Fortunate Life of the Rural Beauty
Chapter 195 - 194: Beating Someone

Chapter 195: Chapter 194: Beating Someone

Even as a monk, even as a master, how stingy of him to speak like this.

Chen Afu muttered disapprovingly, "The venerable master is an enlightened senior monk, should have compassion at heart, why fuss over such trifles?"

Master Wu Zhi regained his monk demeanor, folded his hands together and stated, "Amitabha Buddha, all occur because of karma. I cannot divulge too much of the heavenly secrets. I only came to warn you, the young master should stay low, avoid meeting those he should not meet. Within two years, he must not leave hundred miles from your residence. Otherwise, there will be great misfortune."

Upon hearing this, Chen Afu was startled, hurriedly offered him the bird’s nest and leaves. She asked, "Master, who are the people he shouldn’t meet...?"

Master Wu Zhi cut off her words, said, "I have spoken thus, contemplate it on your own and you will understand." He extended a hand in a gesture of dismissal, while in the other hand he was holding up his "treasure", observing it closely.

Is he ushering us away?

Uncertain of what great secret the boy was bearing, and who he should not meet. Chen Afu saw that Master Wu Zhi didn’t even bother to glance at her, she knew there was no point asking any further, and reluctantly headed towards the door with a heavy heart.

Just as she reached the door, the old monk behind her spoke again, "Next time if the female donor could bring me more of these leaves, I will reward her with unparalleled incense. Also, these delicious snacks, Luwei, please bring more for me in the future with extra seasoning. I will make sure that you will not be at a loss."

Chen Afu turned to look at him, by now the old monk had lifted his head, eyes glistening with excitement.

Good heavens, did this monk have a split personality? Or is it that there’s always a hidden side to highly-cultivated monks?

At this point, Chen Afu was quite confused. She nodded slightly and stepped out of the door.

Dabao had been led to the hall by a junior monk. Seeing Chen Afu, he ran up to grab her cloak as if he hadn’t seen her for ages. Even the most mature child would be frightened in a strange environment. He pouted and called out, "Mom, Mom," rubbing his face against her belly.

Thinking of the old monk’s words, Chen Afu held Dabao’s little hand tightly and told him, "Dabao, remember from now on, don’t run around, don’t talk to strangers, stay by Mom’s side all the time."

No matter what Chen Afu said, Dabao would always nod vigorously like a good boy.

The junior monk said, "The Master has instructed this monk to escort the female donor out of the temple."

Thinking of the afore-mentioned princess’s ill-will and Chu Lingxuan’s words, Chen Afu expressed her gratitude. She might have already figured out who that woman could be.

When the few of them got outside, only Alu and the two guardians were left in the pavilion. The others who were there before had already left.

Chen Afu was getting an inkling of whom the man resembled—Chu Lingxuan.

His surprised look at her might be due to noticing her cloak and Zhaojun hat. If he could remember a cloak, he should remember much more, shouldn’t he?

No matter how much he remembered, such a man who offended a woman he should not offend, forced his first wife into a nunnery, and allowed another woman to make his granddaughter autistic, was indeed contemptible.

Alu also spotted Chen Afu, and hurriedly ran over, asking, "Sister, did the master say where our uncle is?"

Chen Afu whispered, "The master only mentioned that our uncle should still be alive, but didn’t mention where he is."

They started walking towards the front of the temple. To be safe, they decided against praying here, and hurriedly headed to Yingxue Nunnery.

They had just walked a short distance along the corridor when they saw that princess approaching with a group of people.

Enemies always meet on a narrow road!

Chen Afu lowered her head, covered half of Dabao’s face with one hand, turned around, and whispered to the two guardians, "That woman is a princess, protect the child." She subtly nudged both Dabao and Alu towards them.

The two guardians immediately grabbed a child each and started walking in the opposite direction. Chen Afu and the junior monk moved a bit away from them and quickly walked away.

The princess also spotted Chen Afu and told her servant, "Go, bring that woman to me."

Two older women ran up to catch up with Chen Afu and imperiously said, "Our lady wants to see you, let’s go."

This was Chen Afu’s first taste of the helplessness and frustration of being oppressed by authority. In this society with no human rights, as a mere commoner, she dare not challenge the imperial power. It was better for her to walk over by herself than to be dragged over by two older women. Moreover, she had to ensure that Dabao was not seen by these nobles.

She gave a glance to the two guardians who wanted to come over, and followed the two old women to the princess reluctantly. The junior monk also accompanied her.

The junior monk tried to comfort her, "Favoured donor, fear not. This is Lingyin Temple, no one could act recklessly here."

"Oh, so it’s the ’honoured guest.’ Finished your visit so soon?" Princess Rong Zhao stood in front of her, sneering.

Chen Afu, knowing she couldn’t afford to offend her, bowed her head and curtsied.

Princess Rong Zhao looked her up and down once again and coldly said, "Look at your vixen-like face, definitely not a good woman. Punish her with ten slaps. Let’s see if she dares to be someone’s honoured guest again."

The young monk promptly shielded Chen Afu and said, "This is a holy Buddhist ground where casual violence is forbidden. The female donor is Master Wu Zhi’s guest, a valued guest of our temple."

Chen Afu was almost exasperated, cursing the bald monk for not providing a more savvy escort. This was only making matters worse. It seemed like she couldn’t escape from a beating.

The princess was even more displeased now, sneered coldly, and ordered harshly, "I just enjoy hitting ’honoured guests’, twenty slaps now."

An old maid blocked the junior monk with her robust body and loudly declared, "All lands under heaven belong to the king. Our princess can punish whoever she deems guilty, and no one else can interfere, no matter where we are. Little monk, I advise you to mind your own business."

The other stout old maid, resembling an imperial nurse, swung her hefty palm towards Chen Afu’s face. Chen Afu closed her eyes tightly.

Suddenly, the slap didn’t land. Chen Afu opened her eyes to see a large hand gripping the old woman’s arm. It was the man she had seen in the pavilion earlier, or should she say, the Marquis Chu or Prince Consort Chu.

With a flex of his arm, the old maid staggered a few steps backward. He released his grip, took out a white handkerchief to wipe his hand and then tossed it on the ground. He coldly said, "I would like to see who dares to hit."

The old maid immediately bowed and said, "Prince Consort."

The princess stepped forward with a charming voice, "Chu Lang, this vixen..."

The Marquis Chu said gently, "Rong Zhao, this is holy Buddhist ground. If you hit someone here and it gets impeached by the Inspectorate, the Emperor will blame us." His voice lowered, "What’s the purpose of our visit? Having just bowed to the Bodhisattva, and right in front of the Bodhisattva now, would you hit someone?"