Chapter 1002 Extra [Tang Ning VS Xiao Yan (Part 2)]
The sandalwood in the temple has a sleeping effect. Tang Ning woke up from his sleep when the morning bell rang in the temple.
The big hand on her waist made her stunned for a moment. When she looked up, she found herself lying in Xiao Yan's arms. He was not as "ferocious" as when he was playing tricks, nor as indifferent to others as usual. When he was asleep, his eyebrows and eyes became gentle, and his whole person was much softer. His long eyelashes like crow feathers cast a layer of shadow under his eyes.
Tang Ning reached out and touched it, then touched his broad nose bridge. When her fingers landed on Xiao Yan's lips, she suddenly took them into her mouth.
Her fingertips were bitten lightly and she quickly pulled them back, only to see the person who had been asleep a moment ago wake up.
"Are you awake?"
"If I don't wake up, Aning's eyes are going to eat me up."
Even though they were an old couple, Tang Ning couldn't help but feel her face flushed. She slapped him in anger and said, "Do you think I'm as shameless as you?"
This is a Buddhist temple after all, and she would never do such a thing as "blasphemy" against the gods and Buddhas. Besides, she was never the one who was greedy for meat between the two of them.
Xiao Yan wasn't the least bit annoyed by being scolded. He simply pulled her into his arms and leaned in close, "I can still tell the difference between shamelessness and happiness..."
"Shut up."
Tang Ning blocked him and scolded him: "Get out of the way."
Pushing the head off her shoulder, rejecting Xiao Yan's attempt to act like a spoiled child, Tang Ning pulled her clothes over the area that had just been opened and stood up from the bed. "When did you get here?"
Xiao Yan leaned lazily against the headboard of the bed. "Last night, at noon, a message came from the palace and I went back to deal with some matters. When I finished, I rushed over but saw that you were fast asleep, so I didn't wake you."
Tang Ning knew that she couldn't hide her whereabouts from Xiao Yan, and she didn't really intend to "never have anything to do with him again."
Her current status is extraordinary. The Great Wei has become increasingly powerful in recent years, but because it is too powerful and cannot be defeated openly, many people want to take crooked paths. She, the queen, and Ayao, the only heir of the Wei emperor, have become the weak points that many people see as being able to take advantage of Xiao Yan.
Tang Ning would not rashly go out to take risks without anyone, even though Yue Jian and the others were the only ones with her in public, there were at least a dozen secret guards following her at all times. With them around, it was not surprising that Xiao Yan knew where she was going, but she did not expect him to catch up with her so soon.
Tang Ning walked to the side and sat down, combing her long hair with her hands. When her pajamas slipped off, there were some ambiguous red marks on her neck and wrists.
"We have all left the capital. Has the palace given instructions?"
"Don't worry, with Prince Ji and Cao Dejiang and the others around, missing a morning court session for a day or two won't be a problem."
Xiao Yan's control over the court now is far beyond that of the previous emperors. He is not very diligent. He has abolished the daily morning court sessions. Now he is considered lucky if he can hold a small court session every three days and a large court session every ten days.
But he knew how to "know people and assign them to the right positions", and he used every one of the people around him who were important to him to the fullest extent, which made them tired. Emperor Xiao Yan was extremely leisurely, but the court was very stable.
Tang Ning scolded: "Be careful not to squeeze them too much, or they will quit one day."
Xiao Yan said, "I'm not afraid."
He was not the kind of person who was reluctant to give up. He let the horse run and was willing to feed it grass. Although he made empty promises, most of them were realized. Although Prince Ji and Cao Dejiang complained, they were very happy in their hearts.
Xiao Yan was not afraid at all that they would give up.
Seeing that Tang Ning wanted to tie her hair up, Xiao Yan stood up and walked to her side, taking the comb skillfully.
He gently combed her long hair and tied it into a bun as usual. But when all the long hair was lifted up, Xiao Yan found that it could not cover the marks on her neck. He coughed softly and let her hair down again.
"What's wrong?" Tang Ning asked puzzledly.
Xiao Yan remained calm and said, "It's been cold lately, and we're in the temple, so there's no need to wear a full bun. Let's try something else."
As he spoke, he took only half of Tang Ning's black hair and tied it into a bun with a hairpin. The other half was left hanging down, with a few strands falling in front of her body, just covering the marks on her neck.
Tang Ning felt something was a little strange, but there was no dressing table in the simple room in the temple, so she couldn't see anything wrong. She just reached out and touched the hairpin on her head: "Why did you bring it out?"
This lotus flower hairpin was carved by Xiao Yan herself when she was in Jiyun Lane. She often wore it in her early years before entering the palace. Later, after entering the palace, she didn't use it much so she kept it. She didn't expect Xiao Yan to take it out of the palace.
Xiao Yan said, "Not the same one as before."
Tang Ning was surprised. He reached out to take it down and looked at it carefully, only to find that something was wrong. The carving of the peach wood lotus hairpin was "rough", and even after polishing it with all his strength, it was obvious that the person who did it was a first-time hairpin carver. But this one in his hand, although it looked similar, was made of the finest rosewood, and the lotus was carved more delicately and vividly.
Tang Ning looked up and asked, "When did you carve it?"
Xiao Yan said, "Some time ago, how was it? Did you like it?"
Tang Ning hummed, caressing the twin lotus flowers, unable to let go. Xiao Yan chuckled at her delight, "If you like it so much, I'll carve a few more for you later..."
"You'll have to do more, but having this one is great."
Tang Ning asked Xiao Yan to put the hairpin back into her hair. The anger that was already in her heart disappeared completely. She turned around and hugged Xiao Yan's waist:
"We haven't been to Lingyun Temple for a long time. Come with me for a walk, and then go to Baoming Hall to burn incense."
…
Ganlin Courtyard occupies the east corner of the temple. When it was expanded and renovated, several ginkgo and bodhi trees were moved here.
The ginkgo leaves have turned yellow in autumn, and a few of them are blown down by the wind from time to time. However, the trunk of the Bodhi tree is thick, and the branches grow and spread in all directions. The crisscrossing branches seem to have formed a large open umbrella, almost higher than the roof of the house.
At this time, the crown of the Bodhi tree was still covered with layers of green leaves, and was not affected by the autumn at all.
When Tang Ning and Xiao Yan stood under the tree and looked up, the bright sunlight poured down from the gaps in the treetops, making them squint their eyes.
"This tree seems to have grown a little bigger." Tang Ning said.
Xiao Yan estimated it with his eyes: "It has grown quite big. When the people from the Southern Territory sent this tree to the capital, they thought it would not survive. But I didn't expect it to grow so well after being planted in Lingyun Temple."
This Bodhi tree is rare in Beijing and is rumored to be a sacred tree of Buddhism. It was originally a "tribute" sent by a small country on the south coast.
When the tree was first sent to the capital, it was extremely large and difficult to plant in other places. Later, it was sent to Lingyun Temple. At that time, everyone thought that the tree would not survive after being sent from such a long distance, but unexpectedly, it not only survived but also grew so well.
Xiao Yan gestured with his hand: "With the way it's growing, in a few decades, it might be able to take up half of Lingyun Temple."
Tang Ning walked out while chatting with Xiao Yan with a veil on. The monks guarding outside were surprised when they saw the two of them, and hesitated whether to step forward to protect them. It was not until Xiao Yan waved his hand and Jinyun followed with a few people that the monks retreated.
Most of the people who came to burn incense in the temple were female relatives. Many of those of noble status had seen Tang Ning in the palace. On the contrary, Xiao Yan, who was the emperor and rarely interacted with officials' wives, had rarely seen him.
When Tang Ning and the others came out, they just caught up with the end of morning classes and met quite a few people. However, because the two of them were very open and had guards around them so they didn't get close to them, many people were surprised at the man's good looks when they saw Xiao Yan and the others, but they didn't connect him with the emperor. No one would have thought that the woman next to him with a half-bun, a plain dress and a veil would be the empress in the palace.
The two looked so intimate when they were chatting that everyone just thought they were a young couple from some powerful family who came to burn incense.
Tang Ning and Xiao Yan went to Baoming Hall to burn incense, and then walked around the temple. It was already past noon when they returned to Ganlin Courtyard.
There was vegetarian food from the temple on the table. Tang Ning took two bites and then put down his chopsticks.
Xiao Yan frowned: "Don't like it?"
Tang Ning said lazily: "Not really, I just don't have much appetite." During the bitter summer, she had been eating mostly fruits and vegetables and no meat for a long time. When autumn came, she suddenly started craving meat. The vegetarian food in the temple was not bad, but Tang Ning was now very picky about food.
"I'm not hungry, you eat."
Tang Ning curled up in the chair like a cat, the sunlight coming in through the window making her squint slightly.
Xiao Yan saw her intermittently stroking the wind tassels hanging by the window, much like a cat slapping itself to sleep with its tail. He was amused by the image in his mind, which made Tang Ning open her eyes and glance over at him: "What are you laughing at?"
Xiao Yan raised his lips: "Nothing, just take a nap if you're tired."
Tang Ning took a nap and woke up when the sun was setting. She was a little surprised to find that Xiao Yan was not in the room. She asked Yue Jian and he said he had gone out. Although Tang Ning was a little curious, she did not ask any further questions. She stayed in the room and read the Buddhist scriptures borrowed from the temple. Xiao Yan came back when it was dark outside.
As soon as he entered the house, he pulled Tang Ning out.
"What for?" Tang Ning asked puzzledly.
"Take you somewhere."
Xiao Yan held her waist and did not go through the main gate. He walked around to the back wall of the temple, jumped up and carried her over the wall, out of the yard, and headed straight for the back mountain of Lingyun Temple.
The night wind rustled the leaves in the mountain forest. Tang Ning watched as the woods around her became denser and denser. Curiosity grew in her eyes. She didn't understand why Xiao Yan brought her out in the middle of the night. Seeing that the surroundings were quiet and deserted, some unhealthy thoughts even flashed through her mind.
Tang Ning pinched Xiao Yan and said, "Where are you taking me in the dead of night?"
Xiao Yan pulled her to a stop: "We're here."
Tang Ning looked up and saw a fire burning in a clearing in the forest not far away. Jinyun was guarding the fire with two secret guards. There was a pot hanging above the fire with something stewing inside. On the rack next to it were two... roasted rabbits?!
"Empress." Jinyun and the others saluted.
Tang Ning was pulled by Xiao Yan to the fireside, and saw that there was fish soup in the pot.
She was stunned for a moment, and quickly grabbed Xiao Yan like a thief: "Are you crazy?"
This is the mountain behind Lingyun Temple. Although they don't really believe in Buddhism, isn't it too much to eat meat openly on someone else's territory?!
Xiao Yan chuckled: "It's okay, it's not the first time."
He pulled Tang Ning to the fire, and seeing her stunned look, he said:
"When I first arrived in Beijing, I stayed at Lingyun Temple for a while to investigate what was happening there. Back then, the vegetarian food there wasn't as good as it is now, and my status wasn't enough for the temple to provide me with my own food. At that time, the poison in my body hadn't been completely eliminated, and I couldn't stand hunger, so I felt hungry every day."
During the reign of the deposed emperor, although Lingyun Temple was also a national temple, the situation in the temple was far worse than it is now.
At that time, the deposed emperor was content with enjoying himself, the treasury was empty, and the people were not living well. Naturally, the temple that relied on offerings was also a little poor. And although the monks in the temple always said that all beings are equal, there is not much difference between Lingyun Temple and the outside world. Although they will not trample on civilians, if there are powerful people who can afford the "incense money", the temple will also provide special meals and care.
At that time, Xiao Yan had just arrived in Beijing. He had to hide his identity and did not have the power he had later. Naturally, he did not have the conditions to enjoy these things. However, his body needed nutrition and the vegetarian food in the temple was not enough. He could only go to the back mountain to hunt for prey every night to satisfy his hunger.
Xiao Yan took off his cloak and placed it on the wooden block beside the fire. He then pulled Tang Ning to sit down before saying, "Many people followed me to the capital, and even more died along the way. There were also those who died innocently because of the Eastern Palace's involvement. I buried them all in the forest behind the mountain."
Tang Ning seemed to be thinking: "So you found me in the mountains because you came to pay tribute to them?"
Xiao Yan hummed, "That path leads directly to the dense forest behind the mountain. Only Canglang Jinyun and I know about it. When you appeared there, and it happened to be not long after I was assassinated, I thought you were a spy sent by someone to kill me..."
At this point, Xiao Yan couldn't help but laugh when he thought of Tang Ning's embarrassed look.
"When I saw you, I thought, 'Whose spy is this so spoiled? He almost drowned himself in tears after getting hurt a little during a performance.'"
He looked embarrassed and pitiful, and he looked fierce on the outside but was actually weak on the inside.
Tang Ning punched him in shame and anger.
Xiao Yan smiled and wrapped his hand around hers: "It's a good thing I softened my heart for a moment, otherwise you would be gone."
Tang Ning glared at him angrily: "How can you be soft-hearted? You wanted to skin me alive and throw me down." If she hadn't seen the dragon-patterned pendant, she would have died long ago!
Xiao Yan laughed grimly: "I was just trying to scare you."
Although he has a bad temper, he doesn't kill anyone he sees. If he really wanted her life, he wouldn't have waited until later.
Tang Ning rolled his eyes in anger, and Xiao Yan continued with a smile, "During that time, I ate a lot of prey in the mountains behind. There were some days when I couldn't hunt much, but it's only in recent years that I've been able to hunt more."
Tang Ning asked, "You're so blatant, haven't you ever been discovered?"
"Who said they didn't find it?"
Xiao Yan flipped through the roasted rabbit on the rack. "People from the temple occasionally come to this back mountain. There are two stone caves further in that are used by the monks for retreat. I thought they were abandoned, so I went inside to roast some meat. I had just taken a bite of the meat when that old man, Xin Deng, showed up."
I still remember the old man with a big bald head appearing at the entrance of the cave and shouting "Amitabha". Xiao Yan choked on a mouthful of barbecued meat and almost rushed over to kill him to silence him.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com