Master Yuanhui clasped her hands together, bowed slightly, and with a compassionate look on her face, she whispered, "Amitabha, Miss Su." Her voice was low and steady, as if it carried a mysterious power that could calm people down instantly, like ripples on the surface of a calm lake, spreading out in circles.
My heart was instantly alarmed, and I felt a surge of vigilance. But outwardly, I remained respectful and polite in my response, saying, "You're welcome, Master." Inwardly, I was secretly thinking that Liu had brought this Master with her with ulterior motives, harboring no good intentions. Given her usual demeanor, this was probably another elaborate conspiracy.
Seeing this, Liu immediately spoke like a hunter who had found an opportunity, impatiently saying, "Li'er, you've been acting too flamboyantly lately. I'm afraid you've caused quite a bit of gossip and controversy in this vast capital. The nun said you need to calm your mind by copying scriptures. Only in this way can you resolve these troubles. Copying scriptures can bring peace of mind and distance you from the world's troubles. This will be of great benefit to your future."
Upon hearing this, I instantly understood Liu's sinister intentions. She was clearly using the sutra copying as an excuse to confine me like a caged bird, preventing me from ever going out into the world. She feared that my continued activities would disrupt her shameful activities and affect her position and plans within the harem.
"I appreciate your kindness, mother." I kept a smile on my face, a mask that concealed my inner disdain. I said calmly, "It's just that I've been so busy lately with the poetry club and my book writing that I can't spare even a moment to copy the sutras. Mother, you know that the poetry club and writing are like the sunshine and air in your life. They mean so much to you, and I can't bear to part with them."
Liu's face instantly turned as dark as the sky before a storm. The smile she'd managed to maintain vanished in an instant, replaced by a look of solemnity and dissatisfaction, as if she'd committed an unforgivable sin. "Poetry club? Writing a book?" Her tone was filled with disdain and contempt. "Those are all unorthodox practices. How can they be as important as copying scriptures? Li'er, you can't be so willful anymore. You must listen to what the nun says. Copying scriptures is a serious matter. It helps you cultivate your character and understand the principles of dealing with people. Do you understand? Don't be stubborn!" Liu's tone was undeniably firm, as if everything she said was golden and irrefutable.
Master Yuanhui also spoke at the opportune moment. Her voice remained calm, yet it carried a subtle tone of admonition, like an invisible hand, attempting to guide me in her desired direction. "Miss Su, the sea of suffering is boundless; turning back is the only way out. Copying sutras will not only calm your heart and distance you from the hustle and bustle of the world, but it will also help you accumulate virtue and good deeds, accumulating blessings for your future. The merits of copying sutras are immeasurable and will greatly benefit your future. Miss Su, do not take this lightly, or you will regret it in the future."
I watched them, their unanimous agreement, and a sneer welled up in my heart. These two—one a stepmother with ulterior motives, intent on plotting against me, the other a nun who, perhaps unaware of the truth, had already been exploited—were attempting to use such seemingly righteous tactics against me. It was truly ridiculous. They thought they could easily coerce me into submission, but they didn't realize I was no longer the weak, easily manipulated woman I once was.
"That's right, Master." I nodded slightly, looking at Master Yuanhui calmly but with a hint of scrutiny, "It's just that my daughter is naturally dull and has only a superficial understanding of Buddhism. I wonder if you could first tell my daughter if there are any chapters in these profound Buddhist scriptures that teach people how to engage in intrigues in the back house and how to plot against the legitimate daughter?" I deliberately emphasized the words "intrigues" and "plot against the legitimate daughter", staring at Master Yuanhui with a sharp gaze, trying to find a flaw in her reaction.
Master Yuanhui's expression instantly darkened, as if a wound had been exposed in public. A flicker of panic flashed across her eyes, like a fleeting shooting star across the night sky—brief but unforgettable. She quickly said, "Amitabha, Miss Su, please don't speak nonsense. Buddhism is about compassion and salvation, advocating kindness, tolerance, and love. How could it contain something so contrary to natural principles and human ethics? Miss Su, please do not blaspheme the Dharma, lest you commit an unforgivable sin."
"Am I talking nonsense?" I raised my eyebrows slightly, my eyes revealing a hint of determination and disdain, like a fearless warrior, staring down the enemy without fear. "Mother asked me to copy scriptures and meditate because she thought I was too flamboyant. But compared to the gossip, rumors, and framing of others in the inner chambers, my so-called flamboyance is nothing. Is this what Buddhism advocates for, mother? Is Buddhism a cover for these ugly actions?" I looked Liu in the eye fearlessly and refuted her sharply, each word like an arrow, piercing Liu's heart.
Liu was so angry that she was trembling all over. Her face flushed red like a ripe tomato. She pointed at me, her finger trembling with anger, her voice trembling with a noticeable tremor. "Su Jinli! How dare you speak to the nun like that? You're so presumptuous! You're committing a serious act of disrespect, do you understand that?"
"I'm only speaking the truth." I looked at Liu calmly, fearless, like a towering mountain, unwavering despite the wind and rain. "If Mother truly cared about me, she should have taught me how to distinguish right from wrong, how to protect myself in this complex, maze-like backyard, instead of using seemingly good intentions, but with ulterior motives, to keep me hiding in my room copying scriptures, subject to bullying. Mother, what do you think? Don't you think what you're doing is truly absurd?" My words were like sharp arrows, piercing Liu's heart, attempting to pierce her hypocritical mask.
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