Chapter 73

"Does the general want to go out, but please let us accompany you..."

A moment later, Feng Juanqi and several of her companions changed into the ordinary attire of attendants, but still wore armor underneath and wrapped their weapons to resemble walking sticks, before leading us out together.

Flowers fly everywhere in the spring city,

Amid the dancing willow catkins, we stepped out of this vast mansion, which turned out to be the bustling market street near Guangsheng Bridge in Hangzhou, with the Qiantang River's dense network of waterways crisscrossing the ancient city's streets and alleys like a large net.

I turned back to look at the side door we had come out of, where the name "Weiyuan" was written in black lacquer.

Although the Hangzhou I am familiar with only began to take shape during the Southern Song Dynasty's period of stability in my timeline, in this timeline, there were already many signs of development.

At least West Lake had grown larger, the Su Causeway and Broken Bridge were gone, the Bai Causeway between Solitary Hill and North Hill remained, Leifeng Pagoda had moved to a new location and was now called Baosheng Pagoda, Feilai Peak was still called Lingjiu Mountain, and there was no legend of a mad monk at Lingyin Temple at the foot of Xiaotianzhu Mountain.

Without the dense high-rise buildings and real estate developments that obstructed and suffocated the landscape, the view was refreshingly pleasant, with the green waves of West Lake and the surrounding villas and mansions visible at a glance, creating a delightful scene.

Since the Southern Dynasties, the city has been built around Phoenix Mountain, known as a "city of thirty-six miles and ninety steps." Although it has undergone some damage and expansion over the years, the overall structure has remained largely unchanged. The most notable feature is the water and land city gates, built or renovated in different eras, each with its unique style.

Standing at a high point, the most prominent sight is the embankment and dikes along the Qiantang River, constructed using the "stone storage and wooden pile method" to reclaim land from the sea, reflecting the city's historical wealth and grandeur.

As the southern terminus of the Grand Canal connecting the north and south, Hangzhou still retains many remnants of its former prosperity, such as the large salt warehouses and cargo yards near Gongchen Bridge, and the numerous docks and shipyards along the riverbank.

During the Kaiyuan and Tianbao periods, goods and entertainers from the Jiangnan region could travel by boat to the积水潭 (Jishuitan) outside the Jingming Gate in the western capital Chang'an, where they would perform for the emperor on the city walls.

Unlike other famous cities that relied on the Grand Canal for their prosperity and decline, Hangzhou has an additional advantage: the seaport. After the Anshi Rebellion cut off the river transport, the sea route flourished, and Hangzhou quickly adapted, becoming an important starting point for sea transport. Even today, Hangzhou's merchant groups still hold a significant place among the many maritime traders in Dengzhou.

Later, with the rise of the maritime frontier, the court encouraged the vigorous development of overseas trade, leading to a boom in maritime commerce. As a result, Hangzhou, with its early advantages, quickly overcame the negative impact of the decline in river transport and returned to its golden days of bustling commerce and a forest of sails.

Hangzhou was also one of the departure points for foreign envoys to recruit immigrants. Various mainlanders, bankrupt farmers, unemployed artisans, desperate villagers, disaster victims, fugitives, and exiles were enticed or coerced to leave for overseas, often looking back with regret as they embarked on a one-way journey to new lands.

At its peak, it was said that over ten thousand households surrounded the lake and mountains, with Fujian merchants and their ships frequently visiting. Even today, Hangzhou is renowned for its textile, printing, brewing, and paper industries, with a large portion of the city's population engaged in handicrafts or related trades.

Due to its prosperity and comfort, even though the political center has shifted inland, Hangzhou still houses three important officials: the Zhejiang East Inspector, the Yuyao Governor, and the Three Rivers Transport Commissioner, along with their respective offices.

Because it is a major seaport, over the years, it has also developed a unique foreign flavor, such as the Nestorian churches that were once popular in the southeast after the Tang Dynasty, and the rare Zoroastrian temples and Manichaean temples.

The various local shrines and altars, characteristic of the Jiangnan region, are countless, and one can encounter them at almost every turn.

However, due to the city's history of peaceful transitions, the conquerors had few reasons to destroy or alter it, preserving much of its ancient charm.

As we toured the city, Feng Juanqi's continuous praise and flattery, like a never-ending river, continued without repetition, adding to the experience.

I once suspected that her non-stop chatter was the reason she was assigned to this task. In a later era, such a "talent" would be wasted if not used as a salesperson, insurance agent, or real estate broker, but in this chaotic time, it seemed somewhat redundant. Even the strategists of the Warring States period needed a strong background and support to be recognized and utilized.

However, as a guide and companion, she was quite responsible, well-versed in local lore, and could talk for hours without boring us.

We visited several distinctive maritime markets and scenic spots along the river. Although it was the off-season, with few foreign ships and mostly local merchants, the shops and apprentices were rather lazy, and the crowds were sparse.

The viewing platforms for the tides were not at their best, with only a few visitors, but we were still quite satisfied.

Listening to the thunderous sound of the spring tide, enjoying the local "Xian Ba Jian" snacks, and stretching our sore legs was a pleasant experience.

"Next stop..."

I thought for a moment.

"Let's go to Lingyin Temple."

"Lingyin Temple..."

Feng Juanqi thought for a moment, uncertain.

"Let me check..."

A moment later, we boarded two sedan chairs, which carried us to a familiar landmark.

I looked at the modest sign "Lingyin Temple," one of the earliest and most famous temples in Hangzhou, situated in the best feng shui location between West Lake, Beigao Peak, and Feilai Mountain, with two peaks flanking it, towering trees, and a deep mountain temple surrounded by mist and clouds.

In this timeline, without the "Huichang Persecution" of the late Tang Dynasty, which destroyed and abandoned the temple until it was rebuilt by King Qian Liu of the Wuyue Kingdom, the temple has maintained its ancient and simple style from the Eastern Jin Dynasty, with little change over the years.

For me, a time traveler accustomed to the crowds, noise, and commercial traps of modern tourist sites, this was a refreshing and novel experience.

The temple, looking peaceful and serene, had a long stele at the entrance, inscribed with Lu Yu's "Lingyin Temple Record":

"Since the Jin and Song dynasties, virtuous and capable people have lived here. The stele is damaged, and the inscriptions are worn. The pavilions and terraces stand firm, the Fuyong pines are long-lived, the carved eaves shine in the sky, and the painted beams and pillars are splendid. The long corridors are repeated, the hidden springs flow, the flying pavilions overlook the cliffs, and the trees reflect the hanging pearls. The wind chimes sound like celestial music, and the flowers are like treasures from the sea. The green trees and flowers bloom in spring and winter, and the clear air and sounds of the mountains are fresh in the morning and condensed in the evening."

Unlike the Lingyin Temple of later times, which became one of the Five Mountains of Southern Zen and was expanded and granted titles by successive dynasties, this temple is now a venue for the Huayan School, one of the eight schools of the Western Capital, and is the most common branch of Buddhism in Hangzhou.

The architecture follows the typical Huayan School layout, with the central hall, golden hall, lecture hall, left hall, right hall, rear hall, and five-story pagoda, known as the "Seven Hall Temple."

Compared to temples in the city, this Lingyin Temple is not particularly large and is not very famous among Huayan temples. Although it is not in a state of decay, it has few monks, few visitors, and sparse incense offerings. I even saw monkeys playing on the eaves of the rear hall and the five-story pagoda.

Its main significance lies in being the only surviving temple among the five ancient temples of Xiaotianzhu Mountain. In front of the temple, at the foot of the mountain, there is a narrow valley with a cold spring surrounded by five pavilions, which has many inscriptions left by literati and scholars, including Sima Shu's "Lingyin Temple," Bai Juyi's "Staying at Lingyin Temple," and Song Zhiwen's "Lingyin Record."

Behind the temple is a Three Lives Stone, said to be the origin of the story from Yuan Jiao's "Gan Ze Yao" about the monk Yuan Guan:

A scholar named Li Yuan and a monk named Yuan Guan from Luoyang were good friends. While traveling through the Three Gorges, they saw a pregnant woman drawing water. Yuan Guan said, "That woman, surnamed Wang, is where I will be reborn." They agreed to meet again in Hangzhou at the Tianzhu Temple on the night of the full moon twelve years later. That night, Yuan Guan died, and the woman gave birth.

When the time came, Li Yuan went to the meeting place and heard a shepherd boy singing a "Bamboo Branch Song":

"On the Three Lives Stone, the old soul remains,

No need to talk about the past and present.

Grateful for your visit, my form may change,

But my essence remains the same."

Thus, the shepherd boy was Yuan Guan's reincarnation.

This story is the origin of the Three Lives Stone, which has inspired many tales of love, hate, and reunion throughout history, and is a popular theme in modern romance. However, now it is just a strange stone buried in the overgrown grass.

On our way back, we passed another group of people on the narrow path behind the temple, a family out for a spring outing.

Sitting on the steps of the rear hall, we enjoyed the bitter tea served by the monks.

"You made a wish..."

I gently squeezed the hand of the person crouching beside me.

"Yes..."

"Can you tell me?"

"I just want to be with Xia forever and ever," she said, looking at me seriously.

"Then let me teach you a song," I suddenly felt an urge.

"Called 'Forever and Ever.'"

"Love is love, willingly and always,

Remembering the past and present."

I hummed softly, feeling something familiar start to revive and fill my eyes.

"Right and wrong, no need to owe,

Wholeheartedly, year after year.

Love is like a fleeting flower,

Gone in a moment, hard to find.

Happiness lies in the balance,

Bitterness and sweetness intertwined."

"You must be willing to sacrifice,

Humiliation is inevitable, don't hesitate."

"Think of him, think of him, go ahead,

Fate cannot be changed, no matter what.

Follow him to the ends of the earth,

Fate will bind you, forever and ever.

Think of him, think of him, go ahead,

Fate cannot be changed, forever and ever."

The person crouching beside me sang along with me, and I realized we were surrounded by several monks and visitors, who were watching us with various expressions. Singing such a modern, straightforward love song in front of these monks was a bit embarrassing.

Despite my thick skin, I felt compelled to leave, but a monk stopped me, and I felt a bit angry, thinking he wanted to correct our behavior.

"Please, a moment of your time..."

He bowed deeply and said,

"Your song has the style of the New Music Bureau."

I was taken aback.

"May we record it for posterity?"

"Sure, as long as it's anonymous."

"Thank you, sir."

He bowed again.

"I am Xingming, the abbot of the Dharma Hall."

"Please, come inside for tea."

The table was set with tea and fruit, and Xingming accompanied us. I had the person crouching beside me sing again, and they carefully wrote down every word, making me feel like my dignity was slipping away.

"I have heard stories about Lingyin Temple in other places..."

Since they were so polite, I decided to add some more.

"Mostly about a monk named Daoji, who lived a carefree life."

I told a few stories about the monk Ji Gong, such as the floating wood in the well and the rescue of a village, which made their expressions change dramatically.

In the end, they almost rang the bells and drums, and the abbot, who had long been in seclusion, personally escorted me to the gate, treating me with unprecedented respect, as someone with great wisdom and good karma.

Yes, the feeling of creating history with just words was quite exhilarating.

However, the sedan chairs we had called were gone, and a carriage was blocking the path. Feng Juanqi stood protectively in front of us, and her companions gathered around us.

"Is this yours?"

A clear and melodious voice came from a delicate hand emerging from a green silk sleeve, holding a colorful love knot, which the person crouching beside me had tied on the Three Lives Stone earlier.

Seeing this, her lips pouted, and her eyes filled with a teary expression.

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