Rebirth of the Phoenix Princess novel Chapter 60

Hua Jing interrupted Lady Zhao before she could finish. "Mother, Yun Shang heard that you are a pious Buddhist. She has brought several rolls of Buddhist texts for you."

"Oh?" The old lady in the Buddhist Prayer Room didn't return her head, and her reply sounded neither friendly nor unfriendly.

Yun Shang took a step forward and spoke softly, "I spent eight years at the Ning'guo Temple, and was lucky enough to transcribe some Buddhist texts for Master Wu Na. Master Wu Na once told me that some of the Buddhist texts at the Ning'guo Temple are the last of their kind in the world. I cannot take those texts out of the Ning'guo Temple, but I have brought with me some Buddhist texts I transcribed with my own hands. I've heard that Lady Zhao is very pious, and those treasured Buddhist texts are in need of a owner who can appreciate them. It is my hope that you will accept my gift."

"Hum..." Lady Zhao laughed. Her laughter showed no sign of joy or anger. Then Lady Zhao continued, "You are so interesting, Your Imperial Highness. It sounds like Master Wu Na from the Ning'guo Temple treated you nicely during your stay there. As Your Imperial Highness has spent so many years at the Ning'guo Temple, why not Your Imperial Highness and I have a chat about the doctrines of Buddhism?" She paused for a moment before adding, "You can leave, Hua Jing. I heard that you have banquet preparations to finish. I can imagine how busy you must be. You don't have to be here.

Hua Jing was about to cross the threshold but checked herself at Lady Zhao's words. She gritted her teeth, and lifted her eyes to look at the maids standing by Lady Zhao's side. Then she said, "All right. Since mother and Yun Shang are friends now, sister, please linger a while longer to converse with mother. I'll return to my chamber."

Yun Shang nodded, "I will, sister."

Hua Jing turned around to wink at Qing'er. Then the maid stepped inside in the Prayer room with the Buddhist texts. Yun Shang stayed outside until Hua Jing left. She knelt on the kneeling cushion behind Lady Zhao, and kowtowed before the statue of Buddha. Having paid her respects, she stood and turned towards Qing'er. Yun Shang slowly lifted the texts from the maids arms and stretched them towards Lady Zhao. "These are the Buddhist texts I transcribed..."

Lady Zhao put down the mallet*, and glanced at Yun Shang. She picked up one of the scrolls from Yun Shang's hand, and thumbed through it casually. To her surprise, the text was unlike those she had read before. She could not remove her eyes from the text, and almost finished her reading in one breath. At last she sighed, "No wonder Master Wu Na treats those Buddhist texts as treasure. They are really classic works of Buddhism."

(*TN: a wooden stick used to sound the Temple Block when the Buddhists are reciting Buddhist texts.)

Yun Shang grinned, "It's really wonderful that you like these Buddhist texts. I was in a hurry to come here and brought only a few of my belongings. If you like, I will send the rest of the Buddhist texts to you once I am back in court."

Lady Zhao looked at Yun Shang with curiosity. She was about to say something, but, catching sight of the maids beside herself, she lowered her eyes to look at the Buddhist texts again. After a short while she said, "Thank you, Your Imperial Highness. These Buddhist texts are precious. I will make a copy of them before returning them to Your Imperial Highness."

Yun Shang grinned at Lady Zhao, "Please keep them in your possession. I have memorized the content of these scrolls. Besides, it would be a waste of their value if they were in my ownership."

"Then I will keep them. I will take very good care of them. Please don't worry, Your Imperial Highness." Lady Zhao affectionately ran her fingers over the scrolls before handing them to the maid by her side. Then she stood, "It's getting dark. How about Your Imperial Highness comes to my courtyard and shares a meal with me?"

"Of course." Yun Shang nodded before walking out of the Buddhist Prayer Room with Lady Zhao. Lady Zhao's courtyard was near the Buddhist Prayer Room. It was in sight shortly after they had turned around a corner. It's a quiet place surrounded by many bamboo plants.

Lady Zhao's house was plainly decorated. The table, the chairs, and the screen were all made of bamboo. Yun Shang noticed that their meal had been served on the table.