‘So you have memorized that poem by Zhang Ji, that’s wonderful, Judge Dee, but “Mooring by the Maple Bridge at Night” is a poem written about the temple, not about me.’

‘But you are the temple, and the temple is you, right? That’s exactly what a Zen master has said about enlightenment, and what you have said in a poem of yours, I think, but such an insightful understanding is unobtainable to an ignorant layman like me, Han Shan.’

‘Come on, you haven’t come to discuss Zen poetry with me here, Judge Dee.’

‘To say the least, Zhang Ji’s is a poem inspired and influenced by you, Han Shan. You don’t have to be that modest to me.’

With the poems and pleasantries exchanged between the two, they were ushered into a room, barely furnished except for the black wood shelves lined up with books and scriptures, and a dark wood table with four chairs around. It looked more like a meditation enclave for the senior monks. A shaft of sunlight languidly penetrated through the lattice paper window into the room.

A small monk came in and placed on the table two cups and a teapot wrapped in a cotton-padded cover, and a wooden bowl that contained shelled pine nuts.

‘I’ve just learned that you’re staying in the temple,’ Judge Dee said, dropping a white pine nut into his mouth, ‘so before leaving the capital for a new post, I want to spend two or three days, for a change, just in leisure and peace like you.’

‘No, you have your karma-informed path, and I, mine. In this mundane world of ours, things as insubstantial as a drop of water, or a peck by a bird, all are predestined and predestining. You’re bound to do great things as a capable official in the Tang Empire, Judge Dee. There’s nothing for me to do as a monk, however, except chanting scripture and writing a line or two in a secluded temple.’ Han Shan smiled a knowing smile before going on, ‘As in an old proverb, people do not come to the temple without having to pray to the Buddhist image for some special favor. So go ahead and tell me what you want.’

‘Indeed, there’s such a lot to catch up for old friends like you two,’ said Nameless, smiling with a knowing nod. He rose and excused himself readily from the room.

As the two of them were left alone in the room, Judge Dee took a small sip at the tea and resumed, ‘Well, among other things, I’m trying to compile a collection of poems by Xuanji. Maybe you can give me some suggestions for the project. And that’s the favor I’m asking of you here in the temple.’