Mo Sang – CH 294

Chapter 294. There’s always a way

The monks who went to the Ministry of War to copy the list of fallen soldiers worked diligently until nearly evening. Monks selected from other temples, such as Kaibao Temple, rushed to the Ministry of War, took over the pens from the first group, and continued copying.

Regarding the use of Yingxiang Pond and the area near the Imperial Academy entrance, Hei Ma made a trip to the prefectural yamen to inform the clerk.

That evening, the prefectural magistrate and clerk, along with their constables, drove away the fortune tellers, divination practitioners, snack vendors, and fake antique sellers from the area around Yingxiang Pond.

The fortune tellers and vendors, upon hearing that the area would be cleared out for a 49-day grand Buddhist ceremony, were overjoyed.

“Great! The chance to work for a month and live off for half a year has arrived!”

Before dawn the next day, in the latter half of the night, Monk Keyi had gathered the guest monks from various temples, large and small, including Kaibao Temple. Dozens of them rushed to Yingxiang Pond to assess the locations, create a list, and assign tasks.

In the afternoon, Li Sangrou strolled over and saw monks dressed in light, short clothing, hurrying to and fro, along with various craftsmen and laborers recruited to help.

Rows of poles had already been erected for the tall reed sheds. Li Sangrou looked up at the scaffolders, each a martial arts expert, clinging to the high frames, and wanted to sigh.

Da Chang said that just building the reed sheds would cost over five thousand taels of silver. Normally, three thousand taels would be enough, but it was already the twelfth lunar month, and to keep them working, they could not be paid more.

But she noticed that the craftsmen building the sheds were quite happy; listen, they were even singing!

Li Sangrou bought a bowl of fermented vegetable soup and squatted between two fortune-telling stalls, drinking it listlessly.

Sigh, she was so naive. She thought performing a ritual was the most important thing—a crowded main hall and a bunch of people standing in the courtyard.

Wow, this grand ritual was quite a spectacle!

“Here to check out the business?” one of the fortune tellers, who was watching the commotion, spoke to Li Sangrou.

Li Sangrou gave a vague “hmm.”

“No need to check; business is easy!

If you do not have any skills, go to any of the big pastry shops, get there early, buy some pastries—anything goes, even expensive ones like crispy snails—bring them over, and add a ten or twenty percent markup; they will sell very well!

If you have the capital, hurry up and place your order now to get the best and most sought-after goods. If you do not, you cannot choose; you will have to negotiate. Most places will let you buy on credit; everyone knows this business is lucrative.

No need to look; food is fine, and drinks are fine too, but if you want heavy drinking, you will need a wagon.” The fortune teller was quite talkative.

“Working during the New Year.” Li Sangrou pointed to the young scaffolders showing off on the high pole.

“Look at you, not eating or drinking during the New Year? You need to eat and drink even more during the New Year! How can you earn money if you do not work?”

“You are from out of town, are you not? Your accent does not sound like it is from Jianle City.”

“Yes, from Yangzhou.” Li Sangrou looked at the monk Xinyi, who was followed by a large group of foremen.

“Oh dear, Yangzhou is in a terrible state! Fleeing from here? Alas, how pitiful! Back when the Southern Liang people ravaged Yangzhou, I even donated ten large coins!

This grand Buddhist ceremony is forty-nine days long, you know? I heard it is a ceremony for a single surname!

Incredible! These people, you know, have so much money and so much guts!” The fortune teller clicked his tongue.

“How much guts?” Li Sangrou asked without turning her head.

“You are an outsider; of course, you would not know!” The fortune teller crossed his legs, quite smug. “These past years, we’ve been at war constantly. Although we’ve won every single victory, even great victories in war cost a fortune!

Our Emperor!”

The fortune teller cupped his hands and raised them.

“He’s incredibly wise, the first truly enlightened ruler in history! I heard he’s been very frugal with the war effort, only eating meat once a day!

Tell me,” the fortune teller leaned closer to Li Sangrou, his voice low, “even the Emperor is so frugal, only having meat once a day. And all over the country,” he continued, “it’s one thing if it is all over the country, but outside Jianle City, the Emperor is far away; he cannot see it, so he cannot interfere!

But in Jianle City, right under the Emperor’s nose, who dares not be frugal? You tell me, right?

It’s been years; not a single person has held a birthday celebration.”

Tsk, look at that kid; he’s so happy! He might not have had a single customer for a year or two. I heard this benefactor is very generous, paying double his wages!”

The fortune teller clicked his tongue again.

“Is your fortune-telling business doing well? It must be pretty good.” Li Sangrou glanced back at the fortune teller.

“Good what?! My eyesight is terrible; I always misjudge! And my mouth is so bad!” The fortune teller slapped his own lips. “My specialty is the Six Lines divination. I never cheat people by flattering them or using clever tricks; it is all real skill!”

“Shall I tell your fortune?”

“There used to be a blind man here; I heard he was also skilled in the Six Lines divination,” Li Sangrou finished her soup and handed the bowl to the vendor.

“Wow! That blind man was amazing! He could throw out a handful of coins, feel them, and instantly tell whether the person was male or female and how old, without ever being wrong! He’s my senior apprentice; I was only slightly less skilled than he was. Shall I tell your fortune?” The fortune teller pulled out a large sum of money.

“Next time, I will see if I can get some snacks on credit. Thank you.” Li Sangrou stood up.

“You are welcome, you are welcome. Come back another time.” The fortune teller waved to Li Sangrou.

The next afternoon, when Li Sangrou returned, the area around Yingxiang Pond and the entrance to the Imperial Academy was now cordoned off with avoidance signs and thick ropes.

The yamen runners, carrying thin bamboo poles two or three feet long, paced back and forth with stern faces, watching the rope circle, occasionally shouting and waving their poles back to those who crossed it.

Tall reed sheds had been erected.

Li Sangrou sat on a tree, looking at the reed sheds with a sigh.

For the first time, she realized that these reed sheds could be built with bright tiles and flying eaves, almost indistinguishable from houses. There were even guiding immortals on the eaves!

Under the eaves, craftsmen, their bodies wrapped in thick red silk, skillfully unwound long sections, tying them into large red embroidered balls.

It was truly beautiful!

Cartridges of paper and silk lotus flowers were carried in and handed out, hanging among large red embroidered balls, swaying gently in the breeze.

The lantern shop assistants carried long bamboo poles, with red lanterns strung on them, running to deliver them and hang them up; cartloads of candles were carried in…

All sorts of things flowed in, and gleaming silver flowed out!

No wonder she had never seen a grand Buddhist ceremony before!

Early on the third day, the list of fallen soldiers was completely copied.

Pairs of monks, a total of forty-nine pairs, dressed in brand-new bright red robes, led by Abbot Huiming of Kaibao Temple, chanted scriptures and struck wooden fish, emerging from the East Gate and heading towards Yingxiang Pond.

Behind the forty-nine pairs of monks, two monks in each pair, also dressed in brand-new bright red robes, carried offering tables upon which rested a scroll of the soldiers’ names.

Li Sangrou squeezed through the crowd, watching the solemn procession pass by, and her mood slightly improved.

These monks, though they spent a lot of money, did a remarkably good job of organizing this event.

………………………………

On the Wansheng Gate tower, Minister Zong of the Ministry of Rites and Prime Minister Pan stood side by side, craning their necks to watch the procession of monks slowly making their way to Yingxiang Pond.

“Truly impressive,” Minister Zong clicked his tongue.

“You do not need to worry anymore,” Prime Minister Pan smiled.

“It’s you and me!” Minister Zong grinned.

With the unification of the empire imminent, the Emperor had decreed that this year’s memorial service for the fallen soldiers should be grand.

A grand ceremony required money, but that old bastard Minister Dai was saying that the Shizi’s army was stationed in Jiangnan, incurring huge expenses, and he’d practically stop feeding everyone in the capital. Where would he get the money? He was told to figure it out himself.

He had no choice but to go to Prime Minister Pan; his Ministry of Rites was under Prime Minister Pan’s jurisdiction!

Prime Minister Pan told him to wait, saying the head of the army would be back soon, and he could discuss it with him then.

Before he could even go to the head of the army, a solution appeared on its own!

………………………………

The list of fallen soldiers was brought into the ornately decorated reed sheds with their upturned eaves and corners, and hung up one by one. Along the four sides of the sheds hung names of various places, such as Jianle City and Anqing Prefecture, and on the pillars on either side hung couplets written by scholars.

Li Sangrou looked around each shed, pondered for a while, then went around to the back and found Monk Keyi. She instructed him to place a donation box in front of each shed, with a booklet and writing materials on top.

Monk Keyi immediately understood. He had the same idea, but without the Boss’s permission, he dared not make the decision.

………………………………

On the morning of the fourth day, as the sun rose high overhead, the auspicious hour arrived. The abbots and monks of the inner and outer altars, all dressed in brand-new bright red robes, entered the Welcoming Auspicious Pool in groups from all directions.

The bronze bell transported from Kaibao Temple rang out, followed by the clear sound of the bronze chimes and the deep, resonant sound of the wooden fish drum. The grand Buddhist ceremony of offering prayers and blessings to the fallen soldiers, a ritual performed by both holy beings and ordinary people, officially began at the vegetarian feast.

Minister Zong of the Ministry of Rites, dressed in his most solemn ceremonial robes, entered the main altar with a young monk as a guide. He recited the memorial address, bowed, and then sat to listen to the sutras.

In the afternoon, Qing-Feng carried the memorial address, personally written by the Emperor, into the inner altar to be burned. Starting with Minister Wu, then Ministers Du and Pan, Privy Councilor Pang, and Minister Dai, along with the other five ministers (excluding Minister Zong of the Ministry of Rites), one by one entered the inner altar to offer sacrifices.

Li Sangrou squeezed through the layers of people, craning her neck to watch as they clattered coins into the donation box in front of the reed shed displaying the names of fallen soldiers from various regions.

Every so often, someone would step forward, write a few words, and hand a silver note or two to the young monk standing nearby.

Li Sangrou observed for a while, then circled around to find Monk Keyi.

“Do you have any more men?” Li Sangrou asked.

“About twenty more, just in case,” Monk Keyi hurriedly replied.

“That’s enough. I will call a few more people over to help. Count the donation boxes in front of the soldiers’ huts in each area every hour. Pick a few prominent spots, put up large signs, and write down the top ten donations. Change the signs every hour,” Li Sangrou instructed.

Monk Keyi’s eyes widened. “What’s this, Boss?”

“Some are rich people,” Li Sangrou chuckled.

Monk Keyi stared at Li Sangrou, who walked away with her hands behind her back, for a long while before letting out a deep breath.

Master said the Boss was a shrewd merchant; she really was!

………………………………

Between the inner and outer altars, and around the Yingxiang Pond and the Imperial Academy, were scattered reed tents of varying sizes for listening to the sutras. Six or seven out of ten of these tents could be secured by arriving early and securing a spot without paying. Others required a donation of five or ten taels of silver for incense money, allowing entry and a quiet half-day or full-day listening session.

Next to the inner altar, about ten more reed tents were reserved for distinguished guests attending the sutras.

Li Sangrou sat in one of the reed tents, looking at the slip of paper that Xiao Lu had copied down. It was the list of the top ten donors from yesterday to this morning; there had not been much change, and the donations were not large. However, she was not in a hurry; this Dharma assembly would last for forty-nine days.

Outside the reed hut, Qian-Shan peeked in. “Boss… I greet the Boss.”

Qian-Shan had only uttered half a sentence when he spotted Li Sangrou. He quickly greeted her, stepped aside to let Princess Ninghe, dressed in a moon-white cloak, and behind her, Gu Fei, wrapped in a black cloak, enter.

“Sit here,” Li Sangrou said hastily, standing up to invite Princess Ninghe and Gu Fei to sit.

The reed hut was surrounded on three sides by charcoal braziers, making it very warm.

Gu Fei removed the hood of her cloak and took off her outer black cloak.

Li Sangrou scrutinized her closely.

Gu Fei had lost a lot of weight; her complexion was sallow, and she had dark circles under her eyes—she was clearly in bad shape.

“It was so hard to persuade her to come out,” Princess Ninghe sighed, looking at Gu Fei.

“This ceremony is specifically for the salvation of the deceased. You should attend; it is also to pray for your father’s well-being,” Li Sangrou said, looking at Gu Fei with a hint of probing.

Gu Fei lowered his eyes and did not reply.

“Is this the princess?” a voice called from outside the reed shed.

“Yes, Your Highness, please wait a moment. Madam, please wait a moment,” Qian-Shan responded, leaning slightly towards the reed shed and smiling. “It’s Princess Changsha and Lady Yang.”

Princess Ninghe quickly looked at Li Sangrou, who nodded while smiling.

Princess Changsha, Shi Acai, and her sister, Yang Nanxing, had been waiting in a separate reed shed for half a day yesterday and all morning this morning; they had finally found an opportunity.

Princess Ninghe gestured to Qian-Shan, and Li Sangrou and Gu Fei stood up.

Shi Acai and Yang Nanxing entered the reed shed one after the other.

“This is Princess Shi of the Changsha Prince’s Mansion; she came from Jiuxi Shidong. This is Princess Shi’s younger sister, Lady Yang of the Ye family of medicinal herbs in Anqing Prefecture.”

“This is the Boss of Shunfeng, Head Li, whom I told you about,” Princess Ninghe introduced with a smile.

Shi Acai and Yang Nanxing bowed deeply.

Li Sangrou quickly cupped her hands in a gesture of respect. “I dare not accept such praise. Old Master Ye of the Ye family has helped me a great deal. Madam and Eldest Master Ye are truly a perfect match in talent and appearance.”

“My father-in-law and husband greatly admire Boss Li,” Yang Nanxing quickly replied with a bow.

“I dare not accept such praise; please sit,” Li Sangrou gestured with a smile.

Shi Acai first let Princess Ninghe sit down, then sat next to Li Sangrou, while Yang Nanxing sat next to Gu Fei.

Li Sangrou, Shi Acai, and Princess Ninghe chatted about the Dharma assembly. Yang Nanxing, sitting next to Gu Fei, asked in a low voice, “What’s wrong with you? So haggard, dressed in mourning?”

“My father.” Gu Fei’s voice choked slightly.

Yang Nanxing was stunned, filled with confusion, but dared not utter a word.

Gu Fei was the eldest daughter of King Rui’s mansion. The Emperor was her eldest cousin, and the renowned general was her brother. Her father, was he not King Rui?

Was King Rui not supposed to be the envoy to the imperial mausoleum? How could he be dead? How could King Rui’s death be completely unnoticed?

Yang Nanxing stared at Gu Fei, unsure what to say.

“Her father and the late Emperor were closer than brothers. When the late Emperor passed away, her father shaved his head. Due to the political climate, the Shizi informed the Emperor, and the matter was covered up.

A few days ago, when the King passed away, he left a will requesting a peaceful death, without being disturbed.

Filial piety is paramount, so Ah Fei and her two brothers followed the King’s wishes and saw him off,” Li Sangrou explained gently, looking at Yang Nanxing.

“For the past month or so, I’ve been accompanying Ah Fei at the imperial mausoleum, attending to his illness,” Princess Ninghe added.

“No wonder I have not seen you all lately,” Shi Acai sighed, bowing to Gu Fei. “Young Lady, please accept my deepest condolences.”

“You are so thin, you are just skin and bones,” Yang Nanxing said, putting her arm around Gu Fei. “No matter how sad you are, you cannot treat yourself like this. Elders always pass away before us. A while ago, when my father and great-grandmother passed away, I was also…”

Yang Nanxing hugged Gu Fei tightly. “It will pass, it will pass soon.”

Li Sangrou looked at Gu Fei, whose eyes were streaked with tears, and Yang Nanxing, who was holding Gu Fei.

They seemed to get along very well. Hmm, that was good.