Chapter Nine, Diary

"Disturbance? Do you know that someone has died in our family? We can go out if necessary. You go and call out two people, one male and one female, the male is named Shen Mo, and the female is named Xia Xiaowei..."

Prominent figures from various sectors, along with leaders from the education and cultural departments, as well as monks from the Buddhist community and approximately two hundred male and female teachers and students from various schools, came in droves upon hearing the news, creating a very lively atmosphere. Although the train was repeatedly delayed, the enthusiasm of the crowd remained undiminished

I am Xia Xiaowei, the daughter of Xia Qing. Please tell Aunt Zeng that she knows me.

Several scenes flashed through the silent mind

Silence directly turned to April

Xia Xiaowei quietly packed her luggage

I got into the car in a daze and saw that Mr. Tai Weng's attendants, En Hou, Bao Si, Nuo Ge, as well as Mr. Xu Zhimo and Ms. Lin Huiyin were all in the vehicle. The car continued to drive towards Jingshan.

... ...

As he silently turned the pages, he saw the entire itinerary of Tagore in Jinan and the story between Tagore and Mr. Yu Daoquan. On April 23, 1924, at the Buddhist Scripture Distribution Center in Jinan, Mr. Yu Daoquan introduced to Tagore the history of Buddhism's introduction to China and its significant impact on Chinese culture. His concise remarks deeply moved Tagore, who greatly admired this young man speaking English. He said, "Sir, you are the first person we have met in China who has such a strong interest in Indian culture and language!" Accompanied by tours and dialogues, by the end of the day, Tagore's knowledge, demeanor, and caliber had thoroughly impressed and captivated Mr. Yu Daoquan. Therefore, when Tagore suggested that Mr. Yu Daoquan accompany him to India to study Sanskrit and Buddhism at the International University, Mr. Yu Daoquan readily agreed without hesitation and resolutely followed Tagore to Beijing.

It was not until around 7:40 PM that the train on which Tai Weng was traveling slowly arrived at the station. The crowd began to stir, and some individuals were maintaining order.

... ...

In the morning, Tai Weng told me to accompany him outside, but he did not inform me of the destination. This struck me as somewhat strange, as there were no activities scheduled for that morning.

The train number 1625 departing from Beijing West arrives at Liaocheng Station at 1:29 AM. We can take this train to Xiangtang, and then transfer to a train to Guiyang from Xiangtang

Who is Xia Xiaowei

Alright! What time is the train? Have you checked?

Which sentence?

This is fate. I am destined to have a connection with this topic—an inexplicable bond

At that moment, people suddenly discovered that among Tagore's entourage were the poets Xu Zhimo and Lin Huiyin. The youth erupted in cheers, the crowd became boisterous, and the scene became difficult to control. To prevent any accidents, under the direction of Mr. Wang Zhuchen, we formed a human wall to escort Tagore out of the train station. However, Tagore suddenly stopped, his face darkened, his lips trembled, and he quietly exclaimed, "No, No, No..." Xu Zhimo quickly walked to Tagore's side and looked ahead, only to see a line of rickshaw pullers dressed in blue jackets and white trousers waiting on the platform. Xu hurriedly pulled Mr. Wang Zhuchen and said, "This situation also occurred in Shanghai; Mr. Tagore is most afraid of seeing rickshaw pullers, we must quickly ask them to leave." Mr. Wang Zhuchen swiftly had the rickshaws moved, but there was no other immediate solution, so they had no choice but to ask them to walk to the Shitaiyan Restaurant, which was about half a mile away, to rest, and everything would be discussed tomorrow.

Upon reaching a pavilion, Tai Weng suddenly shifted the topic and said: "More than one hundred and fifty years ago, your country's General Fu Heng brought back a rare diamond when he withdrew his troops from Yunnan and Guizhou, which he presented to the esteemed Emperor Qianlong. Your Majesty, have you heard of this matter?" The Xun Emperor was taken aback by Tai Weng's question and replied: "There is no record of this matter in the annals of my ancestors, so it must be mere nonsense." Tai Weng fell silent.

Tagore's visit to China was from April 12, 1924, to May 30, 1924

How could it be so coincidental? It is incredible

Silence. Xia Xiaowei poured a glass of water for Shen Mo

The silent thoughts gradually became clear

Xia Xiaowei was startled by Shen Mo's demeanor. She asked in surprise, "Brother Shen Mo, what’s wrong? Why are you going back to Guiyang? Are you not going to take care of Dad's matters?"

What I never expected was that the car actually stopped at the Shenzu Gate of the Forbidden City. After we got out of the car, we saw that the palace attendants had been waiting at the entrance. As soon as they saw the elder arrive, they hurriedly came forward to greet us. They guided us into the palace, turning corner after corner, until we finally reached the Imperial Garden. At that moment, I realized that the elder was taking us to meet the abdicated emperor.

Professor Zeng Ping: "To my knowledge, several renowned scholars around the world have met with mysterious deaths or disappearances due to their engagement with this subject. There is the Russian historian Petrov, the Japanese scholar Torii Ichiro, and our own historian Li Tian..."

What happened

What happened in the pomegranate garden? Could you please have Aunt Zeng answer the phone?

Silently looking at the watch: "There is no time left. We must go to the train station immediately"

Silently flipping through Mr. Yu Daoquan's diary. The light beige Dorian paper. Mr. Yu Daoquan's penmanship is vigorous and powerful. Due to the ink, the writing varies in depth.

As far as I know, several renowned scholars in the world have mysteriously died or gone missing due to their engagement with this subject. There is the Russian historian Petrov, the Japanese scholar Torii Ichiro, and our own historian Li Tian..." Silence echoed Professor Cheng Ping's words.

"Step aside! There are reasons behind grievances, and debts have their owners. This has nothing to do with you! Stay out of it and don't seek trouble." A young man shouted arrogantly at the security guard.

"He is dead—cerebral hemorrhage!" The man hung up the phone fiercely

Professor Zeng Ping: "Child, your teacher has ventured into a fatal proposition"

I will not ignore this matter, and it is impossible for me to do so! Do you still remember what Professor Cheng Ping once said?

Did you come by yesterday afternoon? There was also a man with you

Xia Xiaowei gestured to Shen Mo for a moment, exchanged a glance, and the two hurriedly turned into another emergency exit, leaving in a flurry

I was just looking for you! Where are you?" The man's voice immediately turned cold.

No, that cannot be said. The ancients have stated, "Great actions do not concern themselves with minor details, and great ceremonies do not refuse small concessions." If we leave a mountain of gold to Liu Dun'er, will he know how to spend it? In fact, that would only harm him.

At that time, in the Imperial Garden, the abdicated Emperor Puyi was seated in a chair. Beside him stood a thin old man. Upon seeing Tagore, the Emperor's face lit up with joy, yet he did not rise, merely raising his left hand to offer a seat to Tagore. Although the Emperor had long since abdicated, his dignity remained. We, a group of people, could only stand on either side. Once Tagore was seated, the Emperor said: "Sir, you are the great poet of India, and Zheng Xiaoxu is the great poet of our country. It is indeed a rare opportunity to meet here today, so I would like to take a photograph of the two great poets for commemoration." After saying this, the Emperor stood up and had someone take a picture of Tagore and the old man. The old man turned out to be the renowned Zheng Xiaoxu. After the photo was taken, Tagore said to Zheng Xiaoxu: "You are a great poet of China; do you also understand English?" Zheng Xiaoxu replied in English: "My knowledge is quite limited." Subsequently, the Emperor began to converse with Tagore in English. The communication was relatively smooth. Then, the Emperor personally acted as a guide, leading Tagore to tour the Imperial Garden. Tagore was captivated by the beauty and splendor of Chinese gardens, praising them incessantly. Then, the Emperor personally acted as a guide, leading Tagore to tour the Imperial Garden. Tagore was captivated by the beauty and splendor of Chinese gardens, praising them incessantly.

Two security guards blocked the passage: "What do you want to do?"

Looking for trouble? You've come to the wrong place! Are you leaving or not? If you don't leave, don't blame us for being rude!" A security guard said defiantly.

... ...

The Orlov Diamond weighs 199.6 carats. It was originally one of the eyes of the statue of the deity Parvati worshipped in the Srirangapatna Temple in Mysore, India. In 1750, a French soldier risked his life to steal it and sold it to the captain of a British ship for one hundred thousand pounds. The diamond was brought to London, where it was purchased by a merchant for two hundred thousand pounds. In 1773, it was resold to the Russian Marquis Grigory Orlov for four hundred fifty thousand pounds. This is the reason why the diamond is named "Orlov." Subsequently, Grigory Orlov presented it to his lover, Empress Catherine. During the 1917 Revolution, the Tsar was overthrown, and this large diamond was discovered among the royal treasures. It was designated as a national treasure during the Soviet era and has continued to be so in present-day Russia. It is currently housed in the Russian State Museum in Saint Petersburg

... ...

As night deepens, the train station is ablaze with lights

After leaving the pavilion, Tai Weng bid farewell to Emperor Xun. We walked to the entrance of Shenwu Gate and took a carriage to depart

Silently, he looked at Xia Xiaowei's face, which appeared quite pale.

Do you know who Li Tian is

Say goodbye to Professor Zeng Ping! Silence took out his phone

Aunt Zeng Ping has passed away due to a cerebral hemorrhage. Should we go and pay our respects

Please ask Aunt Zeng to answer the phone, I met with her yesterday. Xia Qing's daughter, Aunt Zeng knows.

Beneath the text is a photograph of a large black diamond, shimmering and dazzling. Its unique history adds an enchanting sense of mystery to this rather famous diamond.

In the afternoon, I was waiting at the train station with the reception group for the arrival of Tai Weng

Shen Mo and Xia Xiaowei were settling the bill at the bar while dragging their travel bags.

What happened to Aunt Zeng

Professor Zeng Ping: "... ... The core of the proposition is to seek the second eye of Brahma"

Xia Xiaowei looked at Shen Mo and said, "I will make this call."

Li Tian is my great-grandfather

Do you also believe in fate

The diary begins on February 4, 1924, and ends on July 6 of the same year

The call is connected: "I am looking for Aunt Zeng Ping..."

Yes, it is us

Do you remember, what happened?

Mr. Tai and his party disembarked from the train accompanied by Mr. Wang Tongzhao and Mr. Wang Zhuchen. The two gentlemen had arrived in Qufu earlier to welcome Mr. Tai. Mr. Tai has a white beard that is more than half a foot long and slightly curled, with long silver hair cascading over his shoulders. He is dressed in a plain white long gown, covered by a long, earth-red robe that reaches the ground, and wears a cloth cap on his head. At 63 years of age, he appears somewhat pale, yet his eyes are bright and spirited.

Silently, he walked over and saw a piece of text on the computer screen

How is it? Are you going too? I took a leave of absence. Aren't you going to school? Stay in Liaocheng and do whatever you need to do. I will inform you if there is any news.

The person answering the phone is a man: "Who are you?"

The historian Li Tian of our country... The historian Li Tian of our country... Li Tian... Li Tian... "Silence murmured, the name Li Tian deeply pierced his nerves. The silence quietly said: 'Xiaowei, I want to return to Guiyang.'

My great-grandfather went missing in 1938, at that time he was only thirty-two years old, and my grandfather was only eight. To evade persecution, my grandfather changed his surname to Shen, which is also my great-grandmother's surname. Previously, I only knew that my great-grandfather had mysteriously disappeared, but I never knew the reason. My grandfather did not know either. This has always been a mystery in our family

There are certain things you cannot help but believe

A commotion erupted at the stairway, as four or five young men shouted as they rushed up: "Hurry! Don't let them get away!"

What brings comfort to Shen Mo is that this diary has connected the names of three individuals: Fu Heng, Tagore, and Puyi. All three of them are included in the list provided by the professor

At 3 PM, several gentlemen including Zhang Xiangwen and Zhang Junru, members of the Beijing Buddhist Study Association, came to visit. Mr. Zhang Xiangwen informed Tai Weng that the Beijing Buddhist Study Association intends to establish a Sino-Indian Society and hopes for Tai Weng's support. Tai Weng has profound knowledge of Buddhism and engaged in lively discussions with the gentlemen. During the conversation, Tai Weng uttered a phrase that no one understood. He said: "The two eyes of Brahma are one in the West and one in the East." Mr. Zhang Junru responded: "Buddhism will surely flourish in the world, whether in the East or the West." I noticed that although Tai Weng did not comment, he was evidently not satisfied with Mr. Zhang Junru's response. He reiterated: "The two eyes of Brahma are one in the West and one in the East." Mr. Zhang Junru again replied: "Buddhism will surely flourish in the world, whether in the East or the West." I observed that although Tai Weng did not comment, he was evidently not satisfied with Mr. Zhang Junru's response.

April 27, Sunday, clear

April 23, Wednesday, clear

Tagore: "More than 150 years ago, General Fu Heng of your country brought back a rare diamond as a gift for the esteemed Emperor Qianlong when he withdrew his troops from Yunnan and Guizhou..."

May 17, Saturday, light rain

Alright! I will check the train schedule.

This world-renowned diamond has always existed, and there is nothing more to say about it. I am pondering another question— the Seringapatam Temple is the family temple of the Mysore royal family, and it is impossible to inlay only one eye of the idol with diamonds. That would invite divine retribution. So, where did the second eye of Brahma go

"Brother Shenmo! Come and take a look!" Xia Xiaowei suddenly said

Tagore: "The eyes of Brahma, one looking to the West, the other to the East"

I am already in my third year of university, and I completed all my credits last semester. I don't need to attend any classes this semester. Our counselor is very accommodating; I just need to inform him. Staying in Liaocheng, do you think I can still focus on my studies?

Today is a special day for me. Upon learning that Tagore will arrive in Jinan tomorrow, I have been publicly appointed as his accompanying translator, a recognition I never anticipated would come my way. This is yet another thrilling piece of news since I obtained my public scholarship to study in the United States. I have long admired Tagore! Both his writings and his character serve as a model for our generation. During this visit to China, the poet Xu Zhimo and Ms. Lin Huiyin were originally designated as accompanying translators. Out of respect, the academic community in Jinan proposed to appoint another person as a translator, primarily to accompany him. Thus, I have been granted this unexpected honor. Alongside the surprise, there is also a sense of nervousness.

Upon seeing this passage, a surge of blood rushed to Shen Mo's head, and he could hardly believe his eyes! He felt incredibly fortunate, almost to the point of disbelief. "The two eyes of Borohemo, one in the West and one in the East." Without understanding the relevant background, anyone would be utterly confused upon hearing this. Tagore was clearly referring to those two diamonds! Unfortunately, at that time, no one understood his words. From 1924 to now, eighty-two years have passed, yet no one has paid attention to the riddle left by Tagore. "The two eyes of Borohemo, one in the West and one in the East." Without understanding the relevant background, anyone would be utterly confused upon hearing this. Tagore was clearly referring to those two diamonds! Unfortunately, at that time, no one understood his words. From 1924 to now, eighty-two years have passed, yet no one has paid attention to the riddle left by Tagore.

Silence nodded slightly: "It should be you who strikes."

Xia Xiaowei was stunned, her eyes and mouth wide open: "Oh my! This is so incredible! Your great-grandfather was actually one of the first people in China to engage with this subject, and both he and my father paid the ultimate price for it? But he had the surname Li, how could you have the surname Shen?"

Xu Jun introduced that Tai Weng believes riding a rickshaw is akin to being carried by others, which he considers cruel and lacking in humanitarian principles

Indeed, there is such a diamond! exclaimed Xia Xiaowei

Xia Xiaowei shook her head

Xia Xiaowei took out Shen Mo's laptop from the suitcase; the wireless network card is truly a wonderful invention

However, these seem to have no relation to the Eye of Brahma. Shen Mo continued to read on.

... ...

I feel that we are like robbers. What is the difference between this and burglary? If Liu Dun'er were a normal person, this diary might be enough for him to spend his entire life. Returning to the residence in Liuyuan, in the silent room, Xia Xiaowei poured herself a glass of water and said

It now appears that the mystery we need to unravel is not only related to the professor's death but also to the disappearance of my great-grandfather. It concerns both of our families and two lives. Therefore, in order to solve this mystery, I must return to Guiyang to seek more information and evidence

April 21, Monday, clear

"I can't connect! What's wrong with you? How much trouble can a single emergency call cause you?"