Chapter 780 The Figure Behind the Scripture Pavilion
The next morning.
Just past dawn, the palace and its surroundings were already brightly lit. Palace servants were busy at work, their figures moving back and forth. This silent bustle woke the entire city of Chang'an up prematurely.
Shang Ruyi also got up very early, dressed neatly, and arrived at the palace gate at Chenshi (7-9 AM) to see the emperor off.
Although the trip was rather rushed, the preparations were still very thorough, and the etiquette and ceremonial arrangements were all in order. After accepting the kneeling obeisance of the officials, Yuwen Yuan boarded the golden carriage. However, before the carriage started moving, he lifted the curtain again and waved to the Prince of Qin and Princess Qin who were standing by the palace gate. The two of them immediately stepped forward.
Yuwen Yuan looked at Shang Ruyi and said, "When you go to Dayan Temple, don't stay too long. Worshiping Buddha is about the heart, not about the form."
Shang Ruyi lowered her head, her eyes flickering slightly.
She understood that even if Yuwen Yuan was overjoyed for some reason and agreed to let her go to Dayan Temple to worship Buddha, which meant he allowed her to meet with Empress Dowager Jiang, the emperor's heart was still dominated by suspicion, especially with the power of Empress Dowager Jiang and the deposed emperor. So, in the end, he still had to give her instructions, and Shang Ruyi naturally dared not disobey.
She immediately replied solemnly, "Your subject understands."
Yuwen Yuan nodded, then turned to look at Yuwen Ye and said, "Come over immediately after you return with Ruyi."
As he spoke, a smile appeared on his face again, and he said, "I thought you only had your wife in your heart and no longer had this old man in yours."
As they were talking, the Crown Prince, who was accompanying the Emperor on his tour, was about to board the carriage next to him. He seemed to have heard what they were saying, and his movement to board the carriage paused slightly, but he did not stay for long. He immediately got into the carriage and lowered the curtain.
Yuwen Ye looked up at Yuwen Yuan, but before he could answer, Shang Ruyi hurriedly said, "Father, you are too kind. How could the Prince of Qin dare to do that? It was I who wanted him to accompany me. The Prince of Qin thought it over and over again before making this decision. Please forgive my willfulness, Father."
Yuwen Yuan laughed heartily and said, "How could I blame you?"
As he spoke, he glanced at Yuwen Ye beside him and said, "I am pleased to see the deep affection between you two as a couple, but—you must not let your personal feelings get the better of you when it comes to important matters."
Both of them said in unison, "Your subject understands."
Yuwen Yuan then waved to them, and the two took a step back. Eunuch Yu then gave the order to set off, and the entire procession left the palace in a grand procession.
However, among the departing carriages, the curtain of one of the carriages belonging to the Duke of Wushan was slightly lifted, revealing a pair of shrewd and beautiful eyes that looked at Shang Ruyi's figure with a cold glint in their eyes.
Watching the banners and ceremonial guards gradually disappear at the end of the long street, and the sounds of the people kneeling on both sides of Zhuque Avenue shouting "Long live the Emperor!" gradually swallowed by the clouds and the wind, Yuwen Ye slowly stood up, then supported Shang Ruyi's slightly fleshy arm and said, "Let's set off too."
Shang Ruyi nodded.
So he waved his hand, and another carriage came over. The King of Qin and the Queen Consort of Qin boarded the carriage one after the other, left the palace gate, and headed towards Dayan Temple.
Because of Shang Ruyi's health, the carriage traveled very slowly; a journey that should have taken half an hour took more than an hour today. When their carriage stopped outside Dayan Temple, Abbot Xinzheng and the other monks were already waiting at the gate. By this time, the sun was high in the sky, and the scorching sun, after days of stagnation, was finally beginning to unleash its heat and light. The monks, dressed in thick robes, were all drenched in sweat, but they didn't even dare to raise their hands to wipe it away.
Upon seeing the carriages of the King of Qin and his queen, everyone's faces lit up as if they had been greeted by a radiant Buddha.
Master Xinzheng looked older than at the last Dharma assembly, his back almost unable to straighten. The only thing that remained unchanged was his ever-present, smiling eyes, which were also filled with cunning and calculation. He eagerly stepped forward to greet him: "Greetings, Your Highness Prince Qin, greetings, Princess Qin."
After alighting from the carriage, Yuwen Ye didn't immediately acknowledge him. Instead, he turned and helped Shang Ruyi down from the carriage. Once they were standing still, he looked up at the monks following Master Xinzheng, all bowing in unison, and the prayer flags fluttering in the wind lining both sides of the mountain gate. He frowned and said, "Didn't I tell you not to make it too complicated? Why is it still so grand?"
Xin Zheng smiled obsequiously and said, "Your Highness Prince Qin and Princess are of immeasurable value; how could this humble monk dare to be negligent?"
Yuwen Ye shook his head.
Fortunately, because of the emperor's tour today, most of the people in the city had crowded onto Zhuque Avenue, and there weren't many people watching here. Yuwen Ye really didn't want any accidents to happen because of the large crowd. So he said, "Alright, let's go."
Shang Ruyi smiled at Master Xinzheng and said, "I'm sorry to bother you."
Xin Zheng hurriedly said, "Your Highness is too kind. Please."
With that, the group entered the mountain gate.
The place was the same as it had been over a year ago during the Dharma assembly, except that the throngs of monks and laypeople were gone, making it much quieter. Upon entering the temple, Shang Ruyi immediately saw the main hall in front of her.
That was the place where she had met with Empress Dowager Jiang before.
Seemingly noticing her gaze, Xin Zheng led them inside while smiling obsequiously, "There's no one in the main hall today."
Shang Ruyi glanced at him and smiled.
She understood, of course, that Empress Dowager Jiang had retreated to Yanchun Palace to avoid the world. Even if she had received word that she was to meet with her today, she wouldn't openly come to the main hall; she would surely arrange a more suitable place. So she withdrew her gaze and continued walking forward.
Just as all the monks in the temple were waiting at the mountain gate, following the King and Queen Qin all the way inside, a young monk who had gotten up late hurriedly ran out of his meditation room. Just as he was about to go to the front to greet the distinguished guests, he saw a brown figure flash past behind the Sutra Repository as he passed by.
It seemed to be several monks dressed in Buddhist robes, carrying firewood as they passed by.
He couldn't help but scratch his head, muttering to himself, "Strange, didn't Master repeatedly warn us not to go near the Scripture Pavilion today? Why are people still going there?"
Just as he was puzzled, a young monk hurried over. Seeing him blinking his big eyes, looking completely bewildered, the monk couldn't help but reach out and tap the little bald head, saying, "Jianzhen, are you still dawdling here? When the distinguished guests arrive, be careful your master doesn't spank you."
Seeing this, the little monk didn't dare to be negligent and hurriedly ran after him.
Just after he left, those figures stealthily emerged from behind the scripture pavilion, but the bundles of firewood they had been carrying on their shoulders were gone. They moved swiftly and quickly disappeared into the dense bushes behind the temple.
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