After the banquet, Gu Jiu took a carriage back to the palace.
The streets were bustling with people and carriages moving slowly.
She drank some wine today and felt a little dizzy.
The shaking carriage made her feel more dizzy.
Rubbing her brows, she found no relief. She simply lifted half of the car window curtain to let in some fresh air.
Two monks wearing conical hats walked through the crowd and passed the carriage.
"Hello!"
Gu Jiu shouted out loud, and only then realized that Meng was being reckless.
When the two monks passed by just now, although they were wearing straw hats, they gave her a familiar feeling.
Under the stimulation of alcohol, his mouth moved faster than his brain and he was the first to shout out.
She was a little annoyed.
I hope the two masters don’t think she is calling them.
However, Gu Jiu was disappointed.
One of the monks wearing a conical hat turned around and accurately caught Gu Jiu's gaze.
"ah?!"
Gu Jiu blinked. No wonder she felt familiar.
Isn't this Master Wuwang? Isn't this the young monk that Princess Huyang has been thinking about?
When did he return to the capital?
Wuwang smiled, clasped his hands together, bowed slightly, and chanted a Buddhist name to Gu Jiu.
“I didn’t expect to meet the donor here.”
"Are you really the Master of Hopelessness?"
The carriage moved closer, and Gu Jiu could see the other party more clearly.
Wuwang raised the hat on his head slightly so that Gu Jiu could see his facial features clearly.
"So it really is Master! Nice to meet you! When did you return to the capital?"
"It's been a while since I came back. But in a few days, I will leave the capital again."
"Master, where are you going?" Gu Jiu asked casually.
Master Wuwang had a compassionate look on his face, a smile on his lips, and said softly, "Prepare to go south of the Yangtze River."
"Jiangnan is great! Master is also going to that wealthy place. I wonder when he can return to the capital?"
Wuwang shook his head slightly, "I don't know when I'll be back."
Gu Jiu looked regretful, "What a pity! I still want to listen to the master's lecture on Buddhism."
Wuwang smiled and said, "Thank you for not minding me. I can go to Baiyun Temple outside the city. I am currently staying at Baiyun Temple."
Gu Jiu nodded, "When will the master leave Beijing?"
"Three days later!"
Gu Jiu glanced at the sky, then at the blocked street, and said, "It's better to meet by chance than to invite each other. If you are not in a hurry to leave the capital, why don't I get off the carriage and find a place to talk with you."
Wuwang smiled and nodded, "Obedience is worse than respect. Madam, please choose the place, I have no objection."
Gu Jiu looked around and said, "How about the medicine shop in front? It's an estate that my wife bought in her early years. There's a yard behind the medicine shop, which is suitable for conversation."
"Madam, please go first!"
Gu Jiu got off the carriage and went into the pharmacy with the maids and servants.
Hopelessness follows closely behind.
Erzhuang is no longer the owner of the pharmacy.
Er Zhuang is now the general manager of the business sector. He is extremely busy and rarely comes to the pharmacy on weekdays.
The owner of the drugstore is Er Zhuang's apprentice, and is also familiar with Gu Jiu.
The shopkeeper came to welcome him personally.
Gu Jiu said, "Please clean up a room. This lady wants to talk about Buddhism with the master."
"Madam, please come this way. The flower hall is just right for you."
"Good tea."
"I understand."
Once you enter the flower hall, there are maids to serve you, so you don't need the shopkeeper to wait on you.
Gu Jiu invited Wuwang to sit down, "Master, please take a seat. This place is simple, please don't mind."
Wuwang chanted a Buddhist chant, "This place is excellent, better than most of the temples where I stay."
Gu Jiu smiled and said, "What a coincidence today, I actually ran into Master on the street. Master, are you in the capital to meet someone or to do some shopping?"
Wuwang's face was filled with compassion, like that of a high-level monk. "After returning to the capital, I often heard people mention that the capital has changed a lot in recent years. I couldn't wait any longer, so I came to the capital to take a look before leaving and gain some experience."
"Master is really good at joking."
"Amitabha, monks do not tell lies."
"Master, have some tea!" Gu Jiu pushed the teacup forward.
Wuwang thanked him and took a sip from the teacup.
Gu Jiu smiled and said, "What a coincidence! I've only met the Master once. But just now, when the Master passed by the carriage, I felt very familiar with him. I just couldn't remember where I had seen him. So I called out to the Master. I didn't expect that we actually knew each other."
Wuwang said: "Amitabha, perhaps this is what is called Buddha's fate. Madam and I have a fate."
Gu Jiu smiled and shook his head, "Master, you're joking. I don't believe in Buddhism."
"Oh? What does the lady believe in?"
Gu Jiu pointed to the roof, then to the ground, "I believe in heaven and earth. Heaven and earth have their own righteous spirit, and all evil spirits and demons have nowhere to hide."
Hopeless kept smiling, unmoved. "The Buddha makes people do good, and at the same time, he makes all evil spirits and monsters have nowhere to hide."
Gu Jiu shook his head. "It's different! Buddha only provides psychological comfort to the lost and helpless, a straw that allows a drowning person to breathe. The real power that makes evil spirits and monsters have nowhere to hide is the righteous spirit that has existed since the birth of heaven and earth, and the belief in the victory of justice in people's hearts."
Even a determined person like Master Wuwang was shocked when he heard these words.
"Madam, do you firmly believe in righteousness?"
"I firmly believe that there are laws governing the universe." She laughed, "Just like the master's belief that Buddha can save the world from suffering, and that if you are pious in this life, you will enjoy wealth and prosperity in the next."
Wuwang slowly shook his head, his face miserable, "The donor really doesn't believe in Buddha."
"Master, do you believe in Buddha?"
"I am a disciple of Buddhism, so naturally I believe in the Buddha." Wuwang said firmly.
Gu Jiu picked up the teacup and took a sip.
She raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Master, you claim to be a disciple of Buddhism, so why do you keep breaking the precepts? How can you be called a disciple of Buddhism?"
"Amitabha! Donor, please be careful with your words!"
Gu Jiu laughed, "I did drink today, but my brain reaction is just a little slow, which doesn't mean I have become stupid. Master, you deliberately appeared in front of my carriage to attract my attention, right?"
"Amitabha! You have misunderstood. Everything that happened today was just a coincidence."
Gu Jiu smiled and shook his head, saying softly: "This lady never believes in coincidences. Most coincidences are man-made. Master, why don't you be honest with me?"
Wuwang looked at Gu Jiu and said solemnly: "I have no ill will towards you, Madam!"
Gu Jiu smiled and said, "I believe that! I don't see any malice in your eyes."
Hearing this, Wuwang laughed again, "I just want to see you before leaving Beijing."
"Oh? Master, why do you want to see me? Is there any other connection between us besides Princess Huyang?"
Wuwang smiled mysteriously, "Madam is very smart, you can guess it, right?"
Gu Jiu's smile gradually disappeared, and his brows furrowed slightly. "You and Liu Zhao?"
"Madam is indeed very smart. She understood everything immediately."
call!
Gu Jiu let out a long sigh, waved his hand, and all the servants left the hall.
Xu Yousi and his men were guarding outside the door to prevent anyone from approaching.
Gu Jiu teased, "The world is truly marvelous. Let me guess. You came to see me because you and Liu Zhao had a falling out? Did he want to kill you? Or do you want to betray him?"
"Madam, you are amazing. You guessed everything correctly."
"oh!"
Gu Jiu raised an eyebrow, not showing the slightest bit of surprise. Everything seemed so calm.
Wuwang smiled knowingly, "Madam's reaction is consistent with what I guessed."
Gu Jiu smiled and said, "Let me guess again. Was it Liu Zhao who arranged for you to leave the capital that year?"
Wuwang nodded and admitted it very straightforwardly.
"You came to see me today, are you expecting me to save your life?"
"To be honest, Madam, the reason I agreed to cooperate with Your Highness is entirely because of you."
"Because of me?" Gu Jiu was puzzled.
Wuwang said solemnly, "Your Highness has all the shortcomings of the Liu family. If he had not married a lady, in my humble eyes, he would be worthless."
Gu Jiu laughed heartily. "I really should let Liu Zhao hear this and see how he can still boast. I didn't expect that he would be so lowly regarded by the master."
"Amitabha, monks do not tell lies."
Putting this here, there is an inexplicable sense of irony.
Gu Jiu smiled and said, "Thank you for your trust, Master. But I must tell you, Master, I never interfere in Liu Zhao's affairs. Similarly, he doesn't interfere in my business. Although we are husband and wife and will cooperate with each other, we must abide by the bottom line and not interfere with each other's decisions."
"Madam, you have misunderstood! I am not asking you to interfere with the decision of His Highness. I came to see you today just to confirm one thing."
Gu Jiu asked curiously, "What are you sure about?"
Hopeless smiled, his eyes sparkling with stars, "Let's make sure it's worth it."
"Oh? Master, do you have an answer?"
Wuwang nodded, "I have got the answer, and I am satisfied."
Gu Jiu smiled and said, "Congratulations, Master, your wish has come true. I am very happy to see you today. I wonder when we will meet again."
Wuwang said calmly, "Maybe there won't be a next time."
"That's such a pity!" Gu Jiu didn't say much.
It’s not that important whether you meet or not.
This concludes our conversation today.
Gu Jiu was also preparing to say goodbye to Wuwang.
Unexpectedly, there was a disturbance outside.
"Get out of the way! Do you know who I am? I am Princess Huyang, and I want to see your master!"
"Nephew's wife, come out, come out..."
"There's a lot of noise outside, what's going on?" Gu Jiu shouted towards the door.
Xu Yousi quickly pushed the door open and entered the flower hall. "Your Highness, Princess Huyang is clamoring to see you, Madam. I'm afraid the servants outside can't stop her."
Gu Jiu looked at Wuwang with a half-smile, "The master has offended my prince so much that he even released Huyang."
Wuwang looked calm, without any sign of anxiety or panic.
Gu Jiu waved at Xu Yousi and said, "Stop Hu Yang for at least a cup of tea. This lady and the master still have something to say."
"I obey your command!" Xu Yousi bowed and accepted the order, then rushed out with the eunuch.
Gu Jiu refilled the teacup with water and said slowly, "Did Liu Zhao warn you not to come to me?"
"Yes! Madam is indeed smart!"
Gu Jiu sneered, "This has nothing to do with intelligence. It's just because I understand him and can guess what he will do. Hu Yang's appearance here is definitely not an accident. You must have crossed his bottom line. After thinking about it, his bottom line should be this lady."
"Ma'am, you're right," Hopeless admitted decisively.
Gu Jiu held his chin with one hand. "My wife is his bottom line. I should be happy. But he acted a little impulsively. It was clear that he made the decision to release Hu Yang in anger. It seems that he didn't cultivate his character in the Zongzheng Temple for several months. His temper is even more irritable than before."
"Just a trapped beast!" Hopelessly said succinctly.
Gu Jiu laughed and said, "Don't let him hear this, he will be unhappy."
Wuwang followed suit with a smile. "His Highness has been imprisoned in Zongzheng Temple. Although he appears calm on the surface, he must be vexed in his heart. Since he left Zongzheng Temple, he hasn't had a chance to vent his anger. Today, I'm in his hands, so he's taking this opportunity to vent. I understand."
"Master is so considerate. He released Princess Huyang simply to disgust you. What a childish act. This lady apologizes to you on his behalf."
"Madam, you are so polite! The best thing His Highness has ever done in his life is marrying you. You are the anchor in His Highness' heart. With you, he knows how to restrain himself. As a member of the royal family, the first thing you must do is to learn to restrain yourself."
Gu Jiu nodded repeatedly, agreeing completely. "You and I agree! However, the royal family's education seems to lack the lesson of restraint."
Hopeless sighed, "Royal education teaches respect and humility, but it also constantly amplifies personal desires. From ancient times to the present, the royal family has never truly trained a qualified emperor."
Gu Jiu smiled and said, "This question needs to be discussed. What is qualified? In times of national crisis, we need an emperor as strong and decisive as the previous emperor. In times of national peace, we need an emperor with a gentle character.
Emperors are never stereotyped and cannot be replicated exactly. Different eras require different emperors. The master is compassionate, but some of his ideas are a bit too clichéd.
Wuwang's pupils constricted, and his gaze pierced Gu Jiu like a sharp sword. "In your opinion, Madam, what kind of emperor does the Great Zhou need now?"
Gu Jiu said with a smile: "Since Master is willing to support the court, why not stay?"
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