The Beauties of the Song Dynasty

Chapter 124

Abbot Jiechen personally led people to deliver the vegetarian meal to the East Pavilion before withdrawing.

After feeding the child and handing him over to the maid, Wanlan returned to the dining table and sat down to eat with Song Huining.

"Mother, Xiangguo Temple truly lives up to its reputation; it is very large and magnificent!"

Song Huining smiled gently, "That's because Lan'er has amnesia. Before you got married, your mother often brought you here, and you walked through almost the entire Xiangguo Temple. You've forgotten everything, but now you can feel that joy again."

Wanlan was taken aback. "I once walked all over Xiangguo Temple?" Princess Deqing seems to have a lot of energy.

"Yes, you really like this place, so if you have the energy later, you can go for another walk. There are also the Arhat Hall and the Sutra Repository behind the Mahavira Hall. Your mother is tired, so I won't accompany you any longer."

Wanlan smiled slightly, "I understand, Mother. You can rest after you finish eating. I'll pass the time on my own."

After quietly finishing her lunch, Wanlan saw that the maid had taken Xian'er to sleep. She was relieved and went back to her room to change into a light silk dress. Then, she led a maid out of the East Pavilion to continue her sightseeing trip that she had not finished in the morning.

The Arhat Hall, commonly known as the "Octagonal Glazed Tile Hall," has a unique structure, being an octagonal corridor-style building that is distinctive and rarely seen in the world.

Inside the hall's corridor is a large group of statues depicting "Shakyamuni's Sermon Meeting." The five hundred Arhats are depicted in various postures and with vivid expressions. They are either in the mountains and forests or by the streams and bridges, sitting or lying down, looking up or bowing their heads. Their lifelike appearance and endless charm make them a masterpiece of art.

In the past, the Arhat Hall was the scripture repository located in the rear half of the entire temple.

The Sutra Repository is a two-story building with carved beams and painted rafters, magnificent and splendid, used to store precious Buddhist scriptures.

Wanlan has been stunning all the way.

She was sickly since childhood, and her parents didn't really care about her, so she never had the chance to leave the city, let alone travel.

The grandeur of Xiangguo Temple truly amazed her, and it took her almost an hour to walk through it.

But she never expected that she would encounter an unexpected person in front of the library.

Seeing the old Taoist priest with white hair and beard standing with his hands behind his back, gazing up at the scripture pavilion, Wanlan couldn't hide her surprise and rushed forward, calling out, "Taoist Master Ding?"

Interrupted from her thoughts, Ding Shaowei slowly turned to the side, her bright eyes fixed on Wanlan's face, her brows furrowing slightly. "Your Highness, is something the matter?"

Wanlan was taken aback. The person in front of her didn't seem very happy to see her.

"No, I was just a little surprised to meet Master Ding here." Wanlan smiled gently and tactfully took a step back. "Wanlan will not disturb the Master any longer. Farewell."

After saying that, he turned to leave.

"Your Highness, please wait!"

~5~ Wanlan turned around in surprise, "What's wrong?"

Ding Shaowei took a few steps closer, stared intently at her relaxed expression, and raised an eyebrow in puzzlement. "Your Highness has such a good attitude. I admire you quite a bit."

~7~ Ah?

~z~ Wanlan was a little dumbfounded. What extraordinary thing had she done to change this person's opinion of her so much?

I admire you greatly.

She couldn't help but find it both funny and absurd.

"Master Ding, what do you mean by that?"

Ding Shaowei smiled faintly, put his hands behind his back and turned away. "I thought that the Princess Consort would be particularly nervous and flustered about the matter of the Prince of Qin, but I didn't expect that it was not the case at all. The Princess Consort doesn't seem to be worried at all."

"I'll always find a way."

"I don't think the princess can come up with any solutions. You should know very well that no matter how you try to change the process, it will be useless if the outcome is predetermined."

Wanlan was slightly taken aback: This person seems to know something.

"So what? I have to find a way. I won't give up until the very last moment."

Ding Shaowei glanced at her thoughtfully for a long while before slowly saying, "This old Taoist priest lives in the Dizang Pavilion in the west wing. If Your Highness has any doubts, this old Taoist priest will be at your service at any time."

Wanlan's eyes widened in surprise, and she quickly bowed, overjoyed, "Wanlan thanks you in advance, Daoist Master!"

"Xiangguo Temple is well worth a visit. I will not disturb the Princess any longer and will take my leave now."

"Yes, Taoist priest, please take care."

Wanlan smiled as she watched Ding Shaowei, dressed in all white, leave. She bit her lip and laughed out loud.

This Taoist priest, who seemed like a hermit, was not as aggressive as when they first met. She was really curious about what had changed his attitude.

Chapter 109 Affection Left for Return (2)

The Empress Dowager came to Xiangguo Temple to worship Buddha, so her daily life was almost the same as that of the monks in the temple. She would get up early every day to do morning prayers with the monks, then go back to her room for breakfast. She would usually recite scriptures in her room in the morning and afternoon, and occasionally she would discuss the scriptures with the abbot.

Wanlan initially found it hard to believe.

Her mother was only five or six years older than her, yet she lived such a detached life, as if she had already reached the end of her life and was indifferent to everything. She was as calm as the still waters of a deep pool.

My heart is like still water in an ancient well, never to be disturbed.

Wanlan had never so clearly grasped the true meaning of those words.

She herself definitely did not have this peace.

So aside from taking care of Xian'er and chatting with her mother in the evenings, she spent the rest of her time visiting Xiangguo Temple and chatting with Taoist Master Ding.

Calling it a chat is actually a stretch.

When Wanlan went to see him, he was usually reading a book or fiddling with some herbs that Wanlan didn't recognize at all.