"Jiuwei is very grateful for everyone's concern. Today, I would like to take this opportunity to let all the elders, brothers and sisters know that I am safe and sound."
"As for my marriage, no one needs to worry about it. Even if I wanted to get married, it would be difficult from today onwards."
The group looked at each other, wondering what this thing was.
Xin Jiuwei raised her voice slightly and said calmly, "It's because on that day, I was chosen by Master Jueming at Lingyin Temple; I'm a person with a destiny that only comes along once every ten years."
The room fell silent for a moment, then erupted in uproar.
"What do you mean? Does Miss Xin intend to become a nun?"
"You guys are so old-fashioned. Qi Huaiyu isn't a good person. So what if Miss Xin dumped him? Compared to that, becoming a nun would ruin her future marriage!"
"It seems that Qi Huaiyu didn't hurt the Third Miss too badly..."
Qi Huaiyu was taken aback at first, then sneered: "So what? Do you really want to become a nun? A dignified woman of the Xin family, shaving her head and becoming a nun for no reason, how are your sister and the other women in the clan supposed to face each other?"
"How I conduct myself is none of your concern," Xin Xiyao said, her voice colder than usual. "My younger sister has an affinity for Buddhism, and our Yingzhou city has been Buddhist for generations. This is a great thing, and it's none of your business to interfere."
Xin Jiuwei smiled slightly and said slowly, "Master Jueming said that I have the potential for wisdom and a connection with the Buddha. If I want to receive the protection of the Bodhisattva, I need to sincerely copy scriptures for five years and must not have any worldly marriages."
She looked up and stared directly at Qi Huaiyu. "Now that I see your true colors, I have no more reason to hesitate. It's Jiuwei's good fortune to have this connection with Buddhism, and I'm sure you all hope I seize this opportunity."
Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions varied, but their answers were all the same.
Xin's father looked at Xin Jiuwei: "My son, is this really true?"
Xin Jiuwei lowered her eyes and remained silent, her long eyelashes casting a shadow beneath her eyes. "Is it true, Father? This was said by Master Jueming himself."
"Absurd!" Qi Huaiyu shouted angrily, "What Buddhist affinity and wisdom? It's clearly just a fabricated excuse you made up because you saw no one from Lingyin Temple in Yingzhou City! Fine, Uncle Xin, are you just going to let your daughter deceive the world like this?"
Mr. Xin's expression darkened slightly. He naturally wanted to support his daughter, but the idea of "Buddhist affinity" came so suddenly that he hadn't yet come up with a flawless explanation.
The guests' chatter grew louder and louder:
"What a coincidence!"
"Miss Xin was probably forced into this situation..."
"In the end, she's been entangled with Young Master Qi for years, and now she's become involved with Buddhism, so she won't be able to find a good marriage partner in the future..."
Hearing these comments, a smug glint flashed in Qi Huaiyu's eyes: "Jiuwei, why deceive yourself? Why not just accept this marriage? I promise you, in the future..."
"You promise?" Xin Yunzhou could no longer contain himself and grabbed Qi Huaiyu by the collar. "You shameless scoundrel, do you even deserve to make a promise?!"
"Yunzhou!" Xin Xiyao hurriedly tried to stop him, "Don't do it! He's just trying to provoke you!"
The scene descended into chaos. Xin Jiuwei stood rooted to the spot, remaining silent despite the surrounding chatter.
She is waiting.
She knew Liu Ya was nearby, so she dared to gamble.
She was betting that the half-pill of the antidote would still work on Jueming, and that Jueming had indeed made a promise to her that day.
Xin Jiuwei stood there, her face calm, but her thoughts drifted to the distance, so much so that everything around her seemed to fall silent. In the silent world, there was only her brother's angry face, the lips of the crowd talking and moving, and the black and white chess pieces that Jueming had dropped from his fingertips in the Buddhist hall that day.
"Amitabha."
A clear, cold voice suddenly came from outside the hall. The voice was not loud, but it pierced through all the noise like a cold spring, instantly silencing the entire hall.
Everyone turned around and saw a young monk in a white robe standing at the door.
His features were handsome, yet he was as cold as ice. He stepped into the hall with his eyes lowered, seemingly nonchalant.
He held a string of dark Buddhist prayer beads in his hand, and his exceptionally handsome features exuded an inviolable majesty.
“Jueming…Master Jueming?!” someone exclaimed in surprise.
The eminent monk Jueming has appeared at the Xin family's residence for the second time!
Xin Jiuwei breathed a sigh of relief and stared at Jueming.
Jueming walked slowly, and the crowd automatically parted to make way for him.
He stopped in front of Xin Jiuwei, his gaze briefly meeting hers before turning to the crowd, his eyes as calm as still water: "Miss Xin's words are true. That day at Lingyin Temple, this humble monk did indeed interpret her destiny."
Qi Huaiyu's expression changed drastically: "Impossible! This bald monk must have been brought here by her..."
"Insolence!" Father Xin shouted sternly. "Master Jueming is the foremost monk in Yingzhou, a talent that comes along only once in a century. He has prayed for blessings for our city of Yingzhou many times. How dare you slander him with such foul language?"
The crowd was also displeased and voiced their criticisms.
Jueming glanced at Qi Huaiyu indifferently, his gaze so cold that it silenced him instantly.
"Miss Xin has a special destiny and is destined to be connected with Buddhism. If she gets involved in worldly affairs within five years, she will surely suffer a great calamity."
These words were like a final decision, and the guests who had been discussing the matter just moments before immediately changed their attitudes.
"So it was Master Jueming who personally analyzed my destiny!"
"No wonder Miss Xin wanted to break off the engagement. How can one go against the will of Buddha?"
"This is a tremendous opportunity! Miss Xin is truly a woman of great talent, remaining silent until she makes a stunning debut."
Qi Huaiyu's face was ashen, but he still tried to make a last-ditch effort: "Even so, I'm willing to wait for you... How old will you be in five years? Only I can bear to see our marriage ruined like this..."
"Even now you still want to curry favor with the Third Miss? You're shameless!" Young Master Chen shouted. "The Third Miss has now found her affinity with Buddhism. How dare you lowly people lay a finger on her!"
"Yes! He used to manipulate everyone else every day, thinking he could use us to force the Third Miss to marry him!"
"Shameless scoundrel, get out!"
"Get out of Yingzhou City!"
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