Another part of the mass release~
Chapter 5 As They Say, That is in the Future
Nearly the end of the year, the whole family went to the temple to burn joss sticks for the ancestors.
I remembered inside the Dream of the Red Chamber described the Jia family members offered incense in the temple, vast and mightily whole family went out, formed a long line on the highway, they really did their best extravagantly. For the Xie family, I was not sure if it was because the patriarch was a person who liked simple or the other family members were the one who liked simple, going out to offer incense, with only five sedans, a few servants, the family moved out, travelling in mild and low-key manners, rushed to the Thousand Buddha Mountain.
The Thousand Buddha Mountain was only a few li away from the city, the mountain had tens of temples of various sizes, the reason why the mountain was bombastically called as Thousand Buddha. The Annals of Mountains and Rivers wrote, its height was ten thousand ren, had various exotic flowers and rare herbs growing around, had waterfalls and brooks, the birds were spiritual beasts.
I didn't know the particulars about how mystical it was. The sedans in ancient time were not the same like the modern cars, sitting inside the sedan, jolting around here and there, both my eyes darkened, my stomach inside churned a round, just like the feeling after went down from the pirate ride immediately took a roller coaster. I suppressed the urge until my whole body jerked as if a lamb ran mad in a fit of anger, this was just a trivial li journey for ancient time people was almost the same as a thousand li expedition type, endless.
Yun Xiang nonstop tried to encourage me, "Young Miss please persevere. We are almost there already."
I couldn't persevere any longer, I pushed aside the curtain and opened my mouth widely to throw up. The meals I took in the morning, the water gruel, steamed bun, eggs and apples, all including the sour acid liquid.
After throwing up, I felt more comfortable. Opening my eyes, I saw an uncommon yellow mixture stain sticking on a nice green brocade, flashing in a rhythm.
My sight moved upward from that fabric, ended up with Xie Zhao Ying's distorted smile. The hand holding the reins had some prominent veins showing, his joints turned pale but he still held back himself. He didn't come over to choke me to death.
An unrestrained people loved to be pretty, people who loved to be pretty had mysophobia. However I'm innocent, the road was so wide but he just had to ride here, without reason had me thrown up all over his body, this showed that this was self-seeking.
Xie Zhao Ying restrained his facial expression with difficulty, threw an item to me and said, "Smell it and you will not be dizzy anymore."
I looked at the item. It was an exquisite sachet, releasing a strand of sweet smell, it made me thought of Olay skin cream product. I smelled it at nearer distance, the smell gradually calmed me, making my mind settled down, really would not be dizzy.
So it turned out that he came over to give me this item. I turned around, wanted to thank Xie Zhao Ying but somehow he already moved ahead, to enter the temple to change his clothes.
Upon reaching the temple, a skinny old monk welcomed us at the entrance, said Amitābha and exchanged formalities. Then he invited us inside. Xie Zhao Ke and I followed behind Xie Madam. After the males had offered incenses, only then we entered, giving Buddha and Xie ancestors kowtows.
I sincerely worship. Blessing to the Buddha and the ancestors, although I'm not a child of Xie family but no matter what my original name still had Xie surname. Since I'm already in Xie Zhao Hua's body, then I will honestly behave myself. I will never bring shame to the Xie family reputation. I ask that all of you will bless me to return to my original body earlier, I really request it from all of you.
Just as we finished offering incense, next we still had to listen to the lecture. In my mind, I was howling, the throw up earlier had caused my stomach to be empty, now my stomach was rumbling with hunger, both my eyes turned green, staring intensely at the white steamed buns on the offering table. I swallowed my saliva.
Xie Zhao Ke was indifferent, still a slim and graceful lady behind Xie Madam, a beautiful and serene appearance. She saw my face, confusedly asked, "Fourth Younger Sister, are you not comfortable?"
I bitterly smiled while shaking my head.
Xie Madam in high spirits said, "Today, Master Hui Kong is the one giving lecture. This is a very rare opportunity. All of you have to earnestly listen."
Upon entering a room in the temple, I noticed a high seat at the side, a man wearing white satin with green silk embroidery clothes sitting at the side. It was Xie Zhao Ying who had already changed his clothes. I helplessly nodded my head at him, my hands suddenly stuffed in with a paper bag.
I was surprised, that paper bag was still warm. I carefully opened it. It turned out to be a few flaky pastry made of soya.
My tears of gratitude rolled down, "Second Elder Brother…."
"Eat them quickly." Xie Zhao Ying looked in sympathy at my ill-fated look, "Little San Zi stole them from the kitchen, I already ate half of them. I leave another half for you. How is it? Am I treating you so nice?"
I repeatedly nodded my head, immediately swallow a mouthful of it and ended up choking, nearly choked to death. Xie Zhao Ying used an Iron Sand Palm skill to clap my back. I spurted out that pastry bits until they even landed on the back of Xie Ling Juan who was at the front. Xie Ling Juan opened her mouth widely in her desire to scold me but was stopped by my eldest brother, it turned out that Master Hui Kong has arrived.
Master Hui Kong was a sixty plus old man, a pale and weak man but his steps were steady, his eyes were like two torches of fire, keen-witted and sharp, a glance and I already knew he was not a common person. Just saw him paused while standing, those two eyes like torches of fire swept through everyone but stopped at my face.
Being stared by those two bright eyes, I had a cold sweat. My mind was frantic. It couldn't be that that master noticed my abnormality of using another body?
However, Master Hui Kong turned away, he sat at the head of the room and started his preaching.
I originally was not interested in this preaching, adding being tired after half day, quickly started to get sleepy. Old monk mentioned about Buddha, uncommon literary quotations, profound and obscure usage of words and expressions, I heard it as if it was a foreign language. The temple room was quite hot like a charcoal fire, very [toasty/nice and warm], absent-mindedly leaned against a warm and soft object, my nose smelled a strand of simple yet elegant smell, satisfactorily closed my eyes.
Inside the dream was a vast sea of clouds, just like the time when I was a spirit. I blindly travelled around the sea of clouds, exactly like an aeroplane that had lost its navigation radar.
Flying around, the clouds gradually became thinner, faintly revealed a large piece of land. It was a modern metropolis, I floated in the high sky and looked down. I could see only the night time metropolis brilliantly illuminated, the dazzling multi-coloured advertisements at the tall skyscrapers. I suddenly noticed a familiar department store. It was then it dawned on my mind that I seemed to have returned to the original world.
I went wild with joy, immediately flew at the direction of the house. The house located in an estate had the scene of early autumn, osmanthus flowers fragrance waft about, several high class cars were parked below my house apartment, the upper part was adorned with pink ribbons and roses.
I was confused, all of the sudden a group of people emerged from the apartment, walking at the front was actually the one I yearned day and night, Zhang Zi Yue!
I just saw him beaming with satisfaction, full of joy, holding hands with a beautiful woman in red clothes. That woman was Li Yan. Both of them were so sweet and happy, being clustered around with everyone, walking toward a Mercedes-Benz car. A "large Happiness" word was pasted on top of that Mercedes-Benz car.
I unconsciously stood among the group of people. No one could see me, their body passed through my body as if I was a ghost.
I remembered now, today was 19th November, the day Zhang Zi Yue married. My flesh body was at somewhere who knew where but he was now without any ailment, already held a marriage ceremony and became Li Yan's husband.
I numbly stood, watching them entered the car. They moved out, very quickly the downstairs was empty. The autumn wind swept off yellow leaves, the desolate aura wrapped around me after the previous bustling situation disappeared. I stared at the direction the car disappeared, my eyes felt painful.
An inharmonious voice spoke, "Don't look anymore, things that are not yours will never be yours."
My sentiments being broken, unhappily gave a supercilious look, "You better say less nonsense, I already waited for two months. So I should be able to return to my flesh body by now?"
"No. No." That great immortal threw two English words, "The time has yet to arrive."
"Still not the time?" I was filled with anger, "Letting my soul to return to my flesh body, it is not a complicated work so why the long delay?"
That voice sounded helpless, "I also has no other choice. This act of returning soul to flesh is not something that just because you want to return will return. Any soul that enter any flesh body, all of them were allocated accordingly, need the instructions from the higher ups. Because the higher ups work inefficiently, the amount of works processed were limited daily. Although you are in the register, but to reach your name, I'm afraid will still need a few more days."
I was so pissed off that I cursed those bureaucracy a few times. That voice consoled me, "Miss Xie, please don't be impatient. The person you loved is already married anyway, your return will not change it. Why don't you settle in that world to experience a different type of life? Moreover, your fated partner is not that new groom."
The moment I heard it, I felt curious, "Do you know who is my fated partner?"
The great immortal was surprised for a moment, lowered it voice to say, "I was just curiously flipping the Mingge Eminent book and saw it, this sort of information is revealing the Heaven's secret, will be punished by Heavenly Lightnings if caught. Of course, only between the two of us. Others I will not tell them so easily…."
I got irritated, "Who is that person?"
That great immortal snickered, "That person is the one beside you, with attentive observation you will know."
After saying that, there was no follow up.
Just as I was going to ask more, that voice suddenly said, "The time is not enough." And then a force pulled me, just like a rocket pulling me up and away into the sky. My head dizzied, I quickly closed my eyes, floated in the sky for a moment before plummeting down in an instant.
Losing the contraction made me shouted loudly in fear, suddenly a "peng" sound, my back hit something, made me tumbled around.
Opening my eyes, I saw a thick and bulky crossbeams and ridges, and then a familiar face entered my view.
"Fourth Younger Sister, are you alright?"
Xie Zhao Ying looked at me anxiously yet helplessly. I dumbly looked at his handsome face, the great immortal's words suddenly replayed in my mind, "That person is the one beside you."
A short period of wicked cold.
Xie Zhao Ying gently moved his hand to touch my head, "You shouldn't be sleeping until turn to an idiot?"
Only then I noticed the temple room was very quiet, everyone was staring at me, Xie Madam's face was not very well, that Master Hui Kong was abstrusely closing his eyes. The thing behind my back quivered a little, I felt it was not quite right and turned my head around. Song Zi Jing smiled faintly as he gazed gently at me, so it turned out that I fell into his embrace. My face flushed in red instantly.
Xie Patriarch with his composed thick face apologised to Master Hui Kong, "Little daughter does not have proper upbringing and offended Master. This old man will give more teaching upon reaching home later so hoping that Master will forgive her."
Master Hui Kong mumbled "Amitābha" and said, "Master Xie doesn't have to blame oneself. Xie Young Lady is young and lively, so unable to bear listening the teaching until depressed is a normal situation. This old monk see that Xie Young Lady is a simple and bright genius, clear and bright spirit, has [supernatural influence/bright aura] at the space between the forehead as well as graceful and poised bearing. In the future will become the model for all women (Empress)."
That particular sentence was like a grenade tossed into the crowd, very explosive that the whole family members extremely confused.
All family members slowly turned their heads to look at me and then turned their heads to look at Xie Zhao Ke. Madam Xie opened her mouth and asked the same thing everyone was thinking about, "Master, have you mistaken the person?"
The others and I nodded our heads.
Master Hui Kong put both his palms together, "Patron, a monk doesn't speak lies. This Heaven's secret, this old monk already revealed and had sinned, will be hard to avoid retribution. Amitābha."
This old monk, since you knew that the Heaven's secret shouldn't be divulged then why you didn't take care of your mouth?
I wished to cry but had no tears. Xie family members now were just like when they first met me. Written on their faces were, "How is it possible? Why no matter how I look, she doesn't look like one?"
I hurriedly said, "I don't believe what that old monk said." I still wanted to return to my original flesh body.
Patriarch Xie angrily scolded, "Impudent!"
I didn't know whether he thought that I shouldn't call Master Hui Kong as old monk or denying my fate as future empress.
Master Hui Kong smiled while leaving the room, leaving a room of puzzled people. Madam Xie broke the silence by fake coughing and said to Patriarch Xie, "Master, why don't we ask that Master to check the fate of Ke er?"
Xie Zhao Ke's beautiful face was unwilling, her eyes with hidden bitterness were staring holes at Song Zi Jing's body. Song Zi Jing on the other hand was looking at me, probably was thinking how I could actually be the model of all women.
Xie Zhao Ying grinned while approaching me, "Congratulation to Fourth Younger Sister."
I was not in the mood, "What congratulation?"
"Our family will be producing an Empress."
I unwillingly said, "Let us not mention about how that Emperor is already his 40s and had chronic illness. I'm sixteen as well as beautiful and fair, becoming his little wife, can he be able to withstand it?"
Patriarch Xie stomped his feet, "Scoundrel, how dare you spoke the words that slander the Emperor!"
I felt pissed off, opposed him, "What is there not to talk about? Women are human too. Just because they don't have the strength like the men, so they will not be considered as human by men? The truth is, the so-called 'obedient to father and obedient to husband' idea is just a violent regime, the whole society is [broken/abnormal progress]!"
Patriarch Xie this ancient person didn't know how to hold his own against a maniac feminist supporter, too angry that his face turned into a pig colour, almost fainted from anger.
Xie Zhao Ying saw the situation was not good and quickly pulled me outside.
He pulled me even outside the temple, I harshly pulled myself away from him and walked down the mountain alone.
At last I'm angry a bit.
Supposed as a girl, sacrificing her youth to devote herself for the sake of the family honour, others still think it was not enough to be considered as human. I couldn't stand this humiliation. What sort were they? One was a deceiving, thieving old monk with false reputation. One was a scholar who posed as if he was of high morals. Also this stupid society that considered men as leaders and women as slaves.
I stood at a wide stretch of plain and screamed, "This old lady wants to go home-"
"I will bring you back then." Xie Zhao Ying's voice suddenly appeared and scared me for a moment.
I didn't know when he chased up to me. He was leading a horse for so long, I was contemplating until I didn't notice it.
He released a sigh, "No matter what, he is still your father. Arguing with him is your fault."
I coldly said, "Second Young Master, I am someone who will become the Emperor's little wife, at that time the whole family will have to kneel upon meeting me. How can I still bother arguing with father?"
Xie Zhao Ying bitterly smiled, "Don't talk in anger anymore. That old monk's words are actually not accurate. When I was small, he even told me that I in the future will become the country governor (become Emperor)."
I got nervous, "Second Elder Brother, if this got spread will be beheaded!"
"Yeah." Xie Zhao Ying was quite vexed, "But you see me already this old but I'm still the Xie Second Young Master, without even an official post. Fuck his 'country governor'!"
I laughed, "This is still possible. Maybe after I become the Empress, promoted our family, then our Xie family amassed powers. In the end, you even become an unconstrained nobleman, create an army to rebel…."
The whole face of Xie Zhao Ying darkened.
I stopped myself, clasped my hands and continued walking, "Go back first, I'm fine now."
"Where are you going?" Xie Zhao Ying asked.
"After listening to the preaching for half a day already, my stomach is empty. I'm going down the mountain to search for food."
I just took two steps when my waist was hugged and lifted up onto the horse. Xie Zhao Ying put me in his embrace, said while smiling, "I'm hungry too. The food inside the temple is not appetising. Let's go. Second Elder Brother will bring you to Fragrant Sky Restaurant."
He kicked the horse twice and it galloped away at high speed.