In the blink of an eye, it was March 18, the Birthday Day.

Although Cao Yin is a foreign minister, in order to show his deference and loyalty, he came to Qingliang Temple early in the morning to pray for Kangxi. The generosity sent this time was abundant, not only for the blessing of the Halloween, but also for the blessing of God.

Tianyou tossed for a few days, it has gradually improved, Li because he prayed in front of the Buddha at night, and the straight way was blessed by the Buddha, so he packed up some of his own silver and asked her husband to send it to make incense and candle money.

Abbot Huikong heard that Cao Yin had arrived and personally greeted him. The two have been close friends for many years, and in recent years, they have often played chess, drank tea, and talked about Zen together.

Seeing that Huikong was followed by a young monk with clear eyebrows, and some faces, Cao Hao asked with a smile, "This is the old monk's new disciple?" ”

Huikong shook his head and said: "He is the nephew of the poor monk, his law name is Zhiran, and he has placed orders in the foreign travel party a few years ago, so Master Cao has never seen it!" ”

"Fa Zhiran?" Cao Yin groaned, remembered something, and glanced at Monk Zhiran carefully. I just feel that he looks a little kind inexplicably, which makes people feel close.

Cao Yin didn't think much about it, just because he loved the house and Wu, and said with a smile: "Although it is the first time we have met, I have heard of his name for a long time!" If the old man's guess is right, this little master is the friend of Fang Wai when the dog was young, right? ”

Abbot Huikong smiled and nodded, and saw Zhiran clasping his hands together and said to Cao Yin: "The little monk has seen Master Cao!" ”

Zhiran is about the same age as Cao Hao, but he has a bit of a dusty aura on his body, like an old monk with cultivation.

Although Cao Yin hadn't seen him, he was his son's teenage playmate back then, so it naturally made people check carefully. Abandoned in front of Qingliang Mountain in swaddling clothes, he grew up in the temple since he was a child, and he was a smart boy, but he was wise and foolish, and he was not visible in front of people.

Because Tianyou's illness was cured, Cao Yin's mood was also good, thinking of his son's youthful past, he couldn't help but say to Zhiran: "Little master, how innocent is the sparrow in the back mountain?" ”

Zhiran listened, still smiled and said: "Buddhism is boundless, birds and feathers have spirits, and the merits are immeasurable!" In the end, I didn't forget to add the Buddha's horn and said, "Amitabha! ”

Such a good little monk made Cao Yin couldn't help laughing out loud, and said: "The little monk is really transparent in Buddhism, and the dog is so friendly, it is really his blessing!" ”

As he spoke, Cao Yin had already been welcomed into the main hall. Along the way, Huikong watched the two answer, and did not interject, but with a little compassion in his expression.

According to the annual practice of the Longevity Festival, Cao Yin washed his hands and put incense on his hands, and prayed in front of the Buddha for blessings. This complicated set of rituals took more than half an hour.

After all, Cao Yin is old, and he knelt down in front of the Buddha to worship, and his physical strength was a little weak, and a thin layer of sweat appeared on his head.

Cao Yin got on the last pillar of high incense, and wanted to get up after kowtowing, but his legs and feet were a little sore, and his body was lined up, and he almost fell.

Zhiran stood behind him, originally acting as a messenger of incense, seeing him like this, he hurriedly stepped forward to support him, and said: "Master Cao beware!" ”

Cao Yin borrowed the strength of the little monk to get up, and said with a bit of self-deprecation: "It's really old, and this body can't help but toss!" ”

Seeing Cao Yin like this, Huikong said with a smile: "Birth, old age, sickness and death are just illusions of red dust, why should Master Cao be obsessed?" Please also go to the abbot's room to see the tea, this is just before the rain Longjing! ”

Cao Yin smiled and pointed at Huikong and said: "The old monk instructs others, but he doesn't have an epiphany, the old man has never seen a monk like the old monk who is so good at tea and chess!" ”

Huikong said: "Master Cao is dazzled, in front of the Buddha, these foreign objects are just illusory, and they can't be real." ”

Cao Yin knew that he had a hard mouth, so he didn't argue with him again, turned around and nodded to Zhiran, and said, "Thank you, little master!" ”

Seeing that his figure was stable, Zhiran put down the arm that was originally under his arm, and said, "Lord Cao is very polite!" ”

Cao Yin and Huikong went to the abbot's room to taste tea without mentioning it, Zhiran stopped at the side of the Buddha hall, and after facing the high Buddha statue, he walked out of the main hall.

At this time, I heard a little novice step forward and said, "Uncle, there is a female benefactor who originally wanted to enter the incense, but after the mountain gate was closed for the blessing of the Birthday Festival, she said that she would invite her uncle to meet, and now she is waiting outside the mountain gate!" ”

"Female benefactor?" Zhiran was a little puzzled, remembered to come alone, nodded, and went outside the mountain gate.

Outside the mountain gate, a mule cart was parked, and a middle-aged woman was standing in front of the cart holding a package. The woman was forty years old, and she was not wearing lead, but her appearance was still there.

When he approached, Zhiran asked with a little hesitation, "Could it be Master Qiu?" But I haven't seen it in years! ”

The person who came was a half acquaintance of Zhiran, a female benefactor who often came to the temple, and also had some dealings with Zhiran's master. It's just that I haven't seen each other for five or six years, and I don't dare to recognize each other for a while.

The woman looked straight at Zhiran, her eyes finally fell on the ring scar on the top of his head, her eyes were already red, and she asked with a forced smile: "I only know that you went to Yunyou, what year did you shave?" Didn't you say that you went to travel with your master, and I only came back this year? ”

Seeing that she had a loving look on her face, Zhiran's heart also gave birth to a sense of closeness, and he didn't think she was verbose, and replied: "The little monk was shaved by Kangxi's 49th year of respecting his master's order, and then followed his master out to travel. The master passed away last year, and the little monk returned to Jiangning on the master's orders! ”

The woman nodded and said with tears in her eyes: "I really didn't expect that you would be so tall after not seeing you for a few years!" Speaking of this, with a little hesitation, he touched the burden in his hand and said: "Here are the monk's clothes I cut for you a few years ago, looking at your current size, but you can't wear it!" ”

Zhiran has no father and no mother, and he is closest to the master, because this female benefactor is an old friend of the master, and he can't bear to see her feel like this, but he doesn't know how to persuade him.

The woman also noticed her gaffe when she thought about it, tried her tears with a handkerchief, and said, "Master Zhiran, do you want to travel in the future?" ”

Zhiran shook his head and said, "Looking at the meaning of the abbot, it is to pass on the mantle of the little monk, and the little monk will no longer be able to act at will in the future!" ”

Seeing Zhiran's sad and joyless appearance, the woman only felt unbearable heartache, and forced her to hold back her sadness and said, "Have you ever thought about returning to the vulgar, marrying your own son, and living an ordinary person's life?" You're still young, and you haven't done a lot of things, but I remember you loved chicken thighs the most. In Buddhism, there are rules, but it's very uncomfortable! ”

Zhiran looked at the woman and said softly: "A few years ago, someone also persuaded the little monk like this, the Tao is that although the monk is pure, the red dust has the interest of the red dust, and it is better for people to live freely for a lifetime, and they don't have to detain themselves with the rules and precepts!" ”

When the woman heard him say this, she couldn't help but feel a little hopeful, nodded hurriedly, and said, "That man is right, these are the words." Even if you have a Buddha in your heart, you don't necessarily have to be a monk in the temple, and you can also be a layman! ”

Zhiran's eyes showed a little compassion, and said: "The little monk thanked Lord Qiu for his kindness, but in the past few years, the little monk has also seen a lot of mundane things. People's hearts are impetuous, the world is sad, and they are still at ease outside the red dust. ”

The woman wanted to persuade again, but Zhiran's heart gradually realized something, lowered his eyelids and said: "The little monk has made up his mind, and I ask Master Qiu to persuade him again." …… There is a providence in the underworld, and it is not only the little monk who was sent to the temple in his infancy, but also has a fate with Buddhism, isn't it? ”

When the woman heard this, she knew that she could no longer persuade her, so she pointed to the village at the foot of the mountain, and said with a little choked up, "I...... I have bought a land here, and I plan to live here for the rest of my life, and I will ...... In the future, there will be no more time to disturb the little master......"

* Beijing, Forbidden City.

On the Wanshou Festival, Kangxi took the civil and military hundred officials to pay tribute to the Empress Dowager's Palace, stopped the congratulatory feast, and then sent officials to worship Fuling, Zhaoling, Temporary Fengdian, Xiaoling, Renxiao Empress, Xiaozhao Empress, Xiaoyi Empress Mausoleum, and at the same time sent officials to worship the gods of Zhenwu, Dongyue and Chenghuang.

Compared with the excitement of last year's Qiansu feast, this year's Halloween Festival is becoming more and more deserted. Cao Hao is also idle, because there is no ceremony for the emperor to travel, and the officials here in Taifu Temple do not need to be at any time.

He thought about going around the yamen and going back to his house as soon as possible. Although you can't enter the second gate, it's better for a family to guard in a house. He was also wondering if he should buy something delicious for Chu Yu and the children, but he was afraid that he would get mixed up outside and stain something unclean.

Before he left the Donghua Gate, he was caught up by Zhao Feng, the servant of the sixteenth elder brother, and heard Zhao Feng panting and saying: "Master Cao, you can go slowly, the slave and maid are chasing you all the way!" ”

Cao Hao stopped, and when he saw that he was sweating, he was a little unbearable, and said: "After the hundred officials saluted just now, didn't the sixteenth master follow the other princes and elder brothers to the palace of the queen mother?" Is this what he made you come to me? ”

Zhao Feng bowed down and replied: "Our lord beat Lafayette in the palace for a while, and then came out, and began to look for Cao Ye, but did not find Cao Ye in front of the Qianqing Palace, thinking that Cao Ye might have to leave the palace, so he asked the slave to come here!" ”

Cao Hao saw that the sixteenth elder brother was looking for himself like this, and knew that something was wrong, and said, "Where is your lord, where are you now?" ”

Zhao Feng said with a smile: "Master went to Brother's office, let the slave maid ask Cao Ye to go over there, saying that he wanted Cao Ye to meet Little Brother!" ”

Cao Hao could imagine the smug appearance of the sixteenth elder brother, and went to the elder brother's place with Zhao Feng with a smile.

The seventeenth elder brother was also here, still wearing the prince's dress, not taking it off, and was muttering and talking to the sixteenth elder brother there.

Seeing Cao Hao coming, the sixteenth elder brother smiled and beckoned him to sit down, and said: "There are many people in the party, and it is inconvenient to speak, so I didn't look for you, the matter of changing land is almost inseparable, and I want you to finally get an idea!" ”

Cao Hao smiled and met with the seventeenth elder brother, and then sat down, and said: "This dare is good, it is already spring ploughing, and now it is decided, but it can have one more season of grain!" ”

The seventeenth elder brother listened to Cao Hao's words, shook his head with a smile and said, "Originally, when you were not a layman, this philistine with a mouth full of philistines looked like a rich man!" ”

Although he only walked through the scene in front of the Empress Dowager's Palace, Cao Hao followed the hundred officials outside the Taihe Gate early in the morning, and he was a little tired, so he leaned back in the chair and said: "I'd rather be a rich man in the countryside, eat and wait for death, have no heart and lungs, and guard the hot kang head of his wife and children, wouldn't he also be at ease!" ”

The seventeenth elder brother nodded, and couldn't help but yearn for it, and said: "Hearing Fu Ruo say this, I am also worried about this rich man!" If there is a sturdy carriage that can travel the mountains and rivers and increase knowledge, then it is a good life! ”

Seeing the two of them's old-fashioned appearance, the sixteenth elder brother couldn't help but glare, and said, "Look at your little bit of talent, if people hear it, they will think that they are two old men who are half buried in the earth!" What's good in the countryside, if I boil it, I will become a rich man in the capital, no one will recruit me, and I won't recruit anyone. Raising cage birds, raising a few troupes, and teaching his son and daughter to count the arts, then it is too beautiful to think about it! ”

After saying that, the sixteenth elder brother himself also laughed. The three of them are all this lazy and comfortable surname, and whoever listens to it is afraid that they will have to say "no ambition".

Sixteen elder brothers, these Zhuangzi, some are in Daxing, some are in Fangshan, some are in the Zhenguo Mansion, and some are in the Beizi Mansion. There are three in total, because Cao Hao mentioned before that he wanted to change two Zhuangzi, so the sixteenth elder brother asked him to set two by himself.

Fangshan Cao Hao is not ripe, but Daxing's watermelon is famous in later generations, and the first thing he likes in his heart is this piece. If you really get a watermelon garden or a melon garden, then you can also learn more about summer food.

The other two Zhuangzi are both Fangshan, one Zhuangzi has more land, and the other Zhuangzi has less land, but the house is large and has another courtyard. The owners of those two Zhuangzi have a good relationship with the sixteenth elder brother, so he can't help anyone speak, so he lets Cao Hao decide by himself.

Cao Hao originally wanted to increase some income, but he didn't have much of an opinion on one more and one less, so he said yes.

*

(To be continued)