Chapter 237 - The Origin Of Ling Xin Temple (1/2)
Shi Fengju got down the bamboo sedan and went to help Sang Wan before asking with a smile, “Did it scare you?”
Sang Wan shook her head and answered with a smile, “I was a bit nervous at first, but I found it interesting after getting used to it!”
Shi Fengju chuckled and headed up with her while saying, “”There are sedans on the mountain too. We’ll take that when we go down the mountain later. Let’s go up slowly. The scenery on this mountain is good and there is a very tall waterfall not far ahead! It happens that today is neither the fifteenth day of the lunar month nor any other festive day, so no one will come here, which is to our advantage!”
Sang Wan responded with a smile and walked slowly with him.
Since Shi Fengju did not want Zhan Huan to follow, he instructed him to go up the mountain first to book a vegetarian feast. Liu Ya lifted up the lunch box in her hand and grumbled, “Young Master, Young Mistress, let me follow you! The two of you might get thirsty and want to have tea and refreshments while on your way up!”
Speaking about being considerate and attentive, even ten Liu Yas would not be as good as one Zhan Huan. Sometimes, Shi Fengju was speechless and wondered whether she was really muddleheaded or pretending to be one.
However, he did not know how he should talk about it. Thankfully, Zhan Huan had already whispered to Liu Ya, just enough for Shi Fengju and Sang Wan to hear, “You fool! Young Master clearly doesn’t want to be disturbed and yet you want to follow them. Why do you have to follow them and not wait for them! They will call you when they want to drink tea.”
When Liu Ya heard that, she looked at Shi Fengju as if asking him whether that was so.
Shi Fengju was a master. It was therefore inconvenient for him to say such blatant words in front of the servants. Seeing Liu Ya looking at him, he did not know how to respond for a moment and could not help but curse in his heart: What a blockhead! Even Zhan Huan is more scrupulous than her. Too bad he’s not a female servant!
Sang Wan held back her laughter and told Liu Ya, “What are you still doing there? Not going to leave? Just wait for us at Erdao Monastery’s main gate!”
“Yes, Young Mistress!” Liu Ya then went ahead with Zhan Huan. Deep down, she told herself that Young Mistress was still better since she was more straightforward!
With no one around, Shi Fengju held Sang Wan’s hand as they walked up slowly and admired the scenery. The two of them talked and laughed. They were so intimate that nothing could come between them. Seeing the purple irises on the side of the road that bloomed vividly, Sang Wan praised them with a few words. Shi Fengju picked a flower and carefully placed it in her hair, and the two looked at each other and smiled.
When they reached the front of the waterfall, the two held onto the railing for a while. They watched the white water whizzing down from a high cliff and crashing into the deep pool under their feet before flowing into the stream. The mist and cool air rushed forth, as if baptizing the surrounding flora and fauna. With mountains and the lush green hills all around, the place appeared secluded and refined, letting them forget any worries.
“The Great Teacher here must’ve been blessed to be able to choose such a good place to build a temple. Who knows how many would envy him!” Sang Wan could not help but praise with a smile.
Shi Fengju responded with a smile, “Sang Wan, do you like the waterfalls? We also have them in the mountains of Qingzhou. When we go back, I will have someone find a good place and we can build a manor on the mountain, plant flowers and trees everywhere, and raise two pairs of red-crowned cranes and sika deers. We’ll stay there for a few days whenever we’re free. What do you think?”
“…” For a moment, Sang Wan was speechless and looked at him in a slight daze.
“Sang Wan?” Shi Fengju raised his hand with a grin. He tidied the hair that was by the side of her head made messy by the wind as he came closer to her.
“Yes, of course that’s good!” Sang Wan refrained from showing her predicament and forcibly suppressed her thoughts that almost emerged: “Will Mother be angry with me if she knows about it?”
Shi Fengju laughed happily. He pulled her into his embrace and lowered his head to say with a smile, “Just wait and see, I’ll definitely find a bigger and better waterfall for you.”
Sang Wan smiled and felt that she nearly could not resist him anymore.
Near noon, the two of them arrived at the main temple on the summit. At a distance, they could see a white-bearded Teacher wearing a kasaya and holding Buddhist beads. Behind him stood several young monks in blue-gray robes.
Sang Wan froze for a moment and wondered if there were any noble guests visiting the temple today, but Shi Fengju quickly took her hand and quickened his pace.
Upon seeing them, that Great Teacher’s eyes lit up and he calmly walked up to bow with one hand before saying with a chuckle, “Benefactor Shi, I haven’t seen you in a long time. How are you? I heard from Zhan Huan that you encountered a small disaster some time back. Fortunately, you have the blessings from Buddha and managed to turn it into fortune. I’m happy for you!”
“That servant is so talkative! It was a small matter, and I’m already in good health. Thank you, Great Teacher, for your concern!” Shi Fengju respectfully returned the bow before carefully taking Sang Wan’s hat off and handing it to Liu Ya. He said with a smile: “Great Teacher, this is my wife, Sang Wan. Sang Wan, this is the Ling Xin Temple’s master, Great Teacher Ling Jing!”