Chapter 258: Two Flowers on One Plant, Twin Flowers (4)
In the next few days, Shi Sui received instruction from Taoist Xuanqing as a legitimate princess.
Shihui has always been careful to conceal her identity. She habitually restrains her spiritual power so that no one can leak it. Unless she deliberately reveals any flaws, ordinary gods, ghosts, and monsters will not be able to detect her existence at all.
Judging from the behavior of Taoist Xuanqing, he should have never doubted the authenticity of the legitimate princess.
He did not test her with words or body language, but instead put his hands behind his back and taught her earnestly.
"The Way of Heaven bears responsibility, and good and evil are rewarded. The Way of the Immortal values life and offers infinite salvation. Humans should value life, cherish it, and enjoy it. They should improve their mind and moral character, be pure in heart and desire, be gentle and refrain from competition, and be indifferent to fame and fortune. Only by maintaining their lives can they achieve unity of spirit and action, and live a carefree and eternal life."
Shi Sui yawned loudly out of boredom. "Pure-hearted and uninhibited, gentle and docile? Which founding emperor didn't win his kingdom through fierce battles and bloody battles? You're promoting this kind of passive and lazy ideology in the Imperial House... You have ulterior motives!"
"Your Highness, when I talk about being pure-hearted and free from desire, being gentle and not fighting, I hope you can obey the will of heaven, serve your country, and not fight for things that do not belong to you, such as... so-called freedom."
"Alright, alright, Taoist Priest is the best. On the one hand, he advises people to be pure and abstinent, and on the other hand, he rushes to the palace to accept the reward from my mother. He is so carefree~" Shi Sui was as naughty and mischievous as ever. "I have seen Taoist Priest's skills, they are really amazing. Beiyan is cold and wild, if I can learn a little bit, I won't be afraid. Since Taoist Priest is my teacher, I think you can teach me some magic too, right?"
"presumptuous--!"
The queen's angry voice was heard outside the palace.
"As a legitimate princess, why don't you learn virtuous etiquette and learn evil ways?! How ridiculous!"
The queen hurriedly walked into the hall, and everyone in the hall knelt down in haste to greet her.
Taoist Xuanqing, who was exempted from the kneeling ceremony, also bowed to show his respect, but Shi Sui stood up straight and refused to salute.
If she had not been engaged to Beiyan, and if the favorite concubine was in power in the palace, the empress's position was unstable and she needed to send her daughter to marry to consolidate it, Shi Sui's act of rebellion would have been punished by imprisonment at best, and by being stripped of her status as a princess or even executed at worst.
"Mother, aren't you busy dealing with the affairs of the six palaces? How do you have time to condescend to come here? Are all the concubines behaving themselves? Aren't they causing trouble for you, mother?" Shi Sui stared with her big eyes and kept adding fuel to the fire.
"You're the one causing me so much trouble! Your affairs are the most important of all the six palaces!" The Queen angrily sat down on the main throne in the hall upon entering. "I've put so much thought into training you! Not only do you not help me with my worries, but why are you so stubborn and rebellious... Is this how you repay me?!"
The queen was so angry that her heart ached and her facial features were twisted into a hideous shape.
She gave birth to two sons and one daughter. She doted on the princes from the bottom of her heart, but treated her daughter like a tool, "raising her in wealth" with fine clothes and delicious food, and never really cared about her thoughts and growth.
Shi Sui does not need to respect such a mother on behalf of the original owner.
Taoist Xuanqing said a few good words for Shisui.
"Your Highness, I have been teaching Her Royal Highness the Princess these past few days and I feel she is pure-hearted and intelligent. Mother and daughter are connected by blood, and blood is thicker than water. With just a little guidance, I believe Her Royal Highness will understand the Empress's painstaking efforts."
Shisui was listening nearby and also laughed.
Simple nature? Intelligent?
This Taoist priest Xuanqing is willing to say all kinds of nonsense in order to gain favor with the queen.
It just so happened that the Queen Mother liked his tricks very much.
Seeing his polite and handsome appearance, her anger subsided a lot.
"Then I'll have to trouble you, Taoist priest. By the way..." The Queen looked at Shi Sui and explained her purpose. "Today, Master Mingjing of Foguang Temple has come to the palace to chant sutras and pray for Your Majesty. He has already arrived at Anhua Hall. Before the ceremony begins, please come with me and let the master pray for you privately."
This queen really doesn't care about food or meat. She is a believer in both Taoism and Buddhism. As long as any god can bless her daughter's future, she will worship him no matter what kind of god it is.
Shisui agreed immediately: "Sure, I love wandering around the most~"
"This isn't just a stroll! Worshiping Buddha requires sincerity and genuine devotion. There absolutely cannot be the slightest frivolity, or the Buddha will be displeased!"
The queen was so angry that she kept nagging and giving instructions over and over again.
At this time, Taoist Xuanqing suddenly stepped forward and said, "I have a humble request, and I hope the Queen will grant it."
"Oh? Go ahead."
"I have heard that Anhua Hall is a sacred place for worshipping Buddha in the palace. I believe it must be magnificent and boundless. I have been granted the grace of the Empress to enter the palace, and I would like to take this opportunity to see the splendor of Anhua Hall."
Taoist Xuanqing's request made the Queen feel puzzled.
Taoism and Buddhism have been incompatible since ancient times, and people who practice Taoism generally rarely set foot in Buddhist temples.
"I was just curious, and there was no other intention. Please forgive me if I have offended the Queen."
Taoist Xuanqing noticed the Queen's hesitation and deliberately took a step back in his words.
Sure enough, his humility, courtesy and elegant demeanor softened the queen, who had long had a good impression of him.
She granted his request and made an exception to allow a Taoist priest to enter the Anhua Hall, the Buddhist temple in the palace.
…
"Welcome Her Majesty the Queen, the Princess—"
Master Mingjing is already 70 years old.
More than ten years ago, he became the royal monk of the imperial palace.
After so many years of seeing all sorts of ups and downs, entering and leaving the palace was as normal as returning to one's own temple.
But today…
Following behind the Queen and the Princess was a... Taoist priest in a white robe holding a whisk?!
Taoist Xuanqing saluted him in a familiar manner: "I have long heard of Master Mingjing's great name. It is a great honor for me to meet you today."
"So you are Taoist Priest Xuanqing... I have long heard of your great name."
Master Mingjing glanced at him meaningfully.
Taoist Priest Xuanqing once broke into several Buddhist temples and refused to leave when asked by the abbot. In the end, a fierce conflict broke out between the two sides... Such fierce news had long reached the ears of Master Mingjing.
But he didn't expect that he would break into the Anhua Hall in the imperial palace.
It's really amazing.
The queen didn't say anything, but Shi Sui spoke up to disrupt the situation.
"Master Mingjing, I've heard that Buddhism is the most tolerant of all the world. Taoist Xuanqing said he was just here for a visit. I'm sure you wouldn't mind, right?"
"You are too kind, Princess. Anhua Palace is a sacred place for the royal family. Naturally, everything is decided by His Majesty and the Empress."
Master Mingjing clasped his hands together and welcomed them into the hall.
Shisui smiled mischievously at Taoist Xuanqing.
He returned the gesture with a bow of thanks.
Taoist Priest Xuanqing insisted on requesting to come here, he must have other purposes.
Shisui wanted to see what evil intentions he had.
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