As they were talking, the dishes were almost ready. There were 16 dishes in total, eight cold and eight hot. There were some of her favorites as well as Tianlan's specialties, all of which were delicious.
Mu Lin suddenly felt a little hungry.
"Wash your hands and eat."
Mu Lin nodded obediently and sat down to eat with him. Xiao Muyun had the illusion of raising a daughter. As usual, he kept using the serving chopsticks to pick up food for her, and occasionally whispered the names of the dishes, which was natural and warm.
Mu Lin didn't want to break the happy atmosphere at the moment and tried hard to maintain a natural and happy expression, but she knew in her heart that such moments would not come often.
The dinner took nearly an hour, and Xiao Muyun whispered an order. Not long after, Mu Lin saw the maid holding a delicate little boy.
“…Uncle.” The child called out politely, although his voice was as soft as a mosquito.
Facing his nephew, Xiao Muyun was very gentle. He touched his head and said softly, "This is Princess Jingxuan who is visiting. Should Aze say hello to the princess?"
"Yes, hello, Second Aunt..."
Hearing the baby's baby voice, Xiao Muyun was stunned for a moment, and Mu Lin was also stunned for a moment.
Xiao Muyun's ears turned red, but he still explained to Mu Lin calmly, "I didn't teach him these things. Children's words are innocent. Don't take them to heart."
Mu Lin didn't think much of it at first, but seeing his reaction was a little funny. She curled her lips and smiled, "Oh, I don't take it to heart."
Xiao Muyun pursed his lips, feeling a little depressed.
A hint of smile flashed across Mu Lin's eyes. He looked at Xiao Ze in a friendly manner, but couldn't help frowning. Xiao Ze looked even thinner than Xi'er when she was four years old, with a somewhat bored look. His skin was white but not very shiny, and his cheeks and lips were also pale. He didn't look healthy at all. Perhaps because he looked a lot like Xiao Muyun when he was a child, Mu Lin felt a little pity for him.
Mu Lin gently pulled up his soft little arm. Xiao Ze shrank back, but still didn't dare to struggle. She smiled at him soothingly and gently felt his pulse.
Her smile was like melting ice and snow, and a red lotus bloomed. The little guy was struck by the beauty of his pretty aunt, his cheeks turned red like apples, and he was not so resistant anymore.
Xiao Muyun felt a little jealous, thinking that she was much gentler to children than to him, and she didn't often smile at him so softly in the past.
Mu Lin put his little arm down and touched his head, "Aze, you should eat well and play with your friends more."
"Aze has no friends..."
Mu Lin blinked: "Then play with your second uncle."
Xiao Ze also blinked, acting cute to the point of breaking the rules, "Aunt Second won't play with us?"
Xiao Muyun interrupted him gently, adding a bit of seriousness to his tone: "Aze, you can't..."
"I'm a fairy from heaven. I'll be going back to the fairyland soon, so I can't play with you guys." Mu Lin took over Xiao Muyun's words, smiled and tapped Xiao Ze's little nose, teasing him, "When you grow up, I'll fly back to play with you."
"Okay then." Xiao Ze felt a little disappointed. Children are the most innocent and sensitive. Xiao Ze is smart and can intuitively sense the kindness or malice of others. He can feel Mu Lin's patience and love for him, which is different from the maids, making him feel a little reluctant.
It would be great if Second Aunt Fairy didn’t leave. Second Uncle likes her so much, and he likes her too, so they could play together.
Mu Lin teased him for a while, and Xiao Muyun watched from the side, occasionally making a few remarks, which was quite enjoyable. Mu Lin saw that the little guy was tired, so he asked someone to take him down to rest.
Xiao Muyun thought for a moment and asked, "Do you like children?"
Mu Lin nodded, then shook his head, and said helplessly: "I haven't seen many children, so it's better to separate them. Xiao Ze's health is not good, I will prescribe a prescription for him later, you take good care of him and help him recover."
For example, Mu Lin liked Xi'er, who she raised by herself, and Xiao Ze, who looked like Xiao Muyun. As for the children in the royal family who were in awe of her, she couldn't say that she didn't like them, but she just didn't feel anything.
Xiao Muyun was thinking that if it was her own child, she would definitely like it very much. What he least wanted was for Mu Lin to have a blood bond with Emperor Qin Wu. In this way, even if she left, she could not completely cut off the past.
In this regard, Xiao Muyun admitted that he was very selfish. He was a normal man who had a crazy and suppressed desire to possess his beloved. But he would not force her and put her in an awkward situation.
After walking in the courtyard for a while, Linglan quietly appeared behind Mu Lin and whispered to her that it was getting late and she should go back. It was indeed not right to stay too late. Xiao Muyun sent her to the door, but Mu Lin declined his request to send her home.
Xiao Muyun looked at the dark night sky with no stars in sight. He smiled and asked, "Can I invite the princess to burn incense at Dayin Temple tomorrow?"
Mu Lin was surprised and asked: "Why not Dabei Temple?"
Although Dabei Temple is a little further away, it is much more famous than Dayin Temple because the oracle at Dabei Temple is extremely accurate and can often predict good or bad fortune, attracting many people.
The most legendary story is that when Emperor Taizu of Tianlan was still young, his eldest daughter Huaisu drew the lucky number of Flying Dragon in the Sky. Emperor Taizu claimed that he had the power granted by heaven, and he established a region and fought wars everywhere. Fifteen years later, he established Tianlan. Everyone thought that the founding emperor was destined to be an emperor, but after his death, Princess Huaisu seized the throne and became the first female emperor of the time.
Second, when Empress Wenzhe was still a princess, she drew a fortune-telling lot at Dabei Temple that said "Dragon will come to the world", and she later ascended the throne as the emperor. This news has gradually spread in the past two years, and coupled with the courtesy shown by the empress to Dabei Temple, Dabei Temple has become the only choice for dignitaries to worship and draw fortunes. Every year, countless people come here to visit, and it is no exaggeration to say that it is famous all over the world.
Mu Lin was also somewhat curious about such a holy place. She was curious about whether the Buddha's light really shone through the Dabei Temple. Were they not afraid of revealing the secret
Xiao Muyun smiled faintly and shook his head. Mu Lin seemed to understand something, said goodbye to him and got on the carriage.
The carriage started moving slowly, and Mu Lin suddenly understood what he meant.
It was just to build up momentum for the divine right of kings. As it was passed on for a long time and was constantly beautified by people, it became a miraculous legend.
She lifted the side curtain as if she sensed something, and looked back, only to see the green figure still standing there, with a slender figure and a tall and graceful body.
Seeing Mu Lin looking back at him, Xiao Muyun's eyes unconsciously showed a hint of surprise, and he waved at her with a smile.
Mu Lin's nose felt sore, and she suddenly smiled. The stunning beauty looked back and smiled, and her previously gentle and restrained brilliance suddenly became sharp, and the ice and snow melted in an instant, more gorgeous and dazzling than a hundred flowers in full bloom.
It is engraved into my heart and deeply felt in my bones.
The next day, Xiao Muyun did not show up in person, but sent a carriage to pick her up to go to Dayin Temple. There were few pilgrims in Dayin Temple that day, and Mu Lin was dressed in a low-key manner, wearing a veil like other Tianlan noble ladies, and she did not look very conspicuous.
The carriage stopped, and as soon as Mu Lin got off, he saw Xiao Muyun waiting on the side, his eyes warm.
The century-old Bodhi tree is lush and green, with coils of string wrapped around its trunk, which are the prayers of Buddhist believers.
The two of them walked side by side under the shade of the Bodhi tree. The Bodhi flowers had already faded, and the trees were dotted with golden spherical fruits. The sunlight shone through the sparse branches and leaves, leaving golden patterns on their warm white clothes, making them look like a couple of gods.
"Great sounds are silent, great images are invisible..." Mu Lin finally understood why Xiao Muyun brought her to Dayin Temple. It's not a pity to miss the temple that everyone flocks to, but it's a pity to miss this holy place.
Mu Lin really felt that Xiao Muyun had some wisdom in Buddhism and Taoism, and his indifferent Buddhist temperament was very similar.
Xiao Muyun felt a little regretful: "It's a pity that I didn't catch up with the Bodhi blossom season."
When the Bodhi flowers bloom, it is another magnificent scene.
"I like it very much. It's already very good. Shall we go to the main hall to burn incense?"
"good."
After they burned incense and worshipped the Buddha, an old monk with white hair and beard, a kind face, and wearing a half-worn cassock came over with a fortune stick box.
"Master Mikong." Mu Lin followed Xiao Muyun's movements and bowed to the old monk. He had just introduced her to Master Mikong, who was the head monk and his eldest disciple.
The old monk also performed the etiquette of a monk and said with a kind smile: "Two donors, would you like to draw the oracle?"
Mu Lin and Xiao Muyun looked at each other, and she declined politely, "No need."
Mikong looked at Xiao Muyun, who also smiled and shook his head. Mikong did not force them, but invited them into the side hall, made tea himself, and chatted with them for a few words. A pair of old but clear eyes fell on Mu Lin, and Mikong suddenly felt emotional.
"The girl has a destiny with this temple. Rather than wasting time in the secular world, it is better for her to convert to Buddhism."
Xiao Muyun: “…”
Mu Lin said helplessly: "Thank you for your kindness, Master. Laozi said in Tao Te Ching: 'At the beginning of all things, the great way is simple, and the evolution is complex.' I think that if you want to leave the world, you must first enter the world. The world is also a test. If you can keep your original intention, why not pursue the great way? I am afraid that I have no fate with Buddhism."
As someone who has become an immortal through practicing Taoism, her faith in Taoism is still strong, so it would be better for her to forget about converting to Buddhism.
Mikong was rejected again and again, but he was not angry. He just sighed slightly in his heart and invited the two to taste the tea he brewed.
After being entertained by him, the two went to the back mountain to watch the golden monkeys, the special animal of Dayin Temple. Mu Lin fed them some bananas. The golden monkeys blinked their big eyes and were not afraid of people. They surrounded her and acted cute. Mu Lin touched their golden and fluffy fur, and her heart was melted.
Xiao Muyun stood by and helped her carry the bananas. He smiled and said, "Do you like them?"
"Yeah." Mu Lin smiled faintly.
Xiao Muyun also discovered that she couldn't take her eyes off any furry and cute animals.
"I'll give you two. Can you take them home and raise them?"
"No." Mu Lin touched the furry head of the little golden monkey in the mother monkey's arms and said lovingly: "The environment is not suitable, and it will be lonely if it leaves the tribe, so I won't bother these little guys."