Fang Zilan looked at Master Yuan steadily, wondering why he would speak for Fang Ziqin. Just now she spoke for Zhuge Yu in the courtyard, and it was reasonable for him to praise him for speaking up and speaking out. After all, he and Zhuge Yu were brothers before he became a monk, but what does Fang Ziqin have to do with him?
Seeing the people kneeling on the ground crying and fighting over each other, Fang Zilan had a thought in her mind and said: "You have collided with Master Yuan, why don't you go to the Punishment Department to take the blame yourself?"
After hearing this, Master Yuan clasped his hands together and said, "Amitabha, poor monks promote Buddhism just to persuade people to do good. If these donors sincerely change their ways, why should they suffer punishment?"
Fang Zilan had a suspicion in her mind. Master Lioyuan not only spoke for Fang Ziqin, but also didn't want the matter to become a big deal. He was thinking about Fang Ziqin in this way. The relationship between the two might be unusual.
So she changed her voice and said: "Since Master Lioyuan can't bear your punishment, let's forget about it. If you dare to talk nonsense again in the future, I will not take mercy lightly if I find out."
"Thank you, sir. Thank you, Master Yuan..." Several people hurriedly kowtowed and then left as if they were running away.
Master Liaoyuan led the three of them back to the front hall, "Amitabha, the poor monk still needs to chant sutras and pray for blessings. Master Fang, please help yourself."
"Master Yuan, please go and do your business. I won't disturb the master." Fang Zilan returned the gift and led Vice General Cao and Awan out of the main hall.
She stood at the door for a while, watching Master Yuan lift up his cassock and sit on the futon in front of the Buddha. While knocking on the wooden fish, he recited Buddhist sutras plausibly. His movements were like flowing clouds and flowing water. His mind was completely unaffected.
Could it be that she is overthinking? Forget it, she shook her head, turned and left.
After Fang Zilan left, Master Liaoyuan stopped knocking on the wooden fish and breathed a long sigh of relief.
The little novice monk on the side couldn't help but said: "Master, when you knocked the wooden fish just now, the blow was much too heavy."
Master Liaoyuan did not answer, but just recited the scriptures silently. From the shape of his mouth, the young novice could vaguely tell that he was reciting the Pure Heart Mantra.
The young novice monk was a little curious, why should we recite the Pure Heart Mantra when chanting sutras and praying for blessings?
However, he didn't dare to ask any more questions. Every time he followed his master into the palace to perform rituals, he always felt that his master was different from usual.
*
After Fang Zilan took Vice General Cao and Awan back to the house, Shangguan Min pestered her for advice. Wen Ya watched her take medicine and rest. Time passed extremely fast, and in a blink of an eye it was the day before New Year's Eve.
In the early morning of this day, Fang Zilan supervised Shangguan Min's morning classes as usual. She watched Shangguan Min practice his spear, but her thoughts drifted further and further away.
Tomorrow is New Year's Eve, and I don't think Mo Han will come back to celebrate the New Year. The same goes for this child. If he doesn’t come back, he won’t know how to write a letter to her...
Speaking of letters, Lord Zhong Yao from the north sent her a New Year's greeting letter. Lao Li and Qi Yuming also replied to her, saying that they would let Shangguan Min stay in the capital with peace of mind and they would take care of the rest.
However, even if Shangguan Min stayed in the capital, he might not be able to stay for long. When the Huangfu family returned to the north, he would follow them back.
When will the Huangfu family return to the north? After the spring hunt? She went to Mushan Pass during the spring hunting this year. If nothing happens during the spring hunting next year, she should go with him...
"Master Fang, Miss Ouyang is here to visit." The housekeeper arrived in a hurry, interrupting Fang Zilan's thoughts. She calmed down and asked, "Who is Miss Ouyang?"
The housekeeper said: "Miss Ouyang Zirou of the Ouyang family, do you want to invite her in?"
"Please come in." After Fang Zilan finished speaking, he stood up and rushed to Shangguan Min and said, "A guest is here. I'll go to the front to take a look."
Shangguan Min said hello, and Fang Zilan walked straight to the front hall. As soon as he sat down, he saw the housekeeper leading Ouyang Zirou in.
Ouyang Zirou took off her cloak, walked quickly to Fang Zilan, looked at it and said, "Master Fang's face looks fine, but he has lost a lot of weight and looks haggard. I wonder if Master Fang's illness is getting better?"
"I'm sorry, Zirou, I'm thinking of you." Fang Zilan smiled slightly, "I'm fine, I'm much better now."
Ouyang Zirou looked around. The entire hall was warmed by the brazier. Seeing this, she felt a little relieved, "Master Fang, you still need to pay more attention. It's cold in the capital in winter, so don't be careless."
"Zirou is interested." Fang Zilan nodded slightly and said, "I wonder what happened to Zirou coming here today?"
Ouyang Zirou walked back to her seat and sat down, "If nothing happens, can't I come and see Mr. Fang?"
"Yes." Fang Zilan couldn't help but smile, and Ouyang Zirou pursed her lips and said, "But I do have one thing, and I want to ask Mr. Fang for help."
Fang Zilan smiled and said, "Zi Rou just said it doesn't matter."
"That's it." Ouyang Zirou said slowly: "Your Majesty wanted to create a special position for me in the Ministry of Industry, but my family refused to agree, so I had to quietly beg Your Majesty. Your Majesty promised that if I could help the arsenal factory Improved crossbows, no matter what my family said or did, he would let me serve in the Ministry of Works.”
"This is a good thing." Fang Zilan praised: "So Zirou wants me to help you see how the improved crossbow looks like?"
"Exactly." Ouyang Zirou nodded and called her boy guarding the door to come in.
The waiter walked up to Fang Zilan holding the box. She opened the lid and found a bow inside. She picked it up casually, with a flash of surprise in her eyes, "So light?"
Ouyang Zirou said seriously: "Master Fang, please do not underestimate this bow. Although it is lighter, its range is comparable to that of an ordinary heavy bow."
Hearing what she said, Fang Zilan raised her hand and pulled the bow string, "This bow string..."
"The manufacturing method is kept secret." Ouyang Zirou smiled with his eyebrows crooked at one moment, but flattened his mouth at the next moment, "But the materials used to make this bow string are rare. Therefore, I would like to ask Mr. Fang to help me see the effect. If If the effect is good, I will think of ways to solve the problem of materials."
Fang Zilan pondered for a while and then said: "Although I can use bow and arrow, I am not an expert after all."
Ouyang Zirou's almond-shaped eyes flashed and flickered, and her eyes were as lively as a fluttering butterfly. The fluttering of her butterfly wings made her more attractive, "If Mr. Fang, you are not willing to help me, I'm afraid no one in the capital can help me."
"Who said I won't help?" Fang Zilan smiled, "It's a coincidence that you came here. I have a new apprentice. He is quite knowledgeable about bows and arrows. He is considered a semi-expert. I asked him to help you."
Ouyang Zirou asked curiously: "I wonder who is so lucky to have Master Fang take you as your disciple?"
Fang Zilan hesitated for a moment, and Ouyang Zirou said keenly: "Is there anything special about this person that I can't tell you?"
"It's okay to tell you." Fang Zilan's expression became a little more serious and reminded: "But you have to keep it a secret for me."
"No problem." Ouyang Zirou agreed quickly, and Fang Zilan took a deep breath, "The apprentice I have accepted is Shangguan Min."
Ouyang Zirou repeated the name and suddenly understood, "The orphan of the Shangguan family?"
Fang Zilan hummed, and Ouyang Zirou understood the seriousness and immediately said: "Don't worry, Mr. Fang, I will never tell anyone."
"Of course I believe you." Fang Zilan relaxed, "Let's go, I'll take you to him and let him help you see how this bow is."
