They had just reached the outside of the Great Buddha Hall.
Then came the sound of chanting Buddhist scriptures.
A group of monks chanted sutras with great force, and a sense of holiness floated above the palace, making even the azure sky appear clear and pure.
Jiang Wujiang stood outside, holding a magnolia blossom, and listened quietly for a while.
Unsurprisingly, she could hear the unique voice belonging to Buddha Nu among those voices—moderate, peaceful, clear, and gentle.
She stood there quietly, and no one dared to disturb her.
Abbot Lingneng seemed to realize something, and opened his closed eyes to look out the window. From his angle, he couldn't see who was in the courtyard, but he had a feeling that the emperor had arrived.
He sighed silently to himself, then continued to recite the scriptures with his eyes closed and a serene expression.
The palace's investigation finally came, many years later than he had anticipated, but it still came nonetheless.
He was well aware of the emperor's feelings for the Buddhist nun.
However, the Buddhist slave was devoted to Buddhism and had no regard for the emperor.
The emperor himself was well aware of this, so he never forced the Buddhist servant to comply.
The only ones who don't know are these nobles in the palace. These nobles are all people in the world of fame and fortune. They entered the palace for the glory of their families and the bloodline of the royal family. Now it seems that their future has been blocked by a monk from the mountains. Naturally, they have to come and see and ask. The fact that they waited until today to ask shows that they are very patient.
If I am fortunate enough not to offend His Majesty today, I will surely rise to great heights in the future.
The news that the emperor was going to the Great Buddha Hall quickly reached Mingfeng's ears.
He led his men out from the main hall next door and slowly walked towards Jiang Wujiang.
His face showed no smile, only solemnity and tranquility.
Walking up to Jiang Wujiang, he bowed and said, "Your Majesty, have you also come to listen to the sutra?"
Jiang Wujiang stood quietly in the breeze, seemingly oblivious to Ming Feng, and instead walked towards the Great Buddha Hall.
She stepped inside.
He knelt down before the prayer mat and bowed respectfully several times.
The question she had once asked that person echoed in her mind.
"Grandma, do you believe in Buddhism?"
"I don't believe it!"
"If you don't believe, why do you worship?"
"Worth worshipping!"
She was very confused!
The man replied, “The emperor is a true dragon goddess. She does not seek Buddha, so naturally she does not believe in Buddha. But becoming a Buddha is not easy, so naturally she is worth worshipping.”
Over the years, she has always remembered those words.
He gradually came to understand why the emperor did not believe in Buddhism.
The Buddha was merely a tool in the hands of the emperor. When the Buddha was of interest to the emperor, he promoted Buddhism; when the Buddha was of no use to the emperor, he suppressed Buddhism.
But Buddhism was useful; at least it could extinguish the murderous intent in her heart. Moreover, she had fallen in love with a Buddhist.
It's fate, destiny, and cause and effect.
So, she prayed to Buddha!
The worship is sincere, and the worship is for the person who brings joy to one's heart.
She did not offer incense, but instead placed a magnolia flower in full bloom before the Buddha.
Then, he slowly retreated.
He didn't even glance at the Buddha.
The Buddhist servant, engrossed in chanting sutras, was completely unaware of his surroundings. He had grown from a novice monk to a full-fledged monk, never imagining that he held a position of equal importance to the Buddha in the emperor's heart.
The chanting in the Great Buddha Hall grew even louder, prompting Abbot Neng to glance at the emperor who had turned and left. He sighed inwardly, hoping that this matter would be resolved soon and that they could return home as soon as possible.
go out.
Mingfeng remained standing in the same spot, without moving an inch.
As Jiang Wujiang passed by him, his gaze swept over his handsome face, and he said calmly, "He is just a monk."
"I understand." Mingfeng bowed.
My heart aches a little.
In that instant, he felt an urge to cry. If tears could help, he wouldn't mind giving her all the tears he would ever shed in his life.
Jiang Wujiang seemed to sense his sadness and despair. He paused for a moment, and the two stood desolate in the wind. It was unclear whether one of them let out a soft sigh or if they had misheard.
Jiang Wujiang walked away slowly. She still had political affairs to attend to, and she had to think about all the things in the world. The time she could spend on love was ultimately limited.
Love is also a luxury.
Mingfeng stood there quietly, as if he had lived his entire life.
He felt that the best years of his life had ended today.
"Heartbroken?" Ruolan appeared out of nowhere.
Mingfeng looked up, his eyes filled with a serene and distant gaze. "Now that you've seen it, are you satisfied?"
"Sigh! He's just a monk. How could he lose to someone like that?" Ruolan was somewhat bewildered. How could she lose to someone who was devoted to Buddhism?
Mingfeng's fingertips were icy cold. "He'll only ever be a monk!"
"I'm so unwilling!" Ruolan sighed deeply. When he entered the palace, he was known as the most talented man in the capital, surpassing Qin Yi, who was known for his good looks, and was conferred the title of Imperial Noble Consort by the emperor. He thought that the emperor valued talent more than appearance, but now it seems that he was optimistic after all.
"Then let's find something to do. His Majesty is currently attacking the Wushui Kingdom, and the national treasury is empty. I plan to cut palace expenses. What do you think?"
"Cut it if you want! Anyway, His Majesty isn't coming, so who will see me with heavy or light makeup?" Ruolan's words contained three parts mockery, three parts hatred, three parts self-mockery, and one part self-pity.
Having mastered both literary and martial arts, they intended to serve the emperor, hoping to rise above their station and achieve great things, only to find themselves relegated to a shelf.
Full of ambition, turned to dust, discarded by bookworms.
From then on, he devoted himself to nature, and kept company with flowers and birds.
People thought he was a hermit living in seclusion.
But he was just a person who was unlucky in love.
Ruolan is gone.
During a break from chanting sutras, he had a conversation with a Buddhist servant.
He asked the servant, "Do you like His Majesty?"
"like!"
"If you like it, then I will arrange for you to come to the palace, is that alright?"
The monk laughed and said, "What are you doing in the palace? I am a monk from Baoguang Temple, and I can only stay at Baoguang Temple."
"Don't you want to serve the king?"
“I recite scriptures and pray for Your Majesty every day, which is my way of serving the monarch.”
Buddha spoke frankly, but his gaze was already fixed on the myna bird outside the door. He looked so serious that it seemed the myna bird was much more interesting than him.
He pointed at the myna bird and laughed, "If you come to the palace, I will give you this myna bird, how about that!"
"Ah? No, no! I don't want a myna bird."
"Don't you like myna birds?"
“I like it, but I don’t want it. I will pray for it every day.” The Buddhist nun chanted Buddhist mantras repeatedly.
He was stunned and asked, "Like praying for His Majesty's well-being?"
"That's natural. All living beings are equal, and all things have a spirit. What you see is a myna bird, but what I see is a Buddha."
These words were so Zen-like that he was speechless for a moment, and even wanted to laugh. It turned out that this monk viewed His Majesty no differently than he viewed everyone else in the world. What was he arguing with a person who had no feelings or love in his heart?
For a while, it was incredibly boring.
He waved his hand, signaling the servant to leave.
As the monk was leaving, he said, "Sir, could you please release that myna bird?"
"Why?" he asked, looking up.
The servant was conflicted. "If I lock it up, it might be uncomfortable."
He sneered. "It has lived a life of luxury since birth, locked up on this horizontal bar. If I release it, it will be eaten by a cat and become a corpse in less than three days."
"Ah! In that case, thank you for taking care of it, Amitabha!"
Buddha left.
That figure was so innocently adorable, it made me feel sorry for her!
He was no different from a myna bird locked in the palace, only hoping that its master would tease it a little.
Ruolan gave up.
Mingfeng watched his retreating figure, which appeared unusually desolate.
Seven days later, the chanting and prayers were completed.
Mingfeng commended the monks of Baoguang Temple and made a special visit to the monks.
Buddha had thick eyebrows and big eyes, and a heroic and honest appearance. His eyes were untouched by worldly affairs, and were exceptionally clear and bright.
He had intended to bestow some gifts upon Fo Nu, but after thinking it over, he decided against it. Fo Nu held such a high position in His Majesty's heart that if he were to bestow gifts in a superior manner, His Majesty might not be pleased.
Thinking of this, sorrow filled his eyes.
The servant asked, "Aren't you happy?"
“You can tell!” Mingfeng looked at him with bright eyes. He wanted to say, “I’m unhappy because of your existence.”
But no!
He couldn't say anything.
Buddha Slave smiled and said, "It's written in your eyes. Even when His Majesty comes to the temple, he is often unhappy. If Fengjun is unhappy, he can come to the temple more often, and maybe he will be happy."
What does Your Majesty usually do at Baoguang Temple?
“Copying scriptures, enjoying the scenery!” The Buddhist servant thought for a moment, then added, “Eating vegetarian meals!”
Mingfeng: ""
He wanted to cry, yet he also felt a mix of emotions: pity for His Majesty, and pity for himself.
They're all idiots!
"Hahahaha!" He couldn't help but laugh, tears streaming down his face.
The Buddhist servant couldn't understand it and was very puzzled.
After a while.
Mingfeng forced a bitter smile and said, "Go ahead, I'll visit Baoguang Temple when I have time."
The Buddhist servant chanted a Buddhist prayer, then turned and left.
He truly couldn't see through the ways of the world; he should just go back to the mountain!
Mingfeng watched as Fo Nu's agile and lively figure disappeared into the distance, and tears finally streamed down his face.
Suddenly, he no longer resented the emperor at all.
If one's spiritual cultivation is insufficient, then one's affections will not develop, and one by one, they will ultimately be missed.
evening.
Jiang Wujiang has arrived.
Mingfeng got up to greet her, but he didn't massage Jiang Wujiang's body as usual to make her feel more comfortable.
Instead, he simply bowed and sat down.
Jiang Wujiang's bright eyes were devoid of emotion. "You're not happy?"
Mingfeng smiled. "During the day, Master Fonu also asked me the same question."
"Oh!" Jiang Wujiang's eyes lit up. "What did he say?"
He said, "When I'm unhappy, I can go to Baoguang Temple and sit for a while, and maybe I'll feel happy again."
Jiang Wujiang was speechless for a moment.
Did Buddha think that the method that cured her would work on others as well?
Mingfeng continued, "I intend to follow the teachings of Master Fo Nu. What does Your Majesty think?"
Jiang Wujiang stared at him silently, his eyes growing even more imposing. "You resent me?"
Mingfeng felt a chill run down his spine. When an emperor is angry, millions die. Had he finally angered the emperor? He closed his eyes briefly, but decided to tell the truth.
“I may have resented it before. On the day I entered the palace, my mother taught me to serve His Majesty well and bring glory to our ancestors. I heard these words, but I didn’t take them to heart.”
She paused here, looking up at Jiang Wujiang. "I want to serve Your Majesty well, not for the sake of bringing glory to my ancestors or gaining honor, but because of joy. When I was young, I accompanied my mother to the palace to pay homage to the Regent. At that time, Your Majesty was reading a book beside the Regent and did not notice me, but I noticed Your Majesty and have kept that attention for many years. Back then, I thought how wonderful it would be if I could enter the palace one day."
The servant often made vows before the Buddha, and unexpectedly, her wish came true; His Majesty truly married her. The servant was overjoyed, believing it to be a divinely ordained destiny. However, after entering the palace, she realized that this destiny might be due to her insufficient cultivation, and His Majesty did not truly love her.
Jiang Wujiang's eyes flickered slightly, a strong emotion flashing across them before finally dissipating into nothingness.
Mingfeng trembled slightly. He hadn't received a response from Jiang Wujiang. Regretful, perhaps! Heartbroken, perhaps! He smiled gently:
"For a year or two, I thought I could wait until His Majesty changed his mind. I also had some wild thoughts, wondering if I was not good enough and did not deserve His Majesty's favor. More than ten years have passed in fear. I feel that I am getting old. Without the emperor's favor, aging always comes especially fast. Therefore, I want to see someone who can please His Majesty. Once I have seen him, I will stop having wild thoughts."
"I've seen it. What do you think?" Jiang Wujiang's cold eyes narrowed slightly.
Mingfeng smiled, but his heart was dancing on a knife's edge. "What Your Majesty likes is naturally the best in the world. If I were Your Majesty, I would also like him. Such a pure and innocent person, even someone like me who has seen the darkness of the world would not want to harm him. I originally wanted to follow Xiao Yulang's example, but alas, the flower is willing, but the water is indifferent. From today onwards, I will not resent Your Majesty at all, but will feel sorry for Your Majesty."
Jiang Wujiang remained emotionless. "You feel sorry for me?"
"It's heartbreaking! In the end, His Majesty and I are both just fools in this world." Mingfeng looked ahead, his gaze falling on the dark pattern of the carpet, but his thoughts were elsewhere.
"Hahahaha!" Jiang Wujiang burst into laughter. Someone felt sorry for her!
Her heart ached for a moment, but then hardened instantly. "Aren't you afraid I'll kill you for saying these things?"
“Don’t worry! His Majesty is a wise ruler,” Mingfeng said softly.
Jiang Wujiang fell silent. "A wise ruler!? Even a wise ruler can kill."
“A ruler who doesn’t kill is not worthy of being called a wise ruler. A wise ruler kills more bad people than good people. In the end, everyone has to kill. A kind-hearted person is a Buddha. A Buddha may be able to save all living beings, but he cannot be a king on earth. Moreover, a Buddha cannot save all living beings, at least not his servants.”
Mingfeng withdrew his gaze and fell on Jiang Wujiang's handsome and fair face. Why did he fall in love with the emperor that year? Even though he was prepared to share the emperor's favor with others, he never thought that the emperor's favor would be so thin as to be as bland as autumn water.
Jiang Wujiang's heart stirred, and he glanced at Ming Feng with some surprise.
Her lord is no simple man either!
That was very interesting!
Her mood inexplicably improved, and the restlessness and rage she had felt for the past few days subsided considerably.
She stood up, took off her clothes, and got into bed.
Mingfeng looked at Jiang Wujiang, and for a moment he was at a loss.
These past few days have been difficult for him. He had prepared himself for the possibility of angering His Majesty and being relegated to the cold palace. However, things have unfolded exactly as he had imagined.
Jiang Wujiang glanced at him sideways and said calmly, "Only I can save you!"
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