Records of the Lost Cases of Helaitang in the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 224 Enlightenment
Before lunch, Wang Heng and Xiaocai carried Xiaodie, a maid from the Liu residence, to the memorial archway on the west bank of the pond. They went to look for the housekeeper Ade. It happened that the ritual by the pond had just ended, and Ade was packing up his things beside the makeshift scripture platform.

When Ade heard that the maid Xiaodie was injured and unable to walk, he sent two servants to carry her. He thanked the Wang brothers again and again and told them that Xiaodie was the personal maid of Miss Liu.

Wang Heng and Xiao Cai were also from the mansion, and they knew that the young lady's personal maid was a useful person. Generally speaking, she had more power in the mansion, and there were people who would rush to help her do anything.

This Miss Xiaodie didn't take good care of the young lady in the mountains, but walked a long way up the mountain to go back home to see her father early in the morning. I always feel that it is not reasonable?
While he was thinking, a young monk came over and saluted, saying, "Donor, Master Zhang is being kept overnight at the Foguang Pavilion by Abbot Zhihai. He asked the two of you to deliver his belongings to him."

"Mr. Zhang is living in the Foguang Pavilion? Him?" Xiaocai thought that Mr. Zhang's knowledge was practical, and although his daily conversations did not go so far as to slander monks and Taoism, he was indeed not very close to monks and Taoism, and did not like metaphysical discussions. How come he and Monk Zhihai hit it off at first sight and wanted to stay in the temple?

The young monk smiled and said, "The Foguang Pavilion is the most famous viewing platform in our temple. It has always only received distinguished guests. Former Prime Minister Zhou of Wujiang, Chief Censor Liu Zongxian, and Southern Supervisor Wu Jijiu all stayed in the Foguang Pavilion when they came to our temple. The Foguang Pavilion is only open a few times a year."

I understand. Mr. Zhang's identity qualifies him to live in Foguang Pavilion.

Wang Heng took out the copper key of the west wing and asked the young monk to wait for a moment. He rolled up Mr. Zhang's books and miscellaneous items into a bag, then asked the young monk to lead the way, out of the courtyard, around the release pond, and then into the gate of Jubao Temple.

The Buddha Light Pavilion is located on a high stone peak to the east of the abbot's house. Wang Heng and Xiaocai looked at the neat and uniform stone steps and secretly groaned in their hearts. Suddenly, a young monk came down the high steps in two steps and said, "I am Guangheng, the governor of the Buddha Light Pavilion. Abbot Zhihai invited Master Zhang to go with him to see the Buddha treasure. He will not be able to return for a while. You two donors might as well give Master Zhang's bag to me."

Mr. Zhang's bag contained only common items, so he had no worries about leaving them to Guangheng.

The two were starving and trotted all the way to the dining hall of the villa.

Most of the people in the Liu Mansion had already had their vegetarian meal, and the dining hall was empty. The young monk had already started cleaning the hall.

There were only two dishes for lunch, shiitake mushroom gluten and cold-mixed day lily. Because I had been quite active in the morning, the food tasted much sweeter.

When Wang Heng and Xiaocai were halfway through their meal, they saw Butler Ade sitting aside with his meal served.

Xiaocai asked casually: "Housekeeper, how is Miss Xiaodie's injury?"

Ah De was very polite. He thanked them both again and said, "There is a monk in the temple who is good at bone-setting. I have asked him to set Xiao Die's bones and apply herbal medicine. I think she will be fine. It's just that it will be inconvenient for her to walk these few days."

Xiaocai breathed a sigh of relief. He and Xiaodie had never met before, and there was a difference between men and women, so he didn't ask any more questions.

Wang Heng was very curious about the Liu Mansion and asked about Liu Biejia's official position and his family background. Ade was not an ordinary servant and could explain these things clearly.

Liu Biejia was from Fujian. He had served as the magistrate of Runzhou during his lifetime and had always lived in Nanjing. He died of a rheumatism a year ago. As there were not many people left in his hometown, his wife and daughter did not carry his coffin back to their hometown, but chose a good spot for burial near their residence.

"Why is there a one-year gap before the ritual is held again?" Wang Heng was puzzled.

Ah De looked embarrassed, and after thinking for a while, he said, "Both young masters Wang were brought by Lord Zhang. They are all family members, and there is nothing to hide. Since last month, my wife and daughter have often had nightmares. The deceased master appeared in their dreams and was suffering in the underworld. So my wife invited the monks from Jubao Temple to hold a ceremony to release the animals, and also invited Lord Zhang, the leader of the Xingshe Party, to write the epitaph."

"Oh, so that's how it is. Jubao Temple is a famous temple and the monks have great magical powers. The soul of Mr. Liu will surely rest in peace." Wang Heng said.

After chatting for a while, Wang Heng and Xiaocai went back to the west wing for a nap. They were woken up by Monk Guangliang early in the morning, and then carried Xiaodie back to the villa in the back mountain. They walked tens of thousands of steps in half a day and slept soundly next to the bed for a long time without realizing it.

It was not until sunset that Wang Heng slowly woke up after hearing the loud chanting of scriptures outside and the sound of monks blowing conch shells.

The sun was blazing brightly, and even in the mountains it was unusually hot. The servants of the Liu Mansion also took shelter because there was a step from the long corridor to the west wing, so they could not be seen from outside. Wang Heng only heard what seemed to be two maids talking: "These educated ladies from wealthy families have really strange thoughts in their heads. Miss Wanying, who is only ten years old, said that she had read something called "The Story of a Heroine" and wanted to jump off a cliff to pray for her father."

"That's right. His brain has been damaged by studying too much. His father is dead. How can he come back to life?"

Xiaocai seemed to be half awake at this time, with his eyes open and closed. Wang Heng gestured to him to be quiet.

The two maids continued, "Madam is also a spendthrift woman. I heard that the teacher named Zhang was hired by Madam for 1,000 taels of silver. What kind of precious things should be worth 1,000 taels of silver?"

"That's right, this pair of precious girls are not as smart as ordinary people, but they are allowed to be ladies and wives. God is blind, bah!"

The two maids laughed and scolded, and started chattering about other things. Someone shouted in the distance: "Ajuan and Ah Hong." Then they ran away in panic.

Xiaocai was obviously shocked by what the two maids said. He said slowly, "Seventh brother said yesterday that Madam Liu looked a bit like Miss Yang Ai. Miss Yang was from the Sheng family. I thought Madam Liu might not be from a good family. She taught Miss Liu to be so righteous. Could she be a rigid person? She doesn't look like that at all."

Wang Heng lowered his head and thought for a long time, then said, "I am also very surprised. When I met Mrs. Liu yesterday, I thought that Mr. Zhang had some other relationship with her, so he asked you and me to be his servants. I guessed wrong. I am guilty, guilty."