Yu Xiang led her elder brother back to the small courtyard in a hurry. First she took care of her own wound. As her wound was not deep, the bleeding stopped quickly and even some hints of healing once the medication was sprinkled on it. Yu Pin Yan tried several times to help bandage her but was relentlessly pushed away by her with a disdainful expression.
Tao Hong was holding a basin of hot water while Liu Lu was cleaning the bruises on the Marquis' knees carefully with a cloth towel.
"Tell them to increase the heat of the underground heating. Can't you all see how pale Elder Brother's face is due to the cold?" Yu Xiang placed a pile of incised-wound medicine on the bedside table and propped her arms to climb up the soft couch.
Yu Pin Yan hurriedly fetched her into his arms but was severely pinched by her.
"Others asked you to kneel and you did, do you still have any dignity? Don't you know that a man has gold under his knees[1]? If your kneeling caused any mishaps, what should I do then?" As she spoke, tears came out again. Her dense eyelashes were covered with glistening teardrops that Yu Pin Yan's heart throbbed painfully looking at her.
"Good girl, don't cry. Elder Brother has been practicing martial arts since childhood. It was just kneeling which couldn't be as serious as you said." Yu Pin Yan gently kneaded her earlobe and tried to change the subject, "What does this mean?" He raised his middle finger.
"F*ck, which means damn it." Yu Xiang's fury rose from her heart.
Yu Pin Yan was stunned. A short while later, he rubbed his younger sister's lips with his fingers and his tone was totally helpless, "How can a girl be so vulgar, you must not do this gesture again."
"Don't worry, I've only done this to Ku Hui. I was really flippant with anger!" She threw herself into her elder brother's arms then embraced him adoringly and rocked him gently before letting go of him a moment later to concentrate on applying his medication.
Yu Pin Yan did not feel any pain, instead it was Yu Xiang who bared her teeth and made gasping sounds from time to time, induce Yu Pin Yan desiring to laugh yet the burning in his heart caused his eyeballs glued to her face and couldn't be pulled off.
After the medication had been administered, Yu Xiang pushed her elder brother down and covered him with the quilt as she ordered him to quickly sleep when Tao Hong was seen running in with a note, "Young Miss, Master Ku Hai has sent you a letter. Please take a look."
Promptly taking the note and reading it, Yu Pin Yan smiled cheerfully and said, "Master Ku Hai invites you to the mountain tomorrow, most probably Great Master Ku Hui has agreed to treat your legs."
Yu Xiang grabbed the note and crumpled it into a ball before replying coldly, "Not going. If I go, Heavens knows what other trials are waiting for you."
Putting his arm around her, Yu Pin Yan whispered, "Let's just go, at least go and have a look."
"If you go with me, it's not as simple as looking. They will ask you to go scale the mountain of swords and plunge into the sea of flames[2] which you will probably agree with even if you are afraid. I'm not going. I'm pretty good like this. I have you carrying me wherever I go and no one is more comfortable than me." Yu Xiang wrapped her arms around her elder brother's neck. Her tone was coquettish with eyes shining brightly without a trace of annoyance.
Gently pecking and kissing her lips repeatedly, Yu Pin Yan then bit her earlobe and murmured, "This is not good. When I hug you, I wish to have your legs wrapping around my waist, tightly, and not unresponsive like this .... "
Pressing against her butt was some kind of huge hard object. Yu Xiang instantly understood the real implication of the word 'hug' while the scene of her legs wrapping around her elder brother's strong lean waist, moving up and down appeared in her mind. Her cheeks reddened like the sunset glows on the horizon and if a scoop of water was to pour on her, the top of her head would sizzle in smoke.
"You, you are really shameless!" She licked her lips and the little charming eyes expressed her agreement, "Okay, let's go then. We have to come to an agreement first, if they make you kneel again, I don't want to be treated. Should my legs heal yet yours become useless, then I will immediately run away with someone else. Believe it or not!" She threatened, baring the fangs and brandishing her claws.
Yu PinYan's eyes darkened slightly and blocked the red lips of hers that he both loves and hates.
Ku Hui is after all an eminent person. The news of his return to Zhenguo Temple spread throughout the Capital by the afternoon. Old Madam hastily sent someone to summon the two siblings and eventually learned that her grandson's request for medical treatment had been rejected.
"Well, since Master Ku Hai invited us, there should be a glimmer of hope. Let Ma Momo prepare. We will all go together tomorrow morning." Old Madam made the final decision.
The next day, the young and old from Yu manor were all indeed present, even Yu Miao Qi, who is always missing, was waiting by the carriage. Riding a horse, Yu Pin Yan guarded in front while Old Madam and her three granddaughters rode in the same carriage.
"Xiang'er, if Great Master Ku Hui makes things difficult again, Old Ancestor will go and kneel. No matter what, we have to get your leg treated." Old Madam, who was taking a rest with her eyes closed, suddenly spoken and her tone was extremely firm.
Yu Si Yu hurriedly discouraged, "Old Ancestor, you are already advanced in age, how can you be the one to kneel? Let me do it. I don't believe Great Master Ku Hui is so merciless and hard-hearted enough to make things difficult for us weak women."
Yu Xiang was extremely moved. Holding both their hands, she said, "No one is allowed to kneel. If he is determined to make things difficult, I will not heal these legs. After all these years, I've already gotten used to it. Whether he wants to treat them or not, it's up to him."
Yu Miao Qi covered her mouth and laughed sarcastically, "Your words sounded beautiful but once you arrive at Zhenguo Temple, don't cry and beg others then."
"No one will take you for a mute if you say a few words less!" Old Madam slammed the table with fury.
If it was usual, Yu Miao Qi would have long been scared into silence and shivered, but today she just pursed her lips with a face full of disdain, as if Old Madam was just an ant who she could exterminate with a snap of her fingers or a wave of her hand.
Yu Xiang immediately perceived some inklings and sized her up without leaving a trace. Since Lin Shi's departure, Yu Miao Qi has almost behaved with her tail sandwiched between her legs and has not been seen so overconfident for a long time. Did she find a way out? Or has she found a more powerful backer than elder brother?
Recalling the plot of the original story in which Yu Miao Qi ascended to the top of the throne, Yu Xiang was horrified.
In the midst of her reckoning, the carriage arrived at the entrance of Zhenguo Temple. Ku Hai and Ku Hui both came out to welcome them personally. The group sat down in the simple and atmospheric meditation room. Ku Hai immediately apologized to the two siblings on behalf of his junior brother.
Yu Xiang waved her hand but her tone was rather mocking, "The fault is not with Master Ku Hai, we dare not accept this apology."
"Amitabha Buddha, the fault lies with this humble monk. Please forgive me, Benefactor Yu." Immediately half seated and standing up, Ku Hui sincerely apologized with both his hands placed together.
Yu Xiang stared at him steadily and sneered, "This is Great Master Ku Hui? Indeed young. It is said that monks are compassionate, how come Great Master Ku Hui is so cold blooded and heartless? There are times when devotees come to make pilgrimage in this mountain with the ceremony of three prostrations and nine kowtows, who nevertheless perform it with passion and sincerity which all come from the purest and highest faith within the depth of their hearts. However, Great Master Ku Hui has blasphemed this faith out of your own interest by forcing my Elder Brother to kneel until the top of the mountain in an unlined garment under such cold winter. If it wasn't for my Elder Brother's strong and healthy body as he has practiced martial arts since childhood, I'm afraid his pair of legs would have been incapacitated. I would like to ask, is Great Master Ku Hui the Buddha or Asura (devil), how dare you brutalize my Elder Brother to such an extent! It is true that my Elder Brother's hands are stained with blood but he has saved thousands over thousands of people by protecting our homes and defending our country as well as punishing the traitors. Let me ask Great Master Ku Hui one more question, you have been practicing Buddhism for more than twenty years, is the number of people you save more than my Elder Brother? If not, what qualifications do you have to judge and enlighten him?"
These words were truly sarcastic and hit directly to the point yet irrefutable. Ku Hai was solemn with shame in his eyes while Ku Hui could not even raise his head.
"Amitabha Buddha, this humble monk knows my mistakes. Let this humble monk treat Benefactor's legs and will spare no effort to heal them." He was silent for a long time before finally performing a grand obeisance of prostrating himself before them.
Yu Xiang still refused to let the matter drop but both her left and right hands were pulled by Old Madam and Yu Pin Yan, so she could only snort softly and considered it over. Yu Si Yu turned her head to look at her with eyes full of worship but Yu Miao Qi quietly clenched her fists and her heart was churning with strong resentment. She originally thought Yu Xiang could only be an invalid for the rest of her life but she did not expect Great Master Ku Hui would actually return and intended to spare no effort to treat and cure her. How can Heavens be so unfair!
Old Madam and Yu Pin Yan also returned the grand obeisance before making an arrangement with Ku Hui to check the pulse in Yu manor at yinshi (3am-5am) the next day. Several of them then briefly discussed Buddhism then seeing that it was late, they said their goodbyes and left. When they arrived outside the courtyard, they happened to catch sight of someone rotating the 50,000 qian-tong[1].
Old Madam smiled at once then pointed to the qian-tong and reminisced, "Xiang'er, do you still remember? That year before the bamboo lots landed on the ground, you got the grand lot by just a grasp in the air, which startled everyone."
Yu Xiang nodded her head. Master Ku Hai said, "Not only Benefactor Yu has a destiny with my Buddha, but also has great fortune and unparalleled luck. Naturally, she will get the grand lot. If several benefactors are interested, you can go and try it out. Those who get the grand lot will be the distinguished guest of this humble monk and are welcome to come talk about the scriptures with this humble monk whenever they want."
Yu Pin Yan has no interest in Buddhism, so he naturally remained unmoved. But Old Madam, Yu Si Yu and Yu Miao Qi were eager to try. When the person in front of them was done with rotating the qian-tong and returned crestfallen, they immediately went around it.
Old Madam and Yu Si Yu both only got the insignificant lots. When it was Yu Miao Qi's turn, she took a few deep breaths before touching the qian-tong. If Yu Xiang could get the grand lot, why can't I? She thought to herself unwillingly.
"Ai, it's a pity." Once she was done drawing her lot, Yu Xiang moved closer to look then immediately covered her mouth and laughed with mockery revealed in her eyes.
"Indeed one with no luck. Put it back then, it's time to go back home." Seeing that Yu Miao Qi was about to break the bamboo lot, Old Madam sighed with a frown.
Ku Hai took a few steps forward to look at Yu Miao Qi. A short while later, he placed both his hands together and warned sincerely, "The minds of all living beings respectively clung to the vain phase, hence the name delusional thoughts which said they will start pursuing these delusions and yearning for it; perhaps it is difficult to know if it's false but they will repeatedly think about it nonstop, enabling the delusions to confuse and agitate the heart ... this Benefactor, you have ignorantly preoccupied with the delusion and has suffered in vain of the world's great suffering. Perhaps you should devote yourself to cultivate Buddhism in order to be free."
There were endless streams of people coming to pray today and also a great deal of people surrounding the qian-tong. It was fine she failed to get the grand lot but she did not expect Ku Hai to actually say these slightly derogatory comments. Some people immediately recognized Yu Miao Qi then passed the words by mouth that she had embezzled her grandmother's share and bought the poisoned jujube. Everyone was in an uproar and secretly said that Master Ku Hai's face reading was really accurate.
Not mentioning how indignant Yu Miao Qi was, even Old Madam felt ashamed too. So, she had to push her granddaughter forward and exhorted her, "Xiang'er, you go and draw one too."
It was known to everyone that Yu Xiang had gotten the grand lot. So when they saw her coming forward, they immediately stopped their clamor and stared steadily at her hand rotating the qian-tong.
Just like last time, without waiting for the bamboo lots to land on the ground, Yu Xiang randomly grasped in the air and got the grand lot. When she looked over it, she was stunned herself too. Master Ku Hai laughed boisterously and said, "Amitabha Buddha, Benefactor Yu indeed has a destiny with my Buddha. Excellent, excellent!"
The crowd was electrified, saying that Third Young Miss Yu's luck was really good and momentarily forgot all about Yu Miao Qi's disgraceful matters. Old Madam felt greatly relieved and smiled. Although Yu Miao Qi breathed a sigh of relief too, her hatred for Yu Xiang had reached the point of no return.