The sun rises over Xishan Col, and the morning bell scares the birds.

The carriage reached the foot of the mountain and could no longer go up. The cool morning light broke into the carriage through the flying curtains along the way. Although it was cool, it carried a fresh smell, mixed with the aroma of grass and earth.

, so refreshing.

The coachman opened the curtain and helped me out. As soon as I stood still and raised my head, I saw the entire Western Mountain shrouded in milky white mist. The morning bells echoed in the mountains, making the area even more peaceful, like a scene in a painting.

Average.

Xishan, I am finally here again.

The last time I came here, Huang Tianba brought me here. In just one year, things have changed.

The coachman helped me out of the car and stepped aside in a polite manner. The two guards were also very polite and said to me: "Girl, please go up and pay your wish. We will stay here and won't disturb the girl."

This should be what Pei Yuanfeng told me. I smiled and thanked them, then turned and walked towards the mountain.

The fog in the mountains was heavy, even the bluestones were wet, and the tips of the green grass leaves on both sides were stained with morning dew. The colorful clothes looked colorful against the background, and the corners of my clothes were also wet. I lifted them gently.

Put on your skirt and walk up step by step.

Before I reached the halfway point of the mountain, I was already so tired that I fainted.

My health was not yet good, so it was really hard for me to climb the mountain like this. I panted and looked up at the seemingly endless mountain road in front of me.

At this moment, a person seemed to appear in front of me in a trance, looking down at me with a smile, his charming eyes filled with warm light in the mist. He gently raised his hand and handed a silk handkerchief to my eyes.

.

Huang Tianba...

When I think of him, I can't help but feel sour in my heart. If I left with him at that time, would everything be different?

But now - even if I don't have to look at it, I can just think about the embarrassment of my journey. If he saw it, would he be disappointed?

I gave a forced smile, sighed, gritted my teeth and continued walking up slowly.

Finally, we arrived at Hongye Temple.

I was walking too slowly. By this time, the mist had slowly dissipated, and a corner of the mountain temple was exposed among the lush green trees. In the distance, I could still hear the monks chanting sutras in the morning.

Sandalwood fills the mountainside, adding to the tranquility.

The golden lacquered Buddha statue was still sitting on it as before, looking down at all living beings with lowered eyebrows and narrowed eyes. It seemed to be sentimental, but also ruthless. I walked over gently and bowed with my hands together, then turned around and threw a piece of silver into the merit box.

.

The silver dropped heavily and made a clanging sound, just as two young novices came from the backyard. As soon as they heard the sound, they immediately said to me: "Thank you, female donor."

I smiled: "Two young masters, I would like to pay a visit to the abbot and abbot of your temple."

The younger novice immediately said: "I'm sorry, Master has a guest, so we won't be visiting you for the time being."

I smiled and said, "To be honest, I came to your temple last year to make a wish, and I came to fulfill it today. I heard that the abbot preached about the profoundness of Taoism, and I want to listen to his sermon."

What else did the little novice want to say, but the older one next to me kept looking at me. At this time, he suddenly slapped his forehead and said, "I remember, you are the girl that Mr. Huang brought last year!"

I looked at him and said with a smile: "Young master, you have remembered me."

"Female donor, please wait a moment." He said and whispered a few words to his junior brother. The junior novice nodded and ran inside. He came over and looked me up and down again, and suddenly said

: "Female donor, are you married?"

"Ah?"

I was caught off guard by being asked this question, and I didn’t know what the young monk was thinking, so I subconsciously said: “Hmm.”

"Where is your husband-in-law?"

"..." I frowned and looked at him, but I saw him looking at me innocently, seeming to be really serious about waiting for my answer. I smiled bitterly in my heart: "I'm divorced."

"Ah? Why did I divorce you?"

"..." I looked at him and could only make a blind statement: "Because I - uh, I don't follow the rules of women."

"What kind of womanhood are you not observing?"

"..." This time I really couldn't cry anymore: "Uh, there's nothing to do."

"Then do you still plan to marry again?"

"..."

This time I couldn't tell the truth at all. I glanced at the Buddha next to him with a dumbfounded look, and couldn't help but curse in my heart - What kind of monk is this?

As soon as he finished speaking, a hand from behind reached out and slapped the young novice on the back of the head: "Is this what you asked?"

When I looked up, I saw a tall old monk with a white beard walking out. He was strong and energetic, especially his eyes, hidden under his white eyebrows, were still gleaming. He gave the little novice monk a hand with his palm.

After stumbling, he looked at me in embarrassment and said, "I'm sorry, my almsgiver, I'm so disrespectful."

"No, it's okay."

"Master, why did you hit me?" The little novice monk touched his bald head and pouted aggrievedly: "Didn't you say last time -"

"You are still talking nonsense!" said the old monk: "Everyone has his or her own destiny. Are you a matchmaker?"

"Oh..." The little novice monk was still a little aggrieved and retreated obediently.

I stood aside and watched coldly, vaguely feeling a little strange. What they said seemed to have something to do with me, but I couldn't tell clearly. Instead, the old monk came over and saluted me respectfully: "

Make the female donor laugh."

"Where."

"I wonder what the female donor has to do when she comes to look for the poor monk?"

"I heard someone talk about the master's profound cultivation, and I want to listen to the master's lectures."

Yiwei smiled and said: "I don't know who is talking nonsense in front of the girl."

"Huang Tianba, Huang Ye, and -" I smiled and looked into those bright and restrained eyes: "Mr. Liu Yi, Liu Yi, the governor of Yangzhou."

The angry face was still smiling, but his gray eyebrows trembled slightly, blocking the temporary panic in his eyes.

He looked down at me for a while, was silent for a moment, then turned sideways and said inside: "The female donor, please come to the dining hall."

"Thank you."

I glanced at the young novice monk next to me, smiled at him, and walked back with a sigh.

This is my first time to the backyard of Nishiyama Hongye Temple.

Generally speaking, women are not allowed to set foot in the backyard of the temple, except for some high-ranking ladies. However, Hongye Temple is located in the south, and there was a past story of "red leaves and frost color". I am afraid that the high-ranking ladies who come here will not

But I followed Yi Hao all the way inside, and the monks I passed by were not surprised at all. They each lowered their heads and did their own thing.

When I walked to the dining hall, I looked around. The doors of several rooms were closed, and there was a faint fragrance in the air.

Seeing me looking around, he said angrily: "After they finish their morning duties, they have to go down the mountain to fetch water."

"Oh." I nodded, followed him and opened the door and walked in.

His dining hall was very clean, with two futons placed on the stone bed, and there was a faint fragrance in the air. He respectfully invited me to sit on it, sat across from me, and then said: "One year ago, the donor followed Huang.

We came to this temple together, but we left in a hurry and didn’t have time to ask the donor for advice.”

Although I have something on my mind, when I mention that year, I still can’t help but ask: "Master and Mr. Huang have known each other for a long time?"

"The days are not short."

"Then, does Master know where Mr. Huang is now?"

Yisheng glanced at me with some vigilance in his eyes, but he still said: "Donor Huang left Yangzhou more than a year ago and has never come back to see the poor monk again. He is afraid that he has traveled around the world."

……

Sure enough, he never came back.

Maybe now he has really married Miss Muhua, and has cut off all contact with Yangzhou and the capital in the past. Only in this way can he get some peace in the troubled times.

I smiled faintly in my heart, looked at me angrily, and said at this time: "However, the girl knows that Donor Huang is acquainted with the poor monk, but Mr. Liu - he and the poor monk are not familiar with each other, why did the donor say

——"

I smiled and looked up at him: "Although the master and Mr. Liu are not familiar with each other, Mr. Liu was assassinated at Hongye Temple, so he and the master must have some connections."

As soon as I finished saying this, his expression immediately changed.

As soon as his expression changed, I knew that today was the right day.

The atmosphere seemed a bit depressing, especially in this small dining hall. This tall monk was sitting in front of me. Although he was motionless, he looked like a mountain. I still smiled and said: "Don't worry, Master.

Mr. Liu is a very sensible person. In order not to implicate innocent people, he did not tell anyone about many things. I will know, and naturally someone else will tell me. Don’t forget, there were assassins who were caught at that time."

"..." Yihe glanced at me and his eyes flashed.

"Actually, the last time Mr. Liu came to Hongye Temple was to pay homage to the people who died in Yangzhou City that year. It was also a statement by him on behalf of the imperial court. Speaking of which, Mr. Liu wholeheartedly thought about the people in the south, but it was a pity that his people were the ones who assassinated him.

It not only hurt his body, but also hurt his heart."

When Yihai heard me saying these words, his face became even darker.

"The assassin's move seems to be a righteous act on the surface, but assassinating an imperial official is considered treason, and the imperial court's pursuit is legal. When the time comes, there will be a bloody storm, and the people will say that it is the imperial court's killing knife that kills innocent people indiscriminately, but who will
To be continued...