Chapter 173 Mutual Consent, Each Getting What They Need
In the latter half of the night, the sound of water in the pool gradually subsided, leaving only the rising heat slowly spreading in the air.
After Li Yuanzhao had his fill, he didn't even glance at Shen Churong beside him before getting up directly from the spring.
Shen Churong's gaze involuntarily followed her figure, from the moment she nimbly got up from the spring water to the moment she picked up her clothes from the ground and put them on, he didn't want to look away for a moment.
It wasn't until Li Yuanzhao tightened the belt of his outer robe and turned around to look at him that he suddenly came to his senses.
The warmth and passion that had been in those eyes had vanished, leaving only their usual coldness and aloofness.
It was as if a thin layer of ice had been placed over it, completely isolating the enchanting and tender moments that had just flowed through the spring.
His heart tightened slightly before he belatedly realized what was happening and hurriedly got out of the water and put on his clothes.
For Li Yuanzhao, a grand drama was sure to unfold after she returned to the capital.
Now that we've eaten and drunk our fill and relaxed, it's the perfect time to recharge and face that tough battle when we get back.
This kind of thing is all about getting what you need. If both parties are happy, that's enough. There's no need to add any unnecessary sentimentality or heartfelt confessions.
She didn't have the inclination or the time.
Seeing this, Shen Churong immediately suppressed his lingering romantic thoughts and led a horse for Li Yuanzhao.
Li Yuanzhao used the stirrups to mount his horse, and only after sitting down did he turn his eyes to look down at him, saying, "Chu Rong, love between men and women is a matter of course and is commonplace. I am not a celibate person. This time it was just a matter of mutual consent and each getting what they needed."
She paused, her gaze falling on his still slightly red earlobes. "You must remember that you are always my general, not a male concubine for my amusement. I hope that from now on, you will focus less on how to make me happy and more on how to stabilize the court and secure my rule over the world."
Upon hearing this, Shen Churong's heart skipped a beat, and the warmth on his face instantly vanished, leaving only a hint of shyness and embarrassment.
During this period, he was constantly preoccupied with his romantic feelings, his mind filled with thoughts of getting close to her, and he gradually forgot his own status and lost his sense of propriety.
He immediately knelt on one knee and said, "Yes, Your Highness, I will remember your teachings and never forget them again."
Li Yuanzhao didn't look at him again, but gently spurred his horse and headed down the mountain.
Two days later, the army entered the capital region.
As the snowstorm subsided, Li Yuanzhao looked at the faint outline of a pagoda's eaves peeking out from the distant mountaintop and suddenly asked, "Have we arrived at the Great Ci'en Temple?"
Chen Yanqing followed closely behind and immediately looked up upon hearing the sound. "Your Highness, that is indeed the spire of the Hongyan Pagoda at the Great Ci'en Temple. It's about a four or five-hour walk from here."
Li Yuanzhao narrowed his eyes slightly and asked, "I remember that the Grand Tutor's memorial tablet is enshrined here, isn't it?"
Chen Yanqing nodded. "Previously, I was ordered by Your Highness to move the memorial tablets of the Grand Tutor and his family members into the temple for worship. I also lit an eternal lamp for each of the deceased so that they could enjoy incense and be worshipped forever."
Upon hearing this, Li Yuanzhao simply reined in his horse, looked towards the distant mountain temple, and said calmly, "Now that we're here, let's go take a look."
Chen Yanqing was taken aback for a moment, then subconsciously asked, "Your Highness means... that only you and I will go?"
Li Yuanzhao glanced at him indifferently, "What, who else do you want to come along?"
Upon hearing this, Chen Yanqing felt an overwhelming surge of joy.
Being able to accompany His Highness alone was a rare opportunity for him.
He quickly suppressed his excitement and bowed, replying, "Your subordinate misspoke."
Upon learning of this, Shen Churong immediately ordered the army to rest on the spot.
In recent days, Li Yuanzhao has never put on airs as a princess. She eats and lives with the soldiers every day, riding hundreds of miles on horseback every day, and has never even ridden in a sedan chair. This has made all the soldiers look at this princess with new respect.
The journey had been arduous, and now that they finally had a chance to rest, the soldiers were naturally overjoyed and immediately set off to rest.
Only Shen Churong was still worried. He quickly walked to Li Yuanzhao's horse and asked in a low voice, "Your Highness, the mountain road ahead is rugged. Should I send two squads of personal guards to accompany you?"
Li Yuanzhao didn't even turn his head, his voice crisp and clear: "No need."
She was going on a quick trip and returning quickly, mainly to see someone, and she didn't want others to know.
The Da Ci'en Temple is located on the top of Cangshan Mountain, the highest peak outside the capital. It is surrounded by mountains on all sides, with dense forests at the foot of the mountains that are almost impenetrable, and several steep cliffs on the mountainside.
Only a flagstone-paved official road leads to the temple; the rest of the area is a desolate and dangerous place.
The two rode their horses at full speed and arrived at the vermilion gate of the temple in less than two hours.
It was already December, the dead of winter, and heavy snow had blocked the mountain roads for days, even covering the stone steps in front of the temple with a thick layer of snow.
There were almost no worshippers left in the entire temple.
Aside from the two of them, only monks occasionally strolled along the corridor.
In the main hall where memorial tablets for the deceased are enshrined, the flickering candlelight illuminates the wooden tablets that cover the walls.
Li Yuanzhao's gaze swept over the densely packed names, and with almost no effort, he saw Liu Jinzhang's memorial tablet at the very front.
The characters on the memorial tablet, written with sharp strokes, were inscribed by her own hand.
Chen Yanqing followed behind, assuming that she had come specifically to mourn her deceased teacher.
He lit three incense sticks and offered them to her, but Li Yuanzhao raised her hand and refused.
She stood there in the empty hall, her expression calm to the point of being indifferent.
The candlelight flickered behind her, casting a long, slender shadow.
After a moment of silence, she slowly spoke: "Grand Tutor, I now finally understand what you used to mean by 'benevolence'."
Chen Yanqing stood behind him, a slight stirring in his heart.
He had assumed that His Highness's mention of "benevolence" at this moment was a way of repenting to the late Grand Tutor for personally sending someone to kill him.
But Li Yuanzhao changed the subject, his tone devoid of any regret, and continued, "But looking at the world, when has there ever been true peace? War, natural disasters, man-made calamities... have never ceased."
Her gaze deepened. "The true way to govern a country should not rely solely on benevolence, because with only benevolence, it is difficult to even protect oneself, let alone protect all the people under heaven."
"Bodhisattvas lower their brows to show compassion to all beings in the six realms; Vajras glare fiercely to subdue the four demons. Before a true era of peace and prosperity arrives, many people will always die."
There was no pity in her voice, only cold, clear-headedness.
"Perhaps they are enemies, perhaps... people blocking my way. But your kindness is destined to block my path."
"You know I never gamble on that one in ten thousand chance. This road to the pinnacle of power is paved with thorns and blood; one wrong step and you're shattered to pieces, doomed forever."
"Therefore... I will stay true to my path and continue on it."
A breeze slipped in through the cracks in the palace door, causing the candlelight to flicker slightly.
Chen Yanqing then realized that she was telling the Grand Tutor that she did not regret killing him, and that she would even kill more people.
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