Chapter 56
"The Temple of Earth is for worshipping the Earth, the Temple of Heaven is for worshipping the Heaven, the way of Heaven's cycle, in all directions. Heaven is round and Earth is square, roundness is stinginess, squareness is miserliness..." Zhu Chunhua murmured to herself as she ascended the altar.
Mo Yinghuo vaguely heard a few words, and what was being said seemed familiar. He had some insight into it, so he asked, "Chunhua, what were you just muttering about?"
Zhu Chunhua: "Your Highness, this is what the old soldier taught me. When I came to see him, he would often mutter about this. The old soldier gave me a long explanation, saying that he learned it from books when he was bored. This is all that Chunhua remembers."
Mo Yinghuo smiled and said, "It seems you two have a pretty deep relationship."
Zhu Chunhua suddenly felt a pang of sadness and secretly glanced at Lord Wu following behind her. "Abbot Zhao and Lord Wu have warned us that we must never reveal our identities to outsiders. In fact, even if we did, no one would believe us except His Highness. No, not even the Emperor."
"Don't cause panic among the people."
“Your Highness, Chunhua knows. However, of General Long’s soldiers, only the old soldier and I are left now, and it makes my heart ache just thinking about it. Back then, I was full of confidence carrying the Yunxiu flag, but just a few days later, they said that General Long had died in battle. I made a huge scene and didn’t believe it. It was the old soldier who persuaded me to calm down and go out and see for myself. In the end, everything really has changed.”
"The veteran is much wiser than you."
"Hmm, but Chunhua still doesn't understand."
"Go back and let Abbot Zhao tell you about it."
"Chunhua asked, but Host Zhao ignored me."
Mo Yinghuo suddenly stopped. "Lord Wu, please make the arrangements first, and make sure the other monks are not present."
After Lord Wu and several Star Bureau spies left, Mo Yinghuo waved for Zhu Chunhua to come closer and asked, "Chunhua, do you know something?"
Zhu Chunhua's small eyes darted around, "Your Highness?"
Mo Yinghuo lowered her voice, "Why did you say this morning that you were afraid I, the princess, would sneak into your room?"
Zhu Chunhua blushed and stammered, "Well, last time, Abbot Zhao suddenly asked Granny Shen to help find some books and erotic pictures about...that kind of thing. And another time, Abbot Zhao suddenly asked me what...'equal distribution of love to all living beings' means."
Mo Yinghuo froze the moment he stepped onto the stairs.
Zhu Chunhua's skills learned from Granny Shen were not in vain; she immediately noticed the prince's embarrassment and quickly laughed loudly, "Haha, Your Highness, look, why put a large, round object of neither short nor tall in the middle of such a square altar?"
Mo Yinghuo noticed this after hearing him point it out. She examined it closely and found the round stone pillar somewhat superfluous, and its placement in the center of the altar seemed extremely jarring. Last time, with all the civil and military officials present, there were too many people, so she hadn't paid much attention. Now that Jietai Temple was closed again and returned to its usual quiet and deserted state, it did indeed seem strange upon closer inspection.
"Your Highness, everything is arranged." Just as Mo Yinghuo was about to approach to check, Lord Wu came over.
A simple stone house, a round stone table, four stone benches, and a rectangular screen painted with a full moon dividing the house into two parts.
As soon as Mo Yinghuo entered, he felt that the room was exceptionally comfortable, and his mood became pleasant.
Zhu Chunhua immediately and skillfully ran behind the screen and slowly helped the old soldier out of the small bed. The old soldier dragged his feet, clutching his chest, and coughed a few times.
Zhu Chunhua stared at Mo Yinghuo, and when she saw that she had given her a signal, she quickly helped the old soldier sit on the stone bench and poured him a glass of water.
Mo Yinghuo noticed that this person had become even thinner than when she had seen him before. It seemed that his body was gradually declining due to old age. No wonder Zhu Chunhua's expression was not as usual just now.
Veteran: "Greetings, Your Highness."
Mo Yinghuo waved her hand, "Old soldier, there's no need for luggage. I've come here to ask you a few questions."
The veteran said, "Your Highness, please ask whatever you wish, and I will answer truthfully."
Mo Yinghuo gripped the stone table, "Where did the old soldier spend these past few decades?"
The veteran said, “Your Highness, I have spoken with Lord Wu. I don’t know what happened. I was fighting the Northern Barbarians with General Long and my brothers, but the reinforcements were late in arriving…” He took a sip of water and nodded to Zhu Chunhua. “Then we fought for a long time and were all exhausted. I fainted and when I woke up, I was in another place.”
Mo Yinghuo nodded, signaling him to continue.
“I don’t know where that place is. There’s no one there. I’ve been wandering around for decades and I can’t find a single person. It’s all stone, not even a living thing. Oh right, there are some stone statues there, like the one in the bamboo forest.”
Mo Yinghuo's fingers suddenly stopped, and he asked coldly, "How many are there? Are there anything particularly strange about those stone statues?"
The veteran said, "No, what's so special about these stone statues? There are so many, I've never counted them. The area is so vast; I've walked for decades and still haven't finished. I always get lost. For these past decades, I've been fortunate to have these statues as companions. Although they're cold and lifeless, sometimes I feel like they're alive. Ridiculous, isn't it? Cough cough cough!!!"
After saying so much in one breath, the veteran started panting again, and Zhu Chunhua quickly poured him some more water.
“It’s the same everywhere. I just dig up some wild vegetables along the way and eat them as I walk. But there, the days are sometimes short and sometimes long, and sometimes it’s dark for a long time.” Tears suddenly welled up in the old soldier’s eyes. “Sigh! Sometimes, I wonder if I’m dreaming, but why is the dream so long? Decades have passed, and I’ve become so old, but I still haven’t woken up. Sigh…”
Zhu Chunhua immediately stood up and began to pat his back.
The old soldier said, "Finally, I was desperate. I thought my old bones wouldn't hold on much longer, so I leaned against a small stone statue, hugged it, and fell asleep. Then, Chunhua and I suddenly appeared in the dungeon. Your Highness, I just want to go home, I just want to go home." After saying this, the old soldier started sobbing and coughing bitterly.
Mo Yinghuo stood up and looked at Lord Wu, "Why didn't you mention the stone statue to me last time?"
Lord Wu: "He didn't say that."
The veteran struggled to his feet, his hands thin and bony, and bowed to Mo Yinghuo. "Your Highness, it was my oversight. I thought the stone statues weren't very important, so I didn't mention them. Now that I've suddenly remembered, I'm bringing them up. Is there anything special about those stone statues?"
Mo Yinghuo shook his head. "Chunhua, help the old soldier inside to rest."
Zhu Chunhua followed Mo Yinghuo and the others cautiously.
Mo Yinghuo: "Lord Wu, what do you think?"
Lord Wu: "Your Highness, I think there's something wrong with that old soldier. He never mentioned the stone statue when I questioned him before, but he brought it up recently when the statue was destroyed."
Mo Yinghuo smiled. "He definitely knows something, but it's probably hard to get him to say it."
Lord Wu: "It's a pity we can't use torture. Also, how did that old soldier know about the destruction of the stone statue?"
Zhu Chunhua suddenly stumbled behind her.
Mo Yinghuo didn't answer him, but suddenly stopped. He saw two familiar figures, one purple and one floral. The two of them also noticed him and walked over.
First Prince Mo Qiming: "What brings Your Highness here?"
Mo Yinghuo smiled and nodded to Mo Wangshu, who was standing to the side. "After hearing what Brother Wang said earlier, I specially invited Lord Wu to come and burn incense and pray to Buddha. There is too much blood on the battlefield, and I'm afraid he won't have a good dream."
Mo Qiming pondered for a moment, then said in a gentle and approachable manner, "Your Highness is doing all this for the sake of Yunxiu Kingdom."
Mo Wangshu: "Your Highness, I will recite a few words for you when I come to pray for blessings."
Mo Yinghuo nodded and said, "Then I'll have to trouble the Fourth Prince."
A young monk approached and whispered a few words in Mo Qiming's ear.
Mo Yinghuo smiled and said, "This princess will take her leave now."
"One, two, three... eight." Bored, Zhu Chunhua walked along counting the steps of the altar, looking at the two people on the altar.
"Lord Wu," Mo Yinghuo said, standing on the altar, "has the background of that old soldier been verified with the Ministry of Revenue?"
Lord Wu nodded. "It's been verified, and there's nothing unusual." After saying that, his sharp gaze fell on Zhu Chunhua, who was idly standing on the steps.
Mo Yinghuo smiled and said, "Lord Wu, please speak your mind."
Lord Wu's face was grim. "Your Highness suspects that old soldier, but in my opinion, he's already so old; even if he has problems, he's not going to amount to anything. On the contrary, that Zhu Chunhua is more likely..."
Mo Yinghuo: "I also had my doubts, which is why I kept him in the manor."
Lord Wu: "How is it?"
Mo Yinghuo shook his head.
“Your Highness.” Mo Yinghuo suddenly heard a deep call. Zhao Shu, who had appeared behind them at some point, continued, “There is more than one stone statue.”
Mo Yinghuo was startled. Why hadn't she thought of that? Then, recalling what the old soldier had said, she suddenly realized, "Zhao Shu, the old soldier said he had been to a place with many stone statues. Are you referring to that place?"
Zhao Shu shook his head. "No, there are other stone statues in Yunxiu Kingdom. The old soldier was talking about the planet where the stone statues are located—Wanshi Star. I visited there when I was traveling through the stars."
Lord Wu: "According to what Abbot Zhao said, all the stone statues in Yunxiu Kingdom must be destroyed, right? They only lift their hands every five years, and we can't even tell which ones are from Shiling Kingdom."
Mo Yinghuo thought Zhao Shu would have a solution, but he didn't expect him to be Lord Chaowu. He replied indifferently, "Yes."
Lord Wu's face froze for a moment, as if he couldn't quite believe his ears, and he repeated, "They all exploded."
Zhao Shu nodded slowly.
Mo Yinghuo didn't ask any further questions. Since this Nightfall Starman had ordered everything to be blown up, then everything would be blown up. He knew that if Zhao Shu had a way of identifying which stone statues were from the Stone Spirit Kingdom, Zhao Shu would naturally tell him. Since Zhao Shu said so, it proved that he himself couldn't identify them either.
Lord Wu sighed, "Prefect Zhao, if we were to blow up all the stone statues in Yunxiu Kingdom, not to mention how much explosives we would need, there are simply too many of them."
Zhao Shu nodded and hummed in agreement with Lord Wu's statement, but that was all.
Lady Wu glanced at Mo Yinghuo, who was admiring the moon with her arms crossed, looking completely unconcerned. She gritted her teeth and asked, "Master Zhao, even you can't tell?"
Zhao Shu glanced at Mo Yinghuo, and the small scar at the corner of his eye trembled involuntarily.
Lord Wu: "Presiding over Zhao."
Zhao Shu: "I can."
Upon hearing this, Mo Yinghuo turned to Zhao Shu in surprise, wondering why he didn't help since he could discern the truth.
Zhao Shu: "However, there isn't enough time."
The two immediately understood. Indeed, it was highly unlikely that one person alone could identify every single stone statue in Yunxiu Kingdom.
Mo Yinghuo rubbed his temples and smiled at Lord Wu, "Lord Wu, don't worry about these things. Just report the situation to the Emperor truthfully. This is no longer just a matter for the Star Division. Besides, Lord Wu, are you really worried about not having enough gunpowder?"
Lord Wu was startled, but quickly understood what Mo Yinghuo meant. He just hadn't expected her to reveal the truth in front of Abbot Zhao.
Ever since the Starry Sky Bureau's spies delivered the blueprints for the Mystic Stone Array to the Emperor and the Eldest Princess, before Zhao Shu's arrival, the Eldest Princess, in preparation for dealing with the Mystic Stone Array, secretly ordered the Starry Sky Bureau to manufacture gunpowder on their own. Lord Wu knew that Emperor Zhaoming was aware of this and tacitly approved it. The abandoned courtyard that Mo Yinghuo deliberately had the Ministry of War investigate was merely the tip of the iceberg.
"I will go back and report to the Emperor immediately," said Lord Wu.
A moment later, Lord Wu, leading the two Star Bureau spies who had accompanied him, spurred his horse and galloped quickly towards the capital.
Mo Yinghuo rested her chin on her hand and glanced at Zhao Shu from head to toe. Seeing that he was still turned to the side, she walked forward. As soon as she took a step forward, Zhao Shu seemed to be startled and quickly took a step back; Mo Yinghuo stepped forward again, and Zhao Shu took another step back.
Two steps, three steps, four steps...
Zhu Chunhua stood below the altar, completely bewildered.
“Zhao Shu, you…” Mo Yinghuo stopped in her tracks. She was now at least four or five steps away from Zhao Shu. She had only wanted to get closer to talk to him, but the distance between them was getting further and further away, far exceeding the distance they had agreed upon when they first met.
A series of thoughts flashed through Mo Yinghuo's mind: He didn't want to, he regretted it, he forgot?
Zhao Shu glanced at Mo Yinghuo briefly and said softly, "Huo'er, don't get too close to me. I'm not feeling well."
Upon hearing this, Mo Yinghuo was stunned for a long time, thinking to himself that if he called me "Huo'er," then he had acknowledged me. But since the two had met, Mo Yinghuo had never seen Zhao Shu sick, and even on the coldest days, he had only been wearing a thin outer robe and had never sneezed.
"Is it because of me?" Mo Yinghuo asked tentatively.
Zhao Shu: "Let's go back to the mansion."
Mo Yinghuo strode forward and grabbed Zhao Shu's wrist. She was already colder than most people, and at this moment it felt like she was holding a hot iron. She couldn't help but exclaim, "It's so hot, Zhao Shu, what's wrong with you? Do you have a fever?"
Mo Yinghuo noticed the unusual warmth almost immediately.
Zhao Shu abruptly shook off her hand and quickly retreated at least five or six steps. Seeing Mo Yinghuo about to walk towards her, he immediately shouted, "Mo Yinghuo, I told you, don't come any closer, stay away from me."
This was the first time Mo Yinghuo had heard Zhao Shu speak so loudly. She silently took two steps back, repeating in her mind, "Stay away from me, stay away from me, stay away from me..." Her face was pale and she felt cold to the core.
This isn't about not wanting to, not about regretting, not about forgetting; it's simply about disdain.
Mo Yinghuo lowered her eyes, forcing a smile at the corners of her lips. She was always used to pretending to be indifferent no matter how sad things were. "Alright, I'll stay far away from you. Let's go back to the manor."
Zhao Shu: "Mm."
The two walked one after the other towards the gate of Jietai Temple, about eight or nine steps apart, completely forgetting about Zhu Chunhua scratching her head and ears under the ordination platform.
Zhu Chunhua didn't dare to go forward and ask. She looked at the two people's backs with trepidation, and forced herself to follow Zhao Shu, keeping a distance of eight or nine steps.
The three walked with three completely different and unfamiliar gaits.
As soon as Mo Yinghuo stepped into the Princess's residence, Granny Shen immediately came up and asked, "Your Highness, what's wrong? You look so pale."
"It's nothing, I'm just a little tired. I'll go back to my room and rest for a while," Mo Yinghuo said casually.
Granny Shen: "That's good. Where is Zhu Chunhua?"
Mo Yinghuo: "Behind."
Zhao Shu walked in, and Granny Shen immediately greeted him respectfully, "Lord Zhao, you're back. His Highness just returned as well."
"Hmm." Zhao Shu responded softly, then walked inside absentmindedly.
Granny Shen: "What's wrong with all of them?"
Before she could finish speaking, another person approached—it was Zhu Chunhua. Finally, she saw someone normal. Granny Chen immediately seized Zhu Chunhua and bombarded her with questions.
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