Chapter 57 Master Jingyun
Arriving in front of the main hall, the old lady helped the servant up the steps. A maid had already lit three incense sticks and handed them over respectfully with both hands. The old lady took them carefully, holding them with her left hand on top and her right hand on the bottom. She raised them above her head and bowed three times devoutly, then placed them in the incense burner. After burning nine incense sticks in a row, she helped the servant into the main hall. The eldest lady and others stayed outside the hall, only Shihua and the other three followed behind. When they entered the main hall, they saw a couplet inscribed on the two large pillars on the left and right sides of the hall:
The first couplet is: Be a good person with a righteous heart, and you will have a peaceful soul and a stable dream.
The second line is: Do some good deeds, and the gods and ghosts will admire you.
After all, they were from an aristocratic family, and they had already informed the temple of their vows today. At this time, the temple was empty, waiting for the old lady to come and pay homage. Although Buddhists did not seem to care about the amount of things, the old lady came this time, in addition to donating a considerable amount of incense money, she still prepared the best offerings to show her sincerity. Then the waiters Qi and Hua came in and presented the offerings one by one. A little missus on the side came forward to take them and arranged them one by one according to the rules. The waiter Qin came forward to spread the cushion brought from the mansion, and the waiter Shu then helped the old lady to kneel down devoutly. The old lady knelt there with her hands clasped together, silently reciting in her heart:
"Lord Buddha, I came here today to fulfill my vow with all my heart. Thank you for your blessing and for helping Jun'er avoid disaster and prolonging his fortune. This is how Jun'er survived this disaster and turned misfortune into good fortune. In the future, I will do more good deeds, make more good friends, and accumulate blessings for my descendants. Namo our teacher Shakyamuni Buddha."
After the old lady finished reading, she prostrated herself on the ground. After three bows, she was helped up by the maid and stood aside. The four big maids came forward one by one to pay their respects. The old lady then helped the maid and her group out. When the first wife and others saw the old lady come out, they followed her in to pay their respects.
As soon as the old lady came down the stairs, a little priest who had been waiting for a long time came forward with his hands folded:
"Amitabha, please stay. The abbot of this temple, Master Jingyun, invites you to the abbot's room for a chat."
The old lady was shocked when she heard this. When Jun'er was seriously ill, she came to burn incense and make a wish. She had personally knelt in front of the abbot's door and repeatedly requested, but she still could not see him. Now that Jun'er's illness has recovered, why did the abbot take the initiative to meet him? No matter what the abbot said, it seemed a bit like hindsight, but after all, he was a respected master. Although the old lady was puzzled, she still said:
"Then I'll have to trouble you to lead the way."
"Amitabha, female donor, please"
After the little missal finished speaking, he led the old lady out of the east gate and turned to the side hall. After turning left and right, they finally arrived at the door of the abbot's room. It was a small hall with three rooms. "Abbot's Room" was written on the plaque in front of the door, and there was also a couplet next to it that read:
There is more behind me than I can bear
There is no way to turn back
The old lady thought to herself: "The last time I came here, I was preoccupied and didn't read it carefully. But looking at these two couplets, although the writing is simple, their meaning is profound when you savor them carefully. I guess this abbot is truly an otherworldly sage". Thinking of this, she felt a little more respect for him, and there was no longer any doubt or dissatisfaction.
With the help of the attendant, the old lady followed the little mass into the main hall of the abbot's room, where she saw an old monk with white eyebrows and beard, wearing a red robe, sitting upright on a cushion with his hands on his knees. She thought he was the abbot.
The old lady had already bowed down:
"I pay my respects to Master Jingyun. Master, you have great magical powers and boundless magical powers. I have always admired you. Today I have the opportunity to meet you. I am truly blessed."
Abbot Jingyun clasped his hands together and said:
"Amitabha, there is no need to be so polite. I am here to meet you because I have a chance to meet you today."
At this time, the little priest had placed a cushion in front of the old lady. The old lady insisted on bowing three times before sitting on it. The little priest then served tea and turned to leave.
"Amitabha, you are a kind-hearted donor who can sympathize with the suffering of the common people and is always willing to give charity. Recently, you have been giving away porridge at Jingyun Temple for three days. This is a blessing for the world and for Da Qi. I would like to thank you on behalf of all people in the world."
"Master has said before that my grandson Xiao Jun fell seriously ill the day before yesterday, so I came here to pray in person. Fortunately, my Lord has blessed me and you have infinite grace. You have eliminated Jun's disasters and extended his blessings. Jun's misfortune has turned into good fortune. I would like to thank you very much here."
"Amitabha, the donor is overpraising me. How dare I take credit for it? My grandson is extremely lucky. He survived this disaster because he met his destined nobleman. As long as this nobleman is by my side, he will surely have many children and grandchildren, and the family will prosper for generations..."
The old lady was slightly stunned when she heard this, and thought to herself: Could it be that the master is talking about Xi'er? But Xi'er was born as a concubine's daughter, which is contrary to the ancestral teachings. She can't stay with Jun'er. What should I do? The old lady frowned.
Master Jingyun saw that the old lady was deep in thought and silent, and he understood, so he said:
"Amitabha, female donor, I have something to say to you. I hope you can keep it in mind. I will be able to solve your doubts one day."
"Master, please speak. I am all ears and will keep it in mind."
"Amitabha, donor, all things in the universe, all emotions in human relations, all things in the world, when viewed with the secular eye, are different, but when viewed with the Dharma eye, all things are constant. Why should we differentiate, why should we choose?"
"Why distinguish, why choose!" Could it be that the master had seen through her dilemma? Facing the wise eyes of Master Jingyun, the old lady fell into deep thought. After a long time, she wanted to continue asking questions, but she saw that Master Jingyun had already served tea to see her off, so she had to get up and say goodbye.
…
The old lady was sitting in the carriage, still thinking hard: Our Xiao family has been famous and wealthy since the founding of the Great Qi Dynasty. It has been several generations now. It is often said that wealth cannot last for more than three generations, but my Xiao family has been prosperous for several generations, all thanks to the ancestral precept: "The head of the Xiao family shall not serve as an official in the court." During the successive dynasties of the Great Qi Dynasty, the Xiao family followed the ancestral precept and did not participate in party disputes. When the new emperor ascended the throne, the Xiao family was the first to come out and swear filial piety and loyalty, which firmly consolidated the position of the new emperor and made the Xiao family prosperous.
A few days ago, that unfilial and rebellious son actually wrote a letter to express his support for the current crown prince, asking the master to make plans early. It can be seen that in the court, Yan Wang Shangguan Hongmian is favored by the queen and the queen mother. The power of the queen mother's family is growing stronger and stronger, and an undercurrent has gradually formed. The attitude of Emperor Jin is ambiguous, and the voice of Yan Wang in the court is getting louder and louder. The struggle for the throne is becoming more and more severe. The position of the crown prince is in jeopardy. The court has long been turbulent and changing rapidly. How could this beast do such a disloyal and unfilial foolish thing in his clear and bright life? Is it true that my Xiao family has run out of luck and will eventually have such a disaster?
Master Jingyun, who had spent a fortune to see her, actually met her today. The master's eyes that seemed to see through all the causes and consequences in the world flashed through my mind. Could it be that Master Jingyun knew that my Xiao family would have this disaster today, and calculated that Xier's background was contrary to the ancestral precepts, and met me to protect her? As soon as Xier came in, Juner's illness was strangely cured. Could she really be the noble of my Xiao family? Is she the one who should be doomed? But, how can a woman turn the tide? Besides, if she stays, where will the "ancestral precepts" of my Xiao family be placed? How can I face my ancestors after I die? Thinking of this, the old lady was suddenly worried and didn't know what to do.
Thinking of the master's last words "Why distinguish, why choose", Mengxi's background as a concubine's daughter and Master Jingyun's words had tied a knot in the old lady's heart. She sighed and thought, forget it, it's still hard to say who will win the fight for the throne. Jun'er is still young, and it's too early for him to take over the position of head of the family. Let's keep Xi'er and wait and see.
The old lady temporarily cancelled her plan to go to Mengxi once the half-month period was up, but at the same time it was tantamount to burying a time bomb.
