Xie Jiang was asleep.
Golden dawn light spread across the mountains and fields, enveloping the ancient temple in its embrace, like the Buddha's light that saves all beings.
Xie Jiang walked into Nan Zhao Temple, stepping on the golden light, asked the guest monk for a courtyard, and fell asleep.
She had tried her best to break Xu Hengyan's heart, and as soon as the bed was warm, she got up.
She woke up hungry in the quiet afternoon.
The meal times in the temple had long passed, but Xie Jiang had given a generous amount of incense money, so she naturally got something to eat.
Afterward, she wandered around the temple.
Xie Jiang had no reverence for these clay and wooden statues. This ancient temple, with its considerable history, was merely a scenic spot with a tranquil environment in Xie Jiang's eyes.
Declining the guest monk's company, Xie Jiang toured the temple alone.
Since the current Emperor began cultivating immortality, the Buddhist temples that had flourished for over a hundred years within the Great Yu territory were no longer as prosperous as before.
Daoist palaces and temples, on the other hand, had sprung up like mushrooms after a rain.
Xie Jiang stood outside the Grand Hall, watching people one after another worship devoutly beneath the Buddha statues. Driven by curiosity, she went inside.
She looked up at the solemn and majestic Buddha image high above, then at the devout believers prostrate on the ground. Xie Jiang walked around the Buddha statue unhurriedly. After she had seen enough, she gracefully emerged from the hall.
A woman in simple attire with a hairpin came out one after another with Xie Jiang and immediately went into the Medicine Master Hall behind, kneeling and offering incense as before.
Xie Jiang watched the woman's bowing back and followed her into the Medicine King Hall, looking around.
Seeing that the woman was about to continue, Xie Jiang, bored, followed her, thinking, "Is this how one worships Buddha? Do I have to worship at every single spot?"
Later, she discovered that it was indeed the case. The woman did not miss a single Buddha statue in every hall. Finally, they arrived at the Arhat Hall.
It was said that Nan Zhao Temple's Arhat Hall had five hundred Arhats. Would this woman want to worship them all?
Casting a wide net?
To increase the probability of a divine manifestation?
Regardless of the woman's intentions, Xie Jiang had already stepped inside.
Although they were clay and wooden statues, five hundred of them gathered together were worth seeing.
But it was only worth a glance.
After lingering in the Arhat Hall for about fifteen minutes, Xie Jiang came out and sat on a stone stool under a row of pine trees to rest.
It was not a special occasion today, so there were not many pilgrims in the temple, making it particularly quiet.
Xie Jiang stretched, and then she saw the devoutly worshipping woman emerge from the Arhat Hall.
The woman also saw Xie Jiang sitting under the pine trees. This young person, unlike ordinary mortals, made the woman momentarily believe that a Bodhisattva had manifested.
Wouldn't a Bodhisattva look like this? Naturally, there would be a vast difference between them and ordinary people.
But this young master had followed her all the way from the Grand Hall, and many people looked at her with reluctance to miss anything, only restraining themselves slightly due to her imposing demeanor.
Since so many people in the temple had seen her, the woman finally confirmed that she had not been lucky enough to encounter a Bodhisattva.
The woman sat down beside Xie Jiang, stared at her for a while, and then shyly withdrew her gaze, but could not help but look a few more times.
"Young master, since you have come to the temple, why do you neither burn incense nor kowtow? Can simply walking and looking obtain the Bodhisattva's blessing?"
Xie Jiang's lips curved into a mocking smile, and she said to the woman, "I don't need the Bodhisattva's blessing, nor will I ask for it."
Seeing her smile, the woman couldn't help but smile too, "Does young master have nothing you wish for?"
"Judging by your appearance, you must come from a wealthy family. You probably don't need fame or fortune, but you must wish for peace and health. Nan Zhao Temple is also quite effective in praying for marriage."
Xie Jiang thought that Song Er must have prayed when he was at his wit's end, but all the gods and Buddhas in the sky seemed to be deaf and mute.
When she looked up at these compassionate and solemn Buddha statues just now, she deeply regretted not having the habit of carrying a whip with her. Otherwise, she could have whipped them severely to wake them up and open their eyes.
Since they turn a blind eye to all the injustices in the world, how could they enjoy the offerings of incense with a clear conscience?
"It's better to ask me than Buddha. What are you praying for, madam?" Xie Jiang gestured towards the Five Hundred Arhat Hall opposite, "These five hundred combined are not as effective as me."
The woman's mouth hung open, unable to speak for a long time. Had she really encountered a true Bodhisattva?
~
After touring the temple, Xie Jiang headed towards the back mountain.
When she went up the mountain in the early morning, she saw a tall pagoda standing on the summit. Out of boredom, Xie Jiang decided to climb up and take a look.
Xie Jiang planned to stay at Nan Zhao Temple for three days.
How could a simple farewell without showing her face convey all her disappointment and heartbreak?
She could only hope that the merciful Buddha could ferry her out of the sea of suffering.
Ah!
So deeply in love.
How could Xu Hengyan not be heartbroken?
Let her love be broken or not.
Who knew if Xu Hengyan's people would report everything in detail.
Her choice to stay at Nan Zhao Temple was not entirely to break Xu Hengyan's heart.
Tomorrow, the female members of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion would come to Nan Zhao Temple to offer incense. They had sent people to arrange their accommodation three days in advance.
Xie Jiang planned to have a chance encounter with her aunt and cousin.
Unexpectedly, before she could encounter the female members of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion, she coincidentally met someone else first.
The interior of the tall pagoda was empty and unremarkable. Xie Jiang decided to climb to the top floor to enjoy the scenery.
She didn't remember how many floors she had climbed. When she estimated she was nearing the top, a dog ran down the stairs.
Xie Jiang looked up. Although she couldn't see anything, she was sure there was someone on the tower.
The dog stopped at her feet and barked at her twice.
Its pure white fur was very beautiful. Xie Jiang looked at it and felt it was somewhat familiar.
The dog suddenly ran past Xie Jiang and rushed downwards. Xie Jiang thought it was going down and paid no more attention. Who knew that as soon as she lifted her foot to continue climbing the stairs, the dog chased after her from behind, darted up the stairs, and disappeared without a trace.
Xie Jiang continued to walk up unhurriedly. She was not surprised that there was someone on the tower, but she did not expect it to be someone she knew.
"Third Prince?"
The wind was strong at the height, blowing the robes of the two people playing chess in the tower.
One of them had a noble demeanor, with long eyebrows reaching his temples, and naturally foxy eyes, peerless in the world.
Having met Xia Rongyu a few times, Xie Jiang recognized him at a glance.
"Marquis Xie?"
Xia Rongyu was also surprised to see Xie Jiang, not expecting to meet her at the top of the tower.
Xie Jiang stared at the shiny bald head of the person sitting opposite Xia Rongyu for a moment. It was probably a monk from Nan Zhao Temple.
The young monk, in his early thirties, was heroic in bearing, with a handsome and dignified appearance, exuding an extraordinary aura.
The young monk, almost simultaneously with Xia Rongyu, turned his head towards the staircase. When he saw Xie Jiang, he obviously froze for a moment, and then his eyes became somewhat strange.
Xie Jiang raised an eyebrow slightly.
The monk then lowered his gaze.
Xia Rongyu smiled slightly and nodded at Xie Jiang, "Why is Marquis Xie here?"
Xie Jiang leisurely put her hands behind her back and walked a few steps inside, "I happened to discover this pure Buddhist land and plan to stay in the temple for a few days to relax. I didn't expect such a coincidence to meet the Third Prince."
Xie Jiang's smile became even more brilliant and dazzling, "I knew it. I and the Third Prince have a destiny predestined in our past lives."
Hearing this, the young monk suddenly looked up at her again.