Chapter 116: The sound of Zen returns to the old friend, and Mo Hen still remembers the warmth of the old times
The morning dew still clung to the petals of the crape myrtles in the Fang Mansion, shimmering like a handful of diamonds in the rising sun. The bluestone pavement in the courtyard, freshly sprinkled with water, shimmered with a damp sheen. The air was filled with the delicate fragrance of jasmine and gardenia, gently drifting in the cool morning breeze.
Little Swallow was squatting by the lotus pond, feeding the koi. She held a handful of fish food, her fingertips slightly cool from the dew. She wore a soft lilac silk blouse with pale pink roses embroidered on the cuffs. Her jet-black braids hung loosely down her back, a few strands caught in the wind and swayed gently with her movements. Koi gathered on the shore, vying for food. Their tails slapped the water, making a loud "plop" sound, splashing water onto the hem of her skirt.
"Ci'er, feed slowly. The fish are almost full." Fang's mother came from the corridor carrying a food box. Seeing the water marks on her daughter's skirt, she shook her head helplessly. "This is freshly made osmanthus cake. Hurry and wipe your hands and eat."
Xiaoyanzi smiled and raised her head, reaching out to take the food box. The fish food powder on her fingertips rubbed against Fang's mother's sleeve: "The osmanthus cake made by mother is the most fragrant!" She was about to get up when she saw the doorman, Old Li, jogging in, with a look of panic and excitement on his face.
"Master! Madam! The abbot of Hanshan Temple is here! He brought three other monks with him, saying they came to visit specially!" Old Li was running out of breath, holding a string of Buddhist beads in his hand, which was given to him by the abbot when he went to Hanshan Temple to burn incense last year.
The fish food in Xiaoyanzi's hand plopped into the pond, startling the koi fish and scattering. She stood up suddenly, water droplets falling from her skirt. "Is the Abbot here?" Her eyes lit up instantly, like falling stars, and she turned and ran to the door. "I'll go get him!"
"Run slower! Be careful not to fall!" Fang's mother shouted from behind. Looking at her daughter's joyful back, she said to Xiao Jian who came out to greet her with a mixture of helplessness and amusement, "This child has lost her manners since she heard the abbot is coming."
Xiao Jian had just finished practicing sword skills and was wearing a moon-white robe over his black shorts. He straightened his clothes with a smile in his eyes: "The abbot is half her master, so they are naturally close." As soon as he finished speaking, he saw Xiaoyanzi pulling an old monk into the courtyard.
The abbot wore a gray robe, the cuffs bleached from washing. He twisted a string of glossy red sandalwood Buddhist beads in his hand, a smile etched across the wrinkles of his face. Behind him followed three young monks, all dressed in cyan robes, carrying simple bags, their expressions respectful. The morning light fell on the abbot's white beard, casting a faint golden glow. He walked, led by Little Swallow, his steps steady and his laughter resonant. "Girl, you're still this impatient. You were just as anxious back then when you tried to steal my chessboard at Hanshan Temple."
"Grandpa Abbot, you only care about me!" Xiaoyanzi let go of her hand and reached out to brush the dust off the abbot's robe, her nose almost touching his Buddhist beads. "Why didn't you tell me in advance? I could have asked the kitchen to prepare your favorite vegetarian noodles." Her eyes rolled, and suddenly she remembered something. She pulled a thread-bound book from her sleeve pocket and handed it over like a treasure. "Look! I copied a copy of 'A Simple Explanation of Zen Chess' some time ago. Isn't the calligraphy much better than last year's?"
On the cover, the words "A Brief Explanation of Zen Chess" were written in a smooth, powerful handwriting, imitating the abbot's own. The abbot took the book, his fingertips gently stroking the pages, his eyes filled with satisfaction. "The ink is even, the brushstrokes are steady. It seems your father has been watching you practice calligraphy." He looked up at Fang Zhihang and his wife, who were approaching, and clasped his hands in greeting. "Master Fang, Madam Fang, I'm sorry to bother you."
"Thank you for your courtesy, Abbot. Please come in." Fang Zhihang returned the greeting with a bow and led everyone to the main hall. "A few days ago, I told Ci'er that I should send you some new tea. I didn't expect you to come in person."
In the main hall, steam rose from a cup of freshly brewed Rain-Previous Longjing tea, its fragrance mingling with the incense of sandalwood, bringing a sense of tranquility. Little Swallow sat down next to the abbot, clutching the copybook in her hand, like a bird seeking credit. "Grandpa Abbot, how long will you be in the capital this time? Would you like to stay with us? The study in the west wing is empty, and outside the window is a lotus pond, as tranquil as the pond at Hanshan Temple."
The abbot took a sip of tea and, as he set down the cup, tapped it lightly with his fingertips. "I'm not leaving this time." He looked into Xiaoyanzi's surprised eyes and said slowly, "The emperor has appointed me abbot of the royal temple. The original abbot passed away a while ago." He paused, then smiled as if remembering something. "This time, Lord Fu went to Jiangnan to investigate a case and, by the way, delivered the emperor's imperial edict. I came here immediately after receiving the order. What a coincidence, I've just arrived in the capital just in time for you."
"Royal temple?" Xiaoyanzi's eyes widened, and the book in her hand almost fell to the ground. "Is it very close to the imperial palace? Will you be able to go to the palace often to preach in the future?" She regretted the words as soon as she said them, and quickly covered her mouth. A trace of unnaturalness flashed in her eyes - the word "imperial palace" always reminded her of fragments of her previous life, and her heart tightened slightly.
Xiao Jian calmly filled her tea cup and touched the back of her hand with his fingertips. "The Royal Temple is peaceful and quiet. It's a good opportunity for the Abbot to spread the Dharma there." He looked at the Abbot and changed the subject. "Did the journey go smoothly?"
"It went smoothly. Thanks to the Emperor, we had good care of you along the way." The abbot twirled his Buddhist beads, his gaze settling on Xiaoyanzi. Seeing her gaze fixed on her teacup, he knew she was hiding something, so he smiled and reminisced. "Come to think of it, I still remember you copying this calligraphy at Hanshan Temple last year. You wrote the vertical hook of the character 'Zen' so beautifully, like a sword. Your father even said, 'Your handwriting reflects your personality, so lively.'"
At these words, Xiaoyanzi burst out laughing. When she looked up, the tension in her eyes had mostly dissipated. "Dad, you don't understand! I copied my eldest brother's sword moves. I'm hiding my strength!" She suddenly remembered the days in Jiangnan's study. In the morning light, her father wiped ink stains for her. Her eldest brother leaned against the bookshelf and laughed at her like a "little cat that drank ink secretly." Her mother sewed clothes beside her. The sound of the piano mingled with the chirping of cicadas... Those warm images came to her mind, and her smile deepened. "Later, Dad taught me to 'hide the edge.' He said that practicing calligraphy is like my eldest brother practicing sword. You have to retain a little bit of strength to finish the move. It took me a long time to learn it."
"That's why your calligraphy now has a touch of 'Zen'." The abbot nodded approvingly. "Practicing calligraphy is like cultivating the mind. Your temperament has become much calmer." He changed the subject and looked at Fang Zhihang. "Master Fang, I came here to visit an old friend and to ask how Ci'er's practice of 'The Sound of Bells and Chimes' is going. I just finished repairing the bell tower in the royal temple and I'm in need of someone to play this piece."
"I've been able to play it a long time ago!" Xiaoyanzi answered immediately, her back straight. "I played it for Ziwei a few days ago, and she said it sounded like real bells ringing in her ears!" When she mentioned Ziwei, she suddenly remembered something and stood up and said, "Oh, right! I'll ask Ziwei to come and see the abbot. She also likes to listen to your Zen stories!" After saying that, she ran out like a gust of wind.
The abbot and the Fang family smiled at her back. Morning light streamed through the window lattice into the main hall, illuminating the copied copy of "A Brief Explanation of Zen Chess." The ink on the pages still carried a faint fragrance, as if quietly bringing the warmth of Jiangnan to the Fang residence in the capital. And the imperial temple's bells, along with this scent of ink, seemed to chime softly in the near future.
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