a long time and was fearless, or he was pretending to be deaf and dumb.

But thinking of Prince Zhongshun's temper, if he really pretended to be deaf and dumb, he would be suffocated to death. He could only be fearless. This confidence came from the palace. In this way, the matter of the mausoleum could be ignored.

"Explain this matter clearly to them. If it doesn't work out in the future, they can stay in the Marquis' Mansion. Let them decide for themselves what to say and what not to say."

"Yes, Lord, I will explain it clearly."

"Well, that's good, send the person over."

Zhang Jinyu was not one to lose his temper, so he urged her and then walked up the stairs. When he reached the threshold,
On the street west of the Marquis's Mansion, more than a dozen carriages appeared, also flying the flag of the Marquis's Mansion, with soldiers guarding behind them. Looking inside, it turned out to be Shuiyue and Miaoyu's group.

Why did I come so late? It was because of Miaoyu's obstruction. I rested for an afternoon in the attic of the Chamber of Commerce beside the water bridge, recuperating and sweeping away my fatigue.

After dinner, when the sun was setting,
Miaoyu then asked the steward about the whereabouts of the Marquis. The steward replied that the Marquis was almost back home. He went to Rongguo Mansion today to discuss some matters and had not returned until noon. Now was the perfect time for him to return home.

After hearing this, when everyone was still at a loss, Miaoyu asked everyone to get up, pack up, get on the carriage, and head straight to the Marquis's Mansion.

When we got to the street corner,
I ran into the carriage of the Marquis returning to the mansion, which was parked in front of the mansion gate.
The coachman, with his sharp eyes, waved his whip hastily and shouted:
"My Lord, my Lord,"

A few shouts made the quiet place in front of the mansion seem extremely harsh.
Zhang Jinyu turned back suspiciously, looking at the dozen or so carriages coming from the south. He saw that there were guards behind them, so they must be from the Marquis' Mansion. But where did so many carriages come from?

Then he stretched his foot back and stood there waiting.

a moment,

Many carriages approached and stopped. The three strong guards behind them immediately came forward and knelt on the ground to report;

"My Lord, I was protecting my wife in Jiangnan. Who would have thought that half a month ago, some government officials led soldiers into the temple. I led my soldiers to ambush and kill them, then took my wife and all the masters on a ship to Beijing. The ship arrived at the dock at noon, and we rested at the Chamber of Commerce when we arrived in Beijing!"

After hearing the reply from his confidant, Zhang Jinyu recalled that Miaoyu had come to Beijing with a group of nuns. The key point was how she was hunted down by government officials. Such a thing rarely happened in Jiangnan.

"Get up, it's good to be back. Go back to the mansion and have a good rest, and then go to the treasury to collect the reward silver for the brothers."

"Thank you, Lord Marquis."

The captain was delighted. After kneeling down, he stood up and led his personal soldiers into the mansion, leaving the Chamber of Commerce manager standing there.
"My Lord, how do we arrange for them? Should they go to your house or stay at the Chamber of Commerce?"

The steward spoke softly, but his eyes were very considerate. It was already light at night, and a group of nuns entered the mansion. There was something wrong.
While hesitating, he thought of leaving Miaoyu alone to have a good talk, but before he could open his mouth, Miaoyu spoke in the carriage.

"My Lord, those who came with me from Xuanmu Panxiang Temple are all practitioners, and they are wearing ordinary people's clothes. If you don't want to stay, I will come again tomorrow."

A cold voice came through the car curtain, and Miaoyu's beautiful face flashed by.

Look here,

Zhang Jinyu was a little embarrassed. It was said that Jiangnan women were delicate and thoughtful, which was absolutely true. She could not even remember what Miaoyu looked like.
"We are already at the doorstep, there is no reason to go back. Everyone, come into the mansion. Steward Wang, clean up the courtyards to the west and provide accommodation for the masters. Also, prepare refreshments in the west room to entertain the nun and the others."

"Yes, Lord Marquis,"

Steward Wang beside him agreed promptly. With a wave of his hand, the two stewards behind him immediately took the servants and went back to the front yard.

Miaoyu knew that the Marquis had agreed, and she was delighted. After all, he gave her face, so she simply got off the carriage. Her white moon-like silk dress set off her fair skin, and in the light of the fire in front of the mansion, she looked like the bright moon. Her figure swayed gently, and the gentleness of a Jiangnan woman could be seen.
"Thank you, Lord Marquis."

"Well, it's good that you're here. Let's go into the mansion and talk in detail. It's inconvenient outside."

Zhang Jinyu thought about it. The door was not the place to talk. He remembered that Miaoyu's father's surname was Qin, and he was the head of Suzhou Weaving Bureau. Since the government sent people to arrest Miaoyu, it meant that something had happened to Qin. He didn't know what it was. Just now, he was so focused on Miaoyu's body that he almost missed the big thing.
As Eunuch Yang went south, the Weaving Bureau would certainly fall into his hands. Why did he want to arrest Qin Zhushi? It obviously didn't make sense.

As the Marquis spoke, Miaoyu asked everyone to get off the carriage. Yingying, Yanyan, a group of young ladies, gathered together and, with the help of the lights in front of the door, entered the West Garden of the Marquis's mansion.
Miaoyu, Master Shuiyue, and Master Shuiyan, who were trapped in the inner hall, did not dare to sit down.
After the Marquis came in, Zhang Jinyu sat down first before he sat down. This was very polite.
"Thank you for your help, my Lord. I am deeply grateful."

After all, Nun Shuiyan was the abbot of the temple. She had seen a lot of things and was familiar with the ways of the world.

Zhang Jinyu asked the maid to serve tea and snacks. After everyone drank the tea, she smiled.

"Nun, what are you talking about? As the Buddhists say, meeting each other is predestined. Since you can come to the Marquis' Mansion, it is also fate. Just stay here. But I don't know what happened in Jiangnan that caused this disaster."

Beauty is nice, but business is more important. Jinling Su Jinkai did send a few letters, saying that the Jiangnan Governor Zhuang and the Inspector General Jing were in opposition and the fight was hard to resolve. The later letters were basically the same, so I didn't read them and knew very little about them.
But Master Shuiyan looked embarrassed, and Miaoyu looked even more miserable, obviously extremely aggrieved. Only Master Shuiyue, whom she had met before, put her hands together and chanted a Buddhist name;
"Amitabha, since the Marquis asked, I will tell you. The Marquis also knows that the reason why the temple does not accept pilgrims is because Miaoyu's family's worshiper, the master of the Qin Mansion, is the head of the Suzhou Manufacturing Bureau. Later, without hearing any news, the government soldiers rushed over. Fortunately, the Marquis left soldiers to stop them, so they were able to escape."

To put it simply, the so-called disaster came from Miaoyu, that is, there was a change in the weaving bureau. It seems that my guess was correct, especially the eldest son of Prime Minister Li, who discussed the raw silk issue with me. What is going on here?
Looking at Miaoyu who was still a little cold, she seemed to be a different person compared to when she was in Jiangnan, but her spirituality was even more endearing, and he smiled;
"Don't worry, Master. There is no rush. Since this is a case that has been handled by the government, it will be concluded. I think it will be reported to the Ministry of Justice. As long as he is in the capital, he can be saved before the Ministry of Justice and the Dali Temple make a final decision on the case."

As Zhang Jinyu was talking, he thought of Lord Feng, Lord Meng, and Lord Chang. After all, the court cases were really all the affairs of the three courts.

Hearing that the Marquis could save the person with just a few words, Miaoyu was the most excited. Her mouth twitched and her eyes turned red.

"My Lord, my father has been escorted back to Beijing from Jiangnan. He should arrive in the next few days. Please lend a hand." Although Miaoyu was aloof, she knew what was more important. The little maid Xing Yanyan behind her quickly took out her handkerchief and wiped the tears from the young lady.

"This is easy. It just so happens that I would like to ask Lord Qin about some matters in Jiangnan. Everyone, please settle down and rest first. I wonder what the abbot and the nun are planning for the future?"

Zhang Jinyu was indeed interested in Jiangnan. After all, two of his students were serving as officials in Jiangnan. The opportunity to intervene in Jiangnan was right in front of him, so how could he miss it? Didn't he see that Lord Nan and the eldest son's hands were touching each other? If he didn't touch them a little, he would be too unsociable.
Just ask casually,
Nun Shuiyue and Master Shuiyan looked at each other with difficulty. The capital is not Jiangnan. They are unfamiliar with the place and most of them are dignitaries. There is no one to take care of them. Monks also have to experience the mundane world. Nun Shuiyan sighed and said;
"My Lord, we are all Buddhists, so we have to stay in a temple. I wonder if there is a temple in the capital?"

Temples in the capital,

Zhang Jinyu had never seen one, it seemed, but there were many outside the city, including nunneries, such as the one called Shuiyue Temple, and many other places, but he couldn't name them. However, the group of people in front of him, except for the host, all had long hair. How could all monks have long hair?

In this way,

There is another place. I remember the Xuanzhen Temple where Jia Jing practiced Taoism. But the Ningguo Mansion spent a lot of money to build it. Now that Jia Jing is gone, why not take over the Xuanzhen Temple, renovate it, and make it a Taoist temple or a Buddhist temple to receive incense.

"Abbot, nun, I have a good place to go. I see that all of your disciples are practicing cultivation, just like ordinary people. Even you yourself, who has not received any vows, can still achieve perfect beauty. Outside the capital, there is a Taoist temple called Xuanzhen Temple, which is used by the head of the Ningguo Mansion Jia family to practice Taoism. It is not too big or too small, and it did cost a lot of money to build. I think that practicing Buddhism and Taoism is to escape from the world and cultivate the mind. Why don't you become a Taoist monk and receive their incense? The cost of the renovation will be borne by the mansion. How about it?"

Zhang Jinyu felt that Buddhism and Taoism were the same. There were only a few Taoist temples for women, while there were too many Buddhist temples. Incense was money, so why not do something that could make money?

But these words made the two nuns stunned, looking at each other in silence. How could a Buddhist disciple change his sect, and not to enter the monastery for the sake of incense? The two of them chanted the Buddha's name in unison;
"Amitabha, Lord, I can't do it."

With a determined look in his eyes, this road will not work.
Zhang Jinyu smiled bitterly, thinking that she had said too much.
"Don't be surprised, Master. I have no other intention. The reason is that the incense offerings to Buddhist temples in the capital are exclusively from the Jing'an Temple in Beishan. The emperor in the palace is also a Taoist, so I made this suggestion."

Zhang Jinyu also had good intentions. He thought that even if he entered the Buddhist monastery, how could he practice without money?

"Thank you for your kindness, my Lord. We, the master and I, believe in Buddhism and worship Guanyin Bodhisattva. Most of the incense is from women, so we are not competing with them for incense."

Nun Shuiyue told the story of offering incense in Jiangnan, and there were many pilgrims coming.
"Okay, in that case, we can renovate Xuanzhen Temple and call it Guanyin Temple. After the nuns have rested, you can go and see it on a chosen day. As for Ningguo Mansion, I will send a letter of divorce."

After hearing this, the two were overjoyed. They had never thought that they would have a place to stay in a temple in the capital. They stood up and thanked the Marquis. Zhang Jinyu waved his hand and said no need to thank him. Then he looked at Miaoyu. Her expression was not as ugly as before. There was a hint of redness on her snow-white face.

Seeing that everything is settled,
Zhang Jinyu turned to look at Miaoyu again, mentioned the purpose of his visit, and asked:

"Two nuns, I have been very busy these past few days, and I am exhausted physically and mentally. I am thinking of calling a monk to perform a ritual. I heard that Master Miaoyu, your disciple, is very effective in magic. I want to invite him to come to the mansion to chant some scriptures. What do you think, Master Miaoyu and the two nuns?"

Miaoyu was startled when she heard this. She stopped reciting the scriptures silently, slowly opened her clear and cold eyes, and looked towards the figure in the main seat following the sound.

What caught my eye was a pair of eyes as sharp as swords and as cold as lightning, a handsome face with a serious expression, and a hint of smile inside.

Miaoyu lowered her eyes slightly, put her hands together, and pretended to be calm, while Master Shuiyan nodded.

"Amitabha, it's just a small matter, how can it be impossible? We will do the rituals in the courtyard. If the Marquis wants to listen to the scriptures, Miaoyu can recite them."

Hearing the Buddha's name, Zhang Jinyu nodded to Miaoyu, feeling overjoyed, and asked:
"I think Master Miaoyu is well versed in the scriptures. She is indeed a fairy, elegant and extraordinary."

I have put it together, not to mention Miaoyu alone, who has a Miaochang bun, a moon-white monk's robe with plain sleeves, a Qiuxiang-colored silk ribbon tied around her waist, fair and rosy cheeks, no makeup on, a cold temperament, and an air that keeps people at a distance.

Zhang Jinyu couldn't help but think of Miaoyu whom he met in Jiangnan. Her personality had changed a lot. Only the little girl Xing Yanyan behind her was still winking at him. It was really an unexpected success!

correct,

Isn't Xing Yanyan a relative of Mrs. Xing from Rongguo Mansion?
Perhaps sensing the gaze that had lingered for a little while, Miaoyu raised her bright eyes from under her moth-shaped eyebrows, and looked at the heroic young man in python robe opposite her with a look of energy and determination. Her voice was like the sound of the melting ice on the branches of cold plum trees in a mountain temple, falling on the dark tiles, cold and silent:

"I, Miaoyu, have met the Marquis and am willing to recite scriptures for him."

The sudden change made Zhang Jinyu take a closer look.
"Okay, in that case, Master, go to the West Courtyard to rest first. We'll hear about the scriptures later. I'll trouble Master Miaoyu to stay in the Marquis' Mansion for a while longer."

Without giving them a chance to speak, Zhang Jinyu stood up and walked out. After all, his wife was still waiting in the room, and as the saying goes, the best way is to treat everyone equally.

As soon as people leave,
The people who stayed in the inner hall were overjoyed and chattered non-stop. Miaoyu's expression changed too. Knowing that her father was saved and her master had a place to stay, she felt relieved. She was exhausted. Not to mention the half-month journey, she also had no one to talk to about her worries.

"Miaoyu, now that the matter has been decided, do not regret it. Although you are a monk, you have not received the Buddhist precepts. You have practiced to eliminate the three thoughts of greed, ignorance, and anger. Even if you have not yet resolved your worldly ties, as long as you stick to your original heart, you do not have to abide by the general precepts."

Nun Shuiyue loved Miaoyu the most. Seeing Miaoyu's tired face, she knew that she had done too much for them, and Nun Shuiyan couldn't bear it.
"Amitabha, fool, it's good to have Buddha in your heart. You don't have to care about the eight precepts of Buddhism. If you can overcome the difficulties in the future, you will be a reborn Bodhisattva."

The two nuns made it clear that Miaoyu's current situation was seen by everyone. The reason why Luo Yunhou arranged them was not because of Sister Miaoyu's appearance. They knew it in their hearts, but they could do nothing about it.
After listening to her master's Zen words, Miaoyu knew that her master was warning her that when Marquis Luo Yun was in Jiangnan, he might have thought of today's events. After all, he left his personal soldiers and boats to pick her up. She felt complicated, but also grateful. After all, that day, the officials from the government broke in. If it weren't for the personal soldiers of the Marquis's mansion to protect her, she and the sisters in the temple would have been in danger of losing their innocence.

"Yes, Master, I know,"

finished speaking,

Everyone must have been very tired, so under the arrangement of the steward, they went to the small courtyard in the west to settle down first.

Any movement in front of the mansion would be reported back to Madam Wang in Dongyun Tower. Yueshu and the other two girls were helping Madam Wang wash up when they heard the maid come to report that many women had come to the mansion, and they seemed to be from the Jiangnan nunnery.

The two girls looked strange. Although the Marquis liked women, he asked a question when the nun said that she had never had any.
"Do you know what a nun looks like?"

The maid pursed her lips, thought for a moment, and replied;

"Madam Lan, the people who came here are all women. They say they are nuns, but I don't see any nuns with long hair."

"Okay, go down, nuns are nuns,"

"Yes, old lady!"

Those who came from Jiangnan must be from Xuanmu Panxiang Temple.
After washing her hands and changing her clothes, Mrs. Wang went to bed. When she heard that it was a nun from Jiangnan, she remembered the temple they visited in the mountains that day. Wasn't this the woman behind her that Jin Yu was thinking about?

(End of this chapter)