Chapter 73 Yang Guifei (Part 3) Pure Retreat
The morning mist in the east courtyard of Taizhen Temple had not yet dissipated when Lin Jiaojiao was awakened by the sound of sweeping the floor outside the courtyard.
She walked to the window and saw through the gap in the bamboo curtain that a middle-aged Taoist nun in a green Taoist robe was slowly sweeping the floor. The sound of the bamboo broom scraping across the bluestone slabs was regular but deliberate - that was one of the "spies" scanned by Zero before, responsible for monitoring her daily life.
This Taizhen Temple was originally a place built by royal decree for nuns to practice asceticism. The courtyard was filled with Taoist nuns, and even the cleaning and serving of meals were done by women, so the separation between men and women was extremely strict.
"She's checking to see if you're behaving properly." Zero's voice suddenly echoed in his mind, the signal connecting his consciousness steady and clear. "I just finished washing up in the other courtyard, less than five miles away from you. I could clearly detect her movements. When she scanned your window, she deliberately slowed down and pressed her ear to the bamboo curtain, probably listening for any movement within."
Lin Jiaojiao responded softly, picked up the Tao Te Ching on the table, and deliberately raised her voice to recite: "The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao; the name that can be named is not the eternal name..."
As she read, her fingertips gently traced the scriptures. She mentally said to Ling, "Life in the temple is more depressing than I imagined. Aside from the nuns who deliver meals, I hardly see anyone else. It's as if the nuns have been instructed to either lower their heads and walk away quickly or avoid me, not daring to say even a single word. How are you doing over there? Did Emperor Xuanzong agree to let you live in the separate courtyard?"
"I sent someone to the palace yesterday to request permission," Ling said with a hint of relief. "As expected, Emperor Xuanzong had no doubts and even gifted me with a batch of magical instruments for blessing, telling me to 'pray well for my mother and not let my filial piety go to waste.' The housekeeper is already packing my belongings for the other courtyard, and I'll be able to move there tomorrow. That way, I'll be closer to you, making the connection more stable and exchanging information more convenient. Oh, and I specifically had the housekeeper choose a room in the other courtyard near the wall of the temple. This way, I can be close to you without violating the Taizhen Temple's rule of 'no men allowed.'"
As he was speaking, there was a gentle knock on the door. It was the little Taoist nun who was delivering the meal. Her voice was as thin as a mosquito's: "Master Yang, it's time for breakfast."
Lin Jiaojiao opened the door and took the food box - inside was porridge, cold vegetables and a piece of multi-grain cake, without even a trace of meat.
The little nun was about fifteen or sixteen years old, with twin buns and her hair hanging down almost to her chest. She put down her food box and was about to leave when Lin Jiaojiao gently called out, "Wait a minute, sister. Is the well water in the temple a little cold? I felt a chill penetrating my bones when I was washing up last night."
The little nun was stunned for a moment, quickly looked up at Lin Jiaojiao, then hurriedly lowered her head and whispered, "It rained a few days ago, and the well water is a little cold... If Taoist Yang feels cold, you can ask the senior sister in the front yard to boil some hot water and send it over." After that, she hurried away without waiting for Lin Jiaojiao to ask again - obviously she had been told "not to talk too much with Princess Shou."
"The diet in the temple is deliberately controlled," Ling's voice became more vigilant. "I scanned and noticed that a small amount of 'soul-soothing grass' was added to the porridge in the food box. Long-term consumption will make people depressed and lose their fighting spirit."
"The little nun mentioned 'front courtyard sister' just now. She might be referring to the nun in charge of the temple's miscellaneous affairs. You can try to get some information from her later. Also, don't eat the temple's staple food from now on. I asked Cui'er to bring some osmanthus cakes and dried meat when she delivers the food tomorrow. You can hide them in the secret compartment of the wardrobe as staple food."
Lin Jiaojiao's heart sank. She looked at the porridge in the food box and saw a faint green layer floating on the surface. She calmly poured the porridge into the bamboo grove in the corner of the courtyard and took a few bites of vegetables. She said to Ling in her heart, "Emperor Xuanzong wants me to slowly become depressed in the temple, and then let him control me after three years. I'm glad you reminded me, otherwise I might have really fallen for it. Oh, and the little nun's reaction just now didn't seem like she was being completely controlled. Perhaps I can find a way out of her later."
"I'm here, and I won't let you suffer this kind of injustice." Ling's voice was warm. "Also, I received news from Zhao Heng last night—he's an old subordinate of the former Crown Prince Li Ying, and he once served as a military officer in the Crown Prince's mansion. After the Crown Prince was falsely accused, he lived in seclusion outside Chang'an. He brought back important intelligence: Li Linfu has recently been secretly contacting members of the royal family, intending to nominate me as Crown Prince."
Lin Jiaojiao was stunned. "Nominate you to be the crown prince? Didn't Li Linfu always rely on Concubine Wu Hui? That's right, now that Concubine Wu Hui is dead, he can only rely on you."
"That's right." Ling's voice was cold. "Zhao Heng found out that Li Linfu saw that Your Majesty was pleased with my 'cowardly' nature. Knowing that Your Majesty coveted you, he wanted to do you a 'favor'. He planned to first help Your Majesty 'facilitate' your entry into the palace, and then, on the grounds that 'Prince Shou is not contentious and suitable for a stable succession,' he would nominate me as crown prince. He believed that I was cowardly and easily controlled. Once I ascended the throne, he would be able to control the government for a long time and even undermine the imperial power."
Lin Jiaojiao understood instantly: "I see! Li Linfu is using you as a pawn. He wants to consolidate his power by supporting the crown prince. So what are you going to do? Refuse directly, or..."
"Of course, we'll just go with the flow." Ling's voice was filled with calculation. "Li Linfu is incredibly powerful in the court right now, and we don't have the strength to challenge him. It's better to go along with his wishes and pretend to be 'cowardly and non-competitive,' so he thinks I'm easy to control. Once I ascend to the throne of Crown Prince, I'll be able to legitimately participate in government affairs and win over even more forces. Then, we can turn the tables on him. It's much safer than confronting him head-on now."
Lin Jiaojiao felt relieved, yet also a little worried. "But if you do that, you'll have to continue playing the role of 'cowardly Prince Shou' and might even have to watch Emperor Xuanzong plot against you. Besides, Zhao Heng is a former subordinate of the crown prince. If you accept Li Linfu's recommendation, will he have any objections?"
"I've already communicated with Zhao Heng," Ling said with conviction, "Although he still has concerns, he understands that this is the only way forward and has agreed to cooperate with us temporarily.
As for Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, if he wants to plot against you, I will naturally find a way to stop him. At least before I become the Crown Prince, he won't easily touch you. After all, my filial piety as a 'Crown Prince Candidate' needs you, the 'Cultivating Princess', to complement my filial piety."
Lin Jiaojiao nodded and responded in her heart, "Then you must be extra careful. Li Linfu is very shrewd. Maybe while he recommended you, he also secretly kept a backup plan. When you come into contact with him, be sure not to reveal your true intentions."
"Don't worry, I know my limits." Ling's voice was firm. "I will continue to play the role of 'cowardly Prince Shou' and act flattered yet hesitant to accept Li Linfu's 'recommendation', so that he will completely let down his guard."
The next day, Lin Jiaojiao followed Ling's instructions and pretended to "devote herself to Taoism" - in the morning, she copied scriptures in the courtyard, deliberately writing crookedly, pretending to be "absent-minded".
In the afternoon, he would sit on the stone bench in the yard, hugging his knees and staring blankly, coughing occasionally, pretending to be "out of spirits".
The middle-aged Taoist nun outside the courtyard saw this and relaxed her vigilance. She no longer slowed down her pace when sweeping the floor and even occasionally chatted with the young Taoist nun who delivered the meals. Her voice was not loud, but one could vaguely hear words like "Your Majesty has been summoning Li Linfu to the palace frequently recently" and "Someone in the royal family has mentioned the matter of establishing a crown prince."
In the evening, Cui'er came to the corner gate outside the temple carrying a food box as agreed.
Taizhen Temple has strict rules. Men are not allowed to enter, and female visitors must register in the front yard.
Cui'er used the excuse of "delivering seasonal clothes to the princess" to hand the food box to Lin Jiaojiao who was waiting there at the corner gate - this was specially arranged by Ling. The corner gate was located in a remote area and was guarded by only an elderly Taoist nun, so it was easy to avoid being seen.
"His Highness asked me to bring you some osmanthus cake and dried meat, and told you to take care of yourself and not eat anything from the temple." Cui'er lowered her voice and quickly pulled out a small porcelain bottle from her sleeve. "This is the 'Jie Shen Cao' that His Highness asked the imperial physician to prescribe. He said taking one pill daily will neutralize the effects of the An Shen Cao. Also, His Highness said that Li Linfu sent someone to the other courtyard today, hinting that they would help him secure the position of crown prince. His Highness pretended to be 'fearful' as planned, and Li Linfu was very satisfied."
Lin Jiaojiao took the food box and porcelain bottle, quietly stuffed them into the wide sleeve of her Taoist robe, and said to Cui'er, "Go back and tell His Highness that I'm fine. Tell him not to worry. Be careful when dealing with Li Linfu so that he doesn't get caught. Also, tell him to pay more attention to what's going on with Zhao Heng and make sure nothing goes wrong with the former Crown Prince's subordinates."
Cui'er nodded, turned around and left quickly.
Lin Jiaojiao returned to the East Courtyard with the food box, closed the door, took out a piece of osmanthus cake from the food box and put it in her mouth. The sweet fragrance instantly spread in her mouth. This was a pastry unique to the Shouwang Mansion, and it was also the first time she tasted a familiar flavor after traveling to this world.
Ling's voice echoed in his mind: "Is it delicious? I asked the kitchen to make this specifically to your preferred sweetness. Cui'er said you liked sweets even during the Western Zhou Dynasty. I also had them add some chopped walnuts to the cake to nourish your brain, so you don't become dull after staying in the temple for too long."
Lin Jiaojiao's eyes warmed slightly as she responded in her mind, "It's delicious. Thank you for remembering. You must be exhausted from dealing with Li Linfu. Don't push yourself too hard. If you feel like you can't hold on any longer, we can find another way."
"Not tired," Ling's voice was warm. "As long as I can gain power soon and protect you, this little bit of hardship is nothing. By the way, Li Linfu's people also mentioned that they will hold a 'royal family banquet' in the palace in a few days, inviting me and several other members of the royal family to attend. They say it's to 'share the emperor's worries and discuss the issue of the succession.' I guess he wants to test my attitude at the banquet and show his 'support' to the other members of the royal family."
Lin Jiaojiao's heart tightened. "A royal family banquet? Wouldn't that be dangerous? What if someone sees through your disguise, or if Li Linfu sets a trap?"
"There are dangers, for sure, but they also present opportunities." Ling's voice was calm. "I can use the banquet to connect with other members of the royal family and see which ones I can win over and who are Li Linfu's closest confidants. Zhao Heng will also arrange for a few former crown princes to mingle among the attendants at the banquet to help me pass on messages and respond to emergencies. You don't have to worry in the temple; I'll stay in touch with you at all times through the mind link."
The next morning, Ling successfully moved into the "Qingxiu Villa" near Taizhen Temple.
As soon as he settled in, he told Lin Jiaojiao through the consciousness link: "The courtyard is only three miles away from the temple. I chose the west wing against the temple wall. From the window, I can see the roof of Taizhen Temple. I installed a 'signal booster' on the roof of the courtyard - made of copper wire and jade. It can make the consciousness link signal more stable and will not be interrupted even if it rains.
In addition, I asked the housekeeper to place two reliable guards in the side rooms of the other courtyard. They are both former subordinates of the crown prince, recommended by Zhao Heng. They hate Li Linfu to the core and will help us keep an eye on the activities around the other courtyard."
Lin Jiaojiao breathed a sigh of relief. "That puts my mind at ease. By the way, did Emperor Xuanzong of Tang send anyone to monitor the other courtyard? Will they find your room near the viewing wall?"
"I sent two guards, but they only stood guard at the gate of the courtyard and didn't dare come in." Ling's voice was tinged with disdain. "They thought I was still the cowardly Prince Shou, hiding in the courtyard to 'pray for blessings' and not make any big moves. As for the room by the viewing wall, I told people I 'liked the quiet and could better pray for my mother.' No one would suspect anything. I can take advantage of their disdain and secretly carry out our plan."
Over the next few days, Lin Jiaojiao continued to improve the rice paper while paying attention to the conversations among the Taoist nuns in the temple. As Ling had said, the nuns would occasionally mention that "the palace is going to hold a royal family banquet" and "Lord Li Linfu thinks highly of His Royal Highness Prince Shou." One young nun even whispered, "Perhaps soon, His Royal Highness Prince Shou will become the crown prince."
She told Zero the information one by one through the consciousness link, providing him with reference for dealing with the royal family banquet.
Ling was in frequent contact with Zhao Heng in the separate courtyard to finalize the response plan for the royal family banquet - Zhao Heng would arrange three former subordinates of the crown prince to mix in with the attendants, who would be responsible for "delivering messages", "monitoring Li Linfu's confidants" and "responding to emergencies" respectively.
Ling would behave "submissively and obey Li Linfu's orders" at the banquet, and would even deliberately "say the wrong thing" to make the royal family members think that he was "really cowardly and suitable to be a puppet prince."
The day before the royal family banquet, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang suddenly sent Gao Lishi's disciple, a eunuch named Xiao Luzi, to Taizhen Temple, saying that "Your Majesty is mindful of the hard work of Princess Shou in practicing Taoism, and has specially sent a batch of precious scriptures and ritual instruments so that the princess can practice well."
The rules of Taizhen Temple are very strict and men are not allowed to enter. Xiao Luzi can only hand the reward to the Taoist nun in charge of the front yard, who will then send it to the east yard.
Lin Jiaojiao's heart tightened, knowing that this was a test from Emperor Xuanzong of Tang - he wanted to see if her condition in the temple was still as "eye-catching" as before, and at the same time he was also "laying the groundwork" for the royal family banquet, hinting that she "settled down and practiced Taoism, and didn't interfere with the matter of establishing the crown prince."
"Don't panic, do as we agreed." Ling's voice immediately rang out in his mind. "Act 'haggard' and hide the modified rice paper in the woodshed. Don't let her see it. I'll have the guards at the gate of the other courtyard 'accidentally' knock over Xiao Luzi's tea to delay him and prevent the nun in charge from staying in your courtyard any longer."
Lin Jiaojiao took a deep breath, straightened her clothes, deliberately messed up her hair, and wiped some water in the corners of her eyes, pretending to be "haggard and tearful".
The nun in charge walked into the courtyard carrying the gifts. Seeing Lin Jiaojiao's pale face and dim eyes, with traces of tears in the corners of her eyes, she immediately relaxed her guard and said with a smile, "Master Yang is truly devoted to his cultivation. Your Majesty will surely be pleased to know. These are the scriptures and instruments Your Majesty has gifted you, as well as a jade ruyi, which is said to calm the mind and spirit. Master, please keep them well."
Lin Jiaojiao accepted the reward and felt the coldness of the jade ruyi on her fingertips, but she knew in her heart the calculation behind this "calming down the mind". It must be that Emperor Xuanzong of Tang wanted her to continue to "behave" and not make any mistakes during the critical period of establishing the crown prince.
She bent her knees slightly, her voice a little hoarse, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your concern, and thank you, Senior Sister, for making the trip. I'm doing well in the temple, but I occasionally miss Mother, and therefore feel a little sad. Please tell Your Majesty that you don't need to worry."
As she spoke, she deliberately wiped the corners of her eyes with her sleeve to make her look haggard more realistic.
As expected, the Taoist nun in charge did not suspect anything. She exchanged a few pleasantries, saying "Take care, Taoist priest," and hurried away with the empty lunch box. Xiao Luzi was still waiting for a reply outside the temple, so she did not dare to delay.
Seeing the figure of the nun disappear at the end of the corridor, Lin Jiaojiao breathed a sigh of relief. She stuffed the jade ruyi into the pile of rice paper in the woodshed and said to Ling in her heart, "We've dealt with it. The nun didn't find anything unusual. The clan banquet is tomorrow. You must be careful and don't make any mistakes."
"Don't worry, I've made all the arrangements." Ling's voice was firm. "Zhao Heng's men have already infiltrated the palace's attendants. I've also rehearsed the banquet process and the questions Li Linfu might ask. After the banquet is over tomorrow, I'll know Li Linfu's true plan and understand the royal family's attitude."
Lin Jiaojiao walked to the window and looked at the bamboo forest under the setting sun, her heart full of anticipation and anxiety.
She knew that the royal family banquet would be a key step for Ling to "take advantage of the situation to seize the throne" and an important opportunity for them to fight against Emperor Xuanzong of Tang and Li Linfu.
Although the road ahead is still full of dangers, as long as Ling is by his side, as long as they trust each other and cooperate tacitly, they will be able to seize this opportunity and carve out a way for themselves in the vortex of power struggle in the prosperous Tang Dynasty.
Ling, who was far away in the other courtyard, was sitting at his desk, looking at the list of royal family members in his hand, and his fingertips lightly ran across the names on it - which ones were Li Linfu's confidants, which ones were neutral factions that could be won over, and which ones were the former prince's old subordinates, he marked them all clearly one by one.
His eyes were sharp, with a hint of coldness - Li Linfu wanted to use him as a chess piece, but he didn't know that this "chess piece" had already changed its core and was waiting to use his power to step up to the pinnacle of power step by step, and eventually bring him and his selfish father down.
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