All Hail Cousin Brother

Chapter 875:  Fate

Translator: Atlas Studios    Editor: Atlas Studios

Princess Shaoyi’s words were both benevolent and powerful, and her attitude was clearly expressed.

This also made Madam Bai feel relieved.

In order to increase her bargaining chips, she had convinced the nobles in the Liaodong area who were on good terms with the Bai family to come over and “surrender.”

The few madams who had come with Madam Bai couldn’t help but heave a sigh of relief. They all said, “Princess Shaoyi’s reputation for being kind is indeed well-deserved.”

Xia Tao greeted the commander of the guards guarding the mountain.

Only then were Madam Bai and the others allowed to go up the mountain.

Yu Youyao brought all the madams to the treasure hall to pay their respects to Buddha and recite the Diamond Sutra. The abbot lit the first incense stick of today and handed it to Yu Youyao.

Yu Youyao offered the incense and added some incense money.

All the madams also lit incense one after another.

Madam Bai and the others hung behind and waited. They saw Princess Shaoyi wearing a large black sleeve and a purple robe. The crown on her head was inlaid with gold and jade, and her head was covered in pearls. There were pendants hanging around her.

She exuded a noble and dignified aura from head to toe. Just one look at her gave off a dignified aura that made people admire her sincerely.

As expected of a “noble lady”.

Even when she walked, the exquisite and generous jade pendant was still sparkling. It moved slowly, making it look beautiful and generous.

She was completely different from others. When others walked, the hairpins and earrings on their body swayed with their steps. Not only was there no sense of beauty, but they also looked frivolous and heavy.

Madam Huang, Madam Bai, and the others finally saw what it meant to be a true noble lady of an aristocratic family.

After that, they went to pay their respects to the Medicine Buddha.

The abbot took a step forward. “Amitabha. There’s an eminent monk from the Precious Peace Temple in the capital who wants to teach the Sutra of the Medicine Buddha in the meditation room. Princess, do you want to move forward?”

Yu Youyao’s gaze flickered. “He’s Zen Master Hui Ji of the Precious Peace Temple.”

“That’s right!” The abbot nodded.

She did not expect Master Hui Ji to also come to the North. Yu Youyao turned to Madam Huang and the others behind her and said, “I’m going to the meditation room to listen to the meditation. Do you want to go together?”

Mrs. Huang smiled and said, “I heard that Master Hui Ji is one of the Six Wise Monks of the Precious Peace Temple. His Buddhist teachings are very profound. It’s rare for him to hear an eminent monk preach scriptures, so I naturally can’t miss it.”

The others chimed in.

Yu Youyao clasped her hands together and said to the abbot, “Thank you for leading the way.”

The meditation room was built against the mountain. The group left the temple hall and walked up a mountain path. Yu Youyao led Madam Huang and the others into the meditation room.

Madam Bai and the others consciously stayed in the small courtyard outside the meditation room. A monk had prepared meditation cushions, and they sat on it obediently.

There was a Buddhist shrine in the meditation hall. A young gray-robed monk sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, twirling his prayer beads in his hand, looking dignified.

Who else could it be but “Cousin Zhou”?!

However, ever since she reunited with “Cousin Zhou” at the Precious Peace Temple, she had severed her mortal ties with him. From then on, there was no longer “Zhou Linghuai” in the world, only Master Hui Ji from the Precious Peace Temple.

Yu Youyao clasped her hands together and bowed. “It’s been a long time. How have you been?”

“Amitabha. Everything has a law. It’s born from fate and harmony. It doesn’t happen for no reason.” Master Hui Ji opened his eyes and looked at her steadily. He only said, “Please help yourself.”

Yu Youyao understood.

What was fate?

It was because of Zhou Linghuai and Xiangping City.

It was also because of Zhou Linghuai and Yin Huaixi.

It was also because of Zhou Linghuai and Yu Youyao.

That was why she and Master Hui Ji were fated today!

There were desks and meditation cushions in the meditation room. Yu Youyao sat alone at one desk. As for Madam Huang and the others, two people would sit at one desk. There were five desks, which were just enough.

Master Hui Ji explained the “The Sutra on the Original Vows and Merits of the Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Light Tathagata”.

First, he explained the title of the scripture.

“[Medicine Master] is the general name of Buddha. Physically, the Medicine Master treats the suffering of all living beings, and psychologically, the Medicine Master treats the greed, anger, and obsession of all living beings. The body of the Medicine Master is accompanied by the two heads of Bodhisattva, namely the Lapis Lazuli Light. With thousands of Lapis Lazuli Lights, the Medicine Master can see through the indefiniteness and the light of merit.”

“Tathagata talks about fate. Things come and go as they are. All living beings are equal and there’s no difference. In other words, cause, fate, and effect are the Great Vows. All men fear the effect, while the Bodhisattva fears the cause. If evil karma is created in the ’cause’, they have to bear the bitter ‘effect’. This scripture describes how to do good deeds. Through the merit of doing good deeds, one can obtain the reward they want.”

Master Hui Ji was indeed worthy of being called the Six Wise Monks of the Precious Peace Temple. The “Sutra of the Medicine Buddha” was obscure and profound. However, he explained the meaning of the scripture questions in a simple manner. He also explained the 12 Great Vows, as well as the cause and effect of fate.

Even those who did not know much about Buddhism were mesmerized and understood.

There was a brush, ink, pieces of paper, and inkstone on the desk. Yu Youyao listened to the meditation while copying the scriptures. By the time Master Hui Ji finished teaching a scripture, Yu Youyao had already copied a thick stack of scriptures.

Yu Youyao bade farewell to Master Hui Ji and consecrated the copied meditation scriptures to the temple.

The goal of this trip had been achieved.

Yu Youyao said, “Madams, please help yourself. I’m going to the treasure hall to pray for my grandmother and my mother. At the same time, I’ll light a lamp for my grandmother.”

As a result, everyone praised Yu Youyao for her filial piety.

The Dragon Phoenix Temple was a small temple. In the entourage, Old Madam Sun arranged for a kitchen maid to bring ingredients, some exquisite snacks, fruits, and so on. Then, she borrowed the kitchen in the temple and made a few simple vegetarian dishes. They were delicious.

After lunch, everyone continued chatting about the topics that they had not finished previously.

The details of the donation were also finalized.

It wasn’t until early afternoon that the group left the mountain. Yu Youyao bade farewell to Madam Huang and the others before getting into the carriage and returning to the city.

At this moment, there was a commotion outside.

Yu Youyao listened and seemed to hear someone crying out for justice. Just as she was about to lift the curtain and look out of the window, the carriage suddenly stopped.

Yu Youyao frowned and turned to instruct Xia Tao, “Go out and take a look. What happened outside?”

Xia Tao quickly agreed and lifted the curtain to leave.

The commotion outside became louder and louder. Yu Youyao heard a woman cry out in grievance.

The commoners had publicly stopped the Princess’s carriage and caused such a huge commotion. No matter how one looked at it, it was not simple. At this moment, many commoners must have already gathered around the carriage.

After a while, Xia Tao returned to the carriage with a solemn expression. “There’s a woman outside. She’s kneeling in the middle of the street and blocking your carriage, wanting to complain. From what this woman said, it seems that a man has died in the family. She suspects that there’s a problem with the medicine caught by the pharmacy and went to the government office to complain. She’s certain that the owner of the pharmacy has spent money to bribe the government office. She’s asking you to uphold justice.”

Yu Youyao’s eyebrows twitched. She suddenly remembered that the largest medicinal herb merchant in Xiangping City was the Bai Residence.