Chapter 10: Encounter at the Buddhist Temple, in the Misty Rain, and with a Young Woman.

The weather in Luoyang these past few days has been unpredictable, sometimes overcast and sometimes clear, much like the unfathomable mood of the emperor.

On a rare clear afternoon, the Prince of Yan entered the Chanxu Temple.

The Prince of Yan, dressed in a green robe, with a jade crown and wide belt, was in a hurry. He was not wearing his military robe today, but dressed like an ordinary young master from a noble family, yet he was still handsome and extraordinary.

On his way down the mountain, Zhong Changjun saw the figures of the Prince of Yan and his attendants in the distance. When they approached, he bowed and greeted them, "Your Highness, the Prince of Yan."

The Prince of Yan was lost in thought when he suddenly heard this voice. He stopped abruptly and saw that it was Zhong Changjun, the imperial attendant. He said, "So it's Lord Zhong. Is my brother still on the mountain?"

Zhong Changjun smiled gently and said, "Your Majesty is in quiet meditation at the main temple, discussing scriptures and doctrines with the abbot. He has never needed eunuchs or other attendants to accompany him. This servant will bring the memorial to Your Majesty and then go down the mountain first."

After saying that, his gaze swept to the scroll in the Prince of Yan's hand, "What is this in Your Highness's hand?"

The Prince of Yan said, "Regarding the matter of Miss Yuan, I acted rashly without careful consideration, and I am truly ashamed of failing my elder brother's past teachings. I am restless day and night, so I specially sought out this rare manuscript from the Dunhuang Mogao Caves to apologize to my elder brother..."

Zhong Changjun smiled, remaining as respectful as ever, "I see. Your Highness is so kind. This servant will lead the way for you."

The Prince of Yan ordered that Ye Shu need not follow behind, and he continued to climb the steps alone with Zhong Changjun.

He looked up at the top of the mountain, at the temple's eaves hidden among the verdant mountains.

My elder brother dislikes extravagance and prefers simplicity. He has a particular fondness for the tranquility of Buddhist temples. For the past three years since his ascension to the throne, in order to avoid the noise of the court, he has often visited Buddhist temples for quiet rest, and he would stay for ten days or half a month at a time, as if he were living in seclusion in the world.

However, during this period, government affairs were not neglected and the court continued to operate as usual. This was because every day, important memorials were personally selected by Zhong Changjun and sent to his elder brother, the emperor, in the temple.

This time, the Emperor chose the Chanxu Temple on the outskirts of the city for his pilgrimage. He did not close the mountain path, allowing pilgrims to come and go as usual, without disturbing the temple's quiet meditation in the slightest.

Apart from him and a few close ministers of the emperor, few people knew the whereabouts of the emperor's elder brother.

After meeting the emperor that night, he felt deeply terrified. The next day, he sent his cousin's head to the Lu residence and then rushed around, searching for a day and a night before finally finding this rare and unique Buddhist scripture.

Holding the scriptures in my hands, though they were light, they felt heavy.

I wonder if this ancient scripture can quell my elder brother's anger...

**

Chanxu Temple has a large number of meditation rooms, located in the mountains, which are exclusively for pilgrims to stay in. Although the furnishings are simple and plain, the rooms are bright and clean, and spotless.

Since yesterday, Yuan Chaolu has been at this Buddhist temple. He first washed his hands and burned incense at the front mountain Zen courtyard, and devoutly worshipped the gods and Buddhas. After that, he settled in this Zen room located at the junction of the front and back mountains, and quietly waited for the arrival of the Prince of Yan's troops.

Through the small window of the meditation room, one can clearly see the figures of people going up and down the mountain.

Yesterday I returned empty-handed after failing to see the person I wanted to see. Today I came again, but by noon I still hadn't found anyone.

It wasn't until the afternoon that Ye Shu's figure came into view.

As Chao Lu stood by the window gazing into the distance, she saw Ye Shu respectfully accompanying a young man in a brocade robe on the mountain path, the two of them slowly ascending the mountain.

They were quite far away and couldn't see clearly. They could only vaguely make out the young man beside Ye Shu, who was dressed in a luxurious brocade robe and wore a jade crown. His back was tall and straight, and he was holding a stack of books tied with red silk, which fluttered in the wind.

A short while later, Ye Shu withdrew as ordered and left alone along the mountain path.

Chaolu felt her heart pounding like a drum in her chest.

The man in the green robe and jade crown must be her fiancé.

Yuan Chaolu picked up the curtain on the table, her hands moving through the ribbons to tie a knot, then turned to Heyi and said, "Sister Heyi, I've seen the Prince of Yan. Please wait for me here."

He Yi frowned, somewhat worried: "Are you sure you can manage alone? Do you need me to come with you?"

Yuan Chaolu gently patted her arm, "It's alright. You've shown your face in front of the Prince of Yan's men before. If you follow me around, it might be inconvenient if we bump into each other. If you're anxious while waiting, go to the front mountain and burn some incense for me. Then you can wait for my good news."

A light gauze curtain fell, obscuring the woman's face.

Yuan Chaolu walked out of the meditation room and slowly walked up the stone steps to the mountain.

A mountain breeze blew gently, causing the light gauze to flutter and carrying a touch of coolness across her face, gradually calming her tense emotions.

She looked up at the figure at the end of the mountain path, and without further hesitation, continued walking up the mountain.

**

The sounds of Buddhist temple bells and chimes echoed gently, passing through layers of corridors and dissipating into the depths of the mountains and clouds.

At this moment, inside the main hall of the Zen temple, a golden Buddha statue stands majestically, with wisps of incense smoke rising before it, illuminating two figures standing silently below.

One of the monks, with his hands clasped together, was none other than Abbot Yinghui, who was rumored to be able to summon the Buddha into his dreams.

Before him stood the current emperor, dressed in a green robe.

"Since His Majesty returned from Longxi, he has been plagued by nightmares and can only close his eyes at dawn every day?"

"yes."

Ying Hui said, "In ancient Chinese, dreams are classified into six categories: normal dreams, nightmares, dreams of longing, dreams of waking, joyful dreams, and fearful dreams. Does Your Majesty's dream fall into any of these categories?"

"Nightmares and dreams are both present, but I never have happy dreams. In my dreams, I often recall things from my childhood."

Ying Hui understood: "Your Majesty is trapped by the past."

Abbot Yinghui is over sixty years old. Many years ago, when the Xiao family was still a hidden dragon in the abyss, he befriended Emperor Taizu Xiao Yuandu. Later, he often enlightened and enlightened the children of the Xiao family, teaching them the nature of Buddhism.

Therefore, the current emperor, Xiao Zhuo, was raised under Ying Huiqi's personal watchful eye.

The young emperor was twenty-one, composed and elegant, with a refined and jade-like appearance. It seemed that nothing in the world could stir up any waves in front of him, yet the blood on his hands was countless.

Chaotic times test one's mind and spirit. Witnessing firsthand the hell on earth, how can those who survive in such a distorted world maintain their normal character?

In recent years, His Majesty has become increasingly repressed, and his emotions are no longer easily revealed.

I still remember His Majesty in those days, full of vigor and spirit, carefree and unrestrained, a young man in fine clothes and riding a spirited horse.

If Your Majesty values ​​the Prince of Yan, it's more accurate to say that you see a reflection of yourself in his brother. However, while the Prince of Yan is exceptionally capable, he is far inferior to Your Majesty.

Abbot Yinghui said, "His Majesty ordered Lord Lu's death, but remembered his childhood friendship with him, so he is now plagued by nightmares?"

The emperor's lips curled slightly, but there was no smile in his eyes: "Does the abbot really not know me? He deserves to die, but since returning from Longxi, and as I ascend this throne, thinking about the wars and chaos I have experienced over the years, I feel a sense of disgust."

Ying Hui's gaze was gentle: "Your Majesty is overthinking things, and your heart is heavily bound."

"Therefore, I have come to pay my respects to the abbot today. May I ask what the reason is?"

Abbot Yinghui slowly walked into the rear hall, took out a stick of Canaan incense, carefully lit it, and offered it before the Buddha. As the incense smoke curled upwards, he said, "Perhaps we should ask the gods to guide His Majesty into a dream and relieve his worries."

Abbot Yinghui once studied under the most proficient monk of Zen in the Western Regions. It is said that he could invite the Buddha into his dreams. However, this method is extremely mysterious and should not be used lightly without great opportunity. Therefore, he rarely performs it for others.

Xiao Zhuo said, "Okay."

The fragrance gradually wafted through the hall, making the Buddha statue appear even more rounded and compassionate.

Xiao Zhuo also had the Buddha appear in his dreams, but all the images in the dreams were reflections of the causes and effects of the present world. After waking up, he could calmly reflect and understand what his heart truly sought.

This time, however, it was extremely different.

A cool afternoon breeze blew, prayer flags fluttered in the hall, and incense smoke gradually drifted before the Buddha, filling the entire hall. As the mist dissipated, the surrounding scenery transformed into a meditation room.

A graceful figure materialized from the hazy mist.

The woman's long, black hair cascaded down her back to his arm, and her sobbing voice lingered in his ears, as if she were telling him something, a mixture of resentment and longing.

That face was undeniably beautiful, yet it was always shrouded in a thin mist, appearing both real and illusory, making it difficult to see clearly.

Her warm, soft body embraced him, coiling around him like a water snake, drawing him into the abyss.

"His Majesty……"

Xiao Zhuo withdrew from the dream.

He stroked his brow bone, breathing softly. After a long while, he slowly raised his eyelids, his deep gaze filled with displeasure.

Abbot Yinghui asked, "What dream did Your Majesty have?"

A woman appeared in his dream.

Ying Hui: "A woman?"

Xiao Zhuo rose from the futon, his tone indifferent: "It was a dream of lust that tempted me into depravity."

Ying Hui was stunned: "Is that woman an old friend of His Majesty?"

Xiao Zhuo said, "I've never seen it before."

Ying Hui pondered for a moment and said, "Recently, Your Majesty has been troubled by worries and has been unable to find a way out. He rarely has happy dreams. Seeing this woman is not a calamity of lust, but perhaps she can help Your Majesty get out of this predicament."

Xiao Zhuo smiled but said nothing.

"Your Majesty, if you shift your focus of worry, you may find relief. In the Lotus Sutra, a child was playing in a burning house, and the Buddha lured him out of the burning house with a beautiful carriage. Now, in your dream, the Buddha is advising Your Majesty to look away from your worries and find relief."

After Ying Hui finished speaking, Xiao Zhuo was about to leave, seemingly finding the dream that the Buddha had spread today extremely absurd, and not as Ying Hui had said.

People's hearts have their own answers; saying more is pointless.

Ying Hui saw him out of the palace gate: "The Buddha's appearance in the dream is supreme wisdom, but I cannot fully explain it to Your Majesty. The Ten Dreams Sutra records that King Prasenajit had ten dreams, in which the Buddha foretold future causes and conditions to the emperor in the dream. Today's dream may be a foreshadowing, a warning, or an enlightenment. You should understand it for yourself."

Xiao Zhuo said, "Whether it is a calamity or a salvation, it is all up to me."

"Yes, it is all up to Your Majesty, and the decision rests with Your Majesty."

Several bright lights suddenly flashed in the sky, vaguely indicating that a mountain rain was about to come.

The emperor bid farewell to Abbot Yinghui, stepped out of the temple gate, and slowly walked down the winding stone path.

Halfway up the mountain, a pavilion stood amidst the pines and cypresses. Strolling inside, I saw that Zhong Changjun had already presented his memorial, neatly arranged on the table, with a Buddhist scripture beside it, the inscription on which stated that it was left by the Prince of Yan. At that moment, a black cat leaped from the grass onto the stone table; it was the emperor's pet cat.

The emperor casually untied the ribbon from the Buddhist scripture, pondering Ying Hui's words.

Just then, light footsteps came from the distant cobblestone path, slowly approaching from the misty rain.

Splash...

The rain was misty, and the fallen leaves were wet.

He slowly raised his eyelids and saw a tall, slender figure gradually emerge from the misty rain.

The young woman held a scroll of calligraphy and painting in her hands, and her sky-blue dress almost blended into the misty rain behind her. The curtain was wet with rain, clinging to her cheeks, vaguely revealing her beautiful face behind it.

As the rain intensified, the water droplets dripping from the eaves of the pavilion formed a continuous line.

Yuan Chaolu paused in front of the pavilion, raised his hand as if to lift the curtain, but then hesitated and put it down.

Knowing that the Prince of Yan loved calligraphy and painting, she brought this famous painting with her, hoping to use it as an opportunity to strike up a conversation and make friends with him when he saw the painting.

However, halfway up the mountain road, the Prince of Yan had already disappeared from sight.

Just then, a sudden mountain rainstorm arrived, and the forest was shrouded in mist and clouds.

Having just arrived in this place, she got lost and had to protect the painting with one hand and hold up an umbrella with the other. She stumbled and made her way to the mountainside, where she saw a pavilion in the distance. Helpless, she gave up the idea of ​​finding the Prince of Yan and went inside to take shelter from the rain.

Unexpectedly, there was someone else in the pavilion.

Beside the stone table stood a tall figure. A mountain breeze swept by, and the Xuan paper pressed down by the paperweight on the stone table trembled, as if it wanted to break free from its shackles and take flight at any moment.

Amidst the torrential rain, the man slowly raised his head and glanced at her.

His aloof and cold demeanor made her glance at him through the curtain, but before she could see his face clearly, she immediately lowered her eyes, not daring to look him in the eye.

Water curtains formed under the eaves, densely woven into a beaded curtain.

She stood by the pavilion, her skirt splattered with mud, when a fleeting thought suddenly crossed her mind, and she glanced at it through the curtain out of the corner of her eye.

The young man, dressed in a blue robe, exuded a free and easy elegance and an imposing nobility. On the stone table beside him lay a scroll, gently tied with a crimson silk ribbon, swaying in the wind.

It was the scroll that she had seen the Prince of Yan holding in his hands that afternoon.

Her mood was like the clouds under the shadows dispersing, suddenly giving her a feeling of seeing the sun through the clouds.

It goes without saying who the person in front of you is.

That was none other than her long-sought-after fiancé, the Prince of Yan.

A note from the author:

----------------------

King of Yan:

emperor:.

Zhong Gonggong:

"Six Signs of Dreams" refers to six methods used in ancient dream interpretation to predict good or bad fortune, quoted from the "Liezi: King Mu of Zhou".

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