Records of the Lost Cases of Helaitang in the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 246 Secular Family
The two men climbed up the stairs from Huayang Terrace and reached Jubao Temple to report to Mr. Zhang before the sunset glow disappeared.

Mr. Zhang patted the two brothers on the shoulders to show his approval and told them that the constables from the county government had been there. The results of the coroner's examination were roughly the same as their speculation that day. The cause of death was due to a sharp weapon piercing the left abdomen.

The monks of Jubao Temple proposed to cremate Guangheng after keeping the body for three days, and the officials of the county government also agreed to do as they wish.

Mr. Zhang looked depressed. His face, which was always full of energy and cheerful, showed a rare hint of fatigue, as if some of his energy had been drained away.

It seems that the secluded life in the mountain temple is not suitable for Mr. Zhang. How can a person who has been rolling in the world of mortals escape from this world so easily?

Xiaocai said sincerely: "Old Abbot Zhihai has been in seclusion for three days. There are still seven days left, and we can go down the mountain."

Mr. Zhang nodded and said, "That's right. After coming down the mountain, I can't rest for a few days. I have to prepare for the Xingshe meeting at Qinhuai River. Then, the Imperial College will start classes again. I will definitely be very busy by then."

Mr. Zhang did not mention the magistrate of Jiangning County, Wu, and Wang Heng did not talk about the county government. It is difficult to describe this magistrate, Wu, and he is probably a cruel official.

When the dinner bell rang, Mr. Zhang took Wang Heng and Xiaocai to the kitchen for dinner.

There were seats in the dining hall of Jubao Temple. There was only one seat at the top, and Mr. Zhang sat there. Xiaocai saw an empty seat next to Wufa and Wuding, so he sat down sideways. Wang Heng sat not far from them.

The dining hall was too quiet to talk. After the meal, the monks had to wash each bowl and pot themselves. While they were washing, Xiaocai found out about Monk Guangheng's past that Wufa and the others had known.

Wufa and Wuding usually followed Monk Guangheng, discussing Buddhist scriptures and serving him tea. They were brothers in seniority, but in fact they were as close as master and disciples.

Monk Guangheng's secular surname was Chen. The Chen family was a prominent family in Yingtian Prefecture and also had some properties in Jiangning County.

In his youth, Monk Guangheng was a famous and wealthy young man in Yingtian Prefecture. He was talented and generous, and he earned a reputation as a playboy in brothels with a piece of new poetry and a glass of wine.

He was his father's posthumous son, his biological mother was a concubine, and his eldest brother was more than 20 years older than him. He was friendly to his brothers and respectful to his younger brothers, and had always been a role model in the clan.

When Guangzhi came of age, his elder brother divided his property with him, and the family fortune was divided equally, saying that it was an equal share. His elder brother had been managing the business for many years, but in fact he was taking advantage. His biological mother had high expectations for Guangzhi. He passed the imperial examination at a young age, and it seemed that it would not be difficult for him to make further progress.

Because his biological mother was a concubine and life in the ancestral home was quite depressing, Monk Guangheng built a beautiful garden for his mother to live in. This was not only a way to show filial piety, but also a way to exchange poetry and wine with the literati, leading a leisurely life half in the city and half in seclusion.

Unfortunately, his mother passed away a few years later. Monk Guangzhi somehow became enlightened. He gave up the worldly life and became a monk in Jubao Temple.

Wang Heng was puzzled when he heard this: "Monk Guangzhi is over 30 years old. Even if he has been a monk for ten years, he should have been in his twenties when he was ordained. He is also the son of a wealthy family. Isn't he married?"

Xiaocai shook his head and said, "Wufa said that Guangzhi's elder brother, the eldest master of the Chen family, is a donor of Jubao Temple. He goes up the mountain to visit him every month. I have never heard them talk about Guangzhi's wife and children. He must have none. This seems strange. Wufa has heard that many of the courtesans on the Qinhuai painted boats were willing to be the master's concubines. Why didn't Guangzhi even marry Xiaoxing?"

"At the crime scene, have you ever seen the golden heart that Qiu Erlang stole at Guangheng's place, Wufa and the others?" Wang Heng asked anxiously.

Xiaocai said, "You speak of enlightenment and concentration with absolute certainty. I have indeed never seen Jin Tiaoxin. Monk Guangzhi is a true practitioner. Once he entered Buddhism, he gave up all the things of a wealthy family, wore plain clothes, ate vegetarian food, and strictly observed the precepts."

Wang Heng asked again: "Do Wufa and the others know if Qiu Erlang and Guangzhi have any past?"

Xiaocai said, "Wu Fa said that on the surface, Monk Guangzhi should not know Qiu Erlang, and there is no evidence that they have any contact. But there is no way to know whether Monk Guangzhi and Qiu Erlang have any contact. Monk Guangzhi is a rich man, and Qiu Erlang is a farmer. The possibility that they have any contact is very small."

Wang Heng sighed: "There are many mysteries surrounding Monk Guangzhi."

Xiaocai nodded repeatedly, and suddenly remembered something, and said, "Tomorrow morning, the temple will hold a cremation ceremony for Monk Guangheng. Someone has been sent to report the death to Guangheng's eldest brother, Master Chen. Master Chen will probably come tomorrow. I can talk to him then, and maybe I can get something out of him."

Master Chen Da Guangheng was in his twenties, which meant he was already an old man in his sixties, entering a decadent age. Wang Heng clasped his hands together and said, "I hope Master Chen can go up the mountain."

After a day of running around, both of them felt a little tired, so they returned to the Vimalakirti Villa and fell asleep.

(End of this chapter)