Chapter 96 Thunderclap Temple
On June 25th, Li Xiaoxiao, dressed as a servant, set off from the county government office with Zhao Jian in a carriage to Guiyuan Mountain in Luzhou to pick up Meng Guanqi.
With a blade of grass dangling from her mouth, Li Xiaoxiao chatted with Zhao Jian the whole way: "Brother Jian, when is Xiumei's due date? Will we be able to make it back in time?"
Zhao Jian said, "Around the Mid-Autumn Festival, there's still time."
Even if there's enough time, Xiumei is definitely in the most uncomfortable stage of her pregnancy, how can her husband leave her side for too long? Li Xiaoxiao said, "I told you I could come by myself, and asked you to stay home and take care of Xiumei, but you wouldn't..."
Zhao Jian immediately objected: "How can that be? Master and Madam are worried about letting you travel alone. What if you encounter thieves?"
Li Xiaoxiao touched the two small knives hanging at her waist: "They're really unlucky to run into me like this..."
She's got two knives up her sleeve now!
She also brought the serpent dagger that the crown prince had given her, in case she needed to rely on her master's power to intimidate others.
The two joked and laughed along the way, encountering several heavy rains along the way. They traveled and stopped frequently, which took them longer than usual to reach the territory of Luzhou. It was Li Xiaoxiao's turn to drive the carriage, and she exclaimed, "Brother Jian, come out and see!"
Zhao Jian, who was dozing off, hurriedly got out of the carriage, lifted the curtain, and was taken aback: "This isn't that temple—"
Li Xiaoxiao said, "Yes, this is that dilapidated temple. How did it become like this?"
The original dilapidated temple was nestled deep in the woods, with only a corner of its eaves visible. The path leading to the temple was overgrown with weeds and in a state of disrepair. If you weren't specifically looking for it, you wouldn't even notice that there was a temple here.
But now, even from a distance, one can see horse-drawn carriages and oxcarts parked along the roadside, and women carrying baskets heading towards the dilapidated temple. The woods are filled with relaxed and cheerful laughter, making it seem quite lively.
Li Xiaoxiao found a place to stop the carriage and tied it to a tree: "Let's go up and take a look too."
The once dilapidated path had been paved with blue bricks, and the tall trees on both sides had been cut down and replaced with low-lying flowers and shrubs, leading to a magnificent temple. The plaque at the top of the temple had three large characters, "Jing Lei Temple," written in gold on a blue background. Several incense burners were placed in front of the temple, and groups of worshippers held lit incense sticks and candles, praying devoutly. The ash at the bottom was thick, showing that the temple was very popular.
This dilapidated temple, far from any village or shop, has been renovated and transformed into a bustling place of worship! And there even seem to be monks inside, setting up small tables and interpreting fortune sticks.
Li Xiaoxiao and Zhao Jian were both extremely shocked. Was this still the dilapidated temple that was about to collapse in her memory?
With a look of amazement, she stepped into the temple. In the very center sat a Maitreya Buddha, his body gleaming with golden light and a radiant smile. Beneath him was a wooden table made of fine rosewood. In front of the Buddha was an offering table about two meters long, covered with offerings such as fruit and steamed buns. Six incense burners were lined up in a row. On the offering table were three cushions, and on each cushion knelt a person, chanting prayers with great piety.
Li Xiaoxiao whispered to Zhao Jian, "Wow, things change so much in just three days! The Half-Buddha has actually turned his life around and is even receiving offerings now!"
Zhao Jian glared at her, signaling her not to talk nonsense.
Seeing the two arrive empty-handed, a young monk ran out and asked, "Greetings, esteemed benefactors. Are you here to burn incense?"
Zhao Jian said somewhat embarrassedly, "We didn't know the temple was so well-built, and we didn't bring any incense or candles."
The young monk suddenly realized: "It's alright. As long as you have Buddha in your heart, what's there to fear about not having incense and candles? Our temple has free incense and candles available. Please come over here to get them."
Zhao Jian glanced at the magnificent temple and couldn't remember its previous dilapidated state. With his wife about to give birth, he couldn't help but feel a sense of piety and trust when he encountered such a prosperous temple. After respectfully offering incense to Maitreya Buddha, he also wanted to ask for a talisman for the safety of his wife and child.
Upon hearing his request, the young monk readily agreed: "Wait here, I'll go get it for you right away. Our Jinglei Temple's Peace Amulets are the most efficacious; each one has been blessed by the abbot."
The little monk brought over a peace charm, and Zhao Jian donated fifty coins for incense oil, making the little monk so happy he couldn't see his eyes.
Seeing that he was young, Li Xiaoxiao couldn't help but ask, "How long have you been here?"
The little monk said, "We've been here for over four months now!"
More than four months? Does that mean they arrived as soon as the dilapidated temple was repaired?
Li smiled and said, "But this temple is in the middle of nowhere, so how many people come to worship?"
The little monk proudly said, "It's incredibly powerful! This temple was personally ordered to be built by His Highness the Crown Prince, it's extremely efficacious! Look at the incense ash in front of the cauldron, it was burned by travelers like you and the local people!"
Li Xiaoxiao was shocked: "Nonsense! I used to live here. There wasn't a soul in sight for dozens of miles along this road. Where would any commoners come from to burn incense?"
The little monk got anxious: "Why would I lie to you? They all live on the other side of the mountain. Before the temple was built, there was no road to get here, but after it was built, they built a new shortcut, and now many more people come here!"
So that's how it is. There was actually a village behind the mountain. No wonder they couldn't find a place to stay back then.
Li Xiaoxiao said, "Temples elsewhere are called Nanhua Temple, Putuo Temple, Guoqing Temple, so why is this one called Jinglei Temple?"
The young monk puffed out his chest: "That's naturally related to the rise of our temple!"
The young monk's loud voice attracted all the pilgrims around him, who listened with great interest to his story about the temple's origins.
Seeing so many people surrounding him, the young monk became even more excited, almost gesturing wildly: "You all know about His Highness the Crown Prince being chased by assassins before the New Year, right? At that time, he encountered a blizzard and, with nowhere to go, hid in our temple, almost freezing to death. Buddha was merciful and willingly offered his altar to keep the Crown Prince warm, his true form turning into a pile of mud to shield the injured Crown Prince from the assassins. But the assassins came wave after wave, entering the temple only to find a pile of mud, never a trace of the Crown Prince. So they gathered under a big tree outside the temple to discuss how to track down the Crown Prince."
A clear voice picked up the little monk's childish voice: "As a result, in the dead of winter, amidst heavy snow, a thunderclap descended from the sky, striking the large tree directly and killing all the assassins hiding beneath it. After the assassins died, the prince's true form appeared behind the mud pile. When the soldiers arrived at dawn, they discovered that the tree, as thick as several people could hug, had collapsed entirely, and beneath it lay the bodies of ten assassins, charred black by the lightning, leaving only bare stumps. These stumps are now located a hundred meters from the temple, and we have enshrined them here."
The little monk was interrupted and pouted, complaining, "Senior brother, you stole my words!"
The young monk's senior brother, a young monk of seventeen or eighteen, smiled slightly upon hearing his junior brother's words: "Liaokong, you are too excited. You are just telling the pilgrims the facts. Just take it in stride and don't make things up."
The young monk Liaokong lowered his head in shame. His master had always told him to take it easy, but he would easily get excited while talking and would exaggerate things several times, which had earned him punishment from his master many times.
Some of the onlookers were hearing the legend for the first time, while others had heard it several times before, and each time they were captivated by it. Upon hearing this, one of them immediately chimed in: "This is not just a legend. My brother-in-law's brother-in-law works in the government office in Luzhou. He was even involved in carrying back those ten charred corpses under the first tree!"
The young monk's senior brother smiled knowingly: "Amitabha, this is indeed the truth. It was widely circulated in Luzhou before the New Year. After His Highness the Crown Prince escaped the ordeal and returned to the capital, he deeply remembered the Buddha's kindness and sent his personal eunuch back to fulfill his vow. He specially commissioned the re-creation of the golden body of Maitreya Buddha to thank the Buddha for saving his life. That's how our Jinglei Temple came to be."
Liao Ran casually pointed in the direction outside the temple: "The big tree that was struck down by the winter lightning is now just a charred stump. If any of you are interested, you can go and take a look."
Those who had never seen it before immediately crowded over, including Li Xiaoxiao and Zhao Jian. Sure enough, less than a hundred meters from the temple, there stood a charred, withered tree stump surrounded by a ring of blue bricks about half a person's height. Several incense burners were placed under the bricks, and the pilgrims who had come along couldn't help but take out incense and light it.
Watching the worshippers devoutly pay homage to the tree roots she had scorched with her supernatural powers, Li Xiaoxiao, after hearing the entire "legendary story," also looked completely stunned.
It's one thing for others, but why does Zhao Jian also have such a convinced expression? Has he forgotten that he was there that day too?
She saved the prince, she burned the altar, and the half-Buddha turned into a pile of mud was naturally her doing. It's obvious that this story is fabricated, so why is he showing such a sleepwalking expression?
Aside from the truth about the dead tree, which Zhao Jian was unaware of, he actually followed the worshippers to pray for everything else that he had personally experienced.
Seeing that everyone else had offered incense, the young monk stood still, looking at the withered tree stump with an expression of utter dismay: "Female benefactor, aren't you going to offer a stick of incense to the Thunderclap Divine Tree?"
Li Xiaoxiao picked at her ear: "What wood?"
The young monk said, "The Thunderclap Divine Tree is the name that His Highness the Crown Prince personally bestowed upon this divine tree."
Li laughed and said, "Isn't that just a locust tree stump? What thunderous divine tree..."
Upon hearing this, not only did the young monk's expression change, but the expressions of the worshippers also changed, as if her words had blasphemed their gods. They glared angrily at Li Xiaoxiao, almost ready to unleash a torrent of curses.
Zhao Jian broke out in a cold sweat upon hearing this, and immediately grabbed her sleeve and pulled her outside: "Xiaoxiao, it's getting late, let's hurry on our way and try to get into Luzhou City before dark."
He dragged her away, half-carrying her, until they reached the main road. Once he was sure no one was following, he said with a helpless expression, "You dare to speak nonsense in front of Buddha? Those pilgrims come all this way to burn incense; they are all very devout and faithful..."
Li Xiaoxiao looked at him strangely: "Brother Jian, it's one thing for the Crown Prince to fool others, but you were there that day. What about turning into a pile of mud to block the Crown Prince's true form, what about offering up the altar for warmth... you actually believed it?"
Zhao Jian retorted, "Then how do you explain that thunderbolt that killed ten people? Those two young monks weren't wrong, were they? We saw it with our own eyes that day. What else could it be but a miracle?"
Li Xiaoxiao tentatively asked, "Perhaps this is just a coincidence? We just happened to run into each other?"
Zhao Jian said, "You think it's a coincidence, but others think it's a miracle. How can you use your own ideas to change others?"
See? She couldn't even convince Zhao Jian, so how could she convince the world that it wasn't some kind of Thunder God Tree, but really just a locust tree stump...
Li Xiaoxiao opened her mouth, but in the end she closed it.
She couldn't very well tell Zhao Jian that she was the one who shot it, could she? This is a real headache.
Zhao Jian thought he had convinced her and drove off towards Luzhou with satisfaction.
When Li Xiaoxiao and Zhao Jian arrived in Luzhou City, it was almost dark. They found an inn to stay in and drove to Guiyuan Mountain the next day.
The two climbed from the foot of the mountain to the top, registered their names at the gatehouse, and learned that Meng Guanqi was still in class. So they went to find Asheng first.
More than half a year had passed since they last met. Twelve-year-old Ah Sheng had grown taller and was starting to look like a young boy. When he saw the two of them arrive, he cheered and jumped right onto Zhao Jian: "Ahhhhh! Brother Jian, Sister Xiaoxiao, you're finally here! I've missed you so much!"
Zhao Jian helplessly spun the excited Asheng around twice before putting him down: "Have you been looking forward to our arrival for a long time?"
Ah Sheng nodded vigorously: "I've been looking forward to this day for months and days, and finally today has arrived. We can finally leave this place."
Li Xiaoxiao looked around his room curiously: "Isn't it better to be in the academy?"
Ah Sheng cried, “The master here doesn’t let me serve the young master. Except for the two days off each month, the young master has to do everything himself. When I have nothing to do, the young master makes me study… Waaah, I’m not cut out for studying. When the young master sees that I can’t learn, he keeps punishing me… I miss home so much. I want to go back. I want to eat Mama Mao’s cooking.”
"You're already complaining as soon as we meet. If the headmaster finds out, he'll think he's abusing you~" A clear voice came from outside, followed by footsteps. A young man in a blue robe and a black student cap appeared at the door, his tall figure almost blocking the doorway.
He stood with his back to the light, and when Li Xiaoxiao looked out, she felt that the light was dazzling, as if a layer of gold was applied to him, making his face appear even more like jade and his appearance even more stunning.
Li Xiaoxiao looked at Meng Guanqi in surprise, speechless for a long time.
How come Xiaobaicai has changed so much in just over half a year?
The baby fat on her face is gone, her eyebrows are straight, her nose is high, her eyes are bright, and her jawline is clear and smooth. The only thing that hasn't changed is her fair skin.
Li Xiaoxiao walked blankly to Meng Guanqi and compared their heights. At the beginning of the year, he was about the same height as her, but now she only reached his nose.
Li Xiaoxiao is considered tall for a girl, but Meng Guanqi is fifteen years old this year and is already half a head taller than her. Moreover, boys of this age grow taller every day, and he will only grow taller!
She walked up to him, compared her height to his, and then pinched his arm. He even had some muscle! He wasn't the same soft, cuddly girl he used to be!
Li Xiaoxiao felt like a mother hen watching her chicks grow up, and couldn't help but sigh, "Little chick, you've grown up and become strong."
While she was sizing up Meng Guanqi, Meng Guanqi was also sizing her up.
He looked at her with a somewhat greedy gaze. In the more than six months since they last met, she hadn't changed much, except that her eyes were brighter, her nose was straighter, her smile was sweeter, and she was very lively, looking like she had endless energy.
Meng Guanqi felt a warm current rise from his chest and rush to his face. He tried to suppress it with a little panic, but his ears still turned red. His heart was pounding, his throat was tight and itchy, and his gaze involuntarily shifted away, not daring to look at her again.
He carefully pushed away her hand that was gripping his arm, protesting softly and somewhat awkwardly, "Speak properly, don't touch me."
Li Xiaoxiao exclaimed, "I didn't expect that our young master would have built up so much muscle after just over half a year! Looks like he's been through a lot these past few months!"
Ah Sheng said, "Of course! When you first arrived, the headmaster said you were too weak and made you climb mountains every few days. You fell ill from exhaustion several times..."
"Is that so?!" Li Xiaoxiao exclaimed in surprise. "Why didn't you tell me when you wrote the letter?"
Ever since she made charcoal pencils, every time he sent a letter back, she would write a long, rambling message, so much so that Magistrate Meng was too lazy to even look at her. So, even though Meng Guanqi was at Wanshan Academy, he knew about the little thing that happened: her ox had accidentally injured its leg on a plow.
Meng Guanqi's cheeks flushed red, and she turned her head away, ignoring her.
He was too embarrassed to admit that he had fallen ill from climbing mountains. In the beginning, he had suffered a lot, but after persisting for so long, his physical condition was much better than before. He was no longer weak and frail, and he no longer fell ill so easily.
Meng Guanqi coughed lightly: "It's nothing serious, there's nothing to say... My luggage is already packed. I don't need to bring clothes or shoes, just these books. After the provincial examination, whether I pass or fail, I will come back as soon as possible to continue my studies."
Master Gu's original words were: "Although you are intelligent, you are still young. Compared with your senior classmates, you have had far fewer years of study. After you finish taking the provincial examination, do not waste any time after the results are released. Come back to class immediately. Dr. Liu has already developed a detailed study plan based on your progress. You cannot slack off at all during these three years. Only then will you have a chance to pass the exam in three years."
Meng Guanqi's heart pounded wildly. Headmaster Gu was already instructing him on how to prepare for the imperial examination. Was he really that sure that he would pass?
Seeing Meng Guanqi's dazed expression, Headmaster Gu smiled slightly: "Has Guanqi been engaged?"
Meng Guanqi's face flushed red: "Not, not yet."
Looking at Meng Guanqi's beautiful face, Gu Shanzhang's admiration deepened: "You saved the Crown Prince by a twist of fate, and you are as handsome as Fan An. If you pass the imperial examination, those matchmakers who have been waiting for you will probably be knocking down your door..."
Meng Guanqi suddenly seemed to remember something, his face paled, and a resolute look flashed in his eyes. He then bowed to Headmaster Gu and said, "Please understand, sir, I do not wish to arrange a marriage before passing the imperial examination."
Headmaster Gu was taken aback: "Why is that?"
Meng Guanqi pursed his lips and remained silent.
Headmaster Gu frowned and said, "Nonsense! Even if you pass the provincial examination this year, you won't be able to take the metropolitan examination for another three years. You'll be eighteen in three years, so how can you guarantee that you'll pass on your first try? If you don't pass, you'll never be able to find a spouse for the rest of your life."
Meng Guanqi lowered his head, unable to speak.
Headmaster Gu frowned and said, "Does your family have other plans? Do you want those high-ranking officials in the capital to stage a 'selection of a son-in-law' contest?"
Meng Guanqi denied it, saying, "Sir, you are wise. My family has no such intention. This—" He raised his eyes to look at Headmaster Meng, "This is my idea. I will arrange the marriage after I pass the imperial examination, so that I will have more options."
A slight thought crossed Gu Shanzhang's mind, and a look of doubt flashed in his eyes.
If Meng Guanqi really succeeds in the imperial examination in three years, becoming a newly appointed scholar at the age of eighteen, with a prestigious family background and having done a favor for the crown prince, he will truly have a bright future. When he does find a wife then, he will have many more options. He can not only arrange a marriage between people of equal social standing, but he can even marry the daughter of a noble family or a high-ranking official.
If his wife's family is influential, it can greatly benefit his career.
Thinking about it this way, his motivation for doing so is not incomprehensible.
But is Meng Guanqi that kind of person? This is where Professor Gu's doubts lie.
After enrolling at Wanshan Academy, Meng Guanqi was the youngest student in the academy and had the best chance of passing the imperial examination. Almost every teacher who taught him knew how arrogant he was. If he disagreed with a teacher's point of view, he could stand and debate with the teacher for an hour without drinking a drop of water. When bullied by older classmates, he would not, like his father, try to downplay the issue. Instead, he would bravely stand up and propose that academic performance should be the deciding factor. If he fell behind in his studies, he would catch up even if it meant working tirelessly. Even though he was the weakest in terms of physical strength, he persevered and trained himself.
It is absolutely unacceptable for Headmaster Gu to believe that such a proud student would use his family connections to advance his career.
Perhaps he really has other plans?
Headmaster Gu felt a little regretful. He had a cousin who was about the same age as Meng Guanqi. She was gentle and virtuous, and her father was a powerful fifth-rank official. He had intended to play matchmaker for them to see if they were destined to be together, but after hearing Meng Guanqi's plan, he gave up on the idea.
My niece is already fourteen years old this year. How can she wait for an uncertain future? Fortunately, there are many suitors, so she doesn't have to worry about not finding a husband.
After all, he was just the headmaster of Wanshan Academy. Meng Guanqi had not become his disciple, so he had no right to interfere with his marriage. Therefore, he quickly put the matter aside and turned his attention to his studies: "Since you have made up your mind, you should know how tight your time is. If you cannot pass the imperial examination in three years, your parents will definitely not let you do whatever you want and will insist that you get married. Are you prepared?"
Meng Guanqi's gaze was firm: "The students have already made up their minds and will definitely work very, very hard."
Headmaster Gu nodded: "Good, remember what you said today, do your best in the autumn examination, and the gentlemen and I await your good news."
Meng Guanqi bowed deeply to Headmaster Gu again before leaving.
Since Meng Guanqi only took books with her, her luggage wasn't heavy, and Zhao Jian could carry it all by himself.
Meng Guanqi took the lead and walked ahead, feeling the refreshing mountain breeze on his face. He sighed slightly, turned to Li Xiaoxiao and said, "I walked this road every two days for the first two months after I came here."
Li smiled and said, "Can you climb from the bottom of the mountain to the top in one go right now?"
Meng Guanqi's smile froze: "Climb from the bottom of the mountain to the top in one go? Do you know how many steps there are?"
Li Xiaoxiao guessed: "More than two thousand?"
Meng Guanqi, with a dead fish eye: "Two thousand one hundred and twelve steps. Do you think a normal person can climb from the bottom of the mountain to the top in one go?"
Li smiled and said, "Sure, I can climb up and down several times."
Meng Guanqi turned her head away and ignored her.
Why is it so hard to hear a word of praise from her?
Also, why did he bring up such a humiliating topic in front of her?
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Author's Note: I made a mistake earlier; I think I wrote the provincial examination date as September. It's now corrected to August. [Hands clasped in prayer]
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