White tea legend

Chapter 262: Taibai Jinxing is a bit annoying

In the imperial garden, the old monk Zhiji sat on a stone bench, holding the hot tea brought by Gao Lishi in both hands. The fragrance of the tea was lingering, but it was not as chaotic as the thoughts in his mind.

After taking a sip of tea, Zhiji's eyes became blurred, as if he had traveled through time and returned to the past. At that time, Hongjian was still a young monk, following behind him, devoutly learning Buddhism and full of curiosity about the world. Zhiji taught him to chant sutras and meditate, to identify herbs, and to observe clouds and predict weather. Every detail is still vivid in his mind.

Hongjian is smart and quick-witted, and he can often grasp the essence of complex Buddhist teachings, which makes Zhiji both happy and worried. Because he knows that the temptations of the outside world are hard to resist for young people who are growing up. As expected, as he grows older, Hongjian becomes more and more interested in the secular world outside the temple, and his heart begins to become restless.

Zhiji remembered that day, the sky was a faint orange-red, the sunset glow was like fire, Hongjian came to his Zen room, knelt on his knees, and said in a trembling voice: "Master, I want to go down the mountain to experience the world."

In the room, Zhiji did not go out to persuade him to stay, but just said calmly in his heart: "Go, remember, if your heart is floating, the Dharma Sea is boundless."

Outside the door, Hongjian kowtowed three times, then stood up and left. Zhiji watched his back disappear outside the mountain gate and sighed, feeling mixed emotions.

Since that day, Zhiji often stood on the height of Longgai Temple, looking out at the world below the mountain, and silently praying for Hongjian in his heart. Whenever night fell and it was quiet, he missed Hongjian even more and worried that he would lose himself in the world.

In the blink of an eye, several years passed, and Zhiji's heart seemed to be empty with the departure of Hongjian. He tried to keep himself busy, either by studying the scriptures or guiding other disciples in their practice, but every night when it was quiet, he would always unconsciously think of the child who used to be lively beside him.

Until today, when this cup of tea was handed over by Gao Lishi, the memories of Hongjian came flooding back. Zhiji couldn't help but tear up, not knowing whether it was the steam of the tea or the heavy longing in his heart.

Zhiji asked Gao Lishi with a trembling voice: "Excuse me, General Gao, which monk made this bowl of tea?"

The reason why Monk Zhiji came to Chang'an this time was because the saints became more and more fond of drinking tea. Drinking tea gradually became a popular fashion in the Li Dynasty, and the Zen tea culture also flourished and developed.

Since Master Xuanzang went to the West to seek Buddhist scriptures, Zen Buddhism began to flourish in the Li Dynasty. Monks often drank tea to help them meditate and seek spiritual peace and freedom. Tea is to Zen like wings to birds, indispensable. Therefore, the widespread spread of Zen tea culture in the Li Dynasty was the inevitable result of the prosperity of Zen Buddhism.

The economy of the Li Dynasty was prosperous, and commerce flourished. As an important commodity, tea trade also developed. The circulation and trade of tea promoted the spread of Zen tea culture. Merchants transported tea from its production areas to various places, allowing more people to taste the charm of tea, thus promoting the development of Zen tea culture.

Furthermore, there were many scholars and writers in the Li Dynasty who advocated Confucianism and pursued the unity of mind and nature. Tea drinking became an important way for scholars and writers to exchange ideas and express emotions. In addition to drinking tea, they also incorporated Zen into their poems and songs, which sublimated the Zen tea culture.

The prosperity of Zen Buddhism, the prosperous economy, the promotion of literati, and the attention of saints all contributed to the prosperity and development of Zen tea culture in the Li Dynasty.

From the saints onwards, the nobles of the Ly Dynasty often entertained guests in the form of tea parties, showing the cultural prosperity of the Ly Dynasty. The tea ceremony in the palace also became one of the representatives of the Ly Dynasty culture.

The development of Zen tea culture in the Li Dynasty also depended on the participation of ordinary people. The teahouses and tea houses provided people with a place to taste tea, making Zen tea culture deeply rooted in people's hearts.

Both the ruling class and the common people jointly created the fertile soil for the development of Zen tea culture.

So the saint organized this Zen tea exchange meeting.

All the famous monks in the field of Zen and tea of ​​the Joseon Dynasty gathered in Chang'an, including Zhiji and Jiaoran.

When asked by Monk Zhiji, Gao Lishi did not give a direct answer, but asked him: "Master Zhiji, what do you think of this bowl of tea?"

"A familiar yet unfamiliar taste." Monk Zhiji said in a trembling voice.

"Where does familiarity come from, and where does strangeness come from?" Gao Lishi participated in the Zen tea exchange meeting throughout. He had more contact with eminent monks, and his speech became more Zen-like.

Monk Zhiji couldn't say anything, but his old eyes were filled with tears.

"General Gao, can I meet this tea maker?"

Gao Lishi shook his head and said, "Lord Lu is not available right now. He is helping the Imperial Concubine with her illness."

Lu Yu entered the palace because Jiaoran's good intentions went awry.

Jiaoran went to Beijing because the saint hosted a Zen tea party.

As a fan of Master Xuanzang, Jiaoran had not been to Beijing for many years, so when he came to Beijing, he naturally went to the Da Ci'en Temple to pay his respects.

As soon as I arrived at Da Ci'en Temple, I met Lu Yu by chance.

Lu Yu prayed to the gods and Buddha in the Da Ci'en Temple just to find the whereabouts of his wife.

Jiaoran thought that if he could get to know a saint and have the help of the emperor, wouldn't it be convenient to find someone?
So at the tea party, Jiaoran was appreciated by the sage for his outstanding tea-making skills, and Jiaoran wanted to praise Lu Yu in front of the sage in order to build a bridge for Lu Yu.

Unexpectedly, when Lu Yu entered the palace, he was asked by the sage to demonstrate his tea art. Lu Yu's tea art was indeed appreciated by the sage, and Lu Yu asked the sage to stop the tea monopoly order on Changxi white tea.

The saint was immediately furious and wanted to arrest Lu Yu. Fortunately, Lu Yu said that he had a way to cure the imperial concubine's illness, so he temporarily saved his life.

"Your Majesty, I am confident that I can cure the Imperial Concubine's illness."

The saint frowned, obviously doubting what Lu Yu said. He asked coldly, "Oh? What's your secret recipe?"

Lu Yu calmly replied: "The Imperial Concubine's illness is caused by excessive internal heat. Changxi White Tea is cold in nature and can clear away heat and detoxify. If you drink it for a long time, you will definitely recover."

The saint decided to give Lu Yu a chance. If he could not cure the imperial concubine's illness, he would definitely lose his head.

After receiving the order, Lu Yu immediately started to work. He carefully selected the best Changxi white tea, boiled it with clear spring water, and then carefully controlled the heat to fully release the aroma and ingredients of the tea. He also deliberately added some herbs with sedative effects to enhance the therapeutic effect of the tea.

As an ancient medical god, although Lu Yu has lost his magical powers and can no longer slay demons and monsters, he is still full of medical knowledge that can be used.

He added various herbs into the tea and asked the imperial concubine to drink it.

A few days later, the imperial concubine's health improved significantly. Not only did she wake up, her complexion became rosy, and her mental state improved greatly. The sage was overjoyed and praised Lu Yu's medical skills.

Because the imperial concubine had regained consciousness, the sage rewarded Lu Yu, but Lu Yu did not want any other reward. He only asked the sage to stop the Changxi white tea monopoly and allow private tea trading.

For the sake of the imperial concubine, the emperor considered it again and again and finally agreed to Lu Yu's suggestion.

……

"Hongjian, why don't you ask a saint to help you find a wife?" Jiaoran asked Lu Yu in confusion.

Bai Cha is not a mortal. How can a mortal find her whereabouts? Even the saintly emperor is still a mortal.

Lu Yu was unable to tell Jiaoran this, and Gao Lishi came to find Lu Yu and told him that someone wanted to see him.

Lu Yu felt strange and wondered who in the imperial palace wanted to see him?
An old monk stood in the imperial garden. He was very old, with traces of time all over his face and wrinkles around his eyes like old tree bark. He was wearing a wide grey cassock, the lapels of which fluttered gently in the wind.

Lu Yu looked at him and froze.

The old monk was already trembling.

I haven't seen him for many years. The young man I once was has grown into an adult. He is still handsome, but he looks haggard and his eyes are full of sorrow.

The old monk's eyes were a little wet.

"Hongjian."

He extended his hand to Lu Yu.

Lu Yu had already recognized the old monk, and walked towards him quickly. When he got in front of the old monk, he knelt down. "Master..."

Lu Yu's tears rolled down, revealing his endless grievances.

Monk Zhiji helped Lu Yu up from the ground, held him in his arms, and cried with a trembling voice: "Silly child, silly child, do you still remember the master..."

Tears glistened in Monk Zhiji's eyes, as if he wanted to pour out all his years of longing and concern.

Lu Yu hugged his master tightly, and the grievance and guilt in his heart were vented at this moment. He sobbed softly, and his voice revealed his endless longing for his master: "Master, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm unfilial, I'm sorry for you..."

Monk Zhiji patted Lu Yu's back gently and comforted him: "Child, you have suffered these years. Tell Master, where have you been these years, and how are you doing?"

Lu Yu then told Monk Zhiji all about how he had performed in a theatre troupe and written scripts, how he had visited Master Zou at Huomen Mountain, how he had married and had children, and how he had started a business in Changxi.

Monk Zhiji listened to Lu Yu's narration, with complex lights flashing in his eyes. He looked at Lu Yu, his eyes full of heartache and relief: "My child, your experience surprised and relieved the master. You acted in the opera troupe, worshipped Master Zou, married and had children, and established a career in Changxi. Every step was not easy, but you persisted. This shows me your tenacity and perseverance. The master is happy for your choice to leave Longgai Temple..."

"Master, don't you blame me for leaving without saying goodbye?"

Monk Zhiji shook his head and said, "Since you have married and had children, where are your wife and children? Can you let me see them?"

Lu Yu was dejected. Thinking about Bai Cha's missing whereabouts, Lu Yu felt upset and couldn't help but shed tears.

Late at night, Jiaoran asked Lu Yu: "The green snake that follows me every day is Qing Niangzi. Qing Niangzi is the green snake spirit. You asked Qing Niangzi to find your wife. Could it be that Baicha Niangzi is not a mortal, but a spirit?"

"Bai Cha is not a spirit, she is a fairy."

My best friend actually married a fairy.

There is a difference between immortals and mortals. Although Jiao Ran is in seclusion, he also knows this truth. "Then Fairy Baicha is missing. Could it be that she was captured by the Heavenly Sovereign and taken to heaven?"

Lu Yu opened his eyes and looked at the dark ceiling, as if he was looking through the sky.

Baicha, where are you?

Have you really returned to heaven?
Don’t you want me and Yuming anymore?
……

In the sky prison, the fairy dressed in black took a nap and woke up.

She has been quiet for several days, and the Emperor of Heaven has not sent any gods to torture her. When groups of gods came, they were all bewitched and fled away. The Emperor of Heaven does not dare to let the gods take risks for the time being.

This makes the fairy look a little boring.

A parrot flew into the prison at some point. It had gorgeous feathers and stared at the fairy with its eyes wide open.

The fairy also looked at her.

Neither the man nor the bird spoke a word.

Finally, the cockatiel could no longer bear it, so he changed into human form, walked up to the fairy, and said, "Sister, don't you recognize me?"

"You are……"

"I am Xuanfeng?"

“Are you a bird?”

Xuan Feng: “…”

Xuanfeng looked at the fairy girl in front of him. No matter how he looked at her, she was Sister Baicha.

Even if she was wearing black instead of white or green, he would still be able to recognize her, but she couldn't recognize him.

Did Sister Bai Cha lose her memory?
"You also want to try my charm?"

Xuan Feng was startled, and when he looked up into the fairy's eyes, he felt his heartbeat speed up. The woman in front of him, although dressed in black, was undoubtedly the sister Bai Cha in his heart. However, her eyes no longer had the tenderness and familiarity of the past, but were replaced by deep vigilance and a subtle loneliness.

Xuanfeng suddenly felt distressed and turned into a parrot, running around and flying around in the prison. Before he lost the last bit of his sanity, he flapped his wings and flew out of the prison.

Xuanfeng returned to the Moon Palace, feeling a little panicked and at a loss as to what to do.

Chang'e asked the Jade Rabbit to accompany Xuanfeng for a while, while she made osmanthus cake for Wu Gang.

The osmanthus cake is ready, and Yutu leads Xuanfeng over.

"Fairy Chang'e, that was a close call. I almost fell for the charm of the fairy in the prison."

"So she is really not the White Tea Fairy?" Chang'e asked.

Xuanfeng hesitated, recalling the appearance of the fairy. It was obviously Sister Baicha, but she didn't remember that he was Xuanfeng.

"She was wearing black."

Xuanfeng thought back to the thousands of years that Baicha and he had spent together. When had she ever worn black clothes?

"Fairy Chang'e, something must have happened to Sister Baicha. We must help her."

……

The Emperor of Heaven dismissed all the gods and left only Taibai Jinxing.

"I have just taken charge of the Heavenly Court, but I hope that the Lord of Heaven will treat me as he treated the previous Lord of Heaven."

Taibai Jinxing bowed his hands in fear and trepidation: "I, the old immortal, will do my best to assist you, Your Majesty."

"I trust you the most, even though we haven't known each other for very long."

"Thank you for your kindness."

"Okay, then tell me, what should we do with the person in the prison? Otherwise, you go, Grandpa Bai Jinxing..."

Taibai Jinxing suddenly became annoyed.

Chonghua Tianjun abdicated and the new Tianjun ascended the throne. Taibai Jinxing, as the right-hand man of all the previous Tianjuns, had to deal with the complicated affairs of the Heavenly Court on a daily basis, including mediating disputes among various gods and handling problems reported from the lower world.

The relationship between the Heavenly Court and the Western Heavenly Buddhist Realm is tense, which has affected the harmonious atmosphere of the Heavenly Court. The mortal world's belief in the Heavenly Court has gradually decreased, resulting in a decline in the quality of the immortal source of energy, which is a big challenge for the Heavenly Court. These problems have put Taibai Jinxing under great pressure, and he needs to find a suitable solution to restore the harmony between the Heavenly Court and the Western Heavenly Buddhist Realm, and at the same time find a way to increase the mortal world's belief in the Heavenly Court to keep the immortal source of energy pure.

Taibai Jinxing was already annoyed enough, but he didn't expect that the Emperor of Heaven would give him this big problem again.

Taibai Jinxing glanced at his white beard. If he fell into the fairy's spell at his age, where would he put his face?