It was already dark when Li Xi left the noodle shop. She hurried home, but unexpectedly got lost.
In her haste, she found herself at a temple. When her gaze fell upon the tightly closed gate, a sense of déjà vu washed over her.
As if drawn by an invisible force, she involuntarily stepped forward and gently knocked on the door.
"Coming!" A crisp reply followed, and soon a young monk strode in and opened the door.
When he saw Li Xi standing outside the door, a look of doubt appeared on his face, and he asked softly, "Young master, what brings you here so late at night?"
Li Xi quickly cupped his hands in a gesture of apology and said, "I am truly sorry to disturb your temple so late at night. I hope you will forgive me, young monk. I have come here to look for Master Yuanjing."
As she spoke, the image of the old monk came to mind.
The young monk's voice choked with emotion: "Amitabha... You may not know, but the abbot... passed away a few days ago."
Upon hearing this, Li Xi was stunned and remained speechless for a long time. "Master Yuanjing has attained great freedom, which is truly cause for celebration. However, I still have many unresolved questions in my mind and would like to ask him for guidance, but unexpectedly..."
The young monk sighed, “Benefactor, everything in this world is predestined. Before the abbot passed away, he left behind an item, saying that if a person with a predestined connection came to find him, he should give this item to them.”
As he spoke, the young monk turned around and went back into the temple to retrieve an antique-looking box, which he then handed to Li Xi.
Li Xi took the box and felt its smooth texture. The box was covered with obscure and difficult-to-understand runes.
After thanking the young monk, she left the temple with the box.
Back home, Li Xi couldn't wait to open the box.
Inside was only a yellowed note and a small, crystal-clear bead.
Although the handwriting on the note had yellowed, it was still vigorous and powerful.
The note read: "As you sow, so shall you reap; all is created by the mind, cause and effect arise from the mind. Cause and effect continue endlessly, like a ring without end; by doing good and accumulating virtue, one finds freedom within."
Li Xi held the bead tightly in her hand, feeling the warm power it emanated, and pondered the meaning of the two sentences in her heart.
She decided to keep the beads close to her body for now, hoping she would understand their deeper meaning in the future.
The next day, she went to the Duke's mansion to look for Qin Xiaolin, but to her surprise, he was not there.
Just as Li Xi was about to leave, the steward called out to her, "General Li, please wait, the Duke requests your presence."
She stopped and turned to the butler, saying, "In that case, please lead the way."
The butler nodded slightly and led Li Xi through the winding corridors to a quiet courtyard. The courtyard was lush with flowers and trees, and had a babbling brook, giving it a secluded, idyllic feel.
"General Li, please wait here for a moment. The Duke will be here shortly." After saying this, the steward turned and left, leaving Li Xi standing alone in the courtyard.
Li Xi looked around, wondering to himself: I wonder what important matter this Duke wants with him.
Li Xi was lost in her thoughts when she suddenly heard light footsteps approaching from afar, interrupting her meditation.
She looked up and saw an elderly man in fine clothes walking slowly towards her. His face was kind, but his eyes gleamed with a subtle wisdom.
This man was none other than the Duke.
"General Li, I have long admired your name. It is a great honor to meet you today." The Duke spoke in a gentle tone, but his words revealed an aura that should not be underestimated.
Li Xi bowed slightly and said, "Your Excellency is too kind. I am but a humble soldier. It is truly my good fortune to have Your Excellency's favor."
The Duke waved his hand gently, indicating that Li Xi did not need to be so polite, and then led her into the pavilion in the courtyard to sit down.
"General Li, the reason I invited you here today is that I have a request to make." The Duke got straight to the point, his tone sincere.
Upon hearing this, Li Xi felt a slight chill run down her spine, secretly wondering what the Duke wanted.
She remained expressionless, saying only, "Please speak freely, Your Excellency. If it is of service, I will do my utmost."
After a moment of contemplation, the Duke slowly asked, "Are the General and Xiao Lin close friends?"
Upon hearing this, Li Xi's heart stirred slightly, and he said, "This humble general does indeed have a friendship with General Qin. I wonder if the Duke's mention of this matter is related to the matter you seek?"
The Duke sighed, his gaze becoming profound. "To be honest, Xiao Lin has been staying away from home for long periods lately. Alas... it's shameful to say, but he and his mother had some misunderstandings years ago, which has led to a strained relationship. General Li has always been a man of great loyalty and righteousness, which is why I'm taking the liberty of asking you to help persuade Xiao Lin."
After saying this, the Duke's face was full of helplessness, and his expression made people feel sorry for him.
These words reminded her that Qin Xiaolin was indeed rarely at home, and sometimes she couldn't even find him.
He either spends all his time at the Hermitage, or he frequently travels to various places, his whereabouts unpredictable.
Moreover, she had almost never heard Qin Xiaolin mention anything about his family. Thinking of this, Li Xi's mood grew even heavier.
After a moment's thought, she replied, "Your Excellency, rest assured, I will do my best to persuade him. However, I need to find out the reason why General Qin has not returned home for so long before I can prescribe the right remedy."
The Duke nodded. Although the matter was dishonorable, it had remained a deadlock for many years.
"When he turned sixteen, his mother wanted to find him a good marriage. But for some reason, he resolutely refused. His mother was in a hurry and used some tricks. So he thought his mother was unscrupulous in achieving her goals, and thus harbored resentment. But the actual situation was not like that. His mother had many difficulties at the time."
Li Xi understood. "This humble general comprehends that parents plan far ahead for their children."
It must have been some underhanded tactic, trying to force him to take responsibility for that girl. She'd seen it portrayed that way in TV dramas.
The Duke sighed slowly, "The general is indeed a wise man."
Li Xi nodded slightly, having already grasped the general outline of this past event in her mind, and said, "Lord Duke, it is understandable that General Qin is young and impetuous and finds it difficult to accept at the moment. However, if this misunderstanding is not resolved, it will only deepen and eventually damage the relationship between father and son."
Upon hearing this, the Duke's expression darkened further: "How could I not know? It's just that both mother and son are stubborn, and over the years, we have yet to find a suitable opportunity to resolve this misunderstanding."
Li Xi pondered for a moment and said, "Your Excellency, rest assured, I will definitely find an opportunity to have a good talk with General Qin and see if I can mediate and resolve this long-standing grudge."
Upon hearing this, a glimmer of hope flashed in the Duke's eyes: "Then I will have to trouble General Li. I know this matter is not easy, but as long as this misunderstanding can be cleared up and Xiao Lin can return to his family, I will be eternally grateful."
Li Xi bowed slightly and said, "Your Excellency is too kind. This humble general will do his best."
After saying this, Li Xi pondered to herself: Qin Xiaolin may seem unrestrained and carefree, but he is actually very loyal and devoted. To clear up this misunderstanding, she needed to start with what he cared about most. However, the most crucial element was probably the emotional bond between him and his mother.
Having considered this, Li Xi had already made up her mind.
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