The storyteller said, “After Princess Weiyang found out that she was pregnant, she secretly gave birth to a son. She placed him in a wooden basin and carried him away with the flowing water of the Yangtze River. Did he drown in the river or was he saved by someone? If you want to know what happened next, please listen to the explanation next time.”
The people in the teahouse were unwilling to listen. They threw money on the stage and said, “Hurry up and tell us. We can’t lack your money. Hurry up and tell us. Don’t keep us waiting.”
Lu Weiyang walked to the storyteller and said, “The next part is that the storyteller is going to jail. When did I get pregnant? How dare you make up this story about me?”
When the storyteller saw that it was Lu Weiyang, he quickly covered his head and ran away.
This matter was too big. Lu Ang could not hide it from Qiao Jinniang at all.
Qiao Jinniang went to the Princess’residence. The moment she entered, she saw Lu Weiyang lying in the courtyard basking in the sun with a string of Buddhist beads in his hand.
When Lu Weiyang saw Qiao Jinniang, he said happily, “Mother.”
Qiao Jinniang walked to Lu Weiyang’s side and said, “Weiyang, Tell Mother the truth. Do you like Master Ling Xuan?”
Lu Weiyang leaned into Qiao Jinniang’s embrace and said, “Yes, I like Master Ling Xuan, but what’s the use of that? He is not willing to return to the secular world for me. It is destined that there is no fate between us.”
“Mother, I am already much better. When I found out that he was not willing to return to the secular world for me, my heart really hurt, but now it won’t.”
Lady Qiao Jin gently patted Lu Weiyang’s shoulder and said, “Weiyang, mother hopes that my daughter can live a carefree life. If it’s really uncomfortable, it’s not like we can’t force Lingxuan to return to the secular world now.”
People were biased. Lady Qiao Jin would rather risk the world’s heresy to make her daughter happy.
Lu Weiyang said, “If he’s not willing, he wants to be his Buddha. Mother, you don’t have to worry about me. I’m really better now. I really won’t feel uncomfortable.”
Qiao Jinniang understood Lu Weiyang. If she really didn’t feel bad, she wouldn’t be so dispirited.
After Qiao Jinniang left the Princess’residence, she went to the Prime Minister Temple with Lu Chen and Ling Xuan.
When Ling Xuan heard that the two of them had come to visit, he came out to welcome them. “The two saints have graced us with their presence. Are you here to worship Buddha?”
Qiao jinniang said, “I’m not here for Buddha, but for Weiyang.”
Ling Xuan cupped his hands and said, “Please come in.”
When they reached the Fang Zhang Courtyard.., lu Chen said, “I remember that the year you were born was the year I became emperor. At that time, old Uncle Zhao even specially came to ask for the position of grandson. Later on, master said that you were fated with Buddhism and converted to Buddhism when you were still a baby.
“May I ask if Master’s six roots can be pure? “Can it really be used for cultivation in the mortal world?”
Ling Xuan said, “If it can not be used for cultivation, then it can only be used for cultivation in the afterlife. Buddhism cultivates in the afterlife, and all the suffering in this life is a blessing in the afterlife.”
“I have never believed the words of suffering in this life and enjoying the blessings in the afterlife,”Qiao Jinniang said, “No one knows what happens after a person dies. Isn’t it ridiculous to not cherish the blessings in this life and ask for blessings in the afterlife?”
Lu Chen said, “When Master Xuanji was still alive, he once told my father that Buddhism emphasizes on sowing good karma and reaping good karma. Meeting each other in the world is karma. Why didn’t you sow good karma in your previous life when you met Weiyang in this life? Why is it karma in this life?”
Ling Xuan pressed his palms together and said, “The two saints love their daughters dearly, but this Little Monk was born as a Buddhist to promote Buddhism. This little monk still needs to help all the people in the world.”
Qiao Jinniang sneered. “What a joke. You Can’t even help a little girl, yet you want to help all the people in the world?”
Ling Xuan choked for a moment. He didn’t know how to answer Qiao Jinniang, so he could only give her a Buddhist title.
A young monk’s voice came from outside. “Master abbot, the first lady of the Zhao family is here to see you again.”
Ling Xuan said to Qiao Jinniang and Lu Chen, “Two saints, I have a guest to see…”
Qiao jinniang said, “You can go.”
Ling Xuan walked to the door and saw the eldest madam Zhao who was looking for him. The eldest Madam Zhao was here to ask for money from Ling Xuan.
The Zhao family was originally an empty shell. Without the title of nobility, Zhao Qingquan was caught making up stories about the princess. The Zhao family had to go to the yamen to settle things. Now, the Zhao family was penniless.
It was not the first time that the first lady of the Zhao family came to ask Ling Xuan for silver.
Qiao Jinniang looked at the Lady of the Zhao family from afar and said in annoyance, “How can a mother bear to see her child become a monk when he is still a baby?”
Qiao Jinniang was someone who could not bear to see her child born unable to taste the beauty of the human world, so she had to live a hard life as a monk.
Ling Xuan ordered the young monk to bring out the silver taels and handed them to Lady Zhao. “Amitabha. Buddha has the virtue of living well, but he does not save those who are insatiable in greed. After you return this time, Lady Zhao, you must not come to Buddhism again.”
Lady Zhao took the silver taels and said, “Sigh.”
Lu Chen and Qiao Jinniang entered a courtyard within the abbot courtyard with the previous abbot tablets of the Prime Minister Temple. They had originally come to pay their respects, but Lu Chen saw one of the portraits at a glance.
Qiao Jinniang saw the portrait and asked, “Master Yitong? Why does this master Yitong look somewhat similar to Zhao Qingquan?”
Lu Chen replied, “Send someone to investigate and you’ll know.”
..
There were many new year banquets approaching, and Lu Weiyang had received many invitations, but she was unwilling to go, so she simply followed Qiao Nihong and the others to Luoyang to play.
Luoyang was the second capital city of Great Tang. It was as lively and bustling as Chang ‘an.
Lu Weiyang had never been to Luoyang in her entire life. After arriving in Luoyang, she gradually forgot about Ling Xuan. However, the Buddha beads on her wrist had never been removed.
Qiao Nihong brought Lu Weiyang to a Luoyang Chess Hall. “This chess hall is filled with great Tang’s Go Masters. Perhaps you like Ling Xuan just because he plays chess well?”
Lu Weiyang said, “Who said I like him just because he plays go well?”
“Then why?”
“I just think it’s fun to tease him, especially when I break his serious look and make his expression change for me…”
Qiao nihong frowned and said, “What kind of bad taste is this?”
“Let’s go, let’s go. Today, Master Ling Xuan from Chang ‘an Prime Minister Temple came to Dai Lu temple to preach Buddhist scriptures. If we’re late, we won’t be able to see him!”
Lu Weiyang’s gaze shifted to the Dailu temple not far away. Why was she still able to see him when she was already in Luoyang?
She had already tried very hard to forget him. Why was he in front of her again?
Lu Weiyang sighed heavily.
Qiao Nihong pulled Lu Weiyang’s hand and said, “Why don’t we listen to it together? Look at you, you don’t look like you’ve let it go at all!”
Lu Weiyang followed Qiao Nihong. The Imperial preceptor of Ling Xuan came to give a sermon, and the people of Luoyang were all surrounded. Lu Weiyang and Qiao Nihong could only stand outside the door and watch.
Lu Weiyang looked over. There were devout believers kneeling at the feet of Ling Xuan. In fact, Ling Xuan was like Buddha to these devout believers.
Once he renounced asceticism, how many people would lose their faith?
