Chapter 50 Guanyin's Ferry (Part 2)
Ah Zhi was startled when she was called on. "Me?"
Yama, the King of Hell, nodded: "Yes, it's you."
The Black and White Impermanence attendants stepped forward together. One of them tore open the iron chains, while the other raised his mourning stick high, sticking out a long, red paper tongue to intimidate the others.
"King Yama judges good and evil, answer, answer, answer quickly!"
Azhi grew increasingly frightened, her face turning pale, and she gripped Shen Lingyue's hand tightly, "Second Sister-in-law..."
Pei Jingyi stepped forward, patted Azhi's shoulder lightly, and nodded to her.
"Don't be afraid, this is a ritual in the Dharma assembly, just answer."
Ah Zhi still trusted her cousin. Composing herself, she bravely looked directly into the eyes of the King of Hell, "You, you ask."
King Yama stroked his long beard and spoke slowly.
“There was a boy named Xiao Qi who released an injured bird that had fallen into a trap, but this left his bedridden grandfather without money for medicine. Tell me, should I reward him for his compassion or punish him for his filial impiety?”
Ah Zhi frowned and racked her brains to think.
The onlookers also began to murmur amongst themselves.
"What kind of question is this?"
Pei Jinghuai muttered something and asked Shen Lingyue, "Do you know the answer?"
Shen Lingyue subconsciously looked at Yan Yi, seeking help from the top student outside the arena!
Yan Yi had never seen such a scene before, and turned to look at Pei Jingyi.
Pei Jingyi was stared at by a series of heads, and then he saw Azhi's face turn red with anxiety, muttering to herself, as if she didn't know how to make a decision.
He had no choice but to lean down and whisper a few words in Azhi's ear.
Azhi's eyes lit up as she suddenly realized what was going on. She said in a clear voice, "I will ask Yama to summon the Medicine King Bodhisattva to cure Grandpa Xiaoqi's illness, and then punish Xiaoqi to be reborn as a doctor in his next life to provide free medical treatment to ten thousand poor people to atone for his sins."
"very good."
King Yama nodded in satisfaction, took a peach wood talisman from his attendant, and gave it to Azhi.
Knock knock!
The drumbeats resumed, and the Black and White Impermanence retreated behind Yama, the King of Hell, and continued their procession forward.
Soon they stopped in front of another boy, and Yama, the King of Hell, began to ask questions again.
"To stop his sick mother's cough, Xiaoming stole pears from his neighbor's tree. If you were the judge, would you pardon him because of his filial piety, or punish him for theft?"
"The older brother secretly hid some steamed buns but told the younger brother that there was no food left at home, and the younger brother was about to go hungry—should the older brother be punished by being starved for three days, or should he be made to choke on steamed buns for the rest of his life?"
"A woodcutter found government silver in a cave but kept it without reporting it, causing a delay in disaster relief and the deaths of three people from starvation—should he be ordered to hand over the silver to avoid punishment, or should he be condemned to a life of poverty in his next life?"
...
“Punish him… punish him so that he can be reborn as a rat in a silver vault in his next life, guarding the silver every day but unable to bite it!”
The child's innocent words made the people laugh heartily. Yama, the King of Hell, touched the little boy's forehead and gave him a talisman to ward off evil.
Shen Lingyue listened with great interest and complained to Yan Yi, "What kind of nonsense is this?"
It's like an ancient version of the "trolley problem".
Yan Yi seemed to have grasped the underlying meaning, "Perhaps they want to educate the people and punish evil while promoting good in this way."
“That’s right.” Pei Jingyi joined the discussion.
He gazed at the procession ahead and smiled slightly. "I remember participating in a grand procession like this when I was a child. The believers who played Yama, the King of Hell, and the judges would select children to answer questions. Because children are innocent and pure, their answers themselves have the effect of purifying evil spirits."
"Did we participate in these when we were kids?" Pei Jinghuai scratched his head. "I don't remember anyone asking me these questions."
Pei Jingyi glanced at him and said helplessly, "That's because you were so busy grabbing the Buddhist rice dumplings that you ended up in bed for three whole days because you couldn't digest them after eating too much."
Pei Jinghuai was displeased. "Hey, how dare you expose my secrets in front of my wife and sister-in-law?"
Azhi covered her mouth and chuckled, "Second cousin, I heard it too."
Pei Jingyi ignored his brother's protest and pointed, "Look, your favorite Buddhist rice dumpling is here."
The King of Hell's judgment procession had already faded into the distance, and following closely behind was a group of monks dressed in solemn robes, each carrying a bamboo basket filled with small, exquisite triangular rice dumplings.
They scattered rice dumplings to the people on both sides of the road, shouting, "Eat a rice dumpling, and you will receive a Buddhist chant."
Taking advantage of his height and strength, Pei Jinghuai grabbed several of them in one go and distributed them to them like treasures.
Shen Lingyue asked, "What kind of filling is it? Is it really that delicious that you've eaten so much that you're stuffed?"
Pei Jinghuai blushed and retorted, "I was young and naive back then. I thought that what everyone was fighting over must be something good... Oh, it's filled with honey and red bean paste, and it tastes exactly the same as when I was a kid."
He peeled open a rice dumpling, took a big bite, and a look of nostalgia appeared on his face. He then urged Chen Lingyue to try it quickly, saying, "This is a Buddhist rice dumpling; it brings good fortune."
Shen Lingyue couldn't refuse him, so she lowered her head and took a bite. It was sweet and refreshing, and the glutinous rice was cool and chewy.
Yan Yi and Pei Jingyi also shared one.
Azhi carefully put away the rice dumplings her older brothers and sisters-in-law had left for her, intending to take them back and share them with her mother and eldest sister.
She sighed softly.
She wasn't a five-year-old child, so she naturally understood the complaints and schemes her mother and sister had behind her back.
But what could she do? Her mother was also worried that she and her sisters would be left destitute in the future...
Ah Zhi was just glad that she was still young and that getting married was still a long way off.
She peeled open a small rice dumpling, took a big bite, and squinted her eyes in satisfaction, "So delicious."
Never mind, nothing else matters but eating!
Until another gasp arose from the crowd.
"Here it comes, here it comes, the most exciting part is about to begin!"
"Guanyin descended to earth to cleanse and deliver those in distress!"
"Quickly, have you prepared the basins and bowls? I need to fill them with clean water to take back and pray for my newborn grandson."
Shen Lingyue didn't understand, but seeing how excited and familiar everyone seemed with the process, she knew that the ceremony would be even more exciting later on. She quickly pulled Yan Yi forward to squeeze into the front row and told Azhi to follow closely so they wouldn't get separated.
Pei Jingyi and Pei Jinghuai flanked their wives, both dressed in expensive clothes and exuding an air of nobility. The common people dared not offend them and quickly made way for them.
The melodious clanging of bronze chimes and conch shells, like celestial music, was followed by a shower of fragrant flowers. A procession of young women, draped in light veils, with full cheeks and smiling lips, escorted an eight-bearer palanquin as it gracefully approached.
The most eye-catching figure, however, was a beautiful young woman sitting cross-legged on a lotus platform, her face covered by a white veil, dressed as Guanyin.
She wore her hair in a low bun, adorned with a jeweled crown, the center of which was set with a mani jewel. A string of gemstone necklaces, intertwined in a net, stretched down to her waist and draped around her abdomen, exuding an air of noble elegance. Layer upon layer, it shone brilliantly, dazzling and captivating.
She wore a red and green two-tone celestial robe, thin gauze wide-leg trousers, a green swaying skirt, colorful silk sashes around her shoulders, and gold armlets with lotus patterns intricately carved and intricately openwork on her fair and plump arms.
It was a garland of flowers and a crown of precious stones, used as jewelry; and bracelets and necklaces, used as body ornaments.
She held a half-open lotus flower in her arms and a white porcelain vase in her other hand. She dipped a willow branch into the vase and sprinkled the pure water on the cheering and enthusiastic believers below the palanquin.
The flower-scattering girls on both sides of the palanquin took bamboo tubes from the carriage, which contained water mixed with sandalwood and agarwood, and poured it onto the roadside, where people holding various containers poured it out.
"Willow branches and pure water cure all diseases; Guanyin (the Bodhisattva of Compassion) delivers from suffering and hardship—"
The people who received the purified water held the earthenware bowls in their hands with utmost reverence, raised them tremblingly above their heads, knelt down and chanted Buddhist prayers.
Shen Lingyue stared intently at the girl dressed as Guanyin. A red mole between her eyebrows revealed her Buddhist nature, and even though her face was covered by a white veil, her beautiful face could still be seen.
Coupled with her dreamlike, colorful celestial robes, amidst the frenzied atmosphere of being surrounded by thousands, she truly resembled Guanyin descending to earth.
She excitedly grabbed Yan Yi's arm, "No wonder Sister Zheng said this Dharma assembly was particularly grand, it turns out there were even people dressed as Guanyin, they looked so beautiful."
The two hundred taels of silver donated by the Marquis's mansion were well spent; such a grand gesture was truly worth the price.
Yan Yi was also looking at the young Guanyin sitting high on the lotus platform, but she frowned slightly and said uncertainly, "I feel like I've seen her before..."
Just then, a strong wind blew, causing the thin veils on both sides of the palanquin to flutter in all directions, and also blowing up the white veil on Guanyin's face.
Shen Lingyue's eyes widened suddenly.
etc.
This young Guanyin was actually—
*
Orchid bud!
Yao Niang stood in the frenzied crowd, watching the veil of the young Guanyin being blown high and then falling back down by the wind. That fleeting glimpse of her beautiful face struck her heart like a thunderbolt.
In that instant, it was as if everything in the world had ceased to exist. Her surroundings were empty, there was no one, no sound. The hurricane howled and swept past, leaving only the echo of her violently beating heart.
Orchid bud...
It's her orchid sprout!
Yao Niang pushed forward like a madwoman, desperately shoving aside the devout and fanatical people around her, chasing after the sedan chair as if her life depended on it.
"Lan Ya'er! Lan Ya'er, is that you? It's your older sister!"
Yao Niang ran while shouting at the top of her lungs, but there were too many people around and they were too noisy. Her shouts, made with all her might, were just a drop of water falling into the ocean, unable to stir up any ripples or make any sound.
She watched as Lan Ya sat high on the lotus platform, a holy smile on her face. Her movements as she sprinkled the sweet dew from the willow branch were so elegant and natural, every action like that of Guanyin incarnate, there to save all living beings.
Yao Niang shouted, completely unaware that tears were already streaming down her face.
After five years, she finally found her sister.
Yao Niang ran, pushed and shouted, her hair disheveled, her hairpin askew, her clothes in disarray, and she even lost one of her shoes. She staggered after the fleeing maneuver, wearing only snow-white silk stockings.
"Lan Ya'er!"
She was stopped by a long stick; it was a soldier from the Five Cities Garrison, who was guarding both sides of the road and maintaining order.
He frowned and hissed, "Don't come any closer."
"Sir, please let me through! That's...that's someone important to me. Please let me go and say a few words!"
Yao Niang gripped the stick with both hands, weeping and pleading.
The soldier remained unmoved, taking her for a fanatical believer. With a dark expression, he pushed his stick back further, saying, "Unauthorized personnel are not allowed to approach the procession. If you cause trouble again, don't blame me for being impolite."
Yao Niang was pushed backward by him and staggered a few steps, accidentally knocking over the clean water that someone had been holding.
The man's expression changed, and he started cursing at her: "Where did this crazy woman come from? You've ruined all my good fortune!"
He cursed her a couple of times but was still not satisfied, so he shoved her hard and hurried forward to catch up with the sedan chair, wanting to ask for another bowl of clean water.
Yao Niang, regaining her senses from the pain, quickly followed after them.
She finally found an opening and, taking advantage of the soldiers of the Five Cities Garrison's lax defenses, she crouched down and squeezed inside, rushing to the middle of the road to stop the sedan chair.
"Oh no, someone's causing trouble!"
Several soldiers nearby changed their expressions and immediately rushed forward to hold Yao Niang back, trying to take her away.
They hit her hard. Yao Niang fell to the ground and was dragged out. She struggled violently and desperately tried to grab the four corners of the sedan chair. One of her fingernails was even split off.
"Let me go! Let me go!"
Yao Niang rolled and dragged on the ground, looking utterly disheveled, but her desire to see her sister unleashed a powerful force that allowed her to break free of her restraints once more and pounce on her.
The burly men carrying the sedan chair exchanged a glance and quickly and carefully placed it on the ground, fearing that Yao Niang might knock it over and injure the Bodhisattva incarnation above.
Yao Niang was overjoyed at the sight and was about to rush forward, almost reaching Lan Ya'er, when she was held back by the soldiers who caught up with her.
One of them, seemingly enraged, raised a long stick and struck her hard on the back.
Yao Niang cried out in pain, collapsed to the ground and couldn't get up for a long time. Her outward-curling fingernails were bleeding, and she trembled as she gripped the ground tightly, unable to move.
She struggled to lift her head, her voice hoarse and broken, "Lan Ya'er, Lan Ya'er..."
In a daze, she saw the Bodhisattva on the lotus platform walk towards her step by step and squat down in front of her.
A slender willow branch, dipped in clean water, was gently sprinkled on her head.
A young Guanyin, her face veiled and bearing a red mole between her brows, gazes at her with compassionate eyes and a melodious voice.
"Sister, are you feeling incredibly wronged? May the Bodhisattva bless you, help you overcome all suffering, and bring you good fortune soon."
Tears blurred her vision as Yao Niang stared blankly at the person she had longed for day and night, so close to her. Yet, in her clear and bright eyes, there was not a trace of joy or excitement at the reunion of sisters.
My heart plummeted straight into an endless hell.
Has her Lan Ya'er already forgotten her sister?
Yao Niang watched helplessly as Lan Ya'er returned to the lotus platform and continued to distribute pure water to the believers.
The palanquin bypassed her and continued on its way, as if what had just happened was a trivial little incident.
Yao Niang lay there motionless for a long time, tears falling one by one onto the ground, spreading into small circles, gradually increasing in number and density.
Suddenly, someone in the crowd shouted to the sky, "It's raining! It's raining!"
The fine, dense rain began to fall, but soon grew larger and larger, falling equally on everyone.
After nearly half a month of drought, the capital finally received a timely rain on the birthday of Guanyin.
The enthusiastic crowd cheered and jumped, chasing after the palanquin, and excitedly knelt down to kowtow.
"It's a miracle from the Bodhisattva!"
"The Goddess Guanyin is infinitely compassionate and merciful, relieving suffering and distress by sending down sweet rain, ensuring we have plenty of food and clothing, and that the weather is favorable!"
...
The rain was getting heavier.
The parade had already gone far away, and the noise had gradually subsided, as if it had gone to another world.
Enraged at failing to stop Yao Niang, the soldier rushed forward and kicked her hard, yelling, "Get out of here! Are you waiting to be arrested and thrown in jail?!"
Yao Niang ignored him, lying motionless on the ground, letting the rain soak her to the bone, and small puddles formed beneath her.
Tears and rainwater mingled on her face, and in the end, she couldn't tell the difference anymore.
The soldier shouted several times, enraged, and raised the wooden stick in his hand high.
"stop!"
A sharp shout came from afar. The soldier turned his head and saw two young couples walking quickly towards him.
Pei Jingyi stepped forward, showing his official badge as a chief clerk in the Ministry of War, and said, "I am Pei Jingyi from the Changning Marquis's residence. Please do me a favor."
The soldiers repeatedly said they dared not and stepped aside.
On the other side, Shen Lingyue and Yan Yi ran over with umbrellas and helped Yao Niang up from the ground.
She was soaked to the bone and had been beaten; she looked disheveled and haggard.
"Yao Niang, are you alright?" Shen Lingyue lifted her hand; her nails were twisted outwards, and the flesh was a bloody mess, too painful to look at closely.
Yao Niang felt as if the long rain on her head had finally stopped. She raised her head in a daze and met two familiar, concerned faces.
"It's you all..." She forced a smile, her consciousness returning, and suddenly grabbed Shen Lingyue's hand, her voice urgent and shrill, "Lan Ya'er, I see Lan Ya'er!"
Shen Lingyue and Yan Yi exchanged a glance, and sure enough, they hadn't made a mistake.
"We saw it too, it's the girl dressed as Guanyin, right?"
When Guanyin's veil was blown up just now, Shen Lingyue and Yan Yi couldn't believe what they were seeing.
Even if there are slight differences from the portrait that Yao Niang carefully treasured, the facial features and overall shape will not change much.
Especially the red mole between Guanyin's eyebrows, it's so eye-catching, it's obviously natural, not made up with rouge.
As they were discussing going to Bitao Lane to inform Yao Niang, they overheard the people chasing after Guanyin's palanquin talking about how a madwoman had broken through the blockade and almost overturned the palanquin, but had actually received a blessing from Guanyin herself.
At that time, they guessed that this person was most likely Yao Niang.
After handing Azhi over to the guards of the Marquis's mansion who were waiting nearby, the four of them bought umbrellas on the street and hurried back to find her.
Fortunately, they arrived in time; otherwise, Yao Niang would have been arrested by the Five Cities Garrison for causing trouble.
After a brief negotiation with the people from the Five Cities Garrison, Pei Jingyi was granted permission to take Yao Niang away.
He walked over holding an umbrella, and seeing Yao Niang's disheveled and miserable state, he frowned slightly and asked, "Is she your... friend?"
Yan Yi nodded seriously to him, "That's right, we're friends."
Pei Jingyi was a little confused. He had only come with Yan Yi and had no idea what had happened.
Looking at Pei Jinghuai, he seemed to recognize Yao Niang, but he didn't know much about her and looked completely confused.
Pei Jingyi thought for a moment and said, "Since it's raining suddenly, the Dharma assembly will probably end early. I'll send someone back to Fengle Tower to let them know, and then have them bring the carriage over to take this young lady home first."
She looks quite badly injured; it seems she'll need to see a doctor.
Yao Niang leaned most of her body against Shen Lingyue, as if her soul had been ripped away.
She choked back tears, struggling to speak, "What should I do, Lan Ya'er? Lan Ya'er doesn't seem to recognize me..."
Shen Lingyue exclaimed, "You two were talking just now? She doesn't remember who you are?"
Yao Niang could recall the look in Lan Ya'er's eyes when she closed them—so distant and unfamiliar—and her heart ached terribly.
"I've been looking for her for five years, but she's forgotten me..."
Yao Niang was crying and laughing, completely absorbed in her emotions.
She suddenly coughed violently, spitting out a mouthful of blood, and then collapsed limply to the ground.
"Yao Niang!"
...
They took Yao Niang, who had vomited blood and fainted, back to Bitao Lane. Not long after, the doctor that Pei Jingyi had sent to fetch arrived.
Yao Niang was injured by the soldiers of the Five Cities Garrison, leaving a large bruise on her back. Fortunately, her lungs and internal organs were not damaged. The doctor said that her vomiting blood was only due to a sudden surge of joy and sorrow, which aggravated her old ailment.
Shen Lingyue and Yan Yi then realized how poor Yao Niang's health was. Although she usually seemed cheerful and carefree, she was actually severely depleted internally.
Shen Lingyue clenched her fists and muttered under her breath, "That madam died too easily."
What are courtesans and top courtesans? How many girls from good families who go to those places can come out unscathed?
If Yao Niang hadn't been so focused on finding Lan Ya'er, her health would probably have collapsed long ago.
But now that they've finally found Lan Ya'er, why doesn't she recognize Yao Niang?
Shen Lingyue sighed in distress, "Could it be that after she was sold, she fell seriously ill and lost her memory?"
Yan Yi shook her head: "There's no point in us guessing here. We need to find Lan Ya'er as soon as possible and find out what her current situation is."
"Cough cough..."
Yao Niang coughed and opened her eyes, just in time to hear Yan Yi's words. She immediately grabbed Yan Yi's hand as if it were a lifeline, "My two sisters, please help me, will I ever be able to see Lan Ya'er again?"
“Yes, yes, definitely.” Shen Lingyue’s mind raced. “This Dharma assembly is hosted by the Prince An’s Mansion. Lan Ya’er’s selection to play Guanyin must be related to the Prince An’s Mansion.”
“The Prince An’s Mansion…” Yao Niang frowned, her face saddened. “How could someone of my status possibly approach such a prestigious and noble place?”
"Don't be afraid, we'll help you."
Shen Lingyue said to Yan Yi, "Let's find Sister Zheng. Doesn't her family have connections with Prince An? Let's ask her to introduce us to Prince An's residence so we can pay our respects to Princess An."
Yan Yi nodded and encouraged Yao Niang, "Don't be discouraged. We now know where Lan Ya'er is. Are we still afraid that we can't recognize her? Besides, you can tell from her appearance and demeanor that she hasn't fallen into despair. At least she's not doing too badly. What are you worried about?"
Yao Niang's eyes gleamed, and she nodded repeatedly, "You're right, Lan Ya'er's situation is much better than I expected... It must be the blessing of Heaven, the blessing of the Goddess Xuan Nu, the blessing of Guanyin... It wasn't in vain that I went to so many temples and monasteries to offer incense, I finally found her!"
The two advised Yao Niang to recover first, and that once they found a way to enter the Prince An's mansion, they should immediately inform her of any news about Lan Ya'er.
Yao Niang has been holding on by this one willpower for the past few years. The dawn is just around the corner, and she must not give up.
After watching her drink the calming soup and fall asleep, the two returned to the Marquis's residence.
Pei Jingyi waited for Yan Yi at Jiusi Courtyard. He stood up and embraced her, asking softly, "What exactly happened today? I heard from Huai Zhou that the woman was... your sister-in-law's brother-in-law's mistress?"
The relationship was so complicated that it took him a while to figure it out, but he still couldn't understand how the two of them could become friends with a woman like that.
Yan Yi told him the whole story of Yao Niang and Lan Ya'er.
Pei Jingyi seemed to understand something. "So the spices you brought back were made by her?"
Yan Yi gave him a speechless glare. "Is that the point?"
"...No, I was just marveling at her talent."
Pei Jingyi immediately changed his tune and joined her in the analysis, "If the girl dressed as Guanyin is really her sister, then I think you should be visiting Consort Li, not Princess An."
-----------------------
Author's Note: Bazinga!
Hehehe, before, when you saw a girl, you all guessed it was Lan Ya'er, but you didn't expect her to make her appearance like this, did you? [doge][doge]
Lan Ya'er's appearance was inspired by Bodhisattva statues from Dunhuang, but it's not the white-robed Guanyin from Journey to the West. Just a little personal quirk of mine [heart emoji]
And what about the gold miner you all wanted to know? [doge emoji] Hahaha, that nickname is absolutely hilarious! No rush, we'll take it slow, we'll take the bosses one by one~
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