Wen Nongnong said angrily, "That kid clearly has bad intentions. You still dared to accept his food. If it really is poisoned, it will be too late to regret it."
A Tuo Jianghua said hesitantly, "I don't think so... Look, I've been eating this for so long and nothing's happened to me." As she spoke, she raised the rabbit meat in her hand and took a bite.
Wen Nongnong: "..."
Her words were wasted.
When they returned to the Zen temple, Lü Qiao had already gone to fetch the meals.
The food served in the temple is vegetarian, so all the dishes prepared are vegetarian.
Wen Nongnong invited A Tuo Jianghua to eat with her, but when she saw the vegetarian dishes on the table, she shook her head uninterestedly. "I'm full, I'm not eating anymore. You can eat by yourself. I'm going back now." After saying that, she couldn't help but feel glad again that she had just eaten roasted rabbit.
Seeing this, Wen Nongnong didn't insist, but only reminded her, "The Buddhist temple is a pure place, and you can't eat meat. Please be careful and let it go today, but don't eat it again next time."
Upon hearing this, Atuo Jianghua's face fell. She had originally planned to go to the back mountain for a barbecue the next day.
Thinking of something, she said hopefully, "Next time, we can just go a little further away, right?"
Wen Nongnong shrugged, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. She picked up a piece of vegetarian food with her chopsticks and was about to eat when Si Yi suddenly walked over and stopped her.
Wen Nongnong: "What's wrong?"
Si Yi didn't answer her. Instead, he took a silver needle and poked it in several dishes. Seeing that the silver needle hadn't changed color, he said, "It's ready to eat."
Wen Nongnong then realized what he meant and stared at him with wide eyes, "You're worried there's poison in the food?"
"Be careful when you're out and about. Besides, the master instructed that you must not be allowed to get into any trouble." After Si Yi finished speaking, he gestured for her to leave and then turned to go out.
Atuo Jianghua clicked her tongue in amazement, "Speaking of which, the Regent really cares about you."
A sweet feeling welled up in Wen Nongnong's heart, and she said without any modesty, "Yes, he originally told me not to come."
Atuo Jianghua said enviously, "I never would have guessed that someone like the Regent would be so caring."
Wen Nongnong picked up another piece of vegetarian food with her chopsticks, put it in her mouth, and upon hearing this, she found the vegetarian food to be delicious. She turned to her and said, "This vegetarian food is quite tasty. Would you like to try some? Besides, eating vegetarian food occasionally is good for your health."
A-Tuo shook her head like a rattle-drum, "Forget it, I'm leaving." After saying that, she disappeared in a flash, as if Wen Nongnong would force her to become a vegetarian.
Wen Nongnong shook her head.
The temple was especially quiet at night. Wen Nongnong lay in bed, listening to the chirping of insects outside, and drifted off to sleep.
Outside, Si Yi leaned against the porch with his sword in his arms, seemingly nonchalant, but in reality, his eyes were sharp and his ears were attentive to the surrounding movements.
Just then, a melodious tune drifted in from somewhere.
The music came out abruptly and seemed strange.
Si Yi's gaze sharpened, but he was not drawn to the music and remained standing still.
The music continued until almost dawn, when it finally disappeared.
Si frowned.
The music came on so abruptly and lasted until midnight, which was really strange.
...
Because there was a meditation session today, Empress Dowager Guo had already sent someone to inform everyone yesterday, so Wen Nongnong got up at dawn to wash and change her clothes, planning to go to the temple to listen to the master's lecture on Zen.
Although she couldn't understand it, she couldn't refuse.
After washing up and having a vegetarian meal, Wen Nongnong, escorted by Si Yi, left the Zen temple and headed towards the main courtyard.
When she arrived, she learned that the person giving a lecture on Zen to everyone that day was none other than Master Xuanqing.
Overjoyed, she quickly asked Si Yi to take her to pay a visit.
It was still very early, but Master Xuanqing was already in his meditation room.
He sat behind his desk, holding prayer beads in his hand. A sutra was laid out on the desk, and he seemed to be studying it.
Good morning, Master Xuanqing.
As soon as he entered, Wen Nongnong greeted him cheerfully.
Upon seeing her, Master Xuanqing smiled and said, "Amitabha, good morning, Benefactor Wen."
Seeing how kind and approachable he was, Wen Nongnong's expression relaxed, and she walked over and sat down in the seat closest to him.
"Master Xuanqing, so you are the master of our prince? I am so disrespectful."
Master Xuanqing said with a kind and gentle expression, "Amitabha, Benefactor Wen, you are too kind."
Wen Nongnong tapped her fingers on the table. Gu Linchao's martial arts skills were already very high. How unfathomable must Master Xuanqing's martial arts skills be, since he was Gu Linchao's master?
Master Xuanqing was so gentle, he didn't seem like a martial arts master at all.
Before long, Empress Dowager Guo, along with her concubines and noblewomen, arrived.
After everyone was seated, Master Xuanqing began to expound on Zen.
Wen Nongnong couldn't understand a word and sat there dozing off. A Tuo Jianghua, who was sitting next to her, fell asleep immediately.
To show respect, Wen Nongnong tried hard not to fall asleep.
It's unclear whether Empress Dowager Guo truly understood, but she appeared very serious and focused.
Later in the conversation, Empress Dowager Guo was even able to discuss Buddhist teachings with Master Xuanqing, and she spoke with conviction and substance, winning Master Xuanqing's praise.
Later, it seemed that Empress Dowager Guo was no longer satisfied with discussing with Master Xuanqing, and her gaze turned to Wen Nongnong.
"The Regent's Consort has been listening for half a day now. I wonder if she has any insights into Master Xuanqing's teachings on Buddhism?"
Wen Nongnong was almost asleep when she was suddenly called on, and she was a little stunned and didn't react for a long time.
"The Regent's Consort?" Empress Dowager Guo looked at her gently, her face full of a tolerant smile.
If it weren't for what happened on the back mountain yesterday, Wen Nongnong would almost have been fooled by her smile.
Wen Nongnong's eyes flickered, and she stood up. "Your Majesty is joking. I am not a Buddhist, so how could I dare to speak presumptuously about Buddhist teachings? However, Your Majesty is no ordinary person. Just now, I observed you discussing Buddhism with Master Xuanqing, so you must have a great understanding of Buddhism."
Last time, my master asked me to copy Buddhist scriptures. I remember there was a line that said, "One flower, one world; one tree, one fleeting life; one blade of grass, one paradise; one leaf, one Buddha; one grain of sand, one Pure Land; one smile, one karmic connection; one thought, one moment of tranquility."
It's a pity I can recite it, but I've never been able to grasp its deeper meaning. I wonder if Your Majesty could enlighten me?
As she spoke, she looked at her with clear eyes, appearing eager to learn.
Empress Dowager Guo originally intended to embarrass her, but she did not expect that she would turn around and ask her questions.
When she finished speaking, everyone in the meditation room stared at her, including Master Xuanqing. She couldn't help but clench the handkerchief in her hand, and suddenly felt a little nervous.
Which Buddhist scripture does this quote come from? How come she's never heard of it before?
For a moment, sweat began to bead on her forehead.
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