Chapter 972 Openly
Tang Ning hadn't been to Lingyun Temple for a long time, but the temple was still as bustling as before.
There was a lot of traffic in front of the temple, and incense was burning in front of the Buddha in the hall. Although it was dark, there were still many pilgrims from afar arriving in front of the temple. People got off the carriages one after another, and were led by little monks, carrying things and walking inside. Tang Ning and Yue Jian were brought into the temple by Lu Zhinian in such a dignified manner.
After Lu Zhinian changed his appearance, he looked more haggard, and his voice was gentle when he spoke to the monk in the temple who was leading the way.
"Master Huici, my wife has been bedridden for several years. I have sought medical treatment and medicine for her, but her condition has not improved. Your temple is very popular and has the protection of the gods and Buddhas. I brought my wife here specifically to pray for her safety and health."
The monk looked back at the person who had spoken and saw him supporting the woman beside him with tenderness in his eyes.
The woman was wearing a conical hat with a thin gauze covering her face, but her steps were weak and her breathing was heavy when she walked, and it was obvious that she was in very poor health. The donor Rong who was speaking had a look of concern in his eyes, and it was obvious that the couple had a very good relationship.
Huici clasped her hands together and said, "Amitabha, you have often sent servants to donate incense and offerings this past year. You also built a charity hall at the foot of the mountain to distribute porridge and food. Last year during the heavy snow, you donated countless clothes. I wonder how many people around here have benefited from your gifts. The Buddha will surely bless your wife and keep her safe."
Huici led them all the way to the inner room, and on the way they met many pilgrims and monks who were staying in the temple.
Lu Zhinian did not dodge or avoid at all. Instead, he supported Tang Ning and walked past those people openly. When someone looked at him curiously, he did not get angry, but nodded to them kindly. Then he carefully supported Tang Ning beside him, followed by Yue Jian, who was "carefully" surrounded by several guards and holding a gift bag.
"Who is that? Why is it Master Huici who personally leads them in?" A pilgrim who entered with them asked curiously.
The monks in Lingyun Temple are also divided into ranks. The most powerful monk is naturally Master Xindeng, who has been in seclusion for many years to practice Zen and rarely sees outsiders. Apart from him, the masters of the Hui generation are in charge of the temple.
Years ago, Master Huifang took over the position of abbot of the temple. Although Master Huici was not the abbot, he was one of the people in charge of the temple. Even if powerful people came on weekdays, he would not be so eager to see them. Today, he actually went out of the temple in person to pick them up.
The young monk who led the way took one look and said with a smile, "That's Donor Rong, a wealthy businessman from Jiangnan. He's an extremely kind-hearted person."
"In his early years, he donated a perpetual lamp to the temple for his family. Later, he often sent people to the temple to donate incense. More than a year ago, I heard that he and his wife had some problems. To seek peace, he built a charity hall at the foot of the mountain and often gave alms and performed good deeds."
"During last winter's heavy snowfall and this year's floods in the south, he donated large sums of money. He also helped the charity at the foot of the mountain take in many refugees and bought some farmland nearby to provide livelihoods for those people."
"The temple has always been grateful for the generosity of Donor Rong. He came here specifically to pray for his frail wife. Master Huici not only welcomed them into the temple individually, but also gave the Rong family the Zen Courtyard in the east wing of the temple for temporary accommodation. I heard that they will be staying in the temple for a while this time."
The pilgrims nearby all looked surprised when they heard this.
"So that's how it is."
They said that Lingyun Temple has always been different from other temples. The temple has strict rules and regulations, and the monks practice in peace and quiet. In the past, except for the king in the palace, everyone else was treated equally.
They were just wondering how that person could make an exception for Huici. It turned out that he had done great good deeds and won the favor of the monks in the temple. However, being able to live in the Chanyuyuan was really enviable. After all, there were not many independent and spacious courtyards in Lingyun Temple, and most pilgrims could only stay in the unified wing rooms.
…
Tang Ning had been given a muscle softening powder, which sealed her mute acupoints and made her unable to speak. She was too weak to move forward with the support of Lu Zhinian, but she could clearly hear the sounds around her. Before entering the Chanyuyuan, she even saw two familiar faces, who were the ladies of the court who had visited her in the palace when she ascended the throne.
One was the wife of Shao, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, and the other was the daughter-in-law of the Marquis Wenxin.
The two chatted and laughed as they came towards them. When they met their group, Madam Shao smiled and said, "Master Huici."
"Mrs. Shao, Mrs. Qu." Huici chanted the Buddha's name and bowed.
Madam Shao looked around curiously and asked, "What are you doing?"
Huici said, "I will lead a few donors to the Chanyuyuan."
Mrs. Qu was a little surprised. The Zen Courtyard was not far from where they lived. Their house was given a courtyard to stay in because of the old lady's long-term worship of Buddha. She looked at the group of people opposite curiously, but did not ask about their identities. She just nodded and said:
"Then Master Huici will be busy first, we will go to Baoming Hall."
When the two passed each other, Tang Ning clearly felt that Lu Zhinian held her hand a little tighter, and Yue Jian also saw the two people and recognized their identities at a glance.
Her eyes moved, and she thought about the possibility of asking these two people to help pass on the message, but when she looked up, she saw her master who was "cared for" by Lu Zhinian, and the few people standing beside her with a covetous look in their eyes. Thinking of what her master had told her before she came, she suppressed her thoughts and just passed by Mrs. Shao and the others who were leading the maids and servants with her eyes downcast.
"Huh?" Mrs. Qu Shao suddenly stopped.
"What's wrong?" Mrs. Shao turned her head.
Mrs. Qu looked back at the group of people leaving. She had just smelled a strong smell of medicine.
Before she got married, her family was in the medicinal herbs business, and she had learned some medical skills from her grandmother since she was young. She had just noticed that the lady had an unsteady gait and looked very weak as she walked with someone supporting her. However, the smell of medicine on her was a bit strange...
Madam Qu Shao's thought only flashed through her mind. She looked up at the woman leaning against the man, whose eyes were full of tenderness and caution. She immediately suppressed her doubts and said to the person beside her, "It's nothing. I just saw that the two of them were quite affectionate."
Madam Shao laughed and said, "Are you envious? When your husband returns to the capital with the army, you two will naturally be as loving as ever."
Mrs. Qu blushed: "Aunt, you are making fun of me again."
Lu Zhinian held Tang Ning's hand and listened to the two people behind him walking further and further away. He glanced sideways and saw Tang Ning quietly following beside him. He couldn't help but relax and held her hand and said softly: "Madam, there are steps here, be careful of your step..."
Tang Ning struggled to break free but failed, so he could only glance at him coldly.
Lu Zhinian said in a young voice: "Are you feeling unwell? Don't worry, we'll be there soon."
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