Shi He led the way, with Zhao Jiaqi and Song Lan walking in the middle, and the rest following behind. The red leaves were not far from them, but after walking for a quarter of an hour, they still hadn't seen what the tree looked like.
Song Lan wiped sweat and said, "The tree doesn't look far from us, why does it feel like we're getting further away the closer we walk!"
"That's an optical illusion. There's a saying, 'Looking at a mountain, you run your horse to death.' So, you can't eat hot tofu in a hurry. Let's take it slow!"
As Zhao Jiaqi spoke, a man in a green robe who passed by caught her words with a smile, "Benefactor, you are right. What looks close is actually far, and what looks far is actually close. Amitabha!"
Song Lan, Zhao Jiaqi, and the others: "......"
They looked at each other. His words were as good as saying nothing, sometimes close, sometimes far.
Song Lan: "Madam, what do you think this layman meant, was the tree far or near?"
Looking at the retreating figure in brown and green, Zhao Jiaqi pondered his words for a moment and said, "I guess he meant that if you feel the tree is close to you, then it is very close. If you feel it is far, then it is very far. So, whether it is far or near depends on your state of mind. As for whether this is the case, I really don't know. I'm just guessing!"
Everyone felt that Madam's words were very reasonable and nodded in agreement.
When they finally found the maple tree, they realized they had arrived in front of a small temple. Inside, both the Civil and Military Gods of Wealth were enshrined. The maple leaves were inside this small temple, which was not very large. There weren't many people offering incense inside.
Seeing this, Zhao Jiaqi took her husband to the main hall to offer incense, with great piety.
Fan Zehao, being a military general himself, held Duke Guan, the God of Wealth, in high regard. After offering incense, he kowtowed a few more times before leading his wife out of the main hall to admire the maple leaves.
At that moment, Song Fei and Fang Mingjiang were frowning at a couplet on the temple wall. They stared at it for a long time, their hair itching to be pulled out, yet they couldn't come up with a suitable response!
"Heaven as the chessboard, stars as the pieces. Who dares to play?"
This couplet was indeed imaginative, likening the entire sky to a chessboard and the stars to pieces. No one could possibly play such a game.
"Earth as the pipa, roads as the strings. Who can play it!"
Everyone present chewed on this response, deeming it fair and grand.
One could not dare to play, and the other could not dare to play. Wonderful, truly wonderful.
Everyone applauded Zhao Jiaqi, believing her to be a woman of profound learning and a great talent. Seeing her extraordinary attire, they assumed she was the wife of a prominent family.
A monk, fingering his prayer beads, watched everyone with an unhurried gaze. When he heard Zhao Jiaqi utter the response, he stood to the side and observed carefully. The hand that was rosary-beating paused for a moment, then resumed its usual rhythm.
He stepped forward and smiled at Zhao Jiaqi, saying, "Madam, you have a beautiful countenance, and you are clearly a kind and benevolent woman, a rare woman who loves all under heaven. Your merit is immeasurable!"
Zhao Jiaqi: "...Thank you, Master, for your praise. This humble woman does not dare to accept such commendation."
She was not a deity, nor a nun, so how could her actions be of immeasurable merit! Zhao Jiaqi, imitating the monk's gesture, clasped her hands together and humbly replied.
The monk smiled and asked, "Madam, may I speak with you privately?"
Zhao Jiaqi did not understand what was going on with this monk. She had merely completed a couplet, why did he need to speak with her alone?
"Madam, don't you want to know about your past and present lives?"
This sentence caused Zhao Jiaqi's heart to clench, and her pupils dilated. Without hesitation, she turned to Fan Zehao and said, "You all wait here for me. I'll go and hear what he has to say!"
Fan Zehao grabbed her arm and frowned, "Wife, don't go. I don't think this monk is a proper person. Which monk would chat with a married woman alone? It would be bad for your reputation!"
The monk chuckled at his words and quickly explained, "My name is Lu Can, and I am the abbot of Baiwu Temple. If the benefactor does not mind, you may accompany this humble monk to the meditation room for tea and a rest!"
Lu Can?
Fan Zehao didn't recognize him. He looked at the monk's smiling eyes and round face, which resembled a Maitreya Buddha. He didn't seem like an evil person, but for some reason, he felt a chill whenever he saw such a person.
Song Fei and Fang Mingjiang, having been out for some time, had heard some rumors about this temple, especially about the abbot. It was said that he was very accurate in his fortune-telling and generally didn't offer readings to just anyone.
He would only say one or two things to those who were destined to meet him, and those one or two words could be extraordinary.
"My lord, this Lu Can is a capable man. Why not rest for a while and have a lengthy discussion on Buddhist principles with the abbot?"
Fan Zehao was still quite resistant, but he couldn't withstand his wife's eager gaze and finally agreed to go with Lu Can to the meditation room.
Inside, there were only the three of them. The others had been arranged separate rooms to rest.
After Lu Can sat down, he poured them both a cup of tea and then revealed Fan Zehao's identity.
"The Emperor and Empress have arrived at Baiwu Temple. This humble monk has failed to welcome you properly. I hope the two of you will forgive me!"
Having their identities directly revealed, Zhao Jiaqi and Fan Zehao's expressions changed slightly.
She smiled and asked, "Abbot, how did you guess our identities?"
They believed they had concealed themselves very well. Nothing they wore or carried was related to imperial palace adornments. Even the people accompanying them were only a few guards and maids.
Looking at the retinues of large noble families when they traveled, they were quite modest in comparison.
The Abbot said, "Everyone's face is different. This humble monk can see the destinies of the two of you at a glance. I also know that the Emperor harbors some resentment towards this humble monk."
Seeing Fan Zehao's unnatural expression, he wanted to deny it, but the old man's words were the truth. He also wanted to know why.
"Tell me, why do I dislike you!"
Hearing his honest words, Lu Can smiled and sighed, lamenting that the Emperor's disposition was indeed straightforward. He couldn't tolerate any impurities. Such a direct person could not be easily swayed by others.
"It is because you are a reincarnation of a malevolent star. You were supposed to bring misfortune to your father, mother, wife, children, relatives, and friends, and live a solitary life. Fortunately, you married a wife from another world. She is destined for fortune and good deeds, and has saved many suffering people, thus shielding you from the malevolent energy!"
She didn't understand what the old monk said afterward, but the mention of her being from another world immediately stunned Zhao Jiaqi. How could this be seen?
This was not a temple at all; it felt more like a Daoist temple!
Didn't they say Daoists practiced divination? But no one had told her that monks could also tell fortunes!
They talked for more than half an hour, and Fan Zehao was completely convinced. If Lu Can had been recruiting disciples, looking at her husband's demeanor, he would have shaved his head and become a monk on the spot.
Lu Can saw Fan Zehao off and then spoke a few words to Zhao Jiaqi: "Accept your circumstances. Do more good deeds and strictly refrain from killing. Follow the will of heaven, gain the hearts of the people, and you will gain the empire, thus ensuring a good outcome!"
With that, he clasped his hands together and bowed to Zhao Jiaqi, who, bewildered, also bowed in return.
Although she didn't quite understand the meaning of the monk's final words, she felt as if something was about to happen.
This trip to the temple did not bring her peace but instead left her feeling uneasy.
No matter how beautiful the maple tree was, she had lost the desire to appreciate it. Its beauty had lost its original meaning.