Chapter 268 Reminds Me of Someone
Birds singing, mountains quiet.
The cicadas are chirping and the forest is quiet.
Ciguang Mountain seems even more quiet in early summer.
The rapeseed stalks in the vegetable garden are tall and straight, with clusters of small flower buds on top.
Wuzhen was busy tending to the vegetable garden with his fellow brothers early in the morning. His two chubby little hands had pinched away countless small insects.
He likes to come to the vegetable garden very much. He feels a sense of accomplishment when he sees the fruits and vegetables growing bigger and bigger day by day.
The flowers of the vegetables are also very beautiful, even more beautiful than the wild flowers on the mountain road.
"Wuzhen, it's time to have breakfast." Senior Brother Wujing called out while carrying a bucket of water.
"Senior brother, I'm here." Wuzhen scooped some water from the bucket to wash his hands, then went to the kitchen with full of anticipation.
He took out a few big round white steamed buns and a plate of side dishes from the kitchen and carried them back to the small courtyard.
He always brought breakfast back home because his master in the courtyard would prepare extra nuts and dried fruit for him to eat with his steamed buns.
Wuzhen would also make himself a cup of sweet honey water.
"Master, breakfast is here." Beads of sweat slid down the sides of Wuzhen's forehead.
Master Mingdeng had just finished cleaning the courtyard and came into the house to have breakfast with Wuzhen.
The master and the disciple sat facing each other at a small dining table.
"Master, on my way back from serving breakfast, I heard that someone from the palace had come to donate a lot of money. They said that not only has the prince recovered from his illness, but he's also been laughing a lot lately."
Wuzhen told his master the news he had heard.
A few days ago, the Empress Dowager sent someone to give a sum of money, which was enough to cover the annual expenses of the entire Ciguang Temple.
Another amount of incense money was delivered today, more than the last time.
"I understand." Master Mingdeng nodded.
Master Mingdeng's reaction was indifferent.
Not only Mingdeng, but no one in the temple seemed happy about receiving the money. At most, they planned to increase the amount of vegetarian meals provided to poor families next month.
There are many disciples in Ciguang Temple, and only a part of them are on the top of the mountain.
Ciguang Mountain is also very large. In addition to the temple on the top of the mountain, there are also many houses built on the mountainside and in the valley, where many disciples practice in seclusion.
However, because the houses on the mountainside and in the valley are hidden and remote, almost no one has ever seen them.
Wuzhen only knew that there were dozens of monks in the temple on the top of the mountain, but he had no idea how many disciples there were on the entire mountain, and he had never asked.
If he asked, Master Mingdeng might say there were hundreds of people, or maybe thousands of people.
With so many people needing clothing and food, the cost will be considerable.
But Ciguang Temple has never lacked food or clothing, and it seems that they have never lacked money.
Although they ate simple meals, wore old linen robes, and were very frugal when buying things when they went down the mountain, no one went hungry in Ciguang Mountain.
"Master, today's pine nuts are so fragrant and oily." Wuzhen put the nuts from the plate between the steamed buns.
There were almonds, pine nuts and dried fruit on the plate.
The almonds and pine nuts are shiny and oily, and their rich aroma bursts into your mouth.
Wuzhen had been to the market at the foot of the mountain, but his fellow practitioners had never taken him to buy nuts, as he thought they were very cheap.
The fact is that these pine nuts are very expensive.
People have to climb up tall pine trees to pick pine cones, then take out the pine nuts from them, and go through processes such as shelling to get the pine nut kernels.
The process is complicated and labor-intensive, and the output is limited. Ordinary people in Chang'an simply cannot afford such good pine nuts.
Wuzhen ate a few bites of steamed buns and drank a few sips of honey water happily.
There was a honey jar in the next room, and Wuzhen would dig two spoonfuls of honey from the jar every day.
Every time the honey jar is almost empty, new honey is added and you can never finish it.
The honey he ate had a thick texture, and when poured, the lines were smooth and even. It was mellow in the mouth and had a floral fragrance.
It's definitely not a cheap item.
Wuzhen eats such good nuts and such good honey every day.
Master Mingdeng never mentioned wasting money, he just reminded Wuzhen to eat well every day.
Wuzhen said several words while eating breakfast, but Mingdeng didn't respond much, just said "hmm" softly a few times.
Mingdeng was a little absent-minded.
He has been practicing for many years and rarely acts like this.
But today Mingdeng's consciousness drifted away uncontrollably, floating to the edge of a hidden cave on the mountainside.
The secret of the entire mountain is hidden there, and no one knows it except themselves.
Over the years, they have been cautious and no outsiders have ever been there.
But in these two days, they found signs that the stone gate had been moved.
A master has been here.
As to which faction he belongs to, it is still uncertain.
"Master Mingdeng, two pilgrims came to the temple and said they were looking for Wuzhen." A disciple said at the gate.
"Looking for me" Wu Zhen was a little surprised.
He hasn't memorized many Buddhist scriptures yet.
Wuzhen was very curious, so he put down the honey water in his hand and went to take a look.
Ming Deng finished his steamed bun and said, "Master, I'll go with you to take a look."
The master and disciple walked to the front yard of the temple and saw Su Zhizhi waving at them.
Wu Zhen saw Su Zhizhi and remembered that this was the little donor who helped him pick fruit last time:
"Are you here to see me, benefactor?
Su Zhizhi was carrying a small package:
"It's me. My father and I came to the mountain together today. My father wants to listen to the chanting."
Hao Ren stood beside Su Zhizhi and bowed humbly to Master Mingdeng and his apprentice:
"Master Mingdeng, Little Master Wuzhen."
He came to the mountain because he had a suspicion in his heart that he wanted to verify with his own eyes. To ensure safety, people from Heishan Mansion had already ambushed in the mountain in advance.
He hadn't originally planned to bring Su Zhizhi here today.
But when Su Zhizhi heard that Hao Ren was coming to Ciguang Temple, she insisted that she also go and said she wanted to treat the little monk to a meal.
How could Hao Ren resist his daughter? He had no choice but to bring her along.
Hao Ren: "Master Mingdeng, I have long heard of your name. I wonder if I will have the honor of discussing the sutras with you today?"
Mingdeng remembered that he had met Su Zhizhi last time. She was a very lively and lovely girl.
When I saw Hao Ren today, for some reason, my heart skipped a beat.
Master Mingdeng: "Amitabha, well done. Since your heart is devoted to the Dharma, how can I refuse you? Please follow me into the hall."
Hao Ren looked at Su Zhizhi.
Su Zhizhi and Wuzhen had already found a small stone bench to sit on, and she didn't forget to say:
"Dad, you go in alone. I don't understand the Buddhist scriptures. I'll wait for you outside."
Hao Ren glanced at the grass and trees outside the temple gate swaying in the wind before saying:
"Okay, don't wander off."
Hao Ren followed Master Mingdeng into the side hall and closed the door.
Wu Zhen said to Su Zhizhi, "Little donor, your father seems very worried about you. My master is the same way, always telling me not to talk to strangers."
Su Zhizhi: "Because there are a lot of bad guys out there, and I've caught a lot of them."
Wuzhen's eyes fell on the small package that Su Zhizhi was opening.
The small package contained a food box with some vegetarian snacks from the Black Mountain Restaurant.
Su Zhizhi: "Last time you treated my mother and me to dried fruit and honey water, this time I'll treat you to something too."
Wuzhen's eyes lit up. No wonder he saw the sky full of morning glow when he woke up this morning. It turned out that there was something delicious to eat today.
Su Zhizhi asked Wuzhen to try the salted dried plums.
"This box is all prepared by my mother and is given to you."
Wuzhen ate one and was overjoyed: "Actually, your father doesn't need to worry. We are all very good people in the temple. There are no bad people."
Su Zhizhi: "My father is also a very good person. I think he will have a great time chatting with your master."
Inside the hall.
Dust motes danced in beams of light.
The beam of light came in through the window panes and cast horizontal and vertical shadows on the ground.
There are gods on the wall and cushions on the ground.
Hao Ren and Master Mingdeng were kneeling on a cushion with two bowls of tea on a small coffee table in the middle.
Mingdeng was looking into Hao Ren's eyes.
Can't see through.
Hao Ren was also looking into Ming Deng's eyes.
Can't see clearly.
The two spoke in low voices.
Master Mingdeng talks about Buddhism, Buddhist scriptures, and reincarnation and cause and effect.
Hao Ren listened attentively with a faint smile. After Master Mingdeng finished speaking, he said:
"Master Mingdeng is very wise. He reminds me of someone."
Master Mingdeng's expression was as smiling as Maitreya Buddha, waiting for Hao Ren to continue.
"Prince Minghuai." Hao Ren looked at Master Mingdeng's expression.
Master Mingdeng looked calm and composed: "Oh? Do you know Prince Minghuai?"
Hao Ren: "Yes."
Ming Deng: "Prince Minghuai has been dead for a long time, more than twenty years now. If he were still alive, he would be several years older than me. You look about thirty years old, could it be that he knew a noble person when he was young?"
Hao Ren stood up and walked to the Bodhisattva statue in the hall:
"The Crown Prince Minghuai, whom I knew, was a man of great talent and fame. It's a pity that he died young, tragically in the Eastern Palace."
Mingdeng closed his eyes: "Amitabha."
Hao Ren continued, "Not only do I recognize it, I also know that the late emperor once gifted the crown prince a golden mountain. However, the crown prince later died suddenly, and the mountain disappeared."
The bright lamp smiles even when it closes its eyes:
"What does the donor want to say?"
Hao Ren's eyes narrowed slightly, and his voice was like a cold spring hitting a stone:
"I want to say that I am not only thinking of Prince Minghuai, but also of Prince Minghuai's brother, the Second Prince Murong Ji."
"Rumor has it that the Second Prince had a gentle nature. When his elder brother and the late Emperor passed away one after another, he was devastated by grief, becoming delirious and insane. One day, he left the palace alone, and has been gone ever since, as if he were a yellow crane."
Master Mingdeng opened his eyes.
The kindness and compassion in his eyes disappeared, and there seemed to be a cold blade in his eyes, capable of cutting people's flesh and bones.
"Is this rumor true or false? I hope Master Mingdeng can give me some advice."
Hao Ren paced around the hall for a while, then sat back down at the low table, meeting Mingdeng's sharp gaze.
"No, perhaps I should call you Master..."
Second Prince."
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