Chapter 347: Chapter 122: Fortune_5

Being able to expound the Buddhist Law at Zhaohua Temple assuredly meant that one was an enlightened high monk of the monastery, and having the opportunity to listen to the master’s lectures was indeed a great karmic connection. Yueyao expressed her deep gratitude, “Many thanks, Master.”

Ru Kong was very pleased with Yueyao’s performance and said, “It’s also because the young lady devoutly seeks the Buddha.” Without such enlightenment and sincerity, he would not have spoken without good cause.

This time Yueyao only borrowed six Scripture Scrolls, but Ru Kong did not specify a time limit for their return, and Yueyao did not want to treat it as a task.

There were somewhat selfish reasons behind Yueyao scribing the scriptures this time, but she genuinely enjoyed the process, not to complete a task. It was because she found true tranquility in her heart while copying the scriptural texts.

After Yueyao left, the Little Novice Monk grinned and asked Ru Kong, “Master, is the female benefactor truly of high enlightenment? I wasn’t speaking falsely, right?”

Ru Kong nodded and replied, “Her enlightenment is exceptional.”

Upon hearing of Yueyao’s return, Yueying hurriedly asked which master Yueyao had met. There were three great high monks in the Zhaohua Temple: Xuan Tian, Xuan Ming, and Xuan Fang. However, being reclusive, even distinguished officials and nobles rarely had the chance to meet them. If one could meet any of the three monks, it was considered a great blessing.

Yueyao calmly said, “The master I met was Ru Kong.”

Yueying, not familiar with Master Ru Kong, assumed he wasn’t a famous monk. She discarded the thought and, seeing the six scripture scrolls in Yueyao’s hand, said with difficulty, “third younger sister, I can’t write at the moment.”

Qiao Lan looked at Yueying’s bandaged hand, which seemed comically desperate to show that she couldn’t write, and found it amusing. Their Eldest Miss had copied nine Scripture Scrolls without a word, yet the Eldest Miss was here, expressing her hardships after copying only three scrolls, truly baffling to Qiao Lan.

Yueyao smiled and said, “I can copy them.”

Yueying returned to her own room, feeling somewhat uneasy about the recent events. She couldn’t help but ask Cai Lan and Cai Qing, “Is there a high monk named Ru Kong at Zhaohua Temple?” With everyone from the Empress Dowager to the common folk in the Great Yuan Dynasty deeply believing in Buddhism, and convinced that meeting a high monk could turn misfortune into luck and bring blessings, Yueying naturally had no doubt. If Ru Kong was a master, she, too, would accompany Yueyao on her next visit.

This wasn’t simply the superstition of the people in the Great Yuan Dynasty; even the Grand Ancestor’s military advisor, after the Grand Ancestor had firmly established himself on the throne, ordained as a monk at Zhaohua Temple, later achieving enlightenment and ascending to heaven there.

Cai Qing sighed softly and said, “Miss, I haven’t heard of him.”

Cai Lan felt they should be cautious–what if he truly was an enlightened monk? She said, “Miss, we are always confined to the Inner Courtyard and are not familiar with Zhaohua Temple; perhaps this master is a high monk?” While the three high monks were world-renowned, there were other famous monks at Zhaohua Temple. It was just that it was Yueying’s first visit, and she had not inquired beforehand.

Yueying found this very reasonable and immediately said, “The next time Yueyao goes, I will accompany her.”

Yueyao was not one to sit idle, nor were those around her. Nanny Hao, Hua Lei, Qiao Lan, and the others, having finished their tasks, would spend their remaining time together engaged in needlework, for Yueyao disliked noise while she was practicing her writing or reading.

Yueyao was now focused on understanding the scriptures while copying, rather than rushing to complete the task, hence it took her five days to finish the six scrolls.

As Yueyao was preparing to leave, she was stopped by Yueying.

Yueying wanted to go along. She wasn’t expecting to see a high monk; rather, she felt uneasy thinking about how earnestly Yueyao pursued her devotion while she herself did nothing in her room.

Yueyao said indifferently, “If my elder sister wishes to go, then go ahead!” It wasn’t a big deal, and if Yueying wanted to accompany her, so be it.

The road up the mountain was uneven, and climbing the mountain required ascending stone steps. Yueyao was accustomed to such paths and walked at a steady pace, neither hurried nor slow. Yueying, however, was not up to the task, already sweating profusely upon reaching the climb, with Cai Lan also looking unsteady on her feet.

As Cai Lan mopped her sweat, she glanced at Yueyao’s expression and noticed a look of disgust when Yueyao caught her eye. Cai Lan felt a jolt in her heart but sneered inwardly, what did it matter if there was disgust, the Third Young Lady couldn’t control her.

Upon seeing Master Ru Kong, Yueyao smiled and said, “Master Ru Kong, this is my eldest sister.” Yueyao wouldn’t say much else, certainly nothing inciting or disrespectful. Speaking ill of someone behind their back was a sign of poor character, and Yueyao was not that kind of person.

Master Ru Kong saw the disappointment in Yueying’s eyes and felt displeased. Monks, although mostly sequestered in temples and seldom going out, were simple but not easy to deceive. True monks had their own set of principles, and whether you were of high status or a common citizen, they preferred to associate with those who cherished the Buddhist Law. They wouldn’t take kindly to those with ulterior motives.

Of course, Master Ru Kong’s attitude towards Yueying was no different from his attitude towards Yueyao.

Yueyao, paying no mind to Yueying at her side, proceeded to ask Master Ru Kong many questions. These were not only current issues but also some that lay hidden at the bottom of her heart.

Yueying watched as Yueyao discussed Buddhist philosophy with the monk, feeling utterly isolated and regretting that she had followed her here.

Yueyao’s final question: “The Buddha speaks of the eight sufferings of life, birth, aging, illness, death, grievances, separation from loved ones, overbearing aggregates, and unfulfilled desires. Master, if someone is tormented by unfulfilled desires and unable to let go, their obsession becoming a demon in their heart, how can they break free from their fixations?”

Master Ru Kong, seeing the pain and fear in the depths of Yueyao’s eyes, was puzzled. He knew the question wasn’t about Yueyao herself: “Amitabha, rather than saying others cause your suffering, it would be more accurate to say your own cultivation is lacking.”

In a low voice, Yueyao responded, “Is it my lack of cultivation?” Shaking her head immediately, she knew it wasn’t her issue–it was Zhou Shu’s. It was Zhou Shu’s deep obsession that chilled her to the bone.

Master Ru Kong brought his palms together: “Amitabha.”

The thundering sound snapped Yueyao back to reality. She looked somewhat pale: “Master, my apologies for the intrusion.” The question was insoluble because the fixation wasn’t hers to solve, and neither she nor Master Ru Kong could resolve it.

After Yueyao left, Master Ru Kong, contemplating her pale face, went to seek guidance from his own master, Master Xuan Tian. If Yueyao had known that Master Ru Kong’s master was one of the three great monks of Zhaohua Temple, Master Xuan Tian, she might not have been so composed.

Master Ru Kong relayed Yueyao’s question to Master Xuan Tian: “Master, my understanding of the Buddhist Law is shallow, I seek your guidance.”

Master Xuan Tian chuckled softly: “Sever the bonds of desire in the realm of form, formlessness, and eradicate ignorance and conceit completely. Just like burning away grass and wood until all is exhausted, so it is the same here. Contemplate impermanence to sever all attachments.”

Master Ru Kong repeated softly: “To sever all attachments.”

Master Xuan Tian laughed, shaking his head, without further explanation: “Is the child who asked this question truly just a child?” Why would a child ask such a heavy question.

Master Ru Kong nodded: “Master, the child is only nine years old.”

Master Xuan Tian murmured an ‘Amitabha’: “You may invite the young benefactor to attend my sermon in half a month’s time, and inform the Abbot about this matter.” Master Xuan Tian had decided to explain the scriptural texts to the monks of Zhaohua Temple in half a month. Yueyao was fortunate to have come at this time.

Zhaohua Temple was different from other temples in its inclusiveness, opening its doors wide to those with good comprehension and a connection to Buddhism; hence, when Abbot Xuan Jian heard that Master Xuan Tian had agreed, he immediately consented to give Yueyao a spot.