Chapter 259: Two Flowers on One Plant, Twin Flowers (5)
"Namo Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, Namo Buddha. Namo Dharma. Namo Sangha. I have a connection with Buddha, a predestined connection with Buddha, and the Dharma is my connection. I am always happy and at peace..."
Master Mingjing held Buddhist beads in one hand and struck a wooden fish with the other, chanting scriptures and praying for the princess.
The queen took Shi Sui and knelt in front of the golden Buddha statue, listening quietly to Buddhist verses.
The queen was very pious. She clasped her palms together, put her fingers together, and muttered something.
But Shisui secretly opened her eyes and looked around quietly.
I saw Taoist Master Xuanqing standing at the back, his eyes fixed on the statue of Sakyamuni Buddha enshrined in the Buddhist hall.
The Buddha statue is made entirely of gold and bronze, with a total height of exactly 7 meters, representing the Buddhist principles of "Buddha's seven steps" and "saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda"; it weighs 1,080 kilograms, representing "seeking the 108 samadhis and eliminating 100 kinds of troubles."
There is actually a rather legendary story behind this Buddha statue.
It was originally enshrined in an unknown small temple.
According to legend, the founding emperor of this dynasty was defeated by his enemies during a campaign before the founding of the country. He suffered heavy losses in his troops and was forced to retreat step by step. He had no choice but to take refuge in a small temple in the mountains.
At that time, he didn't even have a complete piece of armor on him. His soldiers were either injured or dead. He was forced into a desperate situation and was extremely anxious.
Unable to fall asleep, he simply got up and knelt in front of the Buddha statue for the whole night, and fell asleep on the cushion without realizing it.
Miraculously, the Buddha appeared in his dream and gave him guidance.
After dawn, the founding emperor woke up and, following the Buddha's instructions in his dream, laid a trap near the small temple to lure the enemy deeper into the city. In the end, he defeated the enemy with a smaller force and won a crucial victory.
After he ascended the throne, he sent troops to bring the Buddha statue from the nameless temple into the palace, renovated it, and enshrined it in the Baohua Hall ever since.
It's impossible to determine who originally created this seated Buddha statue, but its legendary story has been passed down to this day, and it is considered one of the most important treasures in the palace...
Ding-ding-ding-ding
Master Mingjing rang the bell to end the chanting.
The Queen was helped up by her maid and nodded slightly. The old eunuch Ning beside her held a brocade box in both hands and handed it respectfully to Master Mingjing.
The Queen said with a smile, "Master, you have worked hard to come to the palace this time. This is amber and beeswax sent as tribute from Siam. It is of excellent quality. I am giving it to you as a gift. Please take it back and use it to make Buddhist beads."
"Thank you, Her Majesty, for the reward." Master Mingjing took it with both hands and handed it to the little monk beside him.
The Queen's eyes rolled. "By the way, I've been reading Buddhist scriptures lately and there's something I don't understand. I'd like to ask the Master for guidance."
"Your Majesty, your words are too kind. It is my great honor to be able to discuss Buddhism with you."
"Then please follow me to the side hall and sit for a while."
The Queen asked Master Mingjing to leave, not because she really wanted to learn Buddhist scriptures.
She was just using this as an excuse to have him take advantage of the ceremony to pray for the emperor and the concubines to embarrass this "vulgar enchantress" and make her lose favor...
Master Mingjing originally didn't want to get involved in the intrigues in the palace.
However, the fact that Taoist Xuanqing entered the palace and was allowed by the Queen to enter Anhua Hall made him feel the crisis of losing power, so he took the opportunity to stand on the Queen's side...
Shisui's attention was all on Taoist Xuanqing.
From the moment he entered the room until the moment the Queen and Master Mingjing were whispering to each other, he had stood motionless in the same spot, his eyes barely leaving the statue of Sakyamuni Buddha enshrined there. His expression was many times more serious and earnest than usual, as if he was trying to see through something...
Before leaving the main hall, Master Mingjing specifically ordered the young monk beside him to drive him away.
"Master Xuanqing, please pass on Master Mingjing's message... The chanting has concluded. The master will now prepare for the grand ceremony. Please return to the temple and return it to peace and quiet."
Only then did Taoist Xuanqing withdraw his gaze from the Buddha statue.
He did not make things difficult for the little monk. He just straightened the whisk in his hand, took a deep breath, turned around and left.
Shisui witnessed the whole process and looked curiously at the statue of Sakyamuni Buddha in the center of the main hall.
From ancient times to the present, kings, princes, generals and ministers have liked to make up some mythological plots to highlight that they are noble people who are "mandated by heaven."
Shi Sui originally thought that the story between this Buddha statue and the founding emperor was most likely just the emperor's boasting, which was then spread after a lot of artistic processing.
But Taoist Xuanqing cares so much...
Is there really anything special about that thing?
…
Two days later, it was Yinshi (3 a.m.).
Shi Sui sat up from the bed and blew air out of the bedroom. The night guards and maids in the palace fell unconscious one after another.
She opened the door and sneaked out, blending herself into the night, moving freely on the eaves of the palaces in the imperial city as if she were in an empty place.
During the day today, Master Mingjing presided over the blessing ceremony in Anhua Hall.
According to the Queen's prior arrangement, a favorite concubine whom she regarded as a thorn in her side was maliciously led to commit a serious taboo during the ceremony and was stripped of her title and sent to the cold palace on the spot.
The queen was very satisfied and gave Master Mingjing and his disciples a lot of rewards.
These monks had been on duty in the Buddhist temple for two days and two nights. Now that they have successfully completed their mission, they can finally move to the side wing to eat, drink and rest.
There is almost no one in Anhua Hall now, so it is a good time to go and find out what is going on.
Shi Sui climbed over the eaves and walls and reached her destination in no time.
She squatted on the roof outside the hall, observing the situation inside from a high vantage point.
But it was easy to deal with just three or two guards and a few dozing little monks.
Just as Shisui was about to take action, she suddenly felt a cold breath coming from afar.
...It’s Taoist Priest Xuanqing!
Shisui immediately hid herself behind the eaves of the house.
In just three or five seconds, Taoist Xuanqing, wearing a black robe and covering his face, appeared diagonally opposite where Shisui was hiding.
He saw the right moment and jumped down, landing right behind two guards outside the hall. He slapped one of them and knocked them down easily.
Then, he quickly rushed into the main hall, pulled out the whisk hidden in his sleeve, and waved it at the monks who were meditating in the hall in a dazzling manner. Those guys with shiny heads lowered their heads and fell into a deep sleep.
Taoist Master Xuanqing did not stop for a moment and walked straight towards the statue of Sakyamuni Buddha in the hall.
He leaped into the air, stepped over the table where offerings and incense burners were placed, and jumped directly onto the lotus seat under the Buddha statue.
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