Chapter 31: Buddhist Sanctuary
Xiao Yi stood by the window, looking out at the alley. He saw the six soldiers leave the inn, and the captain gestured, sending one of them towards the main street.
Behind him, Guo Xin yawned and said, “Zhan Zhao, it’s your turn to guard. I need to sleep.”
Xiao Yi said, “Let’s leave this place and find somewhere else to hide.”
“Why?” Guo Xin asked. “This place should have been searched. Isn’t it the safest spot?”
“They checked my official document and were fooled then. If they calm down and think about it later, or report it, they’ll soon realize something is wrong. We are trying to leave the city, so why wouldn’t we have lodging in the city? Why wouldn’t we stay at an official posthouse? As soon as they investigate, our disguise will be seen through.”
If they didn’t pretend to be officials today, they couldn’t handle the predatory patrol soldiers, but if they pretended to be officials, there was a risk of being exposed.
“Where to?”
“Liuxi Alley.”
Guo Xin said, “That’s an officer and soldier. Wouldn’t going there be walking into a trap?”
“He’s changed shifts, and the news isn’t that well-informed,” Xiao Yi said. “I’ll give him a generous gift, and at least he might find us a place to stay for the night.”
“You only met him once, why do you trust him?”
“That’s my judgment of people.”
Guo Xin said, “I think it’s too risky. Let’s go back.”
“I’ll decide.”
As they spoke, Xiao Yi had already taken off his official robe, packed it, and changed into a fine linen robe.
“Let’s go.”
The four of them immediately went downstairs and headed straight for the stable in the back courtyard.
But upon seeing it, they were shocked.
The shopkeeper was too attentive; he had even unbuckled the saddles from their horses.
“What’s going on?” Guo Xin spat. “That dog of a shopkeeper is meddling. I told him not to unbuckle them.”
Guo Xin said, “He must have seen that the city gate won’t be opened today, and he wanted the horses to be more comfortable for the night.”
“Prepare the horses.”
Xiao Yi and Guo Xin moved quickly, each carrying saddlebags to place on the horses’ backs.
Suddenly, the sound of dense footsteps and the shopkeeper’s voice came from the front courtyard.
“Why have the officers returned?”
“Guard the main entrance. You few, follow me upstairs!”
Judging by the commotion, there were even more soldiers this time.
Xiao Yi swiftly pulled the saddle strap tight and turned to see that Guo Xin had already finished saddling his horse, while Guo Xin and Guo Zongyi had not yet untied the ropes.
“No time. Two people per horse, go.”
Guo Xin, being alert, quickly pushed open the side door of the back courtyard.
Guo Xin saw Guo Zongyi staring blankly with his luggage. In his haste, he casually lifted him onto the saddle.
Xiao Yi mounted his horse, and as he spurred it out the door, he reached out and smoothly pulled Guo Xin onto the horse. He tugged on the reins and dashed into the alleyway in the twilight.
Not long after they left, shouts came from behind them.
“They’re there!”
“Chase them, don’t let them escape!”
A sharp whistle sounded.
The number of people chasing them exceeded Xiao Yi’s expectations, and he had only impersonated a minor official.
Ahead, Guo Xin suddenly slowed his horse.
“Hurry!”
“We can’t get through!” Guo Xin yelled. “There are officers and soldiers ahead, what should we do?”
“Take a detour!”
“Follow me!”
Guo Xin’s horse suddenly veered and galloped onto the main street. Ahead, a troop of soldiers was surging from the direction of Liuxi Alley.
Xiao Yi had no choice but to follow Guo Xin and charge into the long street.
The sky had not yet darkened, but the streets of Kaifeng held a strange quietness.
“Clang!”
In the distance, the sound of a wooden clapper came, followed by sharp shouts.
“Kaifeng is under curfew tonight. Anyone lingering outside will be immediately apprehended!”
“Curfew tonight, do not linger…”
The horses’ hooves clattered. Guo Xin galloped down the long street at a fast pace. Although Xiao Yi could keep up, his brow furrowed deeper.
He realized they were heading towards the Guo Residence.
“Stop!”
“Follow me!”
“Zhan Zhao, I told you to stop!”
No matter how Xiao Yi shouted, Guo Xin would not stop. Perhaps the pent-up frustration from being ordered around all day had erupted, and he was determined to act according to his own will.
The horses galloped furiously, shaking off the pursuers. Guo Xin continued to turn into a maze of narrow alleys, specifically choosing the narrowest ones to weave through.
Finally, the high walls of the Guo Residence came into view.
“Whoa—”
They had to rein in their horses.
At the alley entrance ahead, an abatis with spikes had been erected, and more than ten heavily armored Imperial Guards were questioning passersby.
Hearing the horses’ hooves, the Imperial Guard soldiers turned and shouted loudly.
“Who is it?!”
Guo Xin did not answer, his back appearing somewhat hesitant.
Xiao Yi stepped forward, grabbed the reins of his mount, and turned to leave.
The Guo Residence was close, but they could not return.
“Stop!”
“Stop, who are you?!”
Xiao Yi did not answer and spurred his horse, galloping away.
A sharp whistle sounded again.
Ahead in the alley, the sound of dense footsteps swarmed towards them.
Their escape route was also blocked.
Caught between front and back, they were in a desperate situation.
“Let’s fight!”
Guo Xin knew he had caused trouble and gritted his teeth, saying, “I’ll cover the rear, you go!”
Xiao Yi suppressed the urge to slap the young man and tried to remain calm, looking around for any glimmer of hope.
In the halo of the setting sun, a magnificent and solemn Octagonal Glazed Hall came into view.
“Follow me.”
“…”
“Neigh!”
The fine horse neighed, and with rapid hoofbeats, it galloped further down the other side of the alley, luring the pursuers away.
In the twilight, the silhouette of the Great Xiangguo Temple was serene and peaceful. The temple gate had not yet closed, and a few incense pilgrims entered and exited.
Four figures walked into the sparse crowd.
Xiao Yi’s heart pounded like a drum, but he slowed his steps, appearing calm and composed. He occasionally turned his head and said gently to the three behind him, “Don’t look back, act naturally. We’re going to offer incense.”
“Oh.”
“Ming Yan, Qing Wen, you often accompany Madam here. Do the monks recognize you?”
“Do you need us to step forward?”
“No, I’m just afraid it might cause trouble if we are recognized.”
Guo Xin said, “In the past, we always followed behind. Now that our attire has changed, they won’t recognize us.”
“Dong!”
“Dong—”
A deep and distant drum sound came from the solemn palace buildings, as if it had drowned out the clamor and killing intent outside the temple.
Xiao Yi walked to the temple gate and was stopped by a guest monk.
“Amitabha, honored benefactors. The evening drum has sounded, and the temple will be closing soon. May I ask your purpose?”
The guest monk’s voice was gentle but carried an unyielding sense of order.
Xiao Yi stepped forward, joined his palms in a gesture of greeting, and displayed a suitable expression of weariness and apprehension on his face. He said, “I apologize for disturbing your cultivation, master. I am bringing my maids and guards from Zhengzhou to Kaifeng to visit relatives. However, our relatives have moved away, and we have nowhere to go. We did not expect the capital city to be under curfew. I have long heard of the compassion of Buddhist Law at the Great Xiangguo Temple. We beg for your convenience and permission to lodge here for a night, and we will depart early tomorrow morning.”
The guest monk’s gaze swept over the four of them. Guo Xin and Guo Zongyi quickly lowered their heads, while Guo Xin tried hard to suppress the arrogance that had not yet faded from his face.
“Amitabha. The temple rules are strict here. Lodging requires a recommendation. Please.”
Having said that, the guest monk directly closed the gate.
“Dong—”
Another solemn Buddhist drum sounded, but it seemed to urge them to leave.
Between the beats of the drum, the distant fierce shouts could be faintly heard.
“I have a recommendation.”
With time running out, Xiao Yi hardened his heart and reached into his robes, feeling for the jade pendant he had obtained from Shi Deyuan.
The jade pendant was as translucent as mutton fat, warm to the touch, and finely carved. The front had lotus petal patterns encircling a Buddhist swastika, and the back was a disc-like circle.
“I was fortunate to receive guidance from Zen Master Wen Yan, who gifted me this pendant and said that if I encountered hardship, I could seek help in a place where Buddhist Law flourishes. I wonder if this item can serve as a recommendation?”
“Ancestor Wen Yan?”
The guest monk was indeed moved. He took the jade pendant and examined it carefully, murmuring, “It is truly a perfect form… ‘Perfect body of reward, all laws return to one.’ The Ancestor has achieved it. Amitabha.”
Xiao Yi also joined his palms in a gesture of greeting at the appropriate moment and said, “Amitabha.”
The guest monk looked at Xiao Yi again, his eyes now filled with respect. He bowed slightly and said, “Benefactor, please enter. I will go and invite the Abbot.”
“No,” Xiao Yi improvised. “The Zen Master’s compassion once offered me a few words of guidance. How can I disturb the Abbot’s cultivation because of this? It is precisely… ‘a single leaf does not touch the body.'”
“I am taught.”
“If you could provide a simple room for us to stay temporarily, that would already be a great kindness from the Buddhist gates.”
“Then please follow me, honored benefactors. However, the temple has rules; you cannot enter the monks’ quarters, and the female companions cannot enter the main hall.”
“Thank you, master. We will certainly abide by them!”
The sound of the temple gate closing came from behind Xiao Yi.
The monks’ quarters were simple: a single room divided into two sections by a curtain. The bedding was old but clean, and the air was filled with the faint scent of firewood and soapberry.
The guest monk served vegetarian meals and said, “Benefactors, please rest assured. Unless absolutely necessary, do not go out at night.”
“Thank you, master.”
After bolting the door, Guo Xin immediately furrowed his brow and said, “The residence is surrounded! Have they come out?”
Guo Xin was worried. “Even if they left the residence, the city gates are closed. How can they leave?”
Guo Zongyi sat obediently by the bed, his head lowered, and soon began to cry.
“Don’t worry,” Xiao Yi said. “They are surrounded but the residence has not been raided, which means they have not been accused. I believe Madam and Second Young Master are still working things out.”
Guo Xin said, “But…”
Xiao Yi suddenly rebuked, “Do you know that what you did today nearly got us all killed? I know you are worried about your family, and I know you are not afraid of death. I only ask you: would it be acceptable if Brother Yi and Wu Niang died? Would it be acceptable if Commander Guo received no news and was persecuted by the Imperial Court?”
“I…”
“Think for yourself why Madam asked you and Second Young Master to leave separately.”
After speaking, Xiao Yi no longer spoke to Guo Xin. He took a portion of vegetarian food and began to eat it earnestly.
After a while, there was a sudden “snap.”
Guo Xin had slapped himself. He lowered his head and said, “I was wrong today. My personality is just impulsive. I didn’t listen to Mother’s military order. I deserve punishment.”
Xiao Yi said calmly, “Eat.”
Guo Xin said, “It’s alright, it’s alright. It’s not in vain that Mother offers incense all day. The Great Xiangguo Temple protected us, and the Buddha will also bless the Guo family.”
“Mmm-hmm,” Guo Zongyi clasped his hands together, closed his eyes, and made a pious wish.
Guo Xin also said softly, “Young Master, please don’t be angry. We will wait here until the city gates open.”
Xiao Yi turned to look out the window.
It was already dark, and there was no time to see Hua Nong.
The sound of the wind rustled through the eaves of the ancient temple, carrying the chanting from the Great Xiangguo Temple.
The lanterns inside the temple were dim, and the silhouette of the distant bell tower was lonely. The turmoil of Kaifeng seemed to have been sealed off.
The pure land of Buddhism brought peace to the heart.
