"This junior greets the master!" Fourth Prince bowed deeply to Xingchi, leaving Qin Gang and the others who were following him bewildered. Why were the Emperor and Fourth Prince so respectful to this mere old monk? And why did Fourth Prince even need to perform such a grand ceremony to greet him?
“Please get up, benefactor. Monks don’t observe such formalities!” Xingchi said calmly.
"Master doesn't do this, but I must perform this ceremony for you." Fourth Master kowtowed three times to Xingchi with great seriousness.
After gesturing for the Fourth Prince to stand up and speak, Kangxi asked in a gentle tone, "Has everything been arranged?"
The Fourth Prince pondered how to discuss the matter of a body double with Emperor Kangxi. After all, getting the Emperor to agree to let an ordinary person act as his substitute was no easy feat. The Emperor was the Son of Heaven, and even impersonation was unacceptable, not to mention the taboos surrounding things like wearing the dragon robe.
"Father, I think this group has been planning for a long time to use the Dragon Boat Festival to get close to you. I think it would be better to let them make contact with 'Father,' so that we can lure them all out and capture them in one fell swoop. However, this substitute needs your approval!" The Fourth Prince said cautiously in a low voice.
Kangxi pondered for a moment, while Xingchi, who was standing to the side, thought that the Fourth Prince's idea was quite good.
“It’s just a piece of clothing, no need to care too much about it. It can be discarded when necessary,” Xingchi said. “The Buddha said that everything in the world can be discarded. If you care too much about something, you will often be entangled by that thing and become trapped in it, unable to extricate yourself.”
Upon hearing this, Kangxi's expression visibly shifted. In fact, during the past month or so of companionship, Kangxi had also confided to Xingchi the various frustrations and sorrows of his fifty years as emperor. There was no one left in this world who could truly listen to the emperor's innermost thoughts.
"Alright, go find someone of similar stature to me to impersonate. And make sure the impersonation is convincing!" Kangxi said.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I will definitely arrest all of these people and let Father Emperor deal with them!" The Fourth Prince was very happy to hear that the matter he was worried about had been resolved so easily.
Kangxi nodded and waved to the Fourth Prince and Guard Qin.
After they left, Kangxi said to the abbot, "I didn't expect that this time I would have to ask all the masters of Wutai Mountain to help capture a few treacherous officials who are disturbing the peace of your place. I am very uneasy about this."
The abbot dared not offend the emperor, even knowing it would inevitably cause trouble for the temple. He still said, "Amitabha, it is our temple's honor to share the emperor's burdens. The safety of the emperor and Master Xingchi concerns the well-being of all people, and this humble monk has no choice but to act. I have already mobilized all the warrior monks in the temple, at the Fourth Prince's command. Warrior monks have also been deployed to guard outside the temple for the emperor and the master."
Kangxi nodded. He actually had secret guards around him. Protecting him and Shunzhi's safety was not a problem, but these guards were hidden in the shadows, and almost no one knew of their existence.
Now, having learned the purpose of those people across the room, the Fourteenth Prince planned to blend in with them, hiding in the shadows and observing their actions, hoping to play a crucial role.
Having made up his mind, the Fourteenth Prince decided to go find the little girl, the one who sold lotus lanterns. He changed into a dark green straight robe.
When the Fourteenth Prince arrived at the place where he had bought the flowers, he indeed saw the little girl who sold lotus lanterns standing in front of a pile of lotus lanterns, soliciting business from passersby.
This little girl's name is Xi Niu, probably because she loves to laugh. Her round, white face has dimples that appear when she smiles, making her very charming. The little girl is indeed pretty; while not stunningly beautiful, she has a striking appearance.
Xi Niu looked around, able to judge whether a person could become her guest by their face, and thus decide whether to speak to them. Fourteenth Master stood there observing Xi Niu, but she quickly noticed.
When Xi Niu saw the Fourteenth Prince, her dimples immediately lit up with a smile, making her look exceptionally beautiful. She naturally recognized the Fourteenth Prince; wasn't he the young man she had been somewhat attracted to a few days ago, who had refused to accept her lotus lantern and insisted on giving her money?
"Hey, come here!" Seeing that the Fourteenth Master was just looking at her but wouldn't come closer, Xi Niu cursed him as an idiot in her heart, and then took the initiative to call out to the Fourteenth Master.
When Shi Si saw that Xi Niu was calling him directly like that, he immediately felt a little awkward. How could a young lady call over a complete stranger?
What a bold and unruly girl!
"You, you've come to see me?" Xiniu asked boldly as Shisi approached.
Fourteen blushed, wishing he could disappear into a hole. Faced with the young girl's composure, he, a man, felt awkward and uneasy! This annoyed Fourteen greatly!
"You said the other day that your brother Ganzi was participating in the Dragon Boat Race during the Dragon Boat Festival?" Of course, Fourteen wasn't there to see Xiniu; he wanted to join the boat she mentioned through her.
When Xi Niu saw that Fourteen hadn't come to see her, she was immediately disappointed. However, she was naturally optimistic and cheerful, and wasn't upset by anything. Instead, she immediately said enthusiastically, "You also want to buy my Erganzi's boat?"
Fourteen shook his head and said, "I really enjoy rowing. Seeing how lively your Dragon Boat Festival is here, I'd like to join in and experience the dragon boat race. If you can find a way to let me join your brother Erganzi's dragon boat as a rower, then I'll buy all your lanterns."
Fourteen had already found out that the group had indeed bought Erganzi's dragon boat, but there were only about a dozen of them, so Erganzi had kept some rowers on board. He was essentially hiring them, and would pay them accordingly.
"Oh, but my brother Erganzi's dragon boat has already been sold to someone else. But we can arrange for you to be a paddler!" Xi Niu couldn't bear to refuse Fourteenth Master; she wished she had more opportunities to get to know him.
“Then it’s a deal. Go tell them now. I’ll cover all your lights. But you can’t mention me to anyone, just say I’m a friend of yours,” Fourteen said.
“Okay, but I have one condition, unless you agree to it?” Xi Niu blinked.
Seeing that she still had conditions, Fourteen frowned and asked, "What are they?"
Xi Niu grinned and said, "You have to take me with you!"
Fourteen's eyes widened. "You're going to go dragon boat racing?"
Xi Niu nodded and said, "That's right, I'll go with you!" She just wanted to stay by Fourteen's side as much as possible, even if it was impossible, every moment counted!
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