Chapter 352: The Fourth Prince's Concubine Disdained by Gods and Buddhas
The Dharma Assembly at Lingyun Temple was held with great grandeur, and the altar was set up and sutras were chanted when it was getting dark.
Before the ceremony began, the Fourth Prince's wife had already found Tang Ning and was traveling with them. She stayed by their side the entire time afterwards. Even though Princess Leyang and Princess Ji looked unhappy, she remained unmoved and helped Tang Ning block their attempts to provoke her, which made Qian Qiyue and the others very surprised and suspicious.
But after Qian Qiyue asked in a low voice, Tang Ning just said that there was some misunderstanding before. Although the few people didn't understand the reason, they didn't ask any more questions.
When the ceremony was halfway through, the bright moon was already hanging in the sky.
There were Dharma boats and spirit rooms burning in the temple. Master Liaowu led a group of monks to chant scriptures by the water, while pilgrims who came to participate in the Dharma Assembly gathered on the other side and released river lanterns.
Tang Ning held the river lantern in his hand, looked at the flickering candlelight, closed his eyes and recited silently.
"I, a believer named Tangning, am sending this lamp to express my hope that my father and mother can be cleared of their crimes and the truth behind their deaths can be uncovered. I also hope that my brother will have a smooth journey to the northwest and may his wish come true soon..."
The river lanterns were put into the water and slowly drifted away with the ripples.
Tang Ning watched the lotus lantern drifting farther and farther away, gradually blending into the surrounding lights, and she was a little distracted.
I don't know if my brother received the letter I sent him earlier. Xiao Yan has been away from the capital for half a month and has already arrived in the northwest...
"Tang Ning."
The voice of the Fourth Prince's Consort came from beside her. Tang Ning withdrew her thoughts and turned back to see the Fourth Prince's Consort looking at her with a smile: "What wish did you make?"
Tang Ning raised her lips and said, "Pray for my father and mother."
The Fourth Prince's wife's eyes fell on the Buddhist beads on Tang Ning's wrist. She fiddled with the small sachet hanging from her waist and said softly, "I am also praying for my family. I hope Your Highness will recover soon and that the Queen Mother and the Emperor can reconcile. I heard that there has been another war in the north recently, and the border town is not peaceful."
She sighed softly, "I hope these river lanterns can fulfill people's wishes. I hope my father will be healthy, the world will be peaceful, and the people will be able to live in peace."
There were many powerful women standing around, and they all spoke up when they heard what the Fourth Prince's wife said.
"The Fourth Prince's wife is righteous, and the Buddha will surely grant your wish."
"Those northern barbarians come to provoke us every now and then. The Zhen'an Army will definitely be able to repel them. Moreover, with the Fourth Prince's wife caring so much about the people, God will surely protect us."
Qian Qiyue, who was squatting on the side, looked at the lotus lantern pushed out by the Fourth Prince's wife, listened to the voices of a bunch of people flattering her, and couldn't help but curl her lips.
"It's such a small lamp, but you made so many wishes. You're really greedy."
Fu Laiqing squatted beside him without knowing when: "Keep your voice down."
Qian Qiyue rolled her eyes at him: "I know."
Regardless of what the Fourth Prince's wife thought, at least she appeared to have good intentions. If she objected now, she would only become a target of public criticism. She lowered her voice and gently tapped the water with the branch in her hand: "If it weren't for her wish for world peace, I would have extinguished all the lights for her."
It would be best if the Queen was despised by His Majesty, and the Fourth Prince would never be able to recover and become a cripple...
“Swish——”
Qian Qiyue had just finished speaking when, as if God had eyes, the river lantern that the Fourth Prince's wife had sent out suddenly tilted and half of it sank into the water.
The royal river lanterns are larger than others, and are particularly conspicuous on the water. The candles lit in the river lanterns go out as soon as they come into contact with water.
The ladies who had gathered together to praise the Fourth Prince's wife were stunned to see the Fourth Prince's wife's lotus lantern slowly sink into the water, while the other river lanterns around it were safe and sound.
“…”
It was suddenly quiet all around.
"this……"
"What happened? Why did the river lantern go out?"
"Yes, it's calm here, the other river lanterns are all fine, but the Fourth Prince's Consort..."
Many people noticed this and saw that the Fourth Prince's wife's river lantern was the only one submerged in water. Princess Leyang, who had just been "betrayed" by the Fourth Prince's wife at the ceremony and had actually tried to please that bitch Song Tangning, was sarcastic.
"There's not even a breeze, how come some people's river lanterns suddenly go out? Could it be that they're sweet-mouthed and treacherous, playing both sides, and sacrificing their dignity to curry favor with a lowly creature? Even the Buddha couldn't stand it."
Princess Ji scoffed, "Perhaps my intentions are insincere and the Buddha is disgusted with me?"
The Fourth Prince's wife's face was blue and purple, and the people around her all had strange expressions.
In fact, there were river lanterns all over the pond, but only the one belonging to the Fourth Prince's wife was out.
The ladies who had just praised the Fourth Prince's wife looked embarrassed. As soon as the Fourth Prince's wife made a wish, the river lanterns went out and sank directly into the water. Could it be that she was really rejected by the gods and Buddhas?
The others also looked at the Fourth Prince who was sitting on a four-wheeled carriage not far away and wearing a half mask.
During this period, the Fourth Prince had been in trouble frequently, and the Queen had also lost her power in the palace. The Empress Dowager and her son, who were once the most proud, had almost no peace. To say that they were unlucky was an understatement, it seemed as if God was really displeased.
Seeing that the Fourth Prince's wife was beginning to lose her composure, Tang Ning frowned. "It's just that the river lanterns are extinguished. How can you say that the Buddha has rejected them? Gods and Buddhas have long since abandoned all emotions. If they have likes and dislikes, and can't treat all beings equally, how can they be worthy of being worshipped as gods?"
"Besides, the Fourth Prince's consort's wish was for peace in the world, for the people to live in peace, and for His Majesty to be healthy. If the Fourth Prince's consort is despised by the gods and Buddhas, then what is His Majesty and the royal family? Are the Princess and Princess Ji cursing His Majesty?"
After Tang Ning finished speaking, he ignored the two people's gloomy faces and said to the Fourth Prince's wife in a deep voice:
"Don't pay attention to them. As long as the Fourth Prince's wife is sincere, the Buddha will see it."
The Fourth Prince's wife didn't expect Tang Ning to speak up for her. With red eyes, she followed Tang Ning's words and said, "I don't know why this happened, but it's probably because I was too greedy. I hope my father is well and I also hope that the world will be peaceful and prosperous. Princess Ji is right. I shouldn't be so insincere and pin all my wishes on a river lantern."
"Although the river lanterns have sunk, I still hope my wish will come true. Even if the Princess and Princess Ji dislike me, they shouldn't curse Your Majesty."
"You!" Princess Ji was furious.
Princess Leyang also stepped forward angrily: "Zhao Yinxuan!"
The Fourth Prince's wife seemed to be still frightened. She took a step back and accidentally stepped into the water. She staggered. If Tang Ning had not been quick to grab her, she would have fallen in.
"Fourth Prince's Concubine, are you okay?" The Fourth Prince's Concubine's maid hurried forward.
Tang Ning also looked at Princess Leyang angrily: "What are you doing, Princess? Do you want to fight in public like Xie Yuyan?!"
Princess Leyang hadn't done anything yet, but she was already being blamed for everything. When she glared at Song Tangning and the pretentious Fourth Prince's wife, her eyes were like knives.
The Fourth Prince's wife quickly pulled Tang Ning aside and said, "Forget it. The Dharma Assembly isn't over yet. Don't argue with them."
She moved her feet and suddenly made a hissing sound.
Tang Ning frowned: "What's wrong?"
"I think I sprained my ankle."
Seeing the Fourth Prince's wife's face pale with pain, Tang Ning said, "Then go back and rest quickly. Let someone take a look at you. Your clothes are wet too. Go back and change first."
The Fourth Prince's wife glanced at the eldest princess and the others: "But..."
Tang Ning said coldly: "They dare not do anything in public. I don't bully others, but if others bully me, I am not afraid."
Upon hearing this, the Fourth Prince's Consort whispered, "Then I'll go back and change my clothes."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com