Chapter 9 The Lone Phoenix's Curse (Part 9) - Past Life.
That's not a very honorable thing.
The year after Jiang Si became the top scholar in the imperial examination, and also the fourth year since Ye Mu married him, was late autumn.
In the back garden of the top scholar's residence, the lingering fragrance of osmanthus blossoms had not yet dissipated, but it was already suffocating under a strong medicinal smell.
Despite being given so much medicine, Ye Mu's stomach remained flat. Every morning and evening, Li Shi's mean mouth never stopped spitting. Today, she even barged into the inner room.
"My good daughter-in-law!" Madam Li's voice was loud and clear. She took a few steps forward and grabbed Ye Mu's slightly cool wrist. "I've been so worried about you. I've watched Si'er rise step by step in the Hanlin Academy. If your belly doesn't show any signs of pregnancy, what will outsiders think? Our Jiang family can't be without a male heir!"
"I asked around today, and the Imperial Preceptor is in the temple. Let's go and pray to the true Buddha in front of the Bodhisattva's seat. I guarantee you'll have a big, healthy baby boy next year!"
Her thin fingers gripped with tremendous force, causing Ye Mu's wrist to ache.
“Mother,” Ye Mu tried to pull his hand away, “my wife is not feeling well, and I’m afraid she might defile the pure Buddhist sanctuary…”
"Pah! What nonsense are you spouting!" Madam Li interrupted, her eyes wide with disbelief. "You're only going because you're not feeling well. Sincerity is key! Before the Bodhisattva, there's no such thing as being unclean! It's incredibly difficult for ordinary worshippers to even see the National Preceptor. I, your mother, have swallowed my pride and donated a large sum of money for lamp oil to secure this opportunity. This kind of blessing is something ordinary people can only dream of. This is an incredible stroke of luck for you!"
Without a word, she turned and shouted towards the outer room, "Zijing! Where did you hide, you brat? Hurry up and help your grandmother wash and change her clothes! Pick out something festive to wear! Stop dressing in all that gray and black!"
Zijing hurriedly responded and came in. She met Ye Mu's restrained gaze, her eyes reddening, but she was helpless.
The mountain gate of Baoxiang Temple is majestic, surrounded by ancient cypress trees.
Ye Mu was half-dragged and half-pulled out of the sedan chair by Madam Li. After many twists and turns, they finally arrived at a secluded Zen temple. The ground was paved with bluestone and was spotless. The monk who was leading the way had a solemn face. He stopped at the gate with his palms together and silently gestured for them to enter.
The meditation room was dimly lit, with only a sliver of sunlight slanting in through the high window, illuminating the minimalist furnishings: a couch, a small table, and a desk with a small bronze incense burner on it, from which smoke rose straight up.
After the incident, Wen Kong, wearing an ochre-colored kasaya draped over his shoulders, sat upright like an ancient Buddha, his eyelids lowered and his gaze fixed on the open scriptures.
"Your Excellency, the Imperial Preceptor!" As soon as Madam Li entered the room, her knees buckled, and she pulled Ye Mu to kneel on the ground. "This faithful woman, Madam Li, along with her daughter-in-law, Ye, begs Your Excellency for mercy to grant my Jiang family a son to continue our family line! This faithful woman eats vegetarian food and chants Buddhist prayers every day; her sincerity is evident!"
"Cause and effect, karma, and offspring are all conditioned by fate; forcing them is futile."
A voice came from behind the desk, each word precious and clear, still cold and detached.
Upon hearing this, Madam Li became anxious and crawled two steps on her knees. "Could it be that my daughter-in-law committed some terrible sin in her past life that prevents her from conceiving? Your Excellency, the Buddha's power is boundless; you must have a solution. I dare not come empty-handed; I offer you incense, candles, and a golden statue. I am willing to give you everything I have, just to ask the Bodhisattva for mercy and to grant me a child!"
"Offerings before the Buddha are valued for their sincerity, not for the money or gifts offered." Wen Kong still didn't look up. "Please leave, benefactor."
Ye Mu felt embarrassed, pushed himself up, and bowed, saying, "I'm sorry to have disturbed the Imperial Preceptor's meditation..."
"Imperial Preceptor! True Buddha! True Immortal!" Li interrupted, pulling a folded piece of soft, light red silk from her sleeve and placing it on top of the scriptures. "This is my daughter-in-law's personal garment, imbued with her life force. I beg you! I beg you to consecrate it! Your power is profound; just recite a few mantras upon it, and the 'fertility blessing' will come! If the Bodhisattva protects her, she will surely conceive when she wears this consecrated garment, she will surely conceive my Jiang family's golden grandson..."
"absurd."
Wen Kong then opened his eyes, cutting off all of Li's chatter, his voice chilling, "This is not seeking Buddha, but creating karma."
"How can one receive blessings when burdened by karmic obstacles?"
"go out."
Lady Li stammered, as if wanting to say something more, "Grand Preceptor, this is..."
"Get out." Wen Kong's voice was even lower, carrying an imposing aura like the impending storm.
Li was so frightened by the invisible authority that she trembled all over and dared not say another word. She scrambled to her feet in a disheveled state, not even bothering to pull Ye Mu along, and slunk away with her back bowed.
The meditation room fell silent.
With the help of the daylight, Ye Mu finally saw what Li Shi had left on the table: twin lotus blossoms with delicate petals, spread out on a dark brown scripture scroll. It was none other than her most private undergarment, a bodice!
Ye Mu's eyes stung, and the color drained from her face instantly. The immense shame and anger made her head buzz, and her vision blurred. It felt as if she had been stripped naked in public and nailed to the blue bricks of this sacred Buddhist temple.
Ye Mu dug his fingertips deep into his palm, almost drawing blood, his whole body stiffening so much that he couldn't even tremble.
She desperately tried to explain, but couldn't utter a single complete sentence. As soon as she opened her mouth, overwhelming grievance welled up in her throat. She collapsed to the ground, tears streaming down her face. "I didn't...it wasn't me...why did this...why did you do this to me...why humiliate me like this..."
Silence followed the case.
He neither got up to comfort her nor scolded or drove her away. He simply looked down at her, like a Buddha statue carved from cold jade, listening to her soft sobs gradually turn into heart-wrenching cries. The cries echoed in the empty and desolate meditation room, crashing against the cold walls, making her seem even more pitiful and helpless.
Only when the last wisp of smoke in the incense burner dissipated, and the crying finally ran out of strength, turning into intermittent sobs, did Wen Kong finally speak and ask, "Why didn't you escape?"
Ye Mu choked, her sobs abruptly ceasing. She raised her tear-filled face and looked through the misty haze, as if only then realizing where she was and who was in front of her.
Before she could even ponder his question, she saw him extend his hand.
His fingers were long and slender with distinct knuckles and his nails were trimmed very short with rounded, clean edges. His fingertips did not directly touch the dazzling crimson, but merely picked up a corner of the scroll and gently shook it. The soft silk slipped down like a fallen red petal that had lost its support, landing right in Wen Kong's palm.
The lotus vines meandered between the lines of his palm, giving rise to a sense of sacredness that seemed to have been desecrated.
Wen Kong lowered his eyes to look at the object in his palm. His gaze was calm and deep, without sorrow or joy, without disgust or filth, as if he were holding not a woman's private undergarments, but a scroll of wordless scripture.
Ye Mu's sobs caught in her throat as she stared blankly at him.
Seeing that Wen Kong folded the soft silk in half, and then in half again, his movements were unhurried and deliberate. The lotus petals in his hands lost all their allure and were finally folded into a small, square piece, which looked just like a budding green lotus.
He stood up, his ochre robe trailing behind him, and walked to her. "Put it away."
Ye Mu quickly tucked it into her sleeve. The cool silk surface pressed against her wrist. She tried to get up by bracing herself against the floor tiles, but her legs were already numb. She stumbled and almost fell again.
Why not escape?
Why not escape!
His question echoed in Ye Mu's ears.
Why run away?
She chose Jiang Si, she insisted on marrying him, she believed he would rise to prominence, she pawned her dowry to hire a famous teacher for him, she helped him navigate the social circles of powerful families and made arrangements for him, he loved her and trusted her, and their love was very deep.
Jiang Si was just too busy.
The affairs of the Hanlin Academy were heavy. He had to serve the emperor and strive for his future. He would not return home until late at night. Meetings were brief, and he was unable to spare the time to relieve the troubles of the inner chambers.
They rarely argued, but any disagreements always stemmed from her mother-in-law.
An idea popped into Ye Mu's head. He took a deep breath, suppressed the lump in his throat, and tried his best to remain calm. "Imperial Preceptor."
Wen Kong looked up.
"What happened today was my mother-in-law's foolishness, which desecrated the purity of Buddhism and insulted the Imperial Preceptor." Ye Mu straightened his thin back, clutching the soft liquid tightly in his sleeve. "I apologize on her behalf, and only ask the Imperial Preceptor for mercy to give me another way out."
The room was silent, with only the lingering smoke from the incense burner remaining.
"What she seeks is nothing more than offspring." Ye Mu gradually calmed down. "The Imperial Preceptor just said that offspring are predestined and cannot be forced. This is a profound truth, but... if I were to say that this word 'unhelpful' would also be a relief for me, would the Imperial Preceptor believe me?"
She looked at Wen Kong, the ancient Buddha with lowered eyes, his eyes full of compassion.
Ye Mu made up his mind, "Please grant my request, Imperial Preceptor. If she comes to bother me again in the future, please tell her that if she wants to have children, I, who am burdened with karmic obstacles, must go to Baoxiang Temple every day, sit quietly in front of the Buddha, listen to the Imperial Preceptor's exposition of the true scriptures, and cleanse my mind and body. Perhaps then I can sense a glimmer of divine secrets."
She paused, meeting Wen Kong's gaze, "In this way, I can both satisfy her obsession and silence the gossips, and also give myself a moment to catch my breath."
As long as she spends her days in the temple away from her mother-in-law, finding a quiet corner and temporarily escaping the filth of her home, she and Jiang Si will not have any disputes, and she will not dislike Li Shi at home.
“This move is suspected of using the tranquility of the Buddhist temple to escape the world, and it may also tarnish the reputation of Baoxiang Temple. I hereby swear that if the National Preceptor takes pity on me, I will strictly abide by the rules, sit quietly in the quiet room, and listen attentively to the true meaning of the Dharma. I will never be lazy or disrespectful in the slightest, nor will I dare to cause any trouble. When my husband has time to settle down the family affairs, I will return home in the evening and will no longer bother him.”
Silence fell again in the meditation room.
Wen Kong stood in the shadows, the sunlight slowly shifting and falling on his face, the contrast between light and shadow mirroring his thoughts, which Ye Mu was uncertain about.
Finally, a very soft response came, like a withered leaf falling to the ground.
"That's fine."
It was desolate and solemn, without any waves or ripples.
But to Ye Mu, it was like a thunderclap, leaving a deep impression on her.
Although my mother-in-law was nagging and every word she said was harsh, there was only one sentence that was pleasing to the ear: Wen Kong is a true immortal.
Even if he wasn't, he still accomplished something that even gods couldn't do.
Ye Mu thought to himself, "Wen Kong is much more effective than praying to gods and Buddhas."
A note from the author:
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