"I hope I didn't disturb the master's hospitality."
"The county magistrate is joking, you are an honored guest."
After passing through a quiet path paved with white stone slabs in the forest and walking along the corridor for twenty or thirty steps, you can see the host room for receiving distinguished guests from the temple. The environment is elegant and Zen-like.
A young monk with a shiny forehead led the way and brought Ouyang Rong here.
The former has beautiful hair that has not been seen for many days, and is still the same as before, looking honest and honest.
Ouyang Rong had just entered the temple. He first went to Liu Ashan's house and visited Ah Qing and Liu's mother before coming to see Master Shandao.
On the corridor, the two of them were talking and laughing.
His hair was naturally mature. He was a playful person at his age, but he stayed away from the mountain for a long time. Naturally, he took the opportunity to ask Ouyang Rong questions, mainly about anecdotes about the Dragon Boat Festival.
Ouyang Rong picked up the words and answered casually. In fact, the young novice asked which dragon boat team would win at the end of the dragon boat race. He also forgot. On the last day, he just went up to the high platform to award an award, went through the process and then went back to work. ,
When I came to the door of the host room, I could vaguely hear conversations inside the door.
In addition to the familiar voice of Master Shandao, there is also a strange woman's voice, which is cold and gentle, a bit like Yu Jie's voice.
Ouyang Rong and Xiufa stopped together, looked at each other, left the corridor, and walked to a stone table and stone pier in the flower garden to wait.
In response, Xiufa Daishi apologized, Ouyang Rong shook his head and did not criticize him harshly.
His eyes fell on the white wall outside the door of the host room. There was a folded vermilion oil-paper umbrella leaning against the wall.
Shaoqing, the conversation in the presiding room stopped, the door opened, and Master Shandao respectfully presented a girl in a peach-colored skirt with a hood.
Behind the girl was a cute little maid with a bun face.
After the little maid went out, she did not forget to pick up the red umbrella against the wall and catch up with the girl.
Master Shandao seemed to have caught a glimpse of Ouyang Rong and Ouyang Rong waiting in the flower garden in the distance. Before sending more gifts, Shishi stopped and clasped his hands in salute:
"Female Bodhisattva, don't worry. If there is any other news, I will send a monk to your residence to inform you as soon as possible."
"Then Master Lao, this matter is very important to me."
The girl in the peach skirt nodded gently, raised a single slender hand in return, her tone seemed a little disappointed, but she didn't say anything nonsense, and left neatly with the little maid with a bun face.
A gust of spring breeze from the treetops blew through the corridor, lifting the white gauze of the hooded girl. Ouyang Rong could only see a sharp chin and a crimson lip. The former was like a newly peeled spring bamboo shoot.
Master Shandao watched the distinguished guest leave, then turned around and came back with an apologetic look on his face;
"The county magistrate has been waiting for a long time."
"It's okay, Master looks very busy."
"She, I have a hard life, and I don't know who spread the reputation of being a good teacher on my behalf. There are too many tourists from all over the world and religious men and women come to visit me every day. As a monk, you can't put on airs and can only do it yourself. "
The old monk in black robes with a fluttering white beard and a fairy-like appearance sighed:
"I'm not afraid of the county magistrate's jokes. In fact, most of the benefactors and Bodhisattvas come to visit...it's just something that makes me confused, but the Buddha Dharma is boundless, and I am compassionate. I am stupid, but that doesn't mean that the Buddha is stupid. I will guide these people who are destined to go to the boundless Dharma." Just seek the truth."
So you just lied, right?
Ouyang Rong was complaining in his heart, but his face showed full agreement:
"It's all the same. Every day in the county government office, there are a lot of trivial cases. For example, the wife of Wang Yuan's wife in the next street is not pregnant. She comes to me in private to cry and tell her parents to investigate carefully..."
He looked indignant: "Tell me, how can I make the decision for her in this kind of thing?"
Master Shandao thought for a moment and suggested warmly:
"Then if we report the case again someday, the county magistrate can recommend Mrs. Wang to come to our Donglin Temple to ask for a child. Our temple's Guanyin Guanyin is well-known in Jiangzhou."
Ouyang Rong waved his hand:
"No need. Later I heard from my subordinates that Wang Yuanwai contracted an illness and died last year while running business in other places. What do you think she was pregnant with as a widow? Isn't this reporting a false case to tease me? I just asked him to Rokuro dragged her down and gave her a symbolic blow to drive her away."
He sighed: "There are also unruly people among the masses."
"," Master Shandao and Xiufao were both stunned. He looked at the handsome face of a young county magistrate who was melancholy and complaining, but he hesitated to speak.
County Master, are you sure this is not an unjust case?
Master and apprentice were speechless for a moment.
The young county magistrate shook his head and said no more. He turned around and said curiously:
"By the way, that girl just came to see the master. Is it because of these trivial matters?"
As if he felt that it was not a private matter, Master Shandao pondered:
"I don't know very well, but I can't figure it out. This female Bodhisattva came to ask for an ancient poem. She doesn't know where she heard it."
"It is said that Tao Yuanming served as the county magistrate for eighty-one days. When he resigned, he left a poem about the hidden world and gave it to the then abbot of Donglin Temple... This female Bodhisattva was looking for this ancient poem. , asked us if there is an original copy preserved in Donglin Temple."
Ouyang Rong said casually: "Looking for books and exploring ancient times. This girl is really interesting. Do you have that poem in Donglin Temple?"
Master Shandao smiled bitterly:
"Master K County, this happened hundreds of years ago, a poem. Moreover, although our Donglin Temple is an ancient temple, it is not a palace treasury. Moreover, there have been so many changes of dynasties along the way, so how can there be any detailed records... "
The old monk paused and seemed to think of something again:
"However, Tao Yuanming can be regarded as a local celebrity. In any case, if he really has gifts as gifts, the past abbots should have a good collection of them. I heard from the master before that there used to be a library in the temple, which was dedicated to keeping this kind of books that are related to our temple. Solitary pen and ink manuscripts of celebrities."
Ouyang Rong said with a smile: "Then just go look for it. Maybe you can earn a fortune in incense fees that the female donor is grateful for."
Master Shandao sighed and shook his head: "Of course I couldn't find it, so I had no choice but to see the guest off." He then asked, "Does the county magistrate remember the lotus pagoda that I mentioned before?"
Ouyang Rong was slightly stunned: "I have an impression. Wait, is it the predecessor of the merit pagoda in your temple?"
"That's right, it was originally built with the support of the royal family who worshiped Buddhism in the Southern Dynasties. The library that preserved the writings and calligraphy manuscripts of celebrities throughout the ages was set up in this pagoda. Unfortunately, it was all burned to ashes in a fire. It was later rebuilt. So is the Merit Tower.”
Master Shandao looked regretful: "She, this female Bodhisattva is very generous, which is a pity. The poem about the hidden world she is looking for should be among them."
The abbot of Donglin Temple has a very high emotional intelligence, and the chat was just chat without mentioning the specific name of the female Bodhisattva.
Ouyang Rong naturally didn't ask any more questions. In fact, he lost much interest after hearing half of it. It was just a small talk before getting down to business.
In addition, the temperament of the unseen girl in the peach skirt just now really impressed him. Naturally, he was a little curious as to why this calm figure left in disappointment.
"Oh, that's a pity indeed."
"I'll let them look for Xiufa again."
Ouyang Rong nodded and was not interested in asking anymore. Master Shandao welcomed him all the way into the host room. He walked through the door and sat down by the window.
Xiufao had been following the two of them and listened curiously. Now he was preparing to leave after pouring tea and water. Before going out, the little novice seemed to remember something and turned around and asked:
"By the way, Master, does the ancient poem that the female Shi... the female Bodhisattva is looking for have a name? I'll ask the brothers at the Sutra Pavilion to look it up."
The young novice hurriedly changed his name midway and imitated the name from the master's mouth. Last time, he asked the master privately out of curiosity why some of the same female pilgrims were called female donors, while others were called female Bodhisattvas.
At that time, the master said with a meaningful face that when he understands the secret one day, he can accept the pilgrims on his behalf. As soon as my hair was solemn, I suddenly realized that there was definitely a profound Buddhist philosophy hidden in it. Only by understanding it can one become an enlightened monk like the master...
In the host room, Master Shandao looked at his disciple who was eager to learn and change with a smile, and replied casually:
"This Ci Fu seems to be called "Return to Lai Xi Ci".
"It's a little weird, Master." Xiufa muttered, nodded and left.
Master Shandao watched Xiufa leave, and was about to continue joking with someone, but just when he turned around, the old monk's face froze:
"Hey, Mr. County Master, why did you spill tea on yourself?"
"It's okay. This tea tastes so good. Yes, my hands are shaking a bit."
Ouyang Rong put down his tea cup, covered his mouth and coughed, but couldn't help but look outside the door in the direction where a girl in a peach skirt had already left.
His hands were indeed shaking just now.
But it’s not that the tea is good, it’s that after hearing a certain five-character name.
The dead Chinese books began to attack him.
No, why do you still memorize it?
Luming Street, Su Mansion.
Early morning, in a secluded courtyard.
The tranquility was broken, a group of maids were busy coming in and out.
Behind a flower-and-bird screen in the west wing, mist is slowly coming out, filling the room.
Soapwood, hot water buckets, clean towels, thin silk clothes and other items were also carried in and out by the maids with nimble hands and feet.
A girl takes a bath early in the morning.
Outside the courtyard gate, a little maid with a bun face wearing goose-yellow clothes came over carrying a full wooden tray.
There were bottles and jars on the plate, including mugwort, plasters, hot soups, and pills.
Carrying the plate, Cai Shou walked through the alley between the two boudoirs and walked into the courtyard. Passing by the busy maids, she opened the door and walked into the west wing shrouded in heat and mist.
"Thank you, madam. Madam asked me to pay for the medicine."
The little maid with a bun face said crisply, after waiting for a while, the girl behind the screen did not reply.
Cai Shou put down the medicine tray, moved closer and poked her little head into the flower and bird screen to look around.
I don’t know if it’s the spring sunshine behind the screen or the heat in the tub.
The chubby face of the little maid suddenly turned red.
Behind the screen, a certain snow-white figure was not completely in the water.
Several red-faced maids, whose eyes could not help but wander occasionally, were carefully scrubbing with hot and wet towels.
Because the scar on Girl Jade's back has not completely healed, she cannot take a bath, but she has been recovering from the injury for many days, and her body must be sticky and uncomfortable. In addition, the low-grade fever she had suffered in the past few nights has recovered, and she can wake up and get out of bed this morning.
So the maids taking care of her in the yard boiled hot water, cleaned her briefly, and applied medicine.
Seeing the lady of the Xie family shining white like a beautiful woman behind the screen, she didn't answer her question. Cai Shou was not annoyed, as if she was used to it, and turned around to get the medicine tray.
Xie Lingjiang's face looked slightly weak. He lowered his head and lowered his eyes. His black hair hung straight down like black satin. His two round and white shoulders were like bright white jade plates protruding from the dark night sky, emerging from the moist black hair. Out, it becomes more and more lovable.
Especially with the slightly blank look she was staring at the floor at this moment, and the shocking red marks on her back.
It looks even more delicate and timid.
It makes people want to rub her into her arms so that she can be pampered and show kindness to her with all her strength.
The little maid with a steamy face who walked in with the medicine felt that if she were a man, she would definitely not be able to bear it when she saw this scene.
Cai Shou blinked.
However, she knew that Miss Xie's lovely and delicate appearance was just an illusion.
This delicate body hides a strong temper.
Anyway, these past few days, Cai Shou has been an eye-opener. After being whipped into such a state that day, Miss Xie refused to help her and walked back to the Su Mansion alone to this courtyard.
The next several times of applying medicine were done without saying a word.
However, the changes after this injury were not without change.
Cai Shou found that Miss Xie was often in a daze these days.
Sometimes he hugged the quilt and stared at the white clouds outside the window, sometimes he bit his chopsticks and stared at the half bowl of rice left, and sometimes he stared at her with his hair disheveled and his head tilted, which made Cai Shou a little scared.
In short, after this injury, Miss Xie became silent for a lot of time, cherished words like gold, and gave people an indescribable change in her body.
Cai Shou secretly asked her lady, but she just continued reading without looking back, saying it was a good thing.
Cai Shou approached with small steps, smiled softly and said:
"Thank you, madam, it's time to apply the medicine."
The lady Xie, who was sitting on the stool with her legs bent, did not raise her head. Under her wet black hair, she just let out a soft "hmm" as thin as a mosquito.
The two maids who were scrubbing and cleaning stepped aside to get a clean towel and wipe her hair.
Cai Shou bent her knees, placed the medicine tray on the stool, opened her eyes wide, prepared the medicine carefully, and muttered:
"It's better to use the new prescription sent by your senior brother. The previous golden sore medicine didn't work well and gave the little lady a low fever all night, but the new prescription is magical..."
"Well, first use atractylodes and mugwort to smoke the wound, and then apply some of this strange plaster. Then put on your clothes, and then drink some tonic decoction. The taste is a bit bitter, but hey, look, I'm bringing I bought a piece of rock candy and I will hold it in my mouth later..."
The girl who had been staring blankly since just now suddenly raised her head and asked: "Where is senior brother?"
"Huh? y."
The sugar that Cai Shou gently twisted between her fingers almost fell into the brown medicinal soup, and she was stunned.
The two stared at each other for a while.
Xie Lingjiang's slightly pale pink lips opened slightly again: "Didn't you mention it just now?"
Cai Shou came back to her senses and nodded:
"Yeah, this is the healing prescription he had someone send... Where is he? No... I don't know. He should be busy with the county government. He is the county magistrate. Didn't he say that the county is going to dig a hole recently? New River Road? These officials must be busy with official duties."
"oh."
As if she realized in hindsight that she had misspoken, Xie Lingjiang's eyes seemed to have been filled with hazy mist, and their brilliance dimmed a little.
She nodded slightly, moved her pink buttocks slightly, and turned her back to the little maid with a bun face, indicating that it was time to apply the medicine.
The little girl didn't think much, lowered her head and applied the medicine carefully.
Just like the two maids who just scrubbed, she couldn't help but glance around when applying it to some whip marks that extended far away.
Well, it would have been better if I had pumped it a little more crookedly at that time. Maybe now that I am applying the medicine, I can take the opportunity to climb up and try out the feel... Cai Shou's little head was full of random thoughts, mainly because a certain scenery was really spectacular.
Xie Lingjiang didn't know that a certain little maid with a bun face didn't learn well and thought about something all day long. At this time, because of the little girl's distraction, she occasionally applied too much force on the wound on her back, causing bursts of numbness. pain.
Xie Lingjiang bit her lower lip lightly and stared at the few strands of black hair falling from her forehead, not moving or saying a word.
The west wing also fell into silence for a while.
At this moment, the maid's cry suddenly came from the yard:
"Little lady, someone came to see you, and he said he was your senior brother."
Cai Shou, who was applying the medicine, suddenly felt a flash of white light in front of her eyes, and the scar she was focusing on processing disappeared like a teleport.
There is nothing in front of me.
Her eyes widened and she turned to look.
A girl with wet hair hanging over her shoulders grabbed a towel, wiped her hair with her head tilted, and reached for her clothes.
Cai Shou and several maids.
The little maid with a bun face chased after her, stretched out a little hand, and fanned her up and down:
"Wait, wait, those are dirty clothes and you can't wear them."
