relief
This commentary is truly unconventional!
Xie Lingxi was startled, her slender white fingers trembling as she accidentally knocked over a cup of tea. When she came to her senses, she saw that Ran had already stood up and was walking out of the house with a flick of her sleeve.
A few new branches that had been broken by the rain a few days ago had accumulated in the yard. Xie Lingxi followed him forward and accidentally stepped on a branch with a "crunch". Fortunately, there were no puddles, so she was able to stand still.
Liao Ran stopped when he heard the noise behind him and said with a smile, "Be careful, benefactor."
careful……
Xie Lingxi's heart was still itching and burning from those words. Hearing this now, she couldn't help but wonder if the "be careful" was because she had almost fallen due to losing her composure just now, or was it a subtle reminder to prepare for the future?
As she was pondering, she saw Master Liaoran about to speak when he was interrupted by a young woman's voice calling out to someone—
"Lingxi! Third Sister! Where are you?"
From a distance, a splash of peach blossoms flew by. Xie Lingguang was wearing a satin dress embroidered with butterflies, and the wind blowing her clothes made it seem as if she were about to lose her youthful beauty.
She had only been separated from Lingxi for a short while, and when she returned, she couldn't find her. She was anxious but dared not call out loudly. Fortunately, she was saved by fate. When she passed by this side courtyard, she caught a glimpse of water and excitedly called out.
Xie Lingxi stepped forward, both surprised and delighted: "Sister, I got lost just now!"
She smoothed the stray hairs on the person's face, making them as smooth as silk, and sure enough, she heard a reproach: "You've really worried me to death! It's getting late, and I've already told the abbot that we'll rest here for another day before we leave."
“Oh, right,” Xie Lingguang said with a smile, taking his sister’s hand. “Weren’t you going to find Master to interpret your fortune? I just came back from there, I’ll take you there.”
"I've solved it..."
Xie Lingxi was about to speak up, but suddenly stopped: "Sister, isn't that Master Kongkong right here?"
Hearing this, Liao Ran smiled and glanced at Xie Lingguang. Then he exclaimed, "Incredible! This benefactor is destined to have a benefactor in your life. Although you will overcome several major tribulations, if you can turn misfortune into good fortune, you will be blessed with longevity and happiness!"
Xie Lingguang didn't like hearing this, and since she had just come from the real abbot, her tone became harsher: "Pah, pah, pah, you monk, what kind of fortune-telling are you giving people?"
"Tell me, how did you deceive my sister!"
Isn't this Master Kongkong?
Xie Lingxi was puzzled, but asked without changing her expression, "What kind of great calamity? Can Master see it?"
Liao Ran then tried to evade the question again, saying, "I have already told you, benefactor, that the eight sufferings of human beings are nothing more than birth, old age, sickness, death, being with those you hate, and being separated from those you love..."
Before he could finish speaking, an old monk walked into the courtyard. He was dressed simply, and at first glance, he appeared to be of a kind and gentle nature.
The host approached, grabbed the bamboo cane behind his back, and tapped Zhang Liaoran's bald head. "Zhang Liaoran, what are you up to now?"
"Oh dear, Abbot, there's a benefactor here who has come seeking my help to resolve their fate."
Liao Ran scratched his head sheepishly, "So many people come and go in our temple every day. I'm trying to help you out, why did you hit me!"
Things took an unexpected turn. After the group moved to the courtyard where the abbot was sitting and listened to a few roundabout words, they realized that the so-called "Master Kongkong" was just a facade set up by Liaoran!
No, it should be Zhang Liaoran.
This person was not a Buddhist. According to him, he did not know where he came from. When he woke up a few days ago, he was already lying in the open space in front of the temple.
It was midday, and no one noticed. He had to struggle to climb in himself.
As for pestering the abbot to become his disciple, lingering in the temple and refusing to leave, trying every means to become a monk but still unable to resist his love of meat, seeking to return to secular life... all of these are stories for later.
Xie Lingxi: "What about Master Liaoran in that temple?"
The host gave a helpless smile, which looked worse than crying, and said wearily, "Liaoran is my junior brother, and he is chanting scriptures in the back hall right now."
He said "Amitabha," and said, "I don't know what kind of trouble this kid has caused. Recently, the reputation of 'Master Kongkong' has risen, and many benefactors have mistakenly entered his side courtyard to ask him to read their fortunes and interpret their destiny. If there is any offense caused by this mistake today, please forgive me."
Now that they finally understood, the two sisters were at a loss for words, and could only say, "Master, don't take it to heart."
However, Xie Lingxi didn't think so. This person seemed unreliable, but his words revealed glimpses of her past and present lives. Moreover, Zhang Liaoran said that he inexplicably came here and lost his memory. This matter seemed easy to explain, but Xie Lingxi remembered that the day Zhang Liaoran appeared in front of the temple was the day she was reborn.
Is there any connection between these things?
However, before she could ask any more questions, Xie Lingguang called her to have a meal.
The meal was light, which suited her taste, but when she saw Liao Ran near the door, she frowned, picked up two vegetable buns with disdain, and left the bowl of white porridge untouched, casually handing it to a young monk behind her.
It must have been really tough on him.
...
midnight.
The two were staying in a suite. Xie Lingguang had already gone to sleep and hadn't bothered to keep an eye on his sister, Xie Lingxi, who then ran out.
Unfortunately, just before going to sleep, she suddenly touched her waist and found that the jade pendant her father had given her was missing. She searched high and low but couldn't find it. It must have fallen somewhere in the side courtyard.
Xie Lingxi thought she would try her luck by going out under the moonlight, so she dressed and tiptoed out.
The path was uneven, and the occasional chirping of crickets and other spring insects stood out starkly against the tranquil mountain. Her eyesight wasn't very good, and despite her boldness, she now treaded carefully, not daring to take a wrong step.
Among the scattered houses, one or two still had candles lit, indicating that the owners inside were still awake.
If one were to stroll at night with a candle, one would surely find it quite leisurely and enjoyable.
Unfortunately, her heart was preoccupied with other matters, leaving her no time to appreciate the beautiful spring night.
She was only distracted for a moment, but then she heard two men arguing not far away. As she groped her way closer to the wall, she could see their dim silhouettes projected onto the window paper.
——
“Chengzhi, I never expected to meet you here. I have been reading your essay on water management, which you wrote in the imperial examination, every day since then. I have learned a lot from it and I truly admire you. I wanted to see you, but unfortunately, due to various circumstances, I have been unable to make your acquaintance several times.”
"Today, Heaven has truly taken pity on me."
Another voice sounded helplessly: "Your Highness, it's getting late, and there may be tigers and leopards causing trouble on the road. I have to go back."
Then the prince chuckled softly, "What? Chengzhi, are you getting impatient? This game of chess is only halfway through; there's no reason for one player to leave first. Besides, we're in the capital; how could we possibly encounter tigers or leopards here?"
"I wonder if Chengzhi believes that, in a confrontation between two armies of similar strength, one should strike first, or remain still and defend one's position?"
The player seemed to have reached his limit. After a few moments of silence, he made the decisive move: "Snap!"
"The flowing water does not compete for the lead—Your Highness, I have won."
Liu Xu stood up, his face tense, and was about to leave when, in the dim candlelight, he inadvertently noticed that the Fifth Prince's expression had darkened. He thought to himself that this act of being courteous and respectful to scholars was truly just an act.
To live in this world, you're bound to offend some people.
He had just taken a step when he heard the man shout sternly, "Stop!"
Liu Xu dared not turn around, fearing that he would see with his own eyes a terrifying monster hiding behind Yan Ji, with its fangs wide open, ready to lick him until his internal organs were destroyed in a quarter of an hour.
Yan Ji narrowed his eyes, revealing a sinister smile, but it lasted only a moment. The next second, he stood with his hands behind his back, staring at the figure outside the window, and said loudly, "Since you are visiting so late at night, why not come in and have a chat with us?"
He then stared at Liu Xu, slowly walked to a foot's distance from him, and, despite the tense unease of the night, whispered in his ear, "Chengzhi, don't be anxious. Let me deal with these insects—Chengzhi doesn't want our meeting today to be discovered, does he?"
Liu Xu tightened his grip on his side, his eyelids twitched, and he almost bit his teeth to pieces.
How shameless!
I received a letter from home today and came to Fragrant Hills as my mother wished, but unfortunately I ran into Yan Ji again. This time there was no escaping it, and I was forced to play chess with him for half a day.
Playing chess is fine, but Yan Ji always makes probing remarks, leaving everyone exhausted.
Xie Lingxi's breath hitched. Oh no, she had forgotten that Yan Ji was a martial artist and could naturally hear the sound of his breathing.
At this moment, the mountain spirits became arrogant and domineering, swallowing the moon in one gulp. The surroundings immediately darkened, and the shadows of countless eaves were cast into the window frame, like ferocious shadow puppets with bared fangs and claws, tugging at Xie Lingxi's nerves.
Her heart tightened, but she quickly calmed down, lowered her eyes in deep thought, and finally made up her mind—
The other person might be the top scholar surnamed Liu. Why not do him a favor and solve my immediate problem at the same time?
Then Liu Xu saw a beautiful girl with fair skin and delicate features approaching gracefully. The candlelight reflected on her face, making her appear even more stunningly beautiful, startling away the birds and flowers in the green hills.
Xie Lingxi immediately said, "I've disturbed Your Highness's enjoyment. I've come to find A-Xu."
As she was about to take Liu Chengzhi's hand, she looked around and saw Xiao Xiaoran, the culprit who had caused her to have a near-death experience a few days ago, standing there.
What?
How could it be him?
Fortunately, Liu Xu reacted quickly and walked to Xie Lingxi's side: "Your Highness asked me to play chess with you..."
"Wanwan, let's go."
As Xie Lingxi saw people approaching, a wisp of cool air rushed to her nose. Her eyes widened, and she said in a low voice, "Don't shout..."
To Yan Ji, the sight of the two whispering to each other looked like a pair of green-skinned mandarin ducks entwined. He snapped out of his reverie and asked in surprise, "Third Sister, Cheng Zhi... do you know each other?"
He looked at Xie Lingxi tentatively: "Was that 'Wanwan' you they were calling just now?"
What Wanwan!
Xie Lingxi blinked and gave a polite smile: "This is a private matter between me and A-Xu, Your Highness need not ask any further questions."
"It's late, and we have things to attend to, so we'll take our leave."
After she finished speaking, she glanced at the chessboard by the window and casually remarked, "These black pieces are quite strange. Knowing that there is no way forward, they still think that they can break through by maneuvering a few times."
It just so happens that Yan Ji is holding the black pieces.
Liu Xu felt a chill run down his spine, guessing that the prince was displeased again. He quickly grabbed Xie Lingxi's sleeve, and the two of them, pulling and tugging at each other, stumbled out the door into the night.
After walking silently for a while, Xie Lingxi suddenly exclaimed in surprise, "My jade pendant!"
She was about to turn back when Liu Xu grabbed her arm. "Come this way, there's a puddle ahead."
No matter how she looked at it, the road ahead was shrouded in darkness. People said this was called "sparrow's eye," a condition caused by something she didn't eat when she was young.
Xie Lingxi followed him around in a roundabout way and couldn't help but ask, "Are you the top scholar?"
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