Chen Dong first went to contact the senior monk in the temple who was responsible for untying the knot, and Zhao Xingde stayed in a temple to wait. This side hall is relatively secluded, with a few pomegranate trees planted in the outer courtyard, a few yellow warblers chirping happily in the sun, and under the eaves, swallows fly around, constantly feeding the nestlings in the nest.

Although there are few pilgrims, under the care of the monks, incense burns in front of the Buddha statue all year round. The smoke of the incense candle is mixed with the unique sandalwood fragrance of the wooden hall, which makes people faintly have the meaning of dust, and the sunlight is projected from the tall wooden doors and windows around it, and the heavy curtains through it shine in front of the big Buddha in the hall, as if the Buddha light of all living beings is purified, and people are spontaneously born to the heart of the Buddha.

The walls around the side hall are all exquisite gilded murals, some are painted with the story of Buddhism, some are painted with groups of people who worship the real body figures, these murals are from the hands of the famous painters of the world, when you look carefully, there are inscriptions such as the ministers of the past dynasties next to it, each place is extremely exquisite and luxurious.

In the center of the side hall is a bronze gilt seated Buddha, the figure is quite majestic, and the lotus throne is also two or three people high. The Buddha statue of the Great Xiangguo Temple is the fine product of the form and god, the people of later generations are not as worshipful as the Song Dynasty, the Buddha statue made is also lacking a little brilliance, the opportunity is rare, Zhao Xingde will watch carefully around this Buddha statue, and admire.

Just as he turned behind the Buddha statue, there was a sudden noise of female dependents outside the hall, Zhao Xingde didn't care, but the door of the side hall was pushed open, and only a woman with a shrill voice said: "This side hall is secluded, cousin and wait here, I'll go and relieve myself, and I'll be back soon." I heard a woman's "um" say yes, and walked into the side hall with small steps. Zhao Xingde was very familiar with the woman's voice, and he didn't care, I was afraid that going out now would frighten the female dependents, so he stayed behind the Buddha statue, holding his breath, and responding to the changes unchanged.

I only heard the woman slowly pacing in front of the Buddha statue, seemed to stare at the Buddha statue for a while, then knelt down in front of the Buddha, only to hear her low voice: "Amitabha, I wish my father and mother are in good health, the eldest brother is safe and sound when he is outside, the younger brother has grown up in his studies, Zhao Gongzi is knowledgeable and his wishes come true, and the little woman is willing to burn incense in the morning and evening, never stop reciting, quit meat and vegetarianism, offer Buddha and rice to monks at four o'clock, and strive to release life and cover up all good deeds." ”

Zhao Xingde heard the voice of the woman praying at this time, and suddenly heard the sound of the temple door being pushed open. A footstep came in, Li Ruoxue happened to bow three times, and when she turned around, it was Zhao Yan, the son of Prime Minister Zhao Qianfu, who was wearing a moon-white Confucian robe, standing at the door.

Zhao Yan shook to the ground and said softly: "Zhao Yan has seen Miss Li, after Dr. Qin's mansion went to the elegant gathering, he admired Miss Li's talent and temperament very much, and his father has asked your mansion for marriage, although Dr. Li has not yet agreed, but he can see the light of day in his heart." He had an expression like a gambling oath on his face, but his eyes looked straight at Li Ruoxue. Li Ruoxue was slightly stunned, and she understood in her heart that the Wang family had asked her to go to the Daxiangguo Temple to ask for a signature, just so that this Zhao Yan could see him here.

She secretly scolded this troublesome mother-in-law in her heart, and replied politely: "Zhao Gongzi has a heart." As he spoke, he stepped out of the hall, not wanting to talk much to Zhao Yan.

Zhao Yan stopped at the door of the side hall and said in a deep voice: "I asked Mrs. Qin to propose to the house before, although my uncle politely refused, I will definitely find another way, and I will definitely marry the girl." He had a sincere look on his face, his eyes did not hide his admiration, but in his heart he assumed that Li Ruoxue had already been interested in him, but he was forced to associate with him because of the authority of his father.

Li Ruoxue didn't want this person to be entangled, and said with a slightly cold face: "Marriage is at the behest of her parents, since the family has been refused, the little woman is not blessed to accept the son's good intentions, I hope the son will get married as soon as possible." Her face was cold, these words were a clear refusal in Zhao Yan's ears, but in the ears of Zhao Xingde behind the Buddha statue, it seemed that Li Ruoxue was not ruthless to this Zhao Yan, but was just forced by his father's order, Zhao Xingde couldn't help but sigh slightly in his heart, and suddenly heard Li Ruoxue say: "Zhao Zisi, please respect yourself!" ”

It turned out that this Zhao Yan took two steps forward, and was about to be next to Li Ruoxue's side, but Li Ruoxue took a step back, raised her voice, and turned a cold face towards him. Although this great Xiangguo Temple is prosperous with incense, but Zhao Yan can come to this side hall to meet, naturally made arrangements, if he really has a bad heart, I am afraid that today will be embarrassed, thinking of this, Li Ruoxue bit the tip of her tongue lightly, and hated Dr. Qin's wife, cousin Wang to the extreme.

Zhao Xingde was about to go out and drive Zhao Yan away, but he heard Zhao Yan sigh and said in a low voice: "Miss Li, don't panic, I just want to get close to you and talk, but I lost my sense of proportion, which made Miss Li smile." "Others were originally arrogant, and they thought that with the respect of the prime minister of the dynasty, they would ask for marriage to the Li Mansion, and there would be no reason to allow it, but who would have thought that not only was Li Gefei refused, but even Li Ruoxue, who could speak two sentences, was also judged to be a passerby. Thinking of this, I can't help but hate Zhao Xingde, who is said to be recruited as a good son-in-law by the Li Mansion, that day Zhao Xingde won the Khitan people with archery, and the prince Zhao Ke has a heart to take it for his own use, Zhao Yan said that Zhao Xingde is a member of the Yuanyou Party, and rashly accepted it, and if he publicly provoked Prime Minister Cai Jing, His Majesty was in the prime of spring and autumn, and the East Palace still needed to be forbearant, Zhao Ke gave up, and it didn't take long to forget about Zhao Xingde. Zhao Yan coughed and said in a deep voice: "Although the prisoner Zhao Xingde is said to be thin and famous, but his character is talented and learned, he is not the best choice, it is said that he has a very hard temper, he is brave and ruthless, stubborn and awkward, not a good match, I am deeply worried about Miss Li." ”

Zhao Xingde heard the smoke of the seven tricks, and said in his heart, Zhao Yan, you are too tasteless. But I heard Li Ruoxue say: "The man with eyebrows, if he is not strong and brave, how can he protect his family and serve the country, if he is not stubborn, how can he keep good and take righteousness, how can he pretend to be cowardly, and flatter the vulgar with weakness." Please get out of the way. Zhao Xingde was fascinated, and his heart was really a good lady towards her husband. Seeing that Li Ruoxue was still glaring at herself, she had to take half a step back to the side, Li Ruoxue lifted her skirt, walked out of the side quickly, and looked up to see that under the pomegranate tree in the courtyard, the maid curtain and the maid brought by the Qin Wang's family seemed to be looking at the pearl flowers, and immediately asked her to get up and go back to the house with herself.

"Second Miss, they said that Mrs. Qin went to the senior monk to sign the sign, and she will be back in a moment." The roller shutter didn't know why, but he reminded himself.

"Don't wait for her!" Li Ruoxue said coldly. The two of them walked out of the Daxiangguo Temple, the ox cart driven by Wang Fu was still waiting outside the temple, and when he saw the second lady come out, he immediately got up, and the whip snapped in the air, and the ox cart moved slowly.

Li Ruoxue leaned in the carriage, not knowing whether she was afraid or angry, and her pretty face was flushed. If there is a slight accident in the situation of the right talent, not only will his reputation be ruined, but his father and brother will also be disgraced by it. In order to please Zhao Xiang, cousin Qin Wang did not hesitate to push his family into such a predicament, which made people feel cold. She also followed her father to belittle and exile since she was a child, and she was used to seeing the hot and cold world and the sinister people's hearts, if not, it would be difficult to do good words. Thinking that he was almost betrayed by his relatives, and thinking of Zhao Xingde, who was willing to be married, was generous and heroic, but he didn't seem to be a person who cherished the fragrance and cherished the jade, a grievance welled up in his heart, and tears flowed to his heart.

Li Ruoxue left with her front foot, and the Qin Wang's back foot, who got the news from her mother-in-law, rushed to the side hall, "Zhao Gongzi, this cousin of the slave family is not strict in her family education, and her temperament is quite stubborn. Qin Wang said with a smile. She saw that Zhao Yangongzi's face was uncertain, her heart sank slightly, she knew that this time was not satisfactory, according to her calculations, if Zhao Yan moved Li Ruoxue with her words, or even further, the two had a personal relationship, then taking into account the reputation of the family and the power of the Prime Minister's Mansion, the little Taixue Doctor Li Gefei was not allowed to do so, as for how much turmoil and embarrassment this matter would bring to the Li family, she did not consider it at all.

Zhao Yan frowned, he was in love with Li Ruoxue, and the beauty in his eyes was as bright as a pearl in the night, and then came in this Dr. and Mrs. Qin, although she was also from a famous family, she was as disgusting as a yellow-haired and blackened fish's eyes, and said casually: "The right beauty, on the water side, you must find it with twists and turns, how can it be so easy to climb." Qin Wang didn't understand what he meant, he was slightly stunned, and when he looked up, Zhao Yan had already walked out of the door, she was a woman, but she couldn't chase her.

After the idle people outside dispersed, Zhao Xingde exhaled, only to know that he had unknowingly formed such a big rival. However, as Li Ruoxue said, as a man, if he is not strong, how can he protect his family. Zhao Xingde pondered for a moment, and also knelt in front of the Buddha statue religiously, and silently recited: "I have a wife like this, and I have no regrets." May this life protect her safety and thoughtfulness, and coax her to smile often. The Buddha blesses that, if it gets its wish, it will one day reshape its golden body. ”

He hastily made a wish, thinking about whether the benefits of reshaping the golden body were too little, and wanted to add something, but Chen Dong pushed open the temple door recently, holding a large pile of brocade silk knots in his left hand, and gave him half of his right hand, and said with a smile: "If it's good luck, one person will have at least ten times." ”

Zhao Xingde took the silk knot, his hand sank, and he knew that these silk knots were breaded with gold and silver ingots, so he followed Chen Dong to a meditation room, carefully distinguishing the thread, after two hours, Chen Dong had untied three silk knots, Zhao Xingde untied one, the silk knot was a plain white silk paper, a small gold ingot wrapped inside, and the silk paper was written "The blue bird does not pass on the cloud outside the letter, and the lilac is empty and sad in the rain" two lines of juanxiu handwriting. Xingde casually put the gold ingot aside, and Chen Dong praised it: "It's actually gold, I don't know which little lady misses Lang Jun and makes such a precious wish." Xingde smiled: "I just don't know if the Buddha also likes the poor and loves the rich." ”

Chen Dong took the gold ingot in the palm of his hand and checked it, about half a tael, which was enough to get five pieces of silver, and said with a smile: "With the temple's reward for five times, there are twelve pieces of income." You and I are one and half each. Seeing that it was getting late, he returned the remaining dozen or so brocade knots to the monks of the temple, these dead knots were originally untied by the monks in the temple, and it was difficult to untie them.

When the sky was dark, Zhao Xingde returned to Taixue, and when the dormitory had dinner, Deng Su, Zhu Sen, He Fang and other prisoners had not yet returned, Li Rui smiled and said: "I went to their respective teacher's mansions early in the morning, and just worshiped the teacher, so I naturally have to serve diligently. When Zhao Xingde heard this, he felt a little guilty in his heart, and asked himself that Chao Buzhi had been teaching himself carefully, compared with Chen Dong, Zhang Bing and other students who were almost serving their fathers, he was quite lazy as a student, in addition to being taught with Li Ruoxue's sister and brother in the Li Mansion, he didn't even fulfill the etiquette of visiting the master with a bundle.

The so-called overhaul is changed, and the next day at dawn, Xingde rushed to visit the house of Chao Bu early. He recently got ten times for writing posts, and another six times for untying the knot, plus the income from selling articles, all of his savings were four hundred and fifty or sixty times, which can only be regarded as a shyness for the Taixue students. Naturally, it can't be like Deng Su and others, and the first apprenticeship is hundreds of jade paintings and calligraphy. Zhao Xingde bought a pair of ordinary quality but polished white jade walls, two pieces of preserved venison, and some seasonal fruits.

Taishi Bureau Order is an idle official, Chao Buzhi is in the house for most of the time, seeing Zhao Xingde visit according to the formal apprenticeship ceremony, although his face is light, but his heart is happy, after talking for a while, leave Zhao Xingde in the house for lunch, and order the child servant to find another disciple Song An, let him and Zhao Xingde meet as a brother.

Song An is already thirty years old, with a Chinese face, a slightly yellow complexion, and a lock of beard under his chin, looking quite old and square. This elder brother is said to be the descendant of Song Jing, the famous minister of the Tang Dynasty, but by the time of his grandparents, he was no longer a prominent family. Song An studied under the door of Chao Bu, and was a Jinshi of Zhenghe for eight years. Originally, he was only born from a jinshi, but during the palace examination, the official family liked that his name was a good omen for the country, and deliberately promoted the ranking premise from the second-class jinshi to the first-class jinshi and the first.

Now Song Ancong has done the official of the Criminal Department, not only the official rank is equivalent to Chao Buzhi, but also the exile of prisoners, the family connection of the criminal conspiracy and rebellion, and the increase and abolition of the position of the officials of the Criminal Department, etc., the power is much more practical than the Taishi Bureau's order, but the service master is still very respectful, and he does not see the slightest arrogance, which makes Zhao Xingde quite admired.