Red Mansion and Crimson Pearl

Chapter 236 The Abbot of Hulu Temple Seeks to See You

As he was speaking, someone outside came to report: "Jing Bo and Chu Neiguan are back."

Lin Daiyu was shocked.

After a while, Chu Qian came in, bowed, and looked suffocated.

Daiyu and Aunt Meng looked at him strangely: "What's wrong?"

"In reply to the princess: I didn't find out anything." Chu Qian was depressed.

Aunt Meng was surprised: "Why? You are not allowed to enter the temple?"

Chu Qian shook his head: "Let us in, you can look around freely. But at first he said the abbot was not there, he was out visiting friends and would be back in the afternoon. He also treated us to a vegetarian meal at the temple.

"But we waited until the end of the day when the abbot came back and said he was sick with a cold. Jing Bo got angry and said he would come back another day.

"He came again, saying he had taken medicine and even drank tea with us. However, when he asked questions and we answered, he was awake; when we asked questions, he became sleepy and confused and avoided answering.

“I saw that this person had no intention of talking to us, so I just said goodbye.

"Who would have thought that when he was about to leave, he said that the day after tomorrow was inconvenient because of the lower Yuan, and he would come to apologize to the princess if it was convenient tomorrow or the day after tomorrow."

Chu Qian was filled with regret.

Why didn't he be more decisive and knock out the monk's teeth with one punch? It would have been better than letting the princess be bullied like this! !

Lin Daiyu was slightly startled.

This monk doesn't want to talk in the temple, but wants to come to Lin's house to talk?

"When you talked to him, did you mention that I asked you to go to him? What questions did you ask him?"

Chu Qian rubbed his nose and said, "Jing Bo came up and said that he had a history with the Zhen family and wanted to find out if there were any old friends in his family who were still alive..."

Lin Daiyu sighed.

Jing Bo has lived alone in his old house for many years and has not interacted with the outside world. It is no wonder that the other party did not accept the challenge when he showed his carriage right away.

After thinking for a while, Daiyu said, "Ask Ni Er to go and tell the abbot that I am free at noon tomorrow."

Chu Qian was stunned, then he felt angry, anxious and guilty: "Why does the princess have to meet him in person? I can go there again at night and find out a lot of things!"

At night?!

Daiyu was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing: "Hit, listen?!"

Isn't it?

Fight first, then listen to what others say.

It is Gong Zhengsi who is good at this!

Chu Qian's face turned red, but he still insisted and refused to retreat.

Daiyu smiled and said, "You also heard what Jing Bo said the day before yesterday, that the current Buddhist monk Du Gang in Suzhou City is the abbot of Panxiang Temple.

"As expected, I just wanted to know about the Hulu Temple and the Zhen family, so I sent someone to tell Master Juexin of Panxiang.

"There is still some friendship between the upper and lower Panxiang Temple. When the time comes, the monks will be dispatched, and the higher-ranking officials will crush the others. What information can't I get from this small Hulu Temple?"

It seems to make sense.

Chu Qian felt that something seemed to be wrong, but he never expected it.

Daiyu smiled and said, "But now it seems that not only do we want to inquire about the news of the Zhen family from the abbot, but the abbot also wants to tell me something.

"Besides, you can't stay in his temple, you have to come to our house."

Chu Qian was shocked.

Daiyu smiled and said, "Then let him come. You are standing right next to me, just a monk. Are you afraid of what he can do to me?"

Chu Kai reluctantly agreed to this statement and had to go out and ask Ni Er to pass on the message.

After a while, Ni Er came back and reported in: "Tomorrow at noon, the abbot of Taoyuan Temple, Master Jueshan, will come to visit."

Taoyuan Temple?

Daiyu was stunned.

Chu Qian touched his nose and explained, "Taoyuan Temple is an ancient temple. It is said that it has existed since the Western Jin Dynasty and has been passed down to the present day.

"It's just that the temple was narrow before, so the people nicknamed it the Gourd Temple. In fact, its original name is Taoyuan.

"The abbot of Xia Panxiang is called Master Uncle by the abbot, and he is of the same generation as Master Juexin and the others whom the princess met.

“I heard that he chose this Dharma name himself.

"Many people say he doesn't deserve the word 'good'. They say he has a complicated life. He returned to secular life in his early years, married and had a son. He still talks nonsense and often breaks the alcohol ban in private."

Daiyu frowned.

It seems that this person has a lot to say to me!

Seeing that it was getting dark, everyone took a rest.

Daiyu, Zijuan and Xiaohong, however, lit the lamps, copied books and paintings, and did not go to bed until almost four o'clock in the morning.

The next day, Daiyu got up late, but no one, including Aunt Meng, called her to get up. It was already three quarters past three in the morning when they served breakfast and told Daiyu to get up and eat.

Daiyu had just finished washing and eating when Jueshan came.

As usual, a screen was erected in the flower hall.

Daiyu took a closer look behind the screen and saw that the monk was short in stature, with a weather-beaten face. Only his eyes flashed with a cold light, revealing a hint of wild ambition.

"I'm Jueshan, a humble monk. Nice to meet Princess Zhaoqing. Amitabha." Jueshan was dressed in a clean monk's robe, simple and plain.

Daiyu also stood up and bowed slightly: "Excuse me, monk. Please sit down and serve tea."

As usual, Chu Kai and Aunt Meng stood behind her, and Qingwen served her hot tea and snacks.

Jueshan didn't even raise his head, he just lowered his eyes to the ground and nodded to express his gratitude.

"I heard that Taoyuan Temple was originally narrow, and people called it the Gourd Temple. Now the Zhen family next door has left, and the place is unowned. The abbot took it directly and built his own temple, which is quite cheap."

Daiyu spoke with a smile, but her tone was aggressive.

Jueshan clasped his hands and nodded: "I have some information on this matter, Princess, please report it to me."

"Well, go ahead." Daiyu leaned back in her chair and yawned quietly.

Jueshan heard the small yawn, paused, and hesitated.

"Hmm?" Daiyu asked in confusion.

Jueshan gritted his teeth, recalled what the man said, took a deep breath, and spoke in a deep voice: "I became a monk in this temple when I was young, and served as a novice monk until I was sixteen years old.

"We are also very familiar with the Zhen family next door. They have a daughter, nicknamed Yinglian. Since she was born, Master Zhen has often brought her over to play with her. We all know her.

"On the Lantern Festival that year, a servant of the Zhen family named Huo took the young lady out to see the lanterns, but they disappeared. Everyone in our temple went looking for them."

Daiyu was behind the screen and sat up straight when she heard this.

"Then, on the fifteenth day of the third lunar month, when we were frying offerings, I was careless and the oil pan caught fire, burning the window paper. Not only did I burn my own temple, I also burned the Zhen family."

At this point, Jueshan was filled with shame, bowed his head, clasped his hands together, and chanted, "Amitabha, I am guilty, guilty."

After calming himself down, he continued, "The temple was destroyed, and my master was furious and expelled me from the temple.

"I had nowhere to go, so I returned to secular life and returned to my hometown. By chance, I joined the government and became a doorman."

Daiyu frowned when she heard this: "Where is your hometown?"

"Yingtian Mansion."

Daiyu's eyes gleamed, and her voice became much lighter: "Go on!"

"The work in the government office is easy and busy, which is completely different from my hard practice in the temple. I got married, had children, and lived a good life."

Jueshan smiled bitterly, "Until one day, my east room was rented to a father and daughter."