Chapter 47: The Blessed Ones

  The next morning, a luxurious carriage with a canopy stood in front of the Qin's mansion gate, accompanied by four servants, slowly heading towards the outskirts. The person sitting inside was none other than Qin Dai Xin, who was on her way to Pu Fa Temple to burn incense. Accompanying her was her maid, Ruyi. Although maids from other families usually followed behind the carriage on foot, Qin Dai Xin thought it unnecessary and always had Ruyi sit with her in the carriage.

  "Miss, the clothes prepared for you this morning don't meet your expectations?" Ruyi looked at Qindai Xin's simple outfit with some confusion, although she knew that asking this question was a bit overstepping her bounds, but still couldn't help herself. Which young lady from a good family wouldn't dress up nicely when going out? Even going to the Pu Fa Temple to burn incense is an important matter, and Miss should be dressed up properly for it.

  Qin Dai Xin wore a plain-colored, narrow-sleeved jacket with a relatively loose high-waisted skirt underneath. The golden and silver hairpins on her head were scarce, and she only wore a pair of pearl earrings. She didn't even wear a single silver bangle on her wrist. Her attire was no less elegant than that of the daughter of a humble family.

  "What's wrong with dressing like this? We're going to offer our sincere prayers, not attend a flower festival." She had always liked simple attire and the elaborate headdress didn't suit her. In fact, she wasn't too fond of such attire. But what could she do? Under these formalities, she couldn't very well run around in outlandish clothes, could she?

  This statement is barely acceptable, and I won't say anything more. Although she was responsible for helping Miss Qin Dai manage her daily affairs as a senior maid, after all, she was just a slave, and if the master didn't want to do something, she couldn't change it, so she could only listen and obey.

  Qin Dai Xin couldn't help but lift the curtain and look out, at this time the horse carriage had gradually left the bustling town and was heading towards the suburbs, with blue sky and white clouds in sight, the vast and endless mountains and fields, although everywhere was withered branches and fallen leaves, a desolate scene, but Qin Dai Xin smelled the taste of freedom.

  "Miss, I heard that a long time ago, the current location of Pu Fa Temple was a lake. A monk who had attained enlightenment saw it and said it was an evil place with bad luck. So the imperial court ordered people to fill up the lake and built the current Pu Fa Temple on its original site." This is also what Ruyi heard from others, passed down through word of mouth, making that enlightened monk sound incredibly mysterious.

  What a coincidence? Qin Dai Xin heard this legend and couldn't help but think of Princess Wencheng. At that time, there was also a similar legend, which was either true or false, but it was all a waste of money and labor for the people. A lake can be so big, but it was actually filled up by people carrying stones and soil, it's really not easy.

  The two master and servant chatted idly like this, chatting about the sky, time passed quickly, but after walking for another quarter of an hour, the carriage stopped steadily.

  Ruyi lifted the curtain and looked out, seeing people constantly passing by in the distance. She knew that the carriage had stopped at the foot of the mountain, still a distance from Pufa Temple. "Miss, this place is still some distance from the temple, we need to walk. I'll go down first and help you get off the carriage." After finishing speaking, she pushed open the carriage door, jumped out, then placed a stool under the carriage and carefully helped Qindai down.

  Qin Dai Xin despised ancient people, thinking that this height was nothing to jump from, yet they still made such a big fuss about it.

  Qin Dai'er arranged for two house servants and a coachman to stay at the foot of the mountain, while she took Ruyi and another two house servants up the mountain. The four master-servants enjoyed the scenery along the way and soon arrived in front of the gate of Pufa Temple.

  When Qin Dai Xin stood in front of the Pu Fa Temple, she suddenly had a very absurd idea that this "monster" who crossed over wouldn't be discovered in such a sacred place.

  The incense at the Universal Dharma Temple is very prosperous, and there are many pilgrims here. Whether they are dressed in finery or tattered clothing, most people have a calm expression on their faces. As for whether their hearts are also calm, it's hard to say. A place with such thriving incense should be quite efficacious, shouldn't it?

  Qin Dai Xin followed the crowd of incense guests into the temple, and what she saw was not much different from what she had seen on TV before. Because she had never been to this Buddhist temple before, she also had a few curious thoughts.

  Temples are mostly the same, with a straight and unobstructed main road inside the mountain gate. On both sides of the road there are bell towers and drum towers. Walking forward along the main road, you will find various large and small halls in the temple.

  Qin Dai's heart passed through the Tianwang Temple and arrived inside the main hall.

  Inside the main hall, a kind of peaceful and quiet atmosphere hits you in the face. People's expressions are solemn and dignified, the Bodhisattva's face is benevolent, and the Arhat is majestic without being angry. Whether it's made of clay, painted, or gilded, Qin Dai doesn't recognize any of them. She has never studied Buddhist culture and doesn't know the true identity of these great gods, so she naturally doesn't know who she is worshiping. However, seeing that the people around her are all very devoutly kneeling and bowing, she also learns to kneel on the cushion in front of her, with her hands clasped together and her eyes closed in contemplation. Although she herself has no faith, she still respects these cultures. She quickly recites Su's wish for peace and safety for the Qin family several times, then gets up.

  As agreed, he hurried forward to support him. Qin Dai Xin walked over to one side and asked a young monk of about ten years old beside her: "Little Master, do you know if you can introduce me to Wu Ben Shifu?"

  Xiaoshiya clasped her hands together and recited a phrase "Amitabha Buddha", then said: "This female donor, later on, I will ask my master to come over."

  Qin Daiying said with a smile: "Thank you, Master." Then she stood obediently aside and waited. Before long, the little monk went away and came back, but there was no one behind him.

  "Lady patron, my master's brother invites you to the Chan hall for a conversation." The little novice joined his palms together and spoke in a measured tone, as if he had lost his childlike innocence from staying too long in the temple.

  "Let's have Xiao Laoshi lead the way."

  Qin Dai Xin made two family servants wait here, they called "yes" and stayed in their original place, only Ruyi followed.

  Xiaosha led Qindai Xin and Ruyi out of the main hall, heading towards the Chan house where monks and guests rested. The temple's environment was elegant and had an inexplicable comfortable atmosphere, which made Qindai Xin secretly admire it. She wondered if this was the magical place that came from worshiping Buddha and practicing Zen, which could make one's mind peaceful and even their body feel relaxed.

  Just then, the young monk stopped in front of a Zen room.

  "The lady patron, this is Master's meditation room." After finishing speaking, the little monk again bowed to Qin Daihe and then went down.

  The Zen room is simple, and at this time the door is wide open. Inside, several laymen wearing rough clothes are surrounding a middle-aged monk who is sitting at a table giving them medical treatment.

  Qin Dai Xin was somewhat curious and couldn't make a sound to disturb, hesitated for a moment, then took Ruyi into the Zen room, standing quietly on the side waiting.

  The Master seemed to have not seen Qin Dai Xin at all, and continued to focus on diagnosing the patient, asking about his condition in detail, and then wrote a prescription after examining his tongue. After handing it over, he reminded him of a few things, such as "avoid taking medicine orally" and "how many times a day". The man took it and thanked Master Wu Ben repeatedly before leaving. The master repeated this process several times until all the patients in the meditation room had left, then he got up and walked to Qin Dai Xin's side.

  This master was about fifty years old, slightly thin, with ordinary features and no beard like other accomplished monks, which made Qin Dai feel a bit strange.

  "Amitabha Buddha, the donor has waited for a long time." Master Wuben's eyes were kind and his tone was calm, making Qin Dai quickly overlook the strange feeling in her heart.

  "The master is kind and compassionate, this humble girl has learned a lot." Just now Qin Dai's heart saw it carefully, this Wu Ben Shifu, in fact, is helping these poor people to see a doctor for free, some even get the medicine prepared for free.

  "Is the donor surnamed Qin?" The words were like a bolt from the blue, as if he had known in advance, which made Qin Dai's heart feel somewhat unexpected and also felt that this kind of spiritual thing might exist, so it was better to be more careful with this "crossing" goods, especially not to offend the monk.

  "It's right." Qin Dai Xin hurriedly adjusted her mood, then said seriously: "I'm here to replace my mother to pray for blessings in the temple, and according to her wishes, I'll personally hand over the donation of incense oil money to Master."

  Yu Yi, who was standing beside her, was extremely surprised to hear the word "mother". The lady was actually Miss's birth mother, while Su Shi, although she had given birth to Miss, was only a concubine. Now that Miss was outside and addressing Su Shi in this way, if someone with malicious intentions were to hear it, it would be considered a serious crime. The label of "unfilial" might just be stuck on her.

  "Amitabha Buddha." Wu Ben Dashi joined his palms together and after chanting the title, said: "Is your surname Su?"

  "It's exactly that." Qin Daiying took the small box handed over by Ruyi and presented it to Master Wuben with both hands, saying: "This is the incense oil my mother asked me to deliver to your temple."

  The master didn't look at the things in the box either, and put it on the table aside, saying: "Amitabha, Madam has done good deeds and got good results. Good, good." Then he changed the subject and asked: "Has the donor ever made a wish in front of the temple?"

  "I've prayed for blessings on your mother's behalf." The tone was sincere, without a hint of anything unusual.

  "Why doesn't the donor also pray for himself?"

  Qin Daiyun didn't quite understand his words, was the master going to point out some profound mystery to her? She also remembered a phrase she had heard someone say before and replied: "The Buddha's compassion is great, he vowed to enlighten all sentient beings, allowing their minds to be purified, dispelling confusion and attaining enlightenment, freeing them from suffering. As a humble woman born after the Buddha, having read the scriptures, why should I be greedy for more?"

  "Amitabha Buddha." Master Wuben recited a Buddhist mantra and smiled silently at Qin Dai.

  Qin Dai Xin then deeply saluted Master Wu Ben, and without saying a word, turned around and left the Zen room. Jing Yi didn't dare to be slow, hastily followed suit with the master's gesture, and caught up with Qin Dai Xin's footsteps, walking back on the same path they came from.

  Wu Ben rushed towards Qin Dai's back and slowly spat out a sentence: "Is a blessed person."

  PS: I don't understand why the collection dropped by one again? Is it because the update time is too late? Although this book is slow to heat up, there are many points to watch, and you can all fatten up before watching! Covering face and begging for collection...