Chapter 65 Chapter 65 Arrival, Fire
After the last pilgrim left in the wind and snow, Qingyun Temple closed its doors.
Winter days are short, and as soon as the sun sets, the sky turns gray and low. Snowflakes drift down, covering the stone steps outside the temple with a light layer of white. Soon, the gray is completely buried under the snow.
The Shangshu Ling loved his wife so much that he feared that her would catch a cold, so he installed underground heating systems in not only the Buddhist hall and side rooms, but also the dining hall, kitchen, and the side rooms where servants waited for orders. He could not be said to have neglected anything.
However, today is different. It is the New Year's Day, a time for family reunions, but people are asked to wait here with simple food. The monks in the temple are worried that they may not be able to provide good hospitality.
The people in the mansion were extremely strict with their manners, all claiming to be of low status. They would go to the kitchen to get their meals and tea themselves. Yun Ting knocked on the door and entered, holding a lacquer tray filled with blessing bags. He said a Buddhist greeting to everyone.
"The food in the nunnery is simple, so please forgive me for any inconvenience. This is a blessing bag that has been chanted and prayed before the Buddha. It can ward off evil and ward off evil. I give it to you, and pray for blessings to be with you."
No matter what the servants in the mansion were thinking, they all looked flattered, saying "I'm honored" repeatedly and bowed one by one to take the gifts.
Biyu stepped forward, taking the gift with both hands and instructing Qingluo to distribute it to the others. She then turned and clasped her hands together in greeting, "This blessing is bestowed upon me by the Madam's kindness and the care of the nunnery's masters. I will repay your kindness by serving you wholeheartedly." "Amitabha, thank you for your kindness."
Yun Ting's eyes were filled with warmth. "It's freezing cold, so I won't disturb you any more."
"Thank you, Master."
Biyu saw the man off but didn't return. Meeting his puzzled gaze, she offered an explanation, "Madam is kind enough to grant us half a day of leisure, but how can we take it for granted? It's time for us to return to Madam and serve her."
As early as the afternoon, Lan Nongnong had dismissed Biyu and other servants from the mansion to the side rooms to rest, claiming they had nothing to do and no one was needed. Although she was usually very easy to talk to, she was, after all, the mistress of the house, of noble status and natural bearing. When she restrained her expression, her authority, similar to that of an adult, was so overwhelming that no one dared to move rashly.
The master is noble and the servant is humble, so Biyu and others naturally responded respectfully and retreated to rest.
However, when it comes to dinner, it is absolutely unreasonable for the servants to not come forward to serve and eat on their own.
The Shangshu Ling Mansion had strict rules and regulations. Yun Ting showed no surprise when he heard this. He simply clasped his hands and nodded, then paused and whispered, "Your Excellency is diligent and dedicated, and you and Nong Nong are like master and servant. When I came here just now, Nong Nong had given me a favor. If Miss Biyu didn't mention it, then forget it. But if she mentioned the matter of a personal attendant, then you shouldn't go. You can wait until Lord Ling arrives to serve."
Biyu looked up and saw that all the masters in Qingyun Temple were devoted to pure cultivation and not interested in worldly pleasures. Everyone had a simple and undemanding demeanor, and only showed some tenderness in front of the lady.
"In that case, I will follow your wishes, Madam. Thank you for your consideration."
There was a rustling sound of snow outside the corridor. The stone path from the backyard to the side yard had already been covered with snow, fluffy and white, with no trace left.
The door to the main hall was not closed, the thick curtains were drawn, warm yellow candlelight shone through the silk windows, and the sounds of talking and laughing could be faintly heard.
Yunting stepped onto the stone steps, folded his umbrella and placed it on the rack in front of the door. He straightened his sleeves and Zen robe, brushed off the coldness, and then lifted the curtain to enter.
As the curtains opened and closed, the voices in the room suddenly stopped, like dust hitting a fire, and suddenly disappeared.
The plain round table was filled with many rare meals and desserts. Everyone in the nunnery sat around it, but they all had a gloomy look on their faces. However, they tried to appear relaxed and chatted intermittently, which was completely inconsistent with their expressions.
The candles flickered, the banquet was already halfway through, and the dishes on the table were barely touched. Yun An held his bowl and chopsticks in his hands, his ears ringing, his throat choking with gravel, and he couldn't utter a single word.
She lowered her head and saw a brown stain spreading on the blue tablecloth with orange flowers that she had prepared specially for today. She quickly put down her dishes and turned her head to wipe her face.
The cold weather was at its peak. Nong Nong had already suffered frostbite, leaving her with underlying health problems. Could she withstand the freezing cold, windy, and snowy weather outside? Had the medicine worn off? Would she be frightened and hurt when she woke? Could she be safe, a woman traveling alone? Could her future be smooth?
Yun An couldn't stop these chaotic thoughts. He was worried that she couldn't withstand the wind and snow and her illness would worsen. He was also afraid that she would be lonely and scared without any relatives. He didn't know whether she could settle down safely. He was even more afraid that she would meet with an accident.
My heart was beating fast and heavy, and I couldn't help but wonder, was it right or wrong to send her away without regard to her wishes?
But that person usually keeps a close eye on Nongnong, and he is so busy today that it is rare to see so many pilgrims visiting the nunnery.
Taking the enemy by surprise is precisely the opportunity to do so.
He looked up at the abbot, his lips and teeth moving slightly as if he wanted to speak, but he was afraid that there were eavesdroppers on the other side of the wall, so he gritted his teeth and endured it.
The atmosphere at the dinner table sounded harmonious, but everyone's faces were filled with silence and anxiety. Only the abbot of Qingfeng Temple remained calm, his rosary beads twirled between his fingers. He pulled a pre-prepared slip of paper from his sleeve and handed it to someone nearby.
She picked up the bowl and chopsticks, her tone calm as usual: "It's cold, and everything gets cold easily. Don't just talk. There's still a long way to go."
There were only eleven words on the note. By the time she finished speaking, everyone had read it, and their anxieties were actually soothed.
Do your best, leave the rest to fate, and take it easy.
Indeed. Having done all we can, rather than worry about what might happen, we should pray for the best. May he be safe and happy for the rest of his life.
---
The snow kept falling, as if to make up for the previous two days' unfallen snow. The area around Qingyun Temple was deserted for miles. Deep in the night, the snow was heavy, and the candlelight was sporadic.
On ordinary days like this, the whistling of the wind and snow would be the only sound, mingling with the chanting of the wooden fish. But tonight, there was no chanting, only the incessant rustling of the snow. The servants of the Shangshu Ling's residence were sweeping the courtyard, braving the wind and snow, to welcome their soon-to-be-arrived master.
Everyone in the room sat in silence, eyes closed, concentrating. The beads between their fingers occasionally stagnated, then returned to normal, as if they had completely banished all distracting thoughts.
When the mind is calm, one does not notice the passage of time. When the wind and snow stop and everything is silent, a sound of footsteps comes from afar. They are not heavy, but steady, and the calmness brought by power is evident as they walk through the snow.
The headmistress of Qingfeng Temple opened her eyes, her face, though slightly panicked, yet composed, meeting the crowd. She was known as the most indifferent person in the nunnery, her expression year-round like a frozen lake. But now, her features softened in a rare way, a faint smile thawing like the first thaw of spring ice, evoking a sense of spring breeze.
"Amitabha. Now that we are here, let's make the best of it. Go out."
Everyone's tense shoulders relaxed suddenly, and when they looked at each other, smiles of varying depths appeared on their faces. That was a calmness that viewed everything as nothing, without fear or trepidation.
"Amitabha, well done."
The night was deep and cold, but Qin Jingyao stood outside the courtyard, his hands behind his back, gazing upwards. The snowy night was overcast, the moon obscured by dark clouds, its light dim and gloomy. Guards and servants stood at attention, while the corridors and hallways were lit like torches, illuminating the world.
The door opened softly, and several steady and light footsteps approached.
One can tell the number of people by their voices, and also their intentions. Qin Jingyao closed his eyes, but the corners of his lips could not move at all. He half turned sideways, knowing that she was not there, but still subconsciously looking for that figure.
The disappointed gaze made his face even darker, as if covered with frost.
"To imprison a lady of the second rank conferred by the imperial court is a crime tantamount to rebellion and shall be punished severely. The principal offender shall be subjected to lingchi. The accomplices shall all be executed immediately and their heads displayed to the public."
As he finished speaking, a cold wind blew outside the courtyard, and the people present held their breath even more quietly, as if they were in dead silence.
Everyone in the nunnery had prepared themselves to face it calmly, but when this cold and murderous force hit them, they felt as if they had fallen into an ice cellar, and they understood what it meant to look at the world from a narrow perspective.
The hardships and difficulties endured by ordinary people are like fireflies compared to the bright moon in the face of the cruelty of power.
Even if they managed to remain calm and didn't cowardly plead for mercy, their faces were filled with fear. Although they all could not escape death, the punishment of "Lingchi" was so cruel that the mere thought of it was terrifying.
How could an ordinary person endure such torture?
The Yun generation glanced at each other, their bodies involuntarily moving closer together, as if hoping to draw a little strength from them. Struggle and fear lingered on each of their faces.
Yun An took a deep breath and patted everyone with her cold hands, offering comfort. She had brought Nong Nong back, and because of her actions, today's consequences were hers to bear. She had no complaints or regrets, only shame for having implicated everyone.
Looking at the current situation, the other party seems to have known that Nong Nong is gone.
Had their plot been exposed all along? Or was this person so perceptive? Had they discovered any traces? Did Nongnong escape safely now?
Yun An was in a state of confusion, but he didn't dare to think too much about it.
"I am--"
"Your Excellency wants to accuse us of a crime, but we cannot afford it."
A calm yet resolute voice interrupted Yun An, instantly clearing the panicked minds of the crowd. A moment later, the figures leaning against each other straightened up one after another. Everyone closed their eyes, moved their prayer beads, and chanted in unison, "Amitabha."
The abbess of Qingfeng Temple took a few steps forward. Just as a firefly cannot compete with the bright moon, a lamp cannot match the brightness of daylight. However, this bright, flickering light was enough to illuminate the calm composure on her face, and also clearly illuminate the appearance of the person opposite.
"Those of us monks dare not claim to be related to you, Madam, but we have cherished you for a long time. We are in harmony with each other, so how can we talk about imprisonment?"
The man opposite wore a black cloak with silver crane patterns, the fur standing on end at the edges. His boots were dark in front and lighter in the back, and his hair was shiny and smooth as if it had been soaked in water. The snow had stopped for some time, and his appearance was only the result of galloping against the wind and snow.
The head of Qingfeng Temple lowered her head, her body slightly tilted, and she spoke calmly, "Madam has been suffering from a cold and has lost her energy, so she has passed away long ago. Your Excellency has always loved and respected Madam, and I believe she would not care about such trivial matters, so we did not go to disturb her. If your Excellency does not believe me, you can go in and see for yourself."
It was obvious that they were riding horses at full speed against the wind and snow. When he didn't see them for a while, his heart felt like it was burning with fire. He wished he could melt the ice and snow around his temples and burn these ignorant and daring monks and nuns and the entire nunnery to ashes.
Fury raged from his chest to his throat, but Qin Jingyao showed no sign of urgency. Instead, he chuckled softly. His voice was gentle and easygoing, his wet hair and eyes blending into the darkness, just like the dark and desolate mountains outside the temple, exuding an indescribable sense of danger.
"It seems that you are determined to oppose me."
Yun'an and the others remained silent, their eyes lowered. The abbot of Qingfeng Temple also only chanted the Buddha's name, claiming that he did not understand why.
"This official and my wife love each other deeply, yet you are committing such a wicked act of forced demolition. You chant Buddha's name but commit such a blasphemous act. Your heart is damnable."
His cold, blade-like gaze swept across everyone, each word piercing their hearts: "You all think you have seen through the mundane world, and you are stubborn and self-willed. Little do you know that Nong Nong and I could have lived a happy and loving life together, but it is because of you that you have suffered this misfortune."
"He claims to have converted to Buddhism, but he commits the sins of Avici."
"It's you who killed her."
After he finished speaking, he didn't even glance at her, his black cloak cut through a gust of wind, and he went straight to the backyard.
Even though the others had left, the invisible yet oppressive pressure hadn't diminished in the slightest. On the contrary, the heartbreaking words and the unresolved fate of his life had left him feeling even more embarrassed and uneasy, almost to the point of breaking his heart.
Yun'an and the others opened their eyes in shock and were about to look for the abbot, but they saw Tongze, a guard who had always had dealings with the abbey, wave his hand, and a team of guards half hidden in the darkness approached them in an instant.
Before anyone could utter a word, they were shouted at and escorted out of the nunnery.
-
The jewelry, neck guard, bonnet and outer coat she wore when she came were still in her room. The soft pillow she leaned on when taking a nap was also casually placed there. The faint fragrance of her clothes and hair lingered in her nostrils, as if she had just left and would be back at any time.
Qin Jingyao stood still, looking around. A short, indistinguishable sigh escaped his throat, a mix of joy and anger. Suddenly, he turned and stepped out of the room, issuing a cold order: "Nothing related to Madam must be left behind. Search every inch of her. No trace of her shall remain in this nunnery."
"Send a letter to the Jingzhao Yin, reporting that the inmates of Qingyun Temple harbor evil intentions and are plotting to murder innocent people. Immediately seal off the temple and order a swift sentencing according to the law."
"yes!"
The group arrived at night and left at night. Soon, black smoke rose from the mountain, but since no one lived nearby and it was late at night, no one noticed.
Soon, a glow of fire appeared in the black smoke, like a night beast opening its eyes.
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