4.3

Qiao Chen woke up early in the morning to prepare for his visit to Hanwu Temple. Before he headed out, he bumped into Chen Jingrui, who had only recently returned for the first time.

"Where are you going, elder brother?" When Cheng Jingrui saw Qiao Chen, he didn't even try to be polite or courteous. So even though he respectfully called Qiao Chen 'elder brother', his tone didn't carry even an ounce of respect. He even had several attendants who followed him. In contrast, Qiao Chen only had two. This made it seem like Chen Jingrui was the true born son.

"I'm going to Hanwu Temple to pray to Buddha." Qiao Chen said calmly.

"Really?" Cheng Jingrui took out a few hundred silver bills, handed them to Qiao Chen, and said, "My mother has been feeling unwell over these past few days. Here's some incense donation money. Help me burn some incense while you're there so that Buddha can bless my mother's health too."

How could Qiao Chen not know that Madame Xu's un-wellness was not due to her health, but because of the family rules and conduct his mother was enforcing? Cheng Jingrui was only trying to show off his financial resources. He also wanted to use the money to send them away, so that they wouldn't be too hard on Madame Xu.

Qiao Chen laughed and ridiculed, "Madame Xu is just a concubine. If you want to be blunt, then she's no better than a mere maid servant. You want me to burn incense and pray for her? I'm afraid she'll cut her life short with that kind of blessing. "

Cheng Jingrui held his hand out with the banknotes, but when he realized that Qiao Chen wasn't going to take it, he took his hand back. "Elder brother, if you have the time to spare, you should go shopping in the city. If you see the names Qingxing or Rui Fu on any establishment, those are mine. You can eat and drink as you please. Just take whatever you want."

"Prince Yong An wanted to talk to me about some business matters. He will get mad if I am late, so I can't talk more with you. If elder brother runs into anything you can't handle, just have someone notify me." Cheng Jingrui finished speaking and left with his attendants following behind. He inwardly thought that Qiao Chen was an incompetent true born son, so he didn't pay him any attention. He believed that when he finished his busy schedule, he would solve his mother's problem and suffer, and then teach Cheng Jingyun and his mother a lesson before they could settle in.

"Young master…" Even Qiao Chen's two attendants were very upset because of Cheng Jingrui's attitude. However, they were only servants. If they talked too much, then they would only bring trouble to Qiao Chen's door.

"Let's go. We're headed to the Hanwu temple." Qiao Chen's mood was still calm. Cheng Jingrui didn't pay him any attention. He didn't pay Cheng Jingrui any attention either. The end results would be known after they competed with one another.

Qiao Chen arrived on Hanwu mountain where the Hanwu temple resided.

After he inserted the incense stick, Qiao Chen turned to the monk beside him and said, "Young master, I have a painting I would like entrust to the host. Can you help me pass it along?"

"Yes, please give me the painting, benefactor*." The young monk seemed to be accustomed to sending paintings to the abbot. They are famous monks and it was very well known that they liked to collect Buddhist portraits.

(T/N: term used by a monk to address others)

"When the young master gives the painting to the abbot, please tell them that this is a painting of Buddha grasping a lotus." Qiao Chen specifically instructed.

"Yes." The young monk held the painting with both of his hands together in prayer and responded, but was inwardly unconcerned. Many famous painters had given them paintings, but very few of them were to their satisfaction. More so, they had never been satisfied with a painting of Buddha grasping a lotus flower.

"I'll be having tea at the Wangqu Pavilion. If the host would like to see me, then the young master can come to the pavilion and find me." Qiao Chen said.

"Amitabha." The young monk left with the painting in his arms as he muttered to himself that he had no idea where Qiao Chen's confidence came from that he even expected the owner to want to meet with him. The owner wouldn't even necessarily look at the painting.

The Wangqu Pavilion was built on one of Hanwu Mountain's hillsides. You could see the scenery of the mountainside if you stood there. There was a mountain spring beside it too. It could be used as drinking water by the Buddhist worshippers. QIao Chen thought that it was better to use the spring water to make tea.

Qiao Chen's attendants, Feng Bi and Feng Shu*, set up a small charcoal stove next to the pavilion. Then they used the pot to fetch some of the spring water and put the pot on the lit stove to boil.

(T/N: These attendants are called pencil/writing brush and book.)

When the water came to a boil, Qiao Chen took out a small bamboo tube. He poured out the tea leaves held within and began to make tea. When the it was ready, Qiao Chen poured out the first batch of tea and started over. Then Qiao Chen poured the hot spring water into the pot again. Soon the tea's fragrance began to spread.

"Instead of standing there to watch, the general might as well come over and have a taste of my superb tea." Qiao Chen knew that the man behind the tree had stood there for a while.

Xiao Qinan stood behind the tree, stunned. He was surprised that Qiao Chen not only realized that he was hiding behind the tree, but was also sure that it was him standing here.

Xiao Qinan came out from behind the tree and sat down on the stone bench opposite of Qiao Chen. Qiao Chen poured him a cup of tea.

"This is the tea that I brought back from the south. It's not a specifically precious tea. Just a wild tea plant that was growing in the mountains. Try and see how it tastes, General."

"Good tea." Xiao Qinan sincerely praised. Sometimes good tea didn't have to necessarily be precious or valuable. Wild tea leaves were sometimes hard to come by.

"When have you seen me before?" Xiao Qinan asked about his previous confusion.

"A few years ago, General led your troops through Jiang city. I saw you from afar and your appearance hasn't changed much since then." Qiao Chen lied straight faced and without a skip in his heart. A few years ago, Xiao Qinan did lead soldiers through Jiang city, but Qiao Chen, who was still Cheng Jingyun, did not see him at that time.

"I haven't seen you before." Xiao Qinan said.

"I know." Qiao Chen nodded.

"But why do I have this sense of de ja vu as soon as I see you?" Xiao Qinan asked very bluntly. He was just too confused. Why was it that every time he saw Qiao Chen, there was a sense of familiarity and desire to be close to him? It was too odd to have such strong feelings and desires to be close to a man he had only seen twice.

"The General is asking me?" Qiao Chen acted surprised for a bit and then said, "Maybe it's because we met in our past lives. I also get that sense of familiarity when I see the general."

"Aren't you afraid of me? Don't you hate me?" Xiao Qinan had already found out that Qiao Chen was a part of the Cheng family. The Cheng family was also a part of Prince Yong An's political group. Furthermore, scholarly people like Qiao Chen had all resented and hated them. Usually, there was fear was hidden under their hate and looks of disgust.

The Xiao family had always controlled massive military forces. Nowadays, the Holy Emperor was weak and incompetent. He was controlled by the elder Prince Yong An. If it wasn't for the Xiao family, he was afraid that the one who held the title of emperor would already be Prince Yong An. The Xiao family were originally faithful patriots, but were repeatedly framed by the elder Prince Yong An. The Emperor was once again a weak and inept person. The most important thing about this emperor was that he didn't have children.

Now, even though the elder Prince Yong An died, his power was still there with his son, Prince Yong An. Currently, Prince Yong An was just as ambitious as his father and vied for the throne. The Xiao family was Prince Yong An's biggest obstacle in his ascension to the throne. Therefore, Prince Yong An was determined to eradicate the Xiao family.

The Xiao family had endured bitter disappointment about the current emperor. If Prince Yong An was the one who became the emperor, then the Xiao family would certainly have a bad ending. So now, the Xiao family and Prince Yong An didn't want the other to claim the emperor's seat. They both focused on eliminating each other so they could ascend the throne themselves.

Each and every one of the soldiers in the Xiao Family Army were brave and excellent warriors. Those in Xiao Qinan's Flying Tiger Battalion were especially talented. Even the Turkics trembled in their boots when they heard the name Xiao Qinan or the Flying Tiger Battalion.

Since Prince Yong An was worried that the Xiao family had the people's hearts as well as their immense military might, he had the scholars in his faction slander and throw the Xiao family's reputation into the mud. They claimed that the Xiao family controlled the government and threatened the emperor so he would have princes born. They also said that the Xiao family were fierce and cruel people. Another rumor they spread was that Prince Yong An had to fight hard against the Xiao family, so that the Emperor could stay on the throne. They claimed that the common people would be bullied by the brutish soldiers of the Xiao family.

People on both sides of the factions were well aware of the facts. The only people who didn't understand the truth were ordinary people and those inflexible and pedantic scholars.

"Why should I be afraid of such a charming and attractive General like you? I have no grievances or animosity towards you either, so why should I hate you?" Qiao Chen teasingly replied Xiao Qinan's questions with more questions.

Among all the people that Xiao Qian had met before, Qiao Chen was the first one to dare say such frivolous words to him. If this had been someone else, Xiao Qinan would have slapped him to death. However, he didn't feel disgusted by the words spoken by Qiao Chen. Instead, he surprisingly felt a small itchiness and yearning spread from within his heart.

The young monk who had just helped Qiao Chen hand over the painting to the abbot rushed over from the distance. He spoke to Qiao Chen, "Benefactor, the host is inviting you for a visit."

Qiao Chen leisurely stood up and said to Xiao Qinan, "I'll invite the General to have tea another day."

"When?" Xiao Qinan asked unexpectedly.

Qiao Chen was just about to leave with the monk and was surprised by Xiao Qinan's reply. He turned around and said with a smile, "When I find a good tea that can ease the General's inner turmoil."

Qiao Chen followed the young monk through a long hallway. They bypassed the scripture room and ended up outside of the Zen room in the temple's backyard. The young monk pushed the door open and let Qiao Chen in. Then he closed the door and guarded it from the outside.

After he entered the Zen room, Qiao Chen walked to the door of the inner room on the left side. There, Qiao Chen saw an old monk sitting cross legged. The old monk was facing the wall where Qiao Chen's painting of Buddha grasping a flower hung.

"Who painted this painting?" The owner asked in a hoarse voice.

"I painted it myself." Qiao Chen replied.

"Benefactor, you are so young. How can you have such insight?"

"Insight isn't found with age, but with the soul."

"Why has benefactor come?"

"Because of fate."

"Why did you make this painting?"

"Just as the great King of Brahma presented the golden flower to Buddha, Jingyun is presenting the painting in order to ask the abbot to preach Buddhism."

The abbot slowly got up from the ground and ask Qiao Chen to settle down on the outside seat. He had already received Qiao Chen's painting of Buddha grasping the lotus flower, so he was very naturally willing to preach for him just as Qiao Chen wanted.

Over the course of the lecture, the abbot felt that Qiao Chen's understanding of Dharma was very high. He also felt that there was also Buddha's fate. So when Qiao Chen said he wanted to paint a picture of a lotus, the abbot offered to lend him the bamboo house next to the lotus pond behind the mountain.

The bamboo house not only had excellent scenery, but was also guarded by the monks in the backyard of the temple. Outsiders were not allowed to enter without permission. Qiao Chen came here to present his painting with his first meeting to gain two benefits. First, he wanted to have a good relationship with the abbot, Great Master Kong Wu. The other purpose was the bamboo house next to this lotus pond. Currently, the first purpose had gone very well, and the second purpose was quickly achieved not long after.

Zhang Hong came to Hanwu temple three days after Qiao Chen left. Hanwu temple was just massive. Zhang Hong looked around to see if Qiao Chen was there after he went up the mountain. He was afraid to miss the opportunity.

Zhang Hong entered the front hall and still hadn't seen Qiao Chen. He thought he had come too early, so he prepared to wait outside after lighting some incense.

Just as Zhang Hong was about to turn around, the young monk came up to him and called out, "Benefactor Zhang."

"Did the young monk call for me?" Zhang Hong asked

"Please come with me, benefactor Zhang."

Zhang Hong was baffled as he was led by the young monk. They walked and took several lefts and several rights. They walked through the arched doors of the back yard. Then they walked even further to a narrow mountain road. When Zhang Hong saw the beautiful lotus pond. The young monk stopped and pointed to the bamboo house at the edge of the pond and allowed Zhang Hong to go further in. Then, he turned back.

Zhang Hong thought that it was a high ranked monk who wanted to see him. It was very obvious to him that not just anyone could enter this area. As soon as he entered the bamboo house, he saw Qiao Chen stood behind the desk painting.

"It turned out to be you. I've long heard that there is a beautiful lotus pond behind Hanwu temple's mountain. However, without the abbot's permission, even the monks of the temple can't come here as they please.  I didn't expect to borrow your fame and fortune to enjoy this rare view today." Zhang Hong looked outside and exclaimed.

"Has Boss Zhang already considered it?" Qiao Chen asked Zhang Hong has he painted.

"Naturally. I came to see you after I had given it considerable thought." Zhang Hong sat down at the bamboo table and said, "I have thought about it carefully over these past few days. We should still discuss the details."

"That's a given. I have already detailed the rules and stipulations here. After you've looked over them, and if you don't have any problems with it, then Boss Zhang can begin preparations immediately." Qiao Chen put down his brush, turned around, and took a out a book for Zhang Hong.

Zhang Hong opened the book and carefully read the clauses.

Qiao Chen left all the public dealings for Zhan Hong to do. Qiao Chen was only going to be controlling everything behind the scenes. With Zhang Hong's financial resources and contacts, as well as his years of business experience, and Qiao Chen's behind the scenes advice, they didn't even need to talk about cutting off Cheng Jingrui's financial resources. Qiao Chen would have the financial capabilities to even support Xiao Qinan in the future.