◇ Chapter 94 (94) "I will never doubt you again"

As the year draws to a close, all the major temples and Taoist temples in Beijing have begun to prepare for prayer ceremonies and thanksgiving ceremonies. Linshan Temple is currently very popular, and as it has been abandoned for many years, it attaches great importance to this ceremony.

A while ago, the Ministry of Rites petitioned the emperor for approval of several year-end rituals, allocated funds, and appointed Master Xingjiezi to preside over the rituals at Linshan Monastery. On the eve of the rituals, personnel shifted, and several other masters were invited to oversee them. Because the envoys from the Northern Sea Territory were still in the capital, these matters were primarily handled by Minister Du, who would then report the results to him.

However, the number of monks and pilgrims visiting Linshan Temple recently has been quite excessive. Even with the large number of people coming for year-end prayers, and the number of disciples brought by other masters, the number of people far exceeds the number stated in the documents submitted by Linshan Temple to the Ministry of Rites. I'm afraid someone is using the Dharma Assembly as an excuse to hide people.

Just as Bo Kang had instructed them to keep a closer eye on the situation, he suddenly changed the subject and said, "I'll go there myself tomorrow. Bring more people with you and check their ordination certificates one by one."

Over the past six months, the Linshan Temple has been very peaceful. They no longer sell bracelets and only accept ritual objects for consecration. Bo Kang observed for a while, and since Lianzhi used to go to the Linshan Temple regularly to donate a few taels of incense money and then go to talk to Chongshan, he didn't pay any special attention to it.

Now he suddenly remembered that since Lianzhi left, no one in the mansion had donated money for incense, and no one had complained in his ear about the difficulty of walking on the mountain road.

He hasn't dared to face Lianzhi for several days.

When the shift was over, the driver was about to return to the Shangshu Mansion. Bo Kang said, "Let's go to the other courtyard."

The driver seemed to have anticipated this and responded by changing direction. When they were almost outside the courtyard, Bai Kang said, "Let's go back home."

The next day, Bai Kang led his men to Linshan Monastery. Over a hundred monks and Taoists were waiting outside the temple, and checking their certificates of ordination took the better part of a day. Taoist Chongshan, who had been lecturing in the main hall, also emerged, smiling and accepting interrogation alongside the disciples.

Bai Kang felt annoyed by the mustache and fawning smile on his face. How could such a man be a master? When questioning Xingjiezi, he asked a few additional questions about the rules and regulations, and he answered them all fluently.

"Sir, the interrogation of the eighty disciples of Linshan Monastery and the twenty-three disciples of Yucheng Monastery has been completed. Their ordination certificates are correct and the review is complete."

"Is it the same number as on the submitted registration?" asked Bo Kang.

The doctor from the Ministry of Rites nodded, and Bai Kang frowned.

This was not right. Before coming here, he had assumed that Linshan Temple might have taken in unauthorized Taoists who had performed private ordination, or even worse, refugees.

The number of people is the same as reported, so it is obvious that someone is hiding.

"Sir, our disciples have always strictly abided by the law and have always paid the required taxes. Please see..."

Taoist Chongshan rubbed his hands obsequiously, and Bai Kang glanced at him coldly.

"Let's go." Bo Kang raised his hand and waved, his steps moving with the wind. "Follow me to the palace in the back."

He instructed that no temple be left untouched, and that the scriptures be thoroughly examined. Although guards were on duty outside, pilgrims were not barred from entering the temple today to prevent public disturbance, making the investigation more difficult. Standing outside the Dharma Hall, Bai Kang stared at the passersby, his gaze fixed. "Who are those people? I didn't see them when I checked the ordination certificates just now."

He pointed at a few people in Taoist robes moving things. Taoist Chongshan explained, "Sir, those lay Buddhists aren't from our temple. They've volunteered to help out with the upcoming Dharma Assembly, answering questions and resolving doubts for other believers. They're all ordinary people from Beijing. If you..."

"No need." Bai Kang waved his hand and asked someone to guard here. Before leaving, he whispered, "Watch out for those guys. They look like martial artists."

The door to the quiet courtyard at the back was ajar. When Bo Kang first brought his men in, he'd intended to search the area, but he'd heard that officials' families were there, so he couldn't go in. He'd walked around a few times, feeling something was amiss. Just as he was wondering when he could finally go in, a furtive figure emerged from the quiet courtyard, sidling along the wall as he made his way out. He acted decisively, dashing over, grabbing the figure and growling, "Who is it?"

"open."

A familiar voice. Bo Kang was startled, and suddenly felt his hand burning hot. He quickly let go. Lianzhi stretched her wrist and was about to leave.

"Lian'er!" Bai Kang woke up as if from a dream and hurried to catch up. "Why are you here?"

"I'm here to donate money for incense offerings." Lianzhi lowered her head, looking at the aggrieved woman, her black hair drooping softly, looking dejected. "I come here to donate money for incense offerings every month."

The tone sounded like she was blaming him.

"Why didn't you tell me? You know the routine inspection by the Ministry of Rites at the end of the year. If you had changed the date..." Bo Kang was halfway through his sentence when he suddenly remembered something and grabbed Lianzhi's hand to rub his wrist. "Did it hurt?"

Lianzhi still lowered her head, her cheeks slightly puffed up, as if she was angry, "Where can I go to talk to you? You don't even want to see me, where can I go to talk to you?"

Bai Kang was speechless for a moment. Lianzhi shook him off and continued walking out. No one was following her, as if she had come alone. Bai Kang watched her back and wanted to catch up, but he was worried about the official business he was dealing with. He gritted his teeth and pulled Lianzhi to his side.

Staring at Lianzhi's shocked eyes, Bai Kang said softly, "Be obedient and wait for me."

Lianzhi pursed her lips and did not answer, but did not refute either.

Of course, nothing was found in the end.

The number of people was correct, the scriptures were correct, and there were quite a few civilians coming in to volunteer, which seemed to be the reason for the unusual number of people. However, Bai Kang's suspicions had not subsided, and of course this situation could not be reported. So he had people continue to secretly monitor, especially those who looked like martial artists.

Lianzhi was still waiting outside the mountain gate.

He didn't leave, and Bai Kang breathed a sigh of relief. That night, Bai Kang and Lianzhi returned to the villa together. However, Lianzhi didn't want him to touch her. Every time Bai Kang tried to hold Lianzhi's hand, Lianzhi would snort and push him away. Bai Kang followed silently, and then he and Lianzhi entered the room and closed the door.

No one spoke. They ate dinner in silence, washed up, and lay down on the bed. Lianzhi hadn't chased him away, so it seemed she wasn't angry anymore. Suddenly, Lianzhi rolled over and propped herself up on Bai Kang, biting her lip, her long hair falling on Bai Kang's face.

"You are still angry with me." Lianzhi blinked her big eyes.

Where did this come from? Wasn't Lianzhi angry with him first? Bo Kang didn't know how to respond. Lianzhi pouted and said, "I know it all. You call me by my nickname when you're in a bad mood. You must be angry with me, right?"

"What if I say yes?" Bai Kang asked tentatively.

As soon as she finished speaking, Lianzhi's tears kept falling, like the sharpest weapon, which made Bai Kang's heart soften all of a sudden.

Lianzhi is so smart. She knows that her crying is so cute and will make people feel distressed.

"I was lying. I didn't. How could I be angry with you?" Bai Kang held her in his arms and patted Lianzhi's back gently. "It's my fault. I've neglected you recently."

"I said I was the only one allowed to be angry with you, so you have to keep your promise." Lianzhi's nose was red and sparkling from crying. Bo Kang wiped his tears and hummed. Lianzhi sniffed and her voice was no longer choked: "Why are you ignoring me?"

Bai Kang hesitated for a moment and asked, "Do you remember that there was a guard named Yan in the palace?"

"How should I remember?" Lianzhi frowned. "Does even the guards want me to remember who I am?"

That was indeed Lianzhi's style. Bo Kang continued to pat him on the back, his hands moving constantly. He repeated what Yan Xi Niang had said to him, concluding, "She feels... she has a grudge against you for murdering her brother."

"I don't remember. How could I remember a mere guard? You know I never killed anyone." Lianzhi curled her lips in disdain. "Are you suspicious of me because of what she said? Is that why you've been in a bad mood recently?"

Of course not.

Bai Kang believed in his own judgment. Lianzhi was a little spoiled and arrogant, but her nature was not bad. She would not kill innocent people indiscriminately. He realized this shortly after he came to Lianzhi's side.

What he couldn't face was that he had doubted Lianzhi in the past, and that he had approached Lianzhi with a purpose. If it were in the past, he wouldn't be afraid of Lianzhi being different.

But it was different now. Lianzhi was his wife now. If Lianzhi knew that his motives were not pure, she would definitely be very sad.

Suddenly, Lianzhi pinched his nose and twisted it hard.

"I've been suspected so many times, what else is this? Yan Xi Niang identified the wrong enemy, it's her fault. You're so stupid to be so upset about it." Lian Zhi curled her lips, "Not coming to see me for this is even more stupid!"

Bai Kang hummed and buried his face in his soft belly: "It's my fault."

Lianzhi imitated him and patted him on the back. After they patted each other a few times, Lianzhi remembered something: "Did he die in the palace?"

Bai Kang nodded, and Lianzhi thought for a moment: "Several guards once angered the Queen Mother and were executed. I don't know if Yan Xiniang's brother was among them. You can tell her about this and ask her to find a way to investigate. This matter has nothing to do with me, so if she doesn't believe it, then forget it."

Now, Bai Kang was drowning in deep guilt, so of course he would believe whatever Lian Zhi said. Even if Lian Zhi said that Bai Kang had killed someone, he would probably believe her. He kissed Lian Zhi on the forehead and said, "I apologize to you, baby. I will never doubt you again."

Hearing the name she wanted to hear, Lianzhi's lips curled up, and she bit Bai Kang's hard chest. At first, Bai Kang was unmoved - he had to go to court tomorrow, and Lianzhi was tired from walking on the mountain road today. But Lianzhi blinked her watery eyes, put her hands on his chest, and rubbed her soft face against it: "I'm also wrong, I apologize to you. Brother Kang, I forgive you, please forgive me too."

so cute.

If he remains unmoved, then there's something wrong with him.

The next morning, Bai Kang woke up early.

Last night, Lianzhi asked him to stay with her for a while longer and leave later. Bai Kang washed up early and sat by the bed, staring at Lianzhi's sleeping face, wanting to wait until he woke up before leaving. Qinghe urged him several times, but Bai Kang wanted to wait a little longer. But Lianzhi was a sleepy sleeper, and in the end, not only did Qinghe get impatient, but Bai Kang also knew that if he didn't leave now, he would miss the time for the roll call, so he hurried away.

Not long after he left, Lianzhi woke up.

"Still didn't stay." He muttered, "I thought..."

"Madam, what did you say?" Liang Ye came in cheerfully, carrying a basin of water. "The master visited you for a long time this morning before leaving. We all felt that he was reluctant to leave you! The master is really good to you!"

Lianzhi didn't respond, but wiped her face and asked, "What day is it today?"

"It's the tenth day of the twelfth lunar month." Liang Ye answered honestly. Lianzhi said "oh", threw down the towel and sat at the table: "Comb my hair for me, I have to go out today."

The Ministry of Rites was particularly busy today, and there was some chaos at the Fanfang Office, which took quite a while to sort out. It was already late at night when Bai Kang returned, and he was worried that Lianzhi would get angry if he returned late. But Lianzhi was nowhere to be found in the other courtyard. Yuyao was there, comforting Liang Ye.

When he saw her, Bai Kang felt inexplicably nervous.

"Where is your wife?" Bai Kang asked anxiously.

Liang Ye hesitated, and Yu Yao couldn't bear to watch him anymore, so she answered for him: "Today, an imperial decree summoned Zhu Zhu to the palace."

...Enter the palace?

"Master Bai, you should remember." Yu Yao's cold voice was filled with worry and a hint of complaint, "He returned to Daning to marry a foreign princess."

His Majesty hadn't mentioned the matter recently and had the Ministry of Rites arrange for the envoys from the North Sea and Mobei to be safely escorted out of Daning before the New Year. He thought His Majesty had given up on this idea.

No, that's not right.

If Lianzhi doesn't want to, no one can force him given his temper.

"Sir." Qing He also became worried. "It's curfew now. We can't enter the palace. What should we do..."

"grown ups!"

Before Qing He could finish, the guard sent by Bai Kang rushed into the courtyard, his chest heaving violently, and reported hurriedly: "There's been a change at Linshan Temple. It's suspected that the Taoist priests inside the temple have escaped and are heading towards the capital!"