Chapter 216: 224. Ru Shixiong with Audacity

224. Ru Shixiong with Audacity

Xie Lingjiang, in a red dress, took a small path and passed through a plum blossom forest.

She pushed open a small door and walked into a quiet, empty courtyard.

This path was the small forest path behind the Plum Shadow Studio where Su Guoer lived.

Xie Lingjiang's pretty face was dazed; she had somewhat forgotten what Li Xian, Wei Mei, Su Guoer, and others had said to her or instructed her before she left the Su Mansion.

In her field of vision, the swing under the grape trellis in the courtyard seemed to be swaying back and forth. Strange, why were the light and shadows of the white clouds in the sky and the grape trellis on the ground swaying along with it?

Xie Lingjiang's eyes were dazed; she lowered her head and used the key, which had been warmed by her palm, trying twice before aligning it with the keyhole.

With a "click" sound.

The door was pushed open.

The sunlight that followed Xie Lingjiang into the room illuminated the dust in the air before her, making it appear in minute detail.

The air faintly emitted a faint scent of old clothes.

In a red dress, with her hands hanging by her sides, she entered the room alone.

The thousands of dust particles in the sunlight seemed to be squeezed by the visitor who walked into the room, flying everywhere, rushing about in a panic.

Xie Lingjiang walked to the Eight Immortals table in front.

A clean, white hand extended from under the red sleeve.

Her right palm, with fingers curled, slowly stroked the items on the table, some familiar and some unfamiliar:

Official seal, ribbon.

Two Grade 7 water-green official robes.

Jade-hilted white sandalwood skirt knife.

A wax-sealed letter stamped with a fire-lacquer seal.

And a pot of cymbidium, along with a water ladle placed upside down.

Xie Lingjiang's fingertips hovered, slowly stroking these things that the senior brother had "left" for her.

The sunlight shining diagonally from outside only laboriously climbed onto the slender, resilient waist of Xie Lingjiang's red dress, barely illuminating these relics on the Eight Immortals table.

She lowered her head.

Standing in the sunlight for a while.

Her palm finally fell.

She first picked up the envelope.

Xie Lingjiang silently tore open the fire-lacquer seal that had sealed the opening, took out a folded letter paper, and spread out the four corners.

She lowered her head, leaned close to the sunlight, and looked.

The familiar, elegant handwriting came into view.

Yet he was recounting a matter that made Xie Lingjiang feel incomparably strange at this moment.

Perhaps it was because she was motionless before the table.

The dust dancing in the sunlight in the room gradually fell, and the air was like a piece of newly fired porcelain gradually solidifying.

At a certain moment, Xie Lingjiang put down the letter paper.

She turned her head to examine the cymbidium swaying slowly on the table, dazed.

A moment later, she picked up the letter paper in her hand again.

Lowering her head to read silently.

This time, she did not know how much time had passed.

The sun slowly slanted westward.

The sunlight shining in from the door slowly faded from her waist down to the knees of her straight, long legs.

Xie Lingjiang suddenly folded the letter in half, quickly tucked it into her bosom, and turned to leave without looking back.

She came to an empty swing in the courtyard, lowered her head, and sat down.

In the quiet courtyard, a red dress slowly swayed on the swing.

The swing was under the grape trellis.

The plump grapes among the vines on the grape trellis had long been picked by a certain senior brother and sent to the Yilan Pavilion.

Leaving only a swing behind.

Xie Lingjiang had actually always wanted to play on the swing.

It was just that every time she couldn't bring herself to do it, her face was too thin.

She remembered when she was a child, living in a quiet, elegant courtyard in the mountains, not the deep and luxurious ancestral home in Wu Yi Lane, Jin Ling, later on.

Although she was a child of the Xie clan of Chen Jun, her father had always disliked noise; after refusing the new dynasty's invitation to be an official, he had lived in seclusion in the mountains for a long time.

Xie Lingjiang clearly remembered that in the mountain courtyard where she grew up reading, there was also a grape trellis, and under the trellis, there was a swing left by a predecessor.

This was one of the few pleasures she had while burying her head in books during her childhood.

Right, there were also the cute grapes on the grape trellis, which Xie Lingjiang loved to eat very much; every year she would stand on tiptoe and look, eagerly waiting for the grape season to mature, and after the spring, summer, autumn, and winter passed, the girl grew taller and taller.

It was just that later, her mother, who was stricter than her father, felt that swinging on a swing all day was not doing her proper work, affecting her studies, and was not what a lady of the Xie clan should do.

So she ordered the swing to be removed and the grape vines on the wooden frame to be cut down, telling her to study well and not let her mind wander.

Of course she had cried, but later Xie Lingjiang indeed lived up to expectations; young, she was promoted to a female gentleman of the Confucian school, and now, not yet twenty, she had gone a step further, promoted to Grade 7.

It was just that the grape vines and the swing that were cut down in her memory became one of the few regrets of Xie Lingjiang's childhood.

But after growing up, her mother had clearly passed away, and her father was not strict, fully understanding and respecting her as his only daughter.

But after growing up and being free, she never went to play on a swing again.

As for grapes, they were indeed still her favorite fruit, but throughout the year, busy with reading and cultivation, she ate less of them. At most, when others asked her what she liked to eat, she would mention it casually.

Xie Lingjiang had mentioned these things occasionally when chatting with her senior brother.

At that time, her senior brother did not express anything and quickly skipped the topic; Xie Lingjiang only thought he was not interested.

And during that time, during the day, they were just busy fighting wits and courage with the Liu family, and she didn't pay attention to it at all.

It was just that a few days ago, when Xie Lingjiang returned from Gezao Mountain, she suddenly discovered that an empty swing had been added under the grape trellis in his courtyard, swaying in the wind, making Xie Lingjiang's heart sway along with it at that time.

But at that time, Xie Lingjiang still couldn't bring herself to play, instead pouting and asking the senior brother on the swing if he was childish, refusing his smiling invitation with a pretty face.

It was mainly because she couldn't let go of the reserve of a noble lady of the Xie clan.

What a joke, she was already so big and still playing on a swing; she was a female gentleman of the Confucian school, dignified and cautious.

Moreover, the swing, when swinging, had a large amplitude after all, and a certain senior brother who was a gentleman had a previous record of his eyes not being very honest, and it was recorded in her small notebook, so Xie Lingjiang was of course embarrassed to sit on it and sway...

On the swing under the grape trellis, the red dress gradually stopped, and she took out the folded letter from her bosom.

Lowering her head to examine it.

Her toes tapped lightly, and the swing continued to sway.

But the next second, the woman on the swing suddenly put away the letter, opened her mouth to the empty courtyard in front, and called out his full name:

"Resigning from office to live in seclusion? Ouyang Lianghan, you have such great audacity, not even waiting for me to return to discuss it. Ouyang Lianghan, you... are you asking for a beating?"

In an instant, the red dress flew out from the swing and rushed into the room.

She grabbed the skirt knife, tucked it into her slender waist, and strode out the door.

Xie Lingjiang didn't even look at the official seal, official robes, and other items on the table that hinted at her helping him resign and submit, nor the orchid water ladle that hinted at her watering the flowers.

She gripped the jade hilt of the skirt knife tightly and walked out of the Plum Mei Mei Lu Yuan without a word.

Xie Lingjiang first went to the government office, questioning the officials like Assistant Magistrate Diao and Yan Liulang, whom Ouyang Rong had contacted before leaving, one by one, summarizing the information and clues.

She wanted to know where the senior brother who had resigned and lived in seclusion was!

Was he honestly returning to his hometown in Nanlong, or was it just a smokescreen to avoid her search?

Xie Lingjiang's vermilion lips were pressed into a line.

Her figure ran east, west, north, and south in the county town, inquiring for an entire afternoon, but the answers she got were surprisingly consistent:

The senior brother had asked for leave to return to his hometown.

Everyone Xie Lingjiang contacted did not know about Ouyang Rong's decision to resign, and she did not reveal this matter either.

At this moment, the sky was dark, and Xie Lingjiang walked out of the county government gate, holding her knife, murmuring in her mouth:

"Did you really return to Nanlong? Don't think I dare not go find you..."

Pondering with knitted brows for a moment, she suddenly raised her head, realization in her eyes, and turned back to the Plum Mei Mei Lu Yuan.

"Right, there is also Liu Ashan! He was closest to the senior brother on weekdays, and he also happened to ask for leave."

Xie Lingjiang rushed back to the Plum Mei Mei Lu Yuan and found Aqing's family who remained in the mansion.

"What? You mean, your brother also went out, and it was the same day as the senior brother asking for leave to return to his hometown in Nanlong?"

"Yes, is Xie Jie looking for the Master? The slave thinks, the brother might have returned with the Master." Aqing raised her pair of spiritual eyes and whispered her guess.

Xie Lingjiang did not answer immediately, looked at the spirited young girl, and smiled reluctantly.

It was just that when she turned her head, she walked out of Aqing's house gate, her moth-like brows still slightly knitted:

"The senior brother asked me to help submit the official seal and official robes... to resign for him, saying he wanted to live in seclusion, but he also took Ashan away from Longcheng County to do what? Ashan has family and a fiancée; it doesn't make sense for him to live in seclusion in the countryside with him..."

While pondering with knitted brows, Xie Lingjiang's steps habitually and unconsciously turned toward the Plum Forest Courtyard.

At this time, night fell.

Silently walking outside the wall of the Plum Forest Courtyard, Xie Lingjiang turned around, preparing to rush to Peng Lang Ferry to take a boat overnight, but the next second, she turned her head suddenly.

There was a slight sound of watering in the courtyard.

"The senior brother is back?!"

Xie Lingjiang rushed into the courtyard, but what came into view was a graceful purple figure, and she was immediately full of disappointment.

"What is the younger sister Li doing here?" Xie Lingjiang tightened her small face and asked stiffly.

Inside the room, Princess Li Guoer was sitting before the Eight Immortals table, one hand supporting her chin, the other tilting a water ladle.

A trickling stream fell from the water ladle, soaking into the soil of the orchid pot.

"Obviously, watering the flowers." Princess Li Guoer nodded.

Xie Lingjiang wanted to speak but stopped.

Princess Li Guoer lowered her head to examine the cymbidium, and at the same time, her pink lips parted slightly:

"Rest assured, besides watering the flowers, I haven't touched any of his things, Xie Jie need not worry."

Xie Lingjiang, who had gained nothing after a busy afternoon, felt her shoulders sag slightly, and she walked silently to the swing, sat down, suspended her two feet, and kicked lightly.

Princess Li Guoer turned her head, looked at the tired and lonely man-dressed woman in the courtyard, her pretty face curious:

"Doesn't Xie Jie never play on the swing?"

Xie Lingjiang did not answer, lowered her head to grab the rope, and swayed her calves.

Princess Li Guoer's words paused, her eyes quickly glancing at a certain stunning scenery that was swaying like water waves, and she nodded:

"No wonder Xie Jie didn't play on the swing before; the scenery over there is indeed unique, enough to make other women feel ashamed."

There was not a trace of a smile on Xie Lingjiang's cheeks, and Princess Li Guoer's joke seemed a bit cold.

Princess Li Guoer, in a purple Daoist robe, chuckled softly and didn't care.

She turned her head to look at the official seal, official robes, ribbon, and other items on the table, and nodded, asking:

"Is Ouyang Lianghan resigning?"

"Can you stop talking first? Let me be quiet."

Princess Li Guoer nodded slightly and placed the flower pot well.

She stood up with her slender body, wiped her hands with a handkerchief, walked out the door, and muttered softly with her lips and teeth:

"Really resigned? It seems he should have gone there. Hmm, a bit unexpected. Do Confucian scholars still believe in this? It seems Ouyang Lianghan has dabbled in the three teachings of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism, hiding his true self."

Xie Lingjiang pricked up her two ears and raised her head suddenly: "What did you say!"

Princess Li Guoer shook her head: "Nothing, Xie Jie continue swinging, the slave is leaving."

"You... don't go, younger sister Li say it again, do you know where the senior brother went? He didn't return to his hometown in Nanlong? Did he go somewhere else?"

Xie Lingjiang grabbed Princess Li Guoer's sleeve and asked a series of urgent questions.

Princess Li Guoer did not answer immediately, tilted her head slightly to examine her, and asked:

"Why does Xie Jie want to find him so much? He should have left a letter, right? It's just a personal choice. Why is Xie Jie so reluctant to let go?"

"I..."

Xie Lingjiang's pretty face flushed red, she stammered, and then nodded decisively:

"I am not reluctant to let go, I just want to... want to beat him! Young, he resigned and lived in seclusion, and left without saying goodbye. It's too heartless. Does he deserve his family and teachers? Yes, I want to teach him a lesson on behalf of Aunt Zhen and my father!"

"Oh, is that so?" Princess Li Guoer narrowed her eyes.

"Stop selling secrets, speak quickly!"

Princess Li Guoer pulled her sleeve from her hand and said straightforwardly: "He should have gone to Donglin Temple, to a place called the Pure Land Underground Palace."

"How do you know?"

Princess Li Guoer silently took a book from her sleeve:

"I accidentally discovered it when flipping through his bookshelf before. This Buddhist scripture records the deeds of Master Zhong Ma of Donglin Temple becoming a Buddha in the flesh and ascending to the Lotus Pure Land."

"The relevant pages were specially folded by him, and there were some bookmarks and annotations. Hmm, worthy of being a serious scholar, even when reading Buddhist scriptures, he takes beautiful notes."

Her three thousand green silks were pinned up by an over-regulated jade-clear lotus crown, and she nodded lightly, expressing approval of Ouyang Rong's seriousness.

"The other few relevant Buddhist scriptures are also like this. Presumably, he must have often flipped through them during this period, paying great attention to this matter, and searched through all the recorded literature."

"Donglin Temple? Master Zhong Ma? Ascending... Pure Land?"

Xie Lingjiang murmured, not even caring that Princess Li Guoer had trespassed into the senior brother's room and flipped through his bookshelf, or rather, temporarily ignored it.

She immediately took the rare book, lowered her head to flip through it, and a moment later, she stamped her feet in anger, paced in place, and said urgently:

"How could the senior brother believe in this stuff, and not tell me! Tell me early, you.

"Does he still believe in Buddhism? Wait, no wonder when I met him at Donglin Temple, his study was filled with a pile of Buddhist classics. Was he already paying attention to these things at that time, and often ran to Donglin Temple on weekdays...

"But the matter of becoming a Buddha in the flesh and ascending to the Pure Land is not reliable at all; it is very likely a misunderstanding. My father also mentioned it when chatting with me before.

"This Master Zhong Ma was not an ordinary person; he was very likely a Qi Refiner of the Lotus Sect of Donglin Temple, with extraordinary cultivation, which is why the so-called divine miracle of his flesh not decaying after death appeared. The speculation about ascending to the Pure Land is not reliable.

"There is no Pure Land fairyland in this world; only those crooked path alchemists believe in fairyland and longevity!

"My father also analyzed that the Qi Refiner lineage inherited by Donglin Temple today is broken, and the last few abbots have had no Qi Refiner cultivation. Perhaps it is related to the disappearance and passing away of that batch of Qi Refiners of Master Zhong Ma back then! A fault appeared.

"What is ridiculous is that this matter was misunderstood by the monks of Donglin Temple today as the founder becoming a Buddha in the flesh and ascending to the Pure Land, and they publicized it widely!"

Xie Lingjiang nearly crushed her silver teeth; someone was indeed asking for a beating:

"How could the senior brother easily believe this? How can a mortal who hasn't even refined Qi ascend? Wait, two days have passed, where is he now? Is he still lingering at Donglin Temple?"

After speaking, she left Princess Li Guoer behind, and the red dress rushed out of the courtyard gate, leaving the Plum Mei Mei Lu Yuan.

Xie Lingjiang left the city overnight, climbed the mountain under the stars, and rushed to Donglin Temple before dawn.

In front of the ancient temple gate, she didn't even have time to catch her breath, declined the welcoming guest monk, and rushed straight to the Compassion and Tian Jiyang Institute.

At the entrance of the Compassion and Tian Jiyang Institute, there was a monk yawning and sweeping the floor in the morning. Seeing the red-dressed woman rushing past him like the wind, his face was stunned, and the swept fallen leaves were scattered all over the ground again...

Above her head, the grey dawn sky had a ray of light breaking through the dawn, shining brightly.

There is another chapter in the early morning, not stuck here, good brothers don't wait, should not be able to stay up later than Xiao Rong, look tomorrow... or2 ===== CHAPTER 217 =====