Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 433 It’s Her
Ciyun Nunnery was not a royal nunnery, and Xie Yuyan had never been there. However, he had read in the "Collected Drafts of the Imperial Regulations" that some imperial concubines had invited him to Ciyun Nunnery, because Ciyun Nunnery was different from other nunnery. The nuns there worked hard and dyed cloth, and although they had to put in a lot of hard work, they could live a more comfortable life.

But the concubines in the palace were not ordinary people; they could not be placed at will. Etiquette and rules always superseded people, and anyone who wanted to overstep the bounds would pay a heavy price.

This is why, decades later, the fabrics dyed by Ciyun Temple became very famous, but were never officially recognized by the imperial court or the royal family.

Master Jingyuan did not refute Xie Yuyan's words: "Is this how you persuaded the abbot of Baode Temple?"

Xie Yuyan knew that Master Jingyuan was asking about the name "Buddha Charcoal." The master guessed that Buddha Charcoal might not have originated from Baode Temple, but from her own hands.

Even if they both knew the truth, Xie Yuyan wouldn't admit it, so it was even more impossible for others to verify it.

Xie Yuyan deliberately avoided the question, saying, "The abbot of Baode Temple gave me the recipe for Buddhist charcoal, so it is only right that I help the temple mine coal."

Before Abbess Jingyuan could respond, Xie Yuyan continued, "Furthermore, it's not appropriate for the temple to get involved in business matters; it's more appropriate for me to handle them."

“The temple sold the coal mine to me, and I paid the monks to work there. That was treating everyone equally. But if the temple hired laborers to dig coal to sell, that would be oppressing the people.”

“A good deed can be criticized as a bad deed. Most of those who criticize temples are well-off, while those who actually make a living from it are unable to speak out and cannot keep their livelihoods.”

“If legitimate profits cannot be made openly, then private transactions will become more and more rampant. It is precisely because the temples are allowed to make money in secret to support the monks that the temples are tolerated and even if they see it, they turn a blind eye. As a result, the abbots of the temples become bolder and bolder and dare to do any kind of business.”

"This is why the abbot of Baode Temple was willing to give me the secret recipe for Buddhist charcoal. The abbot did not want to sell ordination certificates, nor did he want to conspire with others to exchange temple lands. He only wanted to use charcoal to exchange for money to support the temple."

Master Jingyuan said, "What about the kind people? Selling Buddhist charcoal, helping Baode Temple mine coal, and repairing the temple were all good deeds, but they gave up their good reputation. Don't they feel it's a pity?"

Xie Yuyan said, "I am a merchant. I can do business at Baode Temple because there is profit to be made. It cannot be considered a meritorious deed."

Master Jingyuan twirled her prayer beads: "I have never heard such a teaching from a virtuous person before."

Xie Yuyan smiled slightly: "Business is not easy when it comes to things related to merit."

A hint of a smile appeared in Master Jingyuan's eyes.

Master Jingyuan asked, "In your opinion, how should it be classified if a dyeing workshop is set up within the nunnery?"

Xie Yuyan said, "The rooms in the nunnery used as dye houses should be counted as rent and paid to the nunnery in full every year."

"In addition, 30% of all the profits from the dyehouse also go to Ciyun Nunnery. The nuns who work in the dyehouse will be paid their wages as usual, but this amount is not included in the profits."

Master Jingyuan pondered carefully: "So, we can get this much money just by using some houses?"

“Ciyun Nunnery offers more than just houses,” Xie Yuyan said. “By operating a dyeing workshop within the nunnery, no guilds will come knocking. Even if you do join a guild someday, they won’t ask for too much money. It can also keep out some buying and privately assigned labor. With Ciyun Nunnery’s reputation, the fabrics will sell even better.”

Master Jingyuan looked at Xie Yuyan and said, "Now that you mention it, 30% seems to be too little."

Xie Yuyan said, "The skilled dyers in the nunnery earn at least three hundred coins a day, while others earn between one hundred and fifty and two hundred coins."

Master Jingyuan asked, "Is it the same for nuns?"

Xie Yuyan nodded: "We will also provide one meal a day."

Master Jingyuan remained silent for a long time, and Xie Yuyan was not in a hurry, but simply sipped his tea slowly.

Master Jingyuan said, "The nunnery still needs some rooms to accommodate some women who have nowhere to go."

Xie Yuyan nodded: "I can have the craftsmen come and repair the house tomorrow."

“Once the paperwork is ready, have someone send it to me,” said Abbess Jingyuan. “But let me make it clear beforehand: if the dye shop loses money, Ciyun Nunnery will not be responsible.”

Xie Yuyan replied, "Of course." No further words were needed.

Xie Yuyan got up to take his leave, and Abbess Jingyuan had the novice nuns escort him out of Ciyun Nunnery.

A moment later, Abbess Jingyun entered and sat down: "How was it?"

Master Jingyuan nodded: "It's her."

"Don't you want to take another look?" Jingyun said. "Didn't the master of ceremonies say before that he was worried that someone might take advantage of Cining Palace?"

Master Jingyuan didn't care: "I was fighting for the profit of Ciyun Nunnery, but she agreed to give the money to the hired workers."

That's enough.

That's why she said that their thoughts were the same.

The decision to operate a dye shop wasn't made by Ciyun Nunnery or the merchants, but by the hired workers. She only inquired about the dye shop because she saw the prosperity of the South City Wharf; clearly, Madam Xie understood the situation perfectly well.

Jingyuan continued, "Besides, Cining Palace is right there. It's her skill that she can use it."

They were all from Cining Palace, but she was different from the master of ceremonies and clerks who were guarding Cining Palace to the death. They were trapped there after entering Cining Palace, but she had long since walked out of that high wall.

……

Xie Yuyan boarded the carriage, and Mama Yu whispered, "Are we going to Yunqi Temple?"

Xie Yuyan responded, "Let's go see Master Zhiyuan and Yan Sui."

The carriage was filled with many items, all intended as gifts for the master and his disciple. Today, she was supposed to go to Yunqi Temple to welcome them, but Master Jingyuan sent someone to invite her, so she had to come to Ciyun Nunnery first.

With Master Zhiyuan able to smoothly take over Yunqi Temple, Madam Yu breathed a sigh of relief. Now that her daughter-in-law had a place to go, she no longer had to live in fear.

Lord Wang grew increasingly audacious, even daring to run into carriages on the street. One or two times might be acceptable, but doing such things too often inevitably attracted attention.

Lord Wang is shameless; his wife can't afford to get involved with such things.

Besides... the Wang family mansion... Mama Yu thought it wasn't a good place to go. Before the eldest mistress made a decision, all those things between her and Lord Wang were meaningless. If the eldest mistress said one word in the future, Lord Wang would have to stand obediently outside the door.

The carriage arrived at Yunqi Temple. Mother Yu went to knock on the door, but the young novice monk guarding the entrance said, "The temple is closed today..."

Mother Yu said with a smile, "My wife has come to discuss with the abbot the matter of enshrining the relic box."

Upon hearing about the relic box, the young novice immediately performed a Buddhist salute: "This humble monk will go and inform the abbot."

Xie Yuyan got off the carriage, and before he could see the little novice monk return, he saw a figure running towards him.

Yan Sui's face was full of an uncontrollable smile as he called out from afar, "Madam..." Now he finally understood that they were able to stay in this temple because of Madam Xie.

Madam Xie was the true benefactor to them, master and disciple.

Upon hearing Yan Sui's voice in the temple, Master Zhiyuan instinctively turned to go deeper into the temple.

However, a thought immediately flashed through his mind: "You can run away from the monk, but you can't run away from the temple."

The temple has been prepared for him, where can he go?
I'll post another chapter tonight.