703 Phoenix Life (6)
Shen Miao waved her hand. She felt that this dream was strange and embarrassing, so she didn’t say anything. After eating and washing up, she went out. Luo Xueyan and the others were waiting in the hall. To Shen Miao’s surprise, other than Luo Tan, Shen Qiu and Luo Ling were also there.
Luo Xueyan said, “Let’s go together and pray for a safe and healthy year ahead.”
Shen Xin said, “Then I’ll go too.”
“Why are you going with us?” Luo Xueyan gave him a look. “Stay at home.”
Shen Qiu was puzzled as to why his father couldn’t go, but Shen Miao understood why. It seemed like Luo Xueyan not only wanted her and Luo Tan to throw the red string, but also Shen Qiu and Luo Ling. After all, Shen Qiu and Luo Ling were already at the age where they could marry. However… wasn’t the fate tree only for women? If the red strings they threw really hung on the tree, would Shen Qiu and Luo Ling marry a man in the future? Shen Miao couldn’t help but shiver.
Soon, everyone set off. The Putuo Temple was some distance away from the capital. They set off in the morning, and when they arrived, it was almost noon. Along the way, Luo Tan was in high spirits and kept asking Luo Xueyan if the Putuo Temple was really that magical.
As Luo Xueyan spoke, she indeed led the conversation to the fate tree. When Luo Tan heard of the fate tree, she found it very interesting and said, “This is a little similar to a custom in the Spring City. However, since Putuo Temple is a famous temple, this fate tree should be very effective.” She shook Shen Miao’s arm. “Cousin, can we go and throw the red strings together?”
“Aren’t you in no hurry to get married?” Shen Miao glanced at her.
Luo Tan coughed lightly. “No, I’m not. It’s just for fun.”
Luo Xueyan also said, “Jiaojiao, Tan, when we reach the Putuo Temple, the two of you can go and throw the red strings together. No matter if you want to get married or not, just take it as making a good wish, right?”
Luo Tan agreed excitedly. Shen Miao already knew her mother’s plan, so she had no choice but to obey.
In the ancient temple that had existed for hundreds of years in Ming Qi, a monk in his seventies was sitting in one of the meditation rooms.
This monk had a kind face and was really like a disciple of Buddha. He was wearing a red kasaya and holding a string of prayer beads in his hand. The young monk beside him asked, “Master, we’ve been waiting here for a few days. Will that person really come?”
“She will come. I came here especially for her,” the old monk said indifferently.
“But we’ve been waiting for a long time.” The young monk was only in his teens and was curious. He asked, “When will she come?”
The old monk did not speak and only silently spun the string of prayer beads in his hand. Suddenly, he stopped spinning the string of prayer beads and stroked a round prayer bead repeatedly with his fingers.
After a while, the old monk smiled.
“In no time,” he said.
…
When Shen Miao and the others arrived at the Putuo Temple, it was not noon yet. Perhaps it was because the horses were running fast today, or because the coachman drove the carriage well, or because the road was much smoother, the journey that usually took four and a half hours was completed in less than four hours today.
The women got off the carriage, and Shen Qiu and Luo Ling also got off their horses. They saw an ancient temple sitting halfway up the mountain in the lush forest. Because of the layers of clouds, it looked like a paradise. Coupled with the chanting of scriptures coming from inside, people couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe.
Luo Tan sighed and said, “It really lives up to its name.”
Luo Xueyan instructed, “Qiu, Ling, take your horses to the stable first. I’ll bring Tan and Jiaojiao in.”
After Shen Qiu and Luo Ling left, the guards of the Shen family followed Shen Miao and the others. From afar, Luo Tan saw a tree with red strings hanging on it and said, “This is the fate tree, right? Aunt, come and see. It’s so big!”
Luo Xueyan smiled and said, “Let’s go buy the red strings first.”
Shen Miao followed behind the two of them, feeling quite helpless. Luo Tan and Luo Xueyan were excited and ran fast, leaving Shen Miao behind. However, with the guards of the Shen family and Cong Yang protecting her in the dark, Shen Miao was not worried.
When she followed Luo Xueyan and the others into a temple hall, someone suddenly grabbed the corner of Shen Miao’s dress. She turned around and saw a person in a Daoist robe squatting by the door.
Why would a Daoist priest appear in a temple?
The Daoist priest’s clothes were tattered. There was a bamboo tube in front of him and a horsetail whisk in his hand. For some reason, he looked a little comical. He was probably in his forties. He had a small beard and looked at Shen Miao with bright eyes.
“Miss, I see that your glabella is dark. I’m afraid you’ll encounter a fatal disaster. Do you want me to read your fortune?”
“Where did this lunatic come from? He’s full of nonsense!” Jingzhe was furious.
Shen Miao pulled the corner of her dress out from the Daoist and was about to walk forward.
The person said, “The phoenix has a good life but will be imprisoned forever. What a pity.”
