Buddhism was transmitted from India, yet the monks in the Central Plains did not live the kind of alms-begging life popular among Indian monks.

Most people in the Great Zhou Dynasty were devout Buddhists. Since the previous dynasty, the imperial court had vigorously supported Buddhist temples, granting construction of monasteries, providing for monks, bestowing land and privileges – all quite common practices.

Accumulated over the years, the temples of the Great Zhou Dynasty had all become extremely wealthy.

Almost every major temple had a group of tenant farmers cultivating land for the temple. Besides renting out land, courtyards, and Buddhist scriptures and ritual implements, temples would also lend money externally, collecting interest.

This led to a situation where Buddha competed with the common people and the imperial court for profit, which explained why the folk saying “of all worldly wealth, Buddha claims seven parts out of ten” had emerged.

Dongsheng had originally been trained as a personal attendant to serve a master closely. Such people were all very clever and eloquent.

As he continued speaking, the inexplicable nervousness he had originally felt standing before Xiao Jingxi gradually subsided, and his speech became increasingly fluent. “This humble one believes that rather than waiting for the court’s military reduction decree to be officially issued, the Yan Bei Prince’s Manor might as well reorganize the army first, allowing some people to ‘remove their armor and return to farming.’ After all, we have so many temples in Yan Bei – we needn’t worry about being unable to support these capable soldiers who can carry and bear burdens.”

Xiao Jingxi looked at him with some amusement and said, “Aren’t you afraid Buddha will punish you?”

Upon hearing this, Dongsheng replied seriously, “We are all believers under Buddha’s seat – the old master won’t show favoritism.”

Xiao Jingxi couldn’t help but chuckle softly.

Dongsheng looked at him, his gaze carrying some nervousness again. “Second Young Master Xiao, do you think this is feasible?”

Xiao Jingxi slightly lowered his eyes, his slender, pale fingers gently tapping on the chessboard before him. Dongsheng’s heart rose and fell with anxiety.

Suddenly Xiao Jingxi smiled faintly: “Though somewhat fanciful… if carefully planned, it’s not entirely unfeasible.”

Dongsheng’s eyes brightened.

“Did you think of this yourself?” Xiao Jingxi asked casually.

Dongsheng glanced at Xiao Jingxi and lowered his head, saying, “This humble one thought of it.”

He certainly couldn’t implicate the young miss.

Xiao Jingxi tilted his head slightly, his playful gaze sweeping over him once. His gentle smile was like warm winter sun, yet seemed to carry some unfathomable meaning. He said slowly, “If that’s the case, then I’m afraid you can no longer return to serve by your master’s side.”

Upon hearing this, Dongsheng’s face first turned pale. He looked at Xiao Jingxi once, then asked somewhat uncertainly, “Second Young Master Xiao’s meaning is?”

Xiao Jingxi smiled gracefully and said casually, “Since you dared to come offer me counsel, naturally, you’ll be one of my people from now on. A loyal minister does not serve two masters – isn’t that the principle?”

Dongsheng remained silent for a moment, then resolutely lowered his head and knelt on one knee before Xiao Jingxi, saying respectfully, “This humble one, Dongsheng, greets his master.”

He had originally come with the resolve to die. This outcome was already the best possible – at least his master would no longer be implicated by him, and his own life was spared. However, thinking of his master Li Tianyou, whom he had served for so many years, his heart still felt somewhat melancholy.

Xiao Jingxi was somewhat surprised by his decisiveness, then smiled slightly and said gently, “Go back and bid farewell to your household master. Come find my attendant Tonghe tomorrow.”

Dongsheng obediently replied yes and respectfully withdrew.

Outside the window, thunder and rain clashed together, the air filled with the fresh fragrance of earth and grass.

Dongsheng walked into the rain without hesitation. Raindrops struck his head and face, but he seemed oblivious. His not particularly sturdy figure was firm and resolute, quickly disappearing.

“Someone come,” Xiao Jingxi said quietly.

His voice was not loud and could easily be drowned out by the rain outside, but in just a moment, the attendant Tonghe pushed the door open and entered. “Young Master, what are your instructions?”

Xiao Jingxi picked up the letter that Dongsheng had previously placed on the kang table. Without even looking at it, he handed it to Tonghe, who hastily bowed to receive it.

“Give this to Tongde and have him handle it,” Xiao Jingxi’s casual voice rang out in the room.

“Yes,” Tonghe replied. Seeing that Xiao Jingxi had no other instructions, he withdrew again.

Xiao Jingxi turned to gaze quietly out the window, his eyes dark as black jade, containing emotions others could not understand.

After leaving Xiao Jingxi’s villa, Dongsheng did not immediately return but first went to White Dragon Temple.

Ren Yaoqi had just finished her evening meal and was sitting in the west wing room with Ren Yaohua, silently drinking tea.

When she heard the woman sent by the eldest madam to guard the gate say that the maternal uncle had sent someone to find Fifth Miss, Ren Yaoqi immediately thought there might be news from Dongsheng.

She set down her tea bowl and instructed the woman who came to report: “Lead him to the south room in front. I’ll be there shortly.”

Ren Yaohua looked at Ren Yaoqi and asked, “What matter did you entrust him to handle for you? Don’t you have anyone by your side?”

Ren Yaoqi shook her head: “It’s nothing major. I just wanted him to help me find some small trinkets. It’s more convenient for him outside – the people at home might not be able to buy what I want. I’ll go and return shortly.”

Ren Yaohua didn’t concern herself further.

Ren Yaoqi brought two maids and walked along the corridor to the south room. Several women on duty had originally been sitting here, but upon seeing Ren Yaoqi enter, they quickly rose to bow and withdrew.

Dongsheng was completely soaked through, yet he paid no attention to it. When he came forward to bow, Ren Yaoqi nearly got splashed by the water from his sleeves.

After dismissing Pingguo and Sangshen to guard at the entrance, Ren Yaoqi gestured for Dongsheng to follow her to the inner room to speak.

When traveling away from home with few attendants, there weren’t so many complicated rules to observe.

“You went to see Xiao Jingxi?” Ren Yaoqi looked at his bedraggled appearance and asked directly.

Dongsheng nodded silently, “This subordinate repeated what you told me to say. He has already agreed to help us conceal this matter.”

Ren Yaoqi’s anxious heart finally settled, and her face couldn’t help but show some joy. “He thinks it’s feasible?”

When Ren Yaoqi had told Dongsheng her idea, she hadn’t been certain the strategy would work – she was merely taking a gamble.

Dongsheng nodded, “Second Young Master Xiao said that with careful planning, it would not be unfeasible.”

As Ren Yaoqi’s great worry was relieved, she also noticed something was amiss with Dongsheng’s expression. She perceptively asked, “Is there something else that didn’t go smoothly?”

Dongsheng shook his head, his expression melancholy. “Nothing went badly, but… I can no longer serve by Master’s side. Second, Young Master Xiao wants me to follow him from now on.”

Upon hearing this, Ren Yaoqi was stunned and asked somewhat strangely, “You’re to become Xiao Jingxi’s attendant?”

Dongsheng still nodded: “That seems to be his meaning. He asked who had thought of that strategy, and I answered as we had previously agreed – that I had thought of it myself. Then he said I could no longer serve by my master’s side.”

Ren Yaoqi thought for a moment and sighed softly, “That’s still better than losing your life. What about Uncle’s side?”

Dongsheng pressed his lips together: “This matter was something I brought upon myself to begin with. Now that it’s resolved, I don’t want to trouble Master with worries. Fifth Miss, could we not mention this matter to the masters? Just let them think I died. I was originally just a small attendant by his side, only knowing how to serve people, with poor martial skills. Without me, there won’t be any change on Master’s side.”

Upon hearing this, Ren Yaoqi fell silent.

In the previous life, Dongsheng had also left without a word. In this life, he was going to Xiao Jingxi’s side – she wondered what circumstances he had faced in the previous life.

She knew that most of these people from her maternal family had not actually signed indenture contracts, so their comings and goings were free, yet they would not easily betray their loyalty.

“Do you want to go back and bid them farewell?” Ren Yaoqi asked.

Dongsheng nodded: “I still want to kowtow to Master. Since I can no longer serve by his side, I must… I must say something.” As he spoke, this grown man suddenly choked up.

He felt somewhat embarrassed and covered his face with his wet sleeves. It took him quite a while to recover.

Ren Yaoqi didn’t know what to say. Logically speaking, being able to serve by the side of the Second Young Master of Yan Bei Prince’s Manor would certainly be better than following Li Tianyou. However, Dongsheng’s group was different – many of them had lived in the Prince Xian Residence since birth.

But Ren Yaoqi couldn’t understand why Xiao Jingxi insisted on taking Dongsheng to his side. He couldn’t possibly be unaware of these people’s degree of loyalty to Prince Xian Residence.

Dongsheng rubbed his face with both hands: “Fifth Miss, please take care. This subordinate takes his leave.”

Ren Yaoqi nodded. Originally she had wanted to say that if there was any progress regarding the temple army concealment matter on Xiao Jingxi’s side, he should come tell her. But thinking that Dongsheng would be Xiao Jingxi’s person from now on, and that masters most despised disloyalty from their subordinates, she didn’t voice this.

If Xiao Jingxi truly adopted her suggestion, she would surely discover the signs.

After all, that method was merely a smokescreen – it couldn’t possibly fool everyone.

Dongsheng withdrew.

Ren Yaoqi also walked out of the south room and happened to encounter Qiu Yun and Yun Wenfang walking past under the eaves.

When Dongsheng came out, he ran into them, hurriedly bowed, then rushed back into the rain and walked away.

Qiu Yun looked at Dongsheng’s retreating figure, stroking his chin with a smile: “Where did that attendant come from?”

Ren Yaoqi replied, “My uncle had a message for me to pass to my mother, so he sent someone from his side to relay it. Cousin and Young Master Wen, where are you heading?”

Qiu Yun glanced at Yun Wenfang and replied with a smile: “We heard that Second Young Master Xiao is recuperating in this area. Zishu was about to take me to pay a visit. Oh, Third Cousin is also going – we’re waiting for him here.”

As he spoke, they indeed saw Ren Junyí coming from under the eastern wing’s eaves, with an attendant behind him carrying a thick cloak, running while trying to persuade him.

For someone like Xiao Jingxi, most people wanted to make his acquaintance, and even Ren Junyí was no exception.

“However, he rarely receives outside guests, so don’t harbor too much hope. Speaking of which, I haven’t seen him many times either,” Yun Wenfang said lazily.