On September 13th, the eighth year of Tianbao, Li Linfu, the Prime Minister of the Tang Dynasty, came to Daci'en Temple to accompany his wife to fulfill her vow.
Since Ci'en Temple had received notice from the Prime Minister's Office in advance, the abbot sent disciples in the temple to clean the main buildings such as the Main Hall and the Dharma Hall. Both sides of the avenue in the temple were filled with brocade tent covers and fish and dragon banners. Although Li Linfu had previously emphasized that this time
It's a private trip, so don't be too extravagant, but you still need to have necessary ceremonial guards.
Jinwu Guard General Gao Xiuyan even used the power of the army to search the entire Jinchangfang to confirm that no Xiaoxiao would take the opportunity to cause trouble and endanger the safety of Xiangguo's family.
However, the investigation was an investigation, and Gao Xiuyan had no right to impose martial law. Unless the royal family came to Ci'en Temple to worship the Buddha, even if it was a major event such as welcoming the Buddha's bones and relics, the temple would not be closed under martial law.
From the perspective of ordinary believers, today is no different from any other day. As usual, they come to Daci'en Temple as a family, burn incense, meditate, worship Buddha, and make wishes. The Kingdom of Prime Minister is really too far away for them.
The special luxury carriage that Li Linfu was riding in stopped outside the side entrance of Da Ci'en Temple. With the support of his servants, the Prime Minister of the Tang Dynasty tremblingly stepped out of the carriage. Following him was his wife, Li Yangshi.
Looking up at the Daci'en Temple Tower in the middle of the courtyard, Li Linfu felt a sigh of relief. The last time he came here, he accompanied His Majesty the Emperor to welcome the Buddha's bone relics. At that time, it was only the second year of Tianbao, and in the blink of an eye it was already the sixth year.
It's been a year. If he hadn't accompanied his wife to worship Buddha and fulfill her vows this time, I'm afraid he wouldn't have the time or mood to come to this Tang Dynasty Temple. (Note 1)
The treacherous and ever-changing government affairs have kept him distracted, so how can he calm down? With a wry smile, Li Linfu helped Li Yang and walked to the temple. His first wife, Li Yang, was his first wife.
She married Li Yang when he was still a humble official. Therefore, Li Linfu respected Li Yang very much and would take the initiative to communicate with her whenever he had any troubles.
Although he was naturally romantic and had close relationships with countless women, he never disliked Mrs. Li Yang. Those concubines serving him were just playthings, and the only real wife who was a loser was Li Yang.
Helpless, Li Yang was weak and sick, and only gave birth to a daughter for Li Linfu. The fact that the main wife did not give birth to a male heir was undoubtedly a great blow to Li Linfu. Although he had the intention to hand over the huge family fortune to the one he loved, God did not give it to him.
What can I do with this opportunity?
It seemed that God wanted to play a joke on him, so that even the two of them, the only flesh and blood, could not enjoy the glory of the world.
The legitimate daughter born to Li Yang was named Li Wan'er. After marrying Pei Yuanyan, the young minister of Guanglu Temple, she contracted a strange illness and was seriously ill for several months.
Li Yang was anxious and worried for a while, and her hair turned gray. Except for eating and sleeping, Li Yang shut herself in her room every day, facing the Buddha statue in the room and kept chanting sutras and praying. But the golden Buddha didn't seem to hear it.
Li Yang's prayer did not shed the holy light, and Li Waner's illness showed no signs of improvement. It was a guest in the mansion who advised Madam that the Buddha in Daci'en Temple was very efficacious and answered all requests.
After hearing this, Li Yang rushed to Da Ci'en Temple to pray, praying to the Buddha to bless her only flesh and blood to be healthy and safe. Not to mention, the Buddha in Da Ci'en Temple was more efficacious than elsewhere. Within ten days, Li Waner's condition improved.
She has fully recovered so far. Li Yang was overjoyed and rushed to Ci'en Temple to express her gratitude. After discussing with her husband, they decided to donate 50,000 guan of incense money to Ci'en Temple to thank the Buddha for his blessing.
Seeing his wife's devout and joyful expression, Li Linfu didn't know what to say. He had never believed in ghosts and gods, whether they were Buddha or Taoism. In his eyes, they were just random thoughts imagined by monks. If there is anything in this world that can make people
If he feels dependent, it is authority. Only with supreme power can one control his own destiny and the destiny of others.
Before they knew it, they had arrived in front of the Main Hall. Dozens of gold-threaded silk banners were placed outside the hall, and dozens of long pole-hanging banners with patterns of lions and divine kings were erected. In order to welcome them, they
It took some thought, but is it worth the 50,000 yuan donated for incense? Li Linfu snorted lightly, shook his head and helped Li Yang into the palace.
The Main Hall is the most majestic building in Ci'en Temple, and its layout and display are naturally extraordinary. The side walls of the hall are covered with various embroidery paintings, more than two hundred gold and silver statues, and more than ten gilded monks holding incense flowers in their hands, standing quietly
On both sides. In the middle of the hall, the Buddha Sakyamuni is enshrined. On his left and right, his disciples Mahakasyapa and Ananda are enshrined respectively.
The Buddha sat cross-legged, with his hands folded on top of his feet, and a lotus platform in his palm, to show his intention to welcome all living beings. But if you believe in Buddha, you can save all living beings. What else will the emperor do, what will the ministers and assistants do, and what will the court do?
what?
"Amitabha, you are so good. The poor monk has been waiting here for a long time." Just when Li Linfu was laughing at Buddhism, a loud voice sounded in the hall.
Li Linfu looked up and saw an old monk wearing a red cassock striding towards him.
"Abbot Huineng, I haven't seen you for a long time. Your complexion has become more and more rosy." Li Linfu immediately put on a professional smile and stepped forward.
"Amitabha, a poor monk who wanders in the Dharma, studies the scriptures and analyzes the principles, will be able to make his energy and blood smooth and his mind to be peaceful."
After saying that, Abbot Huineng turned around and gave a slight salute to Mrs. Li Yang: "Madam, I wonder if the condition of the female donor has improved?"
Mrs. Li Yang hurriedly clasped her hands and returned the greeting: "Thanks to the blessing of the Buddha, my daughter's body has fully recovered. I have discussed with my husband and am willing to donate 50,000 guan of incense money to the temple to pray for my family."
"It's so good. If my wife and Prime Minister have such intentions, they must be blessed by the Buddha." Master Huineng bowed again and expressed his gratitude on behalf of all the monks of Daci'en Temple.
"Abbot Huineng, I would like to ask for a fortune today to predict my husband's fortune. I hope the abbot can do the divination," Mrs. Li Yang saluted to Abbot Huineng with a pious face.
"Amitabha, Buddhist, we are trying to save people from calamity. Madam's request is reasonable, so I should obey the order and come with the poor monk." Master Huineng paused, smiled at Li Linfu and said: "I, the poor monk, please help madam with her calculations.
Sign, Prime Minister might as well go to the side hall to have a rest." After saying that, he called a young monk and said: "If you feel empty, please take Prime Minister to the side hall to have a rest, don't be slow to treat your distinguished guest."
"Yes." Juekong watched his master and Li Yang go away and said to Li Linfu, "Xiang Guo, I have an invitation."
"Yeah." Although Li Linfu was very dissatisfied with Li Yang's sudden request for a fortune, he couldn't express it directly, so he had to step forward and follow the young monk to the side hall to rest for a while.
Although the side hall on the east side is far less majestic than the main hall, it is more exquisite and smooth. Compared with the main hall, there are more believers offering incense in the side hall. Li Linfu patiently followed the young monk to a chair, and then
He lifted up his robe and sat down. A monk nearby brought tea to Li Linfu for him to drink, but Mr. Xiangguo had no intention of drinking it.
Li Linfu raised his head and looked eastward, and saw a statue of Guanyin Bodhisattva enshrined in the middle, with many young women coming to worship him.
So that was the case. Li Linfu smiled bitterly and shook his head. He had previously said why the incense in this side hall was not inferior to the main hall at all. It turned out to be because Guanyin was enshrined. (Note 2)
According to legend, during the Southern Dynasties, there was a layman named Bian Yuezhi, who was from Jiyin. He was fifty years old and had no children. He had been married to a concubine for several years, but she did not get pregnant. So he prayed to Guanyin Bodhisattva for an heir and made a vow to recite the Guanyin Sutra a thousand times.
From then on, when I chanted the sutra a thousand times every day, I became pregnant and soon gave birth to a son.
Of course, Li Linfu would not believe such a thing, but many young women who were newly married and had no children would come to worship him devoutly and ask for a child.
Just when Li Linfu turned around, a gorgeous red dress suddenly caught his sight. The red dress was so gorgeous and eye-catching that Li Linfu did not dare to look directly at it. The owner of the red dress was a young woman.
, but it is still unknown whether she is married or not.
For some reason, Li Linfu always felt that she seemed familiar to her. But due to human feelings, Li Linfu could not go up to greet her directly.
I saw the woman lighting a bundle of incense in her hand, inserting it into the incense burner, kneeling on the futon, clasping her hands together, closing her eyes and praying.
The more Li Linfu watched, the more surprised he became that this woman was actually...
Soon after, the woman in red paid homage to the Bodhisattva and prayed, then got up and went home. The moment she turned around, Li Linfu shouted, "Su Zhen!" as if he had been struck by lightning.
Not only was the man in red clothes not frightened by Li Linfu, but he took the initiative to approach and said, "Master, my family name is not Suzhen, my family name is Shen'er."
"Oh, um, I'm sorry, I was rude just now." Li Linfu smiled brightly and yawned.
"Why did the master call the slave family, but he is acquainted with the slave family?" The woman in red did not intend to let Li Linfu go, she said softly.
"It's just a misunderstanding of the girl. The girl's appearance and behavior are very similar to the old acquaintance of me." Li Linfu shook his head and said with a bitter smile.
"Haha, if the Nu family guessed right, this Suzhen was the master's sweetheart when he was young?" Shen'er covered her mouth and teased Li Linfu lightly.
"You, who are you?" Li Linfu became alert and his tone suddenly increased.
"If I say that I am the reincarnation of Suzhen, do you believe it?" The woman in red waved her sleeves and said with a smile.
"Stop talking nonsense!" Li Linfu was furious and immediately turned around and walked out of the palace.
Note 1: Da Ci'en Temple Pagoda: Built in Ci'en Temple, it is the Big Wild Goose Pagoda.
Note 2: Guanyin is not the highest god in Buddhism, but because of its function of sending children, its influence in China is much greater than that of Buddha Sakyamuni.
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