Chapter 118 Fatan Temple

On the second day, when Yuan Ziyu went to study with Nanny Gu, he asked Nanny Gu for two days' leave. Nanny Gu gave Yuan Ziyu a handwritten copy and asked Yuan Ziyu to take time to memorize it in the next few days, as it would be checked when he came back.

Yuan Ziyu took it and saw that it was a book of Herbal Records, so he agreed.

In the afternoon, Yuan Ziyu took Qingying, Qingzhi and Lu'er to the greenhouse.

Now that the second wife has moved out, the greenhouse is empty.

The greenhouse in Yuan Mansion is not small, about the size of one-fourth of a acre. If it is filled with flowers and plants, it will look like a small garden.

"Lu'er, have someone tidy up the greenhouse in the next two days and have someone build a few shelves over there. You can make plans after I come back." Yuan Ziyu looked around the greenhouse and instructed Lu'er.

Although she didn't know how to grow flowers, she saw some flowers that needed trellises in Huo Wan's yard that day. She thought that those flowers must be among the flower seeds Huo Wan gave her.

"Yes! Second Miss!" Lu'er responded quickly.

On the day of departure, Yuan Ziyu changed into plainer clothes and went to Fatan Temple with Madam Yuan and Liu in a carriage early in the morning.

Because the elder lady was traveling with them, the carriage moved more slowly. It took about an hour and a half before it arrived at the gate of Fatan Temple.

The stairs leading to the mountain gate of Fatan Temple are not very steep. There are green pines and cypresses on both sides of the stairs. Now is early spring, the time when all things come back to life. Occasionally you can see squirrels jumping among the trees, accompanied by the chirping of birds in the mountains and forests. This place is quite interesting.

Apparently, the elder lady also liked this place very much: "This Fatan Temple is indeed a quiet and peaceful place!"

"That's right!" Liu said with a smile.

He also told Shaoyao and Dingxiang to carefully support Madam Yuan, then turned around to look at Yuan Ziyu who was following behind, and told her to be careful with her step.

A servant had already rushed to Fatan Temple and informed the elder lady and others that they were coming to burn incense.

When Madam Yuan and her companions arrived at the mountain gate, a monk in charge of reception greeted them with a smile: "Madam Yuan, Madam Yuan Da, Miss Yuan Er, I am honored to meet you!"

"Master Zhizhen!" It was obvious that the elder lady was very familiar with this monk in charge of reception. "I apologize for disturbing you by coming here today!"

"What are you talking about, old lady?" Master Zhizhen laughed and said, "Old lady is devoted to Buddhism and has a kind heart. The Buddha is naturally pleased. Why would you bother me?"

After saying this, he chanted the Buddha's name and said, "You have come at the perfect time. Master Wujie is currently giving a lecture in the main hall."

"Oh?" The elder lady was delighted when she heard this: "Then we are here today!"

Then he said to Liu, "How about we go and listen to Master Wujie's teachings on morality first?"

"Of course I'll listen to my mother!" Liu replied with a smile.

The elder lady smiled and said to Master Zhizhen, "Please lead the way, Master Zhizhen. Also, my little granddaughter is still young and I'm afraid she can't sit still. Please find a quiet place for her to spend her time!"

Master Zhizhen smiled and said, "In that case, please invite Miss Yuan Er to the guest house to rest for a while!"

"That's great!" The elder lady smiled and nodded in response.

Master Zhizhen called a young monk and asked the young monk to lead Yuan Ziyu to the guest house.

The Fatan Temple covers a large area. The entire temple is T-shaped. Once you enter the mountain gate, you will see four square lotus ponds, and between the lotus ponds is a cross-shaped bluestone path.

In front of the lotus pond is the Main Hall, with corridors on both sides leading to it. Further back are the Hall of Heavenly Kings, the Hall of Reclining Buddha, the Sutra Library, the Avatamsaka Pavilion and other pavilions. The monks' meditation quarters and the guesthouses for pilgrims are at the back of the Fatan Temple.

The Fatan Temple is located at the foot of a mountain and is built against the mountain. On the left side of the back of the temple, there are a number of exquisite and small bamboo houses, which are the guesthouses where pilgrims stay temporarily.

The young monk led Yuan Ziyu through the corridor on the left side of the main hall, climbed up the stairs, and finally led Yuan Ziyu and his master and servant to a quiet and exquisite courtyard.

The young novice monk chanted the Buddha's name to Yuan Ziyou and said, "Female donor, I will lead you here. The rooms in this courtyard are all tidy. If there is anything you need, just send someone to find me. As for the vegetarian food, someone will bring it to you in due time."

Yuan Ziyou clasped his hands together and thanked the young monk, "Thank you very much, little master. May I ask, little master, are there any places nearby for people to visit?"

The young novice monk pointed to the right side of the temple and said, "There's a peach forest in the courtyard over there, and it's in full bloom right now. But deep in the forest is where Master Wujie meditates. If you see the bamboo courtyard in the peach forest, don't go in and disturb him."

"Thank you very much, little master!" Yuan Ziyu hurriedly expressed his gratitude.

"Thank you for your courtesy, lady donor. If there is nothing else, I will take my leave!" The young monk responded while chanting the Buddha's name.

"Take care, little master!"

After the little monk left, Qingying and Qingzhi smiled and helped Yuan Ziyu into the yard.

Yuan Ziyu chose a room on the left and moved in. Qingying and Qingzhi hurriedly rearranged the bed and placed the tea set they brought from home on the bamboo table.

Qingying smiled and said, "Second Miss, I've brought some snacks with me. If you're not used to the vegetarian food in this temple, you can make do with the snacks for now!"

"Are they all vegetarian snacks?" Yuan Ziyu hadn't expected this. Seeing Qingying bring snacks, he was naturally delighted and said, "If there are any with meat oil, be careful that the monks in this temple will be angry with you."

As he said this, he started laughing.

Qingying smiled and said, "How dare I bring any meat oil? They are all vegetarian snacks."

"That's good!" Yuan Ziyou said with a smile, "Don't be shy, both of you. Just take the snacks and eat them."

"Second Miss, this is not allowed!" Qingying and Qingzhi said hurriedly.

"What's so unacceptable?" Yuan Ziyou glared at the two of them, "If I say it's okay, then it's okay. How dare you two disobey?"

Qingying and Qingzhi knew Yuan Ziyu's temper, so when they heard Yuan Ziyu say this, they smiled and said, "Then we, the servants, would like to thank you, Second Miss."

Seeing that Qingying and Qingzhi had almost finished packing, Yuan Ziyu smiled and said, "It's still early before noon, let's go out for a walk!"

“Hey!”

Qingying and Qingzhi hurriedly agreed. Qingying also found a moon-white brocade cloak with a spiral pattern and tied it on Yuan Ziyu. The Fatan Temple was in the mountains, and although it was early spring, the mountain breeze was still a bit cool.

After leaving the bamboo house, Yuan Ziyu took Qingying and Qingzhi and walked towards the peach forest on the right as the little monk said.

Before I got close to the peach forest, I saw a pink color in the distance. A gust of wind blew, bringing with it the fragrance of peach blossoms.

(End of this chapter)