Chapter 242: Blessing or Curse
Jiang Yueyao's strong sleepiness disappeared in an instant because of Shen Baoqing's words.
She turned around and looked at Shen Baoqing, who was lying flat on his back, staring at the ceiling in a daze. She hesitated for a moment and spoke softly.
"He is the abbot of Xiangguo Temple. You should have heard of him."
"Really?" Shen Baoqing responded softly, "But I always feel like I'm very familiar with him..."
Jiang Yueyao tucked the corner of the quilt for her: "Sometimes when I see someone on the street, I feel very familiar. This is probably what the book says, the residual memory of a certain person in a previous life."
"It's possible that you and Xuan Ji were very familiar with each other in your previous life."
Shen Baoqing didn’t say anything.
Jiang Yueyao waited for a moment before realizing that she had fallen asleep.
With the help of the floor-standing night lamp beside her, Jiang Yueyao looked at her sleeping face and felt a pang of sadness in her heart.
"Forget it all. There's no future between you and him."
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On the second day of the first lunar month, burn incense at Xiangguo Temple.
Jiang Yueyao originally wanted to stay at home with Chen Baoqing, but Mrs. Lu sent someone to deliver a letter saying that they should go to Xiangguo Temple on the second day of the New Year to ask for a pair of blessing tablets for her and Lu Sui, and both of them must be present.
Early in the morning, Shen Linchuan came to find Shen Baoqing.
"Do you want to go horse racing?"
Shen Baoqing shook his head: "It's freezing cold, how can I not want to go horse racing? No!"
She turned around and walked out: "I want to find Yaoyao..."
"Xiao Qi has something to do today."
"I know, she's going to Xiangguo Temple today, and I want to go too. She's going to see Lu Sui, and I'll accompany my mother..." She looked back at Shen Linchuan who was following closely behind her, a little unhappy, "Why is my brother so clingy today?"
"If you really have no one to accompany you, you can go to the military camp."
"Do you want to go to the barracks?"
"Where am I going?"
"There's a martial arts competition today..."
"No, it's not exciting at all to just see a bunch of men gesticulating."
Shen Linchuan had no choice but to give up.
Jiang Yueyao was about to go out when she saw Shen Baoqing coming. She sighed lightly, turned around and took the cloak that she had left with her from the house, and put it on her without saying a word.
Shen Baoqing stood still and let her dress her, feeling somewhat helpless.
"Why do I feel like you are my sister?"
Jiang Yueyao tied the belt of her cloak for her and smiled when she heard it: "If you want, I have no objection."
"You wish." After she tied the belt, Shen Baoqing hooked her shoulder and walked out with her. "Don't worry, go meet your future mother-in-law. I will accompany my mother today."
Jiang Yueyao smiled and said, "Then I'll leave Madam Shen to you."
"No big deal."
When they arrived at Begonia Garden, Bai Jinyu and Shen Huaishan saw her coming and both sighed inwardly.
never mind!
Is it a blessing or a curse!
We can't keep her from going to Xiangguo Temple for the rest of her life!
Besides, there are so many distinguished people in the temple today, and they may not meet each other; even if they do, she doesn't remember Xuan Ji, so there is nothing to worry about.
Shen Huaishan did not go up the mountain today. Yesterday, the emperor sent someone to ask him to enter the palace to play chess.
Shen Huaishan asked Shen Linchuan to accompany him.
After joining up with the Bai family, a group of people left the imperial city and headed straight for Xiangguo Temple.
There were many common people going to Xiangguo Temple today, and the road was crowded with people. The carriage could not move fast, and when it reached the foot of the mountain, it could not move at all.
Many nobles got off their carriages and walked up the mountain.
Old Mrs. Bai and Mrs. Qiao got off the carriage, and the others followed suit.
Today is sunny and windless, a rare warm day.
There were so many steps that I thought the old lady couldn't walk, but she walked the fastest, far ahead, leaving the people behind her far behind.
Second Aunt Cui said to Bai Jinyu, "Who on earth spread the rumor that our mother's legs and feet are not good?"
"You'll have to ask my father about that."
"Oh, I just realized it. Our old master is so reluctant to let his wife go even a step away. Before she's out for a while, he insists we go find her and bring her back, saying that her legs are not in good condition and she shouldn't walk too far."
Bai Jinyu laughed so hard that she couldn't walk.
Her father is indeed like that.
She was strict with everyone in the family except her mother, whom she spoiled.
This led to the men in the Bai family being very spoiled towards their wives.
Even her son-in-law Shen Huaishan was too much and spoiled her beyond measure.
Bai Jinyu couldn't help but think of her little daughter... her future son-in-law... Oh! Another man who dotes on his wife.
After reaching the mountain, everyone first went to burn incense, and then went to the main hall to listen to the scriptures.
Jiang Yueyao met the Lu family, and she and Lu Sui accompanied the old lady to another hall to pray for a blessing tablet.
And Shen Baoqing stayed with his mother and followed her to the main hall.
As soon as she entered, she saw the monk sitting at the top.
Just like when I saw him on New Year's Eve, he was wearing a red cassock with Buddhist beads hanging in front of him. He was sitting upright on a cushion with a wooden fish and Buddhist scriptures on the table in front of him.
He looked straight ahead, his face gentle and clear, his eyes like the calmest lake. No matter who came in front of him, they could not cause the slightest ripple. He was just like the tall Buddha statue behind him, overlooking all living beings, compassionate and loving.
Old Madam Qiao was supported by the Second Madam and walked in first. Xuan Ji looked up and looked at them when he heard the noise.
He sat there without moving, just nodded slightly to the old lady.
Then, his gaze passed over her shoulder and fell on a point behind her.
After just one glance, he withdrew his gaze indifferently.
Everyone knelt on the cushions. Bai Jinyu was afraid that Shen Baoqing was not used to sitting like this, so she turned her head to look at her. Unexpectedly, she was sitting very steadily, as if she had sat like this many times.
Thinking about the past two years, she has been following Xuan Ji...
Maybe I have developed this habit a long time ago, and I feel more and more uncomfortable.
After everyone arrived, Xuan Ji began to chant Buddhist scriptures. His voice was low and slow, pleasant, magnetic and ethereal...
When Bai Jinyu was listening attentively, she suddenly felt a figure flash in front of her eyes, and she hurriedly looked towards Shen Baoqing.
Sure enough, her body was staggering from side to side, and she was so sleepy that she couldn't even open her eyes.
She quickly held him in her arms and called softly, "Baoqing?"
"Hmm..." Shen Baoqing rubbed his swollen head into her arms, "Mom, I'm so sleepy."
"Mother asked someone to take you to the Zen room to rest."
Just as Shen Baoqing nodded, a Buddhist voice suddenly came, and she suddenly sat up straight with a violent movement.
Looking up, she stared blankly at Xuan Ji who was sitting at the top.
Xuan Ji was also looking at her.
That gaze was deep and long.
For a moment, a fragment inexplicably emerged in Shen Baoqing's mind.
He was chanting scriptures just like today, and she was sitting in front of him just like now. His chanting was like hypnosis, and she couldn't help feeling sleepy.
Every time I was so sleepy that I almost fell asleep, that person would wake me up.
Then he stared at her with this look...
Shen Baoqing didn't like the look in his eyes.
He stood up from the mat on the spot, turned around and walked out.
At the same time, Xuan Ji withdrew his gaze and continued chanting.
Except for Bai Jinyu, no one else noticed this little episode.
Shen Baoqing walked out of the main hall and was suddenly sobered by the cool breeze outside...
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