Chapter 257: Asking for Advice (Part 1)
Sun Zhi rode his horse forward on the rugged mountain road.
"Sir, Sir!" the servant caught up from behind. "Didn't the villager just say there's another way to Mount Kuaiji? This one leads to Mount Ruoye. Sir, you've taken the wrong path!"
"You're going well." Sun Zhi said, "I'm heading to Ruoye Mountain."
"Why are you going to Ruoye Mountain? Madam has already sent someone to Huiji Mountain to inform the abbot of the Zen temple, and to arrange for you to chant sutras and practice. If you don't go, and Madam finds out, she will complain to the master. If the master gets angry, how long will it take for you to return to the capital?"
"What nonsense!" Sun Zhi scolded angrily, "That evil woman used my fate palace to say I had to leave the capital for five years. Who knows how long that will last? Not to mention my father. He's so soft-hearted that he allowed that evil woman to stir up trouble! I worked so hard to set up a trap with my uncle, wasn't it all for him? And yet he wants to drive me away just because of some gossip!"
Sun Zhi grew angrier and angrier as he spoke, and spat, "Let my father be angry. Since I can't rely on him, I can only rely on myself."
The servant asked timidly, "But you have nothing now, sir. What are your plans?"
Sun Zhi cast his gaze into the distance and said, "I heard a while ago that among Minister Wang's staff, the one he holds most in high esteem is a man named Li Mo. He happens to be cultivating in Ruoye Mountain, and I'm going to meet him now."
"That Kuaiji Mountain..."
"Whoever wants to go can go." Sun Zhi sneered, "You want to trap me in the mountains? Dream on."
On Ruoye Mountain, the gate of Baosheng Temple was closed.
Sun Zhi personally went forward and knocked on the door. Soon, a servant who looked like a lay Buddhist came out.
He glanced at Sun Zhi, and before Sun Zhi could speak, he said, "This temple refuses incense offerings. Please find another temple."
After saying that, he was about to close the door.
Sun Zhi hurried forward to hold the door shut, saying, "I'm not here to burn incense, but to visit Mr. Li. Please, Master, please help me."
After saying that, he quickly took out a bunch of money from his pocket and presented it with both hands: "This is the incense money I give to the young master."
Ah Qing sneered and asked, "Who are you?"
"My name is Sun Zhi, from the Wujun Sun family. My father is Sun Rong, the chief clerk of the Ministry of Rites, and my uncle is..."
"I don't know him." A Qing closed the door and blocked Sun Zhi outside without waiting for him to finish speaking.
Li Mo was copying scriptures in the Buddhist hall when he heard the noise outside. He asked A Qing who had walked in, "Who could have made you so angry?"
"They say it's the son of the Taichang Zhubu, named Sun Zhi," Ah Qing said. "That guy is so vulgar, he actually thinks he can see the young master by giving me money. He has no idea what's important!"
"Oh? Why not?" Li Mo said, "It's up to you to decide who I meet. I don't mind if you take some money from me."
"Sir!" Ah Qing stamped his feet. "Am I that kind of person?"
"Forget it." Li Mo smiled and waved his hand. "Did Sun Zhi explain his purpose?"
"No, I didn't ask," Ah Qing said. "Ever since the young master returned from Guangzhou, there have been people visiting, disturbing the peace and quiet of this Buddhist temple. This man surnamed Sun is probably here to learn from the young master, hoping to join the Shangshu Mansion as an aide. The young master always ignores these people and just sends them away."
Li Mo gently added more ink to his brush and said, "I heard that last month, Lingxu Master Yu Yi returned to the capital. After meeting the Queen Mother, he went to the home of the Marquis of Huaian County on crutches. The Taichang Chief Clerk that Sun Zhi mentioned is named Sun Rong, the Marquis of Huaian County's younger brother."
"Master Lingxu?" Ah Qing was stunned. "So, this Sun Zhi actually has a very important background?"
"If we ask him, we'll know." Li Mo said, "Go and invite him in."
"But I've already driven him away."
"If he really wanted to see you, he wouldn't just leave. If he did, wouldn't that save you a lot of trouble?"
Li Mo said this very gently, but A Qing knew that he could not refuse.
So, he reluctantly opened the temple door again.
Sun Zhi is still there.
He quickly stepped forward to apologize: "If I have offended you, please forgive me, little master."
Ah Qing said "hmm", looked him over again, and said, "Come with me."
Sun Zhi was delighted, thanked him, and hurried to catch up with A Qing.
In the Buddhist hall, Li Mo was still copying scriptures.
"Young Master, Young Master Sun is here."
After Ah Qing finished speaking, he led Sun Zhi to Li Mo's case.
Li Mo remained silent and concentrated on copying the scriptures.
Sun Zhi didn't dare to disturb him and just watched from the side.
This most sought-after aide in the Shangshu Mansion was dressed in cloth and looked very young, even younger than him.
After a long while, Li Mo put down his pen, clasped his hands together, and chanted a Buddhist name.
Then, he looked up at Sun Zhi and said with a smile, "Are you Young Master Sun?"
Sun Zhi hurriedly said, "My name is Sun Zhi, nice to meet Mr. Li."
"Young Master Sun, there's no need to be so polite," Li Mo said. "I wonder what brings you here so suddenly?"
Sun Zhi replied, "I have heard of your achievements, sir, and I admire you deeply. I have come all the way from Jiankang to follow you. From today on, I will serve you wholeheartedly. Please grant me your blessing!"
Li Mo remained silent.
"I heard that your mansion has some friendship with Master Lingxu. Master Sun is such a person, why don't you follow Master Lingxu?"
Sun Zhi gave a bitter smile, "Sir, you don't know. I was persecuted by my mistress and have already left home. I have no chance to be with Master Lingxu."
After he finished speaking, he picked out the important points of what had happened and told Li Mo.
Li Mo didn't often listen to family gossip, but when he heard about Sun Zhi's affairs, he knew that he was not favored at home, which was why he ended up in such a situation.
He had come to see Sun Zhi because he was curious about the relationship between Lingxu Master Yu Yi and the Sun family. Since Sun Zhi was out of favor and seemed useless, there was no need for him to say more.
Li Mo was about to send Sun Zhi away when he heard Sun Zhi say, "Speaking of which, if this divination hadn't been made by Princess Yuzhang, father wouldn't have believed it so firmly."
Hearing this, Li Mo's gaze froze slightly.
"You mean, Princess Yuzhang personally read your fortune?"
"That's right," Li Mo said. "My mistress was honored to be summoned by the Princess of Yuzhang. I heard they had a very pleasant conversation. When the Princess of Yuzhang heard that my sister was ill, she performed a divination for her. Unexpectedly, she found that someone in the family was incompatible with my sister's fate palace. My mistress had someone carefully check the birth dates of everyone in the house, and they found my name. I had no choice but to leave home."
Li Mo couldn't help but ask, "Has there been any contact between your residence and the Prince of Yuzhang's residence in the past?"
"My father is only a humble Taichang Chief Clerk. He couldn't possibly have climbed into the Yuzhang Palace," Sun Zhi replied. "But last year, when Princess Yuzhang went to the East China Sea for a sacrifice, my father took care of the travel arrangements, and Princess Yuzhang was quite pleased. After Princess Yuzhang returned to the capital, she invited the mistress to her house for a chat, and that's how this incident came about."
"So, apart from your father, no one in this mansion has ever had any dealings with Prince Yuzhang's mansion?"
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