Early the next morning, Wang Xian, accompanied by Xianyun and others, came to Qingshou Temple at the foot of the Imperial City.
There are many temples in the capital, but only this Qingshou Temple was built among the residences of princes and nobles. Because its predecessor was the residence given to Jingnan’s number one hero by the emperor, but it was converted into a temple by Yao Guangxiao, and then he appointed himself
Host, just live in it.
It is said that he used to wear court clothes during the day and go to court during the day, and then change into monk's clothes for meditation. However, in the past two years, the emperor thought that he was old and exempted him from the daily court. He would only be summoned to the palace for important events.
Therefore, most of the time, this most extraordinary person in the Ming Dynasty sat in the monastery practicing meditation, no different from ordinary old monks.
Therefore, Wang Xian went straight to the mountain gate of the temple without making an appointment. When he went in, he saw that the three great Buddhas of the Three Worlds were enshrined in the temple. On the left side of the mountain gate was the Tibetan Sutra Hall, and on the right was the Zhuanlun Hall. In the middle, he passed the Pilu Hall and the Ordinary Temple.
There is not much difference. If we want to talk about the difference, it is that the incense in the temple is really worthwhile. Wang Xian has read the almanac and found that today is a good day to offer incense and worship Buddha. Temples elsewhere are probably full of good men and women. In this Qingshou Temple,
But it was deserted, with almost no pilgrims in sight.
"Are some of the donors here to offer incense? We are really in the right place." When the monk Zhike saw Wang Xian and the others, he showed a look of surprise and hurriedly stepped forward to greet them and said: "The Buddha in this temple is still alive, don't worry.
It can be used to pray for blessings and eliminate disasters, for marriage and children, for promotion and wealth, and it can all be done."
Wang Xian was so sweaty that he felt as if he had entered a black shop. He smiled hurriedly and said: "Little master, we are here to worship Buddha. How much does it cost to pay for a stick of incense?"
"It's not money, it's not money." The monk Zhike accompanied him and said with a smile: "I don't care about your vegetarian diet. The vegetarian food in our temple is excellent. Even the emperor praised it."
"Uh..." Wang Xian didn't believe it. If it was really so good, Qingshou Temple would have been crowded with people. How could no one come?
However, he came to ask for help, and he accepted the offer, and first offered incense to the three great masters of the Third Buddha. Two young novices stood beside the bill and rang bells for him while offering incense. Wang Xianxin said
, this will definitely require payment.
After they got up, the monk Zhike led them to the back to have a fast meal.
Several bowls of hot noodles were served. Xianyun and Wu Wei were secretly alert. The latter took a bite first. Under everyone's nervous gaze, Wu Wei smacked his lips and said: "It's really delicious." Although his medical skills
Not as good as his father, but he can still taste whether there is poison in the noodles.
"Of course," Zhike Monk said proudly, "The young monk said that the emperor was full of praise after he tasted it."
Everyone ate the noodles with confidence, and when they tasted it, it was indeed delicious. They were just trying to cope with it, but now they all ate without even the soup left. Lingxiao was still not satisfied, so he wiped his mouth and said loudly: "Xiao Er, have another bowl."
"Okay." Zhi Keseng, who had probably passed by the waiter before, actually responded in a joking manner.
Wang Xian was so sweaty that he hurriedly stopped Zhike Monk and said, "Ignore her, she has big eyes and a small belly." He took out a piece of gold leaf and handed it to Zhike Monk without any trace, saying, "Thank you, Master, for the vegetarian meal."
"I said I don't want any money." Zhike Monk handed it back to him with some regret and said, "I don't dare to break the rules."
It seemed that there was really no need for money, so Wang Xian was puzzled. Why didn't anyone come to offer incense and worship Buddha? But now was not the time to be curious, so he asked: "I wonder if the abbot is here today?"
"Of course the abbot is here." Hearing him ask the abbot, the smile on the Zhike monk's face faded and he said, "But there are no outsiders."
"I have this, so I don't count as a foreigner, right?" Wang Xian showed the Bodhi rosary.
The monk who knew the guest was stunned for a moment, then nodded and said, "The donor will wait here for a moment. The young monk will go and report to the abbot."
After a while, the monk Zhike came back and said, "The abbot has invited this young master."
Wang Xian and others stood up, but the others were stopped by Zhi Ke Monk, who said: "Everyone, stay here. The abbot only invites this young master to come over. You might as well stay here and eat noodles." The humility at the beginning was no longer there, and it became
The arrogance of looking down at all living beings.
"You..." Lingxiao raised his eyebrows, but Wang Xian comforted him and said, "Don't worry, this is Master Daoyan's dojo, the safest place in the world."
Only then did the Zhike monk show a smile that suggested he knew the goods.
Wang Xian left his brothers in the dining room and followed Zhike Monk to the Zen room in the backyard.
The Zen room was very empty and spotless. At the signal of Zhike Monk, Wang Xian took off his shoes and went into the inner room alone.
Then I saw an old monk sitting on an old futon wearing gray monk robes and a white beard. I saw that he had a thin cheek, a hooked nose, and a pair of triangular eyes. Although his eyelids were slightly drooped and his expression was restrained, he still
It has nothing to do with kindness.
"Young man Wang Xian pays homage to Master Dao Yan." Without any introduction, Wang Xian was sure that this must be Yao Guangxiao, and he hurriedly bowed deeply.
"Sit." Yao Guangxiao also looked at him, his voice was old but not hoarse.
Wang Xian knelt down and sat on the futon opposite Yao Guangxiao. Although ancient people used to sit like this before the Song Dynasty, Wang Xian lived in the Ming Dynasty after all and had always sat on a chair. Now he was really not used to sitting on his knees.
"rosary." Yao Guangxiao said again, this time with an extra word.
Wang Xian hurriedly held up the Bodhi rosary with both hands. Yao Guangxiao glanced at it but did not pick it up, "Did that kid ask you to come?"
"No." Wang Xian shook his head and said, "The big man gave me this string of Buddhist beads. He said that if you encounter big problems in the capital, you can come to Qingshou Temple for help."
"He really thinks highly of me." Yao Guangxiao said with a cold smile: "A mere monk can help you chant sutras and achieve salvation. If you want to catch ghosts and tell fortunes, you have to turn right when you go out and look for them in Xianyun Temple."
"Master is joking." Wang Xian said with a smile: "Didn't you say that this temple will respond to all requests?"
"If the Buddha really responded to requests, he would have let the incense in this temple bloom long ago." Yao Guangxiao said coldly.
"They asked for it." Wang Xian still smiled lightly and said: "Qingshou Temple is the Buddha's dojo. They worship the old master in their hearts, so the Buddha will naturally ignore it."
"..." Yao Guangxiao glanced at him and said, "Aren't you the same?"
"It's different." Wang Xian shook his head and said, "I came to worship the old monk, and I worship the old monk in my heart."
"Haha" Yao Guangxiao sneered: "I didn't expect you to be able to practice meditation at such a young age."
"Young man doesn't understand what Zen means," Wang Xian said with a smile, "I'm just saying what I have to say." He bowed deeply and said, "Young man is really in great difficulty. Please help me, master."
"..." The smile on Yao Guangxiao's face faded, and he said slowly: "With this string of Buddhist beads in hand, Jin Yiwei will not dare to embarrass you."
"But the villain does not deserve it for himself." Wang Xian said in a low voice.
Yao Guangxiao was not surprised. He lowered his eyebrows and said, "So you are here for Zhou Xin?"
"Yes." Wang Xian kowtowed heavily to Yao Guangxiao and said, "I sincerely ask the old monk to save Zhou Zhitai. He is a good official who serves the people wholeheartedly." Wang Xian kowtowed many times, but this time he was sincere.
"I am neither a Buddha nor a Bodhisattva..." Yao Guangxiao said slowly.
"But you are the only person in the Ming Dynasty who can persuade the emperor." Wang Xian kowtowed heavily and said in a deep voice: "We, Zhou Zhitai, are not afraid of power and ask for orders for the people. Now we have committed a crime and been sent to prison. We are in danger. Old
The monk has done many good deeds over the years. He must know that saving one of us in Taiwan can save a whole province of people. This merit is so great that it is simply unparalleled."
"Haha..." Yao Guangxiao was amused by him, "What a sharp-tongued boy. How big of a sin would it be if I didn't save Zhou Xin's feelings?
"That's not what I meant..." Wang Xian apologized and said with a smile, "But if Zhou Jiantai dies, the fate of the people of Zhejiang will definitely be even more miserable. The old monk will definitely not be able to bear it."
"If I had compassion, I wouldn't be Yao Guangxiao," but Yao Guangxiao sneered: "Zhou Xin violated the law and deserved his death. As for the people of Zhejiang, they may not be as miserable as you said... The Jin Yiwei only focused on the officials and gentry.
Rich businessmen have no time to care about ordinary people."
"What the old monk said is too absolute. A fire at the city gate will definitely affect the fish in the pond. What's more, the officials, businessmen, wealthy gentry are also common people." Wang Xian shook his head and said: "The old monk could intercede for Fang Xiaoru, why can't he intercede for Zhou Zhitai today?"
Hearing Wang Xian mention Fang Xiaoru, Yao Guangxiao's eyes dimmed. It was the eternal pain in his heart. But the old monk didn't show it at all. He just said lightly: "Can Zhou Xin compare with Fang Xiaoru?"
"I don't know if Fang Xiaoru is the seed of a scholar. But we, Zhou Zhitai, are undoubtedly the conscience of the Ming Dynasty." Wang Xian said loudly: "If the emperor kills Zhou Zhitai, he will regret it in the future. Once this case is completed, the Ming Dynasty will
It will be shrouded in spy politics, and no officials will dare to compete with the Jin Yiwei anymore."
"It's alarmist. Even after Fang Xiaoru died, there are still many scholars." Yao Guangxiao chuckled and said, "Don't imitate me in those days when I was so arrogant."
"It's different," Wang Xian said loudly: "Emperors in the Han, Tang and Song Dynasties were all controlled by censors, but this dynasty relied on special agents. Although the imperial guards are more convenient than the censors, they have been used for a long time. Where can we put the national law?
The authority of the current emperor is boundless, so he is naturally not afraid of the royal guards making trouble, but there is no guarantee that the successor will not lose his power. At that time, everyone will be in danger, and the emperor and his ministers will be alienated. If something happens to the country, how can we ensure the loyalty of the subjects? "
"..." At first, Yao Guangxiao only regarded Wang Xian as a smart guy and didn't take it seriously. But after hearing his bold words, he couldn't help but re-examine this young man: "You are not learning from Cheng Zhu."
.”
"Although I am a scholar, my knowledge is mediocre." Wang Xian confessed, "I dare not call myself a disciple of a saint."
"Zhu Xi is nothing but a saint," Yao Guangxiao snorted disdainfully, as if he was not interested in Zhu Xi. He then asked, "How is your training?
"It's Wei Wenyuan, Bachelor of Science of the Hanlin Academy." In fact, Wei Yuan was also in the capital, but after Wang Xian came to the capital, he began to petition everywhere. At this time, it was naturally difficult to implicate Teacher Wei, so he never went to visit him.
"How could a nerd like Wei Yuan teach a student like you?" Yao Guangxiao shook his head in disbelief.