Rebirth and Rewriting Fate

The world seems to have quieted down these days.

Since that day in the prison, Yun Chu had never seen Gu Ruoxiao again. They were like two parallel lines that had once intersected before going their separate ways. Perhaps it was for the best; let it end there. Time is the best healer, Yun Chu thought. Ultimately, it was something she knew, and with his wisdom and abilities, he probably couldn't help him much. Recently, the imperial treasury was tight, and peace talks between the two countries were temporarily suspended, giving the Great Jin Dynasty a chance to breathe. The people were no longer panicked, and life was gradually returning to normal.

"Miss, I would like to go to Qianyan Temple in the west of the city tomorrow," Nan Rao asked while doing her embroidery.

"Sister Nanrao, where are you going and what are you doing?" Zhu Ling interrupted.

"Tomorrow is a Buddhist ceremony at the temple, and I'd like to go and get a peace charm for the young lady."

“I want to go too,” Ping An blurted out.

"Miss, Miss, let's go too. You haven't been out for so long, just relax and clear your head," Zhu Ling pleaded from the side.

“Okay, let’s go together then.” Yun Chu smiled.

The next day, a horse-drawn carriage headed west of the city.

Qianyan Temple, compared to the temples frequented by high-ranking officials and nobles, is not famous, but it is renowned for its tranquility. Today, the temple is quite crowded.

"Are you requesting a peace charm?" a young monk instructed. "Please receive it here, and then go over there for a Buddhist blessing ceremony."

"Please give me four peace charms, thank you," Yun Chu said.

"Miss, you invited so many people, did you also invite Lord Luo?" Zhu Ling interjected from the side, then turned and went to the Buddha. Perhaps it was just a spur-of-the-moment question, the answer was not important at all.

However, as far as Luo Yan was concerned, she had indeed harmed him in her past life, but in this life, he had helped her a lot. She decided to consider it a blessing. Yun Chuxin thought to herself.

Beside her, two women dressed as old ladies were writing something on a talisman. Yun Chu asked, puzzled, "Why are you writing on the talisman?"

“You may not know this, but they are helping people obtain amulets for peace and safety. Since the person seeking the amulet is not with them, they cannot give it to them directly, so they write their name on it. However, by writing the name, the person who wrote it is essentially sharing their own peace with the person seeking the amulet. They must be a very important person. Amitabha,” the master beside him explained.

Yun Chu returned the greeting, "I see, thank you, Master." She turned to look at the little monk, "Please give me two more peace charms, thank you."

After praying for blessings with the amulet, Zhu Ling insisted on dragging Yun Chu to draw lots, but unfortunately, the hall was too crowded, so they waited outside under the big banyan tree. Xu Li took Ping An to check out the vegetarian food, planning to have lunch at the temple.

Unlike the bustling crowds in the temple, the area under the large banyan tree on the left can only be described as tranquil. A faint scent of sandalwood permeates the air, a unique fragrance of the temple, seemingly capable of cleansing the soul and instantly calming the mind. Occasionally, the sounds of chanting drift down, like celestial music, melodious and profound. It is now late autumn, the withered leaves have long since fallen, yet an elderly monk still quietly sweeps the ground; perhaps he is sweeping away fallen leaves, or perhaps dust.

A withered leaf drifted gently down before Yun Chu, and she reached out to catch it. The veins of the yellowed leaf were clearly visible, extending from the stem like blood vessels, intricate yet orderly. Each vein was a witness to the leaf's life. Some were thick, some thin; some straight, some curved, they intertwined to form a complete and mysterious network. The tiny cracks and spots were marks of time, recording the wind, frost, rain, and snow it had endured. Holding the leaf in her palm, Yun Chu felt its lightness and fragility.

She couldn't help but sigh.

"Benefactor." The old monk sweeping the floor turned around, a faint smile on his face, a smile of composure and wisdom born of experience. "You have a connection with this place; let me offer you a few words."

"Please speak, Master," Yun Chu said respectfully.

"All things in this world, if we gain them, we are fortunate; if we lose them, we are at peace with them. We should not be greedy for what we have in this life or in the past life, nor should we force it." After saying this, the old monk turned and left.

Yun Chu stood there, stunned, her brows furrowed as she pondered the meaning of those two sentences.

"Miss, Miss, there are fewer people now, we can go in now," Zhu Ling said as she ran out after checking how many people were inside.

The statue of Buddha stands before me, solemn and dignified.

"Miss, please beg! You can beg for a good marriage or anything else!" Zhu Ling urged from the side.

Yun Chu knelt down, and she prayed sincerely in her heart, "I hope that I can live a good life and that everyone can be safe and well."

With a swift movement, the fortune slip was drawn. Zhu Ling hurriedly pulled Yun Chu to have it interpreted.

"Master, please take a look." Zhu Ling hurriedly handed over the fortune slip.

"Please wait a moment, sir, while I check." The young monk searched through the fortune-telling book. "Oh, this is an extremely auspicious sign. The meaning of the sign is..." The young monk paused, "...it signifies double calamity, an endless cycle of life and death."

"Are you talking nonsense? Isn't this the best fortune? What does this mean?" Zhu Ling asked anxiously.

"This, this, this says 'the best fortune' on it, but..." The little monk scratched his head, flipping through the book, sweating profusely with anxiety.

Nan Rao hurriedly pulled Zhu Ling, "Keep your voice down, please be quiet in the hall."

"But, but..." Zhu Ling said unwillingly.

"Let's go," Yun Chu said after remaining silent.

Perhaps because of this incident, they did not have a meal and instead headed back.

On the carriage, Yun Chu kept replaying those words in her mind: "One should not be greedy in this life or the next, nor should one force things. Two tribulations await, life after life, never to be reconciled." Was this a warning to her? Now that she was no longer forcing things, would things get better? She thought, and hugged herself tightly.

Back in the courtyard, seeing that everyone was in low spirits, Long hung his head, looking sullen. Yun Chu then called the four of them together and said with a smile, "This is a blessing for the four of you to keep safe and sound. You must all stay safe and sound."

The four exchanged glances, then simultaneously pulled out amulets from their pockets and said in unison, "Miss, these are for you."

Well, four portions were sent out, and four portions were returned. Yun Chu smiled with satisfaction.

"What are you saying? Why are you having so much fun?" Voices came from the courtyard gate, and Luo Yan and his servant walked in.

"Greetings, Lord Luo." The four greeted him.

"You've come at the perfect time. Here, this is for you." Yun Chu handed over a peace charm.

Luo Yan's eyes lit up with surprise, "I have one too?"

"Okay." Yun Chu nodded. "Don't give it back to me."

"Yes, yes, of course I want it." Luo Yan quickly tucked it into his arms, afraid that Yun Chu would change her mind.

Haha, everyone laughed.

"What good things did Lord Luo bring today?" Zhu Ling teased.

“Of course I have to bring something when I come here; I can’t come empty-handed,” Luo Yan said with a smile.

Luo Yan often came to this small courtyard, bringing food and medicine from time to time, teaching Ping An to write, and also mooching meals there. Therefore, everyone had a pretty good relationship with him.