Chapter 145: Living Water

Most of the peonies in Baoguo Temple had passed their blooming season. The spectacular display of the two imperial tribute peonies, Yao Huang and Wei Zi, was no more. Only some comparatively common varieties remained in bloom, like the Ink Sovereign peonies, whose charm was diminished by their leaves obscuring the blossoms. Yet, even a dying camel is larger than a horse, and Baoguo Temple’s peonies were still magnificent compared to those at the Northern Liang Prince’s Estate. Simply strolling through the temple gardens took an hour and a half.

With some time remaining before lunch, the group settled in an elegant Zen room for tea. Oddly for a temple, the tea was prepared by a graceful Taoist nun. Both emperors of the current and previous dynasties favored Taoism, setting a precedent for their subjects. The teachings of Zhuangzi and Laozi were also a crucial branch of discussion among Jiangnan scholars. Many women from aristocratic families cultivated the refined habit of studying the Yellow Emperor and Laozi’s philosophies. Still, a Taoist nun appearing in a Zen room was somewhat unusual. She was about thirty years old, with rosy cheeks, long eyebrows, and a naturally serene aura befitting a cultivator. From the conversation between her and First Sister Xu Weibear, it became clear that this woman, whose real name was Xu Huipu, came from the direct lineage of the Gu Mu Xu clan. Otherwise, she wouldn't have exclusive use of several acres of tea mountains behind Baoguo Temple, a place frequented by dignitaries.

Xu Huipu was something of a confidante to Xu Zihu, perhaps due to both women being widows, which brought them closer over the years. This nun seemed to extend her affection for Xu Zihu to Xu Fengnian, treating him with considerable courtesy. Although she spoke little while preparing tea, mostly exchanging pleasantries with Xu Weibear, her eyes would occasionally meet the Crown Prince’s, always with a warm smile. The tea caddy was an exquisite tin bottle, valued for its airtightness, as tin is compatible with tea. Before storage, large bottles were filled with water and small ones blown with air to check for leaks. She was clearly a tea connoisseur; an amateur would only focus on how expensive the jade and gold ornamentation was. The teapot was a simple, antique winter-style vessel.

Seeing Xu Fengnian staring at the teapot, she explained, "My father acquired this by chance when he went to Two Chan Temple in his youth to listen to a high monk’s lecture. It was made from the clay at the bottom of the basin where a monk, who spent years farming, washed his hands. It was shaped like the burl of a ginkgo tree at Two Chan Temple, and engraved with tree patterns. For some reason, it later became widely known. The pot is named after the line, ‘Fingerprints subtly rise to welcome spring.’ However, most winter pots from Yangzhou use clay dug from Yangxian Creek.”

Xu Zihu was trying to insert a peony into Xu Fengnian’s topknot, but he vehemently resisted. The siblings went back and forth, and eventually, a breathless Xu Zihu laughed, "That old monk was the abbot of Two Chan Temple. I heard he lived to be one hundred and fifty or sixty years old! Throughout the world, only Song Zhiming, the master alchemist on our Wudang Mountain in Northern Liang, can compare to him. My Uncle Xu would visit Two Chan Temple every ten years, not only to listen to Zen teachings and scriptures but also to ask the old monk for that hand-washing clay. So, while a catty of clay from Yangxian Creek might be worth a catty of gold, it’s still not as imbued with Buddhist essence as the teapots made by my Uncle Xu."

Xu Fengnian had just accepted a green jade *dou* teacup and was about to drink when he heard that the teapot was made from the old monk’s hand-washing clay at the bottom of a basin. His expression immediately became a little unnatural. He couldn’t taste any Buddhist essence, and he certainly didn’t want to. But once on a pirate ship, it’s hard to get off, so he bravely took a sip. He wasn’t discerning about tea, so he dared not show off. The tea leaves and the spring water used for brewing were undoubtedly excellent, but the mere thought of “hand-washing clay” dampened his spirits.

Before he knew it, Xu Zihu had managed to put the peony in his hair. He was too lazy to remove it. He inexplicably thought of the girl Li Zi, who claimed to live in the temple, and the little monk Ben Nanbei. For a moment, he was lost in thought, then he recalled the rumors about the old abbot of Two Chan Temple. It was said that this old monk, whom the world regarded as a saint destined to become a patriarch after his passing, was very interesting. He was barely literate. In his youth, he merely chopped wood and burned charcoal to support his elderly mother. The family who bought his firewood were Buddhists and often read the *Diamond Sutra*. Over time, the young man gained enlightenment. After his mother’s death, he went up the mountain and immediately inherited the mantle of Two Chan Tathagata, receiving tonsure, ordination, and becoming an abbot, all in one go. It should be noted that he did not lecture on scriptures. Although this had something to do with his humble origins and limited literacy, this monk’s comprehension undoubtedly rivaled that of the great Buddhas. He understood all dharmas by listening to the Diamond Sutra once. The monks of Two Chan Temple recited countless scriptures, yet when they sought the old monk’s guidance on classical Buddhist principles, he would straightforwardly say, "I haven’t read your scriptures." Therefore, the monk would only ask them to recite scriptures, and often after they had recited only a small portion, he would say "Stop" and then expound on the Dharma to them, and no one was unconvinced. Once, the hundred-year-old abbot of Fahua Temple, the largest temple in the southern kingdom, asked the then forty-year-old monk why he had read the *Lotus Sutra* ten thousand times yet still didn’t understand its meaning. All the old abbot did was recite a few passages, and the young monk began to eloquently explain their profound meaning. The old abbot was greatly enlightened and departed with gratitude. To the world, it sounded miraculous, unimaginable how a monk who couldn't even read scriptures could guide people. Even the immortal Qi from Longhu Mountain would salute him upon meeting. The two most outstanding figures of Buddhism and Taoism appeared simultaneously at a Lotus Debate a cycle of sixty years ago, but the outcome left all observers baffled: they merely sat facing each other, not saying a word, for an entire night.

That was the last time the immortal Qi Xuanzhen appeared before his ascension.

As this monk grew older and older, it was never heard that he learned to read scriptures. It was only when his disciple, the white-robed monk who had spent fifteen years seeking the Great Path, returned that he allowed this disciple to explain the scriptures for three days and three nights, nodding frequently. Finally, he astonishingly permitted the white-robed monk to drink alcohol and marry, which was against all the world's greatest taboos. Later, this led to an unorthodox and rebellious sudden enlightenment.

Xu Fengnian suddenly flinched, spilling tea everywhere, and murmured, "The white-robed monk Li Dangxin, the girl Li Zi who has lived in the temple since childhood…"

The Taoist nun Xu Huipu had already noticed Xu Fengnian’s lack of interest in tea. This spill only made him seem more impolite, no different from a common person. She looked displeased but said nothing, though she no longer had any intention of pouring the Crown Prince a second cup of tea. It seemed the world's saying about the Northern Liang Crown Prince being "gilded outside but rotten within" was not an exaggeration. Her sister, Consort Xu, who had been favored by the emperor, was suddenly cast into the cold palace, sending the entire Xu clan into a furious rage. However, as a widowed nun, she wasn't so unreasonable as to take her anger out on Xu Zihu. The night before, she had learned the inside story of the Crown Prince stirring up trouble in the two commanderies and merely dismissed it with a smile. She hadn’t even agreed to her family's suggestion to use Xu Zihu to approach the Crown Prince and probe his true nature. Seeing him in person today, she was truly disappointed. He was nothing more than someone who relied on the Northern Liang Prince’s family background to bully others, fundamentally no different from the unruly descendants of the four great clans in Yangzhou. Xu Huipu glanced at Xu Zihu, with whom she usually had heartfelt conversations, and sighed inwardly. The tea hadn't cooled, but the atmosphere had grown much colder, something that couldn't be changed by simply adding a few more coals. Xu Zihu seemed to have been negatively influenced, no longer as quick to understand as before. She simply said she wanted to tour Baoguo Temple with her brother again and left the Zen room.

Xu Huipu sat in silence for a moment. After the group had gone far, she slowly rose, walked out the back door of the courtyard, and headed straight up the tea mountain. After about an hour’s walk, she finally saw a bamboo building. Under the bamboo eaves lay a bamboo chair, on which sat an old man with snow-white eyebrows and hair. A lion cat, whose fur was also snow-white, sat on his lap. The old man stroked the cat’s head, sitting upright and gazing at the distant mountains.

The old man extended a hand. Xu Huipu sat respectfully on a small stool beside the bamboo chair. Before she could speak, the octogenarian smiled kindly, "You came so early. You must have been greatly disappointed."

Xu Huipu softly replied, "Elder Ancestor sees through all worldly affairs."

The old man laughed, "That’s good. Since this Crown Prince cannot be propped up, let the hereditary succession be just that. We old fellows can all relax a bit."

Xu Huipu knew that her opinion might influence the future plans of Yangzhou’s four prominent clans, and nervously said, "Perhaps Elder Ancestor should have someone test him again. I fear I misjudged him."

The old man cast a light glance. The nun, whose status was already considerable, trembled slightly in fear. The old man stroked the lion cat’s head and laughed, "What are you afraid of? Such a heavy burden won't fall on a young woman like you. That would be too much underestimation of people like Yu Lian, Xu Gong, and Lu Daolin. Yangzhou is not that impoverished yet."

Xu Huipu’s face was pale, and she dared not speak.

Yu Lian, Minister of Personnel, was the head of the Yu clan of Jiangxin. Lu Daolin was the head of the Lu clan of Huting. General Xu Gong, though not the head of the Gu Mu Xu clan, was a powerful general of the dynasty, wielding military authority. Yet, these illustrious figures of Yangzhou, each with their extraordinary talents, would stand respectfully in the presence of this Elder Ancestor, if not tremble like Xu Huipu. Xu Huipu was allowed to sit not only because she was a woman but also because she was the granddaughter-in-law of this venerable Yangzhou patron. How could the vast Jiangnan literati group, with its deep foundations and influence, be compared to the Green Party, which had only a century of history? Hongjia’s Northern Flight was orchestrated by this very Elder Ancestor. And the *Family Rankings*, which assessed the status of families across the realm, involved nine people from the dynasty, and the Elder Ancestor’s rank was even above that of the current Grand Chancellor, Zhang Julu! Because when the Elder Ancestor was young, he was a fellow disciple with the old Grand Chancellor and Western Chu’s Grand Preceptor Sun Xiji. No matter how powerful Zhang Julu was, he still had to consider himself a junior.

The old man gazed into the distance, "Today’s debate between the Way of Kings and the Way of Hegemons will probably be a rehash of old ideas."

Xu Huipu hesitated but ultimately said nothing. The Elder Ancestor had been at the center of the most pivotal Kingly Way vs. Hegemonic Way debate in the past fifty years, so he naturally had the right to say such a thing.

The old man sighed, "The old Grand Chancellor was lucky; he had Zhang Julu, who surpassed him. Otherwise, with his abilities, he would have merely been a patcher of the empire, patching up leaks here and mending holes there. After the Spring and Autumn War of Nations, he was bound to become anachronistic. It’s good that he died; otherwise, his reputation in old age would not have been preserved. That old Sun fellow from Western Chu was miserable. Originally, his reputation combined with ours couldn’t compare to his. Now, among scholars worldwide, his bad name is only second to Xu the Butcher. He might as well have died."

Xu Huipu listened humbly.

The old man heard the lion cat meow, looked down, and smiled, "It’s also not good if that Crown Prince can’t be propped up. It’s a good thing in the short term, but in the long run, what would be the point of us old fellows, whom the Tangxi Sword Immortal calls 'old undying ones,' shamelessly clinging to life all these years?"

Xu Huipu knelt with a thud.

The old man murmured, "What was that business between you and Lu Baixie back then? It’s nothing. Get up, the ground is cold; it’s not good to catch a chill. One should be down-to-earth, but not in this way."

Xu Huipu shakily rose and sat back down.

The old man squinted and said, "Go, arrange for that humble young scholar to meet the Crown Prince. With him advising Northern Liang, it will be no less than Zhao Guangling to Xu the Butcher. This stagnant water will come alive."

Xu Huipu gently rose. The old man calmly added, "If you offer yourself to the Crown Prince, then you will have completely severed ties with Lu Baixie."

The nun, who had lived a life of purity and few desires for years, reading only Laozi and Zhuangzi, did not refuse. As she departed, she bit her lip until it bled.