Chapter 496: Monk Blessing
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
He rarely disliked any girl, but the princess was the first.
Chu Qingzhi didn’t pursue how Tang Jinghong planned to handle it. She uncorked the peach blossom wine and, using her spiritual power, formed two cups to pour the wine. Handing one to Tang Jinghong, she said, “To keep it simple, well use these.”
The cups formed from spiritual power were crystal clear, resembling colorless glass. Tang Jinghong held the cup, fascinated for a moment, before downing it in one gulp.
The liquor was spicy with a faint peach blossom fragrance, appearing to be a light peach red, very pleasing to the eye.
“Delicious,” Chu Qingzhi commented after sipping the wine.
Tang Jinghong held out his cup for a refill, “His family has been brewing wine for a hundred years, and their techniques are mature. Every type of wine is delicious.”
Chu Qingzhi joked, “If only I could poach their master brewer to make wine for me.”
Tang Jinghong chuckled, “That’s impossible. The master brewer is their own person.”
Chu Qingzhi smiled, her eyes curving beautifully, “Yujun is also good. With more training, she’ll definitely be no less than the master brewer.”
“You have good people under your command.”
Chu Qingzhi continued drinking, “Of course. I don’t want anyone who isn’t good.”
Tang Jinghong gazed at her intently and asked softly, “Am I good?”
“You?” Chu Qingzhi laughed, locking eyes with Tang Jinghong, her smile sparkling like stars, “You’re especially good.”
Tang Jinghong smiled and leaned in to kiss her, “You’re also incredibly good. Sometimes you seem so ethereal, 1 fear 1 can’t hold onto you.”
Chu Qingzhi’s heart fluttered, and she grasped Tang Jinghong’s hand, “1’11 always be by your side.”
Tang Jinghong smiled softly, “Yes.”
Returning home, Tang Jinghong immediately wrote a secret letter and sent it to the emperor overnight.
After learning about it, the emperor immediately had the princess brought back to the palace and confined her.
At Guangxi Garden.
As the sun rose, golden rays of light bathed the surroundings in a warm glow.
Guangxi Garden opened early, with merchants arriving to set up their goods. They entered and exited through the back door, turning the usually quiet alley into a bustling area with the sound of wheels and voices.
The front door was for customers. As soon as it opened, a continuous stream of people flowed in and out.
Several traveling merchants approached Chu Xujin, “Young man, we’re looking for the person in charge. Is she available?”
Seeing that these people were serious, Chu Xujin immediately agreed. “I’ll bring you there immediately.”
Chu Qingzhi was helping set up the stall. Without the need to display goods today, she was relatively free.
“Fifth Sister, they’re looking for you.”
The merchants were surprised to see that the person in charge was a young lady, but they quickly composed themselves and greeted her politely, “Greetings, miss.”
Chu Qingzhi glanced at them and said politely, “Just tell me what you want. 1 won’t decline if I can help.”
One merchant said, “We’d like your help in displaying our goods. We’re willing to pay ten silver taels.”
“Us too. Please help us.”
With nothing much to do and money to be made, Chu Qingzhi agreed, “Show me your goods, and I’ll decide.”
“Right this way, please.”
There were various merchants selling cotton, spices, tea leaves, etc. The quality of their goods was quite good.
Chu Qingzhi inspected the cotton, which was well-dried, clean, and soft. With winter approaching, it was time to prepare for the colder months.
“How much for this cotton?”
The merchant replied, “If you want it, 1 have a total of fifty catties here. 1’11 charge you four copper coins per catty, making it twenty taels in total. Deducting the ten taels for displaying the goods, you only need to pay me ten taels.”
Chu Qingzhi promptly bought the cotton, handing the merchant ten silver taels.
“You can set up your stall near the stage; there’s no other space left. Wait here for now. I’ll see if anyone else wants their goods displayed. We’ll gather them together and display them all at once.”
“Thank you.”
After waiting half an hour, about a dozen more people came to ask for displaying their goods, each paying ten taels. Chu Qingzhi collected the money and started to display the goods on stage.
Everything she displayed sold well, as she had carefully selected each item.
She wouldn’t display poor-quality goods to maintain the reputation for future festivals
A young monk pointed at the gate of Guangxi Garden, his round eyes filled with interest, “Master, this place looks lively. Shall we go in and have a look?”
“Let’s go.” The abbot, kind and compassionate, led the young monk into Guangxi Garden.
They had been traveling and visiting various places, and today they came to Shuiyun County and stumbled upon Guangxi Garden.
Upon entering, the young monk was mesmerized by the beautiful paintings, lanterns, and many stalls with numerous people.
The appearance of the monks attracted attention, as it was unusual to see them in such a secular place. People in Dalin respected monks and Daoists, believing they could communicate with the divine.
Someone joked, “Master, are you planning to set up a stall and offer blessings?”
The abbot smiled warmly, “If anyone wishes, 1 can offer blessings.”
Traveling and taking care of the young monk was expensive, and they had run out of money. The abbot was considering begging in a few days.
People immediately offered a spot for the abbot, making space near Li Qingyu’s stall and placing two meditation cushions under a banyan tree, “Master, young master, please sit.”
The young monk, unsure of what was happening, followed the abbot’s lead and sat down. In a sweet voice, he asked the crowd, “Do you want blessings?”
“Yes, little master. Canyon offer blessings?”
With innocent eyes, the young monk replied, “Yes. You should put two more cushions in front of me or my master to sit on while receiving blessings.”
So two more cushions were brought and placed in front of them. “Is this okay now?”
The young monk nodded, speaking softly, “It’s okay now.”
A slender young man sat on the cushion in front of the young monk, asking for a blessing. He placed a silver tael in front of the young monk as an offering.
Seeing the silver tael, the abbot had mixed feelings. In the secular world, looks mattered. The young monk, cute and appealing, was attracting more attention than him. At their temple, people would line up from the top of the mountain to the bottom just to see him.
The young monk took out a wooden fish and prayer beads, chanting a blessing mantra with apparent skill and grace.
Watching this, the abbot felt proud. His disciple was showing promise..