"Yes, slave, go right away."
The maid in yellow responded obediently, turned around and left.
"Amitabha."
Xuanzang clasped his hands together and said,
"Thank you, Master."
Xu Fenglei waved his hand.
"I heard the Buddha say that if all sentient beings make offerings to the Buddha, they can sit on the lotus platform for thousands of lives."
He joked,
"I think you have the potential to become a Buddha, so this meal is not considered a donation, but an investment."
"I'm optimistic about you."
Xuanzang was startled.
"The Grand Master is too praised."
He whispered,
"The young monk has little talent and little knowledge, so how can he have the potential to become a Buddha? Even if he does have some Buddha nature, he will end up confused and wasted because he has no guidance and direction."
"There have always been monks in the same situation as the young monk, and there are many now. They all suffer from the scarcity of Buddhist teachings and are unable to understand their minds and see their nature."
"It is precisely because of this that the young monk has made a great wish. Despite all the difficulties and dangers, the young monk will reach the Kingdom of Tianzhu."
"If I could see the true scripture, I would have no regrets even if I died."
"Amitabha."
Xu Fenglei looked at the young monk in front of him and nodded slightly.
"Master Xuanzang, your food."
The maid in yellow presented a bowl of wheat rice.
"Thank you, female donor."
Xuanzang bowed briefly, then picked up the bowl and chopsticks. At Xu Fenglei's signal, he moved the chopsticks to pick up the vegetables.
Although meat and vegetables are not taboos when alms are given, he still tries his best to eat vegetables, such as choy sum for beef and celery, and celery for shredded pork.
As for fresh-cut mutton and pigeon soup, he wouldn't touch it.
Bang Chi Bang Chi.
Maybe he was starving after traveling all the way, or maybe the dishes at Duke Xu's mansion were so delicious that Xuanzang ate so deliciously that he finished half a bowl of rice in two minutes.
"Hahaha, Master Xuanzang, eat slowly and don't choke."
Xu Fenglei smiled and said,
“It’s not enough to eat, but there’s still more in the pot, it’s enough!”
"Hmm, um..." Xuanzang responded vaguely. He tried his best to swallow the food in his mouth and couldn't help but praise, "This is so delicious! This little monk has never tasted such delicious food..."
In Xingguo Temple, I just eat and drink just to satisfy my hunger all day long.
The food I ate in the past was not even as good as a piece of cabbage heart in front of me.
"That's natural. This cabbage is made from the finest cabbage, peeled off all the outer skin, leaving only the small cabbage heart in the middle."
The maids in yellow clothes are like countless family treasures,
“This celery is also carefully selected.”
"Of course, no matter how delicious the vegetarian dishes are, they still have to rely on meat to make them fresh. Without the beef and shredded pork, this dish would not be so delicious."
Xuanzang paused for a moment and slowed down his cooking speed.
"Master Xuanzang, please be careful. If you fall in love with this taste, you will be violating the precept of gluttony."
Xu Fenglei said happily,
"Sin, sin, a good meal, may hinder the mage's practice."
Although he respected Xuanzang in front of him, Xu Fenglei couldn't help but want to make fun of him.
Just like Su Shi always playing tricks on monk Foyin... maybe it's some kind of bad taste.
"Thank you, Master, for reminding me."
Xuanzang responded, his expression as usual.
Then, he stopped picking up the vegetables and ate the remaining half of the bowl of rice, looking very happy.
"The Master is so calm!"
Xu Fenglei put a large piece of mutton into his mouth, and his mouth was full of oil. He smiled and praised,
"This time, I said I can't hold it back anymore."
"This is beyond the reach of anyone."
Snap.
Xuanzang swallowed the rice in his mouth and put down the bowl and chopsticks.
"The Master is right, the young monk almost violated the precept of greed."
He said seriously,
"Patience with desires and getting rid of distracting thoughts are the basic skills of Buddhist disciples."
"The so-called body should be like a bodhi tree, unmoving; the mind should be a mirror stand, spotless. If there are any delusions and dust, cut off the delusions and brush away the dust. Only in this way can you have great tranquility."
Xu Fenglei raised his eyebrows slightly.
"It's too low. Your level is too low."
He said happily,
"The bodhi tree has no tree, and the mirror is not a stand. There is nothing in the first place, so where can it cause dust?"
"If you treat your body as one thing and your mind as one thing, and try to regulate it and embody it, you are committing a crime of self-grasping."
Xuanzang raised his head slightly and his breathing stopped.
"Sir, what you said is very good!"
The maid in yellow began to have stars in her eyes as she looked at Xu Fenglei with a look of admiration on her face.
"What do you mean, sir?"
The maid in green clothes behind him asked softly,
"Why can't I understand?"
"I don't understand either, but I think it's very powerful and very high-level! Don't you think so?" The maid in yellow said with a matter-of-fact expression.
"Indeed." The maid in green nodded with deep approval, and stars began to appear in her eyes.
…
"The young monk has received the teaching. Can the Grand Master explain it in detail?"
Xuanzang raised his hand hurriedly and asked for advice.
"Hey, there's nothing to elaborate on. I'm just talking nonsense."
Xu Fenglei waved his hand and said modestly,
"Just like you think this dish is delicious and want to eat more. This is human nature. Why should you endure it?"
"If you rely on patience, you will fall behind. Just like you said, 'Wipe the mirror to avoid dust.' If you are too deliberate, it will not be beautiful."
"The state of being without desires and demands is never achieved through patience."
Xuanzang nodded.
"The level of a grand master is much higher than that of a junior monk."
He couldn't help but praise,
"Your attainments in Buddhism are far superior to those of the young monk!"
"Could it be that Grand Master...has seen the Tianzhu Scripture before?"
Xu Fenglei laughed dumbly and waved his hand.
"No, no, I'm just imagining this. Don't take it too seriously."
He said casually,
"Are you full? There's not enough left. Don't be polite to me. I'm nothing but hospitable!"
"You have to run all the way back to the temple later, so you can't do it without eating enough!"
When Xuanzang heard this, he pursed his lips.
"Thank you, Grand Master, for your kindness. That's enough, little monk."
He responded, still wanting to bring the topic back, so he said,
"The young monk has memorized this Buddhist poem by the Grand Master."
"However, as the Diamond Sutra says, the premise is that all appearances are false. Only after seeing all the appearances can you be qualified to break the illusion."
"The young monk's current state is still at the stage of patience and wiping away. He doesn't dare to aim too high and achieve success overnight."
"I hope that one day, the young monk can truly understand this poem and truly reach that state. It should be a very wonderful state."
Xuanzang's eyes were full of yearning, and his heart was full of infinite joy.
Before coming here, he had no idea that Xu Fenglei's words could dispel the confusion in his heart and allow him to see a higher realm!
That is a more profound Buddhist realm! He was convinced.
"LOL, really?"
Xu Fenglei laughed and said casually,
"Then I wish the Master to work harder and become a Buddha soon."
"Come on, give the Master a cup of tea."
The maid on the side quickly stepped forward and poured Xuanzang a cup of hot tea.
"This mutton is really good. The lamb meat is tender and fragrant, but I actually like the smell of mutton more. It's so spicy and strong."
Xu Fenglei picked up the rice and said,
"Next time, ask Yangtang Xishi to send something else. She has a good supply of goods."
"By the way, how are she and Mr. Ma Zhou doing?"
He has always remembered that talented and arrogant young scholar!
"Yes, sir."
The maid in yellow responded,
"Mr. Ma Zhou seems to be staying at General Chang He's house. I don't know what he is doing specifically. There is no movement."
"I heard that he intends to have a good relationship with the boss's wife, but the boss's wife seems to be still considering it... If sir wants to know, can I go and inquire?"
Xu Fenglei was stunned.
"What else does this need to be considered? What does she think?"
He continued,
"Didn't I tell her that she is destined to be the prime minister's wife, and Ma Zhou is her true husband!"
"Maybe it's because she feels that she is of low status and not worthy of Mr. Ma Zhou?" the maid in yellow guessed, "after all, she is a widow..."
Xu Fenglei suddenly realized.
Too.
This is no longer the Qin and Han Dynasty, and second-married women are not that popular. Although the Tang Dynasty is also quite open, widows are still gossiped to more or less.
"Go talk to her and say it was me who said it."
He ordered,
"I want her not to hesitate and seize the opportunity. There is no store like this after passing this village!"
The elephant appears only once.
If you don’t marry Ma Zhou, you won’t be the prime minister’s wife!
"yes."
The maid in yellow responded,
"This slave will bring Mr. Yangtang Xishi's words later."
Clatter. Clatter.
After a bowl of pigeon soup, Xu Fenglei touched his belly comfortably and burped.
With a wave of her hand, the maid took away the leftovers from the table and handed her a cup of tea.
"call--"
With a gentle blow, he invited Xuanzang,
"Master Xuanzang, would you like to taste it? My tea is an improved one. I personally think it tastes better than Camellia oleifera."
Xuanzang took a sip and praised:
“Really refreshing and delicious.”
Xu Fenglei hummed, said nothing more, and just sipped his tea with a calm expression.
The rosary beads in Xuanzang's hand turned slightly.
The two of them spent a long time in silence, and no one spoke.
Only the speed at which Xuanzang turned the beads increased slightly.
"Why don't you, sir, or the mage speak?"
At the entrance of the courtyard, Xiao Zi tugged on Xiao Hong's sleeves and whispered.
The seven maids of the housekeeper had gathered beside the courtyard at this moment, looking curiously at what was going on in the courtyard.
In the past, when people came to visit, they would always entertain them. My husband entertained people in person, but the one he entertained was a monk... It was very rare!
"have no idea."
Xiaohong whispered in response,
"My husband often says, 'If you don't speak, you pretend to be an expert.' Maybe whoever speaks first will lose."
The words just fell.
But when Xuanzang stopped holding the rosary in his hand, he raised his head and finally lost his breath and said:
"Master, the young monk is here..."
"I know." Xu Fenglei raised his hand and interrupted him.
"You want me to help you, say a few nice words in front of His Majesty, and ask you to go to Tianzhu to get Buddhist scriptures, right?"
He looked at Xuanzang and sighed,
"Alas! It's not that I don't want to help you! But you may not understand the current His Majesty."
"He worked hard to govern, wanted to let the people live a good life, and wanted to make the Tang Dynasty prosperous. Therefore, he disdained the monks and Taoists."
"You could ask Xiao Yu to speak for you. Normal things would have been settled a long time ago. Just this matter... Xiao Yu has been rejected. I guess I'm about the same."
Xuanzang's face tightened.
"Grand Master, does your Majesty have any misunderstanding about monks and Taoists?"
He said hurriedly,
"There is no conflict between letting the people live a good life and making the country strong, and developing the monks' path and allowing young monks to go abroad to learn Buddhist scriptures!"
Xu Fenglei raised his eyes slightly.
"Yeah?"
He said calmly,
"I don't think so."
"Look, I'm thinking from His Majesty's perspective."
"Do both monks and Taoist priests occupy a lot of land and real estate? Are they not involved in production and don't have to pay taxes?"
Xuanzang nodded subconsciously.
Temples, buildings, and courtyards are all Buddhist property and are considered real estate.
Production is done, but generally it is produced for one's own use. When the land cannot be planted, tenants are asked to plant it.
And it’s true that they don’t have to pay food taxes…
"Look, that's not good for the country!"
Xu Fenglei spread his hands and said,
"Think about it, if there are more monks, will there be fewer people engaged in production and farming? You monks are all precious young adults!"
"With fewer people farming, the tax revenue received by the court will also decrease. At the same time, the number of soldiers recruited from conscription will also decrease, and the number of births in the Tang Dynasty will also decrease. This affects all aspects!"
"If you go to the Western Regions to seek the true scriptures, Buddhism will definitely flourish. With this prosperity, everyone will run to become monks. Who will pay for the country's food? Who will become a soldier?"
"These are all things that His Majesty has to consider!"
"So, it is reasonable for him not to agree. If I were Your Majesty, from his perspective, I would not agree..."
Xuanzang; "..."
He was always eloquent, but now his face was stiff and he couldn't utter a word for a long time.
Because what Xu Fenglei said were indisputable facts, even though he was unwilling to admit it.
The development and growth of religion will inevitably affect the secular world, which is something that kings of all ages have been wary of.
Could it be...that he really couldn't get official recognition and could only sneak out?
"...Thank you, Grand Master, for your guidance."
Xuanzang smiled with difficulty, clasped his hands together and said,
"Little monk understands."
"The young monk knows the difficulty of the Grand Master and doesn't dare to ask for help anymore. I'm sorry, I'm sorry."
"Why……"
He couldn't help but sigh, and slowly stood up to leave the table, but suddenly he heard Xu Fenglei say:
"But, it's not completely unnecessary to talk about it."
Xuanzang: "?!"
The butt that had just left the stool pressed against it again.
"Master, you..."
He looked at Xu Fenglei with bright eyes, as if seeing a ray of dawn in the darkness.
"Look, Your Majesty always considers things based on interests, so why don't you start from here -"
Xu Fenglei smiled lightly and said,
"If you leave the Tang Dynasty, go to the Western Regions, and go to Tianzhu, how much benefit can you bring to the country?"
Xuanzang was startled.
"Benefit……"
He murmured,
"The young monk tried his best, but at most he could only bring Tianzhu's Buddhist scriptures to the Tang Dynasty, but this..."
This seems to be of no use to the court!
"No, no, don't limit yourself to this. You need to spread your thinking."
Xu Fenglei is good at tempting,
"Zhang Qian went to the Western Regions as an envoy and opened up the Silk Road. He brought back countless treasures, including seeds of various plants, specialties, various advanced technologies from the Western Regions, etc. We are still enjoying the dividends brought by his opening of the Silk Road. .”
"I think you can definitely become the second Zhang Qian!"
(End of chapter)
