In late autumn, the weather is getting cooler, and all the maids and servants in the Chu Mansion have put on more clothes.
As the master, Chu Feng naturally would not treat them poorly, and asked the housekeeper Lao Zheng to specially distribute a subsidy to each person. For this reason, his reputation among his servants instantly soared a lot.
In the early morning, when the sky was just getting bright, Xiaocui brought a basin of hot water into the room. In front of her eyes, she saw the young master sitting cross-legged on the futon, meditating with his eyes closed.
"Um?"
Chu Feng opened his eyes, with a hint of surprise in his eyes. As a personal maid, Xiaocui was naturally allowed to enter his room. However, it was also at a specific time, and it had never been so early as today.
"Young Master is awake." Xiao Cui looked happy, as if she saw the confusion in the other person's eyes, and said with a smile,
"Guess what day it is today?"
"Today?" Chu Feng was stunned and didn't think of it for a while, but at this moment, he suddenly noticed a pink chrysanthemum stuck in the bun on Xiao Cui's head.
"It turns out that the Double Ninth Festival is here."
He reacted instantly and replied with a smile.
"Hehe, I know I can't hide it from the young master for too long." Xiaocui put down the copper basin and continued,
"There were many chrysanthemums blooming in the back garden. All the sisters in the house and even the servants came to see them. I also picked one."
"Yes, it looks beautiful on it."
"Thank you for the compliment, sir."
Xiaocui suddenly smiled, feeling as if she had eaten honey.
"Are you going out today?"
"Why do you ask?" He washed his face and took the handkerchief handed to him.
"Today is the Double Ninth Festival, and the whole Bianliang City is so lively." As if thinking of the grand occasion outside, Xiaocui couldn't help but reveal a trace of yearning in her expression.
"Then tell me, what exciting and interesting things are there?"
"The main thing is to go out for fun, travel with family or friends, climb high, look into the distance, and appreciate the autumn chrysanthemums." After a pause, he continued,
"Moreover, every shop outside today will be carefully prepared and grandly decorated. Even those selling food will introduce various delicacies to welcome the Double Ninth Festival."
"That was really lively." Chu Feng nodded,
"Later, go talk to Butler Zheng and take out some snacks from the ice room and give some to everyone in the house. Think of it as a holiday gift."
"Thank you, sir."
Xiaocui bowed down happily again, and then hurried out carrying the copper basin. She wanted to convey the news as soon as possible to make all the sisters happy.
Time passed quickly, and it was already morning.
Chu Feng has been staying in the mansion and has no plans to go out for an outing. Of course, besides this, he is also thinking about another thing, a task entrusted to Yun Huan'er.
"A few days have passed. With Yun Huan'er's influence, the matter should have begun to ferment, right?"
Just as I was thinking about it, news suddenly came from the front yard that a guest was visiting.
"Brother Chu, come and see, who have I brought here?" Liu Shen laughed loudly at the entrance of the hall. Behind him, two unfamiliar faces were standing.
Chu Feng's mind quickly turned around and he quickly recognized one of them. However, the remaining one, a scholar with a slender figure and a somewhat delicate appearance, had no memory at all.
"Huh?"
Chu Feng was stunned for only a moment, and immediately realized that this was not a scholar, she was clearly a young girl dressed as a boy. No wonder she was quiet and slightly shy after entering.
"Brother Wen Yang, why don't you introduce me?"
"Haha, I know I can't hide it from Brother Chu's eyes." The person who spoke was naturally another man. He was handsome and elegant, much better than Liu Shen. This man was also his classmate, and he had been in the same school together.
Studied in the academy.
"Brother Chu, please forgive me, this one is my roommate, nicknamed Ruolan. She is spoiled by her family, so she has a rather lawless temper. I heard that she was going on a trip, so I had to come with her."
"Lawless, it doesn't look like anything at all." Chu Feng glanced at the girl who lowered her eyebrows and said nothing. He couldn't help but feel speechless. He really made a mistake. After a pause, he suddenly asked,
"Wen Yang said what's going on with the trip?"
"Brother Chu, aren't you stupid because of your studies? Today is the Double Ninth Festival. It's a good time to climb high, look into the distance, and enjoy chrysanthemums. How can you stay in the house?" Liu Shen spoke first,
"We have made an appointment before to travel together today, and it will be you, Brother Chu."
"Yes, not only us, but also Yuan Li, Xing Chen and others have all gathered together, waiting for your arrival, Brother Chu."
The people mentioned by the two of them were all classmates and friends who came from Hangzhou together, and Chu Feng naturally recognized them. In this case, it was difficult to evade them.
"That's alright, you two worthy brothers, just wait a moment, I'll go and explain, and we'll set off together later."
…
The streets were bustling with people and tourists, and there was an atmosphere of joy everywhere. The vehicles of several people were unable to move on the road. As a last resort, the four people abandoned the carriages and walked hand in hand in a certain direction.
.
"Where are Yuan Li and the others waiting?"
"Today there is a Lions Club at Kaibao Temple, and they are all waiting there. Later we will go all the way north to visit Cangwang Temple..."
Liu Shen briefly introduced today's process. Chu Feng nodded and didn't say much. He just kept observing the lively crowd nearby.
As the only girl, Lu Ruolan was naturally protected by the three people in the center. At this time, she seemed to be unable to contain the excitement in her heart, and she faintly regained some of her true nature. A pair of crystal eyes glanced back and forth in the nearby streets.
However, when his eyes inadvertently came into contact with Chu Feng, he immediately avoided it as if he was electrocuted, with a slight blush on his cheeks.
Chu Feng noticed something strange about the other party and immediately smiled. There was something different about this little girl's shyness when her inner thoughts were revealed.
The Northern Song Dynasty worshiped Taoism, but Buddhism also flourished. For example, in Bianliang City, there were countless large and small Buddhist temples. It was not until Zhao Ji came to the throne and favored Taoist priests that Buddhism was vigorously suppressed.
This fashion was in the second year of Yuanfu, when Zhezong was still in power, and the dispute between Buddhism and Taoism was not that fierce. Therefore, when the four people passed through the crowd and walked near Kaibao Temple, everything in front of them was endless.
It was full of people and tourists.
"I have long heard that during the Double Ninth Festival every year, eminent Buddhist monks will ride on stone lions to open the altar and give lectures. Many believers and tourists come to listen. When I saw it today, it is indeed well-deserved."
Liu Shen wiped his forehead. He was the fattest here. He was out of breath after walking such a short distance, and his face was sweating.
"Brother, this place is more lively than Hangzhou." Lu Xiaomei suddenly came closer and whispered.
"Bianliang is the capital, so Hangzhou cannot compare." Lu Wenyang nodded and then said,
"However, there is no mountain in Bianliang. We can't climb it today, so we have to go sightseeing and enjoy the flowers. It's a pity."
"Then shall we go in? I want to pay homage to the Buddha."
"this……"
Lu Wenyang looked at the dense crowd in front of him and couldn't help but hesitate. There were too many people, and he wouldn't be able to get in for a while. Even if he did, he might not be able to get in for a long time.
"Forget it today, it won't be too late to come back when there are fewer people."
"Oh, okay."
Seeing that her brother disagreed, Lu Xiaomei nodded, but did not insist. Probably, she also felt that today's situation was a bit inappropriate.
The whispers of the Lu family brothers and sisters came to his ears, but Chu Feng did not pay attention. At this time, his mind was completely focused on the Kaibao Temple in the distance, especially the tall and majestic pagoda standing inside.
As one of the four major royal temples in the Northern Song Dynasty, Kaibao Temple is naturally huge. Especially the pagoda in it, which houses the relics of King Ashoka, is a veritable Buddhist treasure.
Of course, Chu Feng was not interested in the relics. He just thought that he should find a suitable time to come and explore the truth. After all, as one of the four royal temples, it must have a deep foundation, and it may hide some secrets.
maybe.
Just now, he had scanned it with his spiritual consciousness. As a result, except for the faint presence of spiritual power at the bottom of the tower, he found nothing else.
"The spiritual power should be the relic."
At this time, in Kaibao Temple, an old monk guarding the pagoda suddenly changed his expression, his cloudy eyes suddenly froze, and he stared in the direction outside the pagoda.
A trace of disdain flashed in Chu Feng's eyes, but his consciousness was withdrawn without any action.
"It's Yuan Li and the others. They're right in front. Brother Chu and Brother Lu, let's go there quickly." Suddenly, Liu Shen suddenly spotted the target and reminded him loudly.
Chu Feng put away his thoughts, and then saw a certain location, where some familiar faces were waiting. Without any delay, he and the other party walked forward.
"I've seen Brother Feiyun..."
"Brother Wen Yang..."
"Brother Xingchen..."
"Yuan Li, long time no see..."
"Weijin, you are really getting fatter and fatter. You should pay more attention to your health..."
Everyone is a classmate of the college, so naturally there is not much politeness when meeting, and the words are even more casual.
"Later, the Zen master in the temple will talk about religious practices. Do we want to go see it?"
"We are all scholars, disciples of saints, and we do not talk about strange powers and chaos. Why should we listen to such deceptive words?"
The person who spoke was Zheng Xingchen, who was born in a Hangzhou family. He had a straightforward personality and could never hold back his words. It seemed that he had said these disgusting words about Buddhism countless times.
No one saw that the young girl from the Lu family who was standing on the edge suddenly frowned, but didn't say anything.
At this time, they were not the only ones nearby, there were also many ordinary people. When some people heard such words, their faces suddenly became ugly and they glared at them fiercely.
Chu Feng's eyes flickered slightly, but he smiled directly:
"Brother Xingchen still has such a temper. Forget it, we will go directly to Cangwang Temple. As one of the ancestors of China, we need to pay homage."
"Brother Feiyun is right. I heard that the autumn chrysanthemums there are in bloom this year, so I was about to go and watch them." Lu Wenyang interrupted, breaking the somewhat stiff atmosphere. Everyone had no objections and immediately headed north.
.
"These people are actually talking about the Buddha in front of the temple. It's really rude..."
"Buddha must have heard it a long time ago, but the time is not up. There will be retribution one day in the future."
"..."
Naturally, most of the people who could come here were Buddhist believers. After a few people left and their figures gradually disappeared, they suddenly started talking.
…
Cangjie, also known as Cang Wang and Cang Sheng, once created writing in ancient times and was one of the ancestors of mankind. In Taoism, he is also revered as the god of writing.
The Cangwang Temple is the temple dedicated to Cangjie.
At this time, Cangwang Temple was a famous scenic spot, especially during the Double Ninth Festival, when many people came here to worship and visit.
Of course, ordinary people are all attracted by temples and Taoist temples, and only a few come here. Therefore, it has become the first choice for literati and even some beauties.
When Chu Feng and his party arrived here, all they saw were colorful carriages of different sizes, with servants waiting beside them. From this, it can be seen that the level of people who come here to visit is obviously a higher level.
.
"The Wenzu Temple is right in front. I'll go to worship first and then go see the chrysanthemums later..."
Liu Shen said something, and everyone had no objections, so they all headed forward. As for the servants and carriages that followed, they could only stay in the outside area like other tourists.
The walking distance was not long, and soon, a simple temple appeared in sight, which was the Cangwang Temple. At this time, the temple door was wide open, and many pedestrians were coming in and out. Even so, there was not much noise.
The sound was very quiet.
Several people also adjusted their robes, their expressions became solemn, and they walked towards the door one after another.
In ancient times, human beings were in ignorance. There was a man called Cangjie who observed the movement of stars and the footprints of birds and beasts, and created human characters based on them. When the characters were written, grains rained from the sky and ghosts cried at night. From then on, the foundation of human civilization was laid.
.
Such a saint should be worshiped by all future generations forever. However, when he thought of the overcrowded temples in the inner city, compared to this place, Chu Feng sighed inexplicably.
It took a long time to complete all the procedures for the statues in the temple, the canangwang tomb, the writing table, etc. Everyone had the idea of worshiping the ancestors of China, so there was no impatience.
After waiting to leave, everyone was relieved and regained their original spirits when they arrived outside. However, Chu Feng was the only one who remained silent, as if he had something on his mind.
During the worship process just now, for some reason, the statue of Cangwang suddenly emerged with a green brilliance and instantly submerged into its sea of consciousness.
Chu Feng observed it for a long time, but he couldn't see clearly the green light. There was no movement in his sea of consciousness, and he didn't know what it was. Therefore, he was a little confused.
The danger is not that great. There is a Samsara Dao Pearl guarding his sea of consciousness, and no existence in this world can hurt his soul. Now that he suddenly enters a ball of blue light, it does not cause the Samsara Dao Pearl to reject him, which is enough to show that it is not a bad thing.
"Brother Chu, what are you doing?"
Suddenly, a question suddenly reached his ears, instantly interrupting Chu Feng's contemplation. He turned around and saw that it was Lu Wenyang. Apparently, he noticed something strange about himself, so he asked.
"It's okay, Chu just thought of something else."
"That's good." Lu Wenyang nodded, his expression slightly hesitant, as if he still had something to say, but at this moment, he suddenly heard Liu Shen speaking first,
"In the past few days, a strange thing happened in Bianliang City. It is related to Brother Chu. I wonder if everyone has heard about it?"
"What's the matter? Tell me quickly?" Liu Shen was so secretive, which naturally aroused everyone's curiosity and asked one after another.
"The Master of Yunhuan Pavilion must be familiar to everyone, right?"
"Uh..." Everyone couldn't help but be startled for a moment. What's the point of bringing up a brothel? However, someone suddenly thought of something and interjected,
"What Wei Jin wants to say is about the "Picture of Flying Immortals"?"
"Hey, Brother Yuanli actually knows about this?"
"I am very obsessed with the art of painting, so I will naturally pay more attention to it. I heard that this painting was made by a Taoist priest himself using Yun Xingshou as the material. His attainments are so profound that they even exceed the understanding of ordinary people. Many people have said
, after viewing the painting, my soul was vague, as if I were in a fairyland, it was indescribable." At this point, Gu Yuanli paused for a moment, as if he suddenly thought of something, and asked with some uncertainty,
"Brother Chu, the Taoist priest's name is Feiyun Zhenren, which exactly matches your name. Is it possible that..."