The winding path led to a secluded place, and the meditation room was filled with flowers and trees.
The Tranquil Nunnery was different from the solemn and magnificent temples like the White Horse Temple and the Heavenly Palace Temple. The Tranquil Nunnery had pavilions, small bridges, and flowing water. Even the seven-story pagoda, which wasn't too tall, had a soft and smooth beauty. Seeing the simple architecture of the temple, Yang Fan knew that this was a private temple. At least, it was when the temple was first built.
Most of these small temples were built by rich and noble families because their young ladies had converted to Buddhism and vowed to become a Buddhist nun. They were also unwilling to let their young ladies go to a big temple and start as a little nun, so they funded and built these temples for them.
Even though these girls who were pampered from a young age were indifferent and didn't crave for material things, they weren't cut out for manual labor. It was fine for them to suffer in daily life, but if they asked them to wash clothes and cook, they wouldn't be able to endure that kind of hardship. Their families funded the construction of a small temple for her, and once the temple was built, she would become the head of the nunnery.
Those who were more particular would invite an old nun with cultivation to live in the temple and accept their daughter as a disciple. However, this first disciple was destined to take over the position of the head of the nunnery, but she only had to chant and learn Buddhism and didn't need to do manual labor.
However, although Yang Fan's guess was right, the young lady from a rich family who was devoted to Buddhism at the beginning of the Tranquil Nunnery was probably already dead. From the stone steps covered in moss and the pagoda that was full of vicissitudes, it could be seen that this small temple had existed for at least a hundred years.
Entering the ancient temple in the early morning, the sun was high up in the sky. There was a rare freshness and transparency in the temple and forest. The golden sunlight shone on the tall treetops and glazed tiles, making it seem especially tranquil and warm. A morning like this should have been a happy day, but Young Nun Yuan Jing was very unhappy.
Young Nun Yuan Jing originally left the nunnery to ring the bell in the bell tower. After the bell was rung, the nuns in the nunnery would begin their morning classes. However, she didn't expect to hear someone knocking on the door the moment she came out of the nunnery. Young Nun Yuan Jing was very unhappy. "Offering incense so early in the morning? This devotee is too insensible!"
However, when she saw the visitor, she became even more unhappy. The visitor was actually a man. Although he was quite good-looking, it was inappropriate for a man to come to a nunnery to offer incense and worship Buddha. Did such a person come to pay respects to Buddha or did he have other intentions?
Little Nun Yuan Jing muttered to herself. She wanted to send this tactless man away, but who would have thought that … this hateful man would take out another Dharmic Decree. It was the Dharmic Decree of the Abbot of the White Horse Temple, Great Master Huai Yi. Master Huai Yi was the Protector of the Nation and the highest ranking monk in the world. He had jurisdiction over all monks and nuns in the world.
The temple department of the imperial court was responsible for the management of the monks' records, the construction of the temples, the economy of the temples, and other affairs. The monk officials had the power to educate the monks, translate scriptures, select the monk officials, maintain the discipline of the Sangha, rectify and punish mistakes, and so on. These rights were similar to the abbot, except that the abbot's power was limited to the temple, while the monk officials could interfere with all the temples in the world.
Monk Xue Huai Yi had never exercised this authority, but he did have it. Therefore, the Tranquil Nunnery couldn't refuse his request to inspect the Tranquil Nunnery. The problem was that Yang Fan wasn't a monk. This was a problem, but who could she talk to? Had Master Xue ever played his cards according to common sense?
Therefore, even though Young Nun Yuan Jing was unhappy and pouted, she still let him into the nunnery. Then, Little Nun Yuan Jing warned him, "It's time, this poor nun is going to ring the bell. Seng Zhi (Inspector), please wait a moment, don't miss the morning class."
Yang Fan laughed and said, "Very well, Xiao Shitai can go about her business, I will take a stroll around the nunnery."
"Hey, no! You're a man. How can you walk around? "
Yuan Jing said worriedly, "Come with me. When the bell rings, I'll bring you to the nunnery."
Yang Fan had already entered the nunnery. He couldn't wait any longer, so he followed her.
The bell in the nunnery wasn't too big, but it wasn't small either. It was also hanging in a two-story pavilion. When Yang Fan arrived at the pavilion, he quickly walked to the railing and looked into the distance. From his vantage point, he could see the open door of the nunnery. There were many nuns in green and yellow inside.
Yang Fan gazed at the nunnery from afar. He was excited. "Ah Nu … has become a monk? I saw her wearing a nun hat yesterday. I wonder if she's shaved her head. Such beautiful long hair … "
As soon as Wei Xiaobao went up the bell tower, Yuan Jing Shitai leaned on the railing and poked most of her body out to look into the nunnery. She was even angrier. She picked up the fishing staff hanging under the beam and struck the bronze bell with all her might.
The bell knob was in the shape of a dragon-shaped beast. It was the mythical beast, Pu Lao. The dragon had nine sons, and the fourth son was Pu Lao. He was the best at roaring. Although Pu Lao was the son of the dragon, he was most afraid of whales. He would scream at the sight of a whale. Therefore, when people cast bells, they cast the bell knob in the shape of Pu Lao and cut the wooden rod into the shape of a whale.
The little nun Yuan Jing picked up her fishing staff and struck the bell with all her might. 'Dang!' A loud noise was heard. The nunnery was small, the bell tower was also small. The bell tower on which the bronze bell was hung was not big, the surrounding space was very small. Yang Fan stood there and heard the loud noise, his eardrums were ringing, he almost fell down from the tower.
"You little nun, how come …"
"Dang ~!"
Another bell rang. Yang Fan covered his ears. His eardrums were rumbling. For a moment, it was as if someone was beating drums and cymbals in his ears. It was as if someone was opening a musical instrument shop.
When Nun Yuan Jing finished ringing the bell, Yang Fan said angrily, "You little nun, why didn't you say anything? Who could bear such a loud noise?"
Nun Yuan Jing rolled her eyes at him and turned to leave. Yang Fan couldn't do anything to her, so he followed her angrily. When he went down the stairs, he felt his head was heavy and his feet were light. He couldn't even stand steadily. Seeing that Nun Yuan Jing was walking lightly, he couldn't help but wonder, "Huh? How could you bear such a loud noise? Or are you deaf? "
Yang Fan thought that he was talking normally, but in fact, his ears were still buzzing. He could not hear normal sounds, so he unconsciously raised his voice. His voice was so loud that it sounded like he was roaring. The little nun Yuan Jing turned around and rolled her eyes at him. She took out two cloths from her ears as if she was looking at an idiot.
Yang Fan was speechless at first, but then he said, "You little nun, you're up to no good. You plugged the plugs yourself, but you told me to listen to the bell …"
Nun Yuan Jing was impatient to hear him yell at her, so she stuffed the plugs back in.
…
In the nunnery, Master Ding Ding stood at the forefront with Buddhist prayer beads in her hand. Behind her were three old nuns with official positions. They were all wearing yellow kasayas, each holding a magic tool in their hands. Behind them were disciples who stood according to their ranks. They clasped their palms together and held Buddhist prayer beads. They stood neatly in several rows, chanting sutras in a deep and rhythmic manner, making them appear exceptionally solemn and dignified.
Every nun's face was full of piety and holiness. This nunnery seemed to be a world of its own, with a sacred power that ordinary people couldn't understand, making people feel awe at first sight. However … Yang Fan, whose ears were ringing, was an exception. The chanting was no different from the buzzing of mosquitoes in his ears.
"Little nun, are all the people in the nunnery here?"
Yang Fan asked Yuan Jing in a 'very low' voice. The nuns who were striking the copper bell and the wooden fish in the nunnery while chanting suddenly heard a man talking loudly at the door. They could not help but be shocked and turned their heads to look at him.
"Ah Nu!"
As soon as the nuns turned around, Yang Fan saw Tin Aino. Because she was standing at the back, she happened to be at the front when she turned around.
The Tranquil Nunnery was extremely strict. To become a monk here, one had to first receive the Three Refuges and Five Precepts. They had to stay in the nunnery for at least two years. This was to prevent them from getting pregnant when they became a monk, which would ruin the reputation of Buddhism. At the same time, they had to learn the Ritual of Personal Discipline and the Ritual of Diligent Female Discipline. It would take at least three years before they could receive the Samanitra Precepts and become an official monk.
For example, although the little nun Yuan Jing was younger than Tin Aino, she became a monk at the age of six. Therefore, Tin Aino's rank was the lowest in this nunnery. This wasn't the White Horse Temple. No one could accept disciples without following the rules like Xue Huaiyi.
When Tin Aino saw Yang Fan, her eyes widened. She never thought that Yang Fan would appear here. She was stunned for a moment.
Yang Fan leaped over and grabbed her arm. He whispered, "Ah Nu, I've been looking for you for a long time!"
"Let go of me!"
Tin Aino finally reacted. Her eyes filled with tears. She broke free from Yang Fan and turned to run away.
"You're not allowed to leave!"
Yang Fan shouted and grabbed her wrist again. "Can't you just listen to me?"
Tin Aino was furious. "Listen to what you said? How dare you yell at me! "
Yang Fan said, "I didn't yell at you!"
The Tranquil Nunnery's abbot, Nun Ding Ding, walked over quickly and said with displeasure, "Benefactor, please let go of this nunnery's disciple. Benefactor is a man. Why did you trespass into our nunnery and harass our disciple? Please leave immediately. Otherwise, I'll report you to the authorities! "
Yang Fan said, "I'm the authorities. Where can you report me to?"
Tin Aino said, "Let go of me! I'm a monk. Since I haven't broken any laws, what can you do to me even if you're an official? "
Ding Nun was really angry. She raised her eyebrows and said, "Even if you're an official, you're still bound by the laws of the country! Since benefactor is an official, you should respect yourself. Why aren't you letting go of our disciple? "
Yang Fan took out the Imperial Preceptor's decree signed by Xue Huaiyi and handed it to Ding Nun. He said, "Nun, take it and read it clearly. I have some worldly entanglements with this young nun. I don't dare to disturb your peaceful cultivation. Let's talk outside! "After saying that, he pulled Tin Aino and left.
Tin Aino struggled with all her might and shouted, "I'm not going!"
Yang Fan crouched down, picked up her legs, and carried her horizontally in his arms, walking out in large strides.
Tin Aino was angry and embarrassed. She beat his chest with all her might and said, "What are you doing? Let me down!"
Yang Fan ignored her. Under the stunned gazes of the nuns who were doing their morning classes, he carried the struggling Tin Aino and walked out …
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