If the master wants to sleep, can the servants below stop him?
Chunque carefully laid out the quilt and removed Tong Wanyan's hair ornaments.
After all that fuss, half an hour had passed, and there were still three or four people serving them.
If Tong Wanyan were to come alone, it would take who knows how long.
Originally not sleepy, Tong Wanyan did become sleepy after sitting for a long time.
Before going to sleep, she rested her head on the soft pillow and thought of the little novice monk's appearance. She couldn't help but sigh that the person serving in front of the Buddha was truly exquisite in appearance.
The Empress Dowager was old and, moreover, she believed in the Eternal Heaven, so she retired.
Emperor Kangxi and the monk Zhenhuan sat facing each other, each holding a white piece in one hand and a black piece in the other, playing three games of chess in silence.
"This year, the court has been in turmoil, with wars abroad and disasters at home. I often wonder if I have not done well enough, which has displeased Heaven and caused divine punishment." Kangxi sighed as he looked at the draw on the chessboard.
The monk Zhenhuan smiled faintly and put the chess pieces back into the chess box one by one: "You are a wise ruler."
"I know," Kangxi said, frowning.
Immediately, Monk Zhenhuan was at a loss for words.
"Does Your Majesty wish to hear this humble monk praise you?" Monk Zhenhuan showed no mercy to Emperor Kangxi.
Emperor Kangxi chuckled: "Your words have always been sharp."
“A sudden enlightenment,” Monk Zhenhuan corrected.
Emperor Kangxi couldn't argue with him. People who are well-versed in Buddhism naturally have a sharp tongue; otherwise, how could they persuade people to wholeheartedly turn to Buddhism?
"The one you were looking at in front of the main hall was the Crown Prince's concubine, Lady Tongjia?" Kangxi never hid anything from the monk Zhenhuan.
Monk Zhenhuan glanced at him: "Are you jealous?"
"How dare you!" Kangxi glared at him.
“This humble monk’s heart is devoted to Buddha, and I do not speak falsehoods,” said Monk Zhenhuan.
Kangxi was deflated: "I'm just a little puzzled. Her family background isn't the best, her looks aren't the most beautiful in the world, and her temperament and talent are unmatched. She's just an ordinary young lady, how could she live so freely in the harem? I know that the Crown Prince dotes on her and protects her, and those little tricks can't hide from me. Logically speaking, I should let her die, but I can't bear to do it."
"Good fortune!" said the monk Zhenhuan.
"Hmm?" Kangxi looked at him questioningly.
“Some people are born lucky. Your Majesty is destined to be an emperor, and is exceptionally noble. However, you cannot compare to those who are blessed by Heaven, who have smooth sailing and are protected by Heaven when they encounter danger. Just now, my young disciple brought over a fortune stick. Would Your Majesty like to take a look?” Monk Zhenhuan took out the fortune stick from his sleeve.
Kangxi looked at his fair arm and was surprised that the divination stick hadn't broken the skin.
The monk Zhenhuan ignored his strange gaze and solemnly placed the lot in front of Kangxi.
"The Master did not speak of strange phenomena, physical prowess, disorder, or spirits, but there are many strange things in the world. If there were not a few rare people, it would not be the world." When the monk Zhenhuan said this, his whole body seemed to be enveloped in a Buddha's light.
Kangxi picked up the fortune stick out of curiosity and flipped it over, looking at both sides.
"No signature?" Kangxi asked.
"Tanzhe Temple was first built in the fourth year of Jianxing of Emperor Min of the Western Jin Dynasty, and it has been more than a thousand years since then. This divination slip has always been in the divination tube, but it has never been shaken out. I originally thought it was a magic trick, but now I know it is fate. When the previous abbot passed away, he told me that whoever shakes out this divination slip must be treated as a Buddhist disciple and must not be offended."
The monk Zhenhuan looked at Kangxi with a smug expression, but when he received the fortune slip, his face changed drastically with fright.
“Your Majesty, it’s easy to invite a god but hard to send him away. This noble person has an unusual identity but no ambition. You should just consider him a god who will protect the Qing Dynasty and not bother him,” Monk Zhenhuan said, unable to bear seeing his friend’s headache.
Kangxi looked at him with a wry smile: "It's fine if I don't know about this, but once I do, how can I accept her courtesy in the future? She is only a secondary consort; I can't possibly make her the Crown Princess. This is the rule of the Qing Dynasty."
"Let nature take its course." This was another Buddhist verse from Abbot Zhenhuan.
Emperor Kangxi was depressed, and the monk Zhenhuan felt a sense of guilt.
“Your Majesty, everything has its own destiny. Your Highness is doing very well now, isn’t she?” said Monk Zhenhuan.
These words reassured Kangxi, and his brows relaxed: "I will wait and see. As long as she does not harm the Qing Dynasty, I can treat her specially. However, I will not let my son suffer because of the saying that she is a lucky star."
“That’s natural. You are the true emperor of the world, the ruler of the Great Qing. Your esteemed guest is merely here to have some fun,” said Monk Zhenhuan.
"As for natural disasters and man-made calamities, which of those capable of shouldering great responsibilities has ever had everything go smoothly? When Heaven is about to place a great responsibility on a person, it will first test their will, strain their muscles and bones, starve their body, and empty their mind and actions, so that they may not be disordered in their conduct, thus strengthening their resolve and increasing their abilities. The words of the Second Sage are indeed true," Monk Zhenhuan continued.
Emperor Kangxi visited Tanzhe Temple to seek answers and resolve his grievances.
The monk Zhenhuan patiently analyzed everything for him, praising his wisdom in every sentence, which gradually put him at ease.
The incense burned in Buddhist temples has the effect of calming the mind and spirit. Unconsciously, Kangxi relaxed his mind and fell asleep with his head tilted to the side.
The monk Zhenhuan quietly stood up from his seat, when he suddenly heard Kangxi ask him a question.
"And what about the Crown Princess?" Emperor Kangxi had already announced to the world that he had chosen Lady Guarjia as his Crown Princess.
“Each should perform their own duties and not interfere with each other,” said Monk Zhenhuan.
Kangxi finally felt at ease and went to sleep. He hadn't been able to get a good night's sleep for several days, so it was truly a rare treat that he was able to sleep soundly tonight.
The throne of an emperor may seem powerful and prestigious, with the emperor able to manipulate the world at will, but how many people know the toil and effort that goes into becoming an emperor?
Being an emperor is no easy task; one must contend with the court, one's brothers, the people, and even Heaven itself.
Emperor Kangxi stayed at Tanzhe Temple for five days, but Yinreng only rested for one day before being sent to act as regent and act as crown prince.
This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com