Donggong Zhangjiao

The carriage stopped at the gate of Zhuangzi.

Fang Yun helped Pei Yao's hand to get out of the car.

"This slave is here to see your Majesty, Your Majesty, Your Majesty!"

With the steward taking the lead, all the people waiting on Zhuangzi saluted.

Pei Yao waved his hand, turned to Fang Yun and said, "Would you like to go in and take a look?"

"You're here, let's go in and take a look." Fang Yun nodded.

Zhuangzi's manager has been changed, and now he is a young man who looks to be in his early thirties. He immediately leads the way diligently.

"The layout of the village has not changed over the years. It is still the same as before. It's just that the houses are a little older and there are more poultry and livestock. The emperor and the empress will take a look and I'm sure it's still the same as before!"

I think this person had already inquired about it, and knew that the emperor and the imperial concubine came here to revisit their old places, so they mentioned it specifically.

Pei Yao and Fang Yun naturally stopped talking to him, but the expressions on their faces were gentle, letting people know that they were satisfied.

It was exactly as the steward said, the layout had not changed.

Walking to the room where he lived for a period of time, Fang Yuyou felt that yesterday was right in front of him, and he couldn't help but feel some emotion in his heart.

But that's all there was to wander around in Zhuangzi, so I didn't waste much time and came out after wandering around for a while.

"Or are you going to walk up there?"

Taking a look at the winding mountain forest, Pei Yao asked in a low voice.

Fang Yun then raised his eyes and saw that the bluestone road had been severely worn, but it looked like someone had swept it, making it very clean and simple and quiet.

"Well, let's walk up. It's a rare chance to come here."

Apparently Pei Yao also had this thought, so he took Fang Yun's hand and walked up slowly.

When they reached a fork in the road, Fang Yun suddenly stopped.

"What's wrong?" Pei Yao asked.

Fang Yun's eyes were looking over there, "I remember, walking past this intersection, there is a pool and pavilion, am I right?"

When she spoke, Pei Yao looked over there and then nodded with a smile.

"Yes, I specially asked people to build it many years ago. I will come down the mountain later. If you want to see it, you can go there."

Fang Yun curled his lips and nodded.

The two came here for a walk, not walking very fast. They didn't know how much time had passed when they slowly wandered to the top of the mountain.

Probably because I was in a good mood, but I didn’t feel tired at all.

When the temple with yellow walls and red pillars came into view, the two of them let out a long breath in unison.

Arrived.

When I came back last time, Master Yi Nian, the abbot, was leading the monks in the temple to repair the walls. This time, the temple was in good order.

I think it has undergone a serious overhaul over the years.

"As a poor monk, I see you, Your Majesty, the Imperial Concubine." A thin monk, about sixty years old, saluted with his hands clasped together.

Standing behind him were a dozen ordinary monks, including two children, who looked to be only eight or nine years old. They must have been curious. Although they were bowing with the brothers, they were secretly observing. Pei Yao and Fang Yun.

"Master Daoyuan is exempt from the courtesy." Pei Yao waved his hand and said immediately, "After careful calculation, I have not been to Xiaoyin Temple for twenty years. I wonder when the former master Yi Nian passed away?"

"Uncle Yi Nian passed away eight years ago." Master Daoyuan replied.

Fang Yun was slightly shocked, "Eight years ago, when Master Yi Nian passed away, he must have been at an advanced age."

"What the empress said is that when my uncle passed away, he was already in the age of Qibei." Dao Yuan nodded.

At the age of Kunbei, that is, he is ninety years old, which is indeed an advanced age in this day and age. After chatting for a few words, Master Daoyuan led the two of them into the temple.

It's still the same as before, just a small courtyard with two entrances, but there is more incense than before, but it still can't compare with the temples down the mountain where pilgrims flock to it.

Pei Yao asked casually, and Master Daoyuan said that since Pei Yao ascended the throne, people from Zhuangzi below and villagers at the foot of the mountain have often come to offer incense and pray for blessings.

Fang Yun guessed that it was because the people saw that Pei Yao had successfully ascended the throne, so they wanted to take advantage of the blessings.

Praying to God and Buddha is to seek psychological comfort.

The tea served to them was the same as before. It was not a good tea, but the taste was unique.

But after all, Master Daoyuan is not Master Yi Nian. The three of them sitting across from each other and talking are still different from how they felt back then.

Master Yi Nian makes people feel kind and gentle, and willing to get close. A few words can inadvertently make people feel refreshed, and their hearts become clear and transparent. Master Daoyuan makes people feel indifferent and solemn, with a feeling of being transcended from the mundane world, completely escaping into Buddhism, and connecting with others. All the people and things in the world of mortals seemed to have come to an end.

However, the two of them have one thing in common. They both have a strong sense of Zen, which makes people feel calm and peaceful after getting close to them.

Because he arrived a little late, and Pei Yao had no old friendship with Master Daoyuan, the tea and conversation ended in just over half an hour.

The young novice monk came to send a message that the fasting meal was ready, so Master Daoyuan took the initiative to get up and leave, leaving the space for the two of them to eat.

The taste of vegetarian food has indeed not changed, it is just as delicious as before.

Especially in the past few years, I have eaten a lot of delicacies in the palace, so I can appreciate the sweetness of this ordinary bowl of vegetarian rice.

Both of them ate a lot.

Looking at each other's empty bowls, Fang Yun couldn't help but chuckle.

Pei Yao was puzzled, "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing, I just feel that I haven't had a meal with the emperor like this for a long time. There was no time in the past when I finished eating and the table was empty." Fang Yun said with a smile.

Isn't it? In the palace, when two people have a meal, there is a large table of dishes, which is impossible to finish. After a meal, some dishes may not have been touched.

Pei Yao also smiled when he heard this, and immediately said, "Yes, it is better to be more frugal in the future. When we go back, we have to make the dining room less fancy."

Fang Yun nodded, and then expressed that he wanted to burn a stick of incense and pray for some peace charms for the children. Pei Yao wanted to drink another cup of digestion tea, but did not join her.

When they arrived at the place where the incense was offered, they saw Master Daoyuan there. After offering the incense, Fang Yue asked him for a peace talisman.

"Amitabha, the so-called peace talisman is just to soothe people's hearts. Your Majesty is a blessed person and there is really no need to ask for these." Master Daoyuan clasped his hands together.

Fang Yun smiled and said, "I am asking for this for the children."

When she said this, Master Daoyuan raised his eyes and glanced at her, then whispered.

"As far as the empress is concerned, if you keep your true heart, you will be able to enjoy blessings. Looking at the empress now, I remember what my uncle said back then. Descendants."

Fang Yun was slightly stunned, as the scene of talking to Master Yi Nian seemed to appear in front of his eyes.

She didn't know whether she remembered these words twenty years ago, but in recent years, she had indeed kept her true intentions.

Now when I hear these words again, I suddenly feel like I have been struck deep in my soul, like an epiphany.

After a long time, Fang Yun leaned forward and bowed solemnly to Master Daoyuan.

Master Daoyuan also returned the greeting with folded hands.

When she walked out, Pei Yao was already waiting outside.

"What did you say to the master?" Pei Yao asked casually.

Fang Yun smiled, "Nothing, just bringing up some old things."

Hearing this, Pei Yao didn't ask any more questions, just held her hand and slowly went down the mountain.

The warm sunshine of the spring afternoon filtered through the layers of branches and leaves, and shone on the two of them in small pieces. In a trance, they seemed to have returned to that summer afternoon twenty years ago.