The carriage sped along the road toward Lingshan Temple.
Zhong Li looked at Madam Jia, who was holding her child and watching her with a wary expression, and shook her head in resignation.
She was about to lift the curtain to see how much further the journey was to their destination when Madam Jia, who had not spoken since getting into the carriage, said, "Can you truly let me see the abbot and obtain that medicine?"
Zhong Li stopped her movement and looked back.
"Since Madam does not have the medicine, I will lead Madam to get it, and also allow this ignorant me to see this miraculous elixir."
Madam Jia, upon hearing this, gave Zhong Li a scornful glance, as if to say, 'You know what's good for you.'
Zhong Li was too lazy to argue or explain with Madam Jia. After all, in ancient times, a woman who had just lost her husband, her child was her world. It was understandable that she could not accept the words of a stranger like her for a while.
"But I heard that the master is in seclusion today. Can you see him?" Madam Jia was somewhat doubtful, as Liao Chen did not receive every visitor.
"Abbot Liao Chen has an appointment with the young lord this afternoon. I have already notified Lin Jin, and he will arrange for you to meet the abbot," Zhong Li explained.
Upon hearing this, Madam Jia's anxious heart finally settled. She hugged the child in her arms and said, "When I was at home, I offended the young sir many times. I hope the young sir will not hold it against a mere woman like me."
Zhong Li curled her lips, considering it an answer to Madam Jia.
Madam Jia sighed and said, "Ah Jun's body is not yet cold, and I am left with my child. Now our family is poor, how will I manage in the future?"
Zhong Li couldn't help but frown at Madam Jia's complaints.
According to the monthly salary regulations for officials in the Southern Yue Kingdom, the salary of a first-rank official was about fifty taels per month. By extension, even for a minor official like the scribe of Suqing County, it should be at least five taels per month, enough for Zhao Jun's family to live on. Why would Madam Jia say such a thing?
Madam Jia understood the confusion on Zhong Li's face and sighed, "Young sir must have heard that I am Ah Jun's fourth legal wife."
Zhong Li nodded.
"Ah Jun was a man of loyalty and righteousness. After all these years, Ah Jun has been supporting his previous three wives. What was left for us was only a little over two taels. It was manageable when times were tight, but now that the child is ill, even though Abbot Liao Chen, out of pity for Ah Jun, never charged for consultations, the money to buy medicine is still not enough," Madam Jia said.
Zhao Jun was still a man of loyalty and righteousness?
After listening to Madam Jia, Zhong Li couldn't help but have this thought float into her mind, but soon, when her gaze fell on the child in Madam Jia's arms, this thought was quickly dismissed.
After about two cups of tea, the carriage arrived at Lingshan Temple.
Due to the tragic death of Zhao Jun that morning, Lingshan Temple was no longer open to visitors. Only Lin Jin stood alone at the main gate.
Zhong Li helped Madam Jia out of the carriage and followed Lin Jin towards another meditation room in Lingshan Temple.
"The young lord has made arrangements, and Abbot Liao Chen is willing to see Madam Jia," Lin Jin said as he walked alongside Zhong Li.
"Does the abbot know about Zhao Jun's matter?" Zhong Li asked.
Lin Jin nodded, "The abbot just finished his seclusion. Wu Hui went in to inform him."
Zhong Li thought for a moment, "Since that's the case, it's fortunate that I also have something I wish to ask Abbot Liao Chen."
Lin Jin naturally knew what Zhong Li intended to do. He nodded and pushed open the door of the meditation room.
"Abbot!"
Before Zhong Li could even step into the meditation room, a sharp cry sounded from within.
As soon as Madam Jia saw Liao Chen, without giving anyone time to react, she hugged her child and knelt down with a thud, beginning to kowtow frantically.
Liao Chen seemed accustomed to such scenes. He clasped his hands together towards Lu Wuxie, who was sitting cross-legged opposite him.
After Lu Wuxie nodded, Liao Chen got up, walked to Madam Jia, helped her up, and said, "Amitabha, female benefactor, please accept my condolences. Lingshan Temple also bears some responsibility for Zhao benefactor's accident."
Madam Jia slowly got up, her eyes teary as she looked at Liao Chen and said, "The abbot is benevolent and has helped my Zhao family a lot. Ah Jun's misfortune is due to his fate. Now that my family only has my son left, I implore the abbot to save my son."
As Madam Jia spoke, fearing that Liao Chen might refuse her, she knelt down again, preparing to kowtow.
"Benefactor," Liao Chen stopped Madam Jia first and said, "This humble monk and Zhao benefactor are considered to have a connection. Now that the Zhao family has only this one lineage, we will certainly do our best to support them. This medicine was prepared by this humble monk long ago, and it was originally intended for Zhao benefactor to pick up today. Now, it can only be given to Madam."
Saying this, Liao Chen took out a small packet wrapped in paper from his sleeve and handed it to Madam Jia.
Madam Jia took it and quickly opened it.
At the same time, a faint medicinal fragrance filled the entire meditation room.
Zhong Li stood beside Madam Jia. Although she had not examined it up close, having followed Gai Chen on his travels since childhood, she had seen many things. Based on the smell emanating from the medicine, it was undoubtedly Huqian Wan.
Huqian Wan is effective for treating soreness of the waist and knees, weakness of bones and muscles, weakness of the legs and feet, and difficulty in walking. However, it had no effect whatsoever on ALS.
However, it must be said that Liao Chen's willingness to give this child Huqian Wan showed that he did have some medical skills, as others had said.
"Thank you, thank you, abbot." While Zhong Li was thinking, Madam Jia had already administered the medicine to her child. Then, she tucked the remaining medicine into her embrace, thanked Liao Chen, and turned to leave the meditation room.
When only Zhong Li, Liao Chen, and Lu Wuxie, who was comfortably sipping tea on a meditation cushion, were left in the meditation room, Zhong Li finally turned her gaze to Liao Chen.
"Abbot," Zhong Li clasped her hands together.
Liao Chen looked at Zhong Li and returned the salute.
"Abbot, I have some questions I wish to ask you. Can you spare some time for this humble one?" Zhong Li asked.
"Are the questions you wish to ask about Zhao benefactor?" Liao Chen asked.
Zhong Li nodded, "May I ask, abbot, was the last person Zhao Jun saw before his accident you?"
Liao Chen thought for a moment and said, "This old monk does not know. What this old monk knows is that he was indeed with Zhao benefactor at You Shi."
Zhong Li nodded and asked again, "Abbot, I previously asked Master Wu Hui, and he said that you had told him that if you were leaving, you didn't need to add tea. May I presume to ask, does the 'leaving' you mentioned refer to yourself or Zhao Jun?"
Liao Chen smiled faintly and said, "Of course, it refers to this old monk himself."
Upon hearing this, Zhong Li gave Liao Chen a deep look. Seeing that his expression had not changed, she said, "Then, abbot, was there anything unusual on the day you saw Zhao Jun?"
Liao Chen pondered for a moment and replied, "Actually, this old monk was also puzzled yesterday. According to the usual routine, Zhao benefactor would come to see this old monk today, but strangely, he came to see this old monk yesterday in advance."
"What did Zhao Jun want to see the abbot for?"
"Amitabha, it was just some simple chanting of scriptures," Liao Chen said.
"Is that so?" Zhong Li's voice of doubt rose slightly.
Liao Chen appeared confident and smiled without speaking.
Zhong Li gracefully drew a letter from her sleeve and handed it to Liao Chen, saying, "Then, abbot, do you recognize these two sets of numbers on it?"
Liao Chen took it, glanced at it quickly, and said, "I apologize, young benefactor. This old monk does not know these two sets of numbers."