Zhao Kuangyin returned home two days later. He went to see his elders first to greet them. Zhao's mother said: "Your third brother told me something yesterday. A relative of Wang Rao, the governor of Zhangde Army, mentioned to the third brother that Wang Rao has a daughter who is virtuous, respectful, diligent, and can play the zither and the drum. She is very good."
The newly appointed minister of state of the Zhangde Army is a veteran of three dynasties. The black-faced Zhao Kuangyin immediately became very interested. Minister Wang intends to marry his daughter to our third brother.
Zhao's mother shook her head: What you meant was that the girl from the Wang family either wanted to marry the third son, or she fell in love with you.
Zhao Kuangyin said hurriedly: That's not possible. Wang Shizhong is higher in rank than me. My daughter marrying into the Zhao family is already marrying down, so of course she can't be a concubine. But I'm already married, and my first wife is still alive, so how can I marry another woman
I also said the same thing to the third child, Zhao's mother said.
After bidding farewell to his elders, Zhao Kuangyin returned to his room to see his wife He. He met his third brother in the yard, and he chatted with him for a few words before going into the house.
Unexpectedly, when she saw He, she looked strange and said: Husband, you must be careful with my third brother.
Before he could finish his words, Zhao Kuangyin reached out and slapped He, knocking her to the ground, and cursed: "You don't learn good things, but learn slander." He was immediately very angry, turned around, and saw Zhao Kuangyi still in the yard.
Zhao Kuangyi hurriedly came up and said: "Second brother, calm down."
Zhao Kuangyin glared at him, snorted, and ignored him, thinking: My third brother often does things without regard for the proper measure, but that's only because he is still young. After all, he is my brother and his character can't be that bad.
At this time, the doorman came to report that someone outside wanted to see him. Zhao Kuangyin asked if there was a name card, and the doorman replied: No, it was a female Taoist priest who claimed to be the master's sister.
When Zhao Kuangyin heard this, he immediately asked the concierge to invite the guest in. But the person who came was a middle-aged black woman, whose skin was not much whiter than Zhao Kuangyin's. She delivered a letter saying that the abbot of Yuzhen Temple had an important appointment to meet him.
When Zhao Kuangyin opened the letter, he found that it was indeed written by Jingniang.
Yuzhen Temple was the Taoist temple where Yulian lived for several months. It was located in the inner city of Tokyo. The temple master was named Yuzhen, but her real name was Jingniang, a woman from Jianghu whom Zhao Kuangyin met when he traveled around the world in his early years.
The woman pretended to be kidnapped by mountain bandits, asking Zhao Kuangyin to rescue her. Later, Zhao Kuangyin realized that it was impossible for her to be kidnapped by a few mountain bandits because she was very skilled in martial arts. Whether fighting alone or with a few people, she was not much worse than Zhao Kuangyin.
Zhao Kuangyin took the trouble to send her home, but she insisted on spending her life with him. She hinted at him several times along the way and finally expressed her feelings. But Zhao Kuangyin rejected her and said that he only treated her as his sister. Unexpectedly, she cried, made a scene, and even hanged herself. She even pretended to jump into the lake to scare Zhao Kuangyin, but she still didn't get along with him. Zhao Kuangyin thought the matter was over. He didn't expect that this woman was so difficult to deal with. She followed him for several years and came to Tokyo to build a Taoist temple. She was already in her twenties and still hadn't married. Did she want to be with me, Zhao Kuangyin
He would not marry a woman from the underworld, and he had his reasons for that.
Zhao Kuangyin thought for a moment, ordered his servants to prepare the horses, then went into the house to find a few gold ingots he had collected and wrapped them up with cloth.
The meeting place was in the dining room of Daxiangguo Temple. A Taoist priest actually went to a Buddhist temple to meet guests. Zhao Kuangyin just thought it was very funny. He thought that Jingniang must be kidding for being a Taoist priest, and that Taoist temple was not a real Taoist temple.
Zhao Kuangyin left his followers outside the temple and went in alone to meet the guests. You can't do anything wrong in the Daxiangguo Temple. From the officials and nobles to the families of civil and military officials, everyone has contributed incense money. The temple has a wide network of connections, and ordinary people dare not cause trouble here.
When he saw Jingniang again, Zhao Kuangyin didn't think she had really seen through the world and become a nun. A Taoist priest, with painted eyebrows and rouge, did she look like a nun? Moreover, although she was wearing a wide Taoist robe, her chest was so high that it could support the thick and wide robe. With such a figure and appearance, she didn't look like a Taoist priest at all.
Jingniang had long legs and was tall. She didn't look like a little lady from a good family at all. She might even be taller than some men. She was neither thin nor fat, but looked solid and plump. Her face was very cold and her eyes were very bright. One look at her told you that she was not a docile and easy-to-deal-with woman.
Zhao Kuangyin clasped his fists and said: My sister.
Jingniang bowed to her eyebrows, her expression and behavior were quite proper, and the two sat down. After exchanging pleasantries, she started to talk about the matter: the court recently wanted to demolish Buddhist temples and Taoist temples in various places, and Yuzhen Temple was affected. The officials from Kaifeng Prefecture said that our Yuzhen Temple was neither Buddhist nor Taoist, but an evil sect, and they wanted us to dismiss the disciples within a certain period of time and demolish the Taoist temple building.
Zhao Kuangyin placed the cloth bag wrapped in gold at his feet and asked: What god do you worship
Jingniang looked innocent and said: Queen Mother. We call it the Queen Mother Cult.
The Queen Mother taught Zhao Kuangyin to frown immediately. His sister left home for a long journey, so she should read some history. The Yellow Turban bandits in the Han Dynasty spread the Tianshi religion. When there were many people, they shouted that the world would be auspicious in the year of Jiazi. What religion do you call yourself? You are neither a Taoist nor a monk. What do you want to do? The government is being polite when it wants to demolish the Taoist temple.
Jingniang said: The polite officials still slander us as spies from Shu.
Zhao Kuangyin was surprised and said: How could you be slandered as a spy of Shu Kingdom, not a spy of Southern Tang? No wonder Zhao Kuangyin asked this question. The emperor wanted to use military force against Shu Kingdom first recently. At this time, saying that she was a spy of Shu Kingdom hit the spotlight. Did you really have dealings with people from Shu Kingdom and were discovered by the government army
Jingniang whispered: "I dare not lie to my brother. I do have contact with Lady Huarui of Shu. Last year, I was practicing in Mount Emei and was planning to build a Taoist temple, but I was short of money. So I met Lady Huarui and asked her to help me."
Zhao Kuangyin's brows could not be relaxed, and he immediately picked up the cloth bag at his feet and put it on the table. Here is some gold, which is your dowry. You should go home and find a home to live a good life. Listen to your brother, women should not mix in military affairs.
I didn't understand what my brother said.
Zhao Kuangyin said: "The emperor has been preparing for war for a long time. Now that things have come to this, they are not afraid to speak out. Within half a year, our dynasty will launch a large-scale military operation against Shu. You are in Tokyo, but you have contact with the imperial concubine of Shu. Wouldn't it make people suspicious? The government suspects that you are a spy, but it is not a complete fabrication."
Jingniang rejected the gold, her face slightly red, and whispered: I can return to secular life, but don’t you understand my feelings
Zhao Kuangyin was a little angry: "I understand your thoughts, but you don't understand mine. It has been several years. If I want to marry my sister, why should I let you waste your youth in vain? Zhao has always treated you as his sister and has no evil thoughts."
Jingniang said aggrievedly: But there can only be one person in my heart. Now that you are here, there will be no room for anyone else. My adopted sister is not my biological sister, so what does it matter? The current queen is still the official's adopted sister.
Zhao Kuangyin was annoyed: "I have made it clear to my sister long ago that you are wasting your time now and don't blame me when you are old and ugly. When I escorted you, it was not because I was attracted by your beauty, let alone because I fell in love with you. At that time, I was looking for an opportunity to turn to the right path. I did some good deeds just to accumulate reputation and character, and I did more than just this good deed. I am really sorry if I have caused you to misunderstand.
Jingniang said: You have a reputation and an official position, so what does it matter if you marry me now
Zhao Kuangyin stood up and said: How can I marry you? I have a wife. If I marry my sister as a concubine, what will my colleagues think of me? Zhao Kuangyin looked angry, but he was actually holding back some of his inner thoughts. This Jing girl has been out in the open all her life. She is not a good woman. She also knows martial arts and is so difficult to deal with. If I marry her home, I am afraid that there will be trouble at home.
Jingniang said: I am willing to be your concubine. If you are afraid of what others say about you, then I can wait until your wife is gone.
I never thought you were such a woman. Zhao Kuangyin was already very rude. Even if you cursed my wife to death, I would only remarry someone of equal status. What does it have to do with you
This was what Zhao Kuangyin really thought. Wang Rao, the Palace Attendant, was a veteran of three dynasties. He had a high prestige and deep roots. The Wang family seemed to be interested in marrying Wang Rao's daughter if He died. Why would Zhao Kuangyin get entangled with this woman
Zhao Kuangyin added: "I had good intentions back then, and I always followed etiquette. I didn't even touch you with a finger. Can you still say that I am ungrateful? I really didn't expect you to be so persistent."
Jingniang gritted her teeth and endured it, saying: Can you give up everything for the sake of wealth
It's not about wealth, it's about building achievements and doing great things. It's the ambition to help the emperor and the people. Women's views understand the ambitions of real men. Zhao Kuangyin said coldly, "Besides, who did Zhao abandon? You and I were once brother and sister. I'm giving you money now to persuade you to live a good life. Is that wrong?"
Jingniang choked up and said: I know you only have big things in your mind, and I don’t mind that you don’t have me in your heart. As long as I have you in my heart, that’s enough. I don’t want anything from you, and I won’t stop you from doing big things.
Zhao Kuangyin said coldly: "Think about yourself, you are so light-hearted. I don't care about your affairs. It's best to seal the temple. If you seal the temple, you will have nowhere to stay. It's a good thing to go home. That's all I have to say. You can do whatever you want."
What do you mean by "take care of yourself"? Even my Jingniang is angry because of your threat.
Zhao Kuangyin said: I have no grudge against you, I have no reason to threaten you, just stop pestering me.
After he left in a huff, Jingniang sat in front of the wooden table in a daze. It took her a long time before she remembered that she had left the gold on the table. She took a sip of tea and slammed the cup on the table.
At this time, a monk came in, put his palms together and said: Amitabha Buddha said: Avoid anger
Buddha said, Buddha said, are you blind? Can't you see that I am a Taoist priest? Jing Niang cursed angrily.