The sun rises in the west valley, and the morning bell shocks the birds.?    ?

The carriage could not continue to move up when it reached the foot of the mountain. The cool morning light along the way broke into the carriage through the flying curtains. Although it was cool, it had a fresh smell mixed with the fragrance of grass and soil, which made people feel refreshed.

The coachman lifted the curtain and helped me down. As soon as he stood still, he raised his head and saw the entire western mountain covered with milky white mist. The morning bell echoed in the mountains, setting off the quietness of this area, like the scenery in the painting.

West Mountain, I finally came again.

The last time I came here, Huang Tianba took me here. In just a short year, things have changed.

The coachman helped me get out of the car and stepped back to the side in a regular manner. The two guards were very polite and said to me: "Girl go up and fulfill your wish. We will guard here and will not disturb the girl."

This should have been told by Pei Yuanfeng. I smiled and thanked them, and then turned around and walked up the mountain.

The mountains were filled with fog, and even the bluestone slabs were wet. The grass and green leaves on both sides were stained with morning dew, reflecting the colorful clothes, making my clothes look colorful, and I also slapped the corners of my clothes. I gently lifted my skirt and walked up step by step.

Before I could reach the hillside, I was exhausted.

My health has not yet recovered, and it is indeed a bit embarrassing for me to climb the mountain like this. I panted and looked up at the mountain road ahead that seemed to be endless.

At this time, a person seemed to appear in a daze in front of me, smiling and looking down at me. His charming eyes were filled with warm light in the mist. He gently raised his hand and handed a silk hand to my eyes.

Huang Tianba...

When I thought of him, I couldn't help but feel a little sour. If I had left him at that time, would everything be different?

But now - even if I don't have to look at it, I can only think about my miserable journey. If he saw it, would he be disappointed?

I smiled bitterly, sighed, and gritted my teeth and continued to walk slowly.

Finally, we arrived at Hongye Temple.

I walked too slowly. At this time, the mist had slowly dissipated. The green trees were green and green, and the corner of the mountain temple was exposed. You could still hear the sound of monks chanting in the morning class from afar. Sandalwood filled the mountainside, adding a sense of tranquility.

The golden-painted Buddha statue was still sitting firmly on it like in the past, looking down at all living beings with a lowered eyebrows and a narrow eye, as if they were sentient beings, as if they were ruthless. I walked over and closed my hands and bowed, then turned around and threw a piece of silver into the box of merit.

The silver fell heavily and made a clang. Two little novice monks came over from the backyard. When they heard the sound, they immediately said to me: "Thank you, female donor."

I smiled and said, "Two little masters, I want to visit the abbot of the Kishi temple."

The younger novice monk immediately said, "Sorry, the master has a guest, so he won't be a guest for the time being."

I smiled and said, "To be honest, I came to the temple to make a vow last year and today I came to fulfill my vow. I heard that the abbot preaches and masters of Taoism and practice. I want to hear his preaching."

What else did the little novice monk want to say? The older one next to me kept looking at me. At this time, he suddenly slapped his forehead and said, "I remember, you are the girl brought by Mr. Huang last year!"

I looked at him and smiled, "My little master remembers that I'm here."

"Female donor, wait a moment." He said, and whispered a few words to his junior brother. The little monk nodded and ran inside. He walked over and looked me up and down, and suddenly said, "Female donor, have you married?"

"ah?"

I was caught off guard and was asked this question. I didn't know what the little monk was thinking. I subconsciously said: "Yes."

"Where is your husband?"

"..." I frowned and looked at him, but saw that he was looking at me naively, as if he was waiting for my answer seriously. I smiled bitterly in my heart: "I have been retired."

"Ah? Why don't you?"

"..." I looked at him and could only make a fool of myself: "Because I—uh, I'm not a wife."

"What kind of women are you not following?"

"..." This time I really couldn't cry: "Uh, nothing came out."

"Then are you planning to remarry?"

“…”

This time I was completely unable to make a mistake. I looked at the Buddha next to him with a laugh and cry, and couldn't help but complain in my heart - What kind of monk is this?

As soon as the words in my heart fell, a hand behind him reached out and slapped the little novice monk on the back of the head: "You asked me too?"

When I looked up, I saw a tall, white-bearded old monk walking out. He was strong and energetic, especially his eyes hidden under his white eyebrows, and he was still bright and bright. He staggered the little monk with one palm, and then he cried at me a little embarrassedly: "I am angry, donor, little disciple is rude."

"No, it's okay."

"Master, why are you hitting me?" The little novice touched his bald head and pouted aggrievedly: "Didn't you say last time--"

"You are still talking nonsense!" said the old monk: "Everyone has his own fate. Are you a matchmaker and a broker?"

"Oh..." The little novice monk was still a little aggrieved and stepped down obediently.

I stood aside and looked coldly, feeling a little strange. What they said seemed to have something to do with me, but I couldn't explain it clearly. Instead, the old monk came over and bowed respectfully to me: "I made the female donor laugh."

"where."

"I wonder what is important about the female donor coming to look for me this time?"

"I heard that the master has a profound level of cultivation and want to listen to the master's lectures."

Yichen smiled: "I don't know who said it in front of the girl."

"Huang Tianba, Master Huang, and-" I smiled and looked at those shining and restrained eyes: "Mr. Liu Yi, the Prime Minister of Yangzhou."

Yichen's face was still smiling, but his gray eyebrows trembled slightly, blocking the panic in his eyes.

He looked down at me for a while, was silent for a moment, and turned sideways and said, "Please invite a female donor in the dining hall."

"Thank you."

I glanced at the little novice monk next to me, smiled at him, and walked back with Yichen.

.

This is my first time to visit the backyard of Hongye Temple in Xishan.

Generally speaking, women are not allowed to enter the backyard of the temple. Except for some high-ranking officials and noble ladies, Hongye Temple is located in the south, and there was a past of "red leaves to resist the frost". I am afraid that there will not be many high-ranking officials and noble ladies coming here. However, I followed Yichen all the way, and it was not rare for the monks who passed by, and they each lowered their heads to do their own things.

Walking to the vegetarian hall, I looked around. The doors of several rooms were closed and there was a faint fragrance in the air.

Seeing me looking around, I said angrily: "They have to go down the mountain to get water after finishing morning class."

"Oh." I nodded, followed him and pushed the door open and walked in.

His dining hall was cleaned very clean, with two cushions on the stone bed, and there was a faint fragrance in the air. I respectfully asked me to sit on it, sit opposite me, and then said, "A year ago, the donor came to Bi Temple with Donor Huang, but he walked too hastily, so I had to ask the donor for advice in the future."

Although I had something to do in my heart, when I mentioned that year, I couldn't help asking: "Have the master met Mr. Huang for a long time?"

“The days are not short.”

"Then, does the master know where Mr. Huang is now?"

Yichen glanced at me, with a little vigilant in his eyes, and said, "Donor Huang left Yangzhou more than a year ago, and he never came back to see me again, just because he was afraid he would travel around the world."

...

Sure enough, he didn't come back.

Maybe he has really gotten married to Miss Muhua now, and has been cut off from all the past in Yangzhou and Beijing. Only in this way can he get a little peace in the troubled times.

I smiled faintly in my heart, Yichen kept looking at me, and said at this time: "However, donor Huang knows that I am acquainted with me, but Lord Liu - he is not familiar with me, why did the donor say that-"

I smiled and looked up at him: "Although the master is not familiar with Master Liu, Master Liu was assassinated at Hongye Temple, so he has some connection with Master."

As soon as I finished saying this, his face immediately changed.

As soon as his face changed, I knew that I was right today.

The atmosphere seemed a little depressing, especially in this small dining hall, where the tall monk sat in front of him. Although he was motionless, he felt like a mountain. I still smiled and said, "Master, don't worry, Lord Liu is a very sensible person. In order not to implicate innocent people, he did not say many things. I will know that there are naturally other people who told me, don't forget that there were still assassins caught at that time."

"..." Yichen glanced at me and his eyes flashed.

"In fact, the last time Mr. Liu came to Hongye Temple was to worship the people who died in Yangzhou City. It was also his statement on behalf of the court. Speaking of which, Mr. Liu was wholeheartedly considering the people in the south. It's a pity that the assassination of his people not only hurt his body, but also his heart."

Yichen's face became even heavier when he heard me say these words.

"The assassin's move seems to be a righteous act on the surface, but assassinating the court's orders to be rebellious, and the court's pursuit is in accordance with the law. When the time comes, the people will say that it is the court's slaughter knife to kill innocent people indiscriminately, but who knows who asked the court to draw the sword?"

Yichen suddenly smiled and said, "The female donor, I am a person outside the country. I am afraid that some of these donors will tell me about them-"

I also smiled: "Since the master is not interested in these things, then I'll talk to the master about Buddha."

"Oh? What does the female donor want to say?"

"During the Yongping period of the Eastern Han Dynasty, two eminent monks Zhu Falan and Shemoteng passed on the scriptures to the Middle Earth with white horses and stationed in the White Horse Temple. The Buddha has been passed down in the Middle Earth for thousands of years, but has been banned several times. The common people would rather believe in the Tao and practice alchemy than listen to Zen less. Does the master know what it is for?"

Yichen smiled indifferently: "The world only cares about the interests in front of us, believes in the Tao and refine elixirs, and practices the ascension of immortals, but no one is willing to practice the next life. It can be seen that people in the world are short-sighted and stupid."

I nodded: "Yes, people in the world do not cultivate the next life because the next life is not in front of me. So, some southerners cannot see the efforts made by the court for the south, but only see that the untouchables have not been abolished, so they are eager for quick success and instant benefits to fight against the court, and even assassinating the imperial officials, which makes things difficult for the fire. Is this what the master said, short-sighted and stupid?"

Yichen's face darkened a little.
Chapter completed!