CHAPTER 439: 341, FORTY-NINE HEAVENS

Chen Ji has left.

The crowd watched Chen Ji and the little monk chatting and laughing from behind, hesitant to speak. They wanted to ask Chen Ji about the recent scripture debate, why evildoers can become Buddhas. Had he anticipated debating with Wuzhai for the second time? Did he prepare in advance?

Yet, before they could gather their thoughts, Chen Ji had already gone far.

Qi Zhenwu stood inside Pellucid Tower, looking back at the hall where half of the candles were extinguished: "Today’s matter has escalated, Brother Chen Ji has cut off one cultivation path of Yuanjue Temple."

Qi Zhaoning asked in confusion: "Brother, isn’t that too much? It’s just losing a scripture debate."

Qi Zhenwu shook his head: "As long as ’no ego’ remains, from now on, this scripture debating path can be practiced by everyone except the Buddhist Sect."

Shen Ye laughed from behind the desk: "Lord Qi, this is because the Buddhist Sect has set itself too high, but it’s chilly up there. Although Brother Chen Ji didn’t leave any poems at the Literary Meeting today, this scripture debate is enough to make this meeting famous through the ages. Future generations will call this the Pellucid Tower case."

Lin Chaojing, unwilling to continue listening to matters about Chen Ji, sat back at his desk and said: "Let’s not mind them, let’s continue the Literary Meeting, shall we? Whose turn was it to write a poem earlier? Shouldn’t the poetry clock be reset?"

But Shen Ye picked up his Xuan paper filled with writings, stood up: "Everybody, I’ve enjoyed myself, but I must take my leave now."

Lin Chaojing attempted to persuade: "Brother Shen, why not stay a moment longer? Our Literary Meeting is only halfway done."

Shen Ye laughed heartily: "The Bodhisattva said that this Literary Meeting ’covers the truth with vulgarity’, how can I shamelessly continue such vulgar deeds? I shall not attend Literary Meetings anymore, from now on we’ll only drink, not compose poetry."

Lin Chaojing looked somewhat embarrassed but continued to hold: "Then we’ll just drink."

Shen Ye shook his head: "I must rush to Wenyuan Bookstore to publish this scripture debating, so the whole world knows of this grand event. It’s better to share joy with everyone than enjoy it alone!"

Having said this, Shen Ye left without looking back, along with most of the Southern literati who followed his lead, leaving Pellucid Tower empty.

Qi Zhaoning stood by the threshold looking towards the secluded path in the distance, only now coming to her sense and turning to Qi Zhaoyun: "Sister, is he really Li Changge?"

Qi Zhaoyun replied helplessly: "You better call him Chen Ji, people have their own names."

Qi Zhaoning, newly intrigued: "Then, do you think if there were a sequel to Four Dreams of Bianliang, I might appear in the play? Last time Li Changge and the Commandery Princess..."

At this point, she suddenly realized, there is another protagonist in the story of Li Changge, the bastard, in Four Dreams of Bianliang.

Li Changge, holding the reins, walked through the narrow, long pathway of Lu Hun Manor, through the raging wind and snow, moving others deeply. Li Changge debated scriptures to obtain Immortal Medicine from Huangshan Dao Court for the Commandery Princess.

And she, Qi Zhaoning, even if appearing in a new story, is just an observer.

Qi Zhaoning murmured: "The Commandery Princess... Prince Jing’s treason is a major crime, why doesn’t Your Majesty just sentence her to death, but lets her live? Sister, as long as she is alive, Li Changge’s heart will be with her, right?"

Qi Zhaoyun’s complexion changed, her tone becoming stern: "Zhaoning, matters of life and death cannot be decided on personal likes and dislikes. It’s a human life."

Qi Zhaoning rolled her eyes: "They chose treason themselves, not me egging them on."

Qi Zhaoyun helplessly said: "Zhaoning, don’t be willful. Since he’s your beloved, and Grandpa favors him too, you should just let things take their course."

Qi Zhaoning sulked: "When did I say he’s my beloved? He’s he, Li Changge is Li Changge, different! Furthermore, he did so many things for the Commandery Princess but none for me, why?"

Qi Zhaoyun glanced at her: "Then let Zhenzhu be engaged to him."

Qi Zhaoning instinctively raised her delicate eyebrows: "Qi Zhenzhu, why should she... No more talking, I shan’t attend Literary Meetings anymore, all are vulgar, intolerable poems."

At this moment, Lin Chaojing was about to toast when he saw Qi Zhaoning lifting her pink skirt, leading her maid out of Pellucid Tower. And Qi Zhaoyun and Huang Que exchanged a glance, sensibly leaving Pellucid Tower one after another.

The Literary Meeting ended in dismay.

...

...

Within the winding paths of the Qi Family Bamboo Forest.

Qi Zhenzhu eagerly exclaimed: "Master, you actually have such skills!"

"I thought you were going to lose the scripture debate just now, but then Wuzhai spat out blood and fell from Seeking Dao Realm to Innate Realm! It’s the first time I’ve seen an Executive Officer drop realm!"

"If I knew such a good show was coming, I should have summoned Brother-in-law and the others to watch!"

Qi Zhenzhu ran his mouth along the secluded paths of Koi Garden, stopping to mimic Chen Ji’s earlier actions in a low voice: "Let it go."

Chen Ji looked on helplessly: "Enough already."

Qi Zhenzhu laughed heartily: "I’ll perform it for brother-in-law later. By the way, I’ve heard stories from the storyteller at the teahouse, you really held the horse for the Commandery Princess that day..."

Saying this, Qi Zhenzhu gradually restrained his smile, realizing he’d spoken incorrectly.

Chen Ji stopped by a bamboo forest and spoke to Qi Zhenzhu: "Go drink first, I reunited with Yunzhou Bodhisattva after a long time. I want to have some words alone."

"Ah, alright-alright, I’ll go drink," Qi Zhenzhu turned and fled.

After Qi Zhenzhu went far away, Chen Ji turned to the little monk: "Are you used to living at Yuanjue Temple?"

The little monk muttered complaints: "Not used to it. There are too many rules at Yuanjue Temple, and one must wake for morning lessons in the Great Hall at 3 AM every day. Stand according to ordination years, stand wrong and get punished. A large crowd of monks chanting for two hours before eating, and after meals, copy scriptures. After copying, sit for meditation four hours, finish meditation then recite scriptures, mistakes mean kneeling indefinitely... It’s not like when I was in the Prince Mansion, where nobody minded even if I lazed in bed."