Chapter 100: Becoming a Monk (Part 1)
I have never met this nun Jining, let alone any friendship with her. Who dragged her to find me? To be honest, I only know a limited number of people.
Thinking of this, her heart skipped a beat and her palms began to sweat.
But in front of the lady, she smiled calmly and followed Master Jining out of the lady's main room and went to the east room nearby.
The maid served tea to the two of them, and Master Jining said with a smile, "Fourth Madam, I wonder if you don't know a woman named Duan Shuangying and a woman named Yuan Xueyi."
The eldest aunt and the second aunt!
Although she had a vague guess about it, she was still shocked when it was confirmed.
I didn't expect that they had such nice names... However, since Master Jining came to her house through the lady, and wanted to talk to her alone in public, and asked her directly if she knew the two concubines, I think she was prepared.
She smiled slightly: "My eldest and second aunts are surnamed Duan and Yuan respectively. I just don't know if they are the two people you mentioned."
"That's it." Master Jining smiled and said, "My aunt said that Madam is a straightforward person and asked me to find you, saying that you will definitely help them."
After she fooled everyone, including herself...why did the two aunts think they would help her?
Eleventh Lady looked at Master Jining with a smile and said nothing.
Master Jining was not surprised by her attitude, but smiled and said, "The two concubines said that they have believed in Buddhism for many years and sincerely want to become nuns to worship Buddha. But the mistress was afraid that nosy people would say some gossip and thought that the two concubines became nuns because they could not bear the mistress's abuse. Therefore, she never agreed. After following the people from your mansion to Yanjing, they saw through the world and ran away from home to live in my temple. I don't know if Madam knows about Ciyuan Temple. In Yanjing, Although our Ciyuan Temple cannot be compared with the temples and Taoist temples protected by monks, Taoist priests and officials like Huguo Temple and Baiyun Temple, it is not an obscure place either. "Speaking of this, she showed a proud look on her face, "The two concubines are literate, know how to act and speak elegantly. If they stay in our temple, they can not only devote themselves to Buddhism, but also show their strengths. Madam is now settled in Yanjing, and she is unfamiliar with the place. Why not open the door for the two concubines, which will also be convenient for them!"
The two aunts have a really good plan!
Just knowing how to read and write, knowing when to act and how to speak elegantly is probably not something that will catch the eye of this nun!
"I wonder how much money the two aunts donated to your temple?"
Eleventh Lady looked at Master Jining indifferently.
Jining laughed, "Madam is indeed a straightforward person.
It’s only five thousand taels of silver.”
Eleventh Lady took some effort to control herself from showing a surprised expression.
Jining smiled and said, "Of course, the wife of the Marquis of Yongping would not care about this money, but for the two concubines, it is a merit of filial piety to the Bodhisattva. That's why I begged the poor nun to help me make this journey."
Eleventh Lady couldn't help but feel sad for Aunt Yang.
At first, she thought the bracelet contained banknotes, but later found out it was arsenic... She was wondering where the money went? Or what was it used for?
The story ends here, and the answer is revealed.
If Shi Niang stayed in Yuhang where the eldest master could not see her, she would be dealt with by the eldest wife like a blunt knife cutting her flesh. It is better to make a gamble, maybe there is still a way out. The two concubines must have gained the trust of concubine Yang as if they were bluffing themselves, and jointly made this plan of besieging Wei to save Zhao and escaping from the shell. Concubine Yang used her death to divert the attention of others, and at the same time hoped that the eldest wife would know that she was dead, so that she would have a little sympathy for Shi Niang, and let the two concubines take Shi Niang away by taking the opportunity of participating in the temple meeting, and then go to Beijing together.
Shi Niang's appearance was so coincidental that she must have been in Yanjing for some time. But no one knew who tipped them off.
If you are entrusted with a task, you should be loyal to the person who entrusted you with it. If that is the case, why didn't the two concubines stop Shi Niang from marrying Wang Lang?
Jining seemed to be able to see through her thoughts and smiled, "The two concubines asked me to tell Madam a message. They said that Miss Tenth got what she wanted. They are just weak women, and they just want a chance to live!"
Eleventh Lady couldn't help but smile bitterly: "After all, this is my mother's family's business, I'm afraid it's up to my mother to make the decision."
"Of course." Jining smiled, "But since the first lady of the Luo Mansion can marry you to the Yongping Marquis' Mansion, she must have considered it. Two concubines, one is not too much, and one is not too little. I think the first lady of the Luo Mansion can make this account. But it's different for my Ciyuan Temple. People like two concubines who have something to say must be favored by the women of the high families. This is also the reason why I have to come to the lady to ask for this grace."
She repeatedly stressed that she liked the two aunts and welcomed them to become nuns at Ciyuan Temple. It seemed that she was determined to take the plunge.
Eleventh Lady can also understand.
For a temple to develop, it must have corresponding talents. Generally, people who become monks are either poor and helpless, or they are disheartened by family changes. The former have not received much education, and the latter are very indifferent to the world. Like the two concubines, they once accompanied the eldest master to study at midnight, and their knowledge and conversation are extraordinary. At this age, they are still struggling to run away from home, and they are afraid of being retaliated by the eldest wife because of the arrangement of the eldest wife. It is estimated that they also have the dream of starting a new life. These two people can join Ciyuan Temple and donate a large amount of incense money... No matter from which aspect, Jining has to take the lead. Moreover, Shi Niang married the Duke of Mao, and she married the Marquis of Yongping. When the truth came out, Shi Niang left home without permission, and it was the Luo family that suffered the loss.
That is why Master Jining dared to speak so frankly.
"Since Madam has no objection, I will go to the Luo residence later." Master Jining achieved her goal and stood up with a smile. "If Madam asks, I will say that the two concubines wanted to become nuns at Ciyuan Temple and asked me to ask Madam to speak to the eldest wife of the Luo family. As for other things, I will not mention a word."
Do I have to thank this Master Jining and the two concubines?
Eleventh Lady was both amused and confused.
She suddenly understood Xu Lingyi's helplessness.
That day in the courtyard, I knew it was a trap set by Yuanniang, and I knew the consequences would be, but for the sake of those people or things I was afraid of, I could only jump in and watch...
After returning to the Dowager's place, Master Jining did as she had said in the east chamber. She said that she was asked by the two concubines to ask Eleventh Lady to plead their case with the First Lady. She also said that Eleventh Lady felt that since the two concubines were determined to become nuns, she was willing to help them. After one month of their wedding, she would ask the Dowager and the Marquis's opinion and then choose a day to return to her parents' home to discuss the matter of the two concubines with her mother.
Although everyone felt a little surprised after hearing this, Master Jining's words made sense, and since it was Eleventh Lady's family matter, no one pursued the matter at this time.
Master Jining spoke for a while and then left. Seeing that it was getting late, the old lady went to the Buddhist temple with Madam Du. The others naturally left as well.
When Shiyi Niang returned to the house, she found Dongqing and told her the purpose of Jining's visit.
"Go back and tell the grandmother about this, especially remind her that Jining seems to be determined to intervene in this matter." He also reminded her, "Don't tell the first wife yet, tell the grandmother first, and ask her to get some rules. Let me know what I should do."
Holly agreed and left.
Eleventh Lady called Mother Tao over again and said, "Can you pick a few smart and clever people? I still have two second-class maids, six third-class maids, and four smart maids."
Mother Tao said hurriedly, "Madam, please rest assured and leave it to me. I will bring the person to you this afternoon."
Eleventh Lady nodded and whispered, "Can we send two or three people to work in the study in the outer courtyard?"
As expected, he is Yuanniang’s man!
Mother Tao was startled for a moment and then whispered, "The three young masters are studying at home. We sent several of them there. Madam, if you want to know anything, just ask me. Even if I can't answer you right away, I can still send you a letter this afternoon."
Eleventh Lady shook her head slightly. "From the tone of the Marquis, I'm afraid he is looking for a suitable teacher for the three young masters. When the time comes, they will definitely set up a lecture hall in the outer study. Brother Zhe is six years old this year and weak. He will most likely be enlightened in the outer study with his brothers. The Madam has no intention of handing Brother Zhe to me. Besides, we are women in the inner house after all, and we are not as knowledgeable as the masters outside. If there is a good teacher around to guide us all the time, we can not only occupy the title, but also supervise Brother Zhe's behavior and knowledge. If there is anything, we can also tell the teacher and let him teach Brother Zhe. Isn't it different from you and me who meddle in other people's affairs?"
Mother Tao couldn't help but praise: "Madam, this is a good idea. I understand. I'll do it now." As she said this, she stood up in a hurry.
"You don't have to be so anxious." Eleventh Lady smiled, "First, the matter of the master has not been decided yet, and second, we are just preparing for it in advance, for fear of attracting attention. You know, there are three young masters studying together. Those who know that we are thinking about Brother Chun, and those who don't know that we are thinking about the second young master."
Mother Tao nodded immediately: "Don't worry, Madam, I will do it without anyone noticing." Then, she showed some hesitation, "It's just that there are still some problems with Wanxiang..."
"Tell me about it!"
"Wanxiang came to me yesterday and said that there are eleven kitchens in the mansion. Yesterday afternoon, the Third Madam said that except for the kitchen in the Madam's room, the other ten kitchens must prepare dishes according to the order and no more orders are allowed. If anyone wants to add dishes temporarily, they have to pay for it themselves and the kitchen will make it." Mother Tao was afraid that Eleventh Lady would not understand, so she explained, "When the eldest aunt was in charge of the family, money was allocated according to the size of the kitchen, and each person had to pay for it himself. Some kitchens spent more in the first half of the month, and saved a little in the second half of the month. There was no overspending. Temporary additions are excess expenses, and naturally everyone has to pay for it themselves. But the Third Madam said this..."
"...In this way, the ten kitchens can buy food together." Eleventh Lady continued with a smile, "The kitchens will make a fortune from purchasing. Isn't that right?"
Mother Tao was stunned.
Eleventh Lady's smile was still the same, gentle and a little friendly, but her eyes had a kind of calmness that saw through everything. It seemed to be saying, it's just some little tricks, you don't have to panic!
Mother Tao's face suddenly turned red.