Chapter 5, it is said, that is the future

I coldly said: "Second Young Master, I am indeed going to be the Emperor's concubine, and when that time comes, your entire family will have to kneel and bow to me. Do I still care about arguing with my father?"

I could no longer hold it in, and as I lifted the curtain, I opened my mouth and vomited out everything—the thin porridge, steamed buns, eggs, and apples I had eaten in the morning—all turned into sour liquid and flowed away

I was taken aback, "Second Brother, if this gets out, it could cost us our heads!"

This statement is akin to throwing a grenade into a crowd, leaving everyone dazed and disoriented, unable to find their bearings

My emotions were interrupted, and I rolled my eyes at the void above with annoyance, "Stop talking nonsense, I've waited for two months, can you finally send me back to my physical body now?"

He sighed: "No matter what, he is still your father, and being angry with him is your fault"

I laughed: "This is hard to say. Perhaps I became a queen, greatly promoting my maternal family, and we, the Xie family, wielded power as relatives. In the end, you grew impatient and became a carefree lord, plotting a rebellion..."

As I flew, the clouds gradually thinned, revealing a vast expanse of land. It was a modern city, and I hovered high above, gazing down at the dazzling lights of the city at night, with the neon advertisements on the skyscrapers shining brilliantly. Suddenly, I spotted a familiar department store and realized that I seemed to have returned to my original world.

Then the great immortal chuckled and said: "That person is none other than the one beside you. If you observe carefully, you will know."

Xie Zhaoying smiled wryly: "Don't say things out of anger. One cannot take the old monk's words too seriously; when I was young, he even said that I would rule the world in the future"

I was feeling confused when suddenly a large crowd of people surged out of the building, and at the front was Zhang Ziyue, the person I had been longing for day and night

As soon as I heard it, I became interested: "Do you know who my destined person is?"

I was about to ask again when a voice suddenly recited: "Time is running out." Then a force pulled me up, propelling me into the sky like a rocket launch. I felt dizzy, tightly closed my eyes, and soared through the air at high speed, then, in a daze, I fell straight down.

I remembered that today is September 19, the day Zhang Ziyue gets married. My physical body is still unknown as to where it lies, but he is safe and sound, holding the wedding as scheduled, and has become Li Yan's husband

"No. No." The great immortal uttered two phrases in foreign language, "The time has not yet come."

I had no intention of turning to Buddhism, and after half a day's fatigue, I soon felt drowsy. The old monk spoke of Buddha, using obscure allusions and profound, intricate language, which sounded to me like a foreign tongue. In the meditation room, the charcoal fire was burning, creating a warm and cozy atmosphere. In my daze, I leaned against something warm and soft, and a faint, elegant fragrance wafted to my nose, prompting me to comfortably close my eyes.

He kept pulling me out of the temple, and I forcefully shook off his hand, walking straight down the mountain by myself

I am indignant: "Not only is the emperor in his forties, but he is also a consumptive. At the age of twenty-eight, when I am as beautiful as a flower, how could I possibly become his concubine? Can he handle that?"

Suppose a girl sacrifices her youth in devotion to her family's honor, yet others still deem her unworthy. I cannot tolerate this insult. What are they? An old monk who deceives the world, a hypocritical scholar, and this damned feudal society that upholds male superiority over females

I lost my temper and exclaimed: "What is there that cannot be said? Women are also human beings. From the outset, they are constrained by their physical strength, which is inferior to that of men. Are they not treated as human beings by men? To put it bluntly, it is still the violent domination of patriarchy and marital authority, leading to the distorted development of society."

Xie Taifu exclaimed: "You scoundrel, how dare you speak such slanderous words against His Majesty!"

Fourth sister, are you alright

As the year-end approaches, the whole family goes to the temple to offer incense and pay respects to their ancestors

He appeared radiant and full of joy, holding the hand of a beautiful woman in red, who was Li Yan. The two were sweetly in love, surrounded by a crowd as they walked towards a luxurious Mercedes-Benz. A large red character for 'happiness' was affixed prominently on the gleaming car.

My gaze moved upward along the fabric, landing on Xie Zhaoying's twisted smile. The veins on his hand gripping the reins were bulging, and his joints were pale, yet he still managed to restrain himself from lunging at me to strangle me

Yunxiang continuously encouraged me: "Miss, hold on, we are almost at the temple."

I was taken aback; the paper bag was still warm. Carefully opening it, I was surprised to find several golden yellow soybean oil pastries.

I nodded repeatedly, burying my head as I swallowed one whole, only to immediately choke, barely escaping death. Xie Zhaoying's Iron Sand Palm slapped onto my back, causing me to spray the crumbs of the flaky pastry onto Xie Lingjuan's back of the head. Xie Lingjuan opened her mouth to scream, but was silenced by my elder brother's hand covering her mouth; it turned out that Master Huikong had arrived

The ancient scholar Xie Taifu did not know how to cope with a fervent feminist, his face turning the color of pig liver, nearly fainting from the pressure

I am not in a good mood: "What is there to be happy about?"

Upon entering the meditation room, I chose a seat by the side. A man dressed in a white satin robe with blue silk embroidery sat next to me; it was Xie Zhaoying, who had changed his clothes. I weakly nodded at him, and suddenly a paper bag was thrust into my hand

Upon arriving at the temple, a thin old monk greeted us at the entrance, reciting a long string of polite phrases in the name of Amitabha Buddha, and then led us inside. Xie Zhao Ke and I followed Mrs. Xie, and after the men had finished offering incense, we approached to bow before the Buddha and the ancestors of the Xie family

Master Huikong recited the name of Amitabha Buddha and said: "There is no need for Lady Xie to blame herself. Miss Xie is young and lively, and it is only natural that she cannot endure the dullness of the Dharma class. I see that Miss Xie possesses a simple and genuine wisdom, with a clear mind and an innate aura of grace between her brows, hinting at a dignified presence. In the future, she will surely embody the virtues of a great matriarch."

An unharmonious voice sounded: "Stop looking, it is not yours, it is destined not to be yours."

It turns out he came over to give me this thing. I looked up to express my gratitude to Xie Zhaoying, but to my surprise, he had already mounted his horse and left, heading to the temple to change his clothes.

However, Master Huikong withdrew his gaze, sat down on the mat, and began to preach and expound on Zen.

Is it not here yet? I am quite frustrated. Let me return to my original state; it is not some complicated technical task. Why is this taking so long?

"Eat quickly." Xie Zhaoying looked at my pitiful appearance with sympathy, "This was stolen by Xiao Sanzi from the kitchen. I ate half and saved half for you. How about that? I treat you well, don't I?"

Mount Wanfoshan is located several miles outside the city, and there are dozens of temples of various sizes on the mountain, hence the exaggerated name of "Ten Thousand Buddhas." The local gazetteer states that the mountain rises to a height of ten thousand fathoms, and it is adorned with rare flowers and exotic plants, featuring waterfalls, streams, and a variety of birds and spiritual beasts.

He did not know when he caught up with me, leading the horse and following me for quite a distance, while I was lost in thought and did not pay attention.

Master Huikong clasped his hands together and said: "Benefactor, this humble monk, as a practitioner of the monastic life, does not speak falsehoods. This is a matter of heavenly secrets, which I have already divulged. The responsibility lies with me, and I fear it may be difficult to escape the consequences. Amitabha Buddha"

I wish to cry but have no tears. The members of the Xie family are all looking at me as if they saw me for the first time, their faces clearly expressing: "How is this possible? It doesn't look like it at all?"

When I took it over, I found it to be a delicate sachet, exuding a unique fragrance that reminded me of Olay moisturizing cream. I leaned in to take a sniff, and the refreshing aroma penetrated my senses, clearing my mind and indeed alleviating my dizziness.

I was overjoyed and immediately flew in the direction of home. The community where my home is located was adorned with the scenery of early autumn, with the fragrance of osmanthus in the air. Several luxury cars were parked under my building, decorated with pink satin ribbons and roses

The entire family slowly turned their heads towards me, then towards Xie Zhaoke. Madam Xie opened her mouth and voiced what everyone was thinking: "Master, you must have mistaken the person, right?"

In "Dream of the Red Chamber," it is depicted that the Jia family goes to pay homage, with a grand procession of the entire family, forming a long line on the road, indulging in the utmost extravagance. In contrast, the Xie family, whether due to the simplicity of the Grand Tutor or the modesty of their household, only has five palanquins, a few servants, and a few bodyguards clearing the way, passing through the city in a gentle and low-key manner, heading towards Mount Wanfoshan

I had just taken two steps when suddenly I felt a tightness around my waist, and I was lifted onto a horse. Xie Zhaoying held me in her arms and laughed, saying: "I am hungry too. The vegetarian meal at the temple had no oil at all. Come, Second Brother will take you to Tianxiang Tower"

I stood in the crowd, feeling lost. No one could see me; their bodies passed through mine as if I were a ghost

Opening my eyes, I saw the thick beams and the ridge of the roof, and then a familiar face came into view.

"I will take you back now." Xie Zhaoying's voice suddenly emerged, startling me.

Madam Xie said with great enthusiasm: "Today, Master Huikong will give a lecture on Zen, which is truly a rare opportunity. You all must listen attentively to the lecture"

I shook my head with a bitter smile

Old monk, since you know that the secrets of heaven should not be revealed, why do you not keep your mouth shut

Our Xie family is about to have a princess

I do not know whether he thinks I should not refer to Master Huikong as the old monk, or whether I should not deny the doubts about my destiny as a goddess.

I stood on the flat ground below, shouting loudly: "I want to go home!"

"Where are you going?" asked Xie Zhaoying

Xie Zhaoying reached out to touch my head in confusion, "Could it be that you slept too deeply?"

I sincerely offered my prayers. May the Bodhisattva and my ancestors bless me. Although I am not a descendant of the Xie family, I do bear the surname Xie by birth. Since I have taken over the body of Xie Zhaohua, I will certainly conduct myself with integrity and will never tarnish the reputation of the Xie family. I implore you to bless me to return to my original self as soon as possible, I earnestly beseech you.

Master Xie shouted angrily: "Presumptuous!"

I nodded along with everyone else

Master Huikong left with an inscrutable smile, leaving a room full of bewildered people. Madam Xie, who habitually trembled when nervous, said to Master Xie: "My lord, why not ask the master to take another look at Ke'er’s fortune."

I stopped, waved my hand, and continued walking, "You can go back, I'm fine."

After listening to that bald donkey recite scriptures for half a day, his front was pressed against his back, so he went down the mountain to look for something to eat

Xie Zhaoke's bright and beautiful face was filled with reluctance, her resentful gaze fixed on Song Zijing. Meanwhile, Song Zijing furrowed his brows and stared at me, as if pondering how a person like me could possibly embody the grace of a mother to the world

A sudden chill

Xie Zhaoying approached with a smile and said, "Congratulations, Fourth Sister"

Who on earth is it

Master Huikong is a man in his sixties, pale and thin, yet walking with a steady gait. His eyes are bright and piercing, revealing a sharp intellect, making it clear at a glance that he is not an ordinary person. He stands still, his eyes scanning the crowd like searchlights, suddenly landing on my face.

This states equivalence without elaboration

After finally finishing the incense offering, I must now go to listen to the Zen teachings. I lament inwardly; having emptied my stomach earlier, I am now ravenously hungry, my eyes glistening with desire as I gaze at the white steamed buns on the offering table, swallowing repeatedly.

Xie Zhaoying had a face full of displeasure

Having finished vomiting, I felt somewhat better. Opening my eyes, I saw a puddle of pale yellow stains adhering to a piece of fine bamboo green satin, which was rhythmically swaying back and forth.

He squeezed his legs against the horse's belly, and the horse took off at a gallop.

It was only then that I realized the room was completely silent, with everyone staring at me. The expressions on the faces of the Xie couple were not very pleasant, and that Master Huikong was squinting his eyes with an air of profundity. The backrest trembled slightly, and I sensed something was amiss, so I turned around. Song Zijing was gazing at me gently with a faint smile, and it turned out that I had fallen into his embrace. My face turned red instantly

The sensation of weightlessness instinctively caused me to scream in terror, and suddenly, with a bang, my back collided with something, sending me tumbling over with my legs in the air

I do not know how miraculous it is. The sedan chair of ancient times is certainly not like the modern car. Sitting in the sedan chair, I was jolted to the point of dizziness, my vision darkening, and my stomach churning as if I had just disembarked from a pirate ship and boarded a roller coaster. I was so overwhelmed that my whole body twitched as if I were having a seizure, and yet that mere few miles felt to the ancients as long as a ten-thousand-mile journey.

Those who are charming love beauty, and those who love beauty tend to be fastidious. However, I am truly innocent; the road is so wide, yet he insists on bringing his horse over, only to be splattered by my spittle. This is clearly self-inflicted.

In my dream, there is a sea of clouds, reminiscent of the scene when I first returned to life. I blindly weave through the layers of clouds, like an aircraft that has lost its radar navigation.

Master Xie, with a composed demeanor, apologized to Master Huikong: "My daughter has been poorly raised and has offended you, Master. I will certainly discipline her strictly upon my return, and I hope you can forgive her."

Xie Zhaoying looked at me with a mix of worry and helplessness. I stared blankly at his handsome face, and suddenly the words of the immortal popped into my mind: "That person is right beside you"

I was so angry that I scolded the bureaucracy harshly. Then a voice comforted me: "Miss Xie, don't be so anxious. After all, your beloved is already married, and your return won't change anything. Why not experience a different kind of life in that world? Besides, the person destined for you is not that groom you just saw."

The great master coughed uncomfortably and lowered his voice, saying: "I only happened to see it out of curiosity when I flipped through the records of the Fate Master. This matter counts as leaking heavenly secrets, and one would be struck by heavenly thunder for it. Of course, between the two of us, I wouldn't tell an ordinary person..."

I said, "I do not believe it. That monk is talking nonsense." I still want to return to my original flesh.

I am filled with tears: "Second brother..."

I am finally a bit angry

I felt a chill sweat break out on my back under that gaze. I wondered to myself, could it be that a master has discerned that I am merely a borrowed soul returned to this body

That voice was filled with helplessness: "I have no way to do anything about it. The matter of a soul returning to a body is not something that can be done at will. Any soul entering any body is arranged according to a specific allocation, requiring directives from above. It is believed that the efficiency of those in charge is low, hence the daily quotas are limited. Although you are on the roster, it may still take some time before your turn comes."

Indeed. Xie Zhaoying is also quite troubled, "But look at me, having lived this long, I am still the second son of the Xie family, without even a government position. Look at my mother, reigning supreme."

I stood there in a daze, watching people get into their cars as the vehicles departed one after another, and soon the area below was empty. The autumn wind swept through the yellow leaves, and the desolation following the bustle enveloped me. I gazed in the direction the convoy had taken, my eyes stinging.

Xie Zhaoying managed to control her facial expression with great difficulty, raised her hand, and threw something to me, saying: "Smell this, and you won't feel dizzy anymore"

Xie Zhaoying sensed that something was amiss and quickly pulled me outside

Xie Zhaoke, untouched by the mundane world, still stands gracefully behind Madam Xie, her noble and beautiful visage radiating tranquility. Noticing my expression, she inquired with confusion, "Fourth sister, are you unwell?"