Chapter 46: The Initial Mention of Marriage

  Thank you for the reward of Ping An Fu from Yu Hou Tingyuan, Ding Xiaoban and Xing Guang Biliu's reward of sachet, thank you for your support to Qianqian...

  There are so many people urging me to update recently, unfortunately, Shallow can't keep up with it, I'm really sorry. A few days ago, Bianbian informed me that the new chapter will be released on May 1st, and I've been storing drafts these past few days. If it's released tomorrow, I'll definitely release two chapters at once!

  After the news of the Emperor's escape from danger was transmitted back to the capital, the capital, which had been on the verge of a storm, immediately returned to its usual calm, as if the unrest and oppression of the past half month had never existed. Those officials who had come to the Banruo Temple to pray for blessings, just like the Anji Marquis's mansion, received the news and packed up their belongings, leaving the Banruo Temple and returning to the capital.

  Shen's family left for the capital two days after the official residence of Banruo Temple, and he also bid farewell to the master of Banruo Temple, taking the ladies of Anji Houfu back to Beijing.

  That day, after lunch, Shen brought her personal maid Wang to bid farewell to the master who had received them that day. On the way, they met the legendary young Zen Master Shuijingchen. Shen looked at the young monk slowly walking from afar, wearing a simple white Buddhist robe, natural and pure, yet making people feel calm and peaceful, comfortable and distant, cleansing their minds.

  Shen didn't think that she would be lucky enough to meet the famous disciple of the legendary Master Kongwu, and although she had never met Shuijing Chen before, it didn't mean that she hadn't heard people talk about him.

  Shen's emotions were stirred, she had long believed in Buddhism, and today she met a disciple of Kongwu Dashi again. Years ago, Kongwu Dashi had said that this disciple's Buddhist attainments had already far surpassed his own. As she faced the approaching Shuijingchen, she joined her hands together and whispered: "Amitabha..."

  The water mirror stopped in its tracks and bowed to Shen's family with a single word: "Amitabha."

  Qing Jin bid farewell to the Shen family and, bypassing Gu Qingyao and two younger half-sisters, brought Yuanyang to the Quiet Heart Pond at Banruo Temple.

  The weather in August was still very hot, fortunately it was in the afternoon, and the ancient trees by the Quiet Heart Pond were towering, with green trees shading, plus the water in the Quiet Heart Pond was cool and comfortable. Qingjin squatted down beside the Quiet Heart Pond, stretched out her hand into the water of the Quiet Heart Pond, feeling the coolness.

  Recently, many officials' families from the capital came to Banruo Temple. Many people like to stroll around Jingxin Pond when they have nothing to do. To avoid collisions and disputes, and also because Qingjin doesn't like to join in the bustle, this time after coming to Banruo Temple, Qingjin hasn't been to Jingxin Pond even once.

  Fortunately, after receiving good news from the border a few days ago, most people had returned to Beijing. Qing Jin finally brought Yuanyang to the edge of Jingxin Pond in a leisurely manner. The outside sun was scorching hot, and at this time, very few people were willing to come out and move around. The monks would not come over either, so Qing Jin felt at ease lifting up her wide sleeves, with her entire arm fully submerged in the icy cool water.

  The swan beside her saw this scene, subconsciously frowned and wanted to stop Qingjin. After scanning the surroundings and finding no one around, she still didn't say anything, but stood in a place where people often passed by, just in case strangers came over to remind her own girl.

  Qing Jin saw the movement of Yuanyang, and a look of appreciation flashed in her eyes. After enjoying the coolness brought by the pool water for a while, she became somewhat disinterested and listlessly stirred the water of the quiet pool from time to time. This time when she returned, her wish should be fulfilled, and then she could watch the wonderful show of the two dragons fighting for the "pearl" with peace of mind.

  Yes, it was her who asked for Shuijingchen's help. She recalled how Shuijingchen agreed to help her without hesitation at that time. Although she had said that she would stay away from him, now she owed him even more and went to find him again. Before going to see Shuijingchen, she was hesitant and nervous in her heart, but for the sake of avoiding that fate, she still went to find him. She thought it would take a lot of effort to persuade Shuijingchen to agree to help her, but unexpectedly, after hearing her out, Shuijingchen simply raised his head, looked at her warmly with a gentle gaze, and said softly: "Okay."

  That good word made her stunned for a while before she reacted, looking up at Shuijing Chen's gentle and warm appearance, Qingjin couldn't understand why Shuijing Chen agreed so readily?

  She still doesn't quite understand why Shuijing dust agreed so readily, and looking at her own reflection in the water, Qingjin feels that she herself is just bored with nothing better to do, and now she's come to suspect that Shuijing dust agreed so quickly because there must be some ulterior motive.

  What is this Water Mirror Dust, what does she have that's worth calculating about? She's a dignified and noble Buddhist nun, her master is a great teacher who even the Emperor Liang treats with courtesy, and she herself possesses extraordinary abilities and purity like water.

  Thinking of this, Qingjin stopped thinking and focused on feeling the coolness brought by the water in the pond.

  Sunlight filtering through the leaves shines on the water of Jingxin Pond, and the rippling pond water reflects the sunlight onto Gu Qingjin, who is concentrating on playing with the water by the pond, making her red clothes and black hair look as beautiful as a peony fairy.

  Qing Jin happened to raise her head and saw a white-robed monk standing quietly among the trees, which was Water Mirror Dust. The wind blew through the leaves, and occasionally a ray of sunlight came through to shine on Water Mirror Dust's body, as if it were the sacred light of the Buddha descending upon the world.

  Outside the forest, golden sunlight spills across the sky and earth.

  In the forest, the trees shaded the rippling water mirror dust. At the edge of light and darkness, I felt Qing Jin's gaze, and the water mirror dust's eyes looked over faintly.

  In the dimly lit, ever-changing light and shadow, Qing Jin couldn't see clearly the expression on Shui Jing Chen's face, only noticing that his white monk robes were even more flowing than the clouds at the horizon.

  Qing Jin smiled brightly at him, "When did you arrive?"

  Upon hearing her question, Shuijing Chen walked out of the dimly lit room with an air of serene and gentle elegance as always, replying softly: "I've been here for a while."

  Because she had planned to ask for Shuijingchen's help earlier, Qingjin often went to listen to Shuijingchen preach to the monks at Banruo Temple when she followed her grandmother Shen to the temple, as if returning to that initial period of time.

  Moreover, with the help of Shuijingchen's rescue last time, coupled with Qingjin's intention, the relationship between the two became more familiar than before. So at this moment, seeing Shuijingchen, Qingjin smiled relaxedly and jokingly said: "Shuijingchen, if you weren't a monk, how good would that be!" As for why it was good, Qingjin didn't say anything further.

  Shuijingchen heard Qingjin's words and remained silent with a gentle expression.

  ………………………

  Afterwards, Qing Jin followed her grandmother Shen Shi out of the Ban Ruo Temple and returned to the An Ji Hou Fu. On the night that Shen Shi returned to the An Ji Hou Fu, she called for Qing Jin's mother, Jun Shi, to come to her courtyard. After the two of them had a conversation, Jun Shi left Shen Shi's courtyard.

  The next morning, Junshi had Qingjin called to her own room and told Qingjin what Shen Shi said to her last night. It was indeed about arranging an early marriage for Qingjin. Qingjin had been mentally prepared and after listening to Junshi's words, she lifted her head and spoke to Junshi: "Qingjin will do everything according to mother's wishes, it's all up to mother!"

  Because of the Emperor Ming and the two princes escaping from danger, the capital city returned to its usual tranquility. With the continuous good news coming from the border, the aristocratic families in the capital began to move about busily. On that day, Qingjin's mother, Junshi, called Qingjin over and told her what Shen Shi had said to her. After getting Qingjin's agreement, Junshi took Qingjin to frequently attend various gatherings and banquets.