After rebirth, she became the favorite of the powerful minister.

Ciguang Temple is located on the hillside of Wuxi Mountain outside the western suburbs of Shengjing. It is the most popular temple in the vicinity.

Some people say that the abbot Jingchen can see through the secrets of heaven and give people guidance. Some people say that there was a living Buddha in the temple who left relics that will last forever. In short, there is always an endless stream of believers and pilgrims every day, whether they are praying for offspring, safety, or a bright future.

Perhaps Song Wenyuan had made arrangements early in the morning, for the young monk from Ciguang Temple was waiting at the side door early. When he saw Yuan Ge and his party, he bowed slightly and welcomed them in.

The location was set under a peach tree beside a stream behind Ciguang Temple. Jingchen was already waiting there, wearing a cassock and holding a Zen stick. Although he was old, from a distance he looked tall and straight, like a warrior monk.

Yuan Ge was looking at Jingchen, and she was also looking at him. Although the girl was young, she had a kind of desolate look in her eyes, which was frightening. He didn't know who the girl was praying for, and he didn't think of asking. He just took two steps forward, bowed his head and greeted, "Donor. Donor, you don't look well, I hope you will accept my condolences."

Yuan Ge clasped his hands together and bowed his head in return, "Thank you for your help, Master."

Jingchen then noticed that Yuange's hands were still wrapped in gauze. He was slightly startled and sighed softly. It was useless to persuade someone who was still obsessed with the world. He made a "please" gesture and led him to the futon that had been prepared early in the morning. "Donor, please."

Wine, paper money, incense, candles, fruits, all were placed on the table, all of which were selected and prepared by Yuan Ge herself. She had originally intended to write the prayer for salvation herself, but her hands were not strong enough to hold the wolf-hair brush, and the words she wrote were still crooked and ugly, and she was afraid that her brother would see it and either despise her or worry about her.

She has never believed in ghosts and gods, but now she hopes that ghosts and gods really exist.

Whether it’s a human or a ghost…it doesn’t matter.

The weather was gloomy and gloomy. Yuan Ge knelt on the cushion and closed her eyes, listening to the master chanting Buddhist scriptures for the salvation of souls... The second elder believed in Buddhism and would invite a group of high monks to Zhixuan Mountain every year to chant scriptures, pray and hold lectures. However, she did not believe in gods and demons and had never been there. She wondered if the Buddha would blame her for her negligence now?

I still remember this spring, when the peach blossoms were in full bloom, Yuan Qi was feeling better and in good spirits. It happened that the Second Elder was holding a Buddhist ceremony, so she was bored and dragged her brother to the back hills to enjoy the flowers. Unexpectedly, she was greedy for coolness and got sick from a late spring cold snap. Her brother laughed at her for not being as sick as a sickly person, and coaxed her to take medicine, saying that she could go enjoy the flowers after she recovered.

Since then, my brother's health has been getting worse and worse. When he is feeling better, he just sits in the yard to bask in the sun. How could she bear to let him suffer so much? My brother always feels guilty about this and always says that he will accompany her to enjoy the peaches next spring. Unfortunately, things are unpredictable and there is no chance since then.

The scripture was very long, and Jingchen's voice was long and mellow. She listened attentively with her brows lowered, hoping that the Buddha would not trouble her brother's soul because of her piety this time.

After reciting the sutras, burning paper money, and offering sacrifices to the dead, Yuan Ge set up a mourning hall in a bamboo house behind Ciguang Temple, with only two nameless tablets. Jingchen said that the bamboo house was originally ownerless. When he was a young monk in Ciguang Temple, the bamboo house was there, and it has been empty for all these years. After saying that, he added tactfully, "This bamboo house is old, and there are some old things in it. It is usually locked, so you can rest assured, young lady."

Yuan Ge turned around, bowed and thanked him.

Jingchen had no choice but to remind him again, "If it is inconvenient for you to write the name on the tablet yourself, I am willing to serve you."

I thought the woman looked absent-minded and didn't want to understand the deep meaning of my words. But she just smiled and said thank you, but then said, "No need. We came naked and we leave naked. Our names are just our names after death. I will just remember who they are and what kind of people they are."

Jingchen was stunned, raised his eyes and looked at the woman opposite him seriously. After a while, he sighed, "Life is only a few decades long... Then, who will come to sweep the two tablets?"

The little girl tilted her head, put her hands together and bowed slowly, and asked, "Master... Master, do you believe in reincarnation? Master, do you believe that ghosts and gods really exist in this world? If they really exist, then they are really envied by the gods..."

Jingchen was rarely speechless.

Yuan Ge lowered his eyes and smiled bitterly, then he answered Jingchen's question, "A few decades later, if I am no longer here, these two tablets will have no meaning... I set up these tablets just to find a place to remember and pay respect to him. If there is no reincarnation, then the body will die and the soul will disappear. If there is really reincarnation in the underworld, then he and I... will be reunited."

The clouds have not yet dissipated.

Candles were lit in the bamboo house, and the light and shadows were swaying.

Jingchen looked at the other person quietly. He was a little surprised when he received Song Wenyuan's handwriting.

He and Song Wenyuan had a self-proclaimed friendship, but he was not sure whether the other party recognized this friendship. After all, they had been in contact for many years, but they had only played a few games of chess... This was the first time that he had something to ask for. Wen Qian, Song Wenyuan's new wife, was strange because no one in the Wen family had lost a family recently. If it was a newlywed commemorating the deceased mother, there were two families... Song Wenyuan did not say anything about this, and he was not in a position to ask.

However, having been a monk for most of her life, and having seen the coming and going of people in Ciguang Temple and all kinds of people, she thought she had accumulated some insight - this woman had no Buddha in her heart and did not believe in ghosts or gods.

Very contradictory behavior.

Although he clearly didn't believe, he still came. There were two blank tablets, and no one knew whose souls they were for.

He turned his head and looked outside. The clouds were gathering, and the mountain wind carried the fragrance of grass and trees, with the coolness of autumn. He sighed softly, "People, only when they encounter something they can't do anything about, will they pray to the gods... There are thirty-three layers of heaven, and eighteen layers of hell, but there are millions of people in this world, how can the gods take care of them? Left and right are things that cannot be solved by human power, so is the answer so important? As the donor said, it's just a place of comfort."

He is young, but he sees things very clearly and has great wisdom. It’s a pity that... he has no Buddha in his heart and does not respect ghosts and gods.

Yuan Ge nodded and saluted, "Master, what you said is very true. I am enlightened by your words."

He was already a very clear-headed person, so why did he need others to point him out? Jingchen slowly returned the greeting and said, "The lunch bell has rung. Lady donor, would you like to taste the vegetarian meal at Ciguang Temple with me?"

Yuan Ge had no appetite and was about to shake his head, but he saw that the other party had already stepped out of the bamboo house, "Come on. Although this vegetarian meal is very bland, it is not bad to eat it occasionally to try something new and whet your appetite... Let those who have passed away stay here. If they have time, it would be great if they could come and sweep the dust and chat occasionally... But if they keep it in their hearts and feel gloomy every day, it will be like an endless rainy season, and people will become sick."