Chapter 76: Disturbing the Buddha's Tranquility

Tantuo Temple is located on a mountain in the northern suburbs of Beijing, a rare and auspicious place, and is said to be an ancient temple with a history of over a thousand years.

Although it is located in a rather remote place, it has always been a popular place of worship.

Of course, this was all information that Yuan Siyin had heard.

She also heard that one must be sincere when worshipping Buddha and burning incense, so she specially bathed and fasted for three days... one-third of it.

Yuan Siyin glanced at the mountain from afar and couldn't help but gasp.

A light drizzle was falling, and incense smoke curled around the misty green mountains. The hazy rain made the temple on the mountaintop appear even more profound and magnificent.

The mountain path was a bit slippery, but fortunately, Ziyuan and her companion held an oil-paper umbrella, constantly reminding her to watch her step. After walking for about half an hour, the two reached the summit.

Qi Xinxin, dressed in a simple raincoat, stood under the eaves of the outer gate to shelter from the rain. She seemed to have arrived long ago. When she saw her, her eyes lit up and she waved to her.

The street outside Tantuo Temple was lined with all sorts of stalls, with vendors hawking all kinds of goods, their shouts rising and falling.

However, as soon as you cross the threshold of the temple, the surroundings become quiet, with only the distant, lingering sound of chanting and the soft prayers of the worshippers.

Zi Yuan closed her oil-paper umbrella, shook off the raindrops from the smooth paper surface, clasped her hands together, bowed slightly, and greeted the monk guarding the gate as "Little Master."

After the ceremony, she took off the jade pendant symbolizing the Yuan family from her waist and handed it to the monk.

"Amitabha Buddha, you are too kind, please follow me."

The young-looking monk accepted the jade token, examined it for a moment, returned the greeting, and respectfully led the group inside.

Yuan Siyin had never been to a temple before, but now that she saw it, she found it to be truly solemn and dignified. She obediently suppressed her usual boisterous nature and behaved herself so well that Ziyuan couldn't help but secretly click her tongue in amazement.

"This is the main hall. Please make yourselves at home. If you wish to donate incense money, please ask the abbot."

As he spoke, he pointed with his palm up and his five fingers together at the monk in robes in front of the incense table.

Seeing that Yuan Siyin had been curiously looking at the old man in the corner after entering the hall, he paused and said, "That is Abbot Kongchan. If you wish to draw a fortune stick, you may try. However, Abbot Kongchan only interprets fortune sticks for those who are destined to receive them. If your destiny has not yet arrived, you need not worry about it. Just let it be."

"I take refuge in Buddha; sincerity brings results. Amitabha."

Yuan Siyin nodded, and following suit, she put her hands together in a gesture of respect, saying, "Amitabha, thank you, little master."

Somewhat disappointed, she withdrew her hand, took the three incense sticks from Ziyuan, extinguished the embers with her hand, knelt on the prayer mat and bowed several times before placing them in the incense burner and getting up.

After thinking about it, Yuan Siyin felt relieved.

She was, after all, a prominent figure in the capital. If there truly was a Buddha in this world, someone like her would only disturb the Buddha's peace.

The abbot was naturally unwilling to interpret the divination slips for her.

After Qi Xinxin finished offering incense, she was helped up by her maid. Carefully avoiding the worshippers who were offering incense behind her, she went around to Yuan Siyin's side and whispered, "I want to go with my father to donate some incense oil. Would you like to come with me, Sister Siyin?"

Yuan Siyin instinctively looked at Zi Yuan.

The original owner never concerned herself with these matters; they were all handled by Zi Yuan.

Zi Yuan cleverly stepped forward and lowered her voice as well, "In the past, we would donate sixteen catties of sesame oil to the General to keep the lamp burning, thirty-two catties to the Empress Dowager, twelve catties to Young Master Si, and the young master only donated five catties of sesame oil to keep it burning, fearing that it would bring bad luck."

"How many people in the household donated?"

Yuan Siyin inexplicably thought of the word "insurance," even though praying to Buddha for protection had nothing to do with accidental death insurance.

Zi Yuan shook her head and said, "We servants cannot afford to provide everlasting lamps. Donating a small amount to the threshold will be enough to reduce our karmic burden."