The Tang Dynasty’s Female Forensic Doctor

"Mr. Sang." Xiao Song set Ran Yan down and greeted him.

Sang Chen had become much leaner than before, but he was almost as tall as Xiao Song. His black hair was loosely spread behind him, making his face appear even more handsome. He cupped his hands and said, "I had been meaning to thank Lady Ran for saving my life; it's just... just..."

But remembering the words spoken after being shot by the arrow, he neither dared nor felt it proper to meet Ran Yan.

"Mr. Sang is brilliantly talented; the Great Tang literary scene would suffer a great loss without you, my lord. Having encountered you, how could I stand idly by?" Ran Yan's face was expressionless. She was now a married woman; for her own sake, as well as for Sang Chen's sake, she did not want to give him any room for fantasy, "You need not express your gratitude."

Sang Chen's face turned slightly pale, and he pressed his lips together, barely a moment later, muttering to himself as if in self-dialogue, "How could I ever forget such a debt of life-saving?"

"Mr. Sang, are you here to visit your master?" Xiao Song switched the topic when he noticed the trying atmosphere.

"Indeed." Having said everything, Sang Chen became even more uncomfortable. He had tried hard to make himself stronger, volunteering for official positions, yet even in the Imperial College, not yet a real part of the officialdom, he had not learned to force a smile or to disguise himself.

This clear pond only had waves stirred up under the conflict between the Crown Prince and Prince Wei, but it remained clear water. Even with his exceptional intelligence, lacking that layer of defense, he couldn't possibly thrive in the officialdom like Xiao Song.

"I must take my leave, I have other matters to attend to." Sang Chen bowed to Xiao Song and Ran Yan, then rapidly ran away.

Ran Yan's sigh had not yet settled when Xiao Song picked her up again.

It was late spring, and the midday sun was already scorching. By the time they reached the temple entrance, Ran Yan saw that Xiao Song's forehead was covered with fine sweat, so she took out a handkerchief to wipe it for him.

"Let's go," Xiao Song said with a slight smile.

The two entered the temple hand in hand, guided by a monk to the main hall. On both sides of the great hall, monks clad in gray robes sat chanting sutras. On the right side of the altar honoring the Three Buddhas of the Three Times, there was a large wooden fish which a monk was striking unhurriedly.

The entire hall was solemn and dignified.

Xiao Song and Ran Yan knelt on the mats, and a monk offered them two incense sticks.

Ran Yan had never been devout to Buddha; she silently prayed in her heart, "May my family and friends be safe and smooth; may my unborn child be healthy and the childbirth smooth."

Xiao Song holding the incense, said, "My being late in offering incense was due to oversleeping, not out of disrespect for Buddha."

Ran Yan chuckled. In a well-established family like Xiao's, where Buddhism was more worshipped than Daoism, it was not strange for Xiao Song's mother and himself to be believers.

After praying, Xiao Song had someone bring in a large box of money as an offering.

After the offerings, a hosting monk guided them to a side room to rest and have a vegetarian meal.

"I've troubled my wife and child," Xiao Song said, looking at the table filled with only greens and whites.

"What's wrong with being vegetarian? You profess Buddhism but fear not that the Buddha might blame you for such words?" Ran Yan took a piece of tofu and put it in his bowl.

He believed in Buddha, yet still ate meat!

Xiao Song laughed, "Buddha sees with clarity; my heart in worship is sincere, yet my heart also sincerely pities my wife and child."

"Who needs your pity!" Ran Yan took a bite of tofu. The vegetarian dishes at Ci'en Temple tasted good. She had been eating black fish and old hens daily, and even with varied recipes, she was nearly sick of them.

Xiao Song was reproached, but his smile only grew wider.

During the meal, neither spoke much. After eating, they rested in the courtyard for a while. Each guest room in Ci'en Temple had its own unique style, and the courtyard where Ran Yan was had peach blossoms planted, but by this time, the blossoms had already fallen, and the branches were laden with big, ripe peaches, weighing down the branches.

The two sat down in the pavilion, and Ran Yan asked, "By the way, I heard the bell from Qingyin Temple earlier, with chanting in the morning and drumming in the evening. Why would they ring the bell at noon?"

"Perhaps a master has passed away," Xiao Song said.

Ran Yan pondered, "Then we should not visit the temple today, just ask Huan Kong to come out to meet us, to avoid disturbing their transcendence rituals."

"Alright," Xiao Song nodded.

"Amitabha," the chant of the Buddha's name sounded old and steady.

Ran Yan saw the visitor clearly, it was an old monk, clad in a brick-red robe, with white beard like snow, yet the skin on his face was not very slack, contrasting with his beard and voice, appearing only around fifty years old.

Xiao Song and Ran Yan stood up and also paid their respects with a Buddhist salute, "Master Huai Jing."

It turned out to be Sang Chen's master. Ran Yan had always been curious about Huai Jing, wondering what type of person could teach Sang Chen such a temperament.

"Amitabha, I have disturbed you," Huai Jing said, not approaching further, but making a Buddhist salute very calmly and collectedly, "This old monk merely lost his way here, nothing urgent."

After saying that, he slightly bowed again and turned towards the peach orchard.

Xiao Song called out, "Master Huai Jing."

Huai Jing turned back, Xiao Song pointed to the other side, "The gate is that way."

"Thank you, benefactor," Huai Jing made another turn, following the direction pointed out by Xiao Song and left.

As the two watched Huai Jing leave, Xiao Song said, "Master Huai Jing has always been directionally challenged, in this regard Sang Chen is similar. However, it is said that he never asks for directions when lost, claiming to follow the guidance of the Buddha."

"Indeed, he is..." Ran Yan hesitated for a moment, seeking the right word, "an unusual man."

After resting in the temple for a while, the abbot personally came to thank Xiao Song for his offering, and after talking with the abbot for a while, they bade farewell and left.

At the temple gate, they unexpectedly ran into Huai Jing again.

"Amitabha, this old monk forgot to mention earlier that the Buddha led me to meet you both, it is a predestined relationship. Perhaps the Buddha wishes me to inform you that Sang Suiyuan has decided to become a monk, to henceforth always be accompanied by the ancient Buddha's blessed light and to pray for blessings for both of you and your descendants," Huai Jing said calmly, chanting a Buddha's name.

A tightness clutched at Ran Yan's heart, suddenly feeling stifled. She had always known him to be stubborn, but did not expect his stubbornness to extend to such an extent.

Huai Jing stood silently in place, neither leaving nor speaking. Xiao Song and Ran Yan both felt he had more to say, so they waited patiently.

After a moment, Huai Jing chanted another Buddha's name and said, "However, this old monk has not agreed yet."

Ran Yan was greatly embarrassed; it turned out he was someone who spoke with great difficulty!

"He has no fate with Buddha, but our Buddha is compassionate, unwilling for him to wander alone and unsupported in this life. So, he will later practice in our temple while retaining his hair," Huai Jing paused, as if feeling he had nothing left to omit, then turned and left.

A mix of emotions swirled inside Ran Yan, feeling both amused and angry, but these emotions combined could not outweigh the helplessness and sadness upon learning of Sang Suiyuan's decision to become a monk.

"I want to walk alone," Ran Yan said.

Xiao Song did not respond, merely extended his hand to support her, slowly walking downwards. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to cast your recommendation tickets and monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.com), your support is my greatest motivation.)