CENTIE Chapter 23

Although Wu Junru brought these monks in, Xiao Ying wouldn’t simply take sides and believe them without question, even if he disliked his eldest son’s arrogance. He called for his attendant and instructed, “Xiang An, I remember that Anguo Temple is also holding a ceremony today. Take my official seal and go to Anguo Temple to invite a master here.”

“Yes, sir.”

Shortly after, Xiang An came running back. He whispered something in Xiao Ying’s ear, causing Xiao Ying to be greatly surprised. He immediately stepped outside to welcome the guest: “To think that Master Mingjue from Qingyuan Temple has arrived, please come in quickly!”

Master Mingjue was a renowned enlightened monk. He was deeply knowledgeable and profoundly versed in Buddhist teachings. A few years ago, the Emperor had persistently persuaded and practically forced him to return to Chang’an. Originally, the Emperor had planned to enshrine the Master in Anguo Temple, but Mingjue felt that Chang’an was too noisy and not conducive to cultivation. So he insisted on not entering Chang’an. The Emperor had no choice but to arrange for Mingjue to stay at Qingyuan Temple. Qingyuan Temple was located on Zhongnan Mountain, facing Chang’an from afar. This location allowed him to worship Buddha in peace while still having convenient access to Chang’an. It was beneficial for both Mingjue and the Emperor, so Master Mingjue no longer refused.

Xiao Ying hadn’t expected that Anguo Temple would invite Master Mingjue for this ceremony, let alone that Master Mingjue would come to the Marquis’s mansion. He was both surprised and delighted, and hurriedly went out to welcome him.

Xiao Jingduo stood under the eaves, watching Xiao Ying respectfully guiding a kind-looking monk with a benevolent face inside. He silently felt relieved, thinking that this seemed to be a highly respected monk who probably wouldn’t be bribed by Wu Junru. He thought that today’s matter could be considered settled.

However, when Master Mingjue reached the threshold of the study, he suddenly stopped and refused to go further. He gazed at Xiao Jingduo from across the courtyard gate of the study. Then he lowered his head, put his palms together, and said with a long, deep voice: “Amitabha Buddha.”

“Master?”

“This young benefactor’s karma of killing is too heavy. This humble monk cannot proceed further. I shall take my leave now.”

Xiao Jingduo raised his eyebrows in surprise. Wu Junru also looked at Master Mingjue with delighted surprise: “Master, do you truly mean what you say?”

“Do not be disrespectful!” Xiao Ying shouted. He glanced back at Xiao Jingduo, his eyes now filled with scrutiny and doubt. Then he turned back and continued to respectfully escort Mingjue out of the mansion.

Karma of killing too heavy? Xiao Jingduo was shocked. How could this be possible? For a great monk from Qingyuan Temple to say such nonsensical things was truly absurd.

After Xiao Ying sent Mingjue off, Wu Junru became triumphant and kept advising Xiao Ying: “My lord, you see, even Master Mingjue says that Xiao Jingduo’s aura of killing is too strong. Keeping him at home might be detrimental to your official career. In my opinion, why not send him to a Buddhist temple? Let the Buddha reduce his murderous aura. It’s perfect timing, as he needs to observe mourning. My lord, don’t you see? This solves multiple problems at once!”

Wu Junru said all this without even trying to avoid Xiao Jingduo’s presence. In fact, there was no need to avoid him. Xiao Jingduo knew his father’s character very well. Once Xiao Ying determined that someone might threaten his power, he would immediately nip it in the bud, leaving no room for chance. Xiao Jingduo would clearly be no exception.

He didn’t want to hear anymore and turned to walk away.

In a courtyard in the southwest of Marquis Dingyong’s mansion, a young girl lay on the bed, slowly regaining consciousness.

Cheng Huizhen opened her eyes, taking a while to react before looking at her youthful hands, almost unable to believe what she was seeing: “I… I’ve been reborn?”

Hearing movement inside the room, Xiao Su hurriedly lifted the curtain and entered. As soon as she came in, she saw Cheng Huizhen staring blankly at her own hands, as if possessed. Xiao Su’s tears immediately fell: “A’zhen, are you alright? Don’t scare Mother!”

“Mother?” Cheng Huizhen turned to look at Xiao Su, her expression still dazed. Xiao Su was terribly frightened and hugged Cheng Huizhen, crying: “That wretched girl from the second household, how dare she push you! If anything had happened to you, I absolutely wouldn’t let her off!”

Cheng Huizhen rubbed her forehead, still unable to process where and when she was. “Mother, what year is it now?”

“It’s the second year of Qiyuan. Why are you asking this?”

“Are we in the Marquis’s mansion?”

Xiao Su became more puzzled: “Yes, A’zhen, what’s wrong with you?”

“Is it the Dingyong Marquis’s mansion or the Chengxi Marquis’s mansion?”

“A’zhen, did you hit your head too hard? We’re at your uncle’s place, the Dingyong Marquis’s mansion. There’s no Chengxi Marquis’s mansion in Chang’an.”

No Chengxi Marquis’s mansion? How could that be possible? That was the famous super-ranked marquisate, the only hereditary title in Chang’an that could be passed down indefinitely. Even many ducal mansions couldn’t compare to the glory of the Chengxi Marquis’s mansion. Cheng Huizhen’s smile was tinged with bitterness. Unfortunately, all the glory of the Chengxi Marquis no longer had anything to do with her.

As Xiao Su spoke, Cheng Huizhen slowly recalled the current situation. Yes, she remembered that in the year she first came to her uncle’s house, she had a conflict with Xiao Yuli over jewelry. Xiao Yuli pushed her hard, and she accidentally hit her head on a stone, remaining unconscious for a long time before waking up. So, she had actually been reborn to when she was seven years old.

How wonderful—only seven years old! There was still time to change many things. Cheng Huizhen was lost in thought, still unable to believe that such good fortune had befallen her. After a moment of daze, she suddenly startled, grabbing Xiao Su’s arm, her nails almost digging into Xiao Su’s flesh: “Mother, is eldest cousin still at Uncle’s house now?”

Xiao Su was almost amused by her anger: “Child, what are you saying? Where else would your eldest cousin be if not at home?”

“Then where is he now?” Cheng Huizhen asked urgently, not even minding the wound on her forehead. She finally had a chance to start over, and this time, she was determined to back the right horse!

Thinking about it, Cheng Huizhen felt wronged. In her previous life, she had placed her bets on Wu Junru’s son, never paying attention to Xiao Jingduo. Anyone would have thought that the fourth young master was the hope of the marquis’s family, while the eldest young master Xiao Jingduo was already a discarded piece. But who could have imagined that in the end, he would be the one to truly succeed!

Unfortunately, by then it was too late. Cheng Huizhen could only watch helplessly as she missed the opportunity to align with the rising dragon, losing her chance at wealth and glory. Now that she had returned, she was determined not to make the same mistake again. She remembered that Xiao Jingduo had a difficult time in his youth. If she could show him kindness, given Xiao Jingduo’s nature of always repaying debts of gratitude, he would surely treat her well in the future.

No, being just a benefactor to Xiao Jingduo wasn’t enough. She was only three years younger than him, and they were cousins. If she put in a little effort, wouldn’t the future position of Chengxi Marchioness be hers for the taking? The more Cheng Huizhen thought about it, the more excited she became. Yes, this was the way. After all, she had lived through this once before. Dealing with the young Xiao Jingduo would be child’s play for her.

Cheng Huizhen became increasingly eager, fearing that someone else might get ahead of her. She shook Xiao Su’s hand forcefully and looked up to ask, “Mother, where is eldest cousin now?”

“Why are you asking about him? The master said his fate is too harsh, and keeping him in the mansion would harm the family’s fortune. Your uncle is already planning to send him to a temple.”

That’s right, her eldest cousin did go through such an ordeal in his youth. The future famous Governor of the Southern Desert had indeed endured a miserable childhood, even being forced to leave home. In her previous life, she had only cared about competing with Xiao Yuli and Xiao Yumang for clothes and jewelry, never sparing a glance for this down-and-out eldest cousin. But now, Cheng Huizhen had changed her mind. She wanted to befriend Xiao Jingduo from a young age, to be his light in the darkness, his fire in desperate times. When Xiao Jingduo succeeded, she could become the Marchioness of Chengxi!

Having made up her mind, Cheng Huizhen could hardly wait a moment longer. This was the perfect opportunity. If she could plead with her uncle to let Xiao Jingduo stay in the mansion instead of suffering in a temple, how grateful would Xiao Jingduo be to her? Moreover, with Xiao Jingduo staying in the mansion, she could take the time to cultivate a relationship with him. This was truly killing multiple birds with one stone! Cheng Huizhen threw off her blanket, ready to rush outside. Xiao Su looked at her in bewilderment: “What are you going to do? Don’t tell me you want to see that ill-fated cousin? My child, don’t be foolish. Focusing on pleasing your aunt Wu Junru is what you should be doing. Oh, A’zhen, where are you going…”

Cheng Huizhen hurriedly went to curry favor with Xiao Jingduo, but after searching around, checking Qingze Courtyard and the study, she couldn’t find any trace of him.

“Where could eldest cousin have gone?” Cheng Huizhen mumbled to herself.

Xiao Jingduo was unaware that someone was searching for him everywhere. He was sitting alone in a tree, staring blankly into the distance.

This tree was planted in a corner, just facing the back street. Sitting on a branch, one could see past the marquis’s mansion, through the ward walls, all the way to the tall city walls of Chang’an. However, nothing beyond that was visible. Whenever Xiao Jingduo felt down, he liked to climb trees. Sitting high up, it seemed as if the troubles of the mundane world were far away from him. He didn’t have to bear the burden of his mother’s vengeance nor face an uncertain future.

Right now, Xiao Ying was discussing with Wu Junru about sending him to some temple. Xiao Jingduo could imagine that the temple they would eventually choose would be remote and isolated, like a prison for the living dead. The tragic part was that even though he could foresee this future, he was powerless to prevent it.

Xiao Jingduo doubted himself once again. Could he really change his fate? Opposing Xiao Ying and Wu Junru seemed as impossible as climbing to the heavens for him now. He even started to think that perhaps Qiuju was right – given his insignificant status, attempting to challenge Xiao Ying was nothing but a joke.

With a heavy heart, Xiao Jingduo absentmindedly broke off a small branch and tossed it towards the street below.

As Xiao Jingduo glumly threw debris onto the street, he thought to himself that luckily there was no one on the street now. Otherwise, the hot-tempered people of Chang’an would surely come over to scold him.

Just as this thought crossed his mind, Xiao Jingduo saw a horse charging towards him. The rider seemed to be covered in bright, elaborate brocade.

Whose horse wasn’t properly secured and got loose?

As the horse drew closer, Xiao Jingduo froze. He suddenly sat up straight, his expression turning serious. No, this wasn’t right. The horse was spooked, and the rider was in danger!

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