Red Mansion: Bastards rule the roost

But Li Wan, Yingchun, Tanchun, Xiangyun, Baoqin, Xiuyan and others came in panting.

"Third brother, why are you so angry? It must be because Fourth Sister is ignorant. I will ask her to apologize to you and please forgive her." Tanchun said.

Xichun raised her hand and said, "Third sister, becoming a nun is my lifelong wish. It has nothing to do with others. You don't have to plead for me."

Jia Cong laughed angrily and said, "You heard it. She is not ignorant. She thinks she is sensible, and she knows too much. How can I not help her?

Since she is devoted to Buddhism, how can we stop her? You don't need to say anything, I have made up my mind. When she feels that she has had enough of the life of a nun and the Bodhisattva can't help her, we can talk about it later."

Xichun sneered, "How can ordinary people understand that Buddhism is to save all living beings? If you have Buddha in your heart, even the poorest mountains and the most desolate waters will become the Pure Land of Bliss, where you will find great purity and freedom."

"Okay, take her away. Send someone to follow her every day. Miaoxing must do all the things personally, so that she can be free. Whoever dares to help, I will never let him off easily!" Jia Cong said.

"Yes."

Seeing Xichun resolutely leaving with the nun, Li Wan and others wanted to persuade her but didn't know where to start. Seeing that Jia Cong was angry, they had to give up.

"You guys go away, and don't come here to disturb Miao Xing's quiet meditation in the future." Jia Cong waved his hand.

"Third brother..."

"Brother Cong..."

Everyone still wanted to plead for mercy.

Jia Cong glared and frowned, saying, "If anyone says anything more, I will send her to Shuiyue Temple."

Everyone looked at each other and smiled bitterly, then shook their heads and left.

Yu Shi secretly laughed in her heart and whispered, "Third brother..."

Jia Cong waved his hand.

Youshi understood and led the maids and old women away quietly.

The nuns did not dare to stay and get in the way, so they tiptoed away.

Miaoyu said, "It's a rare opportunity for you to come here, would you like to have a cup of tea with me?"

Jia Cong nodded and followed Miaoyu to her Zen room.

The two sat opposite each other, and Miaoyu skillfully boiled water and made tea.

Jia Cong silently watched the copper kettle on the small red clay stove emitting white steam. Miaoyu lightly tapped her white fingers and brewed two cups of good tea in an instant.

"What kind of water is this?" Jia Cong suddenly asked.

Miaoyu rolled her eyes at him, pursed her lips and smiled, "I know you don't drink stale water. This is the snow on the plum blossoms this morning."

"Yeah, okay." Jia Cong nodded, picked up a square cup carved from the finest jade, blew on it gently, and drank it in one gulp.

"You..." Miaoyu had no time to stop him, Jia Cong had already put down the cup.

"how?"

"Nothing." Miaoyu's pretty face blushed slightly and she shook her head gently.

That green jade bowl was her usual cup, which she never gave to others. She didn't expect to be rude to Jia Cong today.

"Why don't you drink?" Jia Cong asked.

"Oh." Miaoyu hurriedly picked up another apricot rhinoceros cup and slowly sipped the tea, but in her heart she was thinking about how to comfort Jia Cong.

"Would you like another drink?"

Jia Cong said: "When drinking with a bosom friend, a thousand cups are not enough. The same goes for tea. I will drink as much as you pour."

Miaoyu smiled and poured him another cup, saying, "If you are such a generous person, why are you angry with a little girl?"

Jia Cong sighed and said, "The sapling has grown crooked, so we have no choice but to fight poison with poison."

"I don't understand that."

Jia Cong explained the whole cause and effect, and only omitted the part where Xichun mocked himself, Youshi and Keqing.

Miaoyu heard this and said, "So that's how it is. Although the fourth young lady understands some Buddhist principles, she has gone astray."

"how do I say this?"

"Buddhism says 'Dependent Origination and Emptiness of Nature'. The fourth girl only sees 'emptiness' and not 'destiny'. This is clinging to 'emptiness' and has led her astray." Miaoyu sighed.

Jia Cong was confused and smiled bitterly, "Please let the goddess explain it to me."

Miaoyu chuckled and said, "What a talented man you are. Look what this is?" As she spoke, she gently lifted up the teacup.

Jia Cong smiled and said, "A delicate hand that is as soft as boneless and as smooth as cream."

Miaoyu's eyes flashed with shame, her hands trembled and she almost dropped the teacup. She said angrily, "Be serious, I'm asking what's in my hand?"

"cup."

"This is the view of ordinary people. If you ask the fourth girl, she will say there is nothing." Miaoyu said with a smile.

Jia Cong laughed in silence, raised his cup in the same way, and said, "Then what do you say this is?"

Miaoyu smiled slightly and said, "Teacup."

"Then you are not like me?"

"No. The Buddha said that the world is not the world, so it is called the world. All existence is the four words 'dependent origination and emptiness of nature', which is also the essence of the Diamond Sutra."

"What do you mean?"

“For example, this teacup may seem to be right in front of you, but in essence it is a product of fate. It is originally a piece of stone. It is only because someone likes it that a skilled craftsman finds it and carves it into an object for people to use.

If one day someone accidentally breaks it, it returns to the dust and turns into ashes. Where is the teacup? It is just born and destroyed by fate, so if you say it is a teacup, the fourth girl will say it is empty. "Miaoyu said.

Jia Cong thought about it for a while, nodded slowly, and said: "According to this statement, not only the teacup, but also this house, this mansion, and everything in the world will eventually cease to exist."

Miaoyu said: "That's right. If we stop here, it's called clinging to emptiness. Clinging to emptiness is exactly wrong.

Therefore, the Buddha has a third sentence, hence it is called the world. Precisely because the world is born from the combination of causes and conditions, it can be called the world. Its existence is dependent origination, but its nature is emptiness. This is the emptiness of dependent origination.

If the self-nature is not empty, then there can be no wonderful existence, so, to me, the teacup is still a teacup. "

Jia Cong was confused by her. He thought for a long time before he understood. He couldn't help but sigh: "How can you be pure if you want to be pure? The sky is not always empty."

Miaoyu was shocked when she heard this. She looked at Jia Cong deeply and said, "What the Duke said is quite profound."

Jia Cong smiled and said, "I didn't say that. I just said it out of inspiration. It's easy to talk about the principles of Buddhism, but how many people can do it? Xichun can't do it, but can you, Miaoyu?"

Miaoyu blushed slightly when she heard that he was teasing her. She glanced at him angrily and said, "It is precisely because the Dharma is profound and difficult to attain that we must study diligently."

"What a pity."

"What do you mean?" "Such a beautiful woman wants to worship Buddha and worship the dead, just like hiding this teacup in a secret box. Isn't it a pity?" Jia Cong said with a smile.

Miaoyu said calmly, "Just now I said that everything is empty and everything has its origin, but you forgot it again, Duke. When the origin is established, she is a beauty, but when the origin is gone, she has become an old woman with gray hair and chicken skin. It is only a blink of an eye, how can the appearance of the skin and the color stay in the world forever?"

Jia Cong shook his head and said, "Even after a few decades, you will still be a beauty. At most, you will be older and considered a senior beauty."

Miaoyu's expression turned cold, her eyebrows slightly frowned, and she said, "Duke, please be careful with your words."

"Okay, be careful with your words." Seeing that she was about to lose her temper, Jia Cong quickly changed the subject and said, "By the way, there is something I want to apologize to you for."

Miaoyu asked curiously, "What's the matter?"

"Didn't I say I would help you get revenge last time? The other day I went to Jiangnan and met Li Chao, but he is no longer the prefect of Suzhou, but the prefect of Jinling. He has now been transferred to Beijing to serve as the governor of Shuntian Prefecture.

Hey, for some reason, I can't take action against him at the moment, so you have been waiting for a long time." Jia Cong said.

Miaoyu shook her head and said, "No need, I have let it go, and you don't have to cling to it."

Jia Cong said: "You let it go, but I can't."

Miaoyu's heart tightened, as if she had missed a beat. Could it be that he was because of me... Thinking of this, she lowered her head and whispered, "Why can't you let it go?"

"Because he touched my reverse scale, I will kill him sooner or later!" Jia Cong said.

When Miaoyu heard his sonorous words, like the sound of metal, she felt moved and confused. Could it be that he was saying that I was his...reverse scale?
Thinking of this, my heart began to beat wildly, as if a little deer had entered my body and was running around wildly.

"You...actually you don't have to...do this for me...I'm not worthy..." When he said the last part, his voice was so soft as a mosquito that it was almost inaudible.

Hmm? Jia Cong was stunned. He meant that Li Chao dared to offend his authority by relying on his relationship with the New Party and Lin Ruhai, but Miaoyu misunderstood him.

But seeing that the atmosphere had become heated, and seeing Miaoyu's rosy face, he knew that girls valued dignity the most, and he didn't want to embarrass her, so he had to bite the bullet and laugh dryly, "If you are not worthy, who else in the world is worthy?"

Miaoyu gave him a look that seemed half angry and half happy, then just pursed her lips and sipped her tea, ignoring him.

Seeing her cute and lovely appearance, Jia Cong seemed to have let go of the burden of being a "worldly person" and was very happy. He smiled and said, "It's a pity that there is no art of clones in the Buddhist scriptures.

If so, I will practice Buddhism with you even if I don’t sleep or eat.”

Miaoyu spat, "How can a grown man learn Buddhism in a nunnery? What are you...learning for?"

"Of course, I will split one body into two and send it home, and the other will stay here with you." Jia Cong said with a smile.

"You... This is a quiet place in Buddhism, please don't lie, Duke." Miaoyu couldn't stand his vicious words after all, so she flicked her sleeves, turned away, and acted displeased.

"Sorry, sorry, I was joking with the maids at home and said something that offended you. I will punish myself by drinking three cups of tea." Jia Cong smiled bitterly and shook his head, then picked up the teacup and drank three cups in a row.

Miaoyu bit her lip and said angrily, "You are a person who speaks without restraint. I am not like those girls in your family. How can you speak without restraint?"

Jia Cong acted like an honest child and said, "It's just because I treat you as a friend, I'm not on guard, so I said something stupid without paying attention, please don't be offended."

Miaoyu shook her head and smiled, "You treat me as a friend and open your heart to me, so how can I be surprised? People who practice cultivation have nothing in their hearts, so how can they be disturbed by dust?"

Jia Cong smiled and said, "I feel much better after talking to you for a while. Do you usually read Buddhist scriptures in the nunnery?"

Miaoyu smiled and said, "No, I also read other books in my spare time, and occasionally go to the Muni Temple outside the west gate to read the palm leaf scriptures."

Jia Cong asked, "Can you read poetry?"

"Your masterpieces are naturally well-known. Are you testing me, Duke?" A hint of playfulness flashed in Miaoyu's eyes.

"How dare I? I know you are a great poet, no less than Bao and Dai."

Jia Cong laughed and said, "Third sister, you are really negligent. You have been left alone in the garden for several years without inviting you to join the society."

Miaoyu was surprised and asked, "I have never written poetry outside, how do you know I have poetic talent?"

"Uh..." Jia Cong laughed dryly, "How can a woman like you who is so elegant, beautiful, intelligent, and well-read not be able to compose poetry? It's obvious."

Miaoyu was quite pleased and rolled her eyes at him. She stopped asking questions and just said, "I am a layman and it is not convenient for me to play with the noble lady of your mansion."

Jia Cong said hurriedly: "This is wrong. There are so many monk poets in ancient times. Aren't they not only proficient in Buddhism, but also able to sing poems with others? Could it be that they have taken the wrong path?"

Miaoyu's heart was slightly moved, and she smiled and said, "You always have an excuse."

"It's settled then. I know your rules. I'll ask Sister Bao and Pin'er to invite you." Jia Cong said with a smile as he stood up.

"Are you going?" Miaoyu hurriedly stood up.

"It's getting late, so I won't bother you anymore. Xichun is here, thank you for your concern. If you can guide her onto the right path, I will thank you very much." Jia Cong said.

Miaoyu shook her head and said, "Buddha saves those who are destined to be saved. I will do my best, but I don't ask for any reward."

Jia Cong couldn't help laughing and asked, "Then will you save me?"

Miaoyu knew he was talking nonsense again, and spat, "You have your own mountains and valleys in your heart, why do you need someone to guide you?"

Jia Cong laughed: "You are right, I find you are becoming more and more lovely."

Miaoyu was both angry and amused, and said, "You are becoming more and more annoying."

"Thank you for the compliment. Goodbye, stay."

Just as Jia Cong walked out of the door, he turned back and said with a smile, "I have a farm outside the city, planted with peach trees. In a few days, when spring comes and the flowers bloom, I think it will be a beautiful sight with fresh grass and colorful fallen petals. I plan to take all the girls in the mansion to the suburbs for a spring outing. Do you want to go?"

"This..." Miaoyu pondered in silence, unable to make up her mind.

Knowing that the family was going on a trip, it would be inappropriate for a person like me who practices Buddhism to go with them. But if I said I wouldn't go, I would be tempted. From what Jia Cong said, it really was a paradise-like place.

"Don't worry about it. If you don't want to go at that time, I will carry you there." Jia Cong said with a smile.

Miaoyu said angrily, "Why are you so overbearing? You don't even allow me to consider."

"If I weren't domineering, how could I have so many good wives?" Jia Cong laughed and left.

Bah! Miaoyu watched Jia Cong walk away arrogantly, stamped her feet, and blushed. This bastard! Isn't he afraid of going to hell where tongues are pulled out?
-
The two mansions were busy every day for more than a month, and finally all the preparations for the visit and the emperor were ready. Because Jia Cong had just been promoted to the title of Grand Tutor, the ceremony was ten times more grand than the previous one.

On the seventh day of the first lunar month, Jia Cong submitted a memorial, respectfully inviting the virtuous concubine to visit her parents.

The emperor has approved it and given a lot of things.

In the next few days, the eunuchs from the palace came out to survey the direction and instruct everyone on the etiquette for welcoming the emperor. As they were familiar with the etiquette, the Jia family had already made preparations. The eunuch took a casual look, nodded with satisfaction, and left with the big red envelope.

On the Lantern Festival, everyone learned their lesson and did not wait at the door early.

Because of Jia Cong's respectability, Empress Chen specially allowed Concubine Yuan to leave after worshiping Buddha in Baoling Palace. She could reach Ningrong Street at noon, which allowed her to stay two hours longer than last time.

Moreover, there are cavalrymen in brocade uniforms delivering messages along the way, so you just need to go out in advance to greet them.

Jia Cong led Jia She, Jia Lian, Jia Baoyu and other male members of the Jia family to wait outside the West Street Gate, while Ruyi, Bao, Dai and other female members of the family including Jia's mother waited outside the main gate of the Rong Mansion.

All the ladies stood in silence, only Ruyi sat in the sedan chair and waited, waiting for Princess Yuan to come out and say hello. (End of this chapter)