Lian Erye in the Red Mansion

Chapter 27 Daiyu and Miaochai

He only gave the Xing family twenty taels of silver. It wasn't that Jia Lian was unwilling to give more, but rather that he felt that if he gave too much, the Xing family might establish a firm foothold here and not seek refuge with Madam Xing in the future. Not only would the Grand View Garden lack a refined and elegant woman, but he himself would probably never see Xing Xiuyan grow up again.

Twenty taels, no more, no less, is just right. It can improve the Xing family's current situation, but it's not enough for them to buy houses and land in Suzhou.

Upon entering Panxiang Temple again and finding nothing unusual, Jia Lian breathed a sigh of relief.

Although he knew that given Miaoyu's character, the possibility of her reporting him was very small, he wasn't too worried. After all, it saved him some trouble, and it also made him more certain of Miaoyu's nature.

When she arrives at the Grand View Garden's Green Bamboo Nunnery, we'll treat her the same way and see if she can withstand it!

He did this with a compassionate heart.

What Buddha needs are devout disciples. It's better to pull out a disciple like Miaoyu who is clearly half-hearted as soon as possible. It would be a good thing for both Buddha and the young nun Miaoyu.

Upon arriving at the main hall, Daiyu had indeed completed her destiny, but she was nowhere to be seen.

After asking around, I learned that she had been invited into the inner courtyard. It was said that the abbess's direct disciple had found a connection with Daiyu and had invited her over for a private instruction...

The abbess's direct disciple probably refers to Miaoyu.

Why did she see Daiyu? Did she already know that he had teased her, so she went to Daiyu to complain?

Although he had some doubts, Jia Lian didn't take it too seriously. Once he was sure that Granny Wang and the others were with Daiyu, he continued to wander around the temple aimlessly.

……

After Daiyu finished the ritual with the abbot and others, she heard that the abbot's disciple wanted to see her, but she originally didn't want to pay attention to it.

Hearing that Jia Lian had gone out on business and that Miaoyu was no ordinary Buddhist female disciple, but rather a woman from an official family who practiced Buddhism while still keeping her hair, and was well-versed in Buddhist principles, he reluctantly agreed to meet her.

To her surprise, when they actually met, she found that Miaoyu was not only young, but also had such an ethereal quality that she was amazed. Only then did she put aside her arrogance and humbly ask for her advice.

Daiyu was moved by Miaoyu's beauty and temperament, and Miaoyu was in the same boat.

Before meeting Daiyu in person, no one would imagine that there was such a fairy-like girl as Daiyu in the world.

Although Miaoyu was proud and aloof, looking down on everyone in the world, she also sought out those who were different from the common people and was happy to treat them differently.

Just like Xiuyan, the girl who rented a place outside the temple, Miaoyu saw that she was quite extraordinary and had a natural talent for writing, so she was willing to teach her to read, write, and compose poems and essays.

Otherwise, given the Xing family's financial situation, Xing Xiuyan would probably have difficulty even learning to read, let alone achieving anything in her studies, and thus be able to sing along with the talented women in the Grand View Garden.

However, Miaoyu's feelings towards Xiuyan were limited; she felt that Xiuyan's talent was not exceptional.

Now, upon seeing Daiyu, though she was even younger, her speech revealed her to be someone like her, someone detached from worldly affairs. For a moment, she forgot about Jia Lian and took out her carefully collected tea set, brewing tea while trying to understand Daiyu.

Ultimately, the two were not familiar with each other, and Miaoyu disdained to use the Zen and Buddhist teachings she usually used to deceive the world to talk to Daiyu. So even after drinking two cups of tea, the two did not say much.

Even so, the two of them secretly regarded each other as "extraordinary people" and felt as if they had met too late.

"I should go back now."

Daiyu's sudden departure finally reminded Miaoyu of her original purpose in seeking out Daiyu.

He didn't press Daiyu, but helped her up. He casually remarked, "We don't usually receive outsiders here, but I made an exception for you today. It's alright though. I see you're not a worldly person. If you have time in the future, you can come and find me. I'll brew you some good tea."

"Just one thing: no men are allowed in. Our place may not be anything special, but it's a quiet and peaceful spot, only welcoming pure and virtuous women like you and me."

Daiyu thought to herself that when her cousin Jia Lian came in earlier, no one else in the temple said anything, so the rule that men were not allowed to enter was probably set by Miaoyu.

By this time, Daiyu already knew that the temple's uniqueness stemmed entirely from Miaoyu's distinguished family background. However, she doubted that the nuns within, despite their favor and protection, would necessarily obey her every word. It seemed that her second brother, Lian, had broken her rules with just a few taels of silver…

Without telling Miaoyu about what had happened, he nodded and was about to leave when he heard Miaoyu say, "Just now, I saw a young man wandering around the temple from the pavilion over there. I wonder if he was one of the servants you brought in?"

Daiyu was unaware that Miaoyu had already seen Jia Lian. If Miaoyu hadn't said what she had just said, it would have been fine; she could have simply said that it was permitted by the people at the temple. But since she hadn't said anything, and now that Miaoyu was asking, it seemed as if she had deliberately lied.

Therefore, he hurriedly explained, "No, he is my cousin. He brought me here to Xuanmu Mountain to relax. We got permission before we came in; we didn't trespass."

"cousin……"

Miaoyu murmured to herself, secretly relieved.

She absolutely could not tolerate her pure and flawless body being defiled by servants in the slightest!

Now that we know Daiyu is the daughter of a third-ranked scholar, her cousin must have been no ordinary man either. We just don't know what kind of person he was, what his character was like, or whether he was married…

Suddenly, Miaoyu blushed deeply, her face turning bright red. Realizing this, she saw Daiyu staring at her with a startled expression, and felt even more embarrassed. She quickly put her hands together in a half-bow, then turned and went back without paying any more attention to Daiyu.

Daiyu stood silently in place, her mind racing with a thousand thoughts.

Although she was still young and had never experienced romantic love, she had read about it in books.

Judging from Miaoyu's expression just now, she seemed to have understood something, though she didn't quite grasp it!

He thought to himself, "I thought she was no ordinary person. Could it be that she was captivated by my cousin's handsome appearance at first glance? Is that why she deliberately invited me in, pretending to befriend me, but actually using this opportunity to find out about Lian Er Gege?"

The more Daiyu thought about it, the more she felt that she had guessed the truth.

Poor Miaoyu, if she had known that Daiyu possessed such a keen and insightful mind, she probably would never have asked her those two questions, even if it meant her death. At this moment, she was sitting in her meditation room, pondering many random thoughts.

For more than a decade, she had never felt so anxious.

Jia Lian's identity has been roughly confirmed. With her family's power, she doesn't think it will be difficult to find out all about Jia Lian.

She simply didn't know how to deal with Jia Lian.

If my father finds out that he was bullied, given my father's temper, he definitely won't let him off easily.

Therefore, she didn't want her father to know.

However, they are only here to visit the temple fair today and may leave at any time. If they do, it will be difficult for her to see them again. Should she really let him bully her for nothing?

After much deliberation, she could only call her maid and instruct her, "Go and tell my master that Miss Lin, who came today, is not only kind-hearted but also has an affinity with Buddhism. In any case, we should treat them to a vegetarian meal before they go down the mountain."

……