Drive to the Tang Dynasty, where supplies are refreshed daily!

Chapter 69 The host went to apologize!

On the other side, Li Lizhi, Princess Yuzhang, and several others took out photos to share with Empress Zhangsun.

Empress Zhangsun was also happy to see her daughters in the photos.

“Mother, these things are truly amazing. I wonder how the young master managed to do it.” Princess Yuzhang held up her own photograph.

Empress Zhangsun couldn't explain it either; it was something beyond comprehension.

Li Shimin also strolled over, saying, "Let me take a look too."

The little princess held up her photo and exclaimed, "Daddy, this is my picture!"

"Hmm, that's wonderful!" Li Shimin picked up the little princess and sat down. "Is it because our Sizi Fanyin has the most?"

“Young Master took the most photos of Third Sister Sizi Fanyin,” Li Lizhi said.

Xiao Ran dotes on his three little girls.

“Mother, the young master is teaching Third Sister a very special character, which I find very interesting,” Princess Yuzhang thought of Arabic numerals.

"I'm doomed too!" the little princess volunteered.

“Me too, Arabic numerals are so much fun,” Princess Chengyang added.

Empress Zhangsun had paper money brought out, and Princess Yuzhang and her two younger princesses began to write.

At first, I didn't think anything of it, but after reaching 10, I felt something was wrong.

Princess Yuzhang said, “Father and Mother, before, writing ‘ten’ required two strokes, and ‘eleven’ required two characters. But with Arabic numerals, ‘10’ is just ‘1’ and ‘0’ together, and ‘11’ is just two ‘1’s. No matter how big the number is, you can write it by changing the positions of these simple characters. It’s easy to remember and easy to calculate, unlike the previous numbers.”

Arabic numerals use only 10 basic symbols to represent numbers of any size by arranging them in order. They are easy to write and highly recognizable. Especially when counting and calculating, they are more intuitive and efficient than traditional Chinese numerals. Even children can quickly grasp the patterns, which is their most significant advantage.

"She does know quite a lot." Li Shimin looked at the numbers written by the little princess, but he didn't seem to intend to promote them.

Many people are used to it and don't accept or get used to this new thing when it first comes out.

The harmonious atmosphere at home made the two little princesses forget the unpleasantness from before.

When Cheng Yaojin returned to his residence, he was delighted to see Cheng Tiehuan, exclaiming, "The girl is back!"

"Father!" Cheng Tiehuan held up the photo. "Look at this, it's the photo I told you about before."

Cheng Tiehuan had described it once, but seeing it with his own eyes was even more shocking.

"This is truly remarkable." Cheng Yaojin liked it very much, partly because the photo was amazing, but more so because the person in the photo was his beloved daughter.

"Girl, there wasn't any conflict before, was there?" Cheng Yaojin looked Cheng Tiehuan up and down.

“We almost got into a fight, but the young master stopped us, and I kicked him,” Cheng Tiehuan said.

"These bastards, Dalang, go and beat them up and send them to Wannian County!" Cheng Yaojin looked at Cheng Chumo on the other side.

"Father, I've already beaten them up." Cheng Chumo heard that these people almost got into a fight with his sister, so he ran over and beat up Wang Gui and the others.

"Can't we beat them up again? These aren't any good people either!"

"It's Father!" Cheng Chumo rolled up his sleeves and launched into another round of punches and kicks.

The written agreement and fishing rod were sent back to Daxingshan Temple. Li Shimin ordered a thorough investigation of the temple's affairs, and many people learned of the news immediately.

I also found out why.

Zhihong, the abbot of Daxingshan Temple, personally went to Kaolao Village with a fishing rod and a written agreement.

Only a few hours had passed since Li Shimin gave the order. At dusk, after delivering the evening meal, Zhang Erya and Zhang Jinhe returned home with their belongings.

Zhang Erya was not in a good mood because of what happened this morning.

Zhang Mingde also followed them back into the courtyard.

Xiao Ran didn't let anyone talk about Huikong and Wang Gui's affairs, as it would be pointless to say more and would only cause more trouble if others knew.

It's of no use.

Several monks appeared not far away, and Xiao Hei cried out.

Xiao Ran and the others also saw several monks.

Compared to Huikong and the others before, these people were clearly older and of higher seniority, and all of them were wearing kasaya robes.

Zhang Mingde was startled; he knew these people were definitely members of the privileged class.

Zhihong stopped a long way off, signaling the monks accompanying him to wrap the fishing rod in a brocade cloth and hold it in front of him. He then clasped his hands together and bowed to Xiao Ran's courtyard gate, not even noticing the dust that had been swept from the hem of his robe.

After Xiao Ran came out upon hearing the sound, the old monk slowly straightened up, his long, white eyebrows drooping at the corners of his eyes, his voice deep and slow like the striking of a bell:
"This humble monk, Zhihong, is the abbot of Daxingshan Temple."

“Today, Huikong and Wang Gui of the Merit Temple are using the name of ‘merit’ to make extortionate demands, disturbing the peace of the benefactors and causing even more suffering to the Zhang siblings.”

Suddenly, he turned to Zhang Erya and bowed deeply, saying, "It is all my fault for not disciplining her properly. I have come today to accept my punishment."

This scene left Zhang Mingde and Zhang Erya dumbfounded.

The once high and mighty monk is now so humble.

Xiao Ran remained silent. The abbot appeared kind and benevolent, but Xiao Ran did not think he was a good person.

If he were a good person, he wouldn't have produced people like Huikong and Wang Gui.

This is rotten to the core.

Xiao Ran used to remember Xuanzang as very powerful and remarkable, but after this incident, his impression of him dropped significantly.

"No, no, no, I don't deserve it." Xiao Ran didn't give her a friendly look, and even sounded a bit sarcastic.

Zhihong gave an awkward smile and raised his hand to signal. The monk behind him gently handed over the fishing rod. The wooden box still had the seal of the temple's ordination platform on it: "This belongs to the benefactor. It was taken by an unworthy disciple. This humble monk has personally inspected it and found it undamaged. Today, I return it to you in its original condition."

"Huikong has been flogged forty times and expelled from the temple. Wang Gui and others have been handed over to Wannian County for punishment according to the law. All the contracts with interest on interest have been burned before the Buddha."

Xiao Ran had no intention of hanging these monks. They didn't know they were wrong; they were just trying to make amends because they were afraid of being held accountable by Li Shimin.

Seeing Zhang Erya clutching the hem of her clothes and shrinking back, Master Zhihong said again, "Don't be afraid, benefactor Zhang."

When he turned to Zhang Erya, he deliberately softened his tone, “This humble monk has ordered the temple’s steward to prepare thirty bushels of coarse rice and twenty bolts of cotton cloth, which will be delivered to the village entrance shortly. I only ask that they can be used to repair the houses and provide winter clothes, so that my temple can atone for its sins.”

Xiao Ran took the fishing rod. "Take the stuff back! You dare not accept it; it's stained with human blood, you're afraid of retribution!"

Xiao Ran still shows no sign of forgiveness; these people deserve to die.

I wonder how many people have been driven to desperation by them.

Upon hearing this, Master Zhihong did not raise his head. Instead, he pressed his clasped hands even lower, and slivers of twilight light rustled through the folds of his robe: "What you say is like a wake-up call."

The old monk's voice was even deeper than before, with a slight, almost imperceptible tremor. "Over the years, the Merit Temple has been a den of iniquity. Although I have occasionally noticed it, I have always tolerated it because 'family scandals should not be aired in public.' Only today have I realized that every penny extorted has been stained with the blood and tears of the people, and has long since defiled the purity of Buddhism."

“Your kindness is compassionate, benefactor. My temple is a disgrace to Buddhism for harboring filth and corruption. Ultimately, it is my temple that has done wrong. Amitabha.”

(End of this chapter)