Chapter 1 (2/2)
“Master……” Gui Wan lightly calls out, today’s Hong Yuan really is acting rather strange, his condition does not seem to be in line with the profoundness of the Buddha, contrarily, he is mirroring it as though he too has been infected by worldly sorrows.
Hong Yuan composes himself, looking at the outstanding, peerlessly elegant beauty in front of him, he speaks with a steady and calm voice: “Since Benefactor Yu would like to kau chim, this old monk shall sincerely interpret the results for you.”
Gui Wan nods her head, “I believe Master.” Hong Yuan is a renowned eminent monk, from one’s view it can be said that his fame runs far across the lands. All that he has predicted, will definitely come true.
He watches as Gui Wan kneels before the Buddha, sincerely seeking answers from the kau chim sticks, before standing up, and gracefully walking towards him. Within that moment, he appears to have once again thought back to that time, over thirty years ago, that innocent, beautiful girl holding a stick as she runs over to him, letting this monk who wasn’t particularly high in generations nor cultivation to interpret her stick. That stick……
The Emperor Swallow……
It really is The Emperor Swallow……
How could this be? It is not an illusion, trembling hands take hold of the stick from Gui Wan’s hand. Hong Yuan thought that he had gone crazy. The kau chim sticks in Hong Fu temple are randomly taken from the Dharma Hall every day. There is only one of each stick. This stick, he had clearly just used his internal strength to crush it into powder, how could it appear in his hand again, could it be he’s really gone crazy?
Carefully looking at it again, it’s clearly The Emperor Swallow stick.
Gui Wan looks at Master Hong Yuan in surprise, she has never seen him like this, he is an eminent and well cultivated monk, always wise, quiet, but today he has been acting uncharacteristically, especially when he took the stick from her just now, it was as though he saw a ghost, his mouth reciting: “The Emperor Swallow, how could this be, The Emperor Swallow……”
The maid, Ling Long walks up, wanting to pull Gui Wan back a step. Looking at the state of this Hong Yuan, he can’t be crazy right?
Gui Wan shakes her head, signalling Ling Long to withdraw.
Only after a while, did Hong Yuan calm down, he indifferently smiles, speaking graciously towards Gui Wan: “Benefactor Yu, today I am unable to interpret this stick for you. This stick, I cannot interpret. I do not know if you are willing to listen to this old monk tell you a story?”
Gui Wan remains indifferent, only nodding her head very sincerely. Don’t know if it’s her misconception, but she feels that Master Hong Yuan’s eyes are still looking a little lax. After his little moment of madness, he surprisingly restores his usual calmness, but all of a sudden, he appears to have aged ten years.
Hong Yuan stretches out his hand to beckon the young monk from before who had been standing outside this entire time, “You come and listen too.” Not waiting for the young monk’s reply, he smiles. Very blurrily, he starts to slowly tell the most unforgettable story in his life, “This stick, is called ‘The Emperor Swallow’. Over thirty years ago, there was a woman……”
In the golden autumn of September, today is an auspicious day, it is the imperial court’s grand secretary – Prime Minister Lou Che’s big wedding day, not to mention it is also the Capital’s famed beauty. The entire Capital is talking about this matter, buzzing with liveliness.
The Yu Residence’s courtyard has people coming and going, every person is in a hurry to get things done, but all their faces carries nothing but a look of great joy.
“Ling Long.” Gui Wan calls out her personal maid’s name, her face calm and composed, not showing the tiniest bit of panic, nor is there the cheerfulness and attentive look of a bride.
Ling Long trots into the house from outside the room, replying as she comes: “Yong Lady, what can I do for you?”
Gui Wan looks at her, laughingly saying: “I told you to get the wedding dress, where did you run off to?”
“Young Lady, the wedding dress is placed in the closet behind you.” Ling Long is one who lives up to her name, clever and sensible, get things done smoothly, also capable of dealing with all types of people.
Gui Wan stands up, opening the closet behind her, as expected, an exquisitely beautiful red wedding dress stands before her eyes. Hand stroking over the delicately embroidered patterns, every st.i.tch, every thread, implies the world’s most beautiful blessings and wishes.
There is no longer any time to sigh, she must immediately change her clothes. Gui Wan’s hands takes hold of the wedding dress, and a sound of “si—” is heard, the wedding dress has hooked onto something, tearing a two inch hole. As soon as Ling Long hears the sound, she immediately steps forwards, coming up to Gui Wan’s side.
The tearing of a wedding dress is such bad luck, they must find the culprit who tore the outfit.
Just when Ling Long reaches into the closet trying to dig in, suddenly, she sees Gui Wan’s eyes staring into the closet. Ling Long was puzzled, and also follows Gui Wan’s gaze to stare. There was nothing in the closet, other than the stick she had drawn out half a year ago, the stick she’s never thrown away – “The Emperor Swallow”.
Thinking back to the story they heard half a year ago, Ling Long was slightly angry as she picks up the stick, growling as she speaks: “This unlucky stick, it is better to not keep it.” Saying that, she casually throws it out the window.
Gui Wan does not stop her, smiling, she takes hold of the wedding dress, saying to Ling Long: “Okay, let us think about how we shall mend this now.” Master and servant both takes out the thread and needles, starting to busy themselves with sewing.
Only unconsciously, would Gui Wan look outside the window, her mind filled with endless thoughts.
[1] sì dà jiē kōng / 四大皆空 – in Buddhism, all four elements (earth, water, fire and air which makes up the world) are void, which means being indifferent to worldly temptations.
[2] I have already explained that these kau chim is used for divination from drawing lots, it’s part of Chinese fortune telling practice, performed in Taoist or Buddhist temples, if anyone would like to find out more here’s a link, wiki is your bestfriend – en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kau_cim
This entire first chapter is just overflowing with a sense of foreboding to the major events to come and all I can say is that, the little encounter between the two beauties definitely isn’t a scene that shall be forgotten…think of it as the trigger that starts the rippling effect, completely changing the fate of Gui Wan and all other characters throughout the novel.
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