PCA Chapter 121

In the third month of spring, Su Cen chose a day when he had some free time and suggested they go out to enjoy the spring.

 

Originally, he only planned to take Qu Ling’er, but Qu Ling’er, being talkative, went to boast to his “Brother Qi,” who then mentioned it to Li Shi. So, when they were ready to leave, they saw Li Shi and Qi Lin standing outside in casual clothes.

 

Su Cen was slightly taken aback. “Don’t you have to review memorials today?”

 

Li Shi stood with his hands behind his back. “Occasionally, I also want to ‘not attend court from now on.'”

 

Su Cen’s face flushed slightly, thinking, who would be the one to make you “reluctant to leave the bed in the morning”? However, he was pleased. He didn’t want Li Shi to spend all his energy on court affairs, with matters big and small being sent to the Xingqing Palace all year round. It was exhausting just to watch. Taking a break occasionally for some work-life balance was perfectly acceptable.

 

Their destination was the Caotang Temple outside the city. It was the season of lush greenery, with excellent scenery along the way. The first time they came here was in the dead of winter, with nothing but bare mountains. Now, with the ice melted and everything growing, the road was filled with interesting sights. Qu Ling’er was restless, jumping around, wanting to pick flowers one moment and catch fish the next. Su Cen couldn’t scold him in front of Li Shi, so he kept giving Qi Lin looks: Can’t you control your man?

 

Qi Lin, thinking Su Cen found him a nuisance, went off with Qu Ling’er to catch fish.

 

Su Cen: “…”

 

The sky was vast, the wilderness boundless, with the sun and moon as witnesses. Before this, Su Cen had no improper thoughts. However, with the beautiful scenery and no one around, wouldn’t it be a waste of such a fine spring day not to do something?

 

Just as he was thinking about how to make a move, Li Shi suddenly stopped and turned to look at him.

 

Su Cen, feeling guilty, touched his face. “…What’s wrong?”

 

Li Shi raised his handsome eyebrows. “Don’t you have something to tell me?”

 

Su Cen: “Ah?”

 

“Why did you send Qi Lin away?”

 

“…” Lord Su felt as wronged as Dou E, thinking, since it’s come to this, might as well go all out. He steeled himself and said, “I do have something to tell you.”

 

Su Cen approached, opened his mouth to speak, then suddenly stood on his toes, planting a kiss on Li Shi’s slightly upturned lips, the scent of grass and wood lingering.

 

Before Li Shi could react, Su Cen quickly withdrew, striding forward with his eyes fixed ahead, looking as serious as could be.

 

Li Shi couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight of Su Cen’s ears slowly turning red, licking his lips with a hint of lingering desire.

 

By the time they reached the Caotang Temple, it was past lunchtime. Qu Ling’er, holding the big fish Qi Lin had caught for him, stood at the temple gate and asked a young monk, “Can you make fish soup here?”

 

This is a monastery, not a restaurant! The young monk’s smooth forehead was covered in black lines. “Monks do not kill.”

 

Qu Ling’er waved his hand. “No need for you to kill; I’ll do it myself.”

 

The young monk: “…All living beings have spirits. To kill them without reason and take their lives will lead to a path of suffering. There’s a release pond behind the temple; we hope the donor will show mercy and create good karma.”

 

Qu Ling’er frowned. “What if you fish them out and eat them after I leave?”

 

Qu Ling’er looked at Qi Lin, then at the fish, all lively and plump. He was reluctant to release them, but holding them meant he couldn’t enter the temple. He was quite troubled.

 

In the end, Qi Lin led him to sit in front of the mountain gate, placing the fish on the steps, and started doing business right there. With the beautiful spring day, many people came to offer incense. After paying respects to the Buddha, buying a fresh fish to take home for soup would be delightful. Quite a few people inquired about the price, and business was surprisingly good.

 

The young monk couldn’t bear to watch, silently chanting “Amitabha, Amitabha…” before getting up and returning to the temple, out of sight, out of mind.

 

Su Cen shook his head with a smile at Li Shi, not waiting for them, and entered the temple on his own.

 

Su Cen explained his purpose to Li Shi. This outing had two goals: one was to enjoy the spring, and the other was his suspicion that Huang Wan’er was being held captive in a temple.

 

This wasn’t just a wild guess. Previously, he had learned from the pawnshop that the person who sold the jade earrings had a callus on the second joint of their right index finger. Later, he carefully observed various craftsmen—those who used knives, swords, stonemasons, blacksmiths, bricklayers, even butchers—but found no similar calluses. The second joint of the index finger isn’t commonly used, and Su Cen couldn’t understand why there would be a callus there. It wasn’t until one day when a monk from the mountains came to beg for alms.

 

Looking at the monk’s hand, Su Cen suddenly realized that the callus was from the constant rubbing of prayer beads, day after day, year after year. The pawnshop owner also mentioned that the person was bundled up tightly, possibly to hide their bald head, distinguishing them from ordinary people.

 

Since he planned to start with temples, Su Cen chose the Caotang Temple, the closest to the Wanqing Pavilion, under the guise of enjoying the spring, to secretly investigate.

 

Although the Caotang Temple was famous for seeking marriage blessings, it was a legitimate Buddhist temple. Upon entering the mountain gate, one first encountered the Hall of the Heavenly Kings, with the bell tower and drum tower on either side. Further back was the Mahavira Hall, where the Buddha Sakyamuni was enshrined, with incense burning brightly and a constant flow of visitors.

 

Su Cen wasn’t there specifically to worship Buddha. After offering incense in the main hall, he came out and wandered around with Li Shi. Further back were the Hall of Great Compassion, the Hall of Ksitigarbha, and the Hall of the Three Saints. Behind the temple stood a pagoda, housing Buddhist relics, and behind the pagoda was a bamboo grove.

 

Su Cen remembered that when he came with Feng Yiming and others, they mentioned a well in the bamboo grove that would emit smoke when someone with fate approached, making it a famous sight in Chang’an. Since they were here, he planned to see if he had any fate this time. Unexpectedly, the same novice monk from before blocked the entrance. “The ancient well is under repair and temporarily closed. Please return, donor.”

 

Su Cen frowned. “It hasn’t been repaired in three months?”

 

The novice monk clasped his hands together. “The well’s edge is slippery and dangerous. It’s for the safety of the donors. Please understand.”

 

Su Cen and Li Shi exchanged a glance, not pressing further. Su Cen bowed to the novice monk, and they left with Li Shi.

 

Once they reached a secluded spot, Su Cen said, “There’s something wrong with that well. I need to find a chance to check it out.”

 

Li Shi nodded. “We’ll go at night.”

 

“Night?” Su Cen was taken aback. “Are we staying overnight at the temple?”

 

Li Shi said, “That was likely a warrior monk. It’s heavily guarded during the day; how would you get in?”

 

“And you?” Su Cen frowned, asking. He didn’t mind, but Prince Ning, with his noble status and busy schedule, how could he stay overnight at the temple with him?

 

Li Shi looked at Su Cen and smiled. “What do you think?”

 

The two went to the front hall and offered a substantial amount of incense money, which caught the attention of the abbot, who personally came out to greet them. Su Cen then took the opportunity to say, “My master is sincere in his devotion to Buddha. Whenever he visits a place, he must make a donation. This time, he particularly likes the serene environment of your temple and wishes to stay overnight.”

 

The abbot, whose Dharma name[mfn]Dharma name (法名, fǎ míng) is a name given to a person upon their ordination as a monk or nun in Buddhism.[/mfn] was Huikong, had a white beard and kind eyes, and he didn’t doubt Su Cen’s words. He immediately instructed a young monk to prepare rooms for them.

 

To maintain his image of “sincere devotion to Buddha,” Li Shi engaged in a discussion about Buddhist teachings with the abbot.

 

Su Cen hadn’t expected Li Shi, a man of decisive action who didn’t revere gods or spirits, to have knowledge of Buddhism. Initially curious, he listened in, but soon found himself engrossed.

 

Speaking of the “Ksitigarbha Sutra,” Li Shi said, “Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva sacrifices himself to save all beings, teaching them to escape the three evil paths, ‘to leave behind birth and death, to reach the joy of Nirvana.’ He made a vow, ‘As long as hell is not empty, I vow not to become a Buddha,’ thus his power is equal to that of Sakyamuni Buddha. He became a Buddha countless eons ago but returned to the position of a Bodhisattva to dwell in hell forever. As long as hell is not empty, beings are not saved, and karma is not cleansed, he shares their suffering, aspiring to be a great Bodhisattva.”

 

Abbot Huikong nodded, twirling his prayer beads. “Thus, the great Bodhisattva, with a pure heart, does not enter Nirvana, so he can guide countless beings with dull roots towards goodness. The donor has deep roots in Buddhism, but his attachments are too strong. If one day he achieves great enlightenment, he will surely attain the supreme state of Mahayana. Amitabha.”

 

Li Shi only sipped his tea and smiled faintly.

 

Qi Lin and Qu Ling’er, having sold all the fish, came over, reeking of fish and the smell of money, completely ruining the transcendent atmosphere they had just created.

 

Su Cen didn’t want Qu Ling’er to further disturb the tranquility of the temple. As the young monk had finished preparing the rooms, they bid farewell to the abbot and went to settle in.

 

As they walked towards the rooms, Su Cen quietly asked, “What did the abbot mean just now?”

 

Li Shi, hands behind his back, shook his head. “I didn’t understand.”

 

Su Cen: “…Then why were you two chatting so happily?”

 

Li Shi gave a meaningful smile. “I was just reading from the monks’ homework laid out beside us.”

 

Su Cen: “…”

 

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