"The old nun has long heard of Miss Seventeen’s reputation; no need for formalities, please have a seat," the Temple Master gestured lightly with her hand for Ran Yan to sit on the cushion opposite her.
Ran Yan sighed inwardly. In ancient times, the speed of rumor spreading was no less than that of an era of advanced communication. In less than a month, even this tranquil nunnery had heard of her affairs.
After sitting down, Ran Yan could see clearly the aged nun before her, whose facial skin was as loose as pine bark, cheeks spotted with age spots, and gaunt as deadwood. One could clearly see the outline of her facial skeleton, with lip muscles beginning to atrophy, her mouth puckered inward, and eye sockets slightly sunken, eyes never opening from start to finish.
Wind-blown candle in its last age, the Temple Master’s appearance was the very embodiment of these words.
"In her early years, the old nun learned the Bone Touching Skill for a few days. If Miss Seventeen doesn’t mind, may the old nun have the honor of feeling your bones?" The Temple Master’s hoarse and aged voice trembled slightly with the frailty of old age, adding a hint of a plea to her calm voice, making this sudden topic seem less abrupt.
"Sure." Ran Yan had never witnessed bone touching herself, but she had been highly curious about it. After studying many related books, she still saw no connection between a person’s destiny and their bones.
The Temple Master gently placed her Buddhist prayer beads on the table and reached out, "Miss Seventeen, please give me your hand."
Ran Yan did as instructed, and the Temple Master’s dry and rough hand gently felt Ran Yan’s fingers, then moved up along the palm to feel the bones of the arm as well, then the other hand, and finally the skull.
The room was quiet, with only the fragrance of sandalwood wafting, and the faint sound of rustling clothes.
"Temple Master." Jing Yuan stood at the door and said, "Someone from the Government Office is here, claiming that Wan Lu is an important witness in a recent murder case. The trial is to start today, and they have requested Wan Lu to come and testify."
Without changing her expression, the Temple Master continued the bone touching, and Ran Yan, too, remained silent until everything was finished. Then Ran Yan said, "Wan Lu, go ahead. Take some silver from Xing’s place and hire a carriage to come back in the evening. If someone from the Government Office offers to send you, don’t refuse."
"Yes." Wan Lu bowed slightly, then left the courtyard with Jing Yuan.
"Miss Seventeen has encountered much adversity in her life..."
After a moment of silence, the Temple Master finally broke the stillness, "However, it seems that these misfortunes don’t account for much in your case; whether your late years will be fulfilled depends entirely on your choice of husband."
Ran Yan made no comment. The Temple Master’s words sounded very unprofessional; she provided no basis for such a conclusion, sounding even less reliable than a street swindler.
"Hehe, the old nun is not skilled in her art and cannot perceive deeper fates," the Temple Master said slowly, "but I have heard that Miss Shiqi has good Medical Skills and can examine bodies, hence my curiosity. Please don’t mind the old nun’s abruptness."
Ran Yan, watching her idly twirl her prayer beads, couldn’t tell how much truth or fabrication was in her words, and simply replied, "The Temple Master is overestimating me."
The Temple Master took out a piece of paper from her sleeve and said, "From now on, you shall meditate and cultivate yourself in the nunnery, akin to a Buddhist lay disciple. I have prepared a Buddhist name for you; henceforth, you will be referred to only by that name in the nunnery."
"Thank you for your trouble, Temple Master." Ran Yan stood up, received the slip of paper with both hands, and knelt back down. Seeing that the Temple Master was slowly rotating her prayer beads, with no intention of speaking further, she bowed deeply, rose, and excused herself.
Xiaoman had already been waiting outside the door. Seeing Ran Yan slightly bow, she said, "Wife, Sister Wan Lu asked this slave to serve you."
Ran Yan hummed in acknowledgment, and with Xiaoman’s assistance, put on her shoes.
"Just now, the nun at the gate reported that Shilang has come. It’s not convenient for him to enter the temple, so he’s waiting in the bamboo forest outside the gate." Xiaoman crouched down to smooth Ran Yan’s skirt and, looking up, asked, "Wife, do you want to change into another outfit?"
"This will do." Ran Yan had no friends. Although Xing Niang and Wan Lu were kind to her, it was still a master-servant relationship, which always lacked a sense of equality. Ran Yunsheng’s visit, however, swept some of the gloom from the bottom of Ran Yan’s heart.
Ran Yan walked briskly towards the temple exterior, with Xiaoman scurrying behind her.
Jing Yuan glanced at the two figures, then walked into the main house and sat cross-legged on the cushion where Ran Yan had previously sat, softly calling out, "Temple Master?"
"Hmm." The Temple Master responded, slowly opening a pair of clear eyes.
Nobody would assume, seeing her eyes tightly closed, it was due to a vision impairment; it was unlikely anyone would have thought such an old woman could possess such bright and transparent eyes. However, these eyes, lacking vitality, did not sparkle as they otherwise might have.
"For some reason, I’ve divined that this lifetime she will meet several destined partners." A hint of perplexity surfaced in the Temple Master’s clear eyes.
"Several?" Jing Yuan showed a touch of surprise on her ordinary face, "Could it be a widow’s fate?"
By "widow’s fate," Jing Yuan meant the destiny of a woman who remarries after her husband dies, only to have several consecutive husbands die. Wasn’t that the fate of a widow?
The Temple Master slowly shook her head and sighed, "Who knows whether it’s a blessing or a curse!"
A few notes of perplexity flowed in Jing Yuan’s serene eyes, but she merely sighed along. The matter of fate was indeed profound and mysterious—who could tell what form it would take? Whatever the outcome, it would not pertain to oneself, as one’s own destiny had already been set.
The wind passed through the bamboo forest outside the temple, its rustling sound like a captivating piece of music. Ran Yunsheng stood amidst the verdant bamboo in his crescent-white round-necked robe, an impeccable figure with a warm smile on his face. The morning light fell upon his fair, jade-like cheeks, reflecting a dazzling brilliance.
"Shilang!" Seeing such a beautiful youth, Ran Yan’s mood lifted joyously.
Ran Yunsheng stepped forward, immediately inquiring, "Was it too rushed for you yesterday? Did you suffer?"
"Not at all, Yingmei Temple is very secluded and peaceful, just perfect for cultivating one’s mind and character. If Shilang could often come to see me, then everything would be perfect." Ran Yan took a seat on a smooth stone nearby.
"I will come to see you often." Warmth and indulgence played in the eyes of Ran Yunsheng, leaving Xiaoman beside them unwittingly entranced.
Ran Yunsheng flicked Ran Yan’s smooth forehead with his finger, sternly saying, "I’m just afraid that in this place, you might let your wild side out, no longer the obedient one you used to be, now completely out of hand." (To be continued. If you work, you are welcome to cast a recommendation ticket, monthly ticket at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation.)