The splendor of the Red Chamber, the power that reigns supreme.

Chapter 122 [Hearing the Mountain's Words] Congratulations to the Alliance Leader! Extra Chapter!
Wang Xifeng leaned back heavily, the cold, hard sandalwood pillow pressing against her plump, delicate body. She closed her eyes, but it felt as if icicles were scraping beneath her eyelids, causing a sharp pain. The deep weariness on her face looked like a thick layer of lead powder.

"A mirror? Ha!" she sighed inwardly. "A mirror can reflect a vat full of rice weevils and a huge rat digging a hole, but can it reflect the hands of those two Buddhas above?"

Suddenly, Qin Keqing's pale, almost transparent face flashed before my eyes again, along with the words she had uttered as she leaned against the pillow, her breath faint: "...Sister-in-law...no matter how shrewd your schemes...you can't defy the tide of events..." At the time, I thought she was just talking nonsense in her illness, but now, thinking about it carefully, every word felt like a red-hot iron, burning my heart!

“Ke’er…” Wang Xifeng’s lips moved silently. That girl… that girl was the true “mirror” of this mansion! Her own mirror reflected petty scheming, meticulous calculations, and the fierce struggle for every inch of ground amidst the clash of swords. Ke’er’s mirror, however, reflected the rotten, hollow marrow beneath this overwhelming wealth!
In this mansion, she was the cleanest, the kindest-hearted, yet also the most... pitiful!
Her body was more fragile than a paper lantern, wrapped in a thin layer of skin; inside, she was probably already empty… Simmering in the medicine pot, burning like lamp oil… how much longer could she… hold on? Her name, Qin Keqing, was probably already on the King of Hell's list of souls, the ink almost completely dried by now!

As Sister Feng leaned against her pillow, lost in thought, she felt a throbbing pain in her temples, as if they were being drilled by awls. Her headache, like a persistent carbuncle, was becoming increasingly severe. At that moment, the carriage jolted along, and the rumbling of the wheels over the stone pavement seemed to strike her head with each beat.

"It really hurts like hell!" she cursed inwardly.

"Ping'er!" Wang Xifeng called out, her voice slightly hoarse and irritable, as she suppressed her discomfort.

Ping'er was sitting on a small stool by the carriage door, sorting through a ball of silk thread in her hand. Hearing the call, she quickly replied, "Grandma, I'm here."

Looking up at Feng Jie's face, I saw that her brows were furrowed and her lips were pale, so I knew that her headache had flared up again, and I was worried for her.

"My head... it hurts so much, it feels like it's going to explode." Sister Feng gasped for breath and pointed to the deepening twilight outside the carriage window. "We definitely can't travel any further today. Listen, tell Lai Da to drive the carriage to Qinghe County ahead. I remember there's a Guanyin Temple in that county, and the incense is quite clean. Let's make do there for the night."

"Tomorrow morning... I'll go see that divine physician to treat my headache, see if it's convenient for him to come into the mansion to examine others, and also settle some accounts while I'm at it."

"Yes!" she said, lifting a corner of the carriage curtain and leaning out to call out to the horse-riding steward, Lai:

"Steward Lai! Grandma has ordered us to turn the horse around. We're not going to the previous station. We'll change course immediately and head to Guanyin Temple in Qinghe County for the night! Let's hurry and not delay!"

The steward, Lai, responded from his horse and hurried to the front of the convoy to give the order.

Now, when Qin Keqing's carriage arrived in front of the Guanyin Temple in Qinghe County, the sun was already setting in the west, casting a golden-red glow on the newly built gable wall of the temple.

The Guanyin Temple was quite impressive, with a main hall, connecting corridors, and numerous buildings, its Buddhist radiance no less than that of the most popular nunneries in the capital.

The mountain gate was neither new nor old, with scaffolding still erected on both sides, and piles of blue bricks, gray tiles, wood shavings, and sawdust on the ground. Several craftsmen were packing up their tools to finish work. The air was filled with the mixed smells of lime, wood, and incense, clearly indicating that a large-scale construction project was underway, involving expansion and renovation.

The carriage curtain was slightly lifted, and Ruizhu and Baozhu got out first, carefully helping Qin Keqing out.

Keqing, holding Baozhu's hand, moved with light steps, glancing up slightly at the bustling nunnery.

A sharp-eyed young woman spotted the impressive carriage and dashed inside to deliver the message. In no time at all, a nun emerged from the temple gate. She appeared to be around forty years old, with a round, plump face and fair, smooth skin.

He wore a brand-new, fine, dark gray robe, starched until stiff and crisp, without a single wrinkle, and his matching monk's cap was also worn neatly. As he walked, his waist swayed slightly, giving him the air of someone in charge of a household.

This is the abbot of this temple, whose Dharma name is Jingxu.

Master Jingxu's face was already beaming like Maitreya Buddha. She rushed forward, her hands clasped together, and chanted "Amitabha" loudly and clearly, radiating utmost enthusiasm.

"Oh dear! I wonder which celestial being or living bodhisattva has descended to grace this humble nunnery with their presence! This poor nun, Jingxu, has failed to greet you properly; my apologies! My apologies!"

She chanted Buddhist prayers, but her eyes darted around quickly, scanning the guest's headdress, clothes, and footwear, as well as the style of the carriage and the demeanor of the entourage. In an instant, she had already estimated nine-tenths of the guest's wealth and status. Her smile instantly became even more slick and obsequious, as if she wanted to lift Qin Keqing onto a lotus throne.

Qin Keqing, supported by her maid, nodded slightly, returning the half-bow shyly, her voice soft and sweet like a freshly peeled lotus seed, carrying a hint of afternoon languor.

"Master, you are too kind. My surname is Qin, and I am from the capital. I am passing by your temple and, seeing that it is getting late, I would like to borrow a quiet place in your temple to rest for the night. I wonder if this would be of any use to you?"

"Convenient! Convenient! A thousand times convenient!" Abbess Jingxu responded quickly and crisply, as if afraid that the distinguished guest might change her mind. "Convenient! Convenient! It is truly an honor for our humble abode to have such a distinguished guest as Grandma Qin at our door. It brings great glory to our place! Even Buddha is pleased!"

She turned sideways, bending her waist just right, and led the way: "Please come inside and have some tea to rest, Grandma. It's all messy outside, full of rough craftsmen. Don't offend Grandma."

The group walked through the still-under-construction front yard and around the piles of materials. Jingxu carefully led the way while apologizing, "Grandma, please forgive us. The nunnery is currently expanding with the construction of several meditation rooms and a scripture pavilion, so it's quite messy. Please forgive any inconvenience caused."

Supported by Baozhu and Ruizhu on either side, Qin Keqing moved with light steps, the tinkling of her jade pendants on her skirt like shattered jade falling onto a plate.

Her eyes swept over the newly built houses, and she noticed that the beams and pillars were so thick that they could be embraced by a person, and the flowers and birds carved on the doors and windows were exquisite and lifelike, which was definitely not the work of an ordinary small temple. Her heart stirred slightly, and she casually asked, "The nunnery here is built so neatly and impressively. It must be because the incense is thriving and the Bodhisattva is efficacious."

Upon hearing this, Abbess Jingxu's round face immediately broke into a wide smile, like a yellow chrysanthemum blooming in autumn.

"This Guanyin Temple was originally an ancient temple!" She leaned closer, lowered her voice, but couldn't hide the obsequiousness in her tone, almost spitting out words of praise:
"Amitabha! Thanks to the Bodhisattva's great blessings, and also thanks to the generous support of all the kind-hearted men, women and ladies from all directions! ... Speaking of which, the fact that our little nunnery has such a small aura of Buddhist light today is truly thanks to a great benefactor who is like a living Bodhisattva—Master Ximen!"

"Master Ximen?" Qin Keqing paused slightly, tilting her head to reveal a perfectly timed look of surprise. "Is it Master Ximen, who owns such a large herbal medicine shop?"

"Oh my! Indeed! Grandma actually knows Master Ximen?" Master Jingxu was overjoyed, wondering if he was an acquaintance of her patron. Her waist slumped even further, and she began to ramble on, wishing she could praise Ximen Qing to the skies:

"This Mr. Ximen is the number one God of Wealth in Qinghe County! He is extremely compassionate and charitable, and his sincerity in worshipping Buddha shines brighter than the ever-burning lamp in the temple! When he saw that the temple was dilapidated, the golden statue of the Bodhisattva was covered in dust and faded, and there was not even enough oil to offer a good lamp in front of the Bodhisattva, he immediately took pity on him and made a great vow to donate funds to rebuild it and recast the golden statue of the Bodhisattva!"

"Look at these newly built meditation rooms, scripture pavilions, and the murals being painted in the Great Compassion Hall behind them. All the bricks, tiles, wood, stones, craftsmen's wages, and gilding of Buddha statues are all thanks to the generous donations of Master Ximen! He has truly accumulated immeasurable merit, and the Bodhisattva will surely bless him with long life and many descendants!"

Jingxu spoke with great enthusiasm, his admiration and respect for "Master Ximen" almost overflowing.

Qin Keqing thought to herself, "I knew he was a divine physician with superb skills and a kind heart, but I didn't expect him to also have such a benevolent and charitable heart."

Master Jingxu led Qin Keqing and her two servants through the still-clanging front yard, past piles of timber and bricks, and onto a narrow bluestone path. At the end of the path was a small, secluded courtyard, with several meditation rooms nestled beneath gnarled old plum trees. Although the white walls and blue tiles were clearly newly painted, it was much quieter and more elegant than the previous courtyard. Moss covered the courtyard, and several stalks of green bamboo leaned against the wall, giving it a serene and otherworldly feel.

Just as Qin Keqing was about to take a step, she suddenly saw the curtain of one of the meditation rooms lifted slightly, and a person walked out. The moment this person appeared, it seemed as if even the slightly chilly evening air froze.

Her neck was fair and slender, like a piece of fine mutton-fat jade. Her monk's robe was loose, but it could not conceal her willow-like waist, which was supple and boneless, swaying gracefully as she walked.

Although her chest was covered by the plain monk's robe and vest, it still slightly bulged out with a soft curve, revealing an untamed vitality that was incongruous with the tranquility of this Buddhist place, yet was captivating.

His face was exquisitely beautiful, especially his eyes, which were clear and cold, like a mountain stream. His gaze swept over everything with a detached scrutiny.

Holding a small, polychrome covered bell from the Chenghua kiln, she was followed by a pretty young maid and an elderly woman with gray hair, dressed neatly and respectably. The maid carried a lacquered tray with a simple, antique-style purple clay teapot on it, while the elderly woman carried a small red clay stove.

Qin Keqing was secretly astonished: What a stunningly beautiful nun! Her entire demeanor exuded an air of nobility that even surpassed that of pampered young ladies from noble families. What was even more peculiar was that, as a nun, she kept her hair intact and was attended by maids and servants. Clearly, she was a wealthy young lady who had established her own private boudoir within the nunnery.

Upon seeing this person, Abbess Jingxu's smile instantly became more cautious and ingratiating. She quickly stepped forward, put her palms together, and said, "Amitabha! Have I disturbed Master Miaoyu's meditation? A distinguished guest has come to our nunnery today. She is Madam Qin from the capital and wishes to stay here for the night. This humble nun is leading Madam Qin to this quiet meditation room to settle in."

Upon hearing this, Miaoyu didn't even lift her eyelids. She merely cast her gaze indifferently at a white plum tree in the corner of the courtyard, its buds about to bloom. Her voice was clear and melodious, like the striking of jade chimes, neither hurried nor slow:
"Oh? There's construction going on up ahead, the sound of axes and chisels is deafening. This humble nun thought the Guanyin Temple was going to be converted into a carpentry workshop. I thought this bustling city noise would only disturb the tranquility of my little meditation cushion, but I didn't expect that a 'distinguished guest' would condescend to come to this noisy place to seek some 'peace'?"

She paused slightly on the word "distinguished guest," her tone carrying a subtle hint of sarcasm.

Master Jingxu's smile remained unchanged: "Master is joking, joking... It's all for the sake of the Bodhisattva's golden body, so that believers from all directions can have a good place to go. The Bodhisattva won't blame us for the noise for a while. Please forgive us, Master and Grandma Qin."

Miaoyu slowly turned her face, her gaze sweeping over Qin Keqing only briefly, like a gentle breeze across the water, before returning to the teacup in her hand, as if the colorful painting on the teacup was more worthy of appreciation than the vibrant beauty before her.

She parted her lips slightly, her tone calm and even: "Purity lies in the heart, not in the environment. Since the nun feels that the expansion is a meritorious deed, this humble nun has nothing to say. It's just that this meritorious deed is done with great fanfare, as if afraid that people won't know about it, which makes it seem less 'pure'."

She paused, her fingertips tracing the rim of the cup. "This cup of 'Laojunmei' tea that I brewed was made with snow water from last year's plum blossoms. It cannot be tainted by the slightest trace of worldly dust or the stench of money. If you have nothing else to say, Abbess, I will take my leave, lest this tea... also be tainted by its impurities!"

Having said that, without waiting for Master Jingxu's response, she gave a very indifferent nod in the direction of Qin Keqing, which was considered to be fulfilling her duty. Then, with her maids and nannies, she turned around and gracefully entered her meditation room. The door closed gently, separating the inside from the outside.

Qin Keqing witnessed this scene and was even more astonished. Miaoyu's words were laced with veiled sarcasm towards Jingxu, each sentence barbed yet delivered with elegance and subtlety. Even more astonishing was that a nun would be so particular about her tea, insisting on using snow water from plum blossoms, and having dedicated maids and servants to attend to her. Such extravagance was something even she, a daughter-in-law of the Duke's mansion, would find rare.

Despite being rebuffed, Abbess Jingxu was not angry. She smiled and walked back to Qin Keqing's side, saying in a low voice, "Grandma, please don't be offended. This Master Miaoyu... sigh, her temper is a bit eccentric."

Qin Keqing gazed at the tightly closed door, her apricot-shaped eyes filled with curiosity, and asked softly, "This Master Miaoyu... seems quite extraordinary. I wonder what her background is? Why is she here cultivating with her maids and servants?"

Master Jingxu leaned closer, lowered her voice, and said with a hint of mystery, "Grandma has a good eye! This Master Miaoyu is originally from Suzhou and is a young lady from an official family! I heard that her ancestors were officials, and her family was quite wealthy... Well, she used to practice Buddhism at Xuanmu Panxiang Temple in Suzhou. She is proficient in Buddhism and also very literate."

"Later, somehow, she ended up staying at our Guanyin Temple. You see? She doesn't shave her head; she says she practices with her hair intact. So she's not officially a nun, and her rules are naturally different from ours."

"The two beside her, one is the maid who has served her since childhood, and the other is her wet nurse. They share a deep bond, so they can't bear to be separated and have always stayed by her side. But..." Master Jingxu pursed her lips, her voice even lower:

"She's rather aloof and pure-hearted; ordinary people don't catch her eye, and her words are often sharp and witty, which often leaves this clumsy nun speechless. Since you're of such high status, just treat her as a stranger staying here and don't take her seriously."

Upon hearing this, Qin Keqing understood. So she was a young lady from an official family, practicing Buddhism while still keeping her hair. No wonder she had such an air of superiority and was so aloof. Gazing at the tightly closed Zen door, she recalled Miaoyu's icy gaze and witty, sarcastic words, and a thoughtful smile appeared on her lips.

She held Baozhu's hand and said, "Your Highness is truly well-mannered. This Master Miaoyu's words... are quite sharp, yet you remained neither angry nor resentful, which has broadened my horizons."

Upon hearing this, Abbess Jingxu continued to smile ingratiatingly.
"Amitabha Buddha, Grandma, you flatter me. What is cultivation, and what is nurturing?"

"The wildflowers in the mountains need rain and dew to nourish them; the caged birds need millet to feed them; even the clay and wooden statues of Buddhas in temples need incense offerings from people! This is what it means to be nourished!"

What is cultivation?

"If no one adds oil to the lamps before the Buddha, they will go out in no time; if no one repairs the tiles on the roof of the temple every year, they will eventually leak! This is what repair is!"

"This cultivation, this cultivation, all depends on money. The more money she gives, the better this nun's cultivation will be. No matter if she speaks of knives or lotus flowers to this nun, as long as that yellow and white stuff flows to the Bodhisattva's seat, to this nun it is the true sound of Buddha, is great merit! It is a small matter if my cultivation is delayed, but it is a big matter if the cultivation of the Bodhisattva's golden body is delayed!"

Qin Keqing nodded after hearing this, her eyes sparkling, and said softly, "Today is the anniversary of my mother's death. As her daughter, I was thinking of offering incense and chanting sutras for her tonight, and tomorrow I would like to set up a few tables of vegetarian food at your nunnery, and ask the nun to lead all the monks in performing a Buddhist ceremony for my mother, to show my filial piety. I wonder if it would be convenient for you here, nun?"

"Convenient! Convenient! A thousand times more convenient!" Before Qin Keqing could finish speaking, Abbess Jingxu clasped her hands together in prayer:
“Amitabha! Grandmother is truly filial to Heaven! If your mother knew this in the afterlife, she would surely be pleased and smiling! This humble nun will make the arrangements immediately! Tomorrow's vegetarian offering will definitely use the freshest seasonal vegetables and fruits, and the finest sesame oil, rice and noodles!”

"Everyone in the nunnery, from the poorest nuns to the youngest novices, will bathe and burn incense to ensure this ritual is performed properly and perfectly! We guarantee that the old lady will ascend to the Pure Land soon and attain a higher lotus rank! We also bless you, Grandma, with good health, longevity, and lasting wealth!"

"This humble nun will go prepare right away! Right away! I guarantee I won't be late for tomorrow's auspicious time! Grandmother, please rest first, this humble nun will take her leave!"

At this moment, inside the flower hall of the Ximen Mansion.

The official was holding several thick charcoal sticks in his hand, his face full of anger, and he told Dai'an to make them thinner, because how could he use such thick ones?

But it was Pan Jinlian who entered, carrying a steaming cup of fine porcelain tea in the celadon hue of "after the rain," swaying her willow-like waist like a water snake. Today she wore a brand-new peach-red Hangzhou silk jacket with a slightly open collar, revealing a section of her snow-white neck. As she walked, her golden lotus feet were faintly visible beneath her skirt, each step like a lotus blossom.

Her face was flushed with happiness, and her eyes sparkled like two pools of spring water about to overflow. When she reached Ximen Qing, she was taken aback to see him frowning and deep in thought as he stared at a few round, black charcoal pieces.

She gently placed the teacup on the small table inlaid with mother-of-pearl beside her, and then softly leaned closer, sending a warm, sweet fragrance straight into Ximen Qing's nose.

(End of this chapter)