The Red Mansion Big Liar.

Chapter 570 Killing and Punishing the Heart

Silent all night.

Early the next morning.

All the female members of the Ningguo Mansion, including Youshi, Qin Keqing, You Erjie and her sister, Xing Xiuyun, and Xiangling, boarded the carriage in pairs, leaving Zhang Yunyi alone.

With the accompanying maids and gifts, seven or eight carriages were filled to the brim.

Early in the morning, we stopped at Ningrong Street in front of the mansion, ready to go.

After arranging all the female relatives, he entered the Rongguo Mansion.

Jia Zheng was ashamed to meet him and hid in the car early.

Xichun stood beside a carriage, and was reluctant to get on, as if she was going to the execution ground. She pouted her lips, and her ten green fingers were tightly entangled together.

Seeing this, Zhang Yunyi simply waved his hand and said with a smile: "Fourth sister, please take a car with me and don't take this one."

He had worn off the novelty of riding horses, and didn't want to ride his Flying Rabbit Yaoniang to parade through the streets. He was also being "ostracized" by his concubines, and was finding the journey boring.

Although they are cousins, it's a pity that Chun is already thirteen years old. Even if they are just spending daily time together, they should avoid being alone, let alone riding in the same car.

However, in the Rongguo Mansion today, no one from top to bottom dared to tell him what to do. Not only did they not try to stop him, but they even dragged Xichun into the car.

Zhang Yunyi nodded towards a carriage behind, and Ruhua quickly lowered her head and got in.

Only then did he step onto the carriage, stand at the shaft, and wave goodbye to Lady Jia who had come to see him off.

After getting into the carriage, Xichun, who was sitting on the right side of the carriage, quickly retracted her legs.

However, Zhang Yunyi did not sit in the main seat, but sat down opposite her.

The carriage moved slowly, and Zhang Yunyi also spoke up: "Didn't I tell you to come back twice a month? Why didn't you go last month? Are you not going to listen to your cousin?"

His words sound very fatherly now.

Although they were only cousins, in an era when the eldest brother was the father, they had a certain unquestionable authority.

Xichun pouted and said perfunctorily, "Yi... my cousin only said that he would go there twice a month, but he didn't say that it would start from last month."

She originally wanted to follow the rest of the sisters and call him "Big Brother Yi", but she was afraid of angering Zhang Yunyi, so she changed her words.

Zhang Yunyi could tell from her outwardly aggressive appearance that she was actually weak, and said with a smile, "When are you going to go twice this month? If it's delayed until the end of the month, you can just stay at the mansion for one night to avoid the hassle of going back and forth."

"I'm used to my bed. I haven't been back there for years. I can't get used to it!" Xichun said quickly, "I'll go in two days. It won't be delayed until the end of the month."

"That's good!" Zhang Yunyi said with a smile, "Are you using the painting tools that my cousin prepared?"

"It's just... convenient." Xichun said aggrievedly.

"Cousin's Western painting method, do you want to learn it?"

Xichun's face flashed with confusion, and after a moment of hesitation, she said, "My dear cousin, you are very busy, and I dare not trouble you with teaching me how to paint."

"How can it be a bother? No matter how busy I am, can't I spare this little time? Didn't I bring you out today? It's settled. When you go there next time, just let Ruhua know in advance and I'll see if I can spare the time."

Zhang Yunyi didn't dare to say anything definite. After all, he wanted to create the image of a good cousin, and breaking his promise was obviously inconsistent with his character.

After saying this, Zhang Yunyi did not continue teasing the bewildered Xichun.

Instead, he opened the curtain of the carriage and pointed at the taverns, teahouses and various shops along the street outside.

In ancient times, women from wealthy families were required not to go out of the main door or the back door, but Zhang Yun逸 had no such taboo.

Xichun's character is somewhat influenced by this factor.

It's not a bad thing to let her see the colorful world outside.

At first, Xichun tried to avoid it, huddled in a corner, and only dared to peek.

But she was just a little girl in her teens after all. After passing the West Gate and coming to the sparsely populated area outside the city, she could no longer suppress her curiosity and began to look around.

The grass grows and the warbler flies in February, and the willows are drunk in the spring.

Although the Grand View Garden has pavilions and waterside terraces and pleasant scenery, it cannot compare to the endless natural scenery outside the city that broadens the mind.

Zhang Yunyi didn't bother them and just enjoyed the scenery along the way.

It was not until the carriage stopped in front of Zixiao Temple that he stood up, opened the curtain, and said, "I'll go say hello, and then I'll go to the hot spring villa and find a pleasant open space, and accompany you to get off the carriage and go for an outing!"

This time, although Xichun didn't say anything, she didn't show any reluctance either.

Zhang Yunyi got off the carriage, and the abbot of the temple had already heard the news and came out to greet him.

The abbot in a temple is called the abbot, and the abbot in a Taoist temple is called the abbot.

In ancient times, you couldn't become a proper monk or Taoist just because you wanted to. And the people who held the responsibilities, such as the abbot and the head monk, had to go through a strict selection process. To be an abbot, one had to have received the Three Great Ordination Ceremony, be highly respected, have strict discipline, be supported by all Taoists, and be approved by the imperial court before he could be qualified.

However, official matters were easy for Zhang Yun逸 to handle. Not to mention the documents for the certificate of ordination, even being appointed as the abbot of Jia Zheng was no problem at all.

Of course, Jia Zheng didn't need it, and it would save him the trouble.

If there is something good on the top, it will be great on the bottom.

The retired emperor loved to practice Taoism, and even the Taoist temples outside the capital were mostly crowded with worshippers.

This was obviously contrary to Jia Zheng's request. Based on the principle of sending the Buddha to the west, Zhang Yun逸 also spent some effort to find out about this relatively quiet Taoist temple.

Faith also has a price. Zhang Yun逸 chose a Taoist temple that was not very popular. In addition, due to his status as a marquis, the other party did not dare to neglect him.

He walked quickly to Zhang Yunyi, bowed respectfully and said, "I wonder which layman you are talking about who wants to practice in my humble temple?"

The abbot of Zixiao Temple looked around and saw that although there were people following Zhang Yunyi, they were all dressed as servants. He was confused for a moment.

Zhang Yunyi knocked on the carriage beside him impatiently and urged, "Stop wasting time. We are here. Come down now!"

Jia Zheng was afraid that others would know his identity, so he could not find the Taoist temple through the Rongguo Mansion.

Besides, he was too embarrassed to see people and could only rely on Zhang Yunyi.

However, although he asked Zhang Yunyi for help and hoped to find a suitable Taoist temple through him, he was ashamed to accept his favor.

He had originally hoped that Zhang Yun逸 would just say hello and leave him alone, thus avoiding the embarrassment of meeting him.

Unexpectedly, not only did I fail to achieve my wish, but I was embarrassed in front of others.

It’s not that Zhang Yunyi wanted to embarrass him, but ever since he met Jia Zheng, the other party not only didn’t show up, but also didn’t even make a sound.

What if Lady Jia cheated him and used someone else as a substitute, and then asked him to return the person later, it would be difficult to explain.

Therefore, just in case, he confirmed whether Jia Zheng was really in the car.

Jia Zheng's face turned red and his neck became thick. He hesitated in the carriage for a long time until Zhang Yunyi lifted the curtain. Only then did he have no choice but to lower his head and get out of the carriage.

If he had been more straightforward, Zhang Yunyi would have confirmed it and just said hello.

But this kind of procrastination made Zhang Yunyi a little annoyed.

Seeing why Jia Zheng was dawdling, he smiled at the abbot and said, "Since you're here, you have to go and see the place!"

"please!"

The abbot led the way in front, and Zhang Yun逸 led Jia Zheng, who kept his head down and remained silent, like a child, into a small courtyard in the Taoist temple.

"We are in a hurry and haven't packed everything yet!"

The abbot looked very apologetic and called two young Taoist priests over, saying, "The temple is simple and shabby. I am worried that this layman will not be able to get used to it, so I specially arranged two little Taoist priests to take care of his food and daily life!"

Money makes the world go round. This abbot has really thought it through.

Of course, the money might have to be calculated separately.

Zhang Yun逸 knew very well that Jia Zheng could neither lift nor carry anything, and if no one took care of him, the Taoist priest might even die one day. He just considered it as buying some peace and quiet.

Although the furnishings in the courtyard are simple, it is quiet and secluded.

He did not comment, and turned to Jia Zheng and said, "If you are satisfied, then it's fine. If you are not satisfied, I will send you back..."

Before he even said the word "go", Jia Zheng was afraid that he would shout out Rongguo Mansion, so he nodded hurriedly like a chicken eating rice, "Satisfied! Satisfied!"

He hesitated for a moment, then added, "Yes...thank you for taking the trouble..."

Seeing his cowardly look, Zhang Yunyi laughed and said, "You should be grateful to those who have helped you, and you should be grateful to those who have helped you. What's more, I am the one who eats and takes advantage of you!"

Just now, Jia Zheng was thanking him for his trouble, and his face was already red and his neck was thick. Now his old face was even more red like a pig's liver.

Zhang Yunyi didn't intend to let him go so easily. He put his hand on his shoulder, leaned close to his ear, and smiled, "But, as the saying goes, suffering is a blessing! You are as blessed as the East Sea... Now, although you have cut off your worldly ties, you can practice in seclusion here. You can also pray for your family. It is also your blessing that they have finally gotten what they deserve after all the hardships, isn't it?"

Killing people and killing people is nothing more than that.

After Zhang Yunyi finished speaking, Fang felt relieved. He waved his hand and walked away, saying, "No need to send it off. I'll trouble the abbot to take good care of this lay Buddhist. The monthly expenses and incense money will be sent to him on time."

The abbot and the young Taoist priest were completely confused by his words, but how could Jia Zheng not understand the underlying meaning?
However, due to the presence of the abbot and the young Taoist priest, he was afraid that his identity would be exposed in an argument with Zhang Yunyi, so he had to swallow his anger.

When he saw Zhang Yunyi walking away, he felt relieved and didn't forget to smile foolishly at the abbot and the young Taoist priest.

……

(End of this chapter)