Chapter 388: Love Letter to the Empress (6,000 words)
The room fell into silence.
Only the scarlet charcoal fire in the copper basin on the carpet in the house flickered.
Zhao Duan leaned back on the bed, pinched his brows lightly, and said with a wry smile:
"If that's true, then your Majesty's recent trip to the Shenlong Temple fulfilled the wishes of Dajing and the Western Regions Ancestral Court."
At this point, his heart moved:
If Zhenbao had seen through all this, why did he still choose to pick a fight in such a high-profile manner? If he simply wanted to vent his anger and demonstrate the authority of the court, there was actually no need to use this method.
Xu Zhenguan sat on the round stool, glanced at him with his phoenix eyes, and smiled slightly:
"That being said, isn't this in the court's interest?"
Zhao Duan blinked his eyes: "Your Majesty, you mean..."
Xu Zhenguan sighed and said seriously, "The court's position on these two Buddhist sects has always been consistent, which is that we don't want the two to merge into one."
Zhao Duan was stunned, and then he suddenly realized.
Yes.
The confrontation between Eastern and Western Buddhism lasted for hundreds of years. What was the attitude of the Dayu court? On the one hand, the court maintained friendly relations with the Shenlong Temple, and on the other hand, it also maintained trade relations with the Western Regions.
Because for the Dayu Dynasty, a divided Buddhism is a good Buddhism.
Once the East and the West merge into one, it is likely to mean the emergence of a behemoth, which is definitely not what the empress wants to see.
"This branch of the Shenlong Temple has grown immensely over the past two hundred years. In terms of strength, it has already surpassed, and even surpassed, the Western Regions' ancestral temple. That's why Xuanyin is so obsessed with accomplishing the grand task of promoting this merger during his tenure as abbot."
Xu Zhenguan explained softly, with some emotion in his tone:
"The imperial court is openly taking a bystander's stance, neither opposing nor supporting the situation. However, if there's a chance to weaken the Shenlong Temple and balance its power with that of the Western Regions, that wouldn't be a bad idea. Of course, the prerequisite is that the Western Regions can't become too powerful."
Zhao Duan understood.
For the empress, Shenlong Temple is an important force to check and balance the Buddhist ancestral temple in the Western Regions.
It is not good for the Shenlong Temple to be too weak, but it is not good to be too strong either.
"I heard that the Western Regions seemed to have sent people into the territory of Dayu." Zhao Duan suddenly said.
Xu Zhenguan nodded and said, "We should reach the capital in a few days."
"What are they doing here?"
"Two things. One is to represent the Western Regions and discuss next year's trade with the imperial court. Winter has already arrived, and the end of the year is just around the corner. These matters should be discussed as usual. The other thing is to cause trouble for the Shenlong Temple. I won't resort to violence, but I will definitely have a debate on the scriptures and a comparison of Buddhist teachings.
"This isn't the first time monks from the Western Regions have come to the Shenlong Temple to debate, to determine who is the true inheritor of the true essence of Buddhism," Xu Zhenguan explained.
Debate?
Good boy, just as that old scholar from Zhengyang left, another group of monks arrived... Well, the difference is, these monks aren't looking for trouble with the Empress...
If the previous guess is true, and Monk Dajing has defected to the Western Regions, then we may not be able to find him through a search. Can we only seek revenge on the monk from the Western Regions?
Ask them for people? Ask them to hand over their ghusl... Oh, that's a fantasy.
Not to mention that the other party is unlikely to surrender, the fact that "Da Jing defected to the Western Regions" is just speculation without evidence...
Zhao Duan frowned slightly, and had no good impression of the upcoming Western Region delegation.
"Your Majesty, I don't know much about the Western Regions Ancestral Temple. I only heard that in the small country in the Western Regions, the Ancestral Temple is like the emperor, with the highest authority. The Dharma King is its leader, and the monks under the Dharma King seem to be divided into several sects."
Xu Zhenguan said "yes" and said:
"Indeed, the monks under the Western Regions' ancestral temple are divided into five factions, or sects, distinguished by the color of their hats: red, white, green, yellow, and black. The leaders of these sects are revered as lamas. As for the monks over there, they are called 'Vajrayana practitioners.'"
After a pause, she continued:
"The leader of this delegation is the Red Sect Master, known as the 'Holy Monk'."
Distinguish by hat color?
Good god, then the cuckolded monks here, wouldn't everyone be cuckolded... Oh, monks, that's fine... And you're still a 'holy monk', is his surname Tang or Chen? Is there a monkey around?
Zhao Duan complained in his heart and couldn't help but feel a little curious.
Xu Zhenguan did not continue the conversation, but said:
"Well, you don't need to worry about these things. Your priority now is to recover from your injuries. Dajing may not be able to escape, and even if he does, I promise you will catch him sooner or later. Before that, you can take out your anger on Nagarjuna."
After a pause, she suddenly remembered something interesting and said:
"This group of monks should be the last group of outsiders before the end of the year. You should stay at home and recuperate, and then spend the new year in peace and stability. However, as the new year approaches, some generals and dukes guarding the border of Dayu will return. When the duke returns, he may look for you."
Duke of Zhenguo? Master Tang?
The father of “Young Master” Tang Ping?
Zhao Duan was stunned. When he punished the young master in the Shenji Camp, he did not give any face to the Duke Tang who was guarding Xiping Road.
However... I later transferred Tang Ping back to the Shenji Camp, so this matter should be over... right?
"The Zhenguo family is extremely fond of the young master and is very protective of him." Xu Zhenguan said with a smile.
"...Your Majesty, I think it would be a good idea to go on a business trip during the New Year..."
"Haha," Xu Zhenguan rolled his eyes and deliberately frightened him:
"You created this mess yourself, so you have to clean up the mess yourself."
Zhao Duan's eyes rolled around and he said:
"Your Majesty, I have issued a military order to capture Zhuang Xiaocheng before the end of the year..."
"You have been seriously injured for your country. I will grant you some time. There is no rush at this time."
"...Uh." Zhao Duan lost his temper and slumped down, looking aggrieved like an abandoned dog (pretending)
The empress snorted, and pretended to stand up and leave.
"Seeing that you are in good spirits, I am relieved. Stay in the palace tonight. When you are able to move tomorrow morning, go home."
"Your Majesty..." Zhao Duan was anxious and reached out to grab the empress's wrist, which was smooth and soft.
"Huh?" Xu Zhenguan turned around and stared at him unkindly.
Zhao Duan said weakly, "Your Majesty, I feel a little weak and need care."
As he said this, he pretended to cover his chest, but touched the wound. He screamed and grimaced in pain.
Xu Zhenguan panicked and subconsciously walked closer and leaned over to investigate. When he caught a glimpse of the smugness in the eyes of the wailing Zhao Duan, he immediately realized that he had been fooled.
She stretched out her hand breathlessly, pinched the fat on his waist, and used the woman's innate skill of "twisting".
"Ah - it hurts, it hurts... Your Majesty, please spare me!" Zhao Duan cried.
Xu Zhenguan sneered, "Are you honest or not?"
"honest."
"Are you still okay?"
"No...ah, okay, okay!"
"Do you want me to take care of you?"
"...I feel my injuries have suddenly healed. Your Majesty is very busy, so please do not waste time. I respectfully bid you farewell!"
Oh!
Can’t cure you?
Xu Zhenguan's lips curled up slightly, with pride in his eyes. He withdrew his hand and turned to walk out the door.
Zhao Duan lay on the bed with a grin on his face, watching the empress walk out of the room, feeling a little reluctant.
But as an emperor, and having just caused such a big commotion with the Shenlong Temple, it is conceivable that all the court officials in the capital have probably rushed to the palace to inquire about the situation.
The empress also needs to smooth out the aftermath.
"Alas, I am alone in my empty room." Zhao Duan was lying in the bright and warm room, and then he remembered Eunuch Hai and others who were left behind on the way back to Beijing.
"Hmm, did Lao Hai and the others know I was teleported back? Not necessarily... Uh, but after Da Jing Monk assassinated me, he must have been in a hurry to escape. Facing the siege of everyone, Lao Hai and the others shouldn't have been hurt..."
"Tsk, speaking of which, I wonder if the letter I sent back from Huting has arrived yet..."
…
Outside the room.
Xu Zhenguan walked out for the second time. The sky outside was getting darker and a cold wind blew on her face. She looked at the group of female officials who were waiting outside the door in an orderly manner and found that everyone's eyes were a little strange.
kindness……
As witnesses of Lord Zhao's injury, His Majesty's visit, and the entire process of causing a scene at the Shenlong Temple, they all suspected, without saying anything, that His Majesty's rage must have been because of Lord Zhao...
So, the rumors are true? Your Majesty really has a relationship with Lord Zhao...
"What are you all standing here for? Let's go." Xu Zhenguan frowned helplessly. "By the way, pass the order and release all those who were previously under house arrest."
She initially blocked the news of Zhao Duan's injury because she didn't understand what had happened.
Now that we have come to a showdown with Shenlong Temple, there is no need to keep it secret anymore.
"yes!"
A group of servants bowed and saluted, but saw a "female prime minister" in a cotton skirt with plum blossom makeup on her brow walking hurriedly towards them with her skirt lifted.
Mo Chou glanced at the Empress with complex and resentful eyes, then lowered her head and said:
"Your Majesty, a secret letter has arrived."
"letter?"
"It was sent by Lord Zhao from Huting. Due to the bad weather, it was delivered a little late."
In fact, it was not too late, but Zhao Duan used "teleportation" to save half the journey, and he arrived in the capital city earlier than the letter he sent.
Xu Zhenguan raised his eyebrows and reached out to take it.
She tore open the envelope and unfolded the letter, which indeed contained what Zhao Duan had seen and heard after arriving at Huting... However, she had already heard all of this orally just now. The empress quickly glanced at the end and was stunned.
"Besides, the scenery I enjoy in the Humble Administrator's Garden is different from that in the capital. In my trance, my thoughts drifted, and I thought of Your Majesty, who was also enjoying the scenery in the Imperial Garden at that time.
It was as if I saw in the empty mountains and valleys, there were thousands of taels of gold, and beyond the white egrets and reeds, there was a beautiful person.
I ask myself, am I moved?
He said to himself: Move, move, move, move, move, move…”
Xu Zhenguan stared blankly at the second half of the secret letter, which contained a dense string of "动" characters, and his cheeks suddenly turned red.
Her expression kept changing, and suddenly she gritted her teeth, turned around abruptly, kicked the door open again, and walked in.
Mo Chou and the others were left bewildered, not understanding what had happened.
"Hey, Your Majesty? Why are you back again?" Zhao Duan was distracted when he suddenly saw Zhenbao returning. He was overjoyed. Then he saw her holding a letter in her hand, and the smile froze on her face.
The empress stretched out her hands in shame and anger, and used the "twist" technique again:
"I told you to move, move, move for me, why aren't you moving?"
"Ah... I won't move. I dare not move... I dare not move..."
Outside the door.
A group of female officials listened in a daze as the vile words came out from the crack of the door and whispered to each other.
Only Mo Chou felt as if she had been shot in the waist. She looked up at the sky dejectedly and silently, but she felt a sudden chill between her eyebrows, which slowly melted away.
She was stunned for a moment, stretched out her hand, and saw a snowflake falling into her palm.
It's snowing.
…
…
To the west of the capital is Xiping Road.
At this moment, the north wind is blowing, and the cold wind is as sharp as a knife.
Snowflakes slowly fell from the sky, and the first snow of the third year of Chaotianfeng in Dayu arrived as promised.
In order to avoid the wind and snow, a long convoy hurriedly arrived at a deserted temple near the official road.
Accompanied by shouts, a monk known as a "Vajrayana practitioner" began to lead the horse down from the carriage.
“Master!”
A monk from the Western Regions walked up to a carriage with strange totems painted on the curtains and respectfully explained the situation.
The curtain of the carriage was lifted, and an old monk with dark skin, as old as an old monkey walked out. He was wearing a red monk's robe and a red monk's hat, but the style was different from that of the other travelers.
A string of white ivory beads hangs around her neck.
In the sunken eye sockets, the pupils were full of wisdom.
"Master, are we going into the temple?"
Another little monk, about a teenager, came out of the car.
They wore the same red monk's robes and had the typical three-dimensional facial features of people from the Western Regions, but their manners and behavior were different from the wildness of the Western Regions. Instead, they were similar to those of people from the Dayu Dynasty.
He was busy stuffing the flag box into the box.
"Well, let's go into the temple." The chief of the Western Regions delegation, the Red Sect's master "Holy Monk" smiled and adjusted the little monk's hat.
"Wait a moment, Princess."
The young monk named Danche looked towards the end of the convoy.
It turned out that the Western Regions delegation was divided into two ends. The front was this group of monks, and the back was another group of Western Regions people dressed as warriors with scimitars on their waists.
They were all complimenting a carriage. At this moment, a strong female warrior from the Western Regions came out of the carriage.
He is tall and clad in leather armor, with loose braids of hair, rough and reddish skin, a scimitar at his waist inlaid with gems, and sharp, alert eyes.
After the female warrior got off the car, she said something, and then another woman got off the car.
He is actually a typical Yu person.
The woman was about forty years old, wearing a dress in the style of the Yu people, and her black hair was dotted with many colorful gems.
However, it could not conceal the woman's face, which had been aged by time but was still quite beautiful.
The woman had a gentle demeanor, yet possessed a sense of dignity. She was not at all nervous in front of a group of warriors. Instead, the warriors saluted her respectfully.
"Princess Wenzhu..."
The old monk, wearing a red hat and ivory Buddhist beads, said with emotion, "I am traveling with the princess who is returning to the Kingdom of Yu to visit her relatives. Danche, do you know what this means?"
The little monk carrying a bamboo box shook his head honestly:
"I don't know."
The old monk said with his hands behind his back:
“In previous years, when discussing trade with the State of Yu, we only needed to send an official from the Western Regions.
This year, Princess Wenzhu returned in person, presumably because of the struggle for the throne within the Yu Kingdom's royal family. Oh, a married princess shouldn't be involved in her parents' affairs, but blood is thicker than water, so how could she not care?
Dan Che was bewildered: "Disciple doesn't quite understand."
The old monk smiled and did not explain.
He just folded his hands towards the princess in the distance, who was sent to the Western Regions for marriage during the previous emperor's time because the old emperor disliked her. She was stationed in the Western Regions and gradually became a leader.
Princess Wenzhu also saluted him with a smile.
The two sides did not talk to each other. After the greetings, the two groups walked into the large temple.
Snowflakes fell and the north wind howled.
When the monks and warriors entered the temple, they each occupied a distinct area and skillfully made fire and boiled water.
The old monk looked at the broken statue of the earth god in the temple, shook his head, raised his hand and waved it gently, and the dust on the ground disappeared as if it were new.
Soon, the fire was lit, and outside the temple, snow fell and the sky turned dark.
Dan Che put down the bamboo box and took out a Go board and two boxes of black and white chess pieces.
Then he knelt on the ground, picked up the chess pieces one by one with each hand, and reviewed the game according to his memory, preparing to restore the half game of chess he had just played with his master in the carriage.
If there were a chess master here, he would definitely be shocked.
This young monk who grew up in the Western Regions had an incredibly strong memory. Although he reviewed the game seemingly without any method, every chess piece he placed was exactly the same as the sequence of steps in the previous game.
Moreover, the chess game has almost reached the late stage, and the board is so complicated that even the great masters in the capital will treat it with caution.
However, the monks around were not surprised, knowing that Danche's chess skills were extremely strong in the local area.
But no one knows exactly how powerful it is.
But considering that Go was introduced from the State of Yu, he subconsciously felt that Dan Che's Go skills must be far inferior to those of the people of Yu.
Only the old monk knew how terrifying Danche's chess skills were, just as terrifying as his deep understanding of Buddhism.
"Master, you said it was strange that Princess Wenzhu led the team, but it's also strange that you were willing to lead the team to the Kingdom of Yu," Dan Che said in a low voice while reviewing the situation.
“In the past, you were always reluctant to come out.
When we went to Yu State this time, everyone said that it was because the Shenlong Temple had lost the battle and its reputation was waning, so we, the orthodox ones, wanted to go there to debate and teach the people of Yu that it was not Buddhism that lost, but Shenlong Temple. The orthodox Buddhism lies in the ancestral temple...
Your Dharma is the most profound among the Five Directions, probably second only to the Dharma King. But I always feel that there are other reasons for your willingness to come out of seclusion."
The old monk sat cross-legged on the ground, drinking milk tea while looking at his disciple in surprise. After thinking for a moment, he nodded solemnly and said:
"Yes, Master, I am traveling to the Kingdom of Yu. Debating scriptures is only one of my goals. The more important goal is to seek 'wisdom'."
Dan Che knelt beside the chessboard and said blankly:
"Master, what exactly do you mean by wisdom?"
As a disciple, the young man knew that his master suddenly came out of seclusion around spring and summer and claimed that he "saw" "wisdom" descending in the east.
From then on, the "holy monk", a giant among the five religions in the Western Regions, seemed to be possessed and had the idea of setting off for the State of Yu.
The old monk looked at the snow outside the temple and said softly:
"Our Buddha is the 'World Honored One'. The World Honored One is the god in charge of wisdom. His incarnation in the human world is 'Wisdom'."
Dan Che was surprised:
"You mean, the Buddha's incarnation descended to the human world? In the capital of the Yu Kingdom? But... isn't the Buddha's incarnation the Dharma King?"
"Of course not!" The old monk turned his head and glared at him:
"That's what ignorant people who don't understand Buddhism say. How could you believe it? The Dharma King merely believes in the Buddha. He is the reincarnation of the prophet who first attained enlightenment and received the Buddha's teachings... but he is not the god himself, much less the incarnation of a god."
Dan Che shrank his neck, knowing that once he talked about these things, his master would start to talk nonsense:
"But if it's the Buddha's incarnation of 'Hui', why did he appear in the capital of the Yu Kingdom? Is it because the Shenlong Temple is there? It's clear that our ancestral temple is the orthodox one..."
The holy monk shook his head and said, "I don't know about that either. I only saw that Hui descended there this spring."
Dan Che asked curiously, "How do we find Hui?"
The holy monk said, "When wisdom comes to the world, it is bound to be extraordinary, just like a bonfire shining brightly at night. If you look for those who have made great achievements in the capital this year, you will find them."
Dan Che asked curiously again: "What happens after we find it?"
The old monk's eyes suddenly flashed with enthusiasm, like a converted believer:
"Hui is the incarnation of the Buddha and represents his will. As believers, we should follow him."
"Then after following..."
"Shut up and play your chess. Aren't you dreaming of challenging the national champion of Yu State?"
"……oh."
The young monk put down the last black piece, put aside all distractions, and entered the world of chess.
…
The other side of the ruined temple.
The tall female warrior brought the hot food to Princess Wenzhu, who was sitting by the campfire and looking at the snow falling outside the temple.
"Princess, please have your meal."
Princess Wenzhu retracted her gaze and said with a smile, "You should sit down and eat too."
The female warrior did not refuse and sat on the ground. She did not know how to use chopsticks, so she ate her portion with a spoon.
"Princess, we should be able to reach the capital in a few days."
"Yes." Princess Wenzhu, who was known in the Western Regions for loving her people like her own children and was extremely popular, was a little distracted and said softly:
"Three years ago, when news of the death of my brother, the crown prince, and Jianwen reached me, I was dissuaded from returning. Two years ago, when news of Zhenguan's ascension to the throne reached me, I was tied up in trivial matters and didn't go back. This year, I finally got to go home."
After a pause, the princess, who was over forty years old, sighed:
"But the house is already deserted."
The female warrior was confused and asked, "If that's the case, why do you want to go back?"
Princess Wenzhu was silent for a long time before she shook her head and said:
“I don’t know either, but I want to persuade Zhenguan. He has lost many relatives and cannot continue to suffer.
I heard Yunyang has been put under house arrest and imprisoned, apparently because of a lover. She also attempted to weaken the power of the vassal states and took action against other uncles. I'm worried... Zhenguan has been bewitched by treacherous officials and done something unwise.
The female warrior said:
"Mianshou... does it mean a man's concubine? The one with the surname Zhao? I've heard about him before. He said that in the Buddhist-Taoist competition, he defeated Tianhai of the Shenlong Temple while holding the sword of Emperor Taizu of the Yu Kingdom."
Princess Wenzhu nodded and said worriedly:
"This is what I'm worried about. How can an unknown concubine hold the ancestral sword?
It must be Zhenguan who secretly helped... Even if it was for the royal family, but giving the ancestor's sword to a concubine to use, if the ancestors of all generations knew about it in the afterlife, how indignant would they be?
Given Zhenguan's temperament, he shouldn't have done such a ridiculous thing. I'm afraid he was deceived by that treacherous minister named Zhao."
After a pause, she said solemnly:
"When we get to Beijing, I want to see how this mistress brings disaster to the country and the people."
…
(End of this chapter)
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