Chapter 97 "You shouldn't have threatened her."...
Let's go back half an hour.
After finishing his homework, Yunzhi returned to his meditation room. As soon as he entered, he saw a note pressed down by a teacup on the table by the window.
He opened the note, read its contents, his expression changed drastically, and he instinctively looked out the window.
Because Yunzhi was not a disciple of this temple and had a special status, Abbot Liaokong specially arranged a meditation room for him alone, on the west side of the corridor behind the Sutra Repository, so that he would not live with the other disciples.
Looking out, he could only see the tall pavilion not far away, with lotus-shaped rain chains hanging from the eaves swaying gently, slowly dripping the accumulated rainwater.
The surroundings were quiet, with no trace of anyone coming or going.
Yun Zhi gripped the paper tightly, and the slight twitching of his forehead betrayed his unsettled state of mind.
Finally, he made up his mind, walked to the wicker trunk in the corner of the room, took out a short knife wrapped in cloth from under his monk's robe, put it in his pocket, and went out.
Unexpectedly, when he closed the trunk lid, his movements were too forceful, and the neatly folded clothes slid to the other side, revealing a bamboo skewer with a dark crimson stain on its tip.
...
As dusk fell, the forest grew increasingly dark, the shadows of the trees stretching out like ghostly claws, as if trying to tear the last rays of sunlight to shreds.
The sound of the snapping twig was so crisp that it startled a flock of crows roosting in the dense forest, which fluttered past like clouds obscuring the sky.
Yun Zhi arrived at the location on the note as promised, and saw a figure with his back to him turn around in the distance, revealing the face he expected.
He clasped his hands together, his expression calm: "Senior brother asked me to come here to talk, but I don't know why?"
The other person took a few steps forward, stopped in front of Yun Zhi, and spoke meaningfully:
"Junior Brother Yunzhi has been sent down the mountain to travel on Master's orders. He has been staying at Jade Buddha Temple for over a month now. I wonder when Junior Brother will set off for his next destination?"
"Thank you for your concern, senior brother. My master did not set a deadline before I left the mountain. I will do whatever I feel is right. When my connection with the Jade Buddha Temple is exhausted, I will leave naturally."
"Really?" The other person scoffed, took another step forward, and looked down at him from a higher position: "I thought you were too attached to worldly riches and didn't want to leave."
Yun Zhi frowned slightly. "I don't understand what you mean, Senior Brother."
"Let's not beat around the bush, there are only the two of us here, so stop pretending."
The other party seemed to harbor considerable resentment towards Yun Zhi, and their attitude suddenly became impolite. "Junior brother, you've kept this from us so well! If I hadn't overheard the princess talking to her maid, I wouldn't have known that the two of you had a connection back down the mountain. That noble lady seems to be deeply in love with you..."
"Senior brother, please be careful with your words!"
Yun Zhifei quickly interrupted him, his tone somewhat hurried and cold, "I am already a person of the secular world, having severed all worldly love and affection. I have never overstepped any boundaries with the princess. How can you, senior brother, slander Her Highness's reputation so unjustly?"
Instead of stopping, the other party intensified their attack: "Junior brother, are you confused? Even if you return to Bailong Temple to take over as abbot, how can that compare to becoming the royal consort? That woman is Prince Heng's only younger sister, and in the future she will be an even more prestigious princess. Aren't you tempted at all?"
“Senior brother, there’s no need to test me with these words.” Yun Zhi suddenly regained his composure and looked at him calmly: “I advise you not to take fame and fortune too seriously, lest you lose your true self.”
He finished speaking and was about to leave when the other party, enraged, shouted at Yun Zhi's retreating figure, "Don't think I don't know what you and the princess did! The death of Gao Yu—"
Yun Zhi suddenly turned around, a barely perceptible hint of killing intent flashing in his eyes. "What are you saying, Senior Brother?"
Seeing that he had indeed taken the bait, the other party revealed a smug grin, "Don't worry, since I've arranged to meet you alone, I won't leak this matter. I just need you to do me a small favor, junior brother."
"What?"
A hint of urgency flashed across the other person's face, "I would be grateful if you could put in a good word for me with the princess and recommend me to enter the palace to preach to His Majesty and Consort Xian... um!"
He lowered his head, staring incredulously at the short knife plunged into his abdomen, blood gushing out and quickly staining his monk's robe red.
"Yun Zhi, you..."
Pfft.
The blade was pulled out and then plunged in again.
Yun Zhi repeated the action expressionlessly until the other person suddenly knelt down, his wide pupils filled with pain and resentment.
"Senior brother, you forced me to do this."
Yun Zhi wiped the blood off the knife with his monk's robe and put it back in his pocket.
You shouldn't threaten her.
...
Just before the lights went out, the young monk Huitao, carrying a bamboo basket full of mushrooms, nervously pushed open the courtyard gate.
"Benefactors, are you asleep? I've come to deliver mushrooms."
Pei Yuzhen came out of the main room and complained unhappily, "Why are you so late?"
Hui Tao blushed and lowered her head, explaining softly, "I didn't have enough dried mushrooms in my room, so I just went up the mountain to pick some more, they're all the freshest."
Pei Yuzhen then noticed that he was carrying a large bamboo basket on his back, which was taller than half a person. The mushrooms inside were overflowing and weighed at least twenty or thirty pounds, making his thin back lean forward.
The monk's robe was covered with twigs and leaves, and in a few places it was torn and frayed. His cloth shoes were also covered in mud, leaving a trail of muddy footprints as he stepped in from the courtyard gate.
He's still just a child. Even though he's already entered a Buddhist monastery, he still misses his mother.
"What are you standing there for? Quickly put the bamboo basket down." She didn't care about being angry anymore and called the maid to come and help, finally freeing the little monk.
Pei Yuzhen took out a five-tael silver ingot and stuffed it into his hand without saying a word. "Alright, I've bought all the mushrooms and bamboo baskets. You should go back now."
Hui Tao held the silver ingot as if it were burning her hands, "No, no, no, benefactor, you've given too much. These mushrooms aren't worth that much money."
Pei Yuzhen's face hardened: "What's it to you? I just love eating fresh mushrooms from the mountains. In my heart, they're worth the price. I'm a lady of the Marquis's mansion, do you think I can't afford this money?"
"No... Thank you, benefactor!" Hui Tao raised her head, her eyes red, and gave her a big smile. "You are so kind, benefactor. I will definitely chant sutras for you every day to pray for your well-being."
With this silver ingot, his mother could afford the tonic prescribed by the doctor, and she wouldn't have to cough so badly this winter.
"Okay, then remember to ask Buddha to bless me with wealth and find me a good man."
Pei Yuzhen ruffled Hui Tao's little bald head; the fuzzy stubble felt quite nice to the touch, and she couldn't resist touching it several more times.
Hearing the commotion, Shen Lingyue and Yan Yi came out of the house and, seeing the situation, hurriedly said, "Little Aunt, don't bully the little master."
Pei Yuzhen glared at her, "Where did I bully him? I even bought so many mushrooms."
Shen Lingyue walked up to the bamboo basket and exclaimed, "Wow!" She asked Hui Tao, "Did you just pick all of these? That's amazing!"
Hui Tao was embarrassed by the praise and grinned, "Thanks to Senior Brother Yun Zhi for pointing me in the right direction, which led me to a huge mushroom patch."
"Master Yunzhi is still on the mountain at this hour?" Shen Lingyue asked, puzzled. "He goes to the bamboo forest to meditate during the day, why is he going there again at night?"
Yan Yi's eyes flickered slightly, and she bent down to ask Hui Tao, "When did Master Yunzhi come to your Jade Buddha Temple? Doesn't he usually do his morning and evening prayers with you?"
Hui Tao tilted her head and recalled for a while, then clapped her hands and said, "Senior Brother Yunzhi came up the mountain with the princess. Senior Brother Yunzhi begged for alms all the way to the capital, but he fainted at the foot of the mountain. Fortunately, he met the princess, who carried him to her carriage and fed him food and water."
"What a coincidence!" Shen Lingyue muttered to herself in confusion, "Then why did the princess..."
Why did you act as if you were completely unfamiliar with Master Yunzhi?
Hui Tao was still answering Yan Yi in a serious tone: "Master said that Senior Brother Yun Zhi came out to travel on the Master's orders. His Buddhist knowledge has long surpassed ours, so he doesn't need to do his homework with us. He usually studies the scriptures treasured in the temple in the Sutra Repository, or meditates in the Medicine Buddha Hall. If you want to find him, you can't go wrong by going to these two places."
"I understand, thank you, young master." Yan Yi smiled and patted his shoulder, brushing away a straw. "It's getting late, you should go back to your room and rest."
Hui Tao seemed to only then notice the sky, and exclaimed, "Master said we're not allowed to wander around at night. If we're caught by the patrolling senior brothers, we'll be punished. I'm leaving now!"
The little monk ran out in a panic, forgetting even to offer a proper greeting.
Pei Yuzhen complained, "This lousy place has so many rules. How could they lay a hand on such a young child?"
Yan Yi said gently, "No matter how young he is, he is still a monk and must abide by the rules of the temple."
"Tch, what would such a young child know about Buddhist principles?" Pei Yuzhen waved her hand. "I really don't know what his family was thinking. Are they starving? How could they bear to send such a young child to become a monk..."
She muttered to herself for a while without getting a response. When she turned around, she saw that Shen Lingyue and Yan Yi had already slipped back into their room.
Enraged, she stood in the yard with her hands on her hips and shouted, "Don't you all respect me as an elder?!"
When Yan Yi returned to her room, Pei Jingyi was sitting at the table, reading a book of scriptures.
Hearing Yan Yi's footsteps, he asked without looking up, "What's Auntie shouting about outside again?"
"It's nothing. My aunt was very kind today and spent five taels of silver to buy a basket of mushrooms." Yan Yi's tone was light and cheerful, with a hint of teasing.
"Oh? That's quite a 'big spender'."
Pei Jingyi reached out and pulled her into his arms, resting his chin on the crook of her neck. His hands continued to move as he turned to another page of the scripture, reading it with great interest.
Yan Yi leaned against his chest and looked at the text with Pei Jingyi. They were soon drawn to the small-print annotations on the right side of the text.
Not only is the calligraphy excellent, but the annotations and understanding of the scriptures are also unique and refreshing.
Yan Yi turned to him and asked, "Whose annotated version is this?"
Pei Jingyi smiled slightly, "Naturally, it's Master Yunzhi that you and your sister-in-law have been longing for."
He took a stroll through the Sutra Repository during the day when he had nothing to do, and happened to run into Yun Zhi. He chatted with him about Buddhist principles, and Yun Zhi was indeed extraordinary.
As expected of a disciple who was chosen as the next abbot of Bailong Temple, given time, Yunzhi will surely become a great monk and achieve perfect enlightenment.
Yan Yi's ears burned slightly, and she retorted softly, "I didn't have any lingering thoughts about it, I just... I just felt that something was wrong."
Pei Jingyi heard the hesitation and confusion in her voice, decisively put down the scripture, put his arm around Yan Yi's waist and turned her around to face him, gazing intently at her: "What's wrong?"
Yan Yi grasped the hem of his collar, her delicate eyebrows furrowing slightly as she shook her head, seemingly uncertain: "I can't say for sure either. I just heard from the young nun Hui Tao that Princess Lekang had been staying at the temple for some time, so why did Gao Yu die last night?"
She looked up at Pei Jingyi and said, "To be honest, if Gao Yu's death was indeed caused by someone, the most suspicious person would be Princess Lekang. But she is more timid than a rabbit and has no strength to even kill a chicken. It is impossible for her to kill Gao Yu without anyone noticing and to fabricate such a 'Bodhisattva's manifestation' crime scene."
As for her personal maid, Qiushan, she drank some medicine after going up the mountain yesterday and has been in a deep sleep ever since, let alone committing any murder.
Pei Jingyi's slender fingertips brushed against her brow, gently massaging it. "This matter has nothing to do with us, Madam. Why bother worrying unnecessarily? Once we descend the mountain in a couple of days and return Gao Yu's body to the Gao family, that will be our good deed for the day."
Yan Yi thought about it and realized that made sense. She couldn't help but laugh and shake her head: "It seems I was just overthinking things."
Pei Jingyi gently pinched the tip of her nose. "How could that be? It's my A-Tan who is intelligent and perceptive."
...
The next morning, Pei Jinghuai woke up early and tiptoed into the courtyard to begin his daily morning exercise.
If I do an extra set of punches today, I'll eat an extra bowl of noodles for lunch!
He had just assumed a horse stance and gotten into position when a sudden, urgent knocking on the door nearly made him collapse in frustration.
"What is it now?" He impatiently opened the courtyard gate, about to scold the newcomer for not knowing the rules, when he met the pale face of the little monk Huitao.
"Something terrible has happened! My master sent me to invite the two benefactors Pei... Another death has occurred at the temple!"
Pei Jinghuai froze, his expression instantly turning serious. "Who died this time?"
"Yes, it's Senior Brother Huijue..." Huitao wiped her eyes, her voice trembling with tears.
Pei Jinghuai told Hui Tao to wait at the door for a while, then turned around and knocked on the door of the east wing, "Brother, are you awake?"
Soon, Pei Jingyi and Yan Yi, dressed neatly, came out. Upon learning of another murder at the temple, the couple exchanged a solemn glance.
If Gao Yu deserved to die, why would the murderer kill another person?
...
After waking Shen Lingyue, the four of them tacitly avoided disturbing Pei Yuzhen in the main house and followed Hui Tao quickly to the front.
The body was found in the east annex hall.
Having prepared herself mentally, Shen Lingyue finally mustered the courage to step forward and timidly peek out through her fingers.
The deceased, Huijue, knelt before Manjushri Bodhisattva, his head bowed in repentance. The Bodhisattva's sword of wisdom was deeply embedded in his abdomen.
She muttered under her breath, "Another death caused by a Bodhisattva's ritual implements... What terrible crime did this person commit?"
What makes him so special that he receives the same treatment as Gao Yu?
Master Liaokong was helped to sit down by his disciples. His face looked very pale, as if he had aged several years in an instant.
Hui Tao whispered to Yan Yi, "Brother Hui Jue is the abbot's personal disciple. Sometimes when Master goes into seclusion to meditate, Brother Hui Jue will temporarily handle the temple affairs on his behalf. He is our eldest brother and a very good person. Last time when my mother was sick, he even secretly lent me some money."
The young monk's eyes were red as he shook his head repeatedly, "How could the Bodhisattva punish such a good person as my senior brother?"
Pei Jingyi walked to Master Kong's side. "Abbot, please accept my condolences. I would like to know where the monks who were on night patrol last night are? When was the gate of the East Annex Hall locked, and who in the temple has access to the key?"
Master Liaokong sighed, "The night patrol has always been arranged by Huijue, and I'm not entirely sure about the specific personnel. You can check the duty roster in the Discipline Hall. As for the key to the East Annex Hall..."
"Uncle-Master".
Yun Zhi hurriedly walked in from outside the hall, first glancing quickly at Hui Jue kneeling on the ground, his brows furrowing deeply. He stepped forward to help Master Kong up, "What happened? Why is Senior Brother Hui Jue also..."
"What a sin..." Master Liaokong wept bitterly. "Our Jade Buddha Temple has always served the Buddha with utmost devotion. How could we have angered the Bodhisattva time and time again?"
Pei Jingyi said to Pei Jinghuai, "Let's go to the Discipline Hall to find the roster first, and then go to Huijue's room to take a look."
Shen Lingyue and Yan Yi quickly followed.
It was bad enough that Gao Yu died, but now even the monks in the temple have been brutally murdered. Who knows if the killer hiding in the shadows has gone berserk and is about to kill indiscriminately?
The group had not gone far from the main hall when they saw Princess Lekang leading Qiushan running over in a panic.
Shen Lingyue quickly stepped forward, "Your Highness, what brings you here?"
Princess Lekang was pale and looked terrified. "I...I heard that another monk in the temple has been murdered? Who was it?"
Ignoring Shen Lingyue's attempts to stop her, she bypassed her and continued walking inside, wanting to find out what was going on.
Yun Zhi came out and bowed to her, saying, "Your Highness, please do not go any further."
Princess Lekang stopped abruptly, her tear-filled eyes fixed on him, and asked in a trembling voice, "Tell me, who is dead inside?"
Yun Zhi lowered her eyes and said softly, "It's Senior Brother Huijue."
Master Huijue?
Princess Lekang quickly remembered that this chief disciple, who often took over Master Kong's duties, was usually quite respectful to her, even overly enthusiastic.
Several times when she was copying scriptures in the Medicine Buddha Hall, Huijue would come over and offer to explain the meaning of the scriptures to her. Only after she repeatedly refused, saying that she did not like to be disturbed, did he stop bothering her.
But why did he suddenly die, and in the same way as...?
Princess Lekang's fingertips trembled slightly within her sleeves. She bit her lip tightly, wanting to ask Yun Zhi a question, but she snapped back to reality when she met his indifferent gaze.
"Your Highness," Yun Zhi called her again, in a low voice, "This is not a place for you. Go back."
"I understand, thank you for the reminder, Master."
Princess Lekang forced herself to smile, her smile complex and sorrowful, and quickly wiped her eyes.
"Akiyama, let's go to the Medicine Master's Hall."
...
Pei Jingyi and his group arrived at the Discipline Hall and found the roster of the night patrol shifts.
“Last night’s patrol was… Monk Huichen.” Shen Lingyue counted the names on the roster. “Ah, the patrol the night before last was Huijue himself.” That is, the night Gao Yu died.
Shen Lingyue suddenly had a strange idea and said to Yan Yi, "Could it be that he saw the murderer that night and was therefore silenced?"
Yan Yi frowned even more deeply, a hint of worry on her face.
Soon they went to Huijue's room. It was a double room, and he shared it with another junior disciple of the Hui generation.
The group split up to search Huijue's bed.
Shen Lingyue first found a bag of silver in his trunk, which looked to be about seventy or eighty taels.
"Where would a monk get so much silver?"
Pei Jingyi asked the junior brother, "Have you seen this silver before?"
The junior brother answered truthfully: "I have seen it. It's all earned by Brother Huijue from interpreting fortune sticks, asking for talismans, and performing rituals for the women of wealthy families."
Out of respect for the deceased, the junior brother spoke in a more tactful tone, “Brother Huijue… he was always very ambitious and wholeheartedly wanted to make the Jade Buddha Temple flourish and become the most popular temple in the capital. He also made many connections with high-ranking officials and wanted to get through to them, preferably to make the Jade Buddha Temple famous before the Emperor.”
It should be noted that the most famous temple near the capital today, Hongtan Temple, is so famous because its abbot has entered the palace many times to preach to the emperor. It has the reputation of being half a royal temple and is very popular. Every year on the first day of the Lunar New Year, the first incense offering is fiercely contested by several princely mansions.
Pei Jinghuai curled his lip in disdain, "Why are you monks chasing after fame and fortune?"
Now that's great! Huijue can go down to the underworld and promote the Jade Buddha Temple in advance, making it the number one temple in the underworld.
As Pei Jingyi listened, his hands kept moving. He lifted Huijue's blankets and tapped on the bed board inch by inch, when he suddenly felt that a certain place was empty.
He fumbled along the edge for a while, found a corner, and suddenly lifted it open. There was a hidden compartment underneath, inside which was a beautifully crafted black jade pendant in the shape of a Qilin.
Pei Jingyi's expression turned somewhat solemn.
The Qilin is an auspicious beast, and only those of high status or those granted special permission by His Majesty may wear it.
Yan Yi noticed his movements, came over to take a look, and immediately recognized it: "This is Gao Yu's jade pendant."
That day, Gao Yu stopped in front of Princess Lekang's carriage, and this jade pendant was tied to his waist. It had flashed past the carriage window several times, so Yan Yi remembered it very clearly.
Pei Jingyi gripped the jade pendant tightly and asked in a deep voice, "Where are Gao Yu's attendants now?"
...
"This belongs to the young imperial brother-in-law! How did it end up in your hands?"
Gao Yu's attendant, Gao Wu, recognized him at a glance and reached out to snatch him, but Pei Jingyi dodged him.
He pushed Gao Wu's hand away, his eyes sharp and his tone unfriendly.
"There's no one else here. Tell me the truth, what exactly did Gao Yu do the night she had the accident?"
Gao Wu's eyes flickered, and he stammered, "The young imperial brother-in-law is just drinking alone in his room, what else could he be doing?"
Pei Jingyi sneered, "So you don't want to find the real culprit who killed Gao Yu? Fine, this matter has nothing to do with me anyway. Once the road down the mountain is restored, I will take this jade pendant to the palace to meet the Emperor—"
Gao Wu's expression changed, and he reluctantly said, "The young imperial uncle... he's drunk and very angry. He said Princess Lekang isn't giving him a friendly look. Their marriage is practically finalized, but she's still acting like a princess. Perhaps..."
"Not as good as what?"
Gao Wu lowered his head: "Why don't we take advantage of the princess's worship at the temple and... force her into marriage? Then she'll have no choice but to marry him..."
"Bastard!" Pei Jinghuai kicked a bench over the edge of the table and pointed at him, shouting angrily, "That's His Majesty's princess! How dare he!"
Gao Wu shuddered in fright; if that kick had landed on him, it would have broken several of his ribs.
He knelt down swiftly, his tone tinged with innocence: "I'm just a servant of the Gao family. The young imperial uncle insisted on doing this, and I couldn't stop him. Besides, I thought he was just drunk and saying things in anger, so I helped him to bed to rest. Who would have thought he would die the next day!"
Pei Jingyi stroked the jade pendant, his brows furrowed.
Are they really going to interrogate Princess Lekang?
-----------------------
Author's Note: [Let me see] This part should be finished tomorrow~ Sigh, although everyone is too smart, I still have to continue writing step by step... After all, this isn't a serious mystery [doge]
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