Chapter 107: Centrifugal

The two walked west along the stream, where rows of willow trees swayed in the wind. From time to time, they would encounter people going to the Taimiao to make offerings. They carried baskets in their arms, filled with incense, paper money, and some copper coins.

When we reached the foot of Taimiao Mountain, there were even more people. There was only one path up the mountain, winding and rugged, like a snake, to the top.

The narrow path is only wide enough for one person to walk. If someone comes from the opposite direction, those who are fatter may have to hold in their stomach to let the other person pass.

As some people went up the mountain, others naturally went down. Along the way, Zhuang Wan stepped aside to let many people go.

Pei Xingju also followed her and moved aside, but he didn't know how he stood, and he stood steadily no matter who came.

Zhuang Wan was in a bad situation. A man carrying a load came from the opposite side. Zhuang Wan stood aside with her stomach tucked in, but unexpectedly, the load behind her lightly bumped into her, and she was also thrown to the side as if blown by the wind.

Just as he was about to fall, someone suddenly grabbed his wrist.

"Be careful!" Pei Xingju said.

Zhuang Wan patted his chest, still feeling a lingering fear. There were felled bamboo stumps at the bottom of the slope; if he accidentally bumped into one while falling, he didn't know how painful it would be.

Pei Xingju stepped forward first, still holding her wrist, as if to pull her up the mountain.

At first, Zhuang Wan let him pull her for a short distance, but then she felt it was too much trouble and simply shook off his hand: "I'll walk by myself."

Pei Xingju did not hesitate and immediately let go when she pushed him away.

He gently touched the palm of his hand with his fingertips, and found some sweat there.

Soon the two reached the top of the mountain.

As Zhuang Wan had said, the temple wasn't large, consisting of two buildings, east and west, separated by a rectangular courtyard. In the center of the courtyard stood a huge incense burner, filled with incense sticks and surrounded by some paper money ashes.

To the east was a resting porch, and opposite it was the temple. Inside the temple was a single Buddha statue, but it didn't resemble a Buddha statue, at least not like the Bodhisattva statues Zhuang Wan had seen in temples before.

Although this statue is exquisite, it does not have the demeanor of a bodhisattva, but rather looks more like a sculpture of a mortal in gorgeous clothes.

Zhuang Wan introduced this temple to Pei Xingju, saying, "Although this temple may be small, it's even more popular than the temple twenty miles away. The people of Luyang County come here to worship whenever they have free time. It's said that worshipping the Buddha statue here will keep you healthy and free from disasters, and even bring you promotions and wealth."

"Get promoted and get rich?"

"Yes, that's what Erya told me. Oh, Erya is the daughter of Aunt Cui, our next-door neighbor."

Pei Xingju stared at the statue in the temple with a mocking look: "Do you know who is enshrined here?"

Zhuang Wan was confused: "Isn't she a Bodhisattva? They all call her Ci Guang Niang Niang."

At this time, a woman came in from outside burning incense. She hurriedly knelt on the cushion, muttering, "Tian Guang Niang Niang, please bless my family to be free from illness and disaster, and bless my smart son to study hard and make a fortune in the future. Tian Guang Niang Niang is extremely compassionate and merciful. May you live forever."

After muttering, she inserted the incense stick into the incense burner, took out a few copper coins from the basket and threw them into the merit box.

The merit box is an iron box with a large lock on the outside, leaving only a small hole for coins. When coins are put in, they make a rattling sound. It is said that the longer the sound lasts, the more merit you gain. To make the sound last longer, the only way is to put more coins in.

Therefore, many people would not just set off one or two, but would set off several in a row.

Pei Xingju glanced at him, his face unhappy: "Let's go."

Zhuang Wan sensed his emotions and stopped talking, following him down the mountain in silence.

When they reached the foot of the mountain, Pei Xingju stood under the willow trees by the river, not knowing what he was thinking.

After a while, he said, "Do you know who is enshrined in the temple?"

He asked this question again.

Zhuang Wan: "Isn't it the Bodhisattva of Compassion?"

Pei Xingju sneered, "The current Empress Dowager's maiden name contains the character 'Ci'. It is said that when she was born, the sky was bright and clear. After the death of the previous emperor, the Emperor posthumously named her Empress Dowager Ci Guang."

Zhuang Wan suddenly understood when she heard this: "So, the temple isn't enshrining a Bodhisattva, it's the Queen Mother?"

Pei Xingju nodded. "You just said that offering sacrifices to the Goddess of Mercy can lead to promotion and wealth. I'm afraid this isn't just empty talk. If it weren't so, how could the people be so devout?"

The Liang family's influence in the officialdom stretched from the capital to the countryside, with Hezhou being their unshakable ancestral home. Otherwise, no one would dare to mention the phrase "Long live the king."

"Wanshou Wujiang" can only be used for "Wansui" (long live forever). Even the Empress Dowager only dared to call herself "Qiansui". But in Hezhou, every family worships Ciguang and everyone shouts "Wanshou". It seems that what Mr. Zhuang said in the letter, "The people only know the Liang family but not the emperor", is not false.

"But..." Zhuang Wan asked in confusion, "Can't the Queen Mother provide for her? Historically, ministers who held high positions of power or achieved great success also had their own imperial temples."

Pei Xingju said, "It's not that we can't provide for them, but what if someone steals the people's money in the name of providing for them?"

When Zhuang Wan heard this, she was shocked.

So that’s what Pei Xingju came to investigate.

.

Capital city, imperial palace.

As the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, the weather gets cooler and cooler, and at night, we have to put on thin clothes.

As soon as Duke Xin came out of Changtai Palace, he ran into Liang Jinxian who had returned from his duty.

Liang Jinxian, dressed in silver armor, walked over from the Nine-Curved Corridor with an imposing manner and bowed to Duke Xin.

Duke Xin was proud of his smart and handsome son. When he wore the same imperial guard uniform, he had an awe-inspiring demeanor like a cedar tree.

But he had extremely complicated feelings towards this unruly son who was gradually getting out of his control.

After observing him silently for a while, Duke Xin asked, "Where are you from?"

Liang Jinxian: "Father, I'm back from the Emperor."

Duke Xin nodded and said, "I just discussed this with your aunt. Since autumn has turned cold early, I plan to return to Beijing before Mid-Autumn Festival so that everyone can reunite and celebrate the festival."

"You have performed well in the palace these days. I trust you, and the emperor also values ​​you. After the Mid-Autumn Festival, I will give you something else to do."

Duke Xin looked around and saw no one was around. He asked in a low voice, "Have you found out where Pei Xingju has gone?"

"No," Liang Jinxian shook his head: "The emperor didn't mention it."

"I didn't mention it, you can ask."

"It would be inappropriate if my son asked too obviously."

After a moment of silence, Duke Xin smiled and said, "He has really become successful. He has completely forgotten who helped him get to the throne. If it weren't for my Liang family..."

At this point, he glanced at Changtai Palace and said, "Forget it. There's no point in saying this now. The Emperor has already separated from the Liang family, and your aunt's words are no longer effective. He is growing up and has become a true emperor. You must be careful and cautious in your future actions."

"Yes, my son knows."

After a moment's deliberation, Duke Xin said, "After the Mid-Autumn Festival, you should go to Hezhou. Pei Xingju suddenly and mysteriously left the capital, and I'm feeling uneasy. Since this involves the Liang family, someone else might not be able to intimidate those people. It's best for you to go. Once you go, tell them to behave themselves until the battle in Minzhou is over."

After saying this, Duke Xin felt a sense of helplessness. "A big tree attracts wind, but a big tree also attracts insects. The Liang family's various clans are intertwined and intertwined, and there are more than just these. I live far away in the capital, and many things are beyond my control even if I want to. If I don't hold on to Hezhou, my Liang family will be destroyed by termites before it dies at the hands of the enemy."

"Yes." Liang Jinxian responded, "Son understands. Son knows what to do."

"Yes." Duke Xin nodded and asked, "Has he resigned now?"

"I resigned at the hour of Xu."

"You've worked hard these days, go and take a rest."

Liang Jinxian bowed again, walked around Duke Xin and left.

Duke Xin paused for a moment, and after a while, his gaze gradually grew colder.

At this time, the staff came forward and said, "The matter of the eldest lady suddenly leaving the palace at night a few days ago has been investigated. The eldest lady has a maid named Dujuan who served in the prince's courtyard two years ago."

Duke Xin narrowed his eyes and said, "Madam, won't you investigate? Who dares to let anyone near Xin'er?"

The aide said, "Dujuan was originally just a third-class maid, serving tea and water. But because she was so clever, the eldest lady begged the mistress to keep her by her side six months ago. After hearing the news from Dujuan, the eldest lady left the palace that night to secretly help Miss Zhuang leave the capital."

"Miss Zhuang? Which one..." Duke Xin paused as he thought of something: "Is she the daughter of the former Chief Censor?"

"Exactly."

Upon hearing this, Duke Xin heaved a long sigh, his face darkening. "I personally took down Zhuang Mingzhou, yet the Crown Prince is secretly contacting his daughter. Tell me, what is the Crown Prince's intention?"

The staff didn't dare to speak.

Duke Xin smiled. It seemed that his son had long since become alienated from him.