Chapter 57 Tanmen Temple (1)
Chen Hui didn’t have much knowledge about temples. Basically, she used to go to them as to visit a scenic spot with the standard of ‘wow, what a big Buddha statue’. Only after going inside the temple did she discover that there were still a few people. Some people sat under the tree and rested. Some offered incense on the ground of being religious. Others were beseeching someone to explain the inscribed bamboo stick that they got.
Commandery Princess Shuning and Zheng Rongrong went to the main hall as soon as they entered. The two didn’t want to be too public about it. So, they didn’t disclose their identities. But after all, their bearing was dainty. With one glance, a perspicacious person would know that their identity was out of the ordinary. Hence, the small monk of the temple also guided them around very politely.
Seeing that the two of them were going to seek an inscribed bamboo stick, Chen Hui said, “You guys do that. I don’t want to ask for one.”
Commandery Princess Shuning said in surprise, “Lady Chen, didn’t you say to come together? Why won’t you ask for one?”
Chen Hui glanced at Xiao Wu and Xiao Liu who were following her and said firmly, “I have no interest in my marriage. Leave it to fate.”
She doesn’t believe in these anyway. In fact, it didn’t matter whether she asked for an inscribed bamboo stick or not. However, Xiao Wu and Xiao Liu were following after all. She was afraid that they would tell Li Youde. And whether Li Youde believed it or not, if he knew that she came to Tanmen Temple to seek fate in marriage, presumably, his face would darken like the color of the bottom of a pot. So, it was better to forget about it!
Commandery Princess Shuning refused to let it go, “The three of us came together, how can you just not ask? Could it be that you want to see me and cousin sister’s Rong become a laughingstock? That won’t do!”
Chen Hui said, “I don’t believe in destiny. If one doesn’t believe in it, it would be ineffective and it is also a dishonor to a Buddhism place. It is better to forget about it.”
When Commandery Princess Shuning heard how serious Chen Hui was, she couldn’t persuade anymore, but she was also very unhappy. Zheng Rongrong quickly said, “Cousin sister, forget it. Lady Chen has her own considerations. Let’s go by ourselves.”
“Humph! What a disappointment!” Commandery Princess Shuning was angry while being dragged away by Zheng Rongrong.
Chen Hui also didn’t pay much attention to that. Instead, she asked Xiao Liu to bring the drawing board and paper. She sat at the stone table under the tree in the courtyard and began to paint. She knew that princess Shuning’s anger came and went fast. If she drew a few beautiful clothes to coax her, she could be coaxed. She then let Xiao Wu and Xiao Liu choose a suitable place outside the temple and set up the ground. They could play flying chest that she made at the last moment. The chessboard was drawn on the paper. She estimated that it would become bad after one or two uses.
Xiao Tiao cleaned up the leaves that fell on Chen Hui’s body for her and watched in admiration how Chen Hui sketched out beautiful dresses with a few strokes on the drawing board. She didn’t discover someone approaching for a while.
“Lady Chen? What a coincidence.” The other party walked to Chen Hui. His voice was full of happy surprise.
Chen Hui looked up and was stunned to realize that the person in front of her was Qi Shengwen.
She had a pretty good impression of the scholar. When she saw him, she smiled and asked, “It turned out to be gentleman Qi. How is your mother now?”
No difference could be detected from Qi Shengwen and he said with a smile, “My mother has recovered now. Thank you, Lady Chen.”
Chen Hui said, “No need to thank me.”
She suddenly remembered that Commandery Princess Shuning who had hurt Qi Shenwen’s mother, was not far away. It could be said that when enemies come face to face, their eyes blaze with hatred. Fortunately, he didn’t know Commandery Princess Shuning.
Qi Shengwen said curiously, “Lady Chen came here today for…” His gaze floated to the drawing board. He seemed a bit confused.
Chen Hui lifted the drawing board slightly to her side and smiled politely, “I came here with my friends to play.”
Qi Shengwen said, “What a coincidence. This humble one also came here to study today with my friends and enjoy a few days of undisturbed leisure time. And also consult about Buddhist scriptures with the Buddhist abbot.”
“Gentleman Qi’s studies is so broad. It is admirable,” Chen Hui smiled slightly, “But my companions are coming back soon. They are not so willing to see unknown men. I have to trouble gentleman Qi to evade.”
“Of course, of course,” Qi Shengwen smiled. He didn’t entangle much, turned around and left.
In front of an abode in the backyard, three people gathered together. Qi Shengwen went to them. One of them said with a blushing face, “That lady is truly beautiful. No one can match her beauty!”
Qi Shengwen smiled lightly, “Brother Wei, who are you talking about?”
“Brother Qi, you came at the right timing!” The eyes of the young man surnamed Wei brightened. He hurriedly pulled Qi Shengwen over and said, “Brother Qi, you have the best brain among us. Tell me, how can I know where that lady lives?”
Qi Shengwen asked a few more questions only to realize that his friend was attracted by a dignified girl in the main hall and fell in love with her at first sight, but he didn’t dare to go chat with her because next to her was a girl wearing a red dress who didn’t look like she was easy to mess with.
Qi Shengwen’s eyes flashed slightly and laughed, “What is the problem? Can’t you just follow her home?”
“Brother Qi, don’t make fun of me. How can I do that kind of thing?!” The man surnamed Wei shook his head and smiled bitterly.
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