Chapter 59
Chapter 59: Hand-Over-Hand Sutra Copying Is Only for You
In the General’s residence, inside Second Miss Lin Yu Jiao’s boudoir—
“Jiao Jiao… my sweet Jiao Jiao.” Qiu Ru Ying clutched Lin Yu Jiao’s skirt hem, posture lowered, watery almond eyes full of pleading. “Take me to see your Buddhist Scion cousin, please?”
Lin Yu Jiao leaned back, pinched a piece of peach-blossom pastry, and popped it into her mouth with exaggerated leisure. A mischievous smile tugged at her lips.
“Oh? What’s this, my brilliant Miss Qiu?”
“Is it that you haven’t seen my cousin for one day, and it feels like three autumns?”
“Can’t eat, can’t sleep?”
“Tossing and turning, night after night?”
Qiu Ru Ying rubbed her forehead, half amused, half suffering. “Lin Yu Jiao. If you can spit out seven or eight more phrases like that, I’ll clap on the spot and praise your dazzling literary talent. Happy?”
“Then why are you here?” Lin Yu Jiao asked, all innocence. “Why insist on seeing my cousin?”
Qiu Ru Ying sighed and drew a scroll from her sleeve. She unfurled the Surangama Sutra with great care.
“Look—here.”
She pointed at a passage, eyes earnest. “At the banquet, when I heard your cousin explain this… it was like thunder. A knot that’s been stuck in my heart for years—gone in an instant. That sudden clarity—do you understand?”
Lin Yu Jiao grinned like a fox.
“That excuse is excellent.”
“You clearly don’t understand a thing.”
Qiu Ru Ying looked like she might laugh and cry at once. Her best friend’s head was stuffed full of romance.
“I do. That’s why I kept thinking about it after I went home,” she insisted. “And there are still a few parts I can’t figure out. I want to ask the Buddhist Scion to explain again.”
“Explain?” Lin Yu Jiao leaned in and sniffed her, then burst into a wicked giggle. “Where’s the smell of scripture? This is the sweet-and-sour scent of a girl in love!”
She tapped Qiu Ru Ying’s forehead with one finger.
“You’ve fallen for my cousin. You’re just too embarrassed to admit it. So you’re taking the scenic route—pretending to ask about sutras while you get close to him. Right?”
Qiu Ru Ying’s face flamed red. She couldn’t argue with any conviction. She stamped her foot in frustration.
“Are you taking me or not?”
“Of course I’m taking you!” Lin Yu Jiao laughed so hard she nearly choked. “I understand completely. With my cousin’s face and that aura, who wouldn’t get dizzy? Come on, sister—let’s go to the Auspicious Cloud Residence.”
She dragged Qiu Ru Ying out at once.
But right before they left, Lin Yu Jiao suddenly stopped and looked Qiu Ru Ying up and down, frowning deeply.
“Wait.”
She bent down and smoothed Qiu Ru Ying’s skirt hem herself, then checked her from every angle like she was appraising merchandise. Finally she clicked her tongue in disgust.
“My dear sister, why are you dressed so plainly?”
“This light-blue dress doesn’t flatter you at all. It makes you look eight shades darker.”
Qiu Ru Ying looked down at herself, genuinely puzzled. “I’m asking about scripture. Why dress up? Comfortable is enough.”
“No!” Lin Yu Jiao looked ready to grab her and change her by force. “Who are you going to see? My cousin! He’s the dream of half the capital. You’re going into battle—how can your armor be casual?”
She dragged Qiu Ru Ying along, lecturing the whole way.
“Next time you come, you dress like your life depends on it. Pull out every treasure you’ve hidden away.”
“That plum-blossoms-on-snow hairpin you bought? Wear it.”
“And that cloud-brocade cape too—put it on. We have to blind my cousin with your beauty.”
By the time they reached the gate of the Auspicious Cloud Residence, they were still laughing.
Granny Chen spotted Lin Yu Jiao from afar and hurried over, smile wide.
“Second Miss is here! Are you looking for the eldest young master? He hasn’t gone anywhere today—he’s inside reading. I’ll go announce you right away.”
“Thank you, Granny Chen.” Lin Yu Jiao nodded with practiced ease and pulled Qiu Ru Ying to sit on a stone stool in the courtyard.
A moment later, Granny Chen led Lin Qing Xuan out.
He wore a moon-white monk’s robe, tall as a pine, cool as jade—so clean and distant he looked like he didn’t belong to the mortal world at all.
When he saw them, he paused and gave a brief nod.
Lin Yu Jiao jumped up and nudged Qiu Ru Ying forward.
“Cousin, Ru Ying has a few questions about the Surangama Sutra. She came specifically to ask you.”
Lin Qing Xuan’s gaze fell on Qiu Ru Ying, then on the frayed scroll in her hands. His eyes were clear, deep, steady—the kind that made it feel as if a lie would crack on your tongue.
What he sensed, though, wasn’t flirtation.
Qiu Ru Ying’s focus was sincere. Her grip on the scripture tightened with nervousness, but the devotion in her eyes was unmistakable.
She wasn’t here to chase him.
She truly wanted an answer.
Lin Qing Xuan’s expression softened by a fraction. Then he made a decision that surprised everyone.
“Since it’s a lecture,” he said evenly, “it’s better shared than kept private.”
He raised his voice. “Chen Shi. Invite Cousin Lin Yu Ning from Second Uncle’s branch as well. Anyone in the courtyard who wishes to hear the Dharma may come.”
The Auspicious Cloud Residence stirred at once.
Before long, Cousin Lin Yu Ning arrived. Maids and old maidservants crowded in. Even the sweeping laborers craned their necks from the edges, curiosity bright on their faces.
And Lin Qing Xuan—astonishingly—set the lecture right in the center of the courtyard, where everyone could see.
Avoiding suspicion.
Avoiding it so cleanly and openly that it left no room for misunderstanding.
Xiao Man was called over too. She stood at the very edge of the crowd, tiptoeing to see.
Qiu Ru Ying sat near the stone table, her profile poised and pretty in the sunlight, pale as jade.
Something sour twisted in Xiao Man’s chest.
Inside her mind, a tiny version of herself beat its fists on the ground and screamed: [Why not teach in the study? Just the two of you—like yesterday with me, hand over hand. The atmosphere was perfect!]
[And Miss Qiu is this beautiful, with that figure, and he’s really going to do nothing but lecture scripture? What a waste.]
Lin Qing Xuan’s voice was clear as mountain springwater, washing over the courtyard.
Then it paused.
A cold gaze cut through the crowd and landed on Xiao Man with perfect accuracy.
A warning.
Xiao Man shivered and immediately lowered her head, folding her hands neatly in front of her like the most obedient student in the world.
Inside, she grumbled: [So the Mind-Reading Art is impressive, huh.]
When the lecture ended, Qiu Ru Ying’s face glowed with delight. She rose and bowed, eyes sparkling.
“Thank you, Buddhist Scion, for clearing my doubts. I feel… enlightened.” She hesitated, then pressed softly, “If I still have questions next time… may I come again with Jiao Jiao and the others?”
“No problem,” Lin Qing Xuan replied, stingy with words as ever.
Qiu Ru Ying and Lin Yu Jiao left satisfied. The crowd dispersed, and the courtyard slowly returned to its usual quiet.
Xiao Man immediately prepared to slip away.
Lin Qing Xuan’s voice stopped her from behind—calm, cool.
“Xiao Man.”
“Bring tea to the inner room.”
Her heart dropped. She went to the tea room, prepared everything properly, and carried the tray in with careful steps.
The sandalwood incense inside was even stronger than yesterday—thick, clean, and faintly oppressive.
Lin Qing Xuan stood at the writing desk with his back to her.
Xiao Man set the teacup down gently and started to retreat. “Eldest Young Master, your tea.”
Before she could finish the last word, her wrist tightened.
A warm, dry hand caught her and held fast.
“Eldest Young Master?” She looked up, startled.
Lin Qing Xuan turned. His eyes were deep, unreadable. He didn’t speak. He simply pulled her to the desk.
The familiar brush rested on its stand as if it had never been disturbed.
He picked it up, dipped it in ink, then covered her hand the same way he had yesterday—his palm wrapping hers, his arm close enough that she could feel heat through fabric.
Sandalwood and warmth flooded her senses.
His voice dropped low, brushing her ear.
“The one I guide hand over hand while copying sutras—”
He paused, breath stirring the fine hairs along her ear, sending a shiver down her spine.
“Only you.”
Xiao Man’s mind went blank with a loud, explosive roar.
Before she could even breathe, Lin Qing Xuan released her hand and reached to the side, lifting a small white-jade box.
Mint balm.
He opened it, dabbed a little of the cool white ointment with his fingertip, then took her wrist again and spread it gently over the spot she’d complained about.
His touch was careful. Almost tender.
When he finished, he lowered his head and blew softly on the reddened skin.
Cool balm, warm breath—together they ran through Xiao Man like a current.
Her ears turned red so fast it looked painful.
“Ah!”
She yanked her hand back as if burned, couldn’t bear to look at him, and bolted.
She was so flustered she nearly tripped over her own feet and clipped the doorframe on the way out. Behind her, Lin Qing Xuan let out a soft laugh, barely more than a breath.
Up on the beam, black mist spiraled, watching everything.
“Hypocrite,” Tuan Tuan sneered, dripping contempt. “You’ve clearly grown a mortal heart, yet you still pretend to be some enlightened eminent monk. Who are you fooling?”
Its gaze slid from Xiao Man’s fleeing back to Lin Qing Xuan standing alone, mint fragrance still clinging to his fingertips.
A grim smile split its shadowy face.
“Hee-hee… you two can both pretend, and neither of you dares to pierce that thin window paper…”
“Fine. Let this Young Master add a little fire.”