For lunch, Shi Mingyue was basically just responsible for simple tasks like putting the ingredients in the pot, cooking them, and seasoning them. Fu Yueli did everything else. It wasn't that she didn't want to do anything, but as soon as she picked up the knife to peel the potatoes, Fu Yueli said, "Let me do it. Be careful not to cut your hands." She wanted to cut the vegetables, but Fu Yueli stopped her again, saying, "Let me do it. The knife is very sharp and it's easy to cut your hands." So she barely did anything. Thinking that just eating chicken soup would be too monotonous, she kneaded the dough and planned to make a pancake.
As she kneaded the dough, she turned to glance at Fu Yueli, a multitude of thoughts racing through her mind. She was lucky to have met such a perfect man, but precisely because she was lucky enough to have met him, she wanted to have him forever, to have him be hers alone. Perhaps the future was uncertain, but she also knew clearly that the ending wouldn't be happy. Suddenly, she hated herself for always thinking so far ahead. It only added to her suffering.
So, as the ancients said, "Sing when you win, and stop when you lose. Even sorrow and resentment will fade away." Drink today, and worry about tomorrow's worries. Besides, didn't we make up our minds last night? Just focus on the present, stop dwelling on the past, and don't think about the future either.
The day of departure arrived in a flash. Zhao State had one capital and six prefectures: Shangjing, Qingzhou, Jiangzhou, Lingzhou, Xinzhou, Yunzhou, and Ningzhou. The Ministry of Rites and the Hanlin Academy dispatched six groups of personnel to each prefecture. The original list drawn by lot was known only to the Minister of Rites, the head of the Hanlin Academy, and the three princes. To prevent any unforeseen circumstances, the list was announced early in the morning of the day of departure.
After the list was read out, everyone knew where they were going. Fu Yueli and Sheng Jing and the others went to Xinzhou, Fu Baiheng and Xu Huan and the others went to Jiangzhou, and Fu Fenglin and Shi Mingji and the others went to Lingzhou.
Before leaving, Fu Yueli specifically called Shi Mingji to speak privately, "Be careful when you go to Lingzhou this time. I have sent a letter to my uncle. If you have any questions, you can go to him."
Shi Mingji thanked him: "Thank you very much for taking the trouble to help me."
Fu Yueli said: "Please be careful and don't act alone. It's best to stay with others to prevent any accidents."
It was almost time, and he turned to see his third brother, Fu Fenglin, standing by the carriage, talking to someone. He remembered the injury on his wrist that day, and he still had some doubts in his heart. After Fu Jinyao's wedding banquet, he had asked Lu Lingyan to investigate Fu Fenglin's daily behavior. Lu Lingyan came back with a smile and said, "I think he's similar to you. He hardly ever goes to brothels, and he doesn't keep singing girls or dancers in his mansion."
Fu Yueli pressed on: "Is he a homosexual?"
Lu Lingyan said "Oh" and said as if he suddenly understood something: "So you asked me before if that matter was related to him. I have also checked. He has never been to places like Nanfeng Pavilion, and there is no male favorite in the mansion. Of course, I don't know whether he had an affair with his study partner. After all, his study partner is quite handsome."
Fu Fenglin's study partner was Zhou Qian, the son of Zhou Shidu, a member of the Hanlin Academy. Fu Yueli later observed their interactions and saw nothing unusual, believing they were just ordinary friends. So, he was probably overthinking it. Fu Fenglin was, after all, a prince, having been taught the virtues of benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness since childhood. He wouldn't do such a despicable thing to Shi Mingji.
As the convoys set off, Fu Yueli thought of Shi Mingyue again in the carriage. They would not be able to see each other for at least half a month. He looked down at the camel thorn purse hanging around his waist. It was embroidered by her for him, a kind of sustenance.
Ever since Fu Yueli and Lu Lingyan left, Shi Mingyue felt that the already large house had become even emptier, even deserted.
"Sister-in-law!" Lu Lingjing walked in from outside the door.
Shi Mingyue put down the teacup in her hand and smiled at her: "What's wrong?"
"Since we're free anyway, why not go out for a walk?" Lu Lingjing suggested.
Shi Mingyue thought about it and felt that it made sense. She asked, "Then where should we go?"
Lu Lingjing had her own thoughts and said, "Let's go to Ningguo Temple. I haven't been there yet. My brother and cousin just left, so let's go and pay our respects to the Buddha. I hope they have a safe journey."
Shi Mingyue paused, wondering if she was planning to go see He Jun. She still remembered the infatuated look Lu Lingjing had for He Jun. But Lu Lingjing should have known better, knowing that He Jun was a monk. Shi Mingyue thought she was overthinking it, so she said, "Okay, I'll change my clothes first."
The carriage arrived not far from the temple entrance, following a bustling street. Ningguo Temple, a stately temple, was imposing and majestic, far larger than the Yongjin Temple outside the city. Shi Mingyue was dressed simply in a goose-yellow, chest-length skirt, her hair held up with a single jade hairpin. In a place like a temple, dressing too flamboyantly would draw attention, a bad idea.
But she and Lu Lingjing still attracted a lot of people's attention, so they had to be more low-key. When they arrived at the main hall, they each kowtowed to the Buddha and burned incense.
After leaving the house, Lu Lingjing said, "Sister-in-law, didn't Princess Xiang say last time that the Guanyin Temple here is very effective? Why don't you go and worship?"
Shi Mingyue thought that since she was already here, she might as well go and pay her respects. She nodded and said, "Okay."
"Then go ahead. I want to try drawing lots over there." Lu Lingjing pointed to the side hall where people could shake the lot tube to draw lots, and there were monks to help interpret the lots.
Shi Mingyue saw that there were many people in the side hall and said, "Okay then, you go and draw the lot and wait for me there. I'll be back after I finish my worship."
The two separated, and Hongyin accompanied Shi Mingyue to the Guanyin Temple, where many of the visitors were young women seeking children. From a distance, they saw a group of women gathered in the corridor, not knowing what they were looking at. Unable to help but be curious, Shi Mingyue went with Hongyin to see what was going on. Unexpectedly, they discovered that they were looking at He Jun.
Vegetables were planted in the temple's open space, and He Jun was bent over, pulling weeds from the vegetable patch. He was handsome and distinguished, and his Buddhist practice had given him a calm and composed demeanor. Furthermore, he was a descendant of a noble family, and an air of elegance and nobility lingered about him, so it was no surprise that he attracted the attention of these women.
"Isn't that Master Jun He?" Hong Yin also recognized him.
Shi Mingyue didn't intend to greet him and said to Hongyin, "Well, let's go."
The two continued on to the Guanyin Hall. After worshipping Guanyin, they spent another twenty coins to buy a peace amulet. The woman selling the amulet, seeing that she looked wealthy, enthusiastically recommended other items: "This jade pendant was blessed by Master Shengming. It's even more effective than the peace amulet. Why not take this one too!"
No matter how much she talked, Shi Mingyue ignored her. She wrote her name on the list and walked out. Buying amulets is just a token of your appreciation. If the effectiveness of an item is determined by its price, then wouldn't Buddha be tainted with the smell of money?
As soon as she walked out of the door, a young monk waiting at the door said to her, "Miss, Senior Brother Junhe wants to see you. Please follow me."
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