◇ Chapter 48 (48) Bo Kang discovers Lian Zhi’s identity (Part 2)
As if anticipating their arrival, freshly brewed tea sat on the table in the inner room, accompanied by three teacups. Master Liaoyuan's meditation room was austere, yet every trace of the old monk's Zen spirit permeated the room. Bo Kang and Chang Yuzhu had just taken their seats when Master Liaoyuan said, "Master Chang, please move aside. I have something to discuss with the Minister alone."
Chang Yuzhu was not angry either. She left the place and left the space for them. Bai Kang and Master Liao Yuan sat down. Before Bai Kang could speak, Master Liao Yuan handed over the scripture and said, "Sir Shangshu, you are here today for your wife."
You are right.
Bai Kang didn't respond, but instead picked up the teacup and took a long sip. A glimpse of Master Yuan sipping tea from the corner of his eye caused him to freeze, then sip gently. He was usually known for his bold and unrestrained manners, and since this was his first time asking a master for help, he worried he might be misunderstood as rude and ignorant of etiquette.
Although in many people's hearts, this is how they think of him.
Master Liaoyuan didn't notice his movements and continued, "Reincarnation is a myth. It's nonsense. Please listen to me, sir, and don't be obsessed with it."
I actually anticipated what he was going to ask.
Bo Kang was startled, but took another sip of tea to cover it up. "The scriptures say that all living beings receive retribution according to their karma, and cycle through the six realms of reincarnation. I didn't expect the Master to give me such an answer."
Master Liaoyuan smiled and changed the subject, "The karma from the previous life has not yet been fulfilled, so this life is subject to reincarnation. If you see all things as not being things, you will see the Tathagata. It is all arising from the mind. Your thoughts, sir, are the answer."
What does this mean? First he told him reincarnation was fake, and now he's saying his guess was right. Isn't this old monk contradicting himself? Bo Kang didn't answer, just pondering. Seeing him like this, Master Liao Yuan sighed and said, "What I really want to say is that I haven't seen anyone reincarnated, so I can't give you an answer."
The two looked at each other and laughed in unison. Bo Kang touched his chin and suddenly seemed to understand what Master Yuan meant.
"You are hinting to me that he really is...right?" Bai Kang's voice was a little hoarse, but Master Liao Yuan still shook his head in a riddle-like manner.
There was a rustling sound of wind outside. Just when Bo Kang was unsure how to respond, Master Liaoyuan suddenly burst into laughter. His voice was as loud as a bell, and he said, "Since you don't believe in ghosts and gods, there's no need to take my words seriously. Meeting you today has suddenly given me some emotion, and I simply wanted to debate with you."
"In that case, what are your feelings, Master?"
Master Liaoyuan fell silent and smiled calmly, "All sentient beings possess the wisdom and virtues of the Tathagata, but due to delusion and attachment, they are unable to realize them. Excessive concern will lead to demonic obstacles. Your Excellency has reached the second rank, and everything you have now has not been easy to come by. It is best to let go of the past."
Bai Kang wanted to say something, but in the end he just bowed and said, "Thank you for your advice."
The tea in the cup gradually cooled. The bamboo forest was windless, yet exceptionally cool. The young novice monk, who had just left with Lianzhi, returned and said that Mrs. Bai had already lit the lamp and was waiting for Bai Kang in the adjoining meditation room.
Bai Kang stood up to say goodbye, his eyes secretly gazing at Master Le Yuan. When he heard Lian Zhi's name, the master's expression did not change. He just stood up and smiled to see Bai Kang off. After he left, Master Le Yuan looked at the two figures and sighed softly, "What an evil fate..."
"Master, who are you talking about?" the young monk asked curiously. He had followed Master Liaoyuan for a long time and knew that his master, who was honored as the Imperial Master, must have some real skills, and he had also learned some from him.
He looked at the two people leaving and clearly felt that they were destined to be together.
"I'm saying that the Minister and I have a bad fate. I wonder if Minister Bai will be more lenient with the Ministry of Rites during this year's inspection because of today's situation." Master Liaoyuan stroked his beard and said leisurely.
"Master, you're joking again," the young monk said with a frown. Master was always like this, saying strange things, so every year during the inspection of the monks' precepts, the Ministry of Rites would privately remind him of this.
Seeing Master Liaoyuan still standing at the door, the young monk remained silent, looking at him quietly. Master Liaoyuan looked up at the sky obscured by bamboo leaves and said, "The Emperor Star has returned to the human world..."
The young monk looked up. The sun was shining brightly above his head, and he could clearly not see a single star.
As he emerged from the meditation room, Bai Kang spotted Lianzhi, standing in the forest, leaning against a bamboo. With her back to him, she stared at the nearby water tank, peeking inside. Lianzhi was wearing a thin coral-red shirt that Bai Kang had chosen for her. Her red dress was as vibrant as a pomegranate blossom, her scarlet as fiery as fire, and the verdant bamboo.
Very beautiful, really beautiful.
Bai Kang didn't call out to him, but just stood not far away. Lian Zhi didn't know how she noticed him, but the moment he stopped, she turned around and said, "Brother Kang, look, the turtle in the water tank looks dead. Why doesn't it move when I poke it?"
Well, as soon as I started talking, I wasn't so beautiful anymore.
Bai Kang walked over helplessly and said, "Don't touch their turtles. They are said to be sacred turtles, and they have lived for nearly a thousand years. If you poke them carelessly, you will get into trouble."
"You're actually afraid of bad luck." Lianzhi curled her lips. Baikang was fearless and didn't even believe in monks, so why did he believe in two turtles? Baikang couldn't explain it clearly, and he didn't dare to argue with Lianzhi, so he could only say, "Let's go home, let's go home."
"Why don't we go back yet?" Lianzhi hugged his forearm and shook it. "I heard that the vegetarian food near Huguo Temple is delicious. Let's eat outside."
Of course, Bai Kang would agree to such a small request. He had a close relationship with Master Liao Yuan, so he had two vegetarian meals delivered to the guest room in the temple where lay Buddhists could rest. After sending the young monk away, Bai Kang suddenly slapped his head and said, "I think I forgot something."
"You forgot about Chang Yuzhu." Lianzhi reminded him.
Only then did Bai Kang remember Chang Yuzhu who was still with Master Yuan.
When he called the people back, Bai Kang's face was a little red. He had clearly remembered to ask them to go with him when he went out, but when he saw the lotus standing in the bamboo forest, he forgot everything else.
"I didn't expect you to talk to the master for so long. Did you find out anything?" Chang Yuzhu thought Bai Kang was too engrossed in his conversation with Master Leyuan, so he asked in a low voice before they entered the guest room. Without waiting for Bai Kang's answer, he continued, "I've checked, and the monks in the temple are all normal. There are no unfamiliar faces."
Bai Kang nodded. The two of them pushed the door open and saw Lian Zhi again. Chang Yuzhu was no longer surprised and bowed again, "Sister-in-law."
Lianzhi also smiled and returned the greeting: "Brother Chang."
When facing outsiders, Lianzhi smiled with an exceptionally gentle and obedient smile, the corners of her mouth raised in just the right angle, giving her a hint of virtuousness. If Chang Yuzhu hadn't constantly heard Bai Kang talk about how spoiled Lianzhi was, he might have been fooled. Even so, with that beautiful face before him, the faint fragrance of lotus flowers filling his nostrils, Chang Yuzhu couldn't help but blush.
No, that's not right.
Bai Kang noticed something was amiss: Chang Yuzhu had actually blushed. This person seemed to have a certain magical quality that captivated others. Despite her bad temper and domineering demeanor, she always managed to draw attention.
He couldn't tell whether he was feeling jealous or proud, so he stopped Lianzhi and said, "The food is getting cold, eat quickly. Let me feed you?"
Lianzhi turned her head away and ignored him. Chang Yuzhu then noticed that there was a vegetarian meal on the table opposite the two people.
He suddenly realized something was wrong: "Where's mine?"
"Go back home and eat." Bai Kang said coldly.
Lianzhi was still very sensible outside and didn't ask Baikang to do anything. Perhaps it was because the vegetarian meal was really delicious, Lianzhi ate more than at home and was a little sleepy - he thought it was because there were several steamed buns in the vegetarian meal, not because it was time for his nap.
Bai Kang always had a blanket in his carriage, so he could wrap himself in it and sleep comfortably. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Chang Yuzhu whispered, "Xunrong, I know why you're suspicious."
He blushed just now because he saw Lianzhi's expression. He suddenly thought of the first time four years ago when he and his grandfather entered the palace to meet the late emperor.
At the time, Chen Fenglian had been on the throne for only a month, having recently emerged from the cold palace. He was frail and thin, with only his eyes remaining surprisingly bright. His family had been aligned with the crown prince, and they weren't particularly familiar with this impoverished prince, who had been thrust onto the throne midway. Upon meeting him, Chen Fenglian, as if deliberately showing off her authority, ran up to him with a smile and said, "You're not bad looking. Why don't you join my harem?"
That smile was as deliberate as Lianzhi's just now.
When the past was suddenly brought up, Bai Kang felt unusually unhappy.
What made me unhappy was that Chen Fenglian had said this to Chang Yuzhu. Even though I knew it was a joke, what if his Lianzhi was the same person as the late emperor?
He is much more handsome and elegant than Chang Yuzhu, why haven't I said such words to him!
"Don't be angry. I was just joking. I already have a fiancée." Chang Yuzhu said awkwardly. Hearing this, Bai Kang was quite curious: "When did it happen?"
"My father arranged a marriage for me a few days ago. But I have no intention of getting married, so I'll put it off for as long as possible."
Chang Yuzhu sighed in worry. He had always been reluctant to get married, and didn't want a wife to control him. He hadn't been so opposed to it before, but after seeing Bai Kang constantly hanging around Lianzhi, he became even more afraid.
Didn't you say you hated the late emperor? Even so, you still fell in love with him? Marriage really does make people lose their minds.
On the way, they left Chang Yuzhu at the Duke's Mansion. The carriage continued to the Shangshu Mansion in the west of the city. There were only the two of them left in the carriage. Bai Kang stared at Lianzhi's sleeping face, lost in thought.
It was obviously easy to find, there were so many similarities, even Chang Yuzhu noticed it.
Why did he realize it only now? Why did he realize it only after he fell in love with Lianzhi?
Lianzhi felt uncomfortable being stared at, and couldn't pretend anymore, so she pretended to have just woken up. He had slept for a while, but he woke up when Chang Yuzhu said that he thought his smile resembled the late emperor. Pretending not to notice, Lianzhi said, "Brother Kang, I think it's best if you don't arrest Xingjiezi and the others now."
"Huh?" Bo Kang didn't expect that the first thing he said after waking up would be this. He frowned and asked, "Why?"
Could it be that he still wanted to protect those people and allow them to stir up trouble in the capital? Even if Lianzhi begged him, he would not indulge them.
Seeing Bai Kang's expression, Lianzhi knew that he was still suspicious. She sighed inwardly, "Arresting them for fraud and deception is too light a charge, don't you think? Why not take it slow and give them a death sentence to eradicate them completely?"
Bo Kang had also considered this: "That's not right. If we continue to let them go, what if they get wind of it? It's better to arrest them as soon as possible."
"So I'm helping you." Lianzhi hooked her arm around his neck and sat up. Bo Kang couldn't help but blush as he held the back of his head. Lianzhi must have thought it was easier to get up this way, and had no other intentions. That was right, it had to be that way.
"You help me?" He thought of Lianzhi's lie about being a distant relative of the Prime Minister's wife and disagreed, "That's inappropriate. It's too dangerous."
I'm afraid it's not that she feels it's dangerous, but that she doesn't trust him.
Lianzhi didn't refute immediately, but said tactfully, "I know my limits, and you're here to protect me. Brother Kang, why are you doubting me? We've already said we're as close as a couple, and I'm definitely on your side now."
Okay, okay. He blocked all the questions Bai Kang wanted to ask, leaving him speechless. Bai Kang could only give up: "Tell me before you do anything."
"Okay." Lianzhi threw herself into his arms, "Brother."
Lianzhi has been going to the Prime Minister's Mansion more frequently recently.
The Prime Minister's wife had heard that Lianzhi had been having nightmares lately, with no improvement from taking medicine, and she had been thinking of asking someone to go see her. Lianzhi, however, took the initiative to hand over a visiting card, stating directly that she had been experiencing frequent dizziness and mental confusion lately, and that wearing the bracelet given by the Prime Minister's wife had brought her peace of mind, so she had come today specifically to express her gratitude.
If someone else had said this, it would probably have raised suspicions. But Lian Zhisheng's innocent and well-behaved manner, coupled with her sincere words, only aroused the Prime Minister's wife's loving heart.
Meanwhile, Bo Kang, on duty at the Ministry of Rites, received a letter from the north, stating that the battle between the Helan tribe in the North Sea and the Mobei region was indeed fierce and protracted. The army from the capital had already rushed to support the King of Longxi and the King of Mu, in case of emergency.
The letter in his hand was a secret letter intercepted from the north, arriving from the North Sea. The Helan tribe was located far to the west of the North Sea. They never even sent envoys to the Daning Kingdom, let alone participate in foreign disputes. Any information about the situation there was conveyed through the Chunyu envoy of the Yilu tribe.
Such a tribe actually declared war on Mobei for the first time.
The reason for declaring war was that the Helan leader had been looking for someone in Mobei Kingdom.
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