The next day, before dawn, Song Ci took her daughter-in-law and granddaughter to Songshan Temple. As usual, the host was already waiting at the temple gate to personally lead Song Ci and her group to the main hall for the first incense offering. A golden pig was offered to the gods, and Song Ci personally affixed a piece of gold foil on the Bodhisattva. The remaining gold foil would be gilded by the temple monks, while the Pri Minister’s Mansion simply had to provide the incense oil.
Once Song Ci and her entourage had paid their respects to the gods, the temple’s mountain gate would open to welco other incense visitors, thereby ensuring that the esteed guests would not be disturbed.
So, despite the saying that monks see all things as empty, certain things still need to adhere to worldly rules and monks are no exception. Like now, opening the convenient doors for Song Ci, only because she is the matriarch of the current Pri Minister, respected by both the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, a noble lady of the highest rank.
The incense oil contributed by the Pri Minister’s Mansion allowed the temple to manage its expenses rather generously, such as repairing various places, gilding the Bodhisattva’s golden body, or providing vegetarian als to the people, all of which required silver.
"Today, making Songshan Temple open the convenient door for is truly a sin. Because I have added a new grandson, our Pri Minister’s Mansion specially made so vegetarian wrapped candies, and we invite the monks in the temple to enjoy the celebration. Naturally, we also prepared so to give to the poor people at the foot of the mountain."
The host master clasped his hands together and recited Amitabha with a smile, saying, "Madam’s rits are boundless. With your rit blessing the young master of the noble mansion, his future achievents will definitely be extraordinary."
Song Ci said with a smile, "Whether his achievents will be extraordinary is uncertain for now. My sole wish for this difficultly attained grandson of mine is that he grows up healthy and safe."
"You need not worry, the young master of your noble mansion is surely soone who will live a healthy and long life." The host master took out a peace charm woven with Buddhist knots from his sleeve and presented it to Song Ci with both hands, saying, "This peace charm has been blessed by the humble monk and nine other accomplished monks in the temple. It is given to the sixth young master, wishing him a smooth life and the natural dissolution of all obstacles."
Song Ci swiftly received it and carefully placed it in her wallet, then respectfully bowed to thank the host master.
"The weather is great today, and Master Dachuan will be lecturing. If Madam is interested, you might as well go listen. If you find the crowd too much, the scenery on the back mountain is quite beautiful as autumn approaches. Also, today Master Hulian is presiding over the kitchen, and we would kindly ask Madam to grace us by having a vegetarian al before descending the mountain."
Song Ci replied with a smile, then asked, "In the blink of an eye, it’s been several years since I last saw Master Jinghui. Do you know when he will return?"
The host master smiled and shook his head, "Master Jinghui only occasionally sends peace ssages, but he never reveals where he’s traveled and never ntions his return date."
Is there no need to ask about the return date?
Song Ci felt quite envious. The young bald head was happy; he was young and famous, traveling the world without worrying about fate.
Thinking about Master Jinghui’s extraordinary face, she secretly mused, won are tigers, with such a handso face, he’d better not let a tigress carry him away. In history, there’s a concept of a little green one, perhaps he will beco the little green.
The more Song Ci thought about it, the more lewd it beca. Suddenly slling the fragrance of sandalwood, she imdiately felt solemn, chanting several Amitabha prayers, acknowledging her sins as an old lady.
Far away in a mountain cave, ditating, Master Jinghui suddenly sneezed twice, his ears itched, he frowned and slightly opened his eyes, calculated with his fingers for a mont, then his face turned dark.
This Song Ci, truly is...
Master Jinghui laughed as he shook his head, wanting to let go but ending up walking out of the cave, looking towards Shangjing, recalculating with his fingers, his brows furrowing deeper.
"Enough, if it’s fortune, it won’t be disaster, if it’s disaster, it can’t be avoided. What must co will eventually co," Master Jinghui murmured to himself.
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