Chapter 321 Going to Huguo Temple Late at Night

That night, the lights in the Zichen Palace remained on all night.

In the study, Yan Shixu was urgently discussing the details of the trip with several ministers who were about to accompany him to Zhennan Pass.

Inside the bedroom, Wen Li'er, along with several palace maids including Qingmei and Qingzhu, personally packed Yan Shixu's luggage.

I knew in my heart that I had to travel light and not slow down the march.

But when it came to packing, she wanted to stuff the entire Imperial Hospital and the entire armory into his luggage.

"The southwest is humid and full of miasma, making it easy to feel sleepy and tired. Your Majesty, please prepare a few bottles of the refreshing pear blossom dew you usually use... the best detoxifying pills, wound medicine, miasma-repelling pills... make sure to have a sufficient supply of everything."

She spoke very quickly, her fingertips brushing over the medicine bottles.

"The Qingxin Humai Pills sent by the Imperial Hospital are said to protect the heart meridians in times of crisis... You must take these with you, and bring more."

"And that golden silk soft armor that was sent as tribute from the Western Regions. It's thin, light, and tough. I need the one that fits best... and a few extra sets of plain silk lining... and a black fox fur cloak for warmth..."

Qingmei hurriedly grabbed her hand and reminded her softly.

"Master, it's the height of summer now, and the southwest is even more humid and hot. I'm afraid the cloak... won't be of any use for the time being."

“Yes, yes, yes…”

Wen Li'er slapped her forehead in annoyance and asked the palace servant to take out the cloak.

"I was so anxious that I lost my mind."

She silently thought to herself that when the weather got cold and she needed a cloak, he would have returned triumphantly!

Wen Li'er checked everything again, no matter how big or small, and confirmed it repeatedly, fearing that she had missed anything that could protect him.

When everything was finally cleaned up, a faint gray line appeared in the eastern sky - it was already the beginning of the first hour of the lunar calendar.

Wen Li'er stared blankly at the faint but not negligible dawn light outside the window, and an idea suddenly became clear in her mind.

She suddenly turned her head and asked Hua Zhan, who had been silently guarding her side.

"How many hours does it take you to go to Huguo Temple and back at the fastest?"

Hua Zhan was slightly stunned, not understanding why his master asked this at this time.

She quickly estimated the weather and the distance, then replied, "Master, if I ride as fast as I can without stopping, and if the gates of Huguo Temple are opened smoothly, it will only take an hour and a half to go there and back. Master, what are you doing...?"

When Wen Li'er heard this, her tired eyes instantly lit up.

An hour and a half? Still in time!

She immediately walked quickly into the inner room and took out a jade pendant with a coiled dragon, which was warm and exquisitely carved, from the rosewood cabinet where Yan Shixu usually kept his personal accessories.

Amidst everyone's puzzled gazes, she grabbed Hua Zhan's wrist and walked out.

"Hua Zhan, take me with you on horseback. Let's go to the Huguo Temple immediately. I want to ask for a peace amulet for His Majesty."

Hua Zhan was shocked when he heard this and subconsciously took a half step back.

Seeing Qiuying coming in, she quickly looked at her for help.

Qiu Ying naturally heard what Wen Li'er had just said, and she advised, "Master, the palace gates haven't opened yet at this hour, and the gates of the Huguo Temple won't open until the beginning of the morning..."

Hua Zhan nodded repeatedly and tried to dissuade him, "Yes, Master. The road is difficult to travel at night, and the temple gate is tightly closed. I'm afraid..."

Wen Li'er raised the dragon pendant in her hand, and the coiled dragon seemed to take off into the sky under the palace lantern, carrying the majesty of an emperor.

"I have His Majesty's dragon pendant, and no one dares to stop me."

Qiu Ying and Hua Zhan looked at her resolute expression and could only reluctantly agree: "Yes! As ordered by you!"

A quarter of an hour later, two horses galloped out from Shenwu Gate like arrows. The sound of horses' hooves shattered the dark night before dawn, and the light in the sky spread out inch by inch.

Wen Li'er and Hua Zhan rode on the same horse, while Qiu Ying rode on another horse and walked side by side.

With the dragon pendant in hand, the three of them passed through the heavily guarded palace gates and the heavy city gates of the capital unimpeded, and sped towards the Huguo Temple on the outskirts of the capital.

Before entering the palace, Wen Li'er learned horse riding from her brother. After entering the palace, she occasionally rode slowly with the emperor in the royal hunting grounds.

But it was the first time in my life that I was running in the dark at a speed close to the limit, like tonight.

The violent shaking made her hip bones ache, the strong wind that rushed into her mouth and nose almost suffocated her, and her chest was also shaking with dull pain.

But she gritted her teeth, held the saddle tightly with both hands, and said nothing. Even when Hua Zhan noticed that her body was tense and she wanted to slow down, she stopped him.

"Hua Zhan, don't worry about me, just use your fastest speed."

Hua Zhan obeyed the order and the horse sped up again

When they finally arrived at the foot of the Huguo Temple, Wen Li'er's legs were so sore that she could hardly stand, and she had to rely on Qiuying and Hua Zhan to support her on her left and right.

Under the cold moonlight, before your eyes are 999 bluestone steps winding upward, leading to the solemn ancient temple on the top of the mountain.

Wen Li'er gasped for breath, the air piercing her lungs, but also making her confused mind clearer.

She stood firm and walked quickly towards the stairs.

Qiu Ying whispered, "Master, this staircase is long. How about I use Qing Gong to lead you up? It will save a lot of time and energy."

Wen Li'er heard this and slowly shook her head.

"No... My mother always comes to Huguo Temple to burn incense on the first and fifteenth day of every lunar month. She once said that the stairs leading to the Buddha must be climbed step by step by oneself, and only then can one be truly sincere."

After saying that, she lifted her skirt, stepped onto the first stone step, and began to climb towards the top of the mountain, bowing her head every three steps, climbing devoutly.

Wen Li'er was panting as she climbed, her heavy clothes soaked with sweat, and her hair stuck to her sweat-soaked forehead.

On the other hand, Hua Zhan and Qiu Ying, although following closely behind and carefully protecting him, still maintained a steady breath.

At this moment, Wen Li'er deeply realized the importance of learning martial arts.

She decided that when her three children grew up, she would let Miaomiao learn martial arts from her two older brothers.

I don't want to become a master, I just want to keep fit.

Wen Li'er didn't dare to stop to rest. She had only one thought in her mind: to deliver the amulet to him before he left!

When she had exhausted all her strength and finally stepped onto the last stone step, her legs went limp and she collapsed forward.

Qiuying and Huazhan were quick to act and held her firmly.

Wen Li'er leaned on the two men, her chest heaving violently, and it took her a long time to catch her breath.

Hua Zhan took off the water bag from his waist and handed it to him: "Master, drink some water slowly."

Wen Li'er took the water bag, tilted her head back and gulped down a big gulp of cool water, and her dry throat finally soothed a little.

At this time, the heavy vermilion lacquer gate of Huguo Temple was still closed.

According to convention, it will not be opened until the first quarter of the morning.

Wen Li'er tidied up her messy clothes and hair, clasped her hands together, bowed deeply towards the mountain gate, and said "Amitabha" devoutly.

Then she went forward herself and knocked on the door hard.

“Knock—knock—knock—”

The crisp knocking sounds seemed particularly abrupt in front of the quiet mountain temple.

Unexpectedly, as soon as the knock on the door fell, the seemingly tightly closed mountain gate creaked and slowly opened a gap inward.

Not only Wen Li'er, but also Hua Zhan and Qiu Ying became alert instantly.

Could it be that when the temple was closed last night, the young monk on duty was negligent and failed to bolt the door tightly?

Wen Li'er was just about to push the door open to check, when the next moment, the heavy mountain door was completely opened from the inside.

Qiuying and Huazhan reacted extremely quickly, taking a step forward and both standing in front of Wen Lier, their hands already on the weapons at their waists.

However, the person who appeared from the door was not a murderer, but a young monk with delicate features, about fourteen or fifteen years old.

He clasped his hands together and bowed respectfully to the three of them, his voice clear and calm.

"Amitabha. Three benefactors, the abbot had a feeling while meditating, predicting that a distinguished person would visit at night between the turn of the 20th and 30th centuries, and he has specially instructed me to wait here. Please follow me, the abbot is already waiting in the meditation room."

Huh? Is this even possible? The time can be calculated so precisely?

Wen Li'er was filled with confusion and exchanged equally doubtful looks with Qiu Ying and Hua Zhan.

Now that I'm here, I naturally have to go and see him.

…