Chapter 6: The Woman in the Pagoda

"Yanghui, you make a valid point. That monk's staff is indeed too conspicuous. However, its provenance is clean, so I do not fear anyone tracing its origins. It is simply that I dislike trouble and prefer peace, and I do not wish to be disturbed. Why don't you look at something else instead?" Qingyang smiled faintly, understanding my meaning.

The room was filled with a unique incense that was truly refreshing. Gu Anqi followed the scent and said in surprise, "Is this ambergris?!"

"The young lady has a discerning eye. You are correct; it is indeed ambergris, and natural at that," Qingyang replied with a calm smile.

"Ambergris is known as the gold of spices; it is extremely rare and precious. In ancient times, only emperors could enjoy it. Moreover, the longer ambergris is stored, the more unique its fragrance becomes. I have smelled ambergris before, but what I smell today is completely different—it is exceptionally pure." Gu Anqi blinked, her eyes full of curiosity. "Aunt Qing, how old is this ambergris?"

"It must be over a thousand years old," Qingyang replied instantly.

Gu Anqi was struck speechless. While the various components of ambergris can be synthetically replicated, they cannot fully replace the gifts of the ocean, as modern technology cannot yet match the wonders of nature—especially the ambrein found in natural ambergris.

Not to mention, ambergris aged for over a thousand years—this was not just incense burning in a humble Buddhist shrine; it was gold!

The humble shrine and the burning gold were an incredibly incongruous pairing. Yet, no one doubted Qingyang’s words. A woman who could casually give away a priceless monk's staff would hardly find it strange to burn incense worth a thousand pieces of gold.

I grew increasingly curious about what kind of believer could be so devout as to offer thousand-year-old ambergris to the Buddha.

However, my thoughts were not focused on the lingering fragrance; my gaze remained fixed on the censer holding the incense. It was a silver vessel, with a base decorated with a pattern of twin phoenixes holding auspicious grasses, supported by five floral-shaped feet. The censer consisted of the body, the lid, and the stand.

The lid’s rim was wide and flat, with a raised dome decorated with lotus petal patterns. On top were five lotus flowers with intertwined vines, each featuring a turtle turning its head and holding an auspicious grass in its mouth. The lower layer of lotus petals was hollowed out to allow the fragrance to escape. The turtle and ribbon symbolized longevity, while the lotus petals represented purity. The fragrance emerging from within signified the scent of pure precepts and spiritual advancement. The belly of the censer was adorned with flowing cloud patterns and riveted with five single-horned celestial dragon beast-feet.

I quickly identified this as a Buddhist censer used for burning incense, representing diligence and serving as one of the six offerings in Esoteric Buddhism. However, the craftsmanship was far too magnificent to be a common shrine censer.

I carefully picked it up and saw an inscription on the bottom. I was stunned the moment I read the first few characters: "Commissioned by the Wensi Institute."

The Wensi Institute was a court handicraft workshop established in the mid-to-late Tang Dynasty, dedicated exclusively to producing gold and silver artifacts for the imperial family. This censer was also an item used by royalty for Buddhist offerings.

"Actually, I have always liked this set of incense burners. It looked so unique when I was a child. It wasn't until I studied artifact appraisal that I realized this brilliant set was of an elegant and luxurious design, with exquisite and rich patterns. It represents the highest level of gold and silver craftsmanship of that era, embodying the profound wisdom and painstaking efforts of Tang Dynasty masters," Qiunuo said thoughtfully from the doorway.

"I think this is perfect. It’s not flashy, yet it is precious, and since it is an imperial relic for Buddhist worship, it’s a worthy offering," Gu Anqi nodded.

"Is it... still not enough?" Yue Qianling whispered beside me. "Although this censer is authentic, if we want to enter the underground palace, its weight might be a bit light."

Qingyang smiled beautifully and gestured lightly. "Anything in this room that you like, feel free to take."

The more generous Qingyang was, the more embarrassed I felt. This room was filled with priceless treasures, and taking them just like that didn't feel right. Seeing my hesitation, Qiunuo walked over and pointed to a statue of a Bodhisattva with a smile.

"A gilded silver Bodhisattva holding the True Body! A relic from the Tang Dynasty. The Bodhisattva has a high bun, wears a pearl-adorned Buddhist crown, a bare chest with a draped silk shawl, armbands, and a long, pleated skirt. The entire figure is draped in pearl necklaces, gazing forward with both legs kneeling on a lotus pedestal."

"Qiunuo, even if this is your family's property, once donated, it cannot be reclaimed. As someone who studies appraisal, you should know that every single item in this room is a treasure," I said in a low voice, my face flushing.

"Since Aunt Qing is a believer, if these items can be offered to the Buddha in the Famen Temple underground palace, wouldn't that be an even greater act of devotion? Aunt Qing will accumulate immeasurable merit, and she should be thanking you instead," Qiunuo said with a radiant smile.

"Qiunuo is right. Just consider it helping me accumulate merit!" Qingyang said with a peaceful smile.

I felt somewhat reassured and looked again at the Bodhisattva statue. The gilded silver Bodhisattva was crafted with sophisticated, exquisite magnificence. The Bodhisattva held a lotus-leaf-shaped tray containing a gilded plate with a vow. On the vow was a rectangular gilded frame with openwork vajra patterns, connected to the gilded plate by chains at the four corners.

The lotus base was bowl-shaped, with the belly adorned with four layers of upward-facing lotus petals, each layer having eight petals. Each petal of the upper two layers featured a Buddha figure with a halo or aureole. The middle section was drum-shaped, with the Four Heavenly Kings carved around it—holding a sword, an axe, a tower, and a sword respectively. The lower base was shaped like an inverted lotus.

The inscriptions on the golden plaque held by the Bodhisattva contained sixty-five characters, dedicated to the Emperor to pray for long life and prosperity for the empire.

It was another imperial artifact. Added to the previous censer, these two items would surely persuade the abbot of the Daci'en Temple to let me enter the underground palace for a viewing.

I looked back at Qingyang and smiled apologetically. She nodded serenely. Just as I was about to carefully wrap the two items, a voice suddenly came from behind the pagoda.

"Put them back!"

There was someone else in the room! We had all been so distracted by the treasures that we hadn't noticed anyone else. Qiunuo’s previously relaxed expression instantly turned cautious and humble, and she lowered her head.

"Mother, I did not know you were here."

I had never heard Qiunuo mention her mother, but judging by her respectful demeanor, her mother must be a very imposing woman.

"Your mother has always been here. She said she hadn't returned in a long time and wanted to visit old sites to pay homage to the Buddha, so I accompanied her back to Jingzhao," Qingyang said, her head also bowed.

"Nuo'er, we have spent little time together, and I have missed you. I hear your Aunt Qing mention you often. Life is like duckweed on water; rely only on your heart. Remember, do not be hasty in anything. Simplicity is truth; do not force what is not meant to be."

"Nuo'er will keep your teachings in mind, Mother."

The woman behind the shrine spoke in deep, enigmatic terms, but I could tell these were the words of someone with great wisdom. Her voice was slow and majestic, carrying an air of authority that made even the usually calm Qingyang appear submissive. What kind of woman could possess such presence?

"Aunt, I apologize. We did not know you were here; we are sorry for disturbing your meditation," I said politely.

"The two items you chose are magnificent, but the Daci'en Temple is a sacred place of Buddhism, where one renounces all worldly desires. To offer these items would be to commit the sin of greed," the woman said after a brief pause. "Qingyang, give him the item from the shrine."

"Ah..." Qingyang was stunned. Usually composed, she appeared flustered by the command. "The one in the shrine... but..."

The woman did not speak again, her word clearly absolute. Qingyang sighed, reached into the shrine with extreme reverence, and took out an object wrapped in bright yellow silk, handing it to me.

"Give this to the abbot of Daci'en Temple. He will grant any request you have!" The woman's voice was soft, yet it carried the weight of an irresistible command.

I carefully opened the silk to reveal a simple wooden box, unremarkable in every way. The woman's voice did not sound again from behind the shrine. I secured the box and withdrew with the others. As we left, I noticed Qingyang sighing heavily, her eyes lingering on the box with a look of regret and reluctance.

I could not understand what made this plain wooden box so valuable that even Qingyang, who was indifferent to the priceless treasures in the room, could not bear to part with it. Between Qiunuo’s mother in the shrine and the box I now held, I felt that nothing about today’s events made any sense.