Chapter 15 Getting to Know and Understand.
The next day.
Master Pingyi sat on a futon. When he saw Chu Heng enter, he stood up and put his hands together in prayer: "Your Highness."
“Master.” Chu Heng nodded slightly, and seeing that there were only futons in his room, he said critically, “Your way of treating guests is not very good.”
Pingyi smiled and said, "The temple is simple, so please make do with whatever you like, Your Highness."
"Besides commissioning the gilding of the statues in your temple, didn't His Majesty and the Empress Dowager offer any other rewards?" Chu Heng looked at the simple furnishings in the room. "They shouldn't be such stingy people."
"Your Majesty and Empress Dowager are devout Buddhists, but the Buddha once said that compassion is the essence of all things, and that a golden statue is nothing but an illusion. This humble monk requests that Your Majesty and Empress Dowager distribute the rewards to the poor and needy. In this way, the Buddha will be more pleased." Ping Yi said.
Chu Heng paused, then looked at Ping Yi with a much more serious expression: "Master... is this your purpose in deceiving the Emperor and Empress Dowager—to save all living beings?"
Pingyi shook his head: "This humble monk has not deceived His Majesty or the Empress Dowager."
“…Alright then.” Chu Heng smiled. “Since you are a master who saves people from suffering, I can’t be a heartless person.”
“However, neither His Majesty nor the Empress Dowager are good-tempered people, Master…” Chu Heng said slowly, “Once you start, there’s no turning back.”
The Emperor and Empress Dowager have already concluded that Master Pingyi possesses supernatural powers, and if they ever make any further requests, Master Pingyi will not grant them their wishes...
Have you not heard of the story of Emperor Wu of Han killing Luan Da?
Ping Yi smiled and said, "Thank you for the reminder, Your Highness."
Chu Heng nodded, convinced he had the answer. He bowed respectfully and was about to leave when Ping Yi said, "Your Highness may not believe it, but this matter is indeed true."
Chu Heng asked, puzzled, "What is it?"
Ping Yi solemnly said, "Your Highness and Miss Lin's horoscopes are compatible. If you were to marry, both of you would be free from all illnesses and enjoy long and prosperous lives."
Chu Heng: "..."
Chu Heng wiped his face, turned around, and said seriously, "To be honest, Master, I've been feeling a bit too well lately. Do you have some good medicine... to cure my chronic illness?"
Pingyi shook his head: "It's not a chronic illness. It's just that Your Highness was poisoned when you were young, which damaged your constitution and caused you to suffer from chronic illness. Now that you are gradually recovering, Your Highness naturally feels better."
Chu Heng's face immediately turned cold, and he asked, "How did you know?"
“I did take the prince’s pulse, but I did not prescribe any medicine for him,” Pingyi said quietly. “The Empress Dowager can testify for this humble monk.”
Chu Heng rubbed his fingers. Indeed, if Ping Yi dared to reveal that Chu Heng had been poisoned before, the Empress Dowager would not value him as much as she did today; she would only kill him to silence him.
"For so many years, the imperial physicians have been helpless, but... a marriage decree can restore me?" Chu Heng's feelings were complicated. "Master, you can't convince me."
Pingyi said, “Miss Lin has always been unwell, but she has improved now. Your Highness can ask her about it and then you will know whether what I said is true or false.”
Daiyu once said that her father had told her to cherish her blessings and take care of her health...
Chu Heng paused for a moment, then smiled enigmatically, "Could there really be gods and Buddhas in this world?"
"Gods and Buddhas reside within one's own heart," Master Pingyi said with a smile.
...
Daiyu put down her brush, placed the paperweight on it, and waited for the ink to dry. When she looked up, she saw Chu Heng staring blankly across from her, and she hesitated for a moment.
Prince Duan seemed rather distracted.
Prince Duan was a man who was prone to daydreaming. Daiyu had only known him for a few days, but she had already witnessed it more than once.
During their five days at Longhua Temple, every afternoon when they performed for the Empress Dowager, Daiyu would either read, write, enjoy the scenery, or take a walk, always managing to pass the time in some way. But Chu Heng, apart from occasionally talking to Daiyu, spent the rest of his time in a daze.
This kind of daydreaming was different from his previous unconscious reverie; he would occasionally frown, as if he had some doubts or questions.
Daiyu couldn't help but be curious, but she didn't dare to ask.
“Miss Lin…” Daiyu was brought back to her senses by the voice. She saw Prince Duan looking at her with a strange expression. “Is there something on my face?”
Daiyu asked, puzzled, "What?"
Chu Heng smiled when he saw her bewildered look: "You're staring at me blankly."
While she was pondering what the other person was thinking, she was caught red-handed. Daiyu blushed, but quickly recovered and laughed, "I've noticed that Your Highness is always lost in thought, and after watching for a while, I've picked up the habit myself."
"Oh." Chu Heng shook his head. "This is not a good habit. Miss Lin, please don't follow my example."
Daiyu then asked, "If I may ask, Your Highness, why do you have this habit?"
Chu Heng rested his chin on his hand and thought for a while before saying, "Before... when I was little, when I was still in the palace, I had nothing to do, and that's how it gradually became."
Daiyu, taking advantage of the situation, asked curiously, "Didn't you have to go to school when you were little?"
“I go occasionally.” Chu Heng smiled, with a hint of self-deprecation. “I’ve been slacking off too much, so now I’m neither good at academics nor martial arts.”
Although there were only a few words, Daiyu was able to deduce the whole story. Because of his illness, Prince Duan could not go to school every day. The Empress Dowager—who was not yet the Empress Dowager at the time—must have indulged him. Over time, the child would naturally prefer to be lazy rather than study hard.
Daiyu paused for a moment, then honestly said, "For a prince, it's not necessarily a bad thing that he's not good at either literature or martial arts."
Chu Heng was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, "I learned this principle later."
This time he smiled a little more happily.
"And you?" Chu Heng followed up with, "Miss Lin, you went to school at home when you were young, and what happened after you came to the capital?"
“My maternal grandfather’s family had several sisters, and they also hired female tutors. We studied together for several years.” Daiyu recalled her childhood. At that time, her father was still alive, and her life was much better. “After the Empress visited her family, she ordered us to move to the Grand View Garden. My sisters and I even formed a poetry club, but it was just to pass the time and play around. We didn’t take it seriously.”
As she finished speaking, a hint of sorrow appeared in her eyes, as if she were recalling something she couldn't bear to remember.
It turns out he was right...
Chu Heng said softly, "Miss Lin, your time at the Jia family hasn't been very pleasant..."
Daiyu frowned and looked at him.
“I know what it’s like to be under someone’s roof.” Chu Heng gazed into the distance. “I felt the same way when I was in the palace a few years ago.”
Daiyu twitched her fingers, wondering if she should continue asking...
“Your ink has dried up.” Chu Heng pointed and made a decision regarding Daiyu’s doubts.
Prince Duan will not answer, and Daiyu's insistence on getting to the bottom of things will only disrupt the current friendly and peaceful situation.
Daiyu lowered her eyes to look at the newly written poem on the paper, and then changed the subject: "Your Highness, sitting idly is boring, don't you want to find something to do to pass the time?"
"I have nothing to do." Chu Heng raised his hand to pour a glass of water, and asked casually, "I heard you say the other day that your father taught you to cherish your health and take care of yourself. Miss Lin, were you not very healthy when you were a child?"
Daiyu took it as a casual question, and such casual questions often happened between them over the next few days.
“I have had this illness since I was a child. I’ve been taking medicine since I could eat solid food. Over the years, I’ve been nurtured by medicine,” Daiyu replied casually.
Because she felt that one of the words in the poem she had just written was not good, Daiyu crossed it out. Unable to think of a better one, she frowned and said, "Since I came up the mountain, I feel much better. I didn't expect that the temple would actually be a place where people can be cared for."
Chu Heng paused, wondering if this was really true, given the supernatural and ghostly nature of the story.
Thinking about it, he picked up a piece of candy and put it in his mouth. Suddenly he smiled and thought, "It seems that Buddha is indeed magnanimous."
He recited scriptures and worshipped Buddha every day in a perfunctory manner, yet he still received Buddha's protection.
Daiyu thought of a satisfactory word to add, read it carefully twice, and nodded.
Seeing this, Chu Heng couldn't help but ask curiously, "Miss Lin, what did you write? May I take a look?"
"I hastily scribbled a little poem, not daring to offend Your Highness's eyes," Daiyu said with a faint smile.
Chu Heng laughed and said, "Miss Lin is too modest. With my skill, I'm afraid I would tarnish your poem."
Daiyu chuckled lightly, "Your Highness is too kind... Please." She turned the poem on the table to face Chu Heng.
Chu Heng reached out and took it, admiring it slowly. After a while, he smiled shyly and said, "Miss Lin's poem is indeed good, with the style of a master. However, my knowledge is shallow, and I can't think of any other words. I can only describe it as exquisite."
Daiyu's eyes curved into a smile: "Your Highness is praising me to my face, I feel unworthy of it."
Chu Heng looked at her, and the bright smile in her eyes made her radiant. She knew her own talent better than anyone.
With her looks, talent, and poise, Miss Lin is a woman of unparalleled beauty.
Chu Heng only knew her, but his understanding of her was far from sufficient.
“You’re being too modest,” Chu Heng gestured to her. “May I copy this?”
Daiyu hesitated slightly and asked, "A young lady's writing should not be shared with outsiders. What use does Your Highness intend to use it for?"
Chu Heng smiled and said, "Just in case. If the Empress Dowager asks, I'll always have something to say."
Daiyu was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, "That's true."
Since they are together every day and are trying to act close to each other, they must be well-prepared, otherwise all their efforts will be in vain.
Chu Heng dipped his brush in ink, and Daiyu handed him a clean sheet of paper. Although the positions were reversed, as soon as Daiyu saw his handwriting, she began to doubt the words of Prince Duan, who had just claimed that he was neither good at literature nor martial arts.
This handwriting is absolutely superb.
Prince Duan greatly admired Gu Dajia's calligraphy, so it was probably not a forgery. Daiyu recalled their first meeting at Renshou Palace.
...
After the Empress Dowager had rested for the afternoon, she summoned a guard to inquire about matters of the palace and the court. Then she called in a young palace maid and asked, "What have the prince and princess been doing? Where is Lin girl?"
The young palace maid respectfully replied, "The princess is playing with the other maids in her own courtyard, while the prince and Miss Lin are talking in the woods to the west."
The Empress Dowager nodded in satisfaction and smiled, "No wonder Master Dao said they were a match made in heaven. No matter how unwilling they were at first, they became close after just a few days of meeting."
Shuangyun flattered, "Master's supernatural abilities are beyond question, and we also owe a great deal to the Empress Dowager's painstaking efforts. If you hadn't brought the Prince and Miss Lin here, we wouldn't be in this situation today. This is truly a case of perfect timing, favorable location, and harmonious relationships!"
The Empress Dowager helped Shuangyun to her feet and, upon hearing this, laughed heartily, "That's good. When Heng'er gets married next April, I'll finally be able to put my mind at ease."
"The Empress Dowager is just waiting to hold her grandson again," Shuangyun said with a smile. "Once we finish dealing with the Prince and the Princess, everything will be perfect."
"Yongkang..." the Empress Dowager pondered, "I need to think about this carefully."
A note from the author:
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