Chapter 49 Hada If coming to worship Buddha is an attitude, then I am willing to...
If coming to worship Buddha is an attitude, then being willing to contribute money to build a golden statue is full sincerity.
The great lama chanted a Buddhist chant and said with a smile: "Princess, you are kind and generous, and you will be blessed."
Mu Xue also smiled softly: "In the past, when I was in the palace, Khan Ama loved to worship Buddha. I was young at that time and didn't quite understand it. Now I gradually understand it."
"I was bored on the way to Mobei, so I asked the embroiderer to make some small things. I thought you might like them, so I took the liberty to bring them here."
She glanced at Nanny Wu behind her, and Nanny Wu understood and came forward with a box in her hand.
When I opened it, I found it was a silk hada with an embroidered Buddha image. The material was excellent, with a good luster. The Buddha image was embroidered on it skillfully with fine stitches, which was both novel and beautiful. Even a well-informed Lama could not help but sigh: "This hada with an embroidered Buddha image is very delicate."
Muxue took out the embroidered Buddha Hada from the box, held it in both hands, and raised it above her head to show her respect for the great Lama.
"I am very glad to hear you say that."
She presented the Hada to the great Lama, who bowed his head slightly and put on the Hada embroidered with Buddha statue.
Mother Zhao, who was standing at the back, immediately came forward with a small bronze mirror so that the great lama could take a look.
"It's really good." The great lama nodded slowly.
Seeing that he liked it, Mu Xue smiled and said, "I have made a lot of Hada like this, all made by a businessman under me. It's boring to store them there. Why not take them out and give them to people in need? It's also a pleasure. But the embroiderer is working hard, so I have to give her a few copper coins as labor fee. Although my subordinates suggested this, I don't know if it's a good idea. I can't make up my mind, so I brought this Hada to you to see."
The great lama took the embroidered Buddha Hada in his hand and looked at it carefully, with a faint smile on his face, and weighed the pros and cons in his mind.
The Qing princess clearly wanted to ask for his permission to specialize in this special Hada style. No wonder she was so generous and casually took out a thousand taels of silver to build a golden statue. Even in Beijing, few women would donate such a large amount of money to the temple.
But since she was willing to ask, it meant that the princess respected her. It was also a disguised gesture of goodwill. Otherwise, she could just sell Hada like other Han merchants. Nowadays, almost all the white Hada circulating on the grassland were sold by merchants.
It was a small matter. The fourth princess was of noble status and behaved with propriety. The great lama remembered that his subordinates had reported to him that his nephew also liked this princess. Such a person would surely make a difference when Dunduobu Dorji inherited the Khan's throne. There was no need to offend her for such a small matter. It would be better to do a favor.
Although he had made up his mind, the great lama was unwilling to agree so readily. He just smiled and said, "It is indeed a good thing." Then he did not make any comment.
Mu Xue looked at his expression and saw that he didn't look like he was going to refuse outright. She smiled and chatted with the great lama for a while about the story of Emperor Kangxi and the Empress Dowager worshipping Buddha in the palace.
While chatting, I was thinking how to convince him.
When the young lama served the tea, Mu Xue held the teacup and carefully looked at the tea leaves floating on the water. The tea that the great lama drank was the same good tea that the nobles in the capital drank. It was not comparable to ordinary brick tea. Such good tea was transported thousands of miles from the south, and it must have cost a lot.
She took a sip of tea and casually said, "Actually, no matter how good or exquisite a Hada is, it can't compare to the Hada that has been blessed by your temple. I actually want to ask for a favor from you and bring these Hada over. Since they have been blessed by the lamas in the temple, they can also be stained with the Buddha's aura and make good connections. But I feel bad for tiring the masters. I am willing to donate 40% of the profits from these Hada to the temple as temple property, but I don't know if this idea is mature."
The great lama laughed and said, "Since the princess has such a wish, why not? Even if the monks in the temple have to work harder, it is reasonable."
This is consent.
Mu Xue heaved a sigh of relief, and asked the eunuch Yan Xi to talk to the temple's steward later, and then sat and chatted with the great lama for a while. The host and the guest left happily.
After the people left, the little lama stepped forward to clean up the tea.
The great lama stood up, took off the embroidered Buddha scarf from his neck, took a look at it, and handed it to the lama serving beside him: "Dundubu Dorji really married a good wife."
The best time on the grassland is when there is abundant water and grass, and the sky is clear and the air is fresh.
Nadam is finally going to be held.
"Zana" was a small taiji of the Chechen Khanate, who followed their Khan to the Tushetu Khanate.
During the war with Dzungar, he was rewarded by the Qing court for his military achievements. In addition, he was a generous person and was willing to spend money.
I heard before that the Qing government had granted merchants special permission to trade in Mobei, and these merchants followed the four princesses of Fumeng to the Tushetu Khanate. Zana took the silver he was rewarded with to buy some things for his wife and children at home.
After arriving at the territory of the Tushetu Khanate and setting up their tent, Zana asked the person who was in charge of guiding them to settle down: "I heard that there are businessmen here. Where are they?"
"You mean the shopping street?" the man said, "It's right behind the Fourth Princess' tent. But you may have come a little late. By now, most of the merchants' goods have already been sold out."
"Then I have to go and take a look. It's impossible that everything is gone." The grassland is vast and sparsely populated, and there are few places to buy things. Zana is unwilling to give up.
He asked for directions and rode towards the trading street. He saw many people like him on the road, and some of them were recognized by the young taiji Zana. They greeted each other and found out that they were all going to the merchants to buy their goods.
From afar, I saw a wooden gate and two neatly arranged rows of merchants' tents. This was the so-called trading street.
Zana walked into the first tent first: "Hey, what good stuff do you have? Take it out and let us see it."
The guy watching over the tent said apologetically, "I'm so sorry, sir, we've sold out most of our stuff. Do you need anything? How about I write it down for you and give it to you directly when we get another batch of goods?"
"Then you run back and transport it again. Wouldn't it take another three months to come back? Besides, I don't live in the Tushetu Khanate. When the snow freezes in winter, where can I find you?"
Zana complained, walked out of the tent and headed towards the second house.
The result was - "Sorry, Taiji, we only have a few goods left." When he took them out, he saw that they were all leftovers. Zana was very disgusted and walked out.
How do these merchants do business? They don't even have enough goods. What do they sell when they don't have anything? Are they selling ghosts?
He was a little frustrated. Then he heard a familiar voice: "Hurry up and come to the back to have a look. There are silk and special Hada over there."
"Where, where?" Zana followed his acquaintance and rushed outside, only to see a long queue in front of the innermost tent.
He leaned his head out to take a look. Wow, what beautiful silk! It would look great on his wife and daughter if they were made into winter clothes! So he immediately joined the queue.
While waiting in line, he was still a little worried. What if the people in front of him bought out all the items and left him with nothing, just like the previous few stores? What should he do?
He told his acquaintance about his concerns, and the person in front of him turned around and said, "They won't sell out so quickly. They have limited quantities."
"Limited edition?"
"Yes, when the market opened before, the princess was also limited to buying here. They have always been like this." The man said, "Although there were many complaints at the time, it seems that there are still some benefits for those of us who came late."
As we chatted with each other, the time spent in line passed quickly.
Finally it was Zana's turn. He walked up and saw the things on the counter, and couldn't take his eyes off them.
Hey, it’s really strange, how come there are so many colorful Hada with different patterns and textures?
The guy was obviously used to the introduction, and he started with a very fluent introduction. For example, this kind of hada made of silk is just right for your status as a taiji. For example, the green hada symbolizes vitality and prosperity, and which hada is suitable for giving to elders to wish them health and longevity... In short, hadas of different colors have their own meanings. There are also some hadas embroidered with various beautiful and auspicious Buddhist patterns. It is said that some of the hadas in the box have been blessed by lamas themselves - this sounds very expensive, so Zana ignored it directly.
It simply dazzled him.
Finally, he decided to buy four red silk Hadas. His daughter was about to get married, and Hadas of this color would be both respectable and festive. It would surely make others envious at the wedding!
I was very happy when I was picking things, but I felt a little painful when I was paying.
Why? A piece of red silk Hada costs two sheep? In fact, such a small piece is more expensive than a large piece of silk.
He did bring some silver with him, and he felt a little distressed when he took it out. However, he heard the person behind him loudly asking, "Why are you hesitating? Do you want it or not? I also want a red Hada. You won't buy it for me!"
"Who said I won't buy it?" Zana stopped wasting time and took out the silver from the small bag hanging around his waist, poured it on the table, and said generously, "You give me some money."
The guys from other shops watched with envy.
Why did they sell all the goods at once? Well, because of this Nadam Festival, people from other tribes were more generous. If they had kept some goods and sold them now, they would definitely make more money.
On the day of the Nadam horse race, the great lama appeared wearing a goose yellow silk Hada embroidered with Buddha images.
Mu Xue saw the Mongolian princes and nobles present, and several of them subconsciously touched their Hada.
This great lama is really kind. This golden statue is worth it, she thought.
After being distracted for a while, a horse snorted in dissatisfaction. Muxue looked back and saw Dorji riding on the horse, his eyes were burning, just looking at her.
"It's time for the competition, you have to give me some blessings, right?"
Mu Xue smiled: "How can one ask for blessings for oneself?"
"I'll ask for it." Dorji turned over and dismounted, "Where's your Hada? I saw your maid carrying the box."
"Okay, it's yours, you can't get away."
Mu Xue took a multicolored Hada from the maid and said, "The five colors of blue, white, green, red, and yellow are all on it. I give you all the blessings. Bow your head."
Dorji smiled and lowered his head, allowing Muxue to put a colorful Hada on him.
"With your blessing, I will definitely win!"
Dorji held the saddle with his left hand, climbed onto the horse's back, and with a roar, he galloped towards the depths of the grassland.
The long wind made his colorful Hada sway gently.
The silver saddle shines on the white horse, which gallops like a meteor.
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