Chapter Twelve: Paying Respect to the Buddha

The place where Lu Yalan met Madam Mu was already within sight of the mountain gate. The group chatted and laughed, feeling as if they hadn’t walked for long before reaching the summit. The plump lady introduced her family name as Mu, so Lu Yalan addressed her as Madam Mu. However, the plump lady insisted that Lu Yalan call her Aunt Mu. Lu Yalan, finding this elder warm and easy to get along with, happily changed the way she addressed her.

“Old Madam, what’s wrong? Don’t frighten us!”

Lu Yalan had just finished the last flight of stairs and hadn’t yet steadied herself on the open ground when a group of burly men charged over. Hongxing was startled and quickly moved in front of Lu Yalan to shield her, but unexpectedly, the men easily pushed aside both Lu Yalan and the servants, encircling Aunt Mu instead.

Lu Yalan tugged at Hongxing’s sleeve, indicating that she needn’t block them, and instructed the servants to step back a few paces. “They’re probably Aunt Mu’s household staff.”

Hongxing patted her chest, “That scared me to death! With such fierce energy, I thought they were robbers.”

Lu Yalan pretended to scold her, “Don’t talk nonsense!”

Aunt Mu, carried by her servant and able to see farther than the others, noticed the group of men rushing over and sensed trouble. She hurriedly gestured for them not to scare anyone. Yet, her son’s men paid no heed to her signals and only cared about charging ahead. The maid running behind understood but couldn’t hold back so many rough men. Aunt Mu could only watch as these fellows quickly pushed the young lady into a corner, helplessly rubbing her forehead.

Surrounded by so many burly men, the servant carrying Aunt Mu trembled uncontrollably. He hadn’t noticed that the men had just called out “Old Madam.” Before he could even look up, he was surrounded by these intimidating figures and felt his life was hanging by a thread.

Seeing the servant’s legs shaking as if he might drop Aunt Mu at any moment, the leader barked in a gruff voice, “What are you doing? Stand firm!” He signaled his brothers to carefully take over Aunt Mu. Only then did the maid, running last, manage to force her way through the crowd, breathless, to Aunt Mu’s side.

Aunt Mu was settled on a long bench for pilgrims to rest. Observing that the surrounding pilgrims were eager to distance themselves, with many standing afar to watch the commotion, she knew this wasn’t the place for conversation. She briefly explained, “Little Li, don’t be so fierce. I sprained my ankle climbing the mountain, and he carried me all the way. We should thank him properly.”

The leader, feeling embarrassed, scratched his head and apologized to the servant who had carried Aunt Mu. The servant dared not accept, waving his hands repeatedly.

Having traveled widely with the Lu family’s merchant caravan, he’d seen much. Others might not notice, but he did: though this group wore short coats like ordinary servants, their posture was upright, their gaze sharp, and thick calluses covered their knuckles—not the hands of manual laborers, but those accustomed to wielding weapons! If he hadn’t sensed the possibility of blood on their hands, he wouldn’t have been so frightened. He had regretted accepting the job of guarding the Second Miss, but seeing the leader’s amiable manner now, he relaxed and struck up a conversation.

Aunt Mu ignored the men, beckoning Lu Yalan over. “I have a guest room in the temple; it’s the first one on the southernmost side. Once you’re settled, send someone to inform me. When my ankle heals, I’ll show you around. There are many sights worth seeing at Qianyun Temple.” Seeing Lu Yalan nod, she continued, “It’s inconvenient to talk here. Let’s settle in first. You’ve helped me so much; I don’t know how to thank you. Please accept this token of appreciation, and soon, I’ll have my son visit to express our gratitude.”

Aunt Mu took Lu Yalan’s hand and slid the jade bracelet, bright as dripping emerald, onto her wrist. Lu Yalan hurriedly declined; helping Aunt Mu had been merely a matter of course. Even without her, the servants could have quickly arrived, so the gift felt far too generous.

Aunt Mu wiped her eyes with a handkerchief. “I only have one son, stubborn as a stone, and rarely someone to confide in. Meeting you today felt like fate. I hope you won’t mind this old woman’s chatter and will come to talk with me often.”

Lu Yalan saw the loneliness on Aunt Mu’s face and felt her heart soften. She thought the bracelet was just too valuable; such craftsmanship and material she’d only seen with the old matriarch.

“You have such broad experience, chatting with you makes time fly. As long as you don’t mind my visits, I’ll come to see you every day. But this bracelet is too precious—I really can’t accept it.”

Aunt Mu saw Lu Yalan’s hesitation and pressed further. “A gift from an elder cannot be declined—how can a greeting from a senior be anything but generous?” Her round, smiling face beamed. “Take it, my dear, it looks beautiful on you!”

Indeed, Lu Yalan’s fair skin made her the prettiest among the Lu sisters; the vibrant jade bracelet highlighted her snowy, delicate complexion even more. Such a dazzling bracelet became merely a complement to Lu Yalan’s beauty.

Lu Yalan felt shy; she’d never received such a valuable and thoughtful gift before. “Thank you, Aunt Mu. I’ll take good care of it. Please rest well, and I’ll come visit you in a few days.”

Seeing the girl’s ears turn redder, Aunt Mu couldn’t help but smile with her eyes. She waved grandly, “Life in the temple may be simple, but there’s much of interest. Get used to it for a few days, and when my ankle heals, I’ll show you around properly!”

Aside from Hongxing, it was the first time Lu Yalan felt such open kindness and couldn’t help but smile herself.

Since it wasn’t a place for conversation, the two exchanged a few words and then went their separate ways.

The Lu family was considered regular guests at Qianyun Temple, and their servants easily found the steward monk to express their intention to stay for a few days. Lu Yalan’s guest room was soon arranged.

Lu Yalan asked Hongxing to go ahead and organize the luggage while she herself went straight to the Great Hall, kneeling with devout sincerity to pay her respects.

Most pilgrims came to pray for blessings or fulfill vows. As Lu Yalan made her supplications, she heard a young wife praying, “Merciful Buddha, please grant your devotee a healthy baby boy; I promise to offer incense every day,” and an elderly person returning a vow, “Buddha showed his power, my son’s illness is finally cured. I’ve come to repay my vow, willing to give up ten years of my life.”

Lu Yalan was eager to worship, but once she knelt there, while people came and went, she felt lost. She didn’t know what to pray for.

Love? The fiancé she waited for disliked her, and she had no confidence she’d ever meet someone better. Family? Her mother had died early, her father had another family, and the old matriarch treated each child equally, ignoring their little squabbles. She had once hoped her father would pay her more attention but no longer dared to hope.

Lu Yalan thought for a moment and opened her eyes to gaze at the Buddha amidst the swirling incense. The Buddha smiled down at the world, his expression compassionate and serene. Just gazing at him made one feel like weeping.

O Buddha, why have you granted me such precious memories? What do you want me to do?

Lu Yalan closed her eyes. In her mind flashed the scene of Zhao Dingsheng looking at her with disdain and saying, “People like you,” the second concubine’s incredulity when scratched by her, the old matriarch’s meaningful words during her punishment, and finally, the blurry figure of another young woman.

I want to become like that elder sister. I want to take charge of my own life, not be at the mercy of others.

The sun set behind the mountains, pilgrims gradually dispersed, incense burned down stick after stick in the censer, and ashes gathered while candles dwindled. A gust of wind swept through, and the Great Hall emerged from the haze; the Buddha’s dignified statue was bathed in sunset red, infused with the breath of the human world. The monks finished cleaning and waited quietly outside, silent.

Lu Yalan opened her eyes, paid her respects with utmost sincerity, and staggered a little as she stood up from kneeling too long.

“Amitabha! It seems the devotee has found enlightenment.”

Lu Yalan realized the sun had already set. The mountain wind blew into the hall, refreshing her spirit. She awkwardly adjusted her skirt and bowed to the monk. “Yes. Master, I’m sorry to have delayed your practice.”

The monk returned the gesture. “Devotee, do not reproach yourself. This is also cultivation.”

Hongxing had been waiting outside and quickly draped a cloak over her mistress. Lu Yalan thanked the monk again, then left with light steps.

A chubby young monk scampered over, holding two vegetarian buns. “Abbot, quick, eat them while they’re hot!” Lianyuan patted the little monk’s bald head, took the buns, and led him away.

High above, the Buddha still watched the world with a smile.

Upon waking, Lu Yalan couldn’t help rubbing against her quilt. These days, after transcribing scriptures, she and Hongxing wandered about, saw the famous sea of clouds and pines at Qianyun Temple, tasted delicious vegetarian dishes, and occasionally chatted with Aunt Mu. Though the guest room couldn’t compare to home, she felt relaxed and free, wishing she could stay forever.

“Miss, come quickly! Today there are vegetarian tofu buns, tea-scented vegetarian chicken, and spicy vegetarian beef!” Hongxing pushed open the door and placed the food box carefully on the table.

Lu Yalan couldn’t help opening the window and craning her neck to look at the sky—it seemed she hadn’t slept until noon.

Hongxing explained, “Yesterday Aunt Mu said the wishing pond on the temple’s rear mountain never freezes and always stays clear. If you make a wish there and drink a handful of wishing water, your wish is more likely to come true. We must go see it. I thought today was perfect for an outing; since we won’t make it back for lunch, I asked the kitchen master to prepare a few specialties. We’ll have snacks for lunch and feast tonight when we return.”

Lu Yalan laughed. The kitchen master was the temple’s chief cook, renowned for his vegetarian dishes; everyone called him kitchen master, and his Dharma name was rarely mentioned. Since tasting the temple’s vegetarian food, Hongxing often slipped into the kitchen, pestering him to make special dishes, wishing she could eat five meals a day.

“You’ve arranged everything. Fine, let’s set off after eating. Don’t keep troubling the kitchen master; he needs to cultivate. You can’t just have him cook whatever you fancy.”

Hongxing leaned in mysteriously. “That monk is a ‘meat-and-wine’ monk. How do you think his vegetarian dishes taste so much like meat? He eats meat all the time and wants a change. He was sneaking wine when I caught him, so he agreed to cook delicious food to keep me quiet.”

Lu Yalan was silent for a moment and set down her chopsticks. Hongxing, seeing her mistress’s expression change, felt uneasy.

“You’re willing to be friends with the kitchen master, which means he’s a good person. In that case, you shouldn’t use his secret to threaten him—it’s not right.”

Hongxing protested, a bit aggrieved. “Miss, I didn’t threaten him. He seemed happy to cook and wasn’t unwilling.”

Lu Yalan breathed a sigh of relief and apologized, “Sorry, I misunderstood you.” Seeing Hongxing shake her head, she continued, “When you return the food box, ask the kitchen master clearly. If he’s only doing it because he doesn’t want you to reveal his secret, then we can’t keep imposing. Also, take extra money and add to the incense fund.”

Hongxing knew she was wrong and nodded quietly, though she was a bit reluctant.

Lu Yalan sighed. “If you explain everything and he’s still willing to cook, then of course it’s fine. We’ll just make more offerings.”

“Okay!”