The Red Mansion in its bustling glory

Seeing Lin Ruhai coughing violently, Jia Jue couldn't help but ask, "Uncle, have you been unwell lately?"

Lin Ruhai smiled bitterly and said, "My health has been deteriorating ever since your aunt passed away."

After saying that, Lin Ruhai added, "Look at me, I was so busy talking to you that I forgot you just arrived here. You must be tired after the long journey from the boat. I've already arranged for the servants to clean a few rooms for you, so please rest here for a few days."

Upon hearing this, Jia Jue bowed to Lin Ruhai and said, "Thank you, Uncle."

So Jia Jue and his party stayed at the Lin residence for a few days.

Outside Yangzhou city, there is a mountain that is neither large nor high, but it is extremely famous—it is called Huishan.

On this mountaintop stands a temple. The temple has no plaque, its name is unknown, and it has no novice monks, only nuns.

The most famous nun in this temple is named Huixin. She is said to be extremely skilled in feng shui and had a little-known connection with the retired emperor.

The retired emperor, grateful for her profound Buddhist knowledge and extensive abilities, bestowed upon her this mountain outside Yangzhou and named it "Huishan".

Recently, Master Huixin accepted a new disciple with the Dharma name "Miaoyu".

This disciple was different from the other nuns in the temple; she practiced while still keeping her hair. Her background was also different; she was the daughter of an official's family. However, she had been physically weak since childhood, and no matter how many substitutes her family bought for her, it was to no avail. In the end, she herself became a nun, and only then did her health improve.

Outside Yangzhou city, the most famous and most efficacious temple is the one where Master Huixin resides.

On the second day after arriving in Yangzhou, Jia Jue climbed the mountain, intending to go to the temple to request a Buddhist artifact.

This ritual object was acquired to pray for the Dowager Empress when we arrived in Jinling.

Jia Yu, accompanied by a man carrying a book, a man with a sword, and several servants, climbed the mountain. When they arrived at the temple, they saw dozens of soldiers guarding the temple.

These soldiers were ordered by the retired emperor to protect the safety of everyone in the temple.

Upon seeing Jia Jue arrive, the leader of the soldiers stepped forward and asked, "Who goes there? What brings you here?"

Jia Jue bowed respectfully and said, "I am a descendant of the Duke of Rongguo, named Jia Jue. I have come to Jinling to pray for the Dowager Empress and have come here to ask Abbess Huixin for a consecrated ritual object."

The man didn't make things difficult for him, but said, "Requesting ritual implements and offering incense is fine, but you must travel alone."

Upon hearing this, Jia Jue could only say to the people behind him, "You all wait here, I'll be right back."

Having said that, he went inside.

This temple, though not as grand as those in the capital or as magnificent as those in the West, is naturally unadorned and exudes a tranquil charm.

As Jia Jue stepped inside, a nun quickly approached and asked, "Are you the Second Master Jue of the Rongguo Mansion in the capital?"

Jia Jue was surprised and asked, "How do you recognize me?"

The nun said, "A few days ago, Abbess Huixin said that a young master named Jue from the Rongguo Mansion in the capital would be visiting today, and asked me to wait here."

Upon hearing this, Jia Jue exclaimed in surprise, "I've long heard that Master Huixin is proficient in feng shui, but I never imagined he would be so extraordinary!"

The nun simply smiled; she had heard these words countless times before.

"Come with me," she said. "The nun said that if you come, she will take you to the backyard."

With that, the nun walked away ahead.

Jia Jue had no choice but to follow behind her, step by step.

Before long, the two arrived at the door of a meditation room.

The nun said, "We've arrived." Then she withdrew.

Having no other choice, Jia Jue stepped forward and gently knocked on the door of the meditation room.

"Please come in."

A woman's voice came from inside the room.

Jia Jue pushed open the door and entered, only to see an elderly-looking nun sitting cross-legged on a prayer mat.

Although the nun was old, one could still vaguely discern her youthful appearance in her features; she must have been a beauty. Time may be merciless, but even though this old woman was merely sitting cross-legged with her eyes closed, she did not exude any signs of decline or old age; she possessed a unique charm.

Jia Jue thought to himself, "It seems this is Master Huixin."

Thinking of this, Jia Jue bowed and said, "Greetings, Abbess Huixin."

Huixin opened her eyes, looked Jia Jue up and down carefully, and then nodded.

Immediately, Abbess Huixin spoke up, "I roughly know why you've come; what's on the table is it."

Jia Jue looked at the table as instructed and saw a jade ruyi lying quietly on it, next to an exquisite box.

Master Huixin then said, "Later, you can put that ruyi into the box."

Jia Jue was once again amazed and couldn't help but utter a string of compliments.

Master Huixin remained unmoved upon hearing this and said, "But I have one more thing to trouble you with."

Jia Jue asked, "What brings you here, Abbess?"

Huixin said, "Let me meet my disciple."

Jia Jue felt strange upon hearing this—Miaoyu was a virgin, and although she had nominally become a nun, it was still inappropriate for her to be a nun. Didn't Master Huixin know this?

But then he thought about it again and remembered the many miraculous things that Abbess Huixin had done. So he thought, "The abbess must have her own reasons. Anyway, I won't lose out, so I might as well agree."

In a flash, Jia Jue said, "If that's the case, then I certainly have no objection."

Huixin nodded and said, "I have already instructed my disciple that after you leave this gate, turn east and walk forty-five steps to the meditation room you see.

After saying that, he closed his eyes again and said no more.

Jia Jue had no choice but to put the ruyi into the wooden box, and with it, he went out the door and followed the nun's instructions.

Sure enough, upon arrival, a small meditation room stood before us, exactly forty-five steps away.

Jia Jue then stepped forward and knocked on the door, saying, "Master Miaoyu, the abbess wants me to come over."

After a long while, a cold voice came from inside the room: "Come in."

Jia Jue pushed open the door and looked inside, only to see a young girl in monk's robes sitting there.

The girl was stunningly beautiful, with cool and aloof eyes, ethereal and otherworldly.

"The heir of the Rongguo Prince?"

Miaoyu asked.

Jia Jue nodded.

Miaoyu then asked, "I wonder if Master told you why he sent you here?"

Jia Jue shook his head and said, "I don't know."

Miaoyu sighed and said, "In that case, please sit down."

As she spoke, she pointed to a bench next to her.

When she saw Jia Jue sit down, there was a hint of disdain in her eyes—she thought to herself, "Once he leaves, I'll have someone throw this bench away; it's dirty."

The two of them remained in an eerie silence.

Suddenly, Jia Jue looked at a piece of Xuelang paper on the table in front of him.

There was an old poem written on the paper. It was written by Fan Chengda during the Song Dynasty. The poem reads:

Catalpa trees can be found everywhere in my hometown, and I, with my shovel and wine jug, seem like a drunken Liu.

Even a thousand-year-old iron threshold must eventually be replaced by a mound of earth.

The three realms are but ashes, and the four fundamental forms are but a strong mound.

What difference is there between ants and kites? Facing the wind, I clap my hands as chrysanthemums bloom in autumn.