Proud Feather

Chapter 17 Rumors
The imperial physician's medicine worked well, but it was still not as good as a good night's sleep at Jinghui's place.

So Chu Ling went to Dahuai Temple several times.

Jinghui hadn't been reading fortunes these days, and had been practicing in the Zen temple. Chu Ling asked him about it, and he smiled and said, "I've been setting up for a few days, and almost everyone who was supposed to come has arrived. I have to give a bite to the gentlemen at the temple gate."

Chu Ling uttered an "oh" and said, "Master, you are quite kind. You have already earned most of the incense money. If you continue to set up your stall, I am afraid that someone will smash it."

Jinghui smiled tolerantly, not caring about her spoiled and mean nature, and continued to recite the scriptures with her head down.

Chu Ling had nothing to do and wandered around this simple Zen temple, sometimes looking at the scriptures he had copied, and sometimes rummaging through his medicine box.

"Master, who did you learn this medical skill from? I think you're different from ordinary doctors!"

Jinghui reluctantly stopped chanting and replied, "What I learned from Master is all unconventional, so naturally I cannot compare to the famous doctors that Miss has seen."

Chu Ling argued: "How do you know that the doctors I usually see are famous doctors?"

"You are a noble person, so you will naturally see a famous doctor."

Chu Ling turned around and looked at him with interest: "You seem a little impatient!"

Jinghui folded his hands and replied, "This is also cultivation."

Chu Ling pretended not to hear and continued, "I came here just for your incense. If you're willing to give it to me, I won't bother you anymore."

Jinghui patiently replied, "I've already said that relying on incense to fall asleep for a long time will lead to dependence, which is not good. Miss, you already know the root of your illness. If you take good care of yourself, you will recover."

"Then don't blame me for being annoying." Chu Ling continued to rummage around, "Let me see where your fragrance is..."

Of course there was nothing in the medicine box, nor in the book box, but there were some unknown herbs drying outside.

Seeing that he was reciting with great concentration, Chu Ling walked out of the meditation room and wandered around.

Jinghui finished reading a paragraph and looked up. She found that she had already diverted her attention and was staring at the fruits beside her, discussing trivial matters with the palace maids such as whether they were ripe and how long it would take before they could be eaten.

He smiled gently, moved the burnt incense in the incense burner, and continued chanting.
-
The weather is fine today, and several wives of officials have agreed to go to Dahuai Temple to burn incense.

Most of their husbands held official positions of the fifth or sixth rank, and were not very prominent in the capital. However, one of them was an old lady from the family of Chengyilang Tian, whose status was extraordinary. The monk in charge of reception did not dare to neglect her and accompanied her every step of the way.

This old lady Tian is naturally the mother of Concubine Tian Shufei.

For a long time, the Tian family held an awkward position among the nobility. Their ancestors were farmers in the capital, and when they couldn't make ends meet, they sent their daughter to be a slave. But luck struck, and she landed a job at the Duke's mansion, serving the young lady. The young lady married a member of the imperial clan, and unexpectedly became the empress.

The daughter rose from a slave to a concubine, and then to a concubine. After the Queen's death, she soared to the top of the harem, becoming the most favored concubine. It is certain that the Tian family rose to prominence, but Concubine Tian Shu was low-key, and the Tian family was indeed too low-class. The aristocratic families were proud of their status and rarely interacted with them.

But middle and lower class families don't have this taboo, especially now that the crown prince has passed away. Everyone knows that the second prince born to Concubine Shu will rise to the top overnight, so it is inevitable that frivolous people will take the initiative to climb up.

Old Madam Tian was surrounded by so many stars and received flattery all the way.

After the ladies had paid their respects to the Bodhisattva, one of them asked, "I heard there's a distinguished monk staying at the Dahuai Temple. He's very good at interpreting divinations, but I don't know where he is."

The monk in charge of reception replied, "Madam, you have come at an unfortunate time. Junior Brother Jinghui has been in seclusion these past few days and has not come out to interpret the divination."

The ladies were not so easily dismissed. They said, "Since you want to retreat, then you can stay in the temple. It's not easy for us to come here. Could you please recommend someone to us?"

The monk in charge of reception knew that there was a distinguished guest at Jinghui's place, so how could he dare to disturb him?
However, Mrs. Tian was already looking over with great interest. She spoke in Mandarin with a local accent, "I heard from my granddaughter that Zen Master Jinghui is very powerful and his predictions are always accurate. I've been waking up with startles these past few days and I'm worried I've been contaminated by something bad, so I'd like to ask him to take a look."

The monk in charge of reception was in a dilemma. It was not easy to offend Old Madam Tian. Everyone knew that her family was going to become powerful. What if she got remembered by others...

He thought quickly and said with a smile, "Ladies, please wait a moment. I will ask someone to go and check. Please ask Junior Brother Jinghui to prepare it."

A moment later, the young monk came over to pass on the message. The monk in charge of reception was relieved to hear that the noble was about to leave, and invited the ladies to come over.

So the ladies chatted and laughed as they headed towards the back mountain.

As soon as they turned onto the mountain path, a sharp-eyed lady spotted Chu Ling emerging from the bamboo forest. She didn't go forward, and thus didn't encounter the other ladies. She simply went around the small path, exited the back gate of the Dahuai Temple, and boarded her carriage.

"Who is that?" the ladies whispered. "Look at that guard, he looks like..."

"It looks like she's from the palace." The lady was surprised after seeing it clearly. "It's incredible! Not only are they palace guards, but they're also bringing palace maids, and that carriage... Could it be a young lady from the royal family?"

"Hey, the emblem on the carriage looks familiar. Is this the Anguo Mansion?"

When the Duke of Anguo's Mansion was mentioned, someone immediately thought: "I heard that Princess Jiahe went to visit her grandmother these days..."

The ladies couldn't help but look at Old Madam Tian.

Old Madam Tian forced a smile on her face, and tried to look at the departing carriage with a loving gaze. She said, "It is indeed our princess! Is she here to interpret the divination as well?"

The second half of the sentence was asked to the monk in charge of reception.

The monk in charge of reception dared not tell anyone about the princess. He just responded perfunctorily and lowered his head to lead the way.

These ladies, who loved flattery and flattery, were naturally restless, and when they suddenly saw the princess, how could they resist? Their eyes darted around, eager to find out more.

Unfortunately, the monks of Dahuai Temple kept their mouths shut and could only give vague answers.

"Amitabha." As they were speaking, the ladies heard the Buddha's name and saw a monk coming out of the Zen temple.

He has a fair complexion and handsome features, and he wears a plain monk's robe, which fully demonstrates his compassionate Buddha nature.

The ladies were speechless for a moment. This monk had such a rare demeanor!

……

As the sun sets, the ladies say goodbye in front of the temple and get into their own carriages.

There are also people who have a good relationship with each other and they take a car and travel together.

"No wonder Master Jinghui's reputation spread so quickly. Looking at his appearance and bearing, he's no worse than those noble young men in the capital."

"Yes! He is still a bodhisattva, and he has been patient in explaining things."

"Hey, did you see it just now? There is a handkerchief on the Zen master's tea table. It was said that the previous guest dropped it."

The two ladies who were gossiping came together and lowered their voices.

"I asked around, and it seems Princess Jiahe has been here several times."

"And I stayed there for half a day."

"Although the Zen master is a monk, it's not good to visit him so frequently..."

"The princess has already reached the age of marriage, and she's getting older every year."

"She is a princess after all..."

There was no need to say anything else. The two ladies exchanged glances, and everything was said without words.

(End of this chapter)