The two junior and senior brothers were naturally punished by Daoist Master Daoguang upon returning to the temple.
"The moment I look away, you vanish! Mingjue, you are the senior brother, why aren't you watching your junior brother? Didn't this master say that you two are not to leave the temple without permission?"
Mingjue glanced at his junior brother kneeling beside him and lowered his head, admitting his mistake. "Master, this disciple knows his mistake."
Daoguang sighed and said, "Alright, I'll punish you two by forbidding you from dining tonight. Reflect on your misdeeds." The two exchanged glances and breathed a sigh of relief. Anyway, they had eaten too much at noon, so skipping dinner was fine.
Then they heard Daoguang say, "Tomorrow, you two must stick close to this master. The Xichen Empress is coming to the temple to listen to the Dao, and you two must be cautious."
Mingjue looked up and asked, "Master, then won't we be able to meet someone from the Xichen imperial family?"
Daoguang glared at him. "And what if you do?" Mingjue lowered his head. Meeting them indeed isn't anything special; he was just curious. Daoguang waved his whisk. "Go down."
"Yes!"
The next day, as soon as it was light, the Daoist temple became lively. Looking at the temple, which was even cleaner and tidier than when they arrived, the Daoist priests were all on high alert.
Song An exclaimed, "As expected of a royal temple! When will our temple be like this?"
Daoguang sighed, "Impossible. Tianqi is predominantly Buddhist, unlike Xichen, which reveres Daoism."
Around late morning, a young Daoist ran in.
"They're here, they're here!"
From afar, everyone saw a procession approaching the temple with great fanfare.
"Welcome, Your Majesty!"
The Empress, supported by the hand of a female official, descended. "Daoist masters need not be so formal."
"Thank Your Majesty!"
The abbot stepped forward and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, please!" The Empress nodded and led the way.
It wasn't until everyone had entered the temple that Song An looked up. The purple-robed woman walking at the very front must be the Xichen Empress, and to the Empress's left were two elegantly dressed young women, one in green and one in purple. The green-clad woman was currently speaking to the Empress with her head tilted. Song An nudged Mingjue with his hand.
"Senior Brother, look, isn't that the woman from yesterday?"
Mingjue looked over, frowning. "Junior Brother, are you mad? That's Princess Lianhua. How could it be the woman from yesterday? I heard His Majesty brought the Eldest Princess and the Third Princess today, so it must be those two." Song An said, "Then I must have seen wrong."
"Hurry up, or Master will punish us again later." Mingjue pulled him, hastily following the crowd. The two entered, only to see Daoist Master Daoguang, but no sign of the Empress and her entourage.
"Master, where is the Xichen Empress?"
"Her Majesty has suffered from the journey and has gone to the guest rooms to rest. We will begin preaching after lunch."
Song An grumbled, "Woke up so early, just to welcome some stranger..."
"Mingyang, watch your words!" Daoguang said coldly. Song An was originally a rich young master, pampered at home. Although he cultivated under Daoguang, he still carried a bit of arrogance in his bones.
"Master, I didn't say anything wrong."
Daoguang said coldly, "You don't need to appear during the afternoon sermon. Your punishment is to go to the backyard to chop firewood and carry water."
Song An pouted, "Not appearing is fine, I'd rather have some leisure." Saying that, he walked towards his side room.
Mingjue looked at Daoguang and said, "Master, Junior Brother's temperament is like this. Self-reflection in his room is fine, but carrying water and chopping firewood isn't necessary, is it?"
Daoguang looked at Song An's retreating back. "Your junior brother wouldn't stay still in his room. Give him something to do, so he won't appear before Her Majesty Xichen. If he causes trouble, this master won't be able to protect him."
"Master has good intentions, but I'm afraid Junior Brother won't know and will resent Master in his heart."
"Let him be."
After lunch, Song An came to the backyard of the Daoist temple and saw a thin young Daoist chopping firewood.
"Are you alone?"
"Ah!" The sudden sound startled the young Daoist. The axe swung off course, and a long cut immediately appeared on his left hand. Song An, realizing he had caused trouble, hurried forward to apologize. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to." He really didn't expect this young Daoist to be so timid. The Daoist covered the cut with his hand and whispered, "It's nothing."
Song An frowned. This personality... no wonder he's doing manual labor alone in the backyard. Song An took out a bottle of medicine and said, "I'll put medicine on you."
"No need, it's fine."
Song An pulled his hand. "How can it be fine? So much blood." Song An helped him apply the medicine, then tore off a corner of his clothes to bandage him. "Don't touch water for the next few days."
The young Daoist looked anxious. "No! I still have to carry water and wash clothes." Song An took the axe. "Since I caused your injury, I'll chop firewood and carry water for you until your hand is better. As for washing clothes..." After a pause, Song An continued, "I'll do that for you too." Whether they would be clean or not was another matter.
The young Daoist looked at him in surprise.
"Grrr—Grrr."
Song An was surprised. "You haven't had lunch yet?"
The young Daoist nodded awkwardly.
"Then you go eat. I'll chop the firewood for you." Song An said, taking the axe and splitting a piece of wood. A moment later, seeing the young Daoist standing still, "Why aren't you going?"
"It's so late. The dining hall probably doesn't have any food left. Skipping one meal is fine." Song An frowned. This young Daoist clearly was used to being bullied. Song An took his uninjured hand. "Come with me."
Song An led him to his room. On the table were pastries and fruits. "Eat something to tide you over." The young Daoist's eyes reddened. "Thank you."
Song An grumbled, "Your temple looks so grand and shiny, why are you so harsh on your disciples? Doesn't your master care?" Sometimes, when he made mistakes, his master would verbally forbid him from eating dinner, but every time, his meal would be left in the kitchen pot.
The young Daoist's eyes dimmed. "I'm just an outer disciple. I don't have a master." Song An didn't know what to say for a moment, so he pushed the pastries towards him. "Eat quickly." The young Daoist tentatively took a piece, took a small bite, then began to gobble it down.
"Don't rush, eat slowly." Song An poured him a glass of water. The young Daoist ate one pastry, then didn't take any more. He stood up and said, "Thank you, I'm going to chop firewood now."
"Your hand is injured, what firewood are you chopping! You sit. I'll go!"
"But I also have to carry water."
Song An said, "Leave it to me. And the laundry, I know. I said, until your hand is better, I'll do these things for you."
"But..."
"No buts. It's decided. I'm going to chop firewood. You eat all these pastries." Saying that, Song An left the room and walked towards the backyard.
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