The world of film and television begins with Hikaru no Go

Di Renjie did not go towards the mountain gate. He stood at the alley entrance for a moment, then turned around and circled around the temple wall to the side.

The wall was made of blue bricks, and some old vines climbed on top of it. The vines swayed gently in the morning breeze, turning the light that leaked through the wall into a scattering of tiny spots of light on the ground.

Walk along the wall to the end, and you'll find an inconspicuous side gate.

The door was made of wood, with most of the paint peeling off, revealing the grayish-white wood underneath.

Di Renjie stepped forward and knocked on the door twice.

After a moment, the door was opened from the inside.

A middle-aged monk leaned out, his gray robe faded from washing, the cuffs frayed, and he held a string of prayer beads in his hand.

"What brings you here, benefactor?"

"Please inform the abbot that an old friend from the Eastern Capital has come to visit."

The monk glanced at Judge Di, asked no further questions, and put his palms together, saying, "Please wait a moment, benefactor."

After saying that, he turned and went inside. His footsteps walked along the corridor, getting lighter and lighter until they were finally absorbed by the high walls.

Di Renjie and the others stood outside the side gate. The morning breeze swept through the alley, rustling the leaves of the old vines on the wall.

A few birds fluttered past in the narrow strip of light overhead.

Zhang Rui followed beside him, thinking to himself that the phrase "old friend from the Eastern Capital" was extremely cleverly chosen.

It would not reveal his identity to outsiders, yet it would be enough for Master Yuanzhen to know who had come.

Our acquaintance at the Dali Temple took place in Luoyang, the eastern capital.

The word "故" encapsulates twenty years of friendship.

After a moment, the monk returned, opened the side gate slightly, stepped aside, and put his palms together, saying, "The abbot invites you in, please follow me."

Di Gong followed the monk through the side gate. Behind the gate was a narrow corridor with high walls on both sides. Old vines climbed the tops of the walls, their leaves swaying gently in the morning breeze.

The ground beneath my feet was paved with blue bricks, which were a bit loose. Stepping on them caused them to wobble slightly and make a dull sound.

At the end of the corridor is a moon gate; passing through it leads to a backyard.

Several old locust trees were planted in the courtyard, and a stone table and several stone benches were placed under their shade.

On the stone table sat a teapot and two teacups, with steam rising from the spout.

An old monk sat on a stone bench, refilling his teacup.

He wore a gray monk's robe and an ochre kasaya, his beard and eyebrows were white, but his face was very ruddy.

Hearing footsteps, I put down the teapot and looked up.

The corners of her eyes bear many lines left by time, but her eyebrows and eyes are kind and gentle, and the corners of her mouth are naturally slightly upturned, as if she is smiling even when she is not speaking.

And those eyes, they don't look like those of an older person at all, they're so clear and bright.

"Huaiying".

The old monk stood up, put his hands together in prayer position, and bowed slightly.

Di Gong returned the greeting, but his gesture was even deeper than the other man's.

"master."

"It's been so many years."

"Yes." Di Renjie sat down opposite the old monk. "The last time we met was in Luoyang."

"Back then you had a full head of black hair." Master Yuanzhen picked up the teapot and poured him a cup of tea. The tea poured into the cup with a crisp sound. "Now your hair has turned white."

Zhang Rui, standing beside Di Renjie, heard these words and glanced at Master Yuanzhen's bald head, finding it somewhat amusing.

The master himself was a monk and had long since shaved his head, yet he said that Di Gong "now has white hair," using hair as a reference, as if he still had hair to turn white.

Judge Di picked up his teacup, took a sip, and slowly said, "Master, you're still as witty as ever."

"I only learned about your demotion to Pengze later. I wanted to write to you then, but after picking up my pen and thinking for a long time, I ultimately didn't send it."

"That's all in the past." Di Renjie's gaze fell on the slight ripples of tea in the teacup, lingering for a moment. "Although Pengze is a small place, there aren't many cases, and the people are simple and honest. Every day, we only deal with trivial matters. To be honest, these past few years have been quite peaceful."

The wind rustled through the branches and leaves of the locust tree.

A few withered yellow leaves swirled down, landing on the stone table and around the teacup.

"Did you come to the temple today because His Majesty will be offering incense tomorrow?"

"Indeed." Di Renjie put down his teacup. "It is inconvenient for me to make a public appearance upon returning to the capital. If I were to submit a memorial through official channels, I fear my whereabouts would be known before His Majesty even arrives. Therefore, I would like to ask you to do me a favor. Tomorrow, His Majesty will be making an offering at the temple. Could you arrange a place for me to meet with His Majesty first?"

Master Yuanzhen pondered for a moment: "I know His Majesty's route for offering incense tomorrow. He will first offer incense in the main hall, and then have a meal in the east wing hall. There is a small meditation room behind the east wing hall, which I use myself and is not open to outsiders. Come to the temple early tomorrow morning, and I will arrange for you to wait in that meditation room. I will find an opportunity to have a private audience with you."

Judge Di nodded, then asked, "How many people will be around the East Annex Hall tomorrow?"

"Inside the hall are naturally the guards of the Thousand Bull Guards, while the corridors on both sides outside the hall are where eunuchs and palace servants rest. The back door leads to the back courtyard, where my meditation room is located at the far end. It's just a few steps from the back door, and usually only I and a few close disciples come and go. When the time comes, I'll send my disciples away, and no one will notice."

Judge Di listened attentively, mentally retracing the route as he listened: enter through the side gate of the back courtyard, pass through the moon gate into the back courtyard, follow the corridor to the back gate, and enter the east side hall from the back gate.

The entire process does not require passing through the square in front of the main hall, nor does it require going through any door that would attract the attention of worshippers or guards.

The distance from the back door of the East Annex Hall to the meditation room is only a few steps, allowing one to enter for an audience or leave quietly.

"In addition, all pilgrims who come to offer incense at the temple tomorrow will be barred from entering the mountain gate," Master Yuanzhen added. "Although there are many imperial guards and imperial guards in the temple, they are mostly stationed in the square in front of the main hall and around the mountain gate, while the backyard is relatively quiet."

"Very well." Di Renjie gently placed the teacup on the stone table, looked at Master Yuanzhen, and said, "Master, I am deeply grateful for your help this time."

Master Yuanzhen also looked at him, his gaze lingering for a moment on the face that looked much older than he remembered, and then he suddenly sighed softly.

"Huaiying, there's no need for these words between us. However, there is something I wish to say, though I'm unsure whether I should."

"Speaking."

"When you meet His Majesty tomorrow, he will most likely let you investigate freely. But whether the results are what His Majesty wants is another matter. You may not know the situation in the capital after all these years in Pengze. The court is not what it used to be. Various forces are deeply entrenched, and someone is watching every step of the way. Behind every case, there may be people who cannot be touched. You must be aware of this."

"I understand. When I set off from Pengze, I knew this case would be difficult to investigate, and I also knew that there would be difficult times in the end. But no matter how difficult it is, someone has to do it."