Chapter 8

Chapter 8

The crowd erupted into a flurry of panic.

The guest-reception monk hurriedly tried to smooth things over with honeyed words, attempting to invite me into an inner chamber to talk privately.

I ignored everyone and simply stood there, two streams of silent tears flowing down my face, drawing the attention of all onlookers.

Some families who recognized me were so flustered they wished they could gouge out their own eyes. Yet, they didn’t dare come forward to pay their respects, fearing they might ruin my plans. They could only stand there in awkward silence.

Soon, a group of people arrived in quick succession.

Leading them was the Abbot, who brought along a pale-faced Monk Bianshan to greet me.

I stared at Bianshan with icy eyes.

In my previous life, Bianshan and Xu Qingqing were the closest of friends.

Xu Qingqing possessed a System that provided her with famous Buddhist aphorisms. Any single line she produced was enough to shake the foundations of history. Naturally, a minor figure like Bianshan treated her as an esteemed guest.

Later, he became a renowned high monk, famous both at home and abroad. He never forgot Xu Qingqing, the one who had ‘dug the well’ for his success. They exchanged letters and poems, their friendship becoming a celebrated tale.

It was true that he loved his Buddhist philosophy.

But his greatest sin-one he should never have committed-was staying silent while knowing Xu Qingqing was slandering me because of him. He stood by and did nothing, allowing me to be buried under a mountain of malice and eventually imprisoned.

A hypocrite who fishes for fame like him has no place in a Buddhist temple.

I pointed my long whip directly at Bianshan and said coldly, “Today, the Crown Prince and Xu Qingqing beat me, cursed me, and accused me of having an illicit affair with you. I ask you: How many times have I met you? How many words have I spoken to you? That day, in the meditation room, who was the person who sat with you discussing Zen for four hours? And to whom did you give your handkerchief?”

Bianshan’s lips lost every trace of color, and fine beads of sweat began to break out on his forehead.

Conflict flickered in his eyes.

Right now, he had more to worry about than just Xu Qingqing-he had to worry about himself.

If I had swallowed this grievance in silence, he would have remained unscathed.

But I had made a scene. Even if he were truly innocent, being dragged into such a scandal would stain his reputation. From now on, every female pilgrim would avoid him like the plague, and male pilgrims would likely spit at the mention of his name.

Furthermore, he wasn’t innocent.

He really had stayed in that room with Xu Qingqing for four hours, and Xu Qingqing really had obtained his handkerchief.

Whether she asked for it, stole it, or he gave it as a gift, he was to blame.

In this life, he wouldn’t be getting off easily, no matter what.

The eyes of the crowd were fixed on him.

After a long silence, he spoke softly:

“This monk is devoted solely to the Buddha. I have only met the Princess twice. Aside from formal greetings, we have barely spoken; the matter of an affair is entirely fabricated. As for Benefactor Xu, though she is young, she has a profound understanding of Buddhist principles. A few words from her were enough to grant me sudden enlightenment. Therefore, I was greedy for knowledge and spent more time consulting her than I realized. As for the handkerchief, Benefactor Xu was feeling unwell, and I gave it to her out of simple kindness. There was no improper intent between a man and a woman. I beg the Princess to see the truth.”

“Good! At least you admit you gave the handkerchief to Xu Qingqing. Then, why did the handkerchief you gave her appear by my side? Did Xu Qingqing use your name to frame me? Or are you simply lying?”

I coldly threw the handkerchief out. The pure white cloth, embroidered with a Buddhist swastika pattern, unfurled in the air for everyone to see clearly.

The handkerchief drifted slowly to the ground. The small, exquisite character for ‘Shan’ stitched onto it felt like a resounding slap to Bianshan’s face.

Bianshan stood there, his handsome face filled with a hint of terror and despair.

I pointed my riding whip at him and said frostily, “You claim to be devoted to the Buddha, yet you act like a common man of the world, exchanging private gifts under the guise of discussing Zen. When I was framed by Xu Qingqing, you tried to brush everything aside with a casual ‘I didn’t know.’ Xu Qingqing committed the evil deed, but you planted the evil seed. You see her as a soulmate, but how do you know she isn’t just using you as a blade? A muddle-head like you cannot even see through the mortal world-what Zen are you studying? What Buddha are you seeking to understand?”

With a flick of my whip, I shredded the handkerchief lying on the ground.

Bianshan was drenched in sweat, his clear eyes filled with regret.

“Princess, this monk was truly only shocked by Benefactor Xu’s Buddhist insights. I did not think so far ahead. ‘The Bodhi is not a tree, nor is the bright mirror a stand. Originally there is nothing, so where can the dust alight?’ Hearing such words, how could I remain unmoved? Princess, could you?”