Chapter 20 Ci'an Temple "Why did the young master save the cat just now?"...

The young novice monk looked up abruptly, and upon seeing her, his expression changed drastically, first with astonishment, then with anxiety. He looked around to make sure no one was nearby before lowering his voice and saying, "Miss Meng, what brings you here?"

Meng Lingyao stepped forward, "That's a question I should be asking you. Didn't Pei Xu say he'd arrange for you to help organize documents at the Dali Temple? How come..."

She stared at the man's shaved head and slowly said, "Have you become a monk?"

No wonder the young man was all wrapped up tightly when he came to visit a few days ago. She thought it was because it was too cold in winter and he couldn't stand it coming from the south.

Shen Xiaoshan looked troubled, his face scrunched up, and he said in a low voice, "This is a long story. Miss, you should leave quickly."

"What exactly happened?" Meng Lingyao pressed, "Why would you..."

Before he could finish speaking, footsteps sounded in the distance. Shen Xiaoshan immediately grabbed a broom, hurried to the corridor, and started sweeping, leaving behind a hasty remark, "I'll explain to you later."

Before Meng Lingyao could even move, she saw that Shen Xiaoshan had been surrounded by two elderly monks, who seemed to be reprimanding him. Doubts arose in her mind—this Ci'an Temple was indeed not as serene as it appeared.

He quickly gave Cang Dian a look, and Cang Dian immediately stepped forward, asking in surprise, "What are you doing? Does the prestigious Ci'an Temple also have such shady dealings of senior monks bullying junior monks? Come on, I have to go find your abbot and ask him for an explanation!"

The middle-aged monk chanted a Buddhist prayer and said with a smile, "Please don't be angry, benefactor. There are many worshippers at the temple during the New Year. I was just instructing my junior brother to do his job well and not disturb the distinguished guest."

Cang Dian persisted, continuing to entangle with the two. Taking advantage of the situation, Meng Lingyao led Song Lan deeper into the area.

The scene in the dream gradually overlapped with what was in front of me. After stepping over several thresholds and passing through a moon gate, I came to a secluded bamboo forest, where the meditation room was located.

Meng Lingyao paused slightly, took a breath almost imperceptibly, and was about to step forward when a figure suddenly stepped out from the side and blocked her way. "Amitabha, this female benefactor, the back mountain is a place for monks to cultivate in seclusion. Please stop here."

The speaker was a young monk, about seventeen or eighteen years old, wearing a blue robe, with a handsome face and snow-white skin.

The moment she saw his face clearly, Meng Lingyao's brow twitched violently.

This person was the monk who had been with Zhou Yizhi in the dream.

"I am merely sightseeing in the temple. I am unaware of any taboos here," Meng Lingyao blinked and asked, feigning innocence.

The young monk clasped his hands together and said, “There are no special sights on the back mountain, just a few meditation rooms. Monks often practice here, so it is inconvenient for pilgrims to enter. If you wish to tour the area, the lotus pond in the front courtyard is much more elegant.”

Perhaps because she knew he wasn't a respectable monk, Meng Lingyao always felt there was something strange about his eyes when he spoke. It wasn't the usual monk's detachment, but rather a kind of condescending pity?

It was as if she were an innocent child, while he knew everything.

"I've heard that Ci'an Temple has been established for a hundred years and is very popular. There must be many historical sites on the back mountain, right?" Meng Lingyao probed casually. "May I ask what your Dharma name is, Master?"

"My Buddhist name is Zhiqing," the monk smiled slightly. "If you are interested in historical sites, young lady, there is a 'Rules of Conduct Stele' in the temple for you to see, located on the west side—"

Meng Lingyao interrupted, saying, "I see that Master Zhiqing's eyes are bright and clear, as if they have divine light. He must be well-versed in Buddhism. Speaking of which, I have recently heard that there are many wealthy merchants and devout believers at Ci'an Temple. I wonder why they have such a strong preference for your temple?"

Zhiqing's lips twitched slightly. "The Buddhist path is vast, saving all sentient beings. You benefactors, your hearts are devoted to the Buddha's teachings, and your merits are immeasurable."

“It must be because Cixi Temple has a particularly efficacious Bodhisattva, as well as an outstanding monk like Master Zhiqing.” Meng Lingyao smiled and spoke softly, “that’s why the eldest son of the royal merchant family often lingers there and doesn’t return for months.”

Zhiqing's face stiffened for a moment, then he regained his composure. "Amitabha, the Buddha does not reject any sentient beings. If you have nothing else to do, this humble monk still has meditation to attend to, so I will take my leave now. Please return."

After saying that, he stretched out his arm, gesturing for the master and servant to leave.

Knowing that further entanglement would be pointless, Meng Lingyao curtsied and said, "In that case, I'll take my leave."

She led Songlan back a few steps, turned around an ancient pine tree, Meng Lingyao pulled Songlan back, nodded slightly, and Songlan immediately understood. Her face showed pain, and she clutched her stomach and stumbled towards Zhiqing.

"Master, my stomach is suddenly hurting terribly. Do you know if there is any medicine in the temple?" Songlan asked weakly and pitifully.

Zhiqing frowned, about to refuse, when Songlan grabbed his sleeve and cried out, "Ouch, it hurts so much! Master, you won't just leave me to die, will you?"

Zhiqing looked around, afraid that her voice would attract more people, and lowered his voice to say, "Female benefactor, please let go, this humble monk will take you to find medicine."

"That won't do. What if you leave if I let go?"

While the two were entangled, Meng Lingyao lifted her skirt and, with light steps, slipped into the depths of the bamboo forest through another hidden path.

The more they forbid her from entering, the stranger it seems. She pondered coldly, what could be inside?

Where did Zhou Yizhi keep his mistress?

Or, to put it more dramatically, a den of extravagance for the wealthy in Beijing?

The Meng family has always been quiet, and Meng Shaoqing never flirts with other women. However, Meng Lingyao's friends have never been without such incidents, and she has heard about them quite often.

The air was filled with the fresh scent of moss, and the further you went in, the more tranquil it became.

Suddenly, she heard a low voice from ahead. She slipped behind an ancient tree and turned her head slightly. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw several men dressed in secular clothes going in and out of the courtyard. They were acting suspiciously and had no piety like devout believers. They did not seem to be practicing meditation at all.

"...Young Master Zhou is pressuring us hard."

"This batch of goods is quite large, and the government officials have been keeping a close eye on it lately, so it's best to be cautious..."

Meng Lingyao's pupils suddenly contracted, and even her breath caught in her throat.

The waters around Ci'an Temple seemed to run deeper than she had imagined.

She was about to step back when her foot slipped and she broke off a dead branch.

"Who's there?" The person in the courtyard turned around alertly.

Meng Lingyao's heart tightened. Her fingers lightly touched the dagger in her sleeve. Just as she was about to turn and run away, she felt her wrist being tightly gripped. A force pulled her back into the shadows. At the same time, the person threw a pebble in another direction, making a "crack" sound.

"My little pet ran around and startled the wild rabbits in the mountains, disturbing your peace. I hope you won't take offense." A clear and cold voice came from the forest.

Those in the courtyard looked up at the sound and saw a young man in flowing robes standing not far away. He was handsome and refined, with an extraordinary air about him, and his demeanor exuded a dignified air that seemed out of place in a temple. However, he was carrying a black cat with round, green eyes, which made him somewhat resemble the spoiled young masters of the capital who frequented cat-and-bird-playing places.

The group of people who had been talking earlier turned their gazes to the cat, and their expressions softened slightly.

The long sleeves covered most of the black cat, whose neck was being held by the scruff of its neck, its four paws still struggling. The young man slowly and deliberately supported the cat's paws, held it in his arms, combed its fur with his fingers, and nodded slightly, "I'm sorry to have bothered you."

"You're too kind, young master." The man in the courtyard bowed respectfully, a hint of wariness flashing in his eyes. "Are you here to worship at the temple? How did you end up here?"

"I came here with my elders to offer incense, but my little pet was being mischievous, and I chased it here, only to get lost without realizing it." The young man lightly pinched the cat's ears and asked, "Are you all guests staying at the temple? Do you know how to get back to the main hall? I've been away for a while, and I'm afraid my family will worry."

“Indeed, indeed.” The man smiled and said, “We are staying here temporarily in search of Buddhist teachings. If you wish to leave, please follow the path on the east side. We still have our lessons to do, so we will take our leave now.” With that, the group hurriedly went inside and closed the courtyard gate.

Once the courtyard gate closed, the woods returned to silence. Meng Lingyao then emerged from the shadows and recognized the young man's face—who else could it be but Pei Xu?

Pei Xu's expression towards Meng Lingyao was indifferent, his pupils like a pair of black jade reflected in an icy lake. Meng Lingyao was very familiar with this expression; it was a prelude to anger.

So she quickly chose to strike first, "Lord Pei, what a grand official you are! How could a dignified Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review lie and deceive people?"

Pei Xu frowned slightly. "It's far too risky for Miss Meng to venture into such a remote place alone."

“Adventure?” Meng Lingyao raised an eyebrow. “Compared to Lord Pei sending a child to this unknown place to become a monk, what kind of adventure is this?”

Pei Xu's eyes darkened. "Since Miss Meng saw Shen Xiaoshan here and overheard the conversation just now, she should know that this Ci'an Temple is not simple."

“All I know is that Lord Pei lied to me, saying that Shen Xiaoshan was diligently organizing documents at the Dali Temple.” Meng Lingyao looked directly into his eyes. “Now he’s making him shave his head and become a monk in this dangerous place?”

The two stared at each other for a moment before Pei Xu looked away, saying, "This isn't the place to talk."

Meng Lingyao gave a soft snort, a sly smile appearing on her lips, knowing that she had already won most of the battle.

They followed the path, and soon the surroundings became noisy again, with the sounds of chanting and pilgrims talking filling the air, as if they had returned to the human world.

Pei Xu released his grip at this moment, and the black cat, which had been restrained the whole way, couldn't wait to jump out of his arms, turned its head and meowed at him a few times before quickly darting into the crowd.

"Isn't this your cat?"

"I just caught it on the way here." He didn't even raise his eyebrows as he spoke, only lowering his eyes to straighten the threads on his sleeve that had been snagged by the cat's claws.

Meng Lingyao pursed her lips. Ever since the incident at the jewelry store, she knew that Pei Xu was not a purely old-fashioned person, and she was still slightly surprised.

His spoiled, arrogant demeanor just now didn't seem like an act at all.

"Lord Pei has not yet explained why Shen Xiaoshan is here?" Meng Lingyao asked again.

“He did it voluntarily,” Pei Xu finally said. “You should know that Shen Xiaoshan grew up in a temple, so he is the most suitable person to come here.”

Meng Lingyao was taken aback. "So you're sending him as an inside man? Or as bait?"

“He’s being protected in secret.” Pei Xu said calmly. “Besides, I told you before that he shouldn’t be treated like an ignorant child. He’s much smarter than you think, and he has his own ambitions.”

Meng Lingyao was silent for a moment, then asked, "What are those 'goods' that people are talking about?"

Pei Xu's gaze was sharp as he stared directly at her. "Miss Meng, you should know that 'those who see fish in the deep are unlucky, and those who cleverly predict what is hidden will suffer calamity.' Curiosity killed the cat."

Meng Lingyao was not afraid of him. She leaned forward slightly, raised her chin, and instead smiled.

"Then why did you save the cat just now, Shaoqing?"