In Mingquan Courtyard, Dark Cloud lay quietly on the window lattice, its eyes following Xiaoman’s movements back and forth.

While wiping the table, Xiaoman hummed a street ballad from the Ning Dynasty: “Enraged by others’ wealth, delighted when misfortune befalls others, some things are beyond one’s control, it’s a pity to have a wicked heart. Not all gossip is true; listen to only a third of what is said. Do not make enemies of villains; villains have their own adversaries…”

Unable to finish the long ballad, Xiaoman, like a little bee, flitted around the room, wiping every nook and cranny clean.

Seeing there was nothing new to observe, Dark Cloud slowly closed its eyes and went to sleep. A cat needs eight hours of sleep out of twelve; with enough slumber, a day just slips away.

Xiaoman turned her head and saw Dark Cloud’s eyes closed. She crept stealthily closer, wanting to pick it up from the window lattice. But before she could get close, Dark Cloud opened its eyes and stared coldly at her. Xiaoman then clasped her hands behind her back, hummed a song, and walked away as if nothing had happened.

“My young master’s cat is so strange…” she muttered.

As she was muttering, a voice came from outside the door: “Xiaoman, Xiaoman, open the door!”

Xiaoman’s eyes lit up. “Sister Liqiu.”

She scurried to open the door. Liqiu, who was outside the door, mysteriously pulled her inside the house.

Once they were inside, Xiaoman hesitated, “Sister Liqiu, why are you being so mysterious?”

Liqiu whispered, “There’s a fantastic opportunity, like pie falling from the sky. It just depends on whether you want to take it.”

Xiaoman pouted, “Pie falling from the sky? Would it really hit me? I’m not that lucky.”

With that, she turned to wipe the table. Liqiu grabbed her arm and firmly pulled her back, “Why don’t you listen to what the good news is first?”

Xiaoman said languidly, “What is it?”

Liqiu lowered her voice: “Someone is offering two taels of silver every month, just for you to tell me when your young master leaves and returns home. If you can find out what your young master likes and who he associates with, they’ll add another three taels.”

Xiaoman’s eyes widened. “Five taels of silver a month!?”

Joy gleamed in Liqiu’s eyes. “What do you think? You get money for such a small task. If you save enough for two years, you’ll have no worries for the rest of your life after you get married.”

Xiaoman’s fingers tightened around the rag. “No, no, absolutely not. Sister Liqiu, you know my young master, though useless, treats me very well. I can’t do this to him.”

Liqiu grew anxious. “What’s so good about it? Have you forgotten how hard you’ve worked these past two years, emptying chamber pots and scrubbing latrines? Which of those masters truly treated us as people? And now you’re showing loyalty? Aren’t you cheap!”

Xiaoman’s expression showed hesitation.

Seeing a chance, Liqiu quickly rolled up Xiaoman’s sleeve. “Look at the chilblains on your hands, and the chapped cracks on your lips. Weren’t you thinking of buying some rouge from the East Market earlier, but couldn’t bring yourself to spend the money? Now, with this money, you can not only buy rouge, but also the best eyebrow pigment, the finest bath beans for washing your face, and you’ll smell wonderful afterward.”

Xiaoman whispered, “Even so, I can’t do it. I can’t harm my young master.”

Liqiu, exasperated, said: “Little wretch, why are you putting on an act with me here? Don’t I know what kind of person you are? Tell me, how much do you want?”

Xiaoman said firmly, “Ten taels.”

Liqiu grabbed her wrist and high-fived her. “It’s settled!”

With that, she took off her purse and pulled out ten silver peanuts.

Xiaoman cupped her hands, her eyes lit up by the silver peanuts. “So many… Sister Liqiu, the employer must have given more than ten taels, right? How much were you originally planning to take from this?”

Liqiu was a little embarrassed. “I can’t just run around for nothing, can I? Your older sister has looked after you for two years; at least let me earn some retirement dowry from you. Besides, with this matter settled, I can return to the capital with the Chen family. Luocheng is so dull; how can it compare to the fun of the capital?”

Xiaoman’s eyes darted about. “Who is the employer?”

Liqiu became wary. “Do you know the rules? Can I tell you that? Just do your part.”

Xiaoman nodded. “Alright, Sister Liqiu. From now on, I’ll secretly tell you when the young master leaves and returns home, what he likes, and who he associates with.”

“I haven’t doted on you for nothing! I’m off!” Liqiu beamed with joy and departed, leaving a faint fragrant breeze.

Xiaoman craned her neck to make sure Liqiu was far away, then quickly lowered her head and counted the silver peanuts in her palm repeatedly, afraid of miscounting.

She glanced at Dark Cloud on the window lattice, smiled, revealing two small canine teeth, and carefully tucked all the silver peanuts into her bosom.

“A child’s duty is to keep their parents warm in winter and cool in summer, attend to them in the evening, and greet them in the morning.”

The so-called ‘morning and evening rituals of attendance’ are a filial piety requirement for children to greet their parents in the morning, assist them at night with going to bed, bring them foot-washing water, and make their beds.

Outside the Buddhist hall, Chen Ji and Chen Wenzong stood respectfully, bowing. “Chen Ji greets Madam.”

“Wenzong greets Mother.”

Madam Liang was seated cross-legged in the Buddhist hall, and without turning her head, she said gently, “Chen Ji, you’ve truly grown up these past two years at the medical clinic. You used to be so sluggish when you came to pay your respects, but now, freshly home, you’ve come on your own initiative.”

Chen Ji smiled slightly. “Two years have passed; I should certainly be more sensible than before.”

Madam Liang rose from her meditation cushion, and said apologetically, “It was my neglect in disciplining the servants that led to this laughable incident with Wang Gui. My child, you have been wronged.”

Chen Ji bowed without changing his expression. “Madam, you need not blame yourself. There are villains and gentlemen everywhere. With so many matters for you to worry about daily, it’s understandable that some people would take advantage of loopholes.”

Madam Liang sighed with emotion. “It’s good that you understand. Last night, filled with remorse, I couldn’t sleep a wink. I only found some peace after reading the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva’s Fundamental Vows Sutra several times. Buddhist teachings are indeed profound wisdom, capable of guiding us back to our bright and tranquil original selves.”

Chen Ji was a little confused. If she felt guilty, an apology would suffice. Why suddenly bring up Buddhism?

Madam Liang then said, “Come, Wenzong, Chen Ji, you don’t need to study your lessons today. Accompany me in reading Buddhist scriptures; it will be good for you too.”

Chen Wenzong respectfully assented, “Yes, we will follow Mother’s arrangements.”

A thought struck Chen Ji. Madam Liang, having been punished to repent in the Buddhist hall, was clearly unwilling. One must know that for the matriarch to be punished with repentance in the Buddhist hall meant a complete loss of face. If she couldn’t regain her reputation later, her authority would be swept away in front of the servants.

Now, she had found an impeccable reason to keep him in the Buddhist hall as well.

But Chen Wenzong had already agreed, leaving him no way to refuse.

Chen Ji agreed, and sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion with Chen Wenzong.

Chen Wenzong asked, “Mother, which one shall we read today?”

Madam Liang said softly, “Let’s read the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva’s Fundamental Vows Sutra, which I read last night. Chant it softly; sincerity brings spiritual efficacy.”

Chen Wenzong nodded. “Alright.”

Chen Ji inwardly groaned.

To read the entire Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva’s Fundamental Vows Sutra, someone familiar with it would take half an hour, while someone unfamiliar might take an hour.

This was a silent loss he seemed doomed to suffer.

In the early morning, the three sat side-by-side on their meditation cushions and began to read. Chen Wenzong finished first, then calmly sat in meditation, waiting for Chen Ji.

It was Chen Ji’s first time reading this scripture. He stumbled through it, taking a full hour, and his mouth was parched.

Just as he was about to stand up and bid Madam Liang farewell, he saw Madam Liang rise and pour them each a cup of tea. “Come, have some tea to quench your thirst. Afterwards, we’ll read the Prajnaparamita Sutra.”

Chen Ji’s eyes twitched slightly. Although he had not read the Prajnaparamita Sutra, he knew it was one of the longest scriptures in the world. The Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva’s Fundamental Vows Sutra only had seventeen thousand characters, but the Prajnaparamita Sutra consisted of six hundred volumes, totaling four million eight hundred thousand characters.

Madam Liang was determined to keep him in the Buddhist hall to vent her frustration.

Chen Wenzong picked up his teacup and took a few sips. “Thank you, Mother, for the tea.”

With that, he returned to his meditation cushion and took out a volume of the Prajnaparamita Sutra.

Seeing this, Chen Ji drained his teacup in one gulp, and sat down, casually picking out a volume himself.

This time, the three of them read from morning until well past noon before stopping. Chen Ji read until his mouth was dry and his head spun.

Madam Liang gently dabbed the corners of her mouth with her sleeve. “Alright, your filial piety today is commendable. You may go back now; return tomorrow.”

Chen Wenzong was about to rise, but Chen Ji held him back. “Brother, wait.”

Chen Wenzong asked curiously, “What’s wrong?”

Chen Ji sat cross-legged on the meditation cushion and said earnestly, “Brother, perhaps in the past, I found the scriptures boring because I didn’t grasp the profound wisdom within them. Today, after reading two volumes of Buddhist scriptures, I feel as if I’ve understood something; there’s a sense of exhilaration. Why don’t we stay today and accompany Madam in reading a few more volumes?”

Chen Wenzong’s eyes gleamed brightly. “Is what you say true?”

Chen Ji said seriously, “Truly.”

Madam Liang smiled and tried to stop them. “No, no. You two have already read a great deal today. You must understand that in the way of handling affairs, haste makes waste, and you absolutely must not be greedy and push too far.”

Chen Wenzong shook his head. “Mother, this is not being greedy or pushing too far. Third Brother used to struggle with understanding the scriptures, saying it was like reading a heavenly book, which worried Father greatly. Now that he can find joy in reading, how can we not support him? We should strike while the iron is hot!”

With that, Chen Wenzong sat cross-legged again and casually picked a volume of the Prajnaparamita Sutra to read. Chen Ji also picked a volume, reading diligently and mumbling to himself.

A moment later, Chen Ji saw that Madam Liang hadn’t moved. He stopped chanting and asked curiously, “Is Madam not reading anymore?”

Chen Wenzong also stopped and said, “Mother, perhaps I could pick a volume for you.”

Madam Liang smiled and took the scripture handed to her by Chen Wenzong. “Alright, then Mother will accompany you in reading for a while longer.”

Chen Ji suddenly said, “Sincerity brings spiritual efficacy.”

Madam Liang’s mouth opened slightly. For a long while, she said nothing, then lowered her head and began to read the Prajnaparamita Sutra. She usually took a midday nap, but today she couldn’t afford to sleep.

The three read from noon until evening. Chen Ji finished one volume and then picked up another. Chen Wenzong remained calm and steady; in the time it took Chen Ji to read three volumes, he had already read six.

Whenever Chen Ji had a question, Chen Wenzong could answer it one by one.

Chen Ji mused inwardly, his elder brother’s scholarship truly deserved the title of Yu Province’s foremost scholar, the top candidate in the provincial examination.

By evening, Madam Liang’s voice was no longer gentle. She said calmly, “Perhaps we should stop reading here for today?”

Chen Ji shook his head. “Madam, this is precisely the time to strike while the iron is hot. I am currently thirsting for knowledge and wish to read a few more volumes.”

Madam Liang was silent for a moment. “Alright.”

Inside the Buddhist hall, maids and nannies lit more than a dozen candles, illuminating the gilded Buddha statues in a resplendent glow.

Under the solemn gaze of the Buddha statues, Chen Ji and Madam Liang, though reading Buddhist scriptures, looked increasingly grim as they read. Only Chen Wenzong alone seemed to find it sweet as honey and showed no signs of fatigue.

By late night, around the Hai hour, Chen Ji slowly closed the Prajnaparamita Sutra in his hands. Madam Liang immediately asked, “Chen Ji, are you tired of reading?”

Chen Ji took a deep breath, picked up another volume, and said, “Madam, sincerity brings spiritual efficacy.”