Chapter 17: Love at first sight is the most unreliable thing a man in a cage says...

A scroll of the image of Guanyin, the Goddess of Childbirth, became a hot potato when it fell into Zhou Shan's hands.

He closed the scroll with a snap, his beautiful eyes filled with anger as he stared coldly at the man in front of him. Suddenly, he raised his hand, slammed the scroll hard on the man's chest, and turned away.

He left the Guanyin Hall and descended the stone steps, looking back. The sunlight was bright, falling on the red walls and green tiles of Daxinglong Temple and also on him, dispelling the chill of the long winter. The long-awaited spring seemed to be quietly approaching.

The man, still smiling, silently put away the scroll, then bent down and spoke to the novice monk. The novice monk nodded repeatedly and ran back to the Guanyin Hall. The corridor became deserted again. The man stood alone at the doorway, clapping the scroll against his palm intermittently.

Zhou Xian is not a fool.

He was simply surprised.

They had only known each other for a month, two chess pieces bound together by an imperial decree, yet Zhang Jinwei had developed extra feelings for him. Was this "love" born of a scholar's responsibility, or a genuine emotion?

As for love at first sight, Zhou Xian had always been a skeptic. Nineteen years earlier, palace rumor had it that Emperor Yongchang fell in love with Concubine Jing, Fu Ningxiang, but favored her for less than a year before completely forgetting her. This showed that a man's claim of love at first sight was the least reliable.

…

Winter rain was scarce, and the rain chains hanging from the eaves were of little use. The bottom of the lotus-shaped copper urn at the bottom dried up. But at the turn of spring and summer, heavy rain poured down, and the urn filled with rainwater, on which water lilies floated. The sound of the rain was like the whisper of the Buddha.

Zhou Xian was absent-minded, silently counting the lotus flowers on the rain chain, one, two, three... twelve in total. After he finished counting, he still had nothing to do. He didn't know what Master Huiming and Prince Jing were talking about, and he couldn't help but feel annoyed. He turned his head and saw someone holding a portrait of Guanyin, the Goddess of Childbirth. When he turned around, he pretended nothing happened and gently looked away.

"The prince consort really can't let it go." Zhou Xian sneered.

Zhang Jinwei sighed, "It's indeed Aunt Cui's fault. I'll take it first and return the portrait to her when I get home."

Although Zhang Jinwei's thoughts were tempted by romantic feelings when he saw the portrait, he had to force himself to be serious in the quiet Buddhist temple. Furthermore, the girl was not in good health, so he had no urgent plans to have a child.

But Zhou Xian’s reaction was really strange.

For some reason, the girl looked flustered when she saw the portrait, and Zhang Jin couldn't figure it out no matter how hard he tried. He planned to return home and talk to Aunt Cui. Since the girl didn't like it, there was no need for him to keep it. He understood that Aunt Cui had good intentions, but he couldn't ignore his wife's feelings.

After hearing what he said, Zhou Xian's expression eased a little. At this moment, footsteps were heard from the monk's house not far away. He turned around and, as luck would have it, met Prince Jing's gaze.

His heart sank, and he hurriedly bowed and greeted the man with Zhang Jinwei.

Unlike the arrogant and domineering Prince Yu, Prince Jing, Zhou Huang, was a cautious, even dull, prince. He was conservative, even old-fashioned, and with an older brother who died young, he had been oppressed by the dead all his life. Even his mother, Empress Guo, always felt that he was not as good as the eldest prince.

"Sister, are you here to see the master too?" Zhou Huang had initially ignored Zhou Shan, but unexpectedly, when he was almost at the door, he suddenly stopped, turned around, and asked calmly.

Zhou Xian frowned slightly, bowed, and said, "I've long heard of Master Huiming's name. Although I'm dull, I'm determined to convert to Buddhism. I only hope you can guide me and bring peace of mind."

It was strange. Zhou Huang usually wouldn't even glance at him, but today he'd condescend to come and talk to him. Zhou Xian couldn't help but be on his toes to deal with this cold brother.

Zhou Huang smiled and said, "I've heard that my sister is a Buddhist. Now it seems that it's true."

"I don't deserve it. I just recited a few Buddhist scriptures. I just hope that the Buddha doesn't mind." Zhou Xian said perfunctorily.

"I have never heard that Prince Jing worships Buddhism." Zhang Jin, who was standing aside, spoke for Youyou. As usual, he had a smiling face and no emotion could be seen.

This person is also strange. Is he angry again?

Even though Zhou Xian thought so, he still moved closer to the man. It was obvious who was better to him, Zhou Huang or Zhang Jinwei. He couldn't help but get close to those who treated him well.

"I didn't really believe in it before. Last year, I made my father angry and almost lost his favor. My mother asked me to chant the Buddha's name, so I did. But things are unpredictable. One day, things turned out differently. I guess it was because my sincerity was effective and the Buddha blessed me." Zhou Huang was not angry. He finished speaking in a friendly manner, clasped his hands together, and looked pious.

"It is also because Prince Yu fell. Otherwise, I wonder if Your Highness could still say what you said just now." Zhang Jinwei smiled faintly.

Zhou Huang said nothing more. A smile played on his lips as he scanned the two men. Suddenly, he laughed out loud and said, "Now that things have come to this, why dwell on other matters? I advise Prince Consort Zhang to be more careful. You Qingliu have jumped too high these past few years. Don't fall."

After saying that, he flicked his sleeves and left.

"A hypocrite." Zhou Xian cursed in a low voice.

Zhang Jinwei agreed, "Prince Jing is indeed such a person." He paused and asked, "Does the princess have any grudge against him?"

Zhou Xian shook her head: "I'm not familiar with him. I haven't seen him many times in the palace."

"That's strange. Why would they embarrass you for no reason?" Zhang Jinwei consoled him. "Prince Yu has fallen, and His Majesty still has other sons. It's not certain that he will gain power. Princess, don't worry about it."

At that moment, a monk came out of the monastery and respectfully invited Zhou Xian. Zhou Xian followed the monk, walked a few steps, paused, turned around and asked, "Prince consort?"

Zhang Jinwei stood there, seemingly with no intention of going in. He said, "I don't believe in gods or Buddhas. If I meet Master Huiming, I'm afraid I'll end up arguing with him. Princess, go ahead. I'll be waiting."

Zhou Xian looked at him several times and thought, you will regret this.

…

Master Huiming is a handsome monk with a fair complexion and no beard. At least he used to be handsome. Now his face is full of wrinkles and he is very old, but his temperament is becoming more and more otherworldly.

When Huiming saw Zhou Xian, he smiled faintly, clasped his hands together and said, "Amitabha, it has been a long time since I last saw Princess. Please forgive my dazzled eyes, I mistakenly thought it was Concubine Jing who had returned."

Zhou Shan looks about 70% similar to Fu Ningxiang, with elegant features, but always with a hint of melancholy. Since Fu Ningxiang's death, the words he heard most often were "It's like the return of Concubine Jing's soul."

But he doesn't like it.

He sat down on the futon and said, "My mother and I are two different people. She hates it most when I look like her, and I don't like being told I look like her either. Master, please don't mention it again."

Huiming said, "I am sorry for being rude. I was reminded of my old friend and was deeply moved. I beg your forgiveness, Princess."

"It's okay." Zhou Xian didn't care too much. "I have to thank the master. If the master hadn't gone against the crowd's opinion and personally chanted scriptures for my mother for seven days three years ago, I'm afraid..."

I am afraid that after my death I will be completely forgotten and not even be able to enter the concubine's mausoleum.

The Emperor revered Confucianism, while most in the palace followed the Empress's worship of Buddhism. Therefore, Master Huiming held a privileged position, allowing him to have a say in many matters. Many years ago, before Fu Ningxiang entered the palace, Huiming nearly returned to secular life for her. However, the Emperor's decree proved difficult to disobey, and the second young lady of the Fu family was transformed into a concubine within the palace.

"She's gone, the past is like the wind, why bother talking about it again? I see the princess is getting better, and she's become more insightful. I think she must have moved on from the past. But I think of her from time to time. I'm obsessed with it."

Huiming lowered his eyelids and fiddled with the tea bowl on the small table. When the water in the iron kettle beside him boiled, he lifted the kettle with one hand and made tea with the boiling water. The small monk's room was immediately filled with the fragrance of tea.

Zhou Shan took the tea bowl handed to him by the old monk. It was extremely hot. He blew on it gently, took a sip cautiously, and frowned at the bitterness.

"This tea is very bitter, but it clears the mind and brightens the eyes. I wonder what the princess wants to say to me today?" Huiming looked into the distance.

Zhou Xian put down the tea bowl in his hand and secretly pushed it away. He suppressed the bitterness on his tongue, pondered for a moment, and then said, "Since my mother passed away, I have been reciting scriptures day and night, but I feel more and more trapped, often falling into difficulties. Master, how can I solve this problem?"

He planned to take it slow and build a good relationship with Huiming bit by bit. Therefore, he did not exclude Zhang Jinwei from joining him. After all, his words were vague, and who would have guessed that a princess would not want a life of luxury, but instead wanted to escape?

"Life is full of cages, so why do you want to confine yourself, Princess?" Huiming's eyes were clear, as if he could see through Zhou Xian's heart. "The Forbidden City is a cage, the capital is a cage, and even this humble monk's cell is a cage. Princess, there's a lock in your heart, and you've locked yourself in it. You must feel like you're trapped, unable to feel at ease."

Zhou Xian met those clear eyes without looking away. He smiled and said, "Master, may I ask you, if I recite sutras every day and devote myself to Buddhism, will I ever be able to unlock my heart?"

"The scriptures contain thousands of truths, and the princess has been intelligent since childhood. She will definitely be able to gain enlightenment and untie the knot in her heart," Huiming replied.

Zhou Xian said, "Master, this place is quiet and peaceful. It's rare for me to find peace of mind here. I'd like to come and sit here more often in the future. Would you be willing to leave a cushion for me?"

Huiming smiled and said, "It is a great honor for my humble home that the princess has come. If you don't mind my humble home being so shabby, please come whenever you want."

The two talked about Buddhism again. Although Zhou Xian was absent-minded, he copied a lot and naturally memorized many Buddhist scriptures. Even Huiming praised him for being "born with a connection to Buddhism", which shows that he was very successful in pretending.

As they were chatting, a monk suddenly came in from the back door of the monastery. He walked hurriedly, his face stern, and leaned over to say something to Huiming. Huiming's expression remained unchanged, still wearing a smile that was neither sad nor happy, and he looked Zhou Shan straight in the eye.

Then he stood up and saluted Zhou Shan.

Zhou Xian asked, "Master, is there something urgent?"

"That's right," Huiming said. "The Imperial Concubine of Jingren Palace has passed away. Your Majesty has summoned the monks to chant sutras, so I'm afraid we can't continue to entertain the princess. I beg your understanding."

Concubine Shen passed away?

Zhou Xian stood up suddenly, his face filled with shock.

Such a strong-willed, unyielding woman...had actually passed away. Even though Zhou Xian hated her son so much, she couldn't remain indifferent to her death, or the death of anyone in the palace.

He walked out of the monastery, looked up and saw that the originally clear sky was slowly covered with lead gray, and the spring disappeared without a trace. He couldn't help shivering.

A cloak was draped over his shoulders, and Zhang Jinwei whispered worriedly in his ear, "What happened?"

Zhou Xian whispered, "Noble Concubine Shen has passed away."

As prominent as she, the Shen family, and Prince Yu are, in the end, just a wisp of smoke in the history books.