Tiantang Splendid

Chapter 4944 Great Ci’en Temple
【Happy National Day】

On the fifth day, the wind stopped and the snow cleared.

One after another, ornately decorated four-wheeled carriages drove out from all the neighborhoods of Chang'an City, all of them were surrounded by people and servants, and pedestrians on the street dodged them. Just by looking at their aura, one could tell that they were either rich or noble. Who would dare to provoke them?

Although there are now many government offices and various regulations, and the behavior of all walks of life is becoming more and more regulated, what can and cannot be done is clearly written in the regulations, and there is very little vague words like "the law is above" in the past. Even if the powerful violate the laws and oppress the people, there are Jingzhao Prefecture and Dali Temple to accuse them.

But the principle that the Chinese people have believed in since ancient times is "It's better to do less than more". Since we know that the powerful are arrogant, let them be arrogant. Isn't it enough for us to just hide away a little...

Many carriages set out from various neighborhoods in Chang'an, but they all took the same route and eventually gathered in front of the Da Ci'en Temple one after another.

Today is the day when the royal family prays for Empress Wende...

The original intention of building Da Ci'en Temple was to have the Crown Prince pray for his mother, Empress Wende. So in a sense, Da Ci'en Temple was equivalent to a royal temple. However, when Xuanzang returned at that time, he used Da Ci'en Temple as a place for translating Buddhist scriptures. Today, it has become the hope of Buddhists all over the world.

The pagoda courtyard where the tablet of Empress Wende is enshrined is located in the backyard of Da Ci'en Temple. The royal ladies who came to pray for blessings arrived one after another. They said they were "praying for blessings", but in fact they just added some money for incense and candles in the name of Empress Wende to offer "Buddha's fate"...

Princess Baling and Princess Gaoyang's carriages arrived at the Da Ci'en Temple one after the other, so they entered to burn incense one after the other.

Princess Gaoyang stepped forward and took Princess Baling's arm, saying with a smile, "What a coincidence? Why don't we go together? After all, we are not outsiders."

Princess Baling felt a little panicked. What did this mean?
Although he was reluctant, he couldn't refuse, so he had to force a smile and said, "That's great, let's go in together."

Since the female relatives were praying for Empress Wende, the two of them naturally did not come alone, but brought their wives and concubines with them. Princess Baling looked at the dozen or so wives and concubines of Chai Lingwu behind her, and then at Wu Meiniang and Jin Shengman, who were like Princess Gaoyang's "right-hand men", and felt mixed emotions.

In fact, with Fang Jun's current status, power, and wealth, he has already opened up a gap of more than 100,000 miles with Chai Lingwu. One is a pillar of the empire, and the other is living a life of idleness and waiting for death by relying on his ancestors' influence. As a result, he has a bad reputation and is extremely "lustful". Fang Jun has only three or five wives and concubines, while Chai Lingwu, who is comparable to a "parasite", has many wives and concubines...

Inside the hall, the air was filled with the scent of incense and candles, and the atmosphere was solemn.

The two families knelt together in front of the altar, kowtowed, burned incense, and each donated a lot of "incense and candle money" before leaving together.

Wu Meiniang suggested: "I heard that a monk from Jiangnan came to the kitchen of Da Ci'en Temple. He cooks delicious vegetarian dishes. Why don't you have a vegetarian meal before leaving? I am really tired of eating big fish and meat during the New Year holidays. It would be nice to have some light vegetarian food."

Princess Baling was unwilling, but before she could say no, Princess Gaoyang had already pulled her towards the kitchen: "It's hard to see you normally, so today is a good time for us to get together and chat."

Princess Baling pursed her lips and thought to herself, what can I talk to you about?

Let's talk about how your husband is majestic and domineering, enduring? Or is he like a wolf and a tiger, taking a different approach?
But she felt guilty and couldn't refuse, so she kept walking and was dragged away by Princess Gaoyang. She had no choice but to turn around and call a large group of her "sisters" to go with her...

The vegetarian meal was delicious, but Princess Gaoyang was very unhappy that she had to pay for it extra.

She stared at the monk who was bending and nodding, and said in a bossy tone: "My family donates tens of thousands of dollars to the Da Ci'en Temple every year, and we have to pay for a vegetarian meal. Are you monks obsessed with money? Besides, there was no such rule in the past. Why do we have to pay this time? Did you do this on purpose because you saw me coming?"

The monk was afraid of her power and status. In the cold weather, sweat was slightly visible on his shiny forehead. He smiled and chatted with her. Seeing that Princess Gaoyang was still not giving in, he felt angry.

After all, the monks who were sent to serve the nobleman were obviously not the kind of high-ranking monks who were well versed in Buddhism and had an indifferent state of mind...

"Your Highness, please calm down. I am not targeting you. The temple is too large and has many monks. The daily expenses are extremely huge. We have to find ways to increase revenue and reduce expenditure. In the past, the temple had land and 'incense money', and the warehouse was full. Naturally, we could try our best to provide convenience to all donors. But now it is difficult to continue. I hope Your Highness will understand."

Princess Gaoyang was obviously choked and was unable to answer for a moment.

The decree to expand the property, annex land and resume taxation for the Buddhist and Taoist families was formulated by her husband. This move separated and sold the lands that the Buddhist and Taoist families had annexed through various means, which was equivalent to cutting a big piece of meat from these two families.

And "Xiangji Money" was a way for temples to make money. Before the emergence of the "Royal Bank", apart from the counters in the East and West Markets in Chang'an City, the most convenient way to borrow money was through several temples, which was called "Xiangji Money". Of course, the Buddha's disciples who were outside the Buddhist sect could not be tainted by the smell of money, so the principal of the "Xiangji Money" was called "merit", and the interest was called "blessings".

Lending is a good thing. When small businesses and farmers encounter operational difficulties or natural disasters or man-made disasters, they can have a channel to alleviate their suffering and receive assistance. I don’t know how many bad consequences have been avoided.

However, when the golden copper coins dazzled the eyes, the monks who had no desire for anything could not control their original intentions and were inevitably tempted by money. As a result, the interest rates became higher and higher, and the debt collection became more and more stringent. Even such unethical things as "nine out and thirteen back" were created. Anyone who dared not to repay the debt would have his house and land confiscated at the very least, and his children would be sold at the worst. I don't know how many families were broken up and almost everyone died.

Even if there are victims who file a lawsuit, temples are high-end circles these days, and those who come and go are officials and dignitaries, and some of them may even be the backers of the temples. How can they win the lawsuit?

When the "Royal Bank" came into being, it not only robbed the temples of their "incense money" business with low interest rates, but also formulated a series of laws and regulations through the Ministry of Civil Affairs to restrict lending.

This two-pronged approach resulted in a sharp drop in the temple's income.

The monks had long been accustomed to a luxurious life. Although their income suddenly decreased, it was difficult for them to stop their usual enjoyment in time. They could neither "increase income" nor "cut off inflow", so their warehouses were empty and they could hardly continue.

Fang Jun can be said to be the "victim" of Buddhism in the world, but Princess Gaoyang still acts bossy and accuses Da Ci'en Temple of charging money even for a vegetarian meal... The monks are naturally full of resentment, don't you know why they charge money?
Wu Meiniang smiled and said, "Does it really mean that everyone is being paid and there is no discrimination?"

The monk said confidently: "Of course it is so. I would never dare to offend you, my Lord."

Wu Meiniang's smile did not fade: "Has it always been like this, or is it like this today?"

The monk was stunned: "This..."

Princess Gaoyang understood immediately and clapped her hands on the table. Princess Baling, who was lost in thought for some reason, was startled and turned her head to look. She saw Princess Gaoyang with her eyebrows raised: "Well, it's a good thing that the Da Ci'en Temple was built by the late emperor, but now they are plotting to bring the emperor's family here? I want to ask Master Xuanzang what he wants to do!"

The monk was sweating profusely and was speechless.

Wu Meiniang smiled and whispered, "It's just a small matter, why bother to alarm Master Xuanzang? The money for the vegetarian meal was probably collected privately by the monks below and pocketed for themselves. Even if it wasn't, it is their right to charge for meals. You might as well tell my husband and ask the Ministry of Civil Affairs to pay more attention to it and add a 'business tax' to Da Ci'en Temple."

The monk heard it clearly and shuddered all over. This woman was as beautiful as a fairy, but her heart was as vicious as a snake. She was too cruel. She was going to get all the monks in Xiangjichu kicked out of Daci'en Temple...

Just when he was about to cry but had no tears, and was at a loss as to what to do, he saw a young monk quickly walk in, holding a porcelain pot in his hand. He approached him with both hands and respectfully offered the pot, saying: "Master Xuanzang heard that Your Highness Gaoyang came to the temple to pray for blessings and had a vegetarian meal, so he specially gave you the wild tea he made by himself. Please go to the temple to taste it."

We must definitely give Xuanzang face.

Princess Gaoyang glanced at the monk beside her and took the porcelain pot with a smile: "Please thank Master Xuanzang for me. I would be disrespectful to refuse it."

The young monk smiled and said, "The temple has just received some Liquan spring water. Your Highness, please come to the temple and enjoy it."

Princess Gaoyang nodded, said nothing more, and walked out with the women of the two families following her, heading for the temple hidden in the woods not far away.

……

Inside the temple.

The air was filled with mist and the fragrance of tea. Princess Gaoyang, Princess Baling, Wu Meiniang and Jin Shengman were kneeling on the mats, drinking tea comfortably.

Princess Baling did not mind sitting at the same table with Wu and Jin. Although Wu Meiniang was only Fang Jun's concubine, she had a very high status in the Fang family and almost all of the Fang family's assets were under her control. Jin Shengman was born into a family of Silla princesses and was a royal family. She felt that the concubines who came with her were not up to par...

Princess Gaoyang took a sip of tea, put down the cup, and said softly, "I heard rumors that the Gaoping County Prince sought to have his grandson Li Shaokang canonized as the Crown Prince, but was rejected by the Zongzheng Temple because they suspected that Li Shaokang was not Li Jingshu's biological son. Now the clan is in turmoil. If this is true, the Gaoping County Prince's Mansion will lose all face."

Wu Meiniang sat upright with a calm face, and continued, "The rumors in the market are 70% true and 30% false, and they are often exaggerated. However, we cannot help but guard against the fact that gossip can melt gold and slander can destroy people. People like us don't need to care about those rumors, but as the saying goes, people live by their reputation and trees live by their skin. Once your reputation is ruined, you will not be respected by people around you just by your noble status."

The tea was a little hot. Princess Baling took a sip, her heart skipped a beat, and her brows furrowed.

This sounds meaningful...