Chapter 102 - 101: Devotion
Mrs. Zhen subconsciously raised her eyes to look at Mrs. Chen.
Mrs. Chen was smiling and greeting the guests. Even though she was adept at handling social situations, she had been working tirelessly for this birthday banquet. Now, traces of fatigue appeared on her face, yet she still mustered her spirits to chat and joke with the guests.
Perhaps sensing the gaze from Mrs. Zhen, Mrs. Chen also looked over and raised her lips in a gentle smile.
Mrs. Zhen was about ten years younger than her two brothers. Even though they married late, she was only about eleven or twelve when Mrs. Chen and Mrs. Wang entered the family.
She spent the last few years of her maidenhood together with her two sisters-in-law, and their relationship was more like that of sisters.
When Mrs. Zhen got married, Mrs. Chen was pregnant with her eldest daughter, Zhen Wenlan. With her big belly, Mrs. Chen helped Old Mrs. Hou carefully plan and arrange everything. She held Mrs. Zhen and cried with her all night before she got on the bridal sedan.
She thought she understood Mrs. Chen.
Until this moment, seeing the desolate Old Mrs. Hou, Mrs. Zhen thought that no matter how well Mrs. Chen treated her, there were some matters that still needed to be weighed carefully.
Mrs. Miao did not like Xia Anxin to be her daughter-in-law, not because Xia Anxin was not good, but because her surname was Xia, and she was a relative of Old Mrs. Xia.
Old Mrs. Hou did not receive Du Yunluo as she wished; perhaps Mrs. Chen and Zhen Wenqian also had concerns in this regard.
Mrs. Zhen could understand and would not blame Mrs. Chen; she just felt sorry for Old Mrs. Hou, that’s all.
In the afternoon, a stage was set up in the mansion, and a theatrical troupe was invited to perform.
When the sun began to set, the lively atmosphere of the Zhen Mansion gradually calmed down.
By the time the last group of female guests had been sent off, Mrs. Chen, upon returning to Yanxi Hall, could barely stand up straight.
Mrs. Wang noticed and expressed concern: "Sister-in-law, you still have to go up Qinglian Mountain tomorrow. Can you manage in your current state?"
The condition of Mrs. Chen’s back, which started after the birth of her youngest daughter Zhen Wenting, would flare up with overexertion.
She waved her hand: "It’s an old problem that surfaced during postpartum confinement. Lying down for a while later will make it pass. It’s not troublesome. Going to Qinglian Mountain to pray for blessings is important and cannot be delayed."
Hearing her two sisters-in-law mention it, Mrs. Zhen remembered as well.
Outside Tong City, there is a Qinglian Mountain, which originally had nothing special. Decades ago, a spring emerged halfway up the mountain.
A temple was built by the spring, which is now the Qinglian Temple. The abbot is a highly respected monk who even preached in the palace during the previous emperor’s reign.
As for the spring water, regardless of the rumors of longevity and disease prevention, its taste is exceptionally good.
Old Mrs. Hou likes to use this spring water for tea. The tea is clear at the entrance with a sweet aftertaste.
During the rainy season, when the water is plentiful, city folks can fetch the water freely. By the time it’s autumn turning to winter, the water becomes scarce, and without the monks’ permission, the water cannot be obtained.
Last month, Mrs. Wang had sent an invitation and a set of hand-embroidered Buddha coils, which helped set the day for entering the temple to pray and fetch water.
After all, it was Old Mrs. Hou’s fiftieth birthday; so a daughter-in-law’s extra effort wouldn’t matter.
Mrs. Zhen planned to stay another six or seven days before returning to the capital. Seeing her sisters-in-law heading to Qinglian Temple and recalling Du Yunluo’s restless sleep these days, she said, "I will go with Yunluo as well."
Going for an outing might help calm her mind and facilitate restful sleep.
In spring, Du Yunluo had a nightmare once; Mrs. Zhen feared it might happen again, and thought visiting the Buddha would be a good precaution.
Neither Mrs. Wang nor Mrs. Chen would refuse.
Not knowing about Qinglian Temple or Qinglian Spring, upon hearing Mrs. Zhen’s description, Du Yunluo felt a sudden longing.
She had recited scriptures for decades before; initially, it was to calm her mind, indifferent to belief. Awakening in Anhua Courtyard changed her perspective—what was there not to believe?
Now that she was a believer in the Bodhisattva, visiting to offer incense was only proper.
That night, as Mrs. Zhen expected, Du Yunluo slept poorly.
She kept falling into one dream after another, all was pitch black, and her mind felt desolate.
There was nothing around her, only herself, lifting her skirt as she stumbled forward, not knowing where she was or where she was going, only scared to stop.
It seemed as if she stepped into a void and plummeted from the air, crying out in shock as she sharply sat up.
Breathing heavily, she reached a hand to her face, finding it streaked with tears.
She didn’t know what this dream meant, only that it left her deeply disturbed, so much that she cried even in the dream.
Hearing the noise, Jin Rui donned a robe and came in, drawing back the curtains and quietly comforting Du Yunluo as she helped her change clothes and clean up.
By the time Du Yunluo lay down again, it was already the fourth hour of the night.
Jin Rui lit calming incense anew, thinking that her young lady must have been frightened in her dreams, resolving to ensure thorough prayers before the Buddha the next day.
Waking the next morning, though she hadn’t slept well, apart from looking a bit pale, her eyes weren’t swollen.
Jin Rui helped even out her complexion, dabbed on some rouge, so without a close look, nothing unusual could be seen.
Mrs. Zhen, doting on her daughter, might quickly notice what others might overlook. She comforted Du Yunluo for a while.
Mrs. Chen arranged horses and carriages, and the group set off for Qinglian Temple.
In this season, it wasn’t easy to access the spring water; fewer people were on the mountain paths. When they arrived at the mountain gate, a Guest Monk awaited them.
After the group performed Buddhist rites, the Guest Monk returned the bow and said, "Today, an eminent person pays a visit; please do not collide with each other while you pay your respects."
Curious about this so-called eminent person, although the Guest Monk was reluctant to elaborate, Mrs. Chen did not inquire further.
Qinglian Temple was closed for today. Without the prior month’s announcement and the offering of Buddha coils, they likely would be stopped outside as well.
However, there was a benefit to the peace—it allowed more freedom in their activities, and with the Guest Monk leading the way, they wouldn’t encounter the eminent individual.
Qinglian Temple is dedicated to the Medicine King Bodhisattva.
In the main hall, the golden Medicine King Bodhisattva statue wore a precious crown, with the left hand clenched in a fist and the right hand holding a medicinal tree, exuding a compassionate demeanor.
Three cushions were laid on the ground.
Mrs. Wang, Mrs. Chen, and Mrs. Zhen worshipped first, followed by Zhen Wenqian, Zhen Wenting, and Du Yunluo.
Kneeling, Du Yunluo clasped her hands together, quietly chanting scriptures, praying for her family’s peace and health, before earnestly and respectfully kowtowing three times.
Zhen Wenting and Zhen Wenqian had long risen, leaving only Du Yunluo kneeling before the Buddha.
Sunlight streamed in from outside the hall, casting elongated shadows. Under the sunlight, Du Yunluo appeared serene and humble, as if the surrounding world held no relevance. Her heart was solely devout to the Buddha.
Mrs. Wang observed this and instinctively looked at Mrs. Zhen.
𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮
Mrs. Zhen softly said, "Occasionally accompanies her grandmother in chanting scriptures; usually, her temperament is lively, yet only when praying does she find tranquility."
Zhen Wenting turned her head to glance at Zhen Wenqian, noticing his gaze fixed directly on Du Yunluo’s back. She let out a soft hum.
In a side room, vegetarian meals were prepared.
Having not rested well, Du Yunluo had little appetite at the moment.
Mrs. Zhen gently rubbed her forehead and said, "Later, your mother and your two aunts will fetch spring water; you rest here for a while. This is a sacred Buddhist ground, so fear nothing, rest well, and let Jin Rui accompany you."
Du Yunluo knew Mrs. Zhen feared some unclean force might have disturbed her and believed the Buddhist monastery was surely safe, so she nodded in agreement, not wanting to disappoint her mother’s wishes.
After Mrs. Zhen left, Du Yunluo lay on the couch and gradually fell into a muddled sleep.
This time, her dream was not enveloped in darkness.
She saw a collapsed memorial archway, a half-destroyed ancestral hall, and among the rows of ancestral tablets, she saw the name Mu Lianxiao.