Chapter 74 The Immortal in the Nunnery (Seventeen): The "Villain" Who Separates a Couple. ...
Logically, when Chen Jia saw the sachet and purse, a strange expression appeared for a moment, though fleeting. Yu Qi keenly noticed it. He glanced at the table, and when he looked at Chen Jia again, Chen Jia had already turned his gaze away. After a moment's thought, Yu Qi picked up the sachet and purse and handed them to Chen Jia, asking, "Second Master Chen, do you recognize these two items?"
Chen Jia glanced at the two items for a moment, smiled at him, turned around and took them with both hands, looking them over from left to right, then put down the kylin sachet. "I don't recognize this one." She only looked at the colorful crane money pouch. "This one looks somewhat familiar—"
Xu Bai and Zhang Da were both surprised and moved to his left and right, staring intently at him. He frowned and thought for a moment before smiling and pointing to the air with one finger, "Ah—I remember now, this looks like Brother Wei's thing. How did his things end up in your hands?"
Yu Qi asked, "Which Brother Wei?"
“His name is Wei Xiao, and he’s a good friend of mine. Not long ago, I was sent by my brother to Wuxi on some business. Wei Xiao happened to say he was going to Nanjing for sightseeing, so we traveled together by boat south. When we arrived in Nanjing, he said goodbye and went ashore, and I went straight to Wuxi.” Chen Jia looked at the money pouch, handed it back to Yu Qi, and asked with a smile, “How did you come to have this, Doctor Yu?”
Yu Qi casually took it and placed it on the table. "I found this in the guest room in the east wing. I don't know anyone named Wei Xiao."
Xu Bai interjected, "Wei Xiao is the grandson of Minister Wei of the Cabinet, and his age is about the same as mine and Master Chen's."
Chen Jia glanced at him and smiled, "Oh, so many years have passed, I didn't expect Brother Xu Bai to still remember him? When I tell him later, he will surely be moved to tears."
Xu Bai smiled politely and said, "We used to play and be naughty together when we were young. The friendship we had as children was so genuine and pure. How could we forget it so easily?"
Although they had known each other since childhood, at that time neither the Chen nor Wei families had gained power, while the Qi family was at its zenith. Qi Xubai had always considered himself extraordinary and was merely a nodding acquaintance with them. Now, he spoke of that insignificant friendship from the past with such intimacy, which showed that since the decline of his Qi family, Qi Xubai had learned a lot of worldliness.
Chen Jia smiled with a hint of disdain and paid him little attention. After a while, he summoned Jingzhen to inquire about Wei Xiao's whereabouts. Jingzhen thought for a while before saying, "So you're talking about that young master Wei. When he came, he didn't say which noble family's son he was from. He just said that he was passing by and saw that the small temple was quiet and the surrounding scenery was pleasant, so he said he wanted to stay for a few days. The small temple is always willing to help people, so it naturally cleaned out two rooms to entertain him and his two servants. They stayed for four or five days and left happily more than ten days ago."
Chen Jia sat at the octagonal table, laughing and tapping his feet. "That Wei Xiao! If we weren't in such a hurry to leave, we could have bumped into each other here and taken a boat back to the capital together! Wouldn't that have been great!"
Yu Qi stared at Jingzhen for a long time, then suddenly smiled and said, "It's a real pity for the abbot. If he had found out his identity back then and befriended that young master Wei, wouldn't Qinglian Temple have had a bright future? But now is an even better opportunity. Second Master Chen has arrived. He is the son of the Imperial Uncle Chen and the nephew of the current Imperial Concubine Chen."
Jingzhen put his palms together and said, “Amitabha. Laypeople strive for fame and fortune in the court and in the marketplace, but monks have long since left behind the pursuit of fame and fortune. They only seek to comprehend the Dharma. For our small temple, it doesn’t matter which benefactor comes.”
Zhang Da chuckled twice, "With the nun's level of attainment, I think she'll become a Buddha tomorrow."
Suddenly, Du Zhong spoke up from under the eaves, "Who's about to become a Buddha? Let me offer incense and pay my respects first!"
As he spoke, he rushed in carrying two large food boxes. He had originally been chatting and laughing with Zhang Da, but when he came in and saw that there was the abbot and an unfamiliar, noble-looking young man, he realized that he had said the wrong thing. He quickly put the food boxes on the table, lowered his head, and slipped to Yu Qi's side.
Ignoring the bystanders, Yu Qi pulled him behind the screen and asked him a few questions in a low voice. He then learned that the two food boxes were originally ordered by Jiu Li from the restaurant, who was worried that he and Zhang Da had not had a good lunch and had specially brought them back for them.
Du Zhong said with a smile, "The fish dishes were all ordered according to Master's usual tastes, which shows that she always thinks of you. So don't be angry with her."
But Yu Qi glanced at the two food boxes and saw that they each had four layers, containing at least seven or eight dishes, probably including the food for the meal. She seemed to be getting better at interpersonal relationships, and lately she had been very considerate in her words and actions!
He snorted coldly again, "If she didn't disobey me and deliberately go against me, would I be angry with her? Where is she? If she doesn't come back with you, where has she gone off to?"
"Later, Madam Gu twisted her ankle, and she helped her slowly back."
Yu Qi snorted again, but because Xu Bai and Chen Jia were still in the room, he was too lazy to greet them and did not rush to open the food box. He waited until everyone had left before calling Zhang Da into the room to eat with them.
As the sun began to set, Jiu Li helped Madam Gu slowly walk back. Madam Gu's feet ached, making it difficult for her to walk. The two walked a short distance and then rested. Jiu Li broke off a banana leaf along the way and used it to shield their heads. When they reached the temple, Madam Gu was again unable to walk. Jiu Li had no choice but to help her sit down and rest under a large weeping willow tree, and he rolled up her trousers to check her ankles.
"It's nothing. Just rub it and put on a plaster, and it'll be fine in a couple of days. I used to sprain my ankle a lot too."
It was rare to find such coolness under the willow tree. Madam Gu turned her head and saw that there was some sweat on her forehead. She felt very guilty and quickly took out a handkerchief for her. "Sit down and wipe your face. Look at the sweat on your face. You are a delicate young lady, but I have made you look like a maid."
Looking out over the lotus pond, the fresh lotus roots had been almost completely dug up a few days ago. Now the mud is settled and the water is clear, with pink lotus flowers densely reflected in the water. It's just waiting for another rain, when the ground is covered with green moss and the mist is thick and heavy. Wouldn't it be a beautiful fairyland with its ethereal and real atmosphere?
"What a beautiful sight! What a beautiful sight!"
Suddenly hearing someone praising him, Jiuli looked up and saw a handsome young man dressed in a blue-gray cloud-patterned satin robe. He was gazing around the lotus pond, leisurely patting a folding fan in his hand. Judging from his accent, he seemed to be from the capital. She immediately thought of the young master of the Chen family that Ah Liu had mentioned during dinner. He was probably the one.
Chen Jia turned his head and stared at her, his eyes widening in surprise. After a moment, he smiled and walked closer to the two of them. "Are you two also pilgrims of Qinglian Temple? It's rare to see two such elegant and graceful ladies in this rural place."
Madam Gu knew he was just being polite, so she smiled and said, "You can talk about her all you want, but I'm an old man, I'm not worthy of being called a beauty."
"Madam is too modest. You two look like sisters. The younger sister is young and lovely, and although the older sister is two or three years older, she has her own unique charm."
Knowing full well that he was flattering her, Madam Gu couldn't resist the pleasant sound and laughed even more heartily, "You young man, you really know how to talk. Are you here to offer incense?"
"Firstly, I came to burn incense, and secondly, I heard that a murder had occurred at Qinglian Temple. I'm usually a layabout, and I love to join in these kinds of amusements."
Madam Gu then guessed that he was that Second Master Chen and dared not make any more remarks. Jiu Li, however, was somewhat displeased. She tilted her head up and looked him up and down, saying sarcastically, "Is someone dying a happy event? Are you watching this as a joke?"
Chen Jia looked embarrassed and quickly said, "I misspoke. Of course, a dead person is not a good thing. Please don't misunderstand me, young lady. I'm not very good at speaking."
For a powerful and influential young master like him, the death of two nameless nuns was nothing. His words, spoken without thinking, were undoubtedly true. Jiuli felt a surge of disgust and, too lazy to pay him any attention, helped Madam Gu up, casually said "Farewell," and slowly turned to walk towards the temple gate.
Just then, the two elderly nuns, Jueming and Jueguang, came out of the lecture hall. They noticed from afar that Madam Gu was walking with a limp, so they quickly came up to her and asked, "Oh dear, what's wrong with Madam's foot?"
Madam Gu smiled and said, "I twisted my ankle on a stone on the road, but it's nothing serious. I'll just have to trouble a young monk to go to the market and buy me some plaster."
Jueming hurriedly said, "Amitabha, I happen to have some medicated plasters for sprains and bruises in my room. Madam, please come to my room and use them for now. I will then send someone to buy some better ones."
So Jiuli helped Madam Gu into the second courtyard with Jueming and Jueguang. They went straight into Jueming's room, where Jueming was busy looking for plasters. Jueguang, on the other hand, earnestly invited the two of them to sit on the chairs in the inner room. He ordered a young nun to make tea, and sat down in front of the round table, staring intently at Jiuli with a smile on his lips.
This was Jiuli's first time entering the old nun's room. It was completely different from the other monks' rooms. The furniture was made of fine materials, and even the cushions under her bottoms felt like smooth satin. The curtains and drapes, though light in color, were all made of gauze. It didn't look like a nun's room for quiet meditation, but rather like the bedroom of a wealthy old lady.
If the abbot's room is like this, I wonder how luxurious the abbot's room must be? Just as he was thinking this, Jueming brought in some plasters, handed them to Madam Gu, and then sat down next to Jueguang, also staring at Jiuli.
After looking at her for a while, he couldn't help but exclaim in admiration, "Such beauty is truly rare to see. The master and madam are so blessed to have such a stunningly beautiful young lady. How could they not find a worthy husband?"
Jiuli felt embarrassed and smiled with her lips pursed. "My parents have passed away. I live with my grandmother and uncle."
Jueming's eyes lit up, and he looked her up and down again. Jiuli felt a little uncomfortable being stared at by the two of them. Once Madam Gu was alright, she helped her to take her leave. Jueming and Jueguang saw them to the door, and even as the two of them walked away, their gazes lingered on Jiuli's retreating figure.
Suddenly, they saw Huixin come out of the dining hall. They bumped into each other under the bright sun, exchanged a few words, and then Madam Gu left first, while Jiuli followed Huixin into her room. Jueming and Jueguang's expressions became somewhat serious. They exchanged a glance, then turned and went into their room.
Huixin was said to be around twenty-six or twenty-seven years old. Jiuli and his group curiously observed her tall and slender figure from behind. They looked around her room, which was slightly more spacious than Cilian's. The windows were bright and the furniture was spotless. They didn't know what kind of lacquer the furniture was made of. It was dark with a hint of green, giving it an antique and serene feel.
There were many scriptures stacked on the long table. Walking into the inner room and onto the couch, I saw a multi-tiered cabinet leaning against the wall, also piled with many scriptures, some in Sanskrit and some in Chinese, various rare editions, and some handwritten and bound by her own hand. The room was filled with the scent of sandalwood. She was indeed a nun who devoted herself to spiritual practice.
Jiuli stared at her retreating figure as she walked into the inner room. Suddenly, she smiled and turned back, inviting Jiuli to sit on the couch. "I just saw you come out of Uncle Jueming's room. I wonder if you came to inquire about the case or what?"
Jiuli paused for a moment, "Oh, it's because Madam Gu twisted her ankle. Master Jueming said there are plasters in her room."
Huixin poured a cup of tea, and sat down with a smile, holding a string of prayer beads in her hand. "Uncle Jueming is not usually hospitable. It's rare for her to invite someone to sit in her room. She must value you very much, young benefactor."
These words sounded a bit strange at first, but after thinking about it carefully, Jiuli realized that there was something wrong with the old nun Jueming. Earlier, after Yu Qiti finished examining Cilian, she came over and said some nonsensical things. Today, she was unusually warm to her and Madam Gu. Jiuli thought it was just the compassion of a nun, but now, hearing Huixin say this, it seemed as if Jueming was up to something.
But what could he possibly want from her? Was he trying to subtly probe for information about the case?
Thinking of this, he pretended to be stupid and smiled, "What do I have that Masters Jueming and Jueguang would value? The money my family gives in incense money is not even as much as Madam Gu's."
Huixin's gaze gently swept across her face as she fiddled with her prayer beads, rising and pacing slowly. "Whether you truly don't know or are pretending not to know, out of compassion for Buddha, I should remind you. The main gate of every temple is called the 'Three Gates of Liberation,' but how many people in this world can truly attain liberation? The Buddhist temple is not necessarily a pure place either; otherwise, my two junior sisters, Liaoyi and Cilian, wouldn't have died in vain, would they?"
Jiuli slowly followed her steps, her eyes darting around. "Master Huixin, are you trying to tell me that Qinglian Temple isn't clean? Why not just say so?"
Huixin lowered her head and smiled, "I was abandoned at Qinglian Temple when I was a child. My master raised me. Qinglian Temple is not only a place of cultivation for my master and me, but also our home. Now that I have said this, I am already sorry to my master."
Jiuli stood up and walked up to her, pressing her for answers: "What exactly happened at Qinglian Temple? Is it related to the deaths of Liaoyi and Cilian?"
"I don't know either."
She just smiled. When Jiuli asked again, she closed her eyes and began to recite silently, refusing to say anything more.
Jiuli was a little annoyed and took her leave in a huff. She returned to the guest courtyard and saw Yu Qi and Zhang Da eating in the room, with Du Zhong also in the room keeping them company. So she went over and told them what Huixin had said.
Zhang Da shoveled a mouthful of rice into his mouth and said, "This nun is very annoying; she won't tell you everything. I think you shouldn't ask her. Just take her to the yamen and torture her severely. Let's see if she'll talk or not!"
Du Zhong laughed, "On what charge did you arrest and interrogate her? Huixin is the head nun and will be taking over Qinglian Temple in the future. To put it bluntly, running a temple is a business. If there's anything wrong with Qinglian Temple, and she exposes it all, wouldn't she be ruining her own career? Her reminders are already more than enough." He then turned to look at Du Zhong, "But what is she trying to warn you about? What are those two old nuns, Jueming and Jueguang, up to?"
Suddenly, Yu Qi's eyes flashed as he recalled the encounter with Master Zhao with Youjun yesterday. He put down his bowl and looked into the screen. "Zhong'er, what did you just say was the temple?"
Du Zhong was taken aback. "It's a business, isn't it? Opening a temple and selling incense, isn't that just a business?"
Yu Qi squinted at Jiu Li again, and suddenly it dawned on him. No wonder Youjun said yesterday that he was restricted by worldly etiquette and rules; the key was here. He had always thought of Buddhist temples as pure places and never considered them in a perverse way, but if he only saw them as places that "opened for business," many strange things became clear. What place in this world would rely solely on women to do business? No wonder those nuns were so beautiful; even Liaoyi, with her "ferocious face," was probably a beauty before she was injured.
Thinking of this, he put down his bowl and looked at Zhang Da, "Are you full?"
Zhang Da quickly cleaned the bottom of the bowl, put down his chopsticks, and asked, "What are your orders, sir?"
"I heard that there's a nun named Miaohua at Qinglian Temple who stays at other places. I want you to check if she really did go somewhere else to stay. Wherever she is now, find her and bring her back to Qinglian Temple. Remember, don't alert the people in the temple."
Zhang Da understood, wiped his mouth, stood up, and immediately went to reply to Xu Bai before leaving.
Seeing that they had finished eating, Jiuli sent Du Zhong out to clear away the bowls and plates, then came over to find a rag to wipe the table. As she wiped, she noticed Xu Bai standing on the opposite corridor, also looking in this direction.
Yu Qi had just finished rinsing his mouth when he suddenly let out a cold laugh. "The two of them are like the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, one at one end and the other at the other. I've become the villain who broke up the couple."
She glanced down and muttered, "Some people have big appetites, while others are stingy. They wouldn't share a single bite of the seven or eight dishes; how miserly!"
Yu Qi glanced up at her and said, "Even you eat and drink my food, yet you're still thinking about others? If you're so capable, you can buy whatever delicacies you want for people in the future without using the family's money."
She threw down the rag, looked up at the beam, and muttered, "Look, they clearly resent me for eating their fill at home, yet they still won't agree to my marriage with Xu Bai. Once I marry into the Qi family, I certainly won't eat a single grain of rice from you."
"Don't even think about it." Yu Qi said softly, then got up, walked to the couch, sat down, and picked up a bowl of hot tea to drink.
She followed him into the screened area, sat down on the other side in a huff, and heard footsteps. She tilted her head and looked towards the door; it was Second Master Chen. Yu Qi had no choice but to stand up and bow, so she had to stand up with him and give Chen Jiamian a forced curtsy.
Chen Jia saw her and gave her an unexpected smile. "I heard that Mr. Yu's niece is here helping with the case. So that's you, young lady. I apologize for offending you outside the temple gate earlier. You left in such a hurry that I didn't have time to apologize to you."
As he spoke, he bowed with his fan in hand. Hearing this, he realized that he and Jiuli had just met once. Yu Qi was displeased to see his frivolous and eager manner.
Jiuli was equally displeased, pouting as she looked to the side. "What's there to apologize for? It's not me who was offended. If you want to apologize, go to the morgue outside and apologize to the deceased. I'm just a commoner girl, I can't afford to do that."
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Author's note: Thank you for reading.
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