Chapter 156 Buddhist Scriptures
Two years have passed in the blink of an eye, and Yinzhi's premonition was right. After Changquan, Baocheng has gained another little tail!
A little stutterer who isn't very good at speaking!
Oh, Bao Cheng won't allow him to call him that. That brat now has a formal name, Yin Zhi. How awful, it sounds almost the same as his name.
Fortunately, he had a nickname, one that was similar to the one that only he and Baocheng had! Because of this, he often showed off in front of Changquan and Yinzhi.
Besides, he's an 8-year-old now, and he's got a brain! He's learned the art of "using one wolf to devour another"!
With the line, "I will always be Bao Cheng's best older brother, but who is Bao Cheng's best younger brother?" he successfully sowed discord between Chang Quan and Yin Zhi, watching the two of them scheme against each other while he happily played with Bao Cheng.
Haha, as expected of him! Sure enough, there's nothing in this world that can defeat him and protect Prince Baoqing!
What made him even happier was that Baocheng was six years old this year and could go to school with him!
Originally, Kangxi wanted to give Baocheng the best, with all his treatment comparable to that of the emperor. Baocheng didn't like anything, but he couldn't refuse, so he followed Kangxi's advice.
However, Bao Cheng ultimately refused Kangxi's requirement that everyone, including the princes, bow and pay their respects to him, saying he felt "uncomfortable."
Similarly, he also flatly rejected Kangxi's initial idea of separating him from Yinzhi in their studies, or more precisely, separating him from all the other princes.
He appreciated Kangxi's kindness, but he did not accept this clear-cut division of ranks, even though he was a beneficiary of it.
Seeing the child he had raised as pure and innocent as ever, Kangxi was moved, but also more apprehensive. He knew very well that the position of Crown Prince and the generous treatment he received were things he had done his best to provide, not things that Bao Cheng wanted.
Fearing the loss of Bao Cheng, Kangxi granted his request. However, he also tightened his control over Bao Cheng and became more averse to anything related to Buddhism.
...
The first rays of dawn had just begun to coat the glazed tiles of the Forbidden City with a soft golden edge when 8-year-old Baoqing, like a playful little leopard, rushed eagerly into the Qianqing Palace.
"Greetings, Father Emperor."
Having outwitted and outmaneuvered Emperor Kangxi for so many years, Yinzhi was not afraid of him. He knew that, at least in front of his younger brother, his father, the Emperor, would never hit him to maintain his image. As for his brother's absence… well, even if his brother wasn't there, he wouldn't willingly appear before his father; he wasn't stupid!
So, after the ceremony, Yinzhi sat down next to Baocheng without any hesitation and ate with him. "You got up too early. I haven't eaten yet. Shall I eat with Baocheng?"
"Okay, big brother, eat up."
Bao Cheng picked up a piece of Yin Zhi's favorite dish with his chopsticks and put it in his bowl. Yin Zhi happily put it into his mouth.
Emperor Kangxi gripped his chopsticks tightly and demanded, "What are you doing here?"
Yinzhi said matter-of-factly, "Today is Baocheng's first day in the Imperial Study, so of course I, as his older brother, should go with him!"
"I will send him there." Kangxi gritted his teeth. What right did you, you little rascal, have to go?
"Father, you are busy with affairs and have to attend the morning court. You can leave the matter of sending your younger brother to me."
"I still have some time to send Bao Cheng to school." Kangxi was furious at the increasingly audacious Yinzhi and even regretted sending Bao Cheng to school so early.
Remembering the Empress Dowager's advice, Kangxi could only suppress his reluctance.
Seeing the two arguing, Bao Cheng calmly soothed them, reassuring them with a single sentence: "It's alright, let's go together. I know that Father and Brother are worried about me. With Father and Brother here, I'm not afraid."
The two were naturally happy to receive a genuine response and appreciation. After the meal, although they still disliked each other, they suppressed their displeasure and smiled as they saw Bao Cheng off to the Imperial Study.
Because Emperor Kangxi had to rush back to attend the morning court session, he only exchanged a few words with the ministers in the Imperial Study before reluctantly leaving.
"They're finally gone."
Yinzhi breathed a long sigh of relief.
"elder brother."
Bao Cheng glanced at him lightly, and Yin Zhi quickly changed his mind: "I won't say anything more. Come, Bao Cheng, sit with me!"
He happily pulled Bao Cheng to sit in the front row. Without Changquan and Yinzhi bothering him, it was perfect—he and Bao Cheng had plenty of time alone, and even reading became enjoyable.
Time flew by, and before he knew it, the sun had set, and the day's lessons were over. Yinzhi was surprised to find that his father, the Emperor, hadn't appeared; he figured his father was tied up with state affairs. But knowing his father as he did, he was certain he would send someone to fetch Baocheng back.
Seizing the opportunity, Yinzhi grabbed Baocheng and ran off, shouting, "Come on, Baocheng, let me take you to my place!"
Ignoring the shouts of the children behind him, Yinzhi laughed and ran with Baocheng, who followed him in unison.
Along the palace path, people were chasing each other, creating a lively scene, when they suddenly noticed a young eunuch leaning against the palace wall at the corner ahead, muttering to himself.
Driven by curiosity, Yinzhi took Baocheng's hand and tiptoed closer, eavesdropping.
The young eunuch chanted with utmost devotion, his eyes half-closed, a string of prayer beads twirling in his hand, as if he had no idea anyone was approaching.
"The cycle of birth and death is intense, and suffering is immeasurable; with the aspiration of Mahayana Buddhism, I wish to universally save all beings and take on immeasurable suffering on their behalf..."
Yinzhi puffed out his cheeks, feeling a bit strange, and stepped forward, asking in a crisp voice, "What are you muttering about?"
The young eunuch trembled with fright and knelt down with a thud, his head hitting the ground with loud thuds. He hurriedly replied, "Your Highness, Your Highness, this servant... this servant was reciting a few Buddhist scriptures to pray for the well-being of my family."
“Buddhist scriptures?” Bao Cheng stepped out from behind Yin Zhi, his clear eyes making the little eunuch instinctively look away. “The contents of this don’t seem like prayers for blessings.”
The young eunuch kowtowed again. "This servant...this servant barely knows a few words. I learned this passage from a Buddhist scripture I found."
"A Buddhist scripture found?"
The more Yinzhi looked at him, the stranger he found him, and pulled Baocheng back two steps.
"Yes, this is it, Your Highness. Please take a look. It's the *Buddha's Discourse on the Eight Great Awakenings*," the young eunuch said, crawling two steps toward the two men, whether to prove himself or for some other reason. He pulled a scripture from his robes and offered it to Bao Cheng. "Bodhisattvas, unable to bear the suffering of sentient beings, take it upon themselves to save them. Even if they haven't yet attained Buddhahood, they are willing to forgo personal gain to help all beings..."
Startled by the crazed eunuch, Yinzhi shielded Baocheng tightly and shouted sternly, "What are you doing! Get away!"
"Your Highness, please take one look. Please take the place of all sentient beings, endure immeasurable suffering, and bring them ultimate joy..."
"presumptuous!"
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