Chapter 267: The Indian Taoist
Li Chengqian originally planned to take the opportunity to ask Wang Xuance to come over, but then he changed his mind and thought that Wang Xuance was originally the Chief Clerk of the Prince's Right Guard Office and was a member of his Eastern Palace.
Why did he need to ask Li Er for this person? There was no need to go through all this trouble.
"Do you have any memorials to make?" Li Er asked.
"Father! I have a memorial!" Li Chengqian said.
Li Zhi, who was standing aside, saw Li Chengqian stand up and sat back down after just moving a little.
"What does the prince want to make a memorial?" Li Er asked.
"I want to build a temple in Chang'an!" Li Chengqian said.
Li Er frowned. The state religion of Li Tang was Taoism. Although Buddhism was not prohibited, it would not order the construction of temples.
The Buddhist temples in the Great Tang Empire were all left over from previous dynasties, or built by local people with funds raised.
"Why do you want to build a temple?" Li Er asked. If Li Chengqian was superstitious about Buddhism, he would teach him what a prince should do.
"I want to pray for the blessings of my deceased mother and repay her kindness."
"My mother gave up all her life and devoted herself to repaying the heaven and pursuing good fortune, so I want to choose a place in Chang'an to build a temple." Li Chengqian said.
Li Er was a little sad after hearing this. He and Guanyin Bi had always had a deep relationship. He had been missing Guanyin Bi all these years. Even though his position was vacant now, he had never thought of appointing someone else as the queen.
"You have this intention, I believe Guanyin Bi's spirit in heaven will definitely feel gratified. By the way! Have you thought of the name of this temple?" Li Er said.
"I've already thought of it. Let's call it Da Ci'en Temple!" Li Chengqian said.
"Okay! This matter will be handed over to you and the Eastern Palace to supervise." Li Er said.
"Thank you, father!" Li Chengqian said.
After the morning court ended, Li Chengqian returned to the Eastern Palace and directly called the Zhongdafu Shouyou Shuzi Gao Jifu.
"Your Highness, Gao Jifu has met His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!" Gao Jifu bowed. "
No need to be polite, Mr. Gao! I plan to build a temple in Chang'an City for my deceased mother. This time I called you to read the Crown Prince's order and supervise the government offices." Li Chengqian went straight to the point. The
main reason why Li Chengqian wanted to build a temple for the Queen Changsun was to shape his image of filial piety, not for any gratitude.
Li Chengqian was a time traveler, and he and Empress Changsun were not biological mother and son. Besides, after he traveled through time, Empress Changsun had been dead for several years, so naturally there was no favor to be said for him!
"Your Highness's filial piety is so touching, and the spirit of Empress Changsun in heaven will certainly be moved by your Highness's pure heart."
"In that case! I will go and write the Crown Prince's Order for Your Highness! Pronounce it to the officials." Gao Jifu said.
"No need! I won't bother you with this matter, Mr. Gao. I have already written the Crown Prince's Order, and I hope you will consider it for me." Li Chengqian said.
He took out the document that had been prepared long ago and gave it to Gao Jifu to take a look.
This Crown Prince's Order was copied down according to the Crown Prince's Order drafted in the 22nd year of Zhenguan when Li Zhi was the Crown Prince in history.
But Li Chengqian didn't know whether this Crown Prince's Order was written by Li Zhi himself or Gao Jifu himself. He
unfolded the Crown Prince's Order drafted by Gao Jifu and read: "I am not good at this, and I have been blamed for this. When I was still young, you left me with a kind face. The worries of your life have been growing in my heart. Your love for me is deep and deep...." "
...You should order the relevant departments to select an old and abandoned temple in the capital, and build a temple for the Empress Wende. On the day the temple is completed, the monks should be ordained separately. You should also order the temple to be built in the vicinity of forests and springs, and make full use of the beautiful scenery, so as to follow the example of Tushita and live up to your boundless aspirations."
"What do you think, Mr. Gao? Is there anything wrong with it?" Li Chengqian asked.
"There is nothing wrong with this order!" Gao Jifu said.
"That's good! You go and read out my order, and let the government choose a site and get this done as soon as possible." Li Chengqian ordered.
"Yes!" Gao Jifu took the order and went out to read out the order to the relevant departments.
The relevant departments selected the site according to the instructions of the order.
After the officials carefully surveyed the various places in the capital, they finally decided to build a new temple on the site of the "Jingjue Old Temple" facing Qujiang Lake in Jinchangfang, south of the palace.
Jingjue Temple was built here during the reign of Emperor Daowu of the Northern Wei Dynasty. Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty built Wulou Temple on the site of Jingjue Temple, which was later abolished.
After the officials reported the selected site to Li Chengqian, they got the consent of the Crown Prince and began to build Daci'en Temple here.
...
After a long journey, Wang Xuance finally returned to Chang'an and sent Alona Shun and his family to Li Er, waiting for Li Er's decision.
Compared with Alona Shun, Li Er was more interested in the Indian Taoist Nara Sapomei brought back by Wang Xuance.
Li Er handed Alona Shun over to the relevant departments for processing, and Li Er, who was very happy, immediately awarded Wang Xuance the title of Chao San Dafu.
Wang Xuance then presented the Taoist brought back from India to Li Er, since Li Er's physical condition was getting worse and worse.
Li Er changed his previous rejection of Taoists, and instead hoped that a Taoist master could help him relieve his pain.
Therefore, Li Er, who did not believe in Buddhism much before, also began to believe in Buddhism, hoping that the Buddha could bless him with a long life.
In other words, Li Er tried his best to make him live longer.
The Indian alchemist presented by Wang Xuance gave Li Er a glimmer of hope. At this time, Li Er was already deeply involved and lost himself.
"Wang Xuance, is this the Indian monk you mentioned?" Li Er asked, looking at Nara Sapomei, who was at least 90 years old but still in good health.
"Yes, Your Majesty! I heard from people in India that this master has superb skills, so I specially invited him to Chang'an to meet Your Majesty!" Wang Xuance said.
Wang Xuance knew that Li Er was looking for alchemists all over the world in the hope of curing his illness, so Wang Xuance invited the Indian monk back.
"I wonder how old the master is now!" Li Er asked, and Wang Xuance acted as the translator for the two of them.
"I am now 200 years old." Nara Suoba said, and Wang Xuance translated his words to Li Er.
Li Er was very surprised and asked hurriedly: "Master, how did you live to such an old age? I hope you can tell me!"
"On weekdays, I meditate and worship Buddha with sincerity. I also collect precious medicinal materials from all over the world and refine elixirs for consumption. That's why I have such a long life now. I can live at least another 500 years." After listening to Wang Xuance's translation, Naruluo Suopomei smiled.
He knew that the emperor in front of him had been hooked! How many people in this world can withstand the temptation of immortality, especially the king of a country.
So Naruluo Suopomei lied without hesitation that he was already 200 years old, and since he had taken the elixir he refined, it would not be a problem to live another few hundred years.