AMLFS Chapter 130

It was another beautiful spring day.

Prince Zhao Fangye of the Ning district and Song Huaixi, dressed as ordinary people, were riding horses on the outskirts of the capital.

“Zhao Fangye, look, there are swallows.” They were riding the same horse. Song Huaixi pointed at the black shadows flitting across the sky.

The swallows flew low, and behind them stood the Rui Ling Temple nestled among the peach blossoms on the hillside. The usually quiet and ancient temple had become lively with the arrival of spring.

Zhao Fangye looked up, wrapped his arms around Song Huaixi’s waist, and guided the horse through the crowd. He nodded leisurely, “Yes, I see them.”

Everything was awakening on the outskirts of the capital, and the gentle breeze carried the sweet fragrance of peach blossoms. The withered grass and trees of winter were unfurling their verdant veins.

With the pleasant weather, the people of the capital were also venturing out to enjoy the spring scenery.

The Rui Ling Temple, known for its efficacy, was an indispensable destination for the spring outings of the people. At this time, commoners and nobles alike, along with their families, were ascending the winding steps towards the temple on the hillside.

Song Huaixi had always loved crowds, and he followed the visitors up the meandering steps. Zhao Fangye walked behind him.

This time when leaving the palace, Zhao Fangye did not display the emperor and empress’s regalia, but simplified everything. At this moment, there was no distinction between high and low. They were like many living beings under the heavens, walking on the path of seeking beautiful visions.

As soon as Song Huaixi left the palace, he was like a little bird out of a cage, extremely excited. As soon as he arrived at the foot of the mountain, he rushed forward, not knowing that the road had to be walked step by step.

“Zhao Fangye, hurry up.” Song Huaixi hopped and skipped ahead, calling back to Zhao Fangye, who was walking leisurely behind him, “If we’re late, the bodhisattva won’t remember our wishes.”

Zhao Fangye smiled at him without saying much. He still followed him slowly, always keeping a few steps away from him.

This way, he wouldn’t be too far away to take care of him, nor too close to make him walk too fast.

The Rui Ling Temple was built halfway up the mountain, and although it looked close, the steps to climb were very winding and long. Song Huaixi, who had started out full of energy, quickly ran out of steam.

He supported himself on the nearby railing, panting, “So tired….”

Song Huaixi pinched his sore legs, feeling both tired and thirsty. He looked up at the winding stone steps and suddenly thought of retreating. It was so long, why was it so long…?

“Tired?” Zhao Fangye raised his lips when he saw this. He took out the water bottle he carried with him and gave it to him, “Moisten your lips.”

Song Huaixi hugged the water bottle and took several gulps before he felt better. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and face. His fair face was flushed.

He looked at Zhao Fangye, who looked as usual with steady breaths. His eyes were full of doting as he looked at Song Huaixi, “Still climbing so fast?”

Song Huaixi shook his head, unable to walk anymore. He leaned his head against Zhao Fangye’s chest and mumbled, “So tired….”

Zhao Fangye had known he would be like this, so he pushed him away to stand still. Under Song Huaixi’s puzzled gaze, he turned his back and squatted down in front of him, “Get on, who said the bodhisattva wouldn’t hear your wishes if you’re late?”

Song Huaixi’s face immediately lit up with joy when he saw that broad back. He knew that Zhao Fangye was the best.

Then he climbed onto Zhao Fangye’s back very nimbly, obediently wrapping his arms around his neck.

There were other people climbing the mountain around them, including like-minded talented scholars and beautiful women. A young girl who had witnessed the whole process looked enviously at the handsome man carrying his male wife up the mountain.

Looking at the person beside her who didn’t know how to care for her at all, she twisted her handkerchief and deliberately walked even slower.

Song Huaixi lay on Zhao Fangye’s back, his heart as sweet as honey. Passers-by occasionally cast various glances at him.

Song Huaixi was very calm about it, even feeling a little proud in his heart, slightly raising his face. The most amazing person in the world was his, and no one could take him away.

Zhao Fangye carried Song Huaixi up to the temple. It was noon. Considering that Song Huaixi hadn’t eaten much in the morning, Zhao Fangye instructed the hidden guards to find a meditation room and prepare food.

As soon as the monks in the temple saw that they were distinguished guests, they immediately led them to a secluded courtyard.

The main hall of this courtyard was used to enshrine the everlasting lamps. People who came here would quietly and piously offer a lamp under the introduction of the abbot, and then leave.

They wouldn’t make any noise, and the people who could enshrine the everlasting lamps here were generally rich or noble. Ordinary families didn’t have the financial resources to enter this place. At most, they would offer some incense money in the front main hall.

Song Huaixi looked at the Buddha in the main hall, lowering his eyes and looking peacefully at all living beings. Then he got off Zhao Fangye’s back and stood there, bowing, “Amitabha. Thank you, Bodhisattva, for your blessing.”

Seeing his pious appearance, Zhao Fangye asked him, “Why are you bowing here? If you want to bow, why don’t you go in?”

Unexpectedly, Song Huaixi shook his head very seriously, and said earnestly, “I can’t go in.”

He hadn’t burned incense or bathed today, and the Buddha would be unhappy. If the Buddha was unhappy, he wouldn’t grant his wish.

After saying that, Song Huaixi looked at the Buddha statue and bowed very sincerely again, chanting something in his mouth.

Zhao Fangye couldn’t help but smile when he saw him like this. He didn’t expect Song Huaixi to take these strange and chaotic things so seriously.

Song Huaixi was tired from walking, so Zhao Fangye watched him finish his meal and then coaxed him to take a nap. Song Huaixi had also developed the habit of taking a nap in the afternoon when there was nothing to do in winter.

After covering him with the quilt, Zhao Fangye went out. He came to the main hall where the everlasting lamps were enshrined.

Perhaps infected by Song Huaixi, Zhao Fangye, who had never believed in gods and Buddhas, also had the idea of lighting an everlasting lamp for Song Huaixi.

Under the Buddha’s seat, on the lamp stands, the wicks of the glazed lotus candlesticks burned perpetually, day and night.

Each lamp was carefully maintained and respectfully offered by the monks. Of course, the cost of each everlasting lamp was considerable.

The longer the time, the greater the cost. And the more precious it was.

Each lamp was inscribed with a name in delicate, small regular script. Zhao Fangye stood with his hands behind his back, casually looking at them one by one. Suddenly, one of them caused Zhao Fangye’s indifferent eyes to tremble.

On that lotus candlestick with the faint candlelight, three characters were written in small regular script: “Zhao Fangye”

Only these three characters, the handwriting was not delicate, a bit crooked, as if the owner had spent a lot of effort to finally write them well.

“Does the benefactor wish to offer a lamp?”

The tremor in Zhao Fangye’s heart had not yet subsided when an old voice came into his ears.

The abbot, wearing a kasaya, had come to his side at some point. His eyes were serene, like an ancient pine.

“When was this lamp offered? Who offered it?” Zhao Fangye pointed to the everlasting lamp with his name, his tone carrying a hint of urgency that he himself had not noticed.

“Oh, this one?” The abbot looked at the not-so-beautiful handwriting on the glazed lamp and had a very deep memory.

Because the young master who offered this lamp had practiced in front of the main hall for almost half an hour in order to write a beautiful name on the lamp before finally writing the words well and offering the lamp with his own hands.

What made him even more impressed was the young man’s clean and pious eyes.

After learning the time from the abbot, Zhao Fangye felt an unspeakable emotion surge into his heart.

It turned out that on the battlefield in Hanzhou, where the plague was rampant, he not only had a peace talisman but also an everlasting lamp. It turned out that since then, he had been loved clumsily and firmly.

After Zhao Fangye left, another lamp was placed next to the everlasting lamp with his name written on it, closely attached to it. The three characters “Song Huaixi” were written in a powerful and vigorous hand.

The abbot looked at the two everlasting lamps leaning together, and a smile appeared in his old, clear eyes.

“Reincarnation, predestined marriage, the affairs of the world, have their own destiny.”