Chapter 264: Two Flowers on One Plant, Twin Flowers (10)
The Big Buddha Temple was located in Yecheng, about half a day's journey from the imperial palace. It was also a temple traditionally used by the royal family, so the empress assured and allowed Shi Sui to go there to burn incense and stay there for one night before returning to the palace.
Originally, the Queen also wanted to go along, but Shi Sui thought she would be in the way, so she tampered with her food.
The Queen suffered from unbearable abdominal pain after the meal and cried out in pain. The old eunuch Ning was so anxious that he went to the Imperial Hospital to call someone to treat her.
The imperial physician came and took the queen's pulse. It turned out that there was nothing serious, but the queen needed to take medicine and rest, so she couldn't leave the palace for a while.
Considering that it is only a two-day and one-night trip, and it is in the imperial capital Yecheng, there is no danger, so I just don't go.
The Queen then asked Eunuch Ning to make arrangements and sent a large force to escort the legitimate princess and Master Mingjing to the Big Buddha Temple.
Eunuch Ning received the imperial edict and was about to go to do his job when he was stopped by the Queen.
"Let Taoist Xuanqing go along too... That old monk Mingjing is ungrateful and unwilling to give his all for me. Let's use this opportunity to teach him a lesson. Let him clearly understand his own situation and status. Don't think that just because he's favored by the Emperor he's so powerful... If he's unwilling to stand by me, there will naturally be many people lining up to take his place."
The queen's little trick was within Shi Sui's expectations, and it was exactly what Shi Sui and Taoist Xuan Qing wanted.
…
Hundreds of soldiers, attendants and palace masters escorted Shi Sui and his group as they set out from the imperial palace in a grand procession.
The queen arranged for them to walk through the most prosperous streets, and the whole team was holding up banners to let everyone in the city know that the legitimate princess went to the Big Buddha Temple to burn incense and pray for blessings in preparation for marrying far away in Northern Yan - the purpose was to put public pressure on the princess and suppress any signs of her possible regret.
After shaking in the carriage for a long time, Shisui arrived at the Big Buddha Temple safely.
The Big Buddha Temple is built on a not-too-high mountain outside Yecheng, and is decorated in a magnificent and splendid manner.
In particular, there is a stone statue of Guanyin Bodhisattva on the top of the mountain, which is more than ten meters high and can be seen from afar. It is the most conspicuous symbol of the Big Buddha Temple.
Shisui got off the carriage and was welcomed into the Buddhist temple by Master Mingjing. At first sight, she was attracted by the statue of Guanyin.
The stone statue of the Bodhisattva has a solemn appearance, with eyebrows like a small moon and eyes like two stars. He holds a willow branch and a pure bottle in his hands. He stands at the highest point of the mountain, looking down at the people below him.
"Master Mingjing, the stone statue of Guanyin Bodhisattva in your temple is so magnificent. The mountain path is difficult to navigate. I wonder if the statue was made on flat ground and then brought up the mountain, or if the stone was first transported up the mountain and then carefully carved by skilled craftsmen?"
Master Mingjing responded with considerable pride: "Your Highness, this Guanyin statue is not artificially carved, but a natural creation."
"How is it so natural?"
"About 200 years ago, Yecheng suffered a severe drought, leaving the people devastated and devastated. At this most difficult time, a large hole suddenly opened in the sky above this mountain, and from the hole shone a dazzling, multicolored Buddha light, illuminating the earth. Then, a blessed rain fell, saving the people from their dire straits. After two days and two nights of torrential rain, a large amount of mud and sand washed away from the ravine, causing a landslide, and this stone statue of the Bodhisattva emerged from the ground."
Master Mingjing speaks with great emotion and his stories are much more pleasant to listen to than reciting Buddhist scriptures.
It was precisely because of this "miracle" that the monks cleaned the Guanyin statue out of the mud, pulled it to the top of the mountain, and then built a temple against the mountain.
In other words, the Guanyin statue came first, and then the Big Buddha Temple.
Tokiho thought to herself, "...Another little mythical story like this! Even more outrageous than the legend about the Chinese Buddha statue in the Anhua Hall in the palace."
"Your Highness, I have already ordered my disciples to come back two days ago with a message to have the Great Buddha Temple cleaned up inside and out. No one else is waiting, just to welcome your arrival. Your Highness, you must be tired from the journey. The temple has prepared vegetarian meals. Please follow me to have a meal first."
Master Mingjing is very experienced and reliable in handling this kind of reception work.
The princess will only stay with him for two days, so just deal with it well.
On the contrary, it was Taoist Xuanqing who followed...
He ordered bluntly, "After all, Buddhism and Taoism are different. It would be inconvenient for Taoist Master Xuanqing to stay in the temple's side rooms. It would be better for Taoist Master Xuanqing to camp with the soldiers outside the temple. I will arrange for my disciples to deliver vegetarian meals to the camp later."
Taoist Priest Xuanqing calmly produced a jade waist badge. "This was given to me by the Empress Dowager, asking me to protect Her Royal Highness the Princess. Master Mingjing, may I ask... which do you think is more important, the Buddha in the temple or the Empress Dowager's orders?"
Master Mingjing had nothing to say and could only give in.
Shi Sui walked in the front, followed by Taoist Master Xuanqing and a large group of palace maids and guards. On both sides, monks in cloth robes stood in two neat rows, with their hands clasped together, welcoming them respectfully. It was quite a grand scene.
Before entering the temple, Shisui deliberately looked up at the statue of Guanyin Bodhisattva standing tall on the top of the mountain.
Just now, on the way here, I had seen the statue from afar, and it presented a face of pure, solemn, and compassionate grace. Now, closer, observing it from below, from certain angles, I could sense a hint of sadness between its brows and eyes...
…
At the vegetarian banquet, Shi Sui asked Master Ming Jing a question.
"Master, as far as you know, are there any other places like the Big Buddha Temple with legendary stories behind them? Are there any monks who are particularly famous?"
She also wanted to use this to speculate where Huai Qian might appear.
"There are so many. The Buddha saves all living beings, and miracles are everywhere." Master Mingjing stroked his long white beard and said, "White Horse Temple, Jinshan Temple, Daming Temple, Nanputuo Temple..."
He spoke a lot with great enthusiasm and was about to explain everything in detail when he suddenly caught a glimpse of Taoist Master Xuanqing sitting at the end of the banquet, eating vegetarian food with big mouthfuls and looking very happy. He felt unhappy again.
"I heard that Taoist Xuanqing has visited all the temples I just mentioned..." Master Mingjing suddenly picked up Taoist Xuanqing, who was eating, and asked, "How about you tell me about it?"
Taoist Master Xuanqing was also speechless.
Can this be related to him?
The narrow-minded Master Mingjing was only concerned with finding fault with Taoist Master Xuanqing.
After the meal, Shisui couldn't find out anything... She really wanted to smash the bowl!
After the vegetarian banquet, Master Mingjing arranged for Shi Sui to rest in the side room for a while, and then go to the various halls in the temple to burn incense and worship Buddha.
After completing the whole process, it was almost dark.
After lighting the last stick of incense, Shi Sui instructed Master Ming Jing, "I am also tired today, so I won't have the vegetarian feast tonight. Please send someone to deliver the food to my room."
"I understand, but please rest well, Princess. We have to return to the palace tomorrow."
The heavy stone on Master Mingjing's heart fell halfway.
The important task of the legitimate princess burning incense and praying for blessings was finally accomplished.
Once he sends this troublesome princess over tomorrow morning, he will be relieved.
He turned around and assigned tasks to his monks.
Shisui looked at the sky outside the palace which was gradually getting darker and smiled slightly.
Master Mingjing's work was done, but her work was just beginning.
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