At the hour of Wei, Lin Zeyan left the Court of Judicial Review, rode his horse to Zisheng Temple in Chongren Ward.
At this time, the temple grounds of Zisheng Temple were filled with a forest of apricot blossoms. Looking over, the temple was hidden among the apricot blossom groves, with only the eaves bearing golden bells visible.
Wuhen was waiting at the entrance. Seeing his lord arrive on horseback, he quickly caught the reins and led the horse.
Lin Zeyan jumped down from the horse. Seeing the many visitors at the entrance of Zisheng Temple—most of them there to admire the apricot blossoms—he told Wuhen to lead the horse into the alley beside the temple, while he himself carried a box and walked inside.
He had already changed out of his official robes after leaving the Court of Judicial Review, but the monks of Zisheng Temple all knew Lin Zeyan. Upon seeing him, they all pressed their palms together in greeting.
Lin Zeyan asked one of them, "Where is Master Huishan?"
The young monk replied, "Master Huishan is in the meditation room in the back courtyard."
Lin Zeyan told Youji to wait at the entrance, while he himself passed through the crowd and entered the back courtyard through the arched side door of the Buddha hall. The back courtyard also had many apricot blossoms planted. Few people came here; it was quiet and serene. The meditation rooms of the Zisheng Temple monks were located here.
Under an apricot tree, a young novice monk was reading. Seeing Lin Zeyan, he looked very happy. He ran over, pressed his palms together in greeting, and then asked, "Is the Vice Minister here to see my master?"
Lin Zeyan nodded. "Is Master Huishan free right now? I have something to discuss with him."
The young novice led the way. "Master has just finished reciting the Lotus Sutra, so he is free."
In the meditation room, an old monk with white whiskers and a long beard was putting away Buddhist scriptures. Seeing Lin Zeyan at the door, a smile emerged in his clouded eyes. "Vice Minister, please wait a moment. This old monk will be right there."
The young novice ran in to help. Master Huishan let the novice tidy up while he put on his shoes and came out. He bowed before Lin Zeyan and said, "It has been a long time since I last saw the Vice Minister."
Lin Zeyan also clasped his hands in return. "Master, I have something I would like your help with."
Master Huishan nodded slightly. "Then let us have some tea under the apricot tree over there."
Under the apricot tree, a coarse blanket was spread out, with two rush cushions placed on it and a redwood low table in between. Quite a few apricot blossoms had fallen on the table. Master Huishan used a palm-leaf fan from beside the table to sweep the blossoms away, and the young novice served tea.
Master Huishan handed tea to Lin Zeyan. "What brings the Vice Minister here?"
Lin Zeyan set down his teacup and said, "Master, I have been troubled lately, and there is no one I can speak to about it. I would like to ask you to resolve my confusion."
Master Huishan seemed somewhat surprised. He smiled. "What troubles the Vice Minister?"
Had it been anyone else, Lin Zeyan likely would not have been able to bring himself to speak of it. But Huishan's calm demeanor allowed him to lower his guard and pride, and he was willing to speak of this absurd matter.
"Master, I have been plagued by nightmares recently. I had never seen that woman before, yet she appears frequently in my dreams, disturbing me again and again, making it impossible for me to sleep at night. Such absurdity—why is this?"
Master Huishan gently blew on the foam and took a sip. "Benefactor, you find it absurd because you believe that everything has a cause, and that dreams too must have a basis."
Lin Zeyan: "Is that not so?"
"By ordinary reasoning, yes." Master Huishan's tone was calm as water. "But Buddhism speaks of 'all phenomena being mind-only,' and also of 'the inconceivability of karmic causes and conditions.' Some things are simply inconceivable."
Lin Zeyan frowned. "Master, do you mean… this dream is real?"
Master Huishan shook his head. "This old monk does not know. Your dreams, benefactor, I cannot interpret."
Lin Zeyan was stunned. He had not expected him to admit it so directly.
Master Huishan looked at him, his gaze gentle and calm: "Though this old monk cannot interpret dreams, I believe the benefactor's words are not false."
Lin Zeyan's furrowed brow relaxed slightly. "Then has the Master ever heard of similar… matters?"
"The Diamond Sutra says, 'All phenomena are illusory.' All phenomena arise from the convergence of causes and conditions, and are not real and unchanging. Though the benefactor's dream is an illusory phenomenon, the fact that it can disturb your mind shows that it has its own causes and conditions."
"Causes and conditions?"
Master Huishan nodded: "Master Zhiyi of the Sui Dynasty wrote in the Mohe Zhiguan that in meditation he saw a Buddhist pagoda, and someone within the pagoda said to him: 'I am your teacher; in the past we cultivated together.' Master Zhiyi later sought him out, and indeed found that teacher from a past life. You see, benefactor—never met, yet there is a karmic connection; never acquainted, yet it feels like they were once known. Such matters are not uncommon in Buddhist texts."
Lin Zeyan: "Is the Master saying… that I and that woman share a karmic bond from a past life?"
Master Huishan smiled faintly and shook his head: "This old monk dares not make reckless judgments. This old monk only knows that there are some things in this world that are not meant to be solved, but to be experienced."
Strangely enough, Lin Zeyan felt that the story Master Huishan told was of questionable credibility, yet when it came to his own affairs, if told to others, he feared only the Master would believe him.
He drank his tea in one gulp. "Thank you, Master, for resolving my doubts."
Master Huishan: "If not for the Vice Minister catching the murderer for my two disciples, this old monk would still be facing that wicked villain day and night. A few words with you hardly count as help."
Lin Zeyan shook his head: "This was my duty. The Master need not take it to heart."
Master Huishan rose: "The word 'duty'—written on paper and spoken aloud, it is light as a feather. Only when carried on one's shoulders, trodden into the mud, and endured through countless sleepless nights does it become heavier than a thousand catties. What the Vice Minister has done can never be fully described by the word 'duty' alone. Please, benefactor—this old monk will see you out."
Lin Zeyan paused briefly. At the time of sentencing, he had not thought so much of it—he simply found that old prince truly revolting, and seeing the Ministry of Justice and the Censorate kick the case back and forth like a ball, he felt aggrieved. Driven by indignation, and wanting to prove himself, he had spent a great deal of effort.
Now, hearing Master Huishan's words, he felt himself to be quite the hypocrite. He rose as well: "Master, actually… at the time, I mainly did it to make those old ministers at court stop their criticisms of me…"
Master Huishan smiled: "The Vice Minister is still young, with a long road ahead. This old monk believes that once you have determined your path, you will walk it without distraction."
As they spoke, the two passed through the archway and arrived at the front hall. Master Huishan said: "Since you have come to Zisheng Temple, benefactor, why not pay respects to the Buddha and Bodhisattva statues?"
Lin Zeyan handed the box in his hand to Master Huishan: "There are many people today, so I will not pay respects. Please, Master, place this box before the Buddha."
Master Huishan smiled and accepted the box: "This old monk will place this box beneath the statue of Bodhisattva Nagarjuna in the north courtyard. Whenever you wish to retrieve it, just send word."
Lin Zeyan thanked him and left the front hall, but under the apricot tree ahead he saw Emei and the others from his mother's side. Emei spotted him too, and with bright eyes made a salute from afar. He went over and asked: "Is my mother here as well?"
Emei said: "Tomorrow is the Second Young Master's wedding day. The Madam wished to pay respects to Bodhisattva Medicine King. Are you looking for the Madam, Young Master? I will go call her."
Lin Zeyan shook his head. "Is there someone following on my mother's side?"
Emei hurriedly replied, "Rest assured, my lord. The Madam has Bizhi, Biyun, and a whole company of maidservants by her side, and the cousin miss is with her as well."
Lin Zeyan raised an eyebrow. "Zhao Lijia came too?"
Emei nodded.
The Second Madam knelt for a long while before the statue of the Medicine King Bodhisattva, chanting sutras. Zhao Lijia followed along for a while, but her legs grew sore and her back ached, so the Second Madam told her to go outside and look around on her own.
She wandered about outside with the Cold-Light Iron Armor. She heard people say that there was a priceless treasure at the Nagarjuna Bodhisattva hall, and out of curiosity she went to take a look. She entered the main hall and searched for quite a while but could not see where the treasure was.
Just then she saw a young novice monk placing a box before the Buddha statue, so she quickly asked, "Young Master, I heard there is a priceless treasure in this hall. Might you know where it is?"
The novice monk pressed his palms together. "Benefactor, the treasure is in the Bodhisattva's hand."
Zhao Lijia looked up. Sure enough, hanging from Nagarjuna Bodhisattva's hand was a prayer bead string of alternating pink and green, with a small Guanyin figure dangling in the center.
She saw that these prayer beads were unlike any other, quite beautiful, but she did not feel they reached the level of priceless. And besides, would something truly priceless really be hung here without being stolen?
Sensing her disappointment, the novice monk smiled and explained, "Benefactor, these prayer beads were brought by the great monk Master Huiyue from the Kingdom of Bala. It is said they were left by Nagarjuna Bodhisattva to his disciple Aryadeva. Before Master Huiyue departed, he gave these beads to my master's master. But their priceless value lies in the fact that these beads have been enshrined before the Buddha for a hundred years."
When Zhao Lijia heard they had been enshrined before the Buddha for a hundred years, she felt the beads had absorbed the essence of heaven and earth, sun and moon, and she understood their priceless nature.
"But won't they be lost if they're hung here?" she voiced her doubt.
The novice monk came down, rubbed his bald head, and broke into a smile. "This humble monk really hadn't thought of that."
He looked up. "Perhaps the Buddha protects them. These beads have been here for a hundred years, and even through dynastic changes they have remained."
Zhao Lijia found it wondrous and kept glancing back at them. Because she was walking without watching where she was going, on her way out she collided with a firm chest. Crying out in pain, she staggered back a few steps, about to apologize, but the first thing she saw was Emei. "Emei…"
Emei forced a smile, looking at the person before her.
Following her gaze, Zhao Lijia caught sight of a crimson robe hem, a belt of hanging ornaments, a long sword, and her third cousin's handsome face—which at this moment she did not wish to see.
Zhao Lijia thought to herself that enemies were bound to meet on a narrow road; the people she least wanted to see always appeared again and again. Perhaps she should take this opportunity, while at the temple, to offer a prayer or two.
"Third… Third Cousin…"
Lin Zeyan looked down at her, his gaze cold. "Zhao Lijia, is this your upbringing?"
The main hall was silent for a few breaths.
Zhao Lijia's hand, which had been rubbing her face, slowed. She stared without blinking, looking at the person before her in disbelief.
"What did you say?"
Lin Zeyan's eyebrows twitched. He stepped back and patted his chest. "I said, where are your manners? You bumped into someone and didn't apologize, just stared at them in a daze. Is this your upbringing?"
Zhao Lijia admitted that she sometimes let her mind wander, but when it came to propriety she had never once been negligent. Just now she had intended to apologize immediately—it was only that hitting her face had hurt so much she hadn't reacted in time.
She thought about it a great deal, even taking a thorough look at the person before her from head to toe. Ever since she had arrived at the Estate of the Duke of Xian, this third cousin had inexplicably radiated hostility toward her. She was curious—what exactly had she done to warrant such an attitude from him?
So at this moment, she stepped forward two paces, leaving only a fist's distance between herself and Lin Zeyan. She stood on her tiptoes, tilted her head up, and asked him, "Third cousin, do you really dislike me?"