Jiang Wujiang had a vegetarian meal at Baoguang Temple.
Baoguang Temple was famous for its vegetarian dishes. Because Jiang Wujiang was a frequent visitor, other royal relatives, nobles and dignitaries often visited Baoguang Temple. The head monk of Baoguang Temple did not dare to take it lightly and improved his vegetarian dish skills. Later, he even made a name for himself, which was something no one expected.
After finishing her meal, Jiang Wujiang continued copying the scriptures. She didn't have much time left to copy the scriptures; she would have to leave for the temple in less than half an hour.
During this half hour, she really wanted to chat with Buddha Nu, even if it was just about trivial things.
The Buddha never talked to her about national or international affairs, but rather about the little things in her daily life.
A rabbit was bitten, and he ran to chase away the hunting dogs.
There was also a fox that fell into a hunter's trap. He rescued the fox, and for several days the fox brought him many rabbits to his door.
He was conflicted about whether or not he should have saved that fox in the first place.
A snake swam into the meditation room, which he flicked away with a stick.
A hunter living at the foot of the mountain kept bees. One day, he received some bees while begging for alms and found them to be extremely delicious.
Spring has arrived, and shepherd's purse, purslane, and wormwood are all up in season. They can be picked, blanched, and served as a cold dish, which tastes delicious. However, they can't be picked all at once, otherwise, other people will have nothing left to pick when they go up the mountain.
However, there are many people in the temple, so when he picks the herbs, he goes to a higher place so as not to bother others.
These little things, like a gentle stream, nourished Jiang Wujiang's heart, giving rise to a sense of tranquility mixed with the warmth of everyday life.
But today, Jiang Wujiang probably won't hear about these trivial matters.
Just now, while we were eating, Fo Nu had already gone to the back mountain, saying that he was going to pick bamboo shoots. He said that it was going to rain tonight, and if he didn't go to dig bamboo shoots soon, he wouldn't be able to eat them tomorrow morning.
Jiang Wujiang felt a little regretful, yet it seemed as if it should be so.
Over the years, she had grown accustomed to the fact that every little thing in the life of the Buddha was more important than her, the emperor.
She stood on a high mountain platform, the mountain wind was biting, and it was hard to tell which direction it came from, but it made her feel chilly.
Outside, everything was vibrant and beautiful, a serene and peaceful scene.
The landscape is a vast expanse of mountains and rivers, lush and verdant.
She stood there, stunned.
He only snapped out of his daze when a gasp came from beside him. "You're still here? If you don't leave now, you won't be able to leave when it starts raining."
Buddha returned, his large eyes filled with curiosity as he looked at Jiang Wujiang.
Jiang Wujiang felt a pang of pain in his heart, but his eyes remained calm. "Let's go!"
"I dug up some bamboo shoots, do you want some?" Fo Nu took a bamboo shoot out of his bamboo basket. His hands were still covered in mud, as was the bamboo shoot.
A delicious dish.
No one in the world doubts that Jiang Wujiang is not an expert.
But she had eaten pork, though she had never seen a pig run.
As for bamboo shoots
She had eaten stir-fried, stewed, and cold-dressed bamboo shoots, but had never seen what bamboo shoots looked like.
She said, "I want it!"
The accompanying palace maids smiled and prepared to take the whole bamboo basket back with them.
Buddha was surprised. "You can eat so much?"
Jiang Wujiang: ""
This whole world belongs to her, yet this Buddhist slave complains that she eats too much!
The palace maids bent down, but their trembling shoulders indicated that they were laughing quite hard.
Jiang Wujiang calmly stepped forward, selected two items from the bamboo basket, and a palace maid hurriedly came forward to take them.
Jiang Wujiang looked silently at the Buddha Slave. "I'm leaving!"
"Hmm! Go on!" Fo Nu glanced at the weather, said it was bad, and then ran to the backyard with his head down. He was so busy digging bamboo shoots that he forgot he had also aired out the quilts today.
Having endured the harsh winter, and with the early spring sun shining brightly, he took the quilts out of the meditation room to air them out; now it was time to put them away.
Jiang Wujiang watched the Buddha's servant leave, lingered for a moment, then waved his hand, and the group returned to the palace.
Descending the mountain.
Seeing the fleeting glamour of the world brings a different feeling.
Jiang Wujiang would occasionally leave the palace in disguise to see how her subjects were living. She really wanted to be a good emperor!
If she doesn't govern this country well, then what was the point of the empire that person worked so hard to seize for her? That person is still wandering outside, experiencing the hardships of the common people. If she doesn't let everyone live a good life, won't she think I'm a useless person?
Compared to the vast landscape, beauty is ultimately fleeting.
Jiang Wujiang sighed silently and closed his eyes.
She had a thousand ways to imprison the Buddha in the palace, but she feared that she would be deprived of the smile on that innocent face.
Some things are very expensive!
Once destroyed, it disappears completely.
The head palace maid followed by him, silently covering Jiang Wujiang with a cloak.
As the sun slowly sets, the chill of early spring gradually rises with the night, requiring one to wear several layers of clothing.
Moreover, judging from the emperor's expression, he must be thinking about the regent.
The regent shaved his head and left home, but then returned to secular life, living a carefree and unrestrained life with the monk Hongchen.
The emperor sent people all over the country to search for it, but they never found it, or perhaps those who did find it pretended not to have found it.
Over the years, the emperor's authority has grown stronger. He knows that the regent's actions are correct, but he seems to have developed an obsession that is difficult to resolve.
Thanks to the Venerable Master Fo Nu, His Majesty's resentment and frustration were able to be resolved; otherwise, who knows what His Majesty would have become.
When they returned to the palace, it was already brightly lit.
Jiang Wujiang refused to see anyone today and returned to his own palace to rest.
Mingfeng stood at the door and watched as several lights in the direction of the emperor's bedroom went out. Knowing that Jiang Wujiang had fallen asleep, he sighed and went back to his room.
As always, the emperor slept alone every time he returned from Baoguang Temple.
He was both happy and unhappy.
This harem is too peaceful.
She has been in the palace for more than ten years.
She is still the empress.
The Imperial Noble Consort was Ruolan.
The Imperial Concubine is still Qin Yi.
The rest of the servants were simply promoted in rank according to the old custom.
There were some newly arrived concubines in the harem who wanted to curry favor with the emperor and were ambitious to climb the ranks, but they were all beheaded by the emperor and then they all became docile.
The reason why the harem was so transparent was that everyone knew that the emperor preferred the monks and nuns in Baoguang Temple. Since the emperor didn't like any of them, the difference in rank and the struggle for power were meaningless. The emperor rarely even visited the harem, so who would he be showing off his beauty to?
As the head of the harem, Mingfeng was probably the most leisurely harem head.
He had just sat down on the step when someone came to report: "The Imperial Noble Consort has arrived!"
Mingfeng paused, a dark glint flashing in his bright eyes. "Please!"
"I pay my respects to Lord Feng."
"Get up!"
Mingfeng roused himself, knowing that waiting and daydreaming were the most tiring things to do. He was already quite tired of waiting for the emperor today and didn't want to say much.
Ruolan was tall and graceful, not particularly beautiful, but her eyes were very clear. She had a strong scholarly air about her, which made people forget the mundane world. Usually, she and Mingfeng were her companions, and the two of them were the ones who were most often seen together.
The Michelia champaca, with its smiling leaves, resembles distant bamboo and pale chrysanthemums, refreshing and delightful.
"His Majesty has returned to the palace. I couldn't sleep, so I came to talk to Feng Jun."
"What are you saying?" Mingfeng was exhausted, but he knew he wouldn't be able to sleep anyway, so he perked up and listened to Ruolan.
Ruolan smiled and asked, "Does Lord Feng believe in ghosts and gods?"
"Oh? What do you mean?" Mingfeng raised his long, narrow phoenix eyes slightly, a thought flashing through his mind.
"I have been reading books recently, and they describe extraordinary people who can turn into living beings at will. They can even turn every blade of grass and tree into spirits. These mountain spirits and water monsters appear either in temples or in the wilderness. I am very curious about them and would like to see them for myself."
Mingfeng was somewhat disappointed. He had thought there were real supernatural powers, but it turned out to be just something described in books. "Strange powers and supernatural phenomena, absurd and unrestrained, how can you believe in those things?"
Ruolan smiled. "Some things are better believed than not. Isn't there one in Baoguang Temple right now?"
Mingfeng looked up at Ruolan, and was speechless for a moment.
Is this a satire of the monks at Baoguang Temple as fox spirits?
A faint sense of pleasure welled up within him. He figured that most of the women in the harem probably disliked that monk.
For many, it would be better to die in the power struggles of the imperial harem than to grow old and die in the palace, never seeing the emperor again.
The current emperor is a wise ruler, but he is too cold-hearted and desireless. Now His Majesty has no offspring. Although His Majesty will last for thousands of generations, the lack of offspring will weaken the bloodline and make it easy for internal strife to occur.
He said, seemingly casually, "So what if he is, and so what if he isn't?"
"Doesn't Your Majesty want to see him? Over the years, his name has been renowned throughout the harem. Isn't Your Majesty curious?"
Curiosity, of course I'm curious!
What's the use of just being curious?
Those were the emperor's favorite people. If anything happened to him, none of them would escape. Besides, I've heard from my mother that Buddha was just a monk.
If the Buddha had truly been interested in the Emperor back then, with the Emperor's influence, was there anything in the world she couldn't accomplish?
The emperor was used to seeing regents kill powerful officials, so how could the emperor be afraid?
He glanced sideways at Ruolan, his voice carrying a warning. "Don't tell me what you're thinking. If you really intend to do something, I won't hesitate to speak frankly. That person is untouchable; to do so would mean certain death and the extermination of your entire clan. We entered the palace together, were enfeoffed together, and have been together for over a decade. I cannot watch you fall into an abyss of no return. These days, you should stay in your own palace as much as possible! The spring chill is still in the air, and your frail body cannot withstand such an ordeal!"
Ruolan paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "I am grateful for Your Majesty's kindness. With my delicate features, it is already a great fortune that I was able to enter the palace. How could I dare to have any wild thoughts? However, I have nothing to do in the palace, and I heard that Your Majesty likes to listen to sutras, so I would like to listen to the monks of Baoguang Temple recite sutras. If Your Majesty does not agree, then this matter shall be dropped. I will copy some Buddhist scriptures myself and beg Your Majesty's forgiveness."
Mingfeng looked at him with complicated emotions. The palace had not held any religious ceremonies for many years. It would be fine to invite a monk to preach, but inviting a Buddhist servant would probably offend the emperor.
"You go first! I will make a decision on this matter myself."
Ruolan smiled and walked out. When she reached the door, she turned back and said, "My Lord, the other day, when Qin Yi was free, he told me the story of Xiao Yulang. After hearing the story, I slept soundly. My Lord, you are very knowledgeable, so you must know the story of Xiao Yulang. I only wish that you can also have a good sleep. I take my leave."
Mingyu's heart skipped a beat, but she felt a tightness in her chest.
After Ruolan left, he put on his robe, got up, and looked out the deep window.
He naturally knew Xiao Yulang's story.
During the previous dynasty, a concubine in the harem was out of favor. She knew that the emperor had met a man outside the palace, but the man was of humble origin and, fearing opposition from the court officials, dared not bring him into the palace. In order to win favor, the concubine secretly brought the man into the palace, attracting the emperor to visit her frequently. In the end, the concubine, understanding the emperor's intentions, rose rapidly in rank, and the man outside the palace also gained favor and rose to prominence. The two were the most favored in the harem for many years, and their story became a legend.
Is Ruolan implying that she should follow the example of that noble prince and bring the Buddha slave to her side to attract His Majesty's attention?
Mingfeng's thoughts drifted for a moment. The stalemate between the harem and the emperor had lasted for many years.
Everyone is looking for change and wants to break the deadlock.
As the Phoenix Lord, he is naturally the first to be targeted. If he cannot pass this test, no one else can even think about it.
Mingfeng had to admit that he was tempted.
He, too, wanted to change.
I also want to experience a passionate love affair and live a vibrant life.
This night is destined to be sleepless.
Jiang Wujiang is very busy.
During the busy spring planting season, the Si Nong Temple needs a large quantity of seeds and plows.
On the frontier, General Guo Feng is leading his army to attack the Wushui Kingdom. It seems the war will continue for another two or three years. Now is the best time to attack the Wushui Kingdom, as it is currently weak. Guo Feng submits a memorial requesting troops and provisions.
These things will keep Jiang Wujiang busy enough.
She had been busy allocating funds and grain, managing the salt and iron industries, and adjusting taxes; she hadn't visited the inner palace for many days.
Jiang Wujiang didn't take Mingfeng's request to invite some eminent monks to the palace to preach and perform rituals to pray for the country's fortune to take to heart.
Therefore, when she heard that the Buddha had arrived at the palace, she was somewhat taken aback, and then a glint of light flashed in her eyes.
She experienced palace intrigue from the moment she was born; she was a child who grew up in the blood and sweat of palace power struggles. Those servants who came to the harem were nothing more than toddlers learning to walk in front of her!
She asked silently, "What about the Buddhist slaves?"
Unable to guess Jiang Wujiang's emotions, the head palace maid said in a proper manner, "The Phoenix Lord has settled the eminent monks in the Great Buddha Hall, and Venerable Master Fo Nu is also there. He is listening to Abbot Ling Neng's sermons, and there is nothing inappropriate about it."
"Hmph!" Jiang Wujiang tossed down the memorial in his hand with a look of boredom and criticized, "How could this memorial be written? If I have to come up with solutions for everything, what use are these good-for-nothings?"
The emperor is angry.
Jiang Wujiang strolled towards the Great Buddha Hall, surrounded by a profusion of flowers, all of which he was tired of seeing.
She stood under a magnolia tree for a long time.
The head palace maid silently thought that the regent had once held the young emperor here and picked magnolia flowers.
His Majesty is a sentimental person, and the old servants in the palace are all treated well as long as they have not made any serious mistakes.
Regent and Venerable Master Funu are both old acquaintances to Your Majesty!
However, there are fewer and fewer of the old friends nowadays.
After a long while, Jiang Wujiang gently plucked a magnolia blossom that was in full bloom and took it to the Great Buddha Hall.
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