The Zhengyang Palace, which was quite bustling in the past, is now deserted.
Even though the sunlight filled the courtyard, Wu Linger still felt a little cold here.
The peach blossoms on the left side of the courtyard have all fallen, and even the petals scattered on the ground have lost their last touch of red.
The pear tree on the right side of the courtyard was in full bloom at this moment, and the pear blossoms were as white as snow. In the past, she would have thought the off-white pear blossoms were very beautiful, but now... she felt as if the pear tree was covered with a piece of white silk!
My mother was taken to the Dali Temple, not only because of her arrangements in the Hanling Temple, but also because the shocking bad news just reached the palace - His Royal Highness Prince Ning of Changping Prefecture was assassinated!
The whole court was shocked, and the emperor was furious!
Her mother actually laughed when she left the cold palace... This made Wu Linger feel cold all over.
How could that originally loving mother become so cruel?
It's no less powerful than a poisonous scorpion!
Just for the status of crown prince?
Just to compete with Xu Yunqing, who has long been buried underground, for the heart of the emperor?
Is it worth it?
Now even if she wanted to rescue her mother, it would be impossible. How would she die?
Is it the three-foot white silk bestowed by my father, or a cup of poisoned wine?
She must look very ugly when she dies, but she will definitely die with a smile, because she is a crazy woman!
She said that after her death, she would be buried outside Yunqing Villa. She wanted to see that place... Wu Linger had never been to that place either. What kind of place was it?
Is the emperor's love for Xu Yunqing really like that of a pair of mandarin ducks?
The pair of mandarin ducks in Yan Ruyu's painting were already filled with sorrow. My father's heart had always been the same as that of the living mandarin duck. His heart was dead, so I'm afraid this Zhengyang Palace will never have another owner.
She took a deep breath and looked towards Hanling Temple, thinking that the literary gathering in Hanling Temple must have already begun. However, she didn't know what the theme of today's gathering was, and what kind of amazing poems and articles Fu Xiaoguan would produce.
Just as she was daydreaming, footsteps were heard.
She turned around and saw that it was her father who came!
"How...is she?" Wu Linger asked in a low voice.
"Ling'er, make a pot of pear blossom tea for me." Emperor Wen did not answer. He sat under the pavilion in the courtyard, facing the tree of pure white pear blossoms.
Wu Linger took some utensils and went to the pear tree to pick a few pear blossoms. She sat down next to Emperor Wen and concentrated on making a pot of tea without asking another question.
"I planted that pear tree for my father. In the blink of an eye, more than ten years have passed..." Emperor Wen sighed, his face dejected. "The Crown Prince is now fourteen. She killed Prince Ning, thinking that the Crown Prince's position in the Eastern Palace would be secure."
Wu Ling'er suddenly raised her head. Emperor Wen's gaze was still fixed on the pure white pear tree. His expression turned cold, "Ling'er, your father is deposing the Crown Prince!"
"Ding...!" With a crisp sound, a teacup fell to the ground and shattered into pieces.
Emperor Wen suddenly smiled. "I, your father, am telling you that today is the first day of the literary gathering, and the theme is couplets. What do you think... can you, Mr. Fu, achieve the first victory of the day?"
…
…
At this moment, His Majesty was drinking tea in Zhengyang Palace, and Wen Xingzhou said in the Boxue Tower: In my opinion...Official Fu is invincible!
This really surprised the old queen mother.
Since Wen Xingzhou said that Fu Xiaoguan and his partner are invincible... I guess they really are invincible.
She walked to the window again and looked at Fu Xiaoguan and others sitting on the grass. Her sight seemed to be illuminated by the sunlight and seemed a little warm. Although it was still blurry, the figure seemed to gradually become clearer in her eyes.
After a stick of incense had passed, the female official arrived here with Master Huijue, the abbot of Hanling Temple.
The Queen Mother walked over again, and Master Huijue bowed respectfully. The Queen Mother pointed to the couplet on the table and said, "Since you wrote the first line, please take a look at the second line."
Master Huijue was quite surprised. He came up with this couplet naturally in the hope that some students from Fan State or Wu Dynasty could come up with an exquisite second line. After all, Buddhism was more prosperous in these two countries, especially in Fan State, where Buddhism was the state religion.
Could it be that there are talented people in these two countries who can come up with the answer so quickly?
He came to the table, looked at the couplet, and then his face gradually showed surprise. He opened his mouth but couldn't utter a word.
Everyone's eyes were on his face at this moment, and they all saw Master Huijue's shock, and then they understood that Fu Xiaoguan's couplet was truly absolute.
Master Mei sighed inwardly, wondering how could Fu Xiaoguan, a young man from the Yu Dynasty, understand Buddhism?
This guy is really a monster!
The literary gatherings of the Wu Dynasty were probably just a wedding dress for him.
After dozens of breaths, Master Huijue put his hands together and chanted "Amitabha".
"To your Majesty, the profound Buddhist meaning of this couplet is something I have never encountered before. If you want me to give you a conclusion... this couplet is top-notch!"
When Master Huijue said this, the nine great scholars, although they had already agreed with him in their hearts, still let out a "hiss..." sound.
The reason is that although they have some knowledge of Buddhism, it is not in-depth.
When looking at this couplet, they can only see the neatness of the appearance, but cannot see the profound Buddhist meaning in it like Master Huijue.
This is why the Queen Mother invited Master Huijue to come and take a look. Since Master Huijue said so, that is his final conclusion on this couplet!
"I remember that the spread of Buddhism eastward was hindered during the Yu Dynasty. I heard that in the Yu Dynasty today, not to mention temples, even Buddhist scriptures are probably scarce. How did this young official Fu... understand the meaning of Zen?"
No one could answer the Queen Mother's question, and she didn't seem to want anyone to answer it. She continued, "These two couplets have already received your approval, but I still have to say the same thing. I warn you again: don't have any preconceived ideas. Wait until all the students' answers are submitted, and then you can carefully judge them..."
She looked at the couplets on the table again and said, "If the result is still that Fu Xiaoguan's two are the best... I think that the calligraphy alone should be deducted points. If you think these two couplets are top-notch, then please take the middle-class one."
"I'm tired. I'll go back first. Report the result to me later."
The old queen mother left the Boxue Building with the help of the female officials, leaving the nine great scholars and Master Huijue looking at each other in bewilderment.
What does this mean?
Just because Fu Xiaoguan's handwriting was ugly, the Empress Dowager cut off the lines on his armor?
"Handwriting reflects a person's face. To be honest, if we only talk about handwriting, Fu Xiaoguan can't write as well as my grandson who has just started learning."
"Ah... The Queen Mother's intention seems to be to spur Fu Xiaoguan on. What a pity!"
"So... doesn't that mean that for tomorrow's poem and the day after tomorrow's essay, no matter how amazing Fu Xiaoguan's work is, he can only get an A?"
"My Lords..." Master Huijue bowed, "Fame and fortune are external to the body. Given Master Fu's understanding of Buddhism, he must have seen through this long ago. Therefore, I believe that Master Fu has not taken this top or middle grade to heart."
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