Chapter 373: The Identity of the Void Master
Even though Master Xuwu was unwilling to take credit for it, Wen Li'er and Yan Shixu were deeply grateful and still expressed their sincere gratitude.
Wen Li'er took a heavy rosewood brocade box from Hua Zhan and presented it respectfully with both hands.
The box contained not only a huge amount of incense money, but also hundreds of volumes of Buddhist scriptures that she had copied stroke by stroke with a devout and grateful heart.
"I am grateful to the Master for the talisman, medicine, and guidance that day. I hope the Master will accept them and offer them to the Buddha."
Master Xuwu did not refuse and gestured to the young monk to take it.
"The goddess is kind and pious, and her merits are immeasurable."
Yan Shixu also said seriously, "The master's verse that day was like a bright lamp in the dark night, clearing the clouds and allowing me to see the sun in the complex battle situation, glimpsing a glimpse of the enemy's strategy, and strengthening my confidence in victory. I will remember this kindness and this virtue in my heart. I will issue an imperial decree to enshrine the incense of Huguo Temple forever, and allocate funds from the treasury to repair the temple and restore the golden statue."
"Your Majesty's grace is immense and has benefited the Buddhist community. On behalf of all the monks in the temple, I thank Your Majesty for your grace."
Master Xuwu clasped his hands together again in thanks, his tone remaining calm.
At this time, Tiantian, who had been lying quietly on Zhang Sicheng's shoulder, suddenly twisted his body slightly and struggled to get off the ground.
Zhang Sicheng quickly put him down gently.
After the little guy stood firmly, he did not choose to snuggle up to his father and mother. Instead, he stretched out his short legs and walked straight towards Master Xuwu who was sitting cross-legged on the cushion.
Wen Li'er's heart skipped a beat, and she subconsciously wanted to step forward to stop him, but Yan Shixu gently pressed the back of her hand.
He shook his head slightly at her, his eyes watching his son's actions deeply.
Tiantian walked to Master Xuwu's cushion, raised his little face, and looked at the old monk with his dark eyes, which looked very much like Yan Shixu's, without blinking and with extreme concentration.
There was no naive curiosity common in children in those eyes. Instead, there was a calmness and inquiry beyond their age, as if they were silently communicating something with each other.
Master Xuwu also looked at him quietly, with a gentle and kind smile on his old face, as if he was looking at a piece of uncarved jade that was full of brilliance.
He slowly raised his skinny but unusually clean hand, and with a strange rhythm, gently stroked Tiantian's soft black hair.
"You are endowed with wisdom and your mind is clear and bright. Little donor, take good care of yourself."
His voice was like the sound of a bell in an ancient temple, carrying a power that cleansed people's hearts, and gently echoed in the quiet Zen room.
Tiantian still didn't say anything, but just stretched out her white and tender little hand and gently touched the string of sandalwood Buddhist beads that Master Xuwu casually placed on his knees. The beads were shiny and glossy, and were soaked in endless time and Zen.
The smile in Master Xuwu's eyes deepened, as if he had expected it.
He actually picked up the Buddhist beads that had accompanied him in his practice for decades and almost never left his body, and gently placed them in Tiantian's small palm.
The Buddhist beads were round and full, and seemed especially big for Tiantian's little hands.
He needed to use two small hands to hold it carefully.
"This item is destined to be with you, little donor, so I will give it to you."
Master Xuwu's voice was strangely peaceful: "May it bring you peace of mind and everlasting wisdom."
The Buddhist beads were given to Tiantian, and this scene surprised both Wen Li'er and Yan Shixu.
Xiaoxiao and Miaomiao also came up to Tiantian and looked curiously at the "new toy" in their brother's/brother's hands.
Wen Li'er quickly stepped forward, feeling both grateful and apprehensive:
"Master, this... this is too valuable. This is something that Master always carries with him. Tiantian is still young, I'm afraid..."
Master Void waved his hand gently, his eyes so deep that they seemed to be able to see through the future of the child before him:
"Your Highness, there is no need to refuse. This pearl is but an earthly object. The fact that it has brought about this kind of good karma is a testament to its good fortune and merit. The young donor has a clear mind, and this item may be of some benefit to him."
Seeing that the master had made up his mind and there seemed to be deep meaning in his words, Wen Li'er hurriedly bowed deeply:
"So... On behalf of Tiantian, I, the believer, would like to thank the master for his generous gift."
The Zen room suddenly became quiet, with only the faint scent of sandalwood lingering in the air.
Yan Shixu looked at Tiantian, who was concentrating on holding the Buddhist beads, and then looked at the unfathomable old monk in front of him. The question that had been lingering in his mind for a while was finally asked in the relatively relaxed atmosphere.
His tone was calm, with a hint of inquiry:
"Master, you have profound knowledge of Buddhism and can see through the mysteries of heaven. I have a question in my mind. I wonder if you have any connection with the Nangong family of Shenglin Medicine?"
He paused, looking at Master Void with a frank gaze.
"I see that the master's demeanor and temperament are quite similar to that of my wife's sister-in-law, Nangong Ziyun's aunt, Nangong Mu."
"And since the master can predict the future, he must also know that of the four amulets you gave me, I kept one and to whom I gave the other three."
"The medicines gifted by the master, the 'Red Heart Vermillion Fruit' and the 'Seven-Leafed Kalan Fragrance', ultimately protected the people who were also my wife's sister-in-law's adoptive father and brother."
"Such a coincidence... I can't help but wonder, Master, do you have any old acquaintances with the Nangong family?"
When Wen Li'er heard Yan Shixu's statement, her mind suddenly became clear like lightning.
Yes! The master's facial features, especially his eyes, are somewhat similar to those of Aunt Nangong.
No wonder she came here late at night a year ago and felt that the master looked familiar when she first saw him.
It was just that she was extremely worried at the time, and she had only met Aunt Nangong briefly three times, so she didn't remember it for a while!
The first was when she confronted the real culprit of the Nangong family tragedy in court, the second was when her aunt came to Bixi Palace to say goodbye to her after the truth was revealed, and the third was the day of her brother and sister-in-law's wedding.
When Master Xuwu heard Yan Shixu's question, the rosary in his hand paused slightly, and a trace of extremely faint and elusive reminiscence flashed in his old eyes.
After a moment, he slowly spoke, his voice still calm, yet it seemed to carry the weight of the years.
"Amitabha. Your Majesty has a keen eye. Before I entered the Buddhist monastic life, my surname was 'Nangong' and my given name was 'Ji'."
Nangong Ji?
Wen Li'er's eyes suddenly widened.
She had actually heard this name before; her father had once told her and her brother about it.
He... the abbot... turned out to be...!!!
A glimmer of understanding flashed across Yan Shixu's eyes.
"Master, you are the Imperial Physician appointed by the late Emperor Zhaoqi, Mr. Nangong?"
During the reign of Emperor Zhaoqi, the Imperial Physician Commander was the chief medical officer of the Imperial Medical Bureau.
After Emperor Shunlong ascended the throne, he reformed the official system, abolished the position of Imperial Physician, and established "Yuanshi" as the main position and "Yuanpan" as the deputy position. This system is still in use today.
However, during the Shunlong Dynasty, the then Imperial Medical Bureau Director was involved in a scandal in the harem and was executed by the Shunlong Emperor. Since then, this position has been vacant and the Imperial Medical Bureau Director He Wang has taken over the management of the Imperial Medical Bureau.
After Yan Shixu ascended the throne, he was busy stabilizing the government and never thought of filling this vacancy. To this day, He Yuanpan is still acting as the governor.
Master Xuwu nodded slightly:
"It was me. At that time, I brought my granddaughter to the palace to treat Concubine Duan's illness. Because of this, I was privy to the secrets of the palace and knew that if these secrets were leaked, the whole family would be destroyed."
"To protect my family's safety, I have sought an opportunity to resign from my position as Imperial Physician, return home, and reunite with my family, away from the troubled times."
His voice deepened, with a barely perceptible hint of desolation.
"However... on the way home, I was ambushed by assassins. All the servants accompanying me... died in battle."
"Fortunately, the abbot of Huguo Temple, Master Liaokong, was passing by and came to my rescue, so I was able to survive."
Master Xuwu's eyes became deeper and deeper, as if he saw again the scene that burned his eyes that day.
"After my injuries healed slightly, I was eager to return home, but I was shocked to hear... the Nangong family... had been slaughtered overnight. At first, I didn't believe it, but despite my injuries, I rushed back to Mizhou City at full speed... All I saw were broken walls, scorched earth, and the dead souls..."
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