While crowds gathered at the door of the City East District official[1], the respendantly dressed man and his wife pushed a bag into the hands of the kind-hearted old monk. "This one is grateful that Great Master is willing to exorcise our fu. Although these are merely worldly possessions, Great Master may find them useful when you want to build a golden Buddha[2]."
[1] Dōng yuánwài ( 东员外 ) - This is a type of minister or official whose rank is bought (usually the rich people 'buy' the title) but they do not have authority like appointed ministers. Their position at times means that they act as landlords and/or as a local overseer.
[2] Golden Buddha - statues of Buddha covered in/made out of gold, made to show off wealth. The grander the Buddha, the grander the temple.
That monk had a head full of white, eyebrows long and wispy, hands held together [in acknowledgement]. "Amitabha."
A crowd of people had gathered, joining in the fun, as they gossipped and pointed at the monk, who was the famous Great Master Hui Jue, said to know both the past and the future. He'd only arrived in the capital a few days prior and was already heralded for often helping the wealthy with prayers and exorcisms, which appeared to be extremely effective.
After Great Master Hui Jue received the bag, he excused himself from everyone and walked away alone, then turned away from the busy street into a dark and narrow alleyway where there was a small house. He walked up to the door and knocked, and a child soon opened the door and bade him to enter.
After Hui Jue entered the courtyard, the small disciple reported, "Master, a few guests have arrived."
"Guests?" The monk was surprised, after all, he didn't know many people in the capital. Although he didn't understand, he still entered with a calm expression.
In the hall stood a young girl in green, dressed like a servant. That servant girl in green smiled when she saw him. Hui Jue stared blankly, then heard a smooth voice come from behind the servant girl, "Great Master."
Hui Jue looked over and saw the silhouette of a girl emerge from the shadows. The servant girl in green stepped aside. As light shone through, the silhouette soon revealed its features.
This was a fresh young lady, about the same age as the servant girl in green. She wore a red mandarin collared top that was embroidered with swastikas[3] in white thread and a skirt decorated with flowers, so good-looking even the shadows couldn't conceal it. She smiled slightly at Hui Jue, as if facing a friend of many years, a pair of slightly raised eyes bright and moist, yet they inexplicably gave a sense that no one could see through her.
[3] Wan zi bu duan tou ( 万字不断头纹 ) : refers to a specific type of repeating pattern.
"This young miss is...?" Hui Jue asked in a low voice, the girl in front of him was unfamiliar to him in every way.
"Although Great Master doesn't know me, I've long heard of Great Master's famous deeds. Today, I've come to ask Great Master about my birthdate characters," she said.
YOU ARE READING
The Rebirth of an Ill-Fated Consort
FanfictionCrying blood and tears, she pledged a poisonous vow. The gods did not fail her. She was sent back to a decade ago. The legitimate daughter of Jiang family returned from hell. Forget it, whatever! Since they already claimed that she was a temptress t...
