Xu Lei was slightly taken aback.
He hadn't expected this beautiful and noble Lady of the County Magistrate to be so direct and unabashed with her words.
"Amitabha Buddha."
Xu Lei placed his palms together and said, "Thank you for the honor, Benefactress, but the Buddhist Sect's practice of sowing the seed has its own rules and precepts.
"Devotees seeking a child and the Zen Masters Bu Zhong must, as a rule, ensure they meet without knowing each other's identities.
"Only in this way can we guarantee that this meritorious deed does not one day turn into a sin.
"Therefore, I cannot guarantee what you ask, Benefactress.
"What I can guarantee is that, given your beauty and figure, as well as your husband's appearance and stature...
"...to ensure the child you seek will also be handsome, with fine features and a good height...
"...the Zen Master who performs the service for you will certainly be a man of considerable looks and build himself.
"As for whether it will be me who performs the Charitable Giving, that cannot be certain."
"It's not possible?"
The Lady of the County Magistrate was taken aback and a little disappointed. However, hearing how strictly Xu Lei adhered to the rules, she suddenly felt a bit more at ease.
Then she added, "In that case... I'll think about it some more."
"Amitabha Buddha."
Xu Lei said, "Then please consider it carefully, Benefactress. Once you have made up your mind, you may return to the temple."
The Lady of the County Magistrate bit her lip, her beautiful eyes shifting as she looked at Xu Lei.
Of course, it wasn't that the beautiful woman had fallen for Xu Lei.
She had made this request simply because she had a good impression of him.
They had at least spent some time together, and Xu Lei was indeed strikingly handsome.
But no matter how she insisted, there was no way Xu Lei could agree to it outright.
That would violate the rules of the Zen Masters Bu Zhong.
Xu Lei was going to perform the Charitable Giving for her himself.
But he couldn't tell her directly.
「The next day arrived.」
The beautiful Lady of the County Magistrate came back, seeking a child after all.
Following the directions she was given, she walked into a small room in Longyuan Temple specially prepared for Charitable Giving.
She was a little nervous, her hands clutching her skirt.
She didn't know what kind of person would come to perform the Charitable Giving for her.
But she remembered Xu Lei's promise that to ensure the child would be a natural fit for the family...
...the person performing the Charitable Giving would certainly be handsome and have a good build.
Because of this, she found it somewhat more acceptable.
Just then, she smelled a faint fragrance in the room.
A moment later, she felt dizzy and swayed.
Then, her delicate body collapsed limply onto the bed.
She had fallen on her side.
The position thoroughly showcased the exquisite and graceful curves of her body.
Her full, round buttocks, crowning her long legs, were particularly breathtaking.
"Amitabha Buddha."
And at that very moment, Xu Lei entered the room through a small door.
Naturally, Xu Lei himself would be the one to perform the Charitable Giving for the beautiful Lady of the County Magistrate.
However, Xu Lei didn't want her to know it was him.
This was also in accordance with the rules of the temple's Bu Zhong Hall.
After all, Xu Lei had already spoken with the beautiful woman at length.
Therefore, if she were conscious or even semi-conscious, she would likely recognize him easily.
So, Xu Lei had increased the dosage of the drugged incense.
He planned to have her receive the Charitable Giving in her sleep.
In fact, this was how the Charitable Giving was performed in most cases.
It was safer that way.
「A few minutes later.」
Night deepened outside the window.
Moonlight spilled from the heavens.
It drifted gently in through the window.
Xu Lei had already walked over.
After admiring the beautiful woman's graceful figure for a moment...
...and reaching out to enjoy the smooth, tender skin of her long legs and shapely rear...
...he wrapped his arms around her slender waist and turned her body over.
He slowly untied her robes.
Then he buried his face against her body, inhaling her intoxicating scent.
Just as Xu Lei was about to take off his own clothes...
...and formally begin the Charitable Giving for the beautiful woman...
Suddenly...
Xu Lei noticed the eyelids of the supposedly unconscious woman tremble slightly.
'Hm? It seems she isn't unconscious.'
Xu Lei was startled, but he quickly figured out what was happening. 'She comes from a Noble Family of medicine. This soporific might not work on her.
'Or perhaps, she was still a bit wary about coming to the temple to ask for a child.
'She might have brought something with her to counteract the drug.'
Realizing the beautiful woman was awake...
...Xu Lei froze for a moment.
By now, she must have realized it was him performing the Charitable Giving.
But should he just turn and leave now?
The Charitable Giving hadn't formally begun yet.
He could, in fact, just turn and leave.
But there was really no more suitable Zen Master Bu Zhong in the temple than him.
Besides, at this point, how could he possibly restrain himself?
'As long as I keep my Buddhist heart firm afterward and don't destroy her family, it will be fine.'
With that thought, Xu Lei didn't leave.
Instead, he pretended not to know she was awake.
"My apologies, Benefactress. Although it is I who am personally performing the Charitable Giving for you, I cannot let you know."
Xu Lei didn't immediately mount her. Instead, he held her gently and whispered in her ear, as if to himself, "This is for your own good, Benefactress, to prevent you from developing feelings for me during our union.
"If that were to happen, I would become the sinner who destroyed your family.
"Tragedies arising from a woman 'borrowing a seed' are not uncommon among the common folk."
Hearing Xu Lei say this...
...the beautiful woman didn't say anything.
In truth, she hadn't intended to wake up.
Her reason for not allowing herself to be drugged unconscious was an instinct for self-preservation.
But at a moment like this, she didn't want Xu Lei to know she was awake either.
However, many physical reactions are beyond one's control. When their skin touched, it was too difficult to feign sleep.
So, after a moment's thought, she decided to drop the act.
Her eyelids lifted, her long lashes fluttered, and with her long hair cascading around her, she spoke:
"Little Divine Monk, I was in the wrong today.
I took an antidote for the soporific drug before I came.
That's why your drug has no effect on me.
"However, you can rest assured. There's no way I will, during the Charitable Giving, develop feelings for you.
You don't need to worry.
"Rest assured, even if I know it is you performing the Charitable Giving...
...I will not come and bother you.
"Once I am with child and leave this temple, I will forget everything.
This child will be my husband's and mine."
"Amitabha Buddha."
Xu Lei nodded upon hearing this. "It is excellent that you have this resolve, Benefactress. Excellent indeed."
Of course, Xu Lei could see that after she said this, her pretty face was flushed bright red, and even her ears were crimson.
Clearly, she was still quite shy and embarrassed, or perhaps awkward.
This was precisely why the temple released the soporific drug in the Almsgiving Room.
It was meant to alleviate this very awkwardness.
But now, it was clear this benefactress could not be drugged unconscious.
"Benefactress, there is no need to be shy or embarrassed."
After a moment, Xu Lei could only say, "Please understand that what we are doing now is not for lewd pleasure, nor is it an illicit affair or adultery.
"Our act is sacred, noble, and pure.
"I come on behalf of the Buddha to bestow a child upon you, Benefactress.
"And you, Benefactress, have received the Buddha's favor and are bathing in his divine light."
"Amitabha Buddha."
The beautiful woman was slightly stunned, then she smiled and said, "I have been enlightened by the Little Divine Monk's teaching. I understand now. Indeed, our act is noble and sacred."
Of course, after saying this...
...she still didn't have the courage to face Xu Lei.
Instead, she turned over onto her stomach.
She buried her flushed face in the pillow.
Her long legs were drawn up beneath her,
causing her round bottom to arch up in the moonlight spilling in from the window.
"Little Divine Monk, please," she said.