Chapter 91: You're All Monks

Chapter 91: You're All Monks

After a good night's rest, Meng Yuan felt refreshed and energized.

With his dantian filled with true qi, Meng Yuan practiced the Gale Blade Technique in the courtyard, feeling the constant stimulation of the imprinted images.

After breakfast,

"action": "Meng Yuan practiced the Gale Blade Technique in the courtyard."

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In the morning, Jiang Tang pulled Meng Yuan aside for a chat. She expressed her desire to visit Nie Qingqing but then hinted that Qingqing was no longer young and that their peers had already married.

Meng Yuan sent the little maid away and headed to the training ground. He practiced his skills, carefully nurturing his true qi.

Meng Yuan chatted with Hu Qian for a while, offering a few pointers to the young men. As the sun rose high in the sky, nearing lunchtime, he finally left.

Carrying a step-tassel in his bosom, Meng Yuan had intended to find Nie Qingqing. However, he changed his mind and decided to visit Du Gukang first.

Upon arriving at Du Gukang's residence, Meng Yuan sent a message inside. Soon, Wang Xiushuai came out to greet him.

"Little Meng, have you just returned?" Wang Xiushuai asked with a smile, remembering that when Chen Shouzhuo had left earlier, Xunmei and Du Gukang had seen him off together. At that time, Wang Xiushuai had also been present and was aware of Meng Yuan's official business.

"I returned yesterday," Meng Yuan replied with a smile, taking out a can of tea leaves. "This is a specialty of Hedong County. Please don't reject it, Mr. Wang."

"Of course not, of course not," Wang Xiushuai said, accepting the tea without hesitation. "Are you here to discuss poetry with the prince?"

"Oh, I'm feeling so inspired, so inspired!" Meng Yuan echoed Du Gukang's words.

"Please," Wang Xiushuai said with a smile, leading the way.

They passed through rooms and courtyards, arriving at a small yard. There, they saw Du Gukang sitting under a grapevine, holding a large bun in one hand and looking up at the grapes while chewing.

Meng Yuan looked around and noticed that the yard was not large and had a simple layout. There was a grapevine in the corner, a large water jar in the middle, and lotus leaves growing inside it.

Meng Yuan didn't need to look further; this was clearly a monk!

"May I have a private word with the prince?" Meng Yuan asked with a smile, turning to Wang Xiushuai.

"Please," Wang Xiushuai said with a smile, bowing slightly and turning to leave. He didn't seem to care at all about Meng Yuan's intentions.

Meng Yuan walked up to the grapevine and saw that the leaves were lush and green, on the vines, tiny green grapes the size of soybeans had already formed.

"Ah," Meng Yuan sighed, even before he could speak.

Du Gukang took another bite of his bun and placed his hand behind his back, saying, "People misunderstand, slander, and guard against me. So what? My heart is bright, and my heart is righteous."

Meng Yuan hadn't even tried to probe him yet, but Du Gukang was already revealing everything!

"Prince?" Meng Yuan asked, placing a hand on his sword hilt as he looked at Du Gukang.

"I'm not foolish; I'm truly virtuous," Du Gukang said, pacing under the grapevine and reciting as if he were singing a prelude poem.

Meng Yuan wasn't sure why Du Gukang had suddenly stopped pretending, but since he had, Meng Yuan also felt no need to be polite.

In Qingguo, Buddhism was suppressed, and monks were not allowed to travel, preach, or establish temples and statues anywhere except in the Ping An Prefecture. However, Du Gukang, being a member of the imperial clan, had actually become a monk!

"I know that the recent conflict between the Buddhists and the Luomu has been quite significant, but you don't need to come to me every time."

Du Gukang waved the bun in his hand and smiled at Meng Yuan. His round face, which had once exuded purity, now seemed to be offering advice, "You're a man of the world, using the pretext of discussing poetry to monitor me. You're always talking about poetry with me, and I'm never annoyed. I'm truly grateful for that. But from now on, there's no need for this. We've wasted so much tea, yet we only discuss doggerel, inviting ridicule."

He took another bite of the bun and said, "Please tell Third Miss Ying that I've been very well-behaved here and haven't done anything. There's no need to check on me constantly."

Hearing these words, it was clear that the princess was well aware of Du Gukang's true identity!

Meng Yuan also understood. Previously, when he had sought out Du Gukang to inquire about poetry, Du Gukang had asked the reason, knowing that the princess had sent him. He had assumed that the conflict between the Buddhists and Luomu was severe and that he was there to keep an eye on Du Gukang.

It made sense; Du Gukang's poetic talent was so exceptional that someone would specifically seek him out for guidance, and it wasn't for personal gain or flattery. It was indeed a bit unusual!

Who would have thought that the princess was the one behind it all? Meng Yuan had followed her instructions without question! But now, Du Gukang had laid everything bare, revealing his true self and giving up! It seemed his willpower was not strong!

Meng Yuan was no longer afraid and smiled, saying, "Prince, why do you consider a foreign land as your home?"

Meng Yuan meant that he shouldn't practice Buddhism when it was forbidden in the country.

Hearing these words, Du Gukang looked at Meng Yuan curiously and replied, "Where my heart finds peace is my home."

Meng Yuan understood. Du Gukang meant that he had willingly entered the monastic life.

Suddenly, Meng Yuan recalled the conversation on Peach Blossom Ridge when Teacher Nie had asked about the Great Tail Venerable's origins, and the Great Tail Venerable had also said something similar.

"Which sect do you belong to?" Meng Yuan asked directly.

"Why do you all insist on distinguishing between the Gradual Cultivation and Sudden Enlightenment Sects?" Du Gukang smiled. "Meng, you're too attached to appearances."

"What's your Dharma name?" Meng Yuan asked curiously.

"My name is Xiaokong," Du Gukang replied, joining his palms together.

"When did you enter the monastic life?" Meng Yuan inquired.

"I've been a Buddhist since childhood," Du Gukang answered.

"Doesn't the prince care?" Meng Yuan asked.

"Does he have the face to care about me?" Du Gukang responded.

Hearing these words, Meng Yuan was surprised but managed to suppress his reaction. In a low voice, he asked, "Has he also entered the monastic life?"

"Not exactly," Du Gukang said, joining his hands and holding the bun. "You'll understand in time."

It seemed he had done something unclean!

"When did the princess find out you were a monk?" Meng Yuan asked.

"Third Miss Ying is very clever," Du Gukang said, a hint of resentment in his voice as he mentioned her. Unlike a monk who had renounced greed, anger, and ignorance, he continued, "She figured it out as soon as she entered the prince's mansion. She didn't do anything, but she made me eat pork, saying it was the sacrificial meat offered to the Confucian sages. Not eating it would be disrespectful to them."

This was Third Miss Ying's style.

Looking at the man, he seemed reliable, but he loved to cause trouble.

Meng Yuan suppressed a laugh and asked, "Have you eaten?"

"I am a proper monk who upholds the precepts. How could I break them?" Du Gukang replied matter-of-factly.

"You're attached to worldly desires. Meat is empty, sacrificial meat is empty, even the Sage of Confucius is empty. It's your mind that's not empty." Meng Yuan chuckled,

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"Then come and be a monk with me! Let's practice the Sudden Enlightenment Sect, not the Silent Meditation." Du Gukang suggested.

"..." Meng Yuan chuckled and asked, "What rank are you in the Buddhist sect?"

"Eighth Rank. Didn't Third Miss tell you?" Du Gukang turned to Meng Yuan, encouraging him, "Don't be so shy and reserved. Don't mention the Prince either. Just call me by my Dharma name."

He was full of anticipation, like a starving man who had finally seen a chef.

"I won't move. It's you who's moved." Du Gukang said.

Meng Yuan had already figured it out. This Du Gukang was indeed a proper monk. He had been pretending to be pure for many years, never speaking a heartfelt word to anyone, and no one had ever engaged him in a witty repartee.

At this moment, Meng Yuan wanted to play a game of witty banter, but he didn't take the bait.

Earlier at Peach Blossom Ridge, Nie Yanyan had mentioned that some monks, after reading a few Buddhist scriptures, believed they had gained some ability and spent their days looking for people to argue with, spouting nonsense that was all hot air.

At this moment, Meng Yuan could empathize. Some words, when spoken by a high monk, would be convincing, but coming from the self-proclaimed Du Gukang, they sounded ridiculous.

As Meng Yuan was about to leave, someone knocked on the door.

Du Gukang quickly stopped his hand gesture.

After three knocks, Wang Xiushuai pushed the door and entered.

"Your Highness, Little Meng Teacher." Wang Xiushuai smiled and bowed, then looked at Meng Yuan, "The servant said someone is here to see you."

"Did they say who it is?" Meng Yuan asked.

"It's a middle-aged man who claims to be from the Xie family." Wang Xiushuai smiled and said.

From this surname, Meng Yuan knew it was Xie Shen's family who had come looking for him. Moreover, it was likely Xie Kai Ping, Xie Shen's older brother.

Meng Yuan had only heard Teacher Nie mention Xie Kai Ping, saying he was a very gentle and refined gentleman, but he had never met him in person.

Since it was inevitable, Meng Yuan decided to meet him and take the opportunity to observe his background.

"I'll go and see." Meng Yuan held the hilt of his sword and headed outside.

"Then I'll go and take a look too!" Du Gukang said, munching on a large bun as he followed, calling out, "I see you're a scholar. Come and learn from me!"

Meng Yuan paid him no heed and quickly arrived outside the side entrance of the prince's mansion.

Outside the door stood a middle-aged man in his thirties, wearing a scholar's cap and smiling gently. His appearance was elegant and refined, and one could tell at a glance that he was a gentle and noble gentleman.

"Are you Brother Meng?" The man smiled and bowed, "I am Xie Kai Ping, Xie Shen's older brother."

"I am Meng Yuan." Meng Yuan smiled and returned the greeting.

"And who is this?" Xie Kai Ping looked at Du Gukang.

"This is His Highness, Prince Xin." Meng Yuan introduced.

"Oh, it's the Prince. My apologies." Xie Kai Ping bowed, "I didn't know it was the Prince. My apologies."

Du Gukang nodded, squeezing out a smile from his chubby face, then took another bite of the bun in his hand, not saying a word.

Meng Yuan didn't find it strange that the two didn't know each other. After all, Xie Kai Ping's father was the governor, a traveling official, and Prince Xin was a royal prince without real power. It was natural they would have little interaction and not know each other.

Seeing Du Gukang's indifferent attitude, Xie Kai Ping smiled and turned to Meng Yuan, asking, "I'm sorry for intruding on you today. It's very impolite of me."

"Not at all. I don't know what brings you here, Brother Xie. If there's something, just send a message, and I'll attend to it. There's no need for you to come in person." Meng Yuan smiled.

"To be honest..." Xie Kai Ping smiled helplessly, "My younger brother, Xie Shen, has gone missing. I heard you had an appointment with him for a banquet, so I came to ask."

"Unfortunately..." Meng Yuan shook his head slightly, "I was out on official business and just returned yesterday. I was planning to look for Brother Xie Shen today for a drink, but His Highness invited me to appreciate poetry, so I was delayed."

Du Gukang tilted his head and glanced at Meng Yuan but still didn't say a word.

"So that's how it is." Xie Kai Ping sighed, "I don't know where he's gone. My mother is very worried about him."

"He's probably just out for a stroll, who knows?" Meng Yuan smiled.

"I'll send someone to look for him again." Xie Kai Ping said, "I'm sorry for the trouble. Please forgive me, Brother. When we have time in the future, let's gather and chat about poetry and songs."

"Not at all, not at all. I'm just a palace guard, a lowly person. How dare I discuss poetry with the son of a governor?" Meng Yuan said humbly.

"My father is very compassionate towards the poor and weak, treating them as his own children. Brother, you go out to slay demons and eliminate harm for the people, and I respect you greatly." Xie Kai Ping bowed again, "Farewell!"

He also bowed to Du Gukang and smiled, "Your Highness, farewell!"

After saying this, Xie Kai Ping hurriedly left.

Meng Yuan watched Xie Kai Ping leave and turned to Du Gukang, who had remained silent, and asked, "Are you afraid of him?"

"Why would I be afraid of him?" Du Gukang asked.

"You just now looked like you did when you were at the Tranquil Void Monastery." Meng Yuan moved closer and asked, "What did you notice?"

"He's like me." Du Gukang whispered.

"Is he also bald?" Meng Yuan asked.

Du Gukang touched his head, glanced at Meng Yuan, and then nodded.

"How did you see that?" Meng Yuan asked again.

"You wouldn't understand." Du Gukang was exasperated, his chubby face now sweating, "I shouldn't have come out with you! He must have noticed I was here too!"

With this temperament, you might as well give up on being a monk? Meng Yuan held the hilt of his sword, not speaking.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end