He also instructed Qinglian to send someone to tell Concubine Xiao what happened in Shishan Hall today after entering the palace.
Qinglian was puzzled. Since the emperor had already upheld justice, why was the princess so anxious to inform Concubine Xiao? But since it was the princess's order, she had to obey.
With such an incident happening and Princess Rongfu not present, the charity gathering could not be held.
Whether they came to watch the fun or to participate in the charity event sincerely, people gradually dispersed.
Su Li and his group quickly entered the city. Unless there were special circumstances, carriages were generally not allowed into the palace. When they arrived at the palace gate, everyone got off the carriage.
After the routine inspection, he and Deputy Commander Yao entered the palace gate under the guidance of the palace servants, walked through the spacious square, crossed the long imperial road, and finally arrived at the Fengtian Hall.
A few people waited outside for the palace servants to come in and pass on the message. Pei Mingyue asked in a low voice, "Ali, did Madam teach you about the etiquette for meeting the Emperor?"
Su Li nodded: "Don't worry, I have learned everything I should learn, and I won't make any mistakes."
"That's good……"
Taoist Kongxu on the side said nothing in order to maintain his mysterious image, as if he was an otherworldly sage. Su Li couldn't help but want to laugh when he saw him.
After a while, the palace attendant who had gone in to announce the news came out: "Everyone, the Emperor summons you to the palace to see him."
Su Li said, "Thank you for your help, eunuch."
As they spoke, they entered the hall together.
In the main hall, Emperor Jing, who was about 150 or 160 years old and dressed in bright yellow clothes, sat at the head of the table.
Deputy Commander Yao bowed and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, Taoist Kongxu has been brought here."
Then stepped aside.
Taoist Kongxu knelt down and saluted: "I, the poor Taoist Kongxu, pay my respects to the emperor."
He was not like Master Wu En, a famous monk in the Jin Dynasty who had received special permission from the emperor and did not have to perform the kneeling ceremony. Therefore, he was no different from ordinary people and followed the same etiquette.
Su Li and the other two immediately bowed: "Your Highness, I, the subject Pei Su, greet you. May Your Highness live long and happily."
"Your humble servant Pei Mingyue pays respects to His Majesty. May Your Majesty be blessed."
"Stand up."
Emperor Jing glanced at Pei Mingyue and Su Li, then asked Taoist Kongxu, his tone carrying the oppression of a superior: "Taoist Kongxu? Tell me, why do you say Rongfu doesn't have purple aura and that she's not the lucky star of the Great Jin? Did you know that Master Wuen himself claimed Rongfu has purple aura?"
Taoist Kongxu said calmly, "Your Majesty, the princess only possesses the Purple Qi, but is not blessed with a lucky star. Therefore, the Purple Qi on her body is unstable. It may disappear with time, or due to evil deeds. But no matter which one, the fact is that the princess no longer possesses the Purple Qi."
After a pause, he continued, "I just don't want the people and the emperor to be deceived. The fact is that Princess Rongfu is no longer a lucky star..."
"The purple aura disappeared?" Emperor Jing frowned, his tone unclear, "Do you know what crime it is to fabricate facts and slander Princess Fuxing of the Great Jin?"
Taoist Kongxu was not afraid at all, and remained neither humble nor arrogant: "Everything I said is true. If Your Majesty does not believe me, you can ask Master Wuen to verify it. If it is proven that I have lied in any way, I will leave it to Your Majesty to deal with."
After pondering for a moment, Emperor Jing asked again, "Who is your teacher?"
Taoist Kongxu took out a square jade token from his sleeve and presented it with a bow. "I am the fourth-generation disciple of Taoist Kongming."
Pei Mingyue's eyes widened and he suddenly realized that it was no wonder that Taoist Kongxu was so good at fortune-telling. It turned out that Jing was the disciple of Master Kongming.
Su Li was also surprised. She had heard A Yue talk about the disappearance of the purple aura of the previous dynasty's lucky star before, and she also went to learn more about the previous dynasty's lucky star.
Of course, I also knew about the story of Taoist Kongming. Taoist Kongming was a Taoist master more than two hundred years ago. His status was much higher than that of Master Wuen of Buddhism today.
Two hundred and forty years ago, there was also such a lucky star in the previous dynasty who was born with purple aura.
Later, the lucky star continued to do evil, causing the purple energy to dissipate. When Taoist Kongming found out, he could not bear to see the people suffer, so he exposed the matter in public, but was killed by the lucky star who had already held great power.
Afterwards, all his disciples were killed by the ruthless Fuxing. Fortunately, a young disciple who was away from home was left alive and was able to continue the master's legacy.
However, Taoism also suffered heavy losses because of this. After that, Taoism quickly declined and Buddhism rose.
Taoism never really rose until the dynasty changed.
Su Li suddenly realized at this point, so Taoist Kongxu took this risk because he actually wanted to take this opportunity to become famous and build their Taoist sect?
Emperor Jingdi knew Taoist Kongming and his lineage, and was particularly good at fortune-telling.
Moreover, with the jade token as evidence, the identity of Taoist Kongxu as the disciple of Taoist Kongming cannot be false. He also said that he could ask Master Wuen to come back and make another statement, so it cannot be false.
However, if he said that the purple aura on Rongfu disappeared, he really couldn't accept it. That was the lucky star of Dajin, the lucky star that carried the good fortune of Dajin. How could it disappear just like that?
Could it be that Rongfu had done so many evil things that caused the purple energy to disappear?
But Rongfu explained that she had only done that one foolish thing. He thought that she had done so many good deeds that benefited the country and the people over the past decade or so, which should be able to offset that incident.
now……
Rongfu, how many things have you hidden from him?
Emperor Jing angrily asked the palace attendant beside him: "Where is Rongfu? Hasn't he returned to the palace yet?"
The palace servant hurriedly said respectfully: "I will go to see if the princess has entered the palace..."
With that, he hurried out of the hall.
Emperor Jing frowned, then remembered Su Li and Pei Mingyue below him, and asked, "Why did you two come in together?"
Pei Mingyue replied, "Your Majesty, my grandmother once asked Taoist Kongxu to read my fortune, so she has some friendship with him. Madam Pei has known him for a long time. At the charity gathering today, he said something shocking. The princess must have been frightened and wanted to have him arrested. Madam Pei and I, because of our friendship, stepped in to stop him. However, Aunt Qinglian, who is by the princess's side, accused us of colluding with Taoist Kongxu to spread rumors and slander the princess. She wanted us to confront him in front of His Majesty. That's when Madam Pei and I followed him in."
If they admitted that they had discussed this matter with Taoist Kongxu long ago, the emperor might become suspicious of them, and even suspect the intentions of the Duke of Ji's Mansion and the Marquis of Ningyuan's Mansion behind them.
Therefore, this was the excuse they had discussed before. This way, they could conceal the real purpose of why they had contact with Taoist Kongxu, and it could also explain why they were helping Taoist Kongxu in front of Shishan Hall.
Sure enough, Emperor Jing had no doubts.
Soon, a palace servant came in with a report: "Your Majesty, the Dali Temple Minister Pei requested an audience. He said that the case of Yu Fengzhu's father, the Baishan prefect, has been concluded."
Emperor Jing glanced at Pei Mingyue who was sitting below him, then said, "Let him in."
After a pause, he said to Taoist Kongxu, "I will invite Master Wu'en to return to the capital. During this period, Taoist Master, please do not leave the capital."
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