Emperor's Cunning Wife

Three days later on the North Guardian Star Temple, High Priest Zhang was currently mediating when Abbot He broke in his room, his countenance filled with slight agitation.

Chanting some calming mantra, Abbot He calmed down his emotions. He perfectly knew that it was disrespectful to barge in the High Priest's room without permission beforehand, but he already integrated this as a developed habit for the duration of three days.

"What is it now?" High Priest Zhang asked, not bothering to open his eyes. The number of times his room was intruded for the past three days cannot be counted by one hand, and all of these were caused by one person only.

Abbot He inhaled and exhaled keeping his attitude in check, "She's set up another stall for betting over dices. This one didn't even know where she got them." Finished he chanted again, making the anger in his heart dissipated. Clear my thoughts to achieve zen!

For the peace and stability of the mind!

High Priest Zhang's eyebrows twitched as he heard the report. He clearly expected it to be the case, but when he received the report; his grip on the Buddhist beads became tighter. His mind was a little foggier these days because of the disturbances. He wondered if he had a nightmare that night instead of enlightenment.

"Amitabha...If the heart has no earthly d.e.s.i.r.es, one would not be tempted. Gather the apprentices for a mass mediation. The others should also not lax on their duties and lectures." Zhang said, his brows constantly wrinkling when he abruptly remembered he had said the exact words at noon of yesterday.

Abbot He twitched his lips, the High Priest Zhang repeated the words but when he implemented it, there had been no effect.

"How about she undergoes head shaving and be a nun." Abbot He finally couldn't endure and speak his thoughts and suggested such idea to let that mischievous lady behaved more properly.

"Cannot." High Priest Zhang sighed thoroughly rejecting his idea.

"But if this goes on, the temple would not be a temple anymore and would become a gambling house. Those apprentices will be led to the wrong path." Abbot He argued before realizing his behavior was gain out of bounds. Amitabha, how many times did he lose control of his emotions today?

"Amitabha… Just…." High Priest Zhang seemed to run out of ideas to deal with this problem.

"….Just what?" Abbot He piqued his ears eager to hear his proposition.

High Priest Zhang was silent for several seconds before continuing.

"Isn't it time to for the apprentice to go down the mountain and gain some experience on divination? Send her as well, it is a good thing if she straightened her crooked ways." High Priest Zhang commented albeit with little confidence.

Abbot He was once again speechless. He clearly heard the High Priest's voice filled with doubt at the end. He also begun to ponder and finally nodded in agreement. His intention was to have some peace of mind for the following days.

"Then this one will go and relay your instructions." He brought forth his hands and bowed in respect.

When Abbot He left, High Priest Zhang decided to open his eyes, then he called out one of his apprentice that stood by the door, "Little Fu, come here for a moment."

A boy dr.a.p.ed in saffron robe with his head shaved saluted him, "What did Mentor call this apprentice for?" He spoke and two dimples appeared on his cheeks.

"Have someone go to the locksmith and order a pair of door locks." High Priest Zhang said with no change of expression.

"Door locks?" Little Fu repeated unsure if he heard it right.

"Yes. Remember that one with the hardest to crack." High Priest Zhang nodded and particularly added another important matter.

Little Fu was simple minded and obedient, so he didn't ask any more questions and accepted the tasks.

"Then this apprentice will fulfil mentor's request." Little Fu started walking out of the room.

High Priest Zhang watched the jubilant figure of the little boy getting smaller before returning to his previous spot. He kneeled on the cushion and started delving on another mantra, the one that could effectively restrain inner demons.

The sliding doors closed. His eyes once again gave the door a look before resuming his meditation.

Somewhere within, he wished that bolt of locks would be able to give him some peace.

...…

In the Outer Hall Apprentices' Quarters

Inside one of the apprentice's room, a little figure shook the wooden cup with its one hand, while carefully holding the wooden plate beneath. Its eyes filled with glow and enthusiasm as it watched the bunch of apprentices huddle together in front, the numerous pairs of eyes stared at the object in its hands without blinking. Tiny sounds of rattling filled the room.

Clink- Clank- This sounds echoed in the ears of the eager listeners.

"Alright place your bets." The feminine magnetic voice said to the group. Her eyes turned into crescents.

"I'll bet small!"

��It's going to be big this time!"

"Scoot over, this brother hadn't place a bet yet!"

The place became lively all of a sudden with their chatters. Each hand set some coins and papers on the square markings on the back of a little table which was turned over.

Chinese character of 'big' was written on the top of the left square, while the right had the character 'small'.

When the apprentice was done picking, the little figure then slammed the cup on the back of the wooden table. Numerous eyes instantly filled with the anticipation of the results. The noise died down.

It stretched it one hand on top of the bottom of the cup securing the dices from the prying eyes, and with a swish, three small dices were revealed with corresponding number of dots.

"No!"

"This brother has finally won a round!"

"Why am I so unlucky?"

"Hey Little Flower, are you sure you're not cheating? How come every round the fewest bets will win?" One of the apprentices asked after noticing the pattern.

The heart of the figure called 'Little Flower' pounded and hurriedly looked over the smartest of the bunch.

She then said while paying the rewards of those who won and storing the rest inside her robe, "If one dares to bet, one must accept lose! Brother Qian should stop spewing nonsense! You can see that the dices are not in my control, and I don't possess any martial skill to manipulate the dices inside."

I won't admit it, come on bite me!