The monk chanted a Buddhist prayer in a calm voice.
"Your Majesty's intentions are kind, but this humble monk truly cannot accept them."
Qin Shang: "Does the Master mean to disobey the imperial decree? I'm afraid His Majesty may not have such a good temper."
Dao Ci: "This humble monk is willing to return to secular life and marry. However, this humble monk will not marry Princess Anle."
Qin Shang became interested after hearing this.
"Does the Master mean that you have someone else in your heart? Who is it that has won the Master's favor?"
The young monk's dark eyes gazed at the open field ahead.
"It's the third daughter of the Qi family."
Qi Jia?
Qin Shang paused for a moment before realizing, "Qi Su?"
That young widow.
Dao Ci: "That's right. This humble monk has long been attracted to her, but due to the precepts, we cannot be together."
His words were full of affection and excitement, yet they were spoken in a calm and indifferent manner.
It's like saying God loves the world, God loves flowers and plants.
The Qin merchant laughed loudly.
"So that's how it is! The monk is indeed very disciplined. The young lady of the Qi family spent so much time with the monk in the temple, yet the monk did not break his vows."
Isn't that right?
Every "intimate encounter" between Qi Su and the monk was fueled by the Embroidered Robe Envoy.
He said excitedly, "Master, why didn't you say so earlier? We left in such a hurry that we left Miss Qi behind in the temple. Master, don't worry, I'll arrange for someone to go back and fetch her right away."
Dao Ci's eyes remained completely calm.
"No need, she has already passed away."
"Passed away? She...she's dead?"
“That’s right, she died from being bitten by a venomous insect. She couldn’t bear it and took her own life in front of me.”
Qin Shang felt that he could no longer understand this monk.
Dao Ci seemed to understand what he was thinking and calmly said:
"Everyone must die. Today she goes first, and another day I will also step into the underworld. There will always be a time when we meet again."
Qin Shang: "...The monk is indeed magnanimous. But since she is already dead, how can she marry the monk?"
Dao Ci countered, "Why not?"
The Qin merchant was stunned: "You—"
Dao Ci's expression was indifferent.
“I have deep feelings for her. We were unable to be together when she was alive. Now that she is dead, I will naturally give her a proper status, marry her memorial tablet, and remain chaste for her.”
Qin Shang's expression immediately became complicated.
"Master, you are truly a devoted lover. I admire you!"
Good heavens! Monks really are all crazy.
Having finally returned to secular life, he was now forced to marry a dead person.
Then Dao Ci said, "A Su once told me about her aunt. I wonder if Your Excellency could show leniency?"
It took Qin Shang a while to regain his composure and maintain his polite smile.
"Since Lady Qi is about to become the Princess of Qishan, her family will naturally be of noble status as well. The Embroidered Robe Envoy will treat them with utmost respect."
Dao Ci: "Then this humble monk thanks you in advance, sir, on behalf of Asu."
That's incredible.
Not only does he marry the memorial tablet of the dead, but he also cares so much about the deceased's concubine.
This shows that it's true love.
Qin Shang was incredibly frustrated after hearing the firsthand gossip.
"Master, we've arrived at our destination. The journey has been arduous; now that we've reached Jincheng, we can finally rest."
After saying that, he spurred his horse and left.
Jingrou!
Hey kid, I have a big secret to tell you!
.
As soon as the city gates opened early in the morning, the caravan was the first to enter the city.
After daybreak, the gates of Jincheng City became bustling and noisy.
For some reason, even though it's not a holiday, there are an unusually large number of people coming to the city today.
A queue had formed early in front of the city gate.
The burly hunter carried a white tiger on his shoulder, looking quite imposing.
The woodcutter wore a straw hat and hunched over, carrying a load of firewood.
The farmer, meanwhile, drove his oxcart, squinting as he puffed on his old pipe.
These people lined up in the queue to enter the city, passing through the long city gate passageway and entering the bustling Jincheng Changjie Street.
The pale sunlight flickered in the air for a moment before being obscured by leaden clouds.
The wind whipped up the sand and gravel on the ground, which rolled and rustled along the long street.
It's getting cold again; it looks like it's going to snow.
…
They lived in the residence of the Chief Secretary in Jincheng.
After traveling all night, both men and horses were exhausted.
Although Jincheng cannot compare to the capital, it is much better than Qingyun Mountain.
You can add dried flower petals to your bath water, and eat as much grilled beef and mutton as you like until you're full.
It was only the fifth day of the eleventh lunar month, and there was still a long time before the agreed time in the capital.
We can take our time and carefully pack our bags to return to Beijing.
The Buddhist disciple brought down from Huatan Temple moved into the residence of the Chief Secretary along with Eunuch Wang.
Not to mention how chaos ensued when the Chief Secretary's residence welcomed such a group of guests.
Even the Qin merchants, upon entering Jincheng, breathed a long sigh of relief.
The Embroidered Robe Envoy had his own secret network in Jincheng.
After running around like a lackey at the Chief Secretary's residence for half a day, Eunuch Wang finally took pity on him and waved him away.
The Qin merchant rolled back to a private residence in the south of the city with his hands behind his back.
The wine and dishes had already been warmed up and prepared in the house, and even the obedient and sensible maidservant was ready to pour the wine.
The Qin merchant took a sip of hot wine to suppress the chill from his half-day of running around outside.
He then asked Jingrou, "Have you found it?"
Jingrou shook her head: "The body was not found."
Qin Shang: "There's something strange about this young lady; it's a pity we can't find her."
I thought she was just a young widow.
Last year, I had some dealings with Dao Ci in the capital.
It can be used as a free chess piece.
Unexpectedly, she was witnessed burning a Gu puppet made by Ayan yesterday.
This fire also forced them to move their plans forward.
Ayan was very angry, although she didn't say she was angry.
Whether it was intentional or unintentional, we need to find the person and investigate to find out.
Jingrou: "But indeed, some people saw that in the end she went into the secret passage with Daoci and those monks and never came out again."
He paused, then added.
"She was also splattered with a lot of the blood of the insect worms."
The Qin merchant waved his hand.
"Never mind, it's not important anyway. Whether she lives or dies doesn't matter. If the monk wants to protect her, then he can."
Jingrou: "My lord, when are we going back to the capital?"
Go back to Beijing?
The Qin merchant toyed with the wine cup in his hand.
"There's no rush."
Jingrou: "Lord Wang said it's urgent."
Qin Shang laughed.
“Your master said there’s no rush. Even if Lord Wang is in a hurry, he can’t get off the plane.”
.
Night falls.
The Changshi residence was completely silent.
A man dressed in black, wearing a black cloak, silently entered the guest room where Dao Ci was resting.
As for the soldiers guarding the guest rooms, they had long since left.
A single lamp in the room, dimly lit, illuminated the person's face.
It turned out to be the Chief Secretary of the Pingxi Governor's Office who claimed to be busy with official duties during the day and was not in Jincheng, unable to meet with Eunuch Wang.
But then they saw the old man, his eyes filled with tears, bowing deeply to Dao Ci.
"Your Highness—"
Dao Ci's expression was serious, and he quickly helped her up.
"Please rise, Chief Secretary."
The old man knelt and refused to rise, weeping uncontrollably.
"To see Your Highness is as good as to see the ruler of my Great Zhou."
Great Zhou Dynasty...
The monk in white robes remained silent for a moment, then gave a cold laugh.
"Lord Song, the Great Zhou Dynasty has already perished."
…
As night deepened, the night began to fall.
Two knocking sounds suddenly came from the window of the inn.
The two people who were having a private conversation in the room immediately fell silent.
The knocking on the window persisted relentlessly.
After a few moments of silence, there were two more knocks.
Dao Ci asked, "Who is it?"
A moment of silence fell outside the window.
A woman's voice drifted over.
"Your deceased wife is restless in the afterlife and has come to find you."
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