Chapter 44: Heading for the Southern Reaches of the Yangtze River (1/2)

Translator: Flying Lines

Proofread by Claire.KK

Seeing her strong reaction, the abbot lowered his head and said Amitabha Buddha, “It seems that you had no idea of it.”

Xie Mengxuan chuckled and took a sip of tea, and the bitter tea knitted her brows. Then she took a deep breath and said slowly, “Abbot seems to know more than I do. Anyway, I’ve got plenty of time, why don’t you tell me in detail?”

She appeared to be indifferent, but failed to hide her eagerness. The abbot seemed a bit amazed; for so many years, it was his first time to see her with such an expression. He assumed that she must have experienced something profound over the past month.

The abbot seemed to be thinking and said softly, “Where to start?”

Xie Mengxuan thought for a while; then she said with a deep voice, “Just back then receiving the news.” she needed to know when it was.

The abbot paused, and thought for a long time and replied, “It might be better if this benefactor ask more specifically.”

Xie Mengxuan asked bluntly, “I wonder who delivered the news; em, I mean, do you know his or her name.”

“No.” The abbot shook his head.

Xie Mengxuan questioned again, “any letters?”

“Benefactor Xie...” The abbot sighed and whispered.

Xie Mengxuan fell in a daze, and then she reacted and gave a wry smile, “Sorry, I am too nervous.”

Seeing she come round slowly, the abbot said: “Settling for what you can get, and everything shall go with the fate.”

“So let it be”. Xie Mengxuan’s voice sounded somewhat helpless. She took a deep breath and exclaimed solemnly, “I want to know the news of the imperial capital and the Majesty.”

The abbot looked outside and said, “The Imperil Capital is now in a state of turmoil, and it is far from tranquil. And news from the Lord demands you go to the southern reaches of the Yangtze River with the tokens.”

‘The capital is in a turmoil?’ Xie Mengxuan felt somewhat anxious. Unexpectedly, when she heard that she needs to go to the southern reaches of the Yangtze River, she stunned and said, “To the southern reaches of the Yangtze River, for what?”

The abbot shook his head and replied, “Once you arrive, someone will meet you there and tell you what to do.”

After taking a sip of bitter tea, Xie Mengxuan said, “I don’t understand. Since the capital is not very tranquil now, why does the Lord want me to go to the southern reaches of the Yangtze River?”

The abbot stood up and took a letter from the concealed compartment and handed it to her. “Look at this.”

“A command from the Lord?” Xie Mengxuan said.

While reaching out to get the latter, she then opened and took a good look at the letter. After reading it, she looked solemn and replied, “Please send words to the Majesty that I will get things done, and make a worry-free southern reaches of the Yangtze River.”

The abbot nodded. Then he took a lighter to light a candle and said, “It is inconvenient for you to go on your own. The Lord said he will send one over to go with you.”

Xie Mengxuan burned the paper and waited till it left a bit, throwing it into the cup. “Who is it?”

“The Lord’s associate, but now I don’t know where the person is; what I know is that he does what the Lord commands.” The abbot told her honestly.

Xie Mengxuan waved her hands and said, “Well, that’s OK. There was someone by my side who can help me.”

“Who? Is he/she trustful?” The abbot stood up with his brows frowned and looked serious.

Xie Mengxuan looked a lot cooler, “Please ask the young monk to come, and we should check secretly.”

Later, the abbot called and asked the young monk, and knew that the two people were still in the garden. Then Xie Mengxuan and the abbot looked at each other and went to the garden by a secret passage.

There were rockeries in the garden. Seen from outside, everything was normal. But there was a secret passage inside and a small hole (the same size as an eye) through which one could look outside. They were so covert that no one would discover.