QT: TPE Chapter 6.1

Xu Lingyi also felt a little regretful. She had come to the temple to pray for blessings and relax, but instead, she had made her mother unhappy.

The next day, Xu Lingyi originally planned to go to the abbot. No matter what, she wanted him to change his words, even if it was a white lie; otherwise, her mother would be worried.

She knew that Mrs. Xu had always been a Buddhist.

But Mrs. Xu came to see her first.

“Yi’er, Mother has visited the abbot again. Mother has decided that you will stay at the temple to cultivate yourself, eating vegetarian food and chanting Buddhist scriptures for the time being.”

Xu Lingyi was stunned. She hadn’t expected her mother to go to the abbot before her, and she hadn’t expected that this would coincide with her initial plan.

She did intend to stay at Lingguang Temple, but hadn’t yet come up with a reason.

She didn’t know exactly when the Emperor had his relationship with the peasant girl, and if she appeared at the temple too abruptly, it would easily arouse suspicion.

It would be better to come here earlier so that no one notices.

“Mother, what did the abbot say?”

Xu Lingyi was puzzled.

Mrs. Xu shook her head: “The abbot didn’t say much, but I still understood what he meant. In the future, you should cultivate more and sincerely turn to Buddhism. Staying at Lingguang Temple to cultivate might bring a glimmer of hope. So Mother has decided to let you stay at Lingguang Temple for at least half a year. During this time, you can’t go home, but Mother and your sisters-in-law will come to see you regularly. If you miss us, we will come too.”

Xu Lingyi was stunned; all of this seemed too natural.

She only had a plan, but her mother had already arranged everything for her.

Mrs. Xu was worried that her daughter wouldn’t be used to living there, so she made preparations in advance.

“There are side rooms behind the temple, which are specially for receiving guests. Mother will leave guards here, and more guards will be transferred tomorrow. My daughter, please stay here in peace. I will also find someone to repair the side rooms.”

Mrs. Xu had considered all aspects. She was reluctant to let her daughter live outside, but she had heard that many people came to Lingguang Temple to cultivate, including high-ranking officials and nobles as well as ordinary people, all living in a row of houses behind the temple.

Every day was spent getting up early to practice meditation.

“I donated three thousand taels and booked a private room just for you, a little further away from other people’s houses. Plus, there are guards, so nothing will happen. Mother heard that the youngest daughter of the Grand Tutor’s family is at Lingguang Temple. She has been praying for her grandmother for more than two months, and her grandmother’s health has indeed improved.”

It seemed that Mrs. Xu had inquired at the temple. Xu Lingyi sensed that her mother seemed to have more faith in Lingguang Temple in just one night.

“However, she will be leaving in half a month. If you are bored, you can go to see her during this time. Your Third Sister-in-law also wanted to stay in the temple with you, but after thinking about it, I decided against it. She is not the type to sit still. Cultivation requires sincerity, and she is useless here. She might even disturb you.”

“It’s only two hours from the capital. If you need anything, just send someone with a letter, and I’ll send someone over immediately.”

Xu Lingyi nodded: “Okay.”

 

*****

Translator’s Encyclopedia

Marriage in Ancient Times – Based on The Qing Dynasty (Part 3)

Can someone remain unmarried/single?

In the Qing Dynasty, remaining unmarried was not just a personal choice but a legal and social liability. While there was no single ‘loneliness tax’ as in earlier dynasties, the Great Qing Legal Code and social customs created severe consequences for staying single.

1. Punishment of the Family Head

The Qing legal system followed the principle of collective responsibility. If a woman or man remained unmarried long past the standard age (typically 20–30), the head of the household (father or eldest male) could be held legally responsible for failing to fulfill their duty to the state.

• Charges: Parents could be charged as “criminals” for failing to arrange a marriage, as the state relied on new households for taxes and labor.
• Fines: In some periods, failure to marry off daughters by age 30 led to increased taxes or fines for the family.

2. Forced Marriage (Government Assignment)

While less common than in the Han or Jin dynasties, local officials in the Qing era had the authority to intervene in households with unmarried adults.

• If a woman reached the age of 30 without a husband, the government could theoretically assign a spouse to her to ensure she was integrated into a productive family unit.

 

 

 

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