Chapter 25 Buddhist Temple
"Madame Su's hometown?" Jinbao frowned. This time he was really at a loss. "I don't know."
Ruyi came in from outside and heard Ming Huashang asking about Nanny Su's hometown. She continued, "Madam was born in the Wang family of Taiyuan. Nanny Su was Madam's dowry, so she must be from Taiyuan too."
"Taiyuan Prefecture." This time it was Ming Huashang's turn to frown. Taiyuan Prefecture was the northern capital, quite a distance from Luoyang. Ming Huashang had to inform the elders in advance before going out to buy things, so how could she leave Luoyang and go to Taiyuan Prefecture to find Nanny Su?
She could only send someone. But she was surrounded by maids and nannies, and it was difficult for her to leave the inner house. Moreover, the servants of the Duke of Zhenguo followed the daughter of the Ming family, not Ming Huashang. If they learned from Nanny Su that Ming Huashang was a fake, would they still obey her orders? What's more, would they secretly inform the old lady of the Ming family, the second and third wives?
This concerns Ming Huashang's life and death, and she dare not gamble with human nature. Ming Huashang's headache is getting worse and worse. Ruyi sees that Ming Huashang looks unhappy and asks tentatively, "Madam, why are you asking these questions?"
Even though Zhao Cai Jin Bao and Ji Xiang Ru Yi were her confidants, she didn't dare to tell them about this. Ming Hua Shang shook her head and said calmly, "Nothing. I have nothing to do here, you can all go down and have a rest."
Ming Huashang sent all the maids away, and when the room became quiet, she stared at the candlelight and sighed.
Only when she really encountered trouble did she realize how much she needed manpower. She didn't want to find out whether Zhao Cai Jin Bao and Ji Xiang Ru Yi were on her side or on the side of the Zhenguogong Mansion.
These people need to be practical, capable, well-traveled, and most importantly, have a good mouth. Ming Huashang needs people in many places. Not only does she need to go to Taiyuan to investigate Su Ma Ma, but she also needs to set up a female household in Luoyang City and buy a concubine's house.
Ming Huashang thought for a long time and sighed helplessly. The idea was good, but how could it be so easy to train reliable personnel?
Moreover, now that she was a daughter of a noble family, everyone was willing to listen to her. When she left the Ming family and became a helpless commoner, would those people still be obedient? Would they bully their master and plunder her property?
Ming Huashang had to be on guard against this situation. Relying on others would eventually lead to being controlled by others, and relying on oneself was the safest. Opening a female household and buying a house inevitably required dealing with the government. Ming Huashang could not use the connections of the Duke of Zhenguo Mansion, so she could only explore on her own. She didn't even know who to look for, and even if she had money in her hand, she couldn't give it away.
Ming Huachang sighed in her heart. It was already so difficult to be independent without earning any money. But there was no point in sighing. She would go out to the street to see what was going on. No matter how difficult it was, she would keep going.
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The news of Prince Luling's return soon spread throughout the capital, and a rumor came from somewhere that the Queen summoned Prince Luling back with the intention of establishing him as the Crown Prince.
The appointment of a crown prince is a commonplace, but this time the situation is very different. The Queen has imprisoned Prince Luling for thirteen years. If there is no big move, why did she suddenly bring Prince Luling back? It can't be just for a meal during the festival, right?
The outside world did not speculate for long, and soon the Queen held a welcoming banquet for Prince Luling. At the banquet, the long-separated Li royal family gathered together, and even the long-unseen crown prince came.
When the Crown Prince saw Prince Luling, the two brothers thought about their experiences over the years and were overwhelmed with emotions. They cried bitterly, and Princess Taiping also wiped her tears. After everyone finished crying, Crown Prince Li Dan took the initiative to say that his virtue was not worthy of the throne, and asked the Queen to depose him and replace him with his third brother.
The empress followed suit and announced that Prince Luling would be made the crown prince. Li Dan, being lenient and benevolent, yielded to his elder brother and was made the Prince of Xiang.
The Prince of Xiang had once abdicated the throne to his mother, and this time he gave the crown prince position to his elder brother. It was like a living example of the Twenty-Four Filial Exemplars, and it became a legend. The ten-year-long dispute over the crown prince was finally settled, and the ministers and relatives of the Li Tang Dynasty all breathed a sigh of relief.
But now it was only the Empress's verbal promise. The officials could not sleep peacefully until the crown prince was confirmed. The Ministry of Rites immediately calculated an auspicious date and asked the Empress to choose a day to confer the title of crown prince.
The empress was a very decisive person. Having made the decision, she did not delay and issued an edict to hold a ceremony to enthronize Prince Luling as the crown prince on the sixth day of March.
Princess Taiping was overjoyed when she heard the news, and even the Prince of Xiang, who had lost his throne, was more relieved than disappointed. After all, if Prince Luling became the emperor, he could enjoy the royal power and wealth. If the Wu family became the emperor... then he should prepare to commit suicide.
But some are happy while others are sad. While the Li family is full of joy, the Wu family is in a low mood. The King of Wei has been working hard for ten years, but in the end he ended up with nothing. How can he bear this disparity?
After the news of the crown prince was spread, the King of Wei claimed to be ill and refused to see visitors. Everyone knew that the King of Wei was in a bad mood, and no one dared to touch his mold. During this period, everyone carefully avoided the King of Wei's mansion and tried not to irritate him.
The Duke of Zhenguo Mansion, which had been silent for many years, has begun to revitalize itself. The Queen is going to make Prince Luling the Crown Prince. Is it long before the Ming family returns to the court?
Madam Ming had been looking forward to it for many years. Her dream came true. She was so happy that her appetite improved. It was a double happiness. In the morning, everyone was paying their respects to Madam Ming. Suddenly, the doorman ran in and said happily, "Madam, the Duke is back."
The Duke of Zhen had been fighting bandits in another place for years and had not returned. Today he finally came back. Old Madam Ming was surprised and said, "Why did the Duke come back today? Two days earlier than the letter said. What are you still standing there for? Go and invite the Duke in!"
Duke Zhenguo strode into Yanshou Hall. Before he appeared, a loud voice like a bell came in: "Where are Erlang and Shangshang?"
When Ming Huashang heard that Duke Zhenguo had returned, she was not yet prepared and was a little at a loss.
She still remembered that in her dream, the Duke of Zhen had a cold face and said that she was not a member of the Ming family and asked someone to take her back to the Su family. Every word he said was as hard as iron. Ming Huashang had never imagined that her father would actually make such an expression to her. She was confused in her dream, and even after waking up, she still didn't know how to face it.
Could it be that his father's favor towards her was based only on the fact that she was his blood, and had nothing to do with her as a person? Or was it that no matter who the daughter of the Ming family was, the Duke of Zhenguo would treat her with all his heart, and otherwise he would treat her like fallen leaves swept away by the autumn wind, not wanting to even look at her for a second, and even wishing to kill her for being such a stain?
What then was the love and care that the Duke of Zheng had given her over the years, and the birthday gifts that he would never miss every year no matter how busy he was?
Ming Huashang couldn't understand it, and it happened that the Duke of Zhenguo was not in the mansion, so Ming Huashang hid in her shell and didn't want to face it. Today, the Duke of Zhenguo suddenly came back. Ming Huashang was struggling in her heart, but she heard that the Duke of Zhenguo had not come in yet, so she asked them first.
Ming Huashang suddenly felt relieved. Yes, life is not a court, and there is no need to ask for clarification on many things. It is human nature to love the continuation of one's own bloodline. If one does not have one's own blood, then no matter how good one's character is, one is just someone else's child, how can one compare with one's own?
It was human nature for the Duke of Zhenguo to feel disappointed and angry after knowing that his child had been replaced. It was also human nature for him to be unwilling to raise her, an outsider, and there was nothing wrong with that. The Duke of Zhenguo had truly treated her as his daughter for the past 16 years, and it was enough for her to repay him with the same courtesy as a father. In the rest of her life, whether the Duke of Zhenguo still needed her filial obedience or not, she would always remember the Duke of Zhenguo's kindness to her.
After Ming Huashang figured it out, she stopped being obsessed with dreams. She had to guard against crises in dreams, but she couldn't mess up her life by being overly suspicious of people around her because of a dream. She didn't believe that someone who remembered her daughter's preferences and birthday could commit murder. If she guessed wrong, she would accept it.
Duke Zhenguo opened the curtain with a loud noise and strode in. As soon as he entered the room, he saw Ming Huazhang and Ming Huashang standing in front of the screen. The boy was as cold as snow, and the girl was as beautiful as a flower. The two of them standing together were truly a perfect match, bringing glory to the whole room.
The young man and the young woman saluted one after another. They were still two words short when they started to speak, and in the end, the last syllable fell on one syllable: "Greetings to father, may father be blessed with good health."
Duke Zhenguo looked at this scene, and the worry he had from the long journey through the open air and snow finally settled down in his stomach: "I'm glad you're all okay. I heard something happened at Princess Taiping's banquet, you didn't go, did you?"
According to the plan, Zhenguo Gongli should return to the capital in two days, but on the way he heard that someone had died at Princess Taiping's banquet and many noble men and women were trapped in the mountains. He was shocked and hurried back to the capital, fearing that his children were among them.
Ming Huashang thought it was unfortunate. She had been lazy for sixteen years and had only been active once, and she had to run into such a bad thing. She smiled and said with a casual look, "Father, are you talking about the Feihong Banquet? Princess Taiping sent an invitation to the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion, and my second brother and I went together. In fact, there was nothing wrong, it was all exaggerated and spread by outsiders."
The day after Ming Huashang and Ming Huazhang came back, Old Lady Ming asked about this matter. This was not just a ghost story, but also involved the struggle between the Wu and Li families. Ming Huashang downplayed the matter and said that it was just because of the strong wind on the mountain, so someone made up a ghost story, but it was all just a figment of the imagination.
Madam Ming believed it and did not ask any more questions. Today, Ming Huashang used the same words to answer the Duke of Zhenguo, but the Duke of Zhenguo did not relax and still asked in detail what happened on the mountain, why there was an avalanche on Mang Mountain, and their daily life on the mountain.
The more lies he told, the bigger the loopholes became. Ming Huashang could no longer make up stories and looked to Ming Huazhang for help.
Ming Huashang originally wanted Ming Huazhang to help her smooth things over, but unexpectedly, Ming Huazhang was submissive and bowed to the Duke of Zhenguo very solemnly, saying, "It's my fault that I put Second Mother in danger. Please punish me, father."
Ming Huashang was startled and looked at Ming Huazhang in surprise. Is this man too stupid or too responsible? How can he be blamed for this?
Ming Huashang quickly grabbed Ming Huazhang's arm and pulled him up in a coquettish manner: "Second brother, you can't know the future, what does this have to do with you? I rely on you to protect me in the villa. If you are punished, then I will be punished too."
Ming Huazhang was much taller than Ming Huashang. He half-bent over, his arms just level with Ming Huashang's chest. Ming Huashang hung on him like a sloth. Ming Huazhang was embarrassed, but he couldn't push her away in front of everyone. He stared at her with his dark, clear eyes and said in a low voice, "Second Mother, stop making trouble."
Ming Huashang had no special talents, but she was extremely thick-skinned. She held Ming Huazhang in her arms and looked at the Duke of Zhenguo in a taunting manner, "I don't care, but you, Father, are not allowed to punish my second brother."
Duke Zhenguo was also stunned. He hadn't said anything yet. What were they doing?
However, haven't Shang Shang and Hua Zhang always been strangers? When did they become so close?
Madam Ming, who had been ignored for a long time, coughed unhappily. Duke Zhenguo finally woke up from his dream and hurried to pay his respects to his mother: "Your son pays his respects to your mother. Your son is unfilial and failed to serve you during the New Year. Your son is guilty."
As soon as the Duke of Zhenguo knelt down, a clever maid helped him up. Madam Ming said, "You are in your prime, you should serve the court. If you stay by my side every day, you will be a loser. Come on, we are all together now, don't stand anymore, sit down."
Duke Zhenguo sat down, and Ming Huazhang and Ming Huashang sat next to him. The second and third wives also sat together. Madam Ming asked a few questions about the suppression of bandits, and then quickly got to the point: "Duke, you just returned to Beijing. Have you heard about the prince's affairs?"
Of course, the Duke of Zhenguo heard about such a big thing. He hesitated for a moment and said, "Blood is thicker than water. Your Majesty has finally figured it out. This is a good thing."
This is of course a good thing for the Ming family. Old Madam Ming sighed, "Thank you for the Buddha's blessing. For so many years, I have been looking forward to this day. I just hope that nothing will go wrong with the canonization ceremony and that it can get back on track as soon as possible."
In fact, the Duke of Zhenguo is not as optimistic as Madam Ming. Establishing a crown prince and ascending the throne are two different things. Until the last moment, it cannot be determined whether the world will be ruled by the Li or Wu surname.
But he still tried his best to comfort his family: "The prince has Di Gong's support, and Princess Taiping and Prince Xiang are on his side. We just need to be at ease."
Since the Crown Prince has established the Prince of Luling, the future situation will return to the Li family. Madam Ming perked up and asked with expectation: "There will be a big change in the capital in the future, and our family should also prepare. Duke, you once served under the command of Crown Prince Zhang Huai, and you can be considered an old minister of the Li family. Why don't you find some old friends and go to pay your respects to the Crown Prince and Prince Xiang?"
Madam Ming was talking to Duke Zhenguo, and the others could only breathe. Ming Huashang looked at Duke Zhenguo cautiously, but saw that Duke Zhenguo paused for a moment. He seemed to be shaken, but then he was cautious about something and said conservatively: "The situation is not clear now, so there is no rush to pay respects."
Madam Ming was a little disappointed, but then she thought it was better to be safe. The Queen's mind changes every day, who knows if she will change her mind later, and she will have to tell the Wu family. The Duke of Zhenguo Mansion will wait and see for a while, and not rush to bet.
There was no rush to surrender, but other tasks could be prepared in advance. Old Madam Ming said, "No matter what, there will always be a prince in the capital in the future. When he goes to the East Palace, the mistress will have to take care of it. Duke, Wang has been dead for many years, and Erlang and Erniang have grown up. You don't have to worry about being treated harshly by your stepmother. Isn't it time to consider your own affairs?"
Duke Zhenguo was startled, and subconsciously glanced at Ming Huazhang and Ming Huashang, and said awkwardly: "Mother, didn't I already say this before, I..."
"That was before." Madam Ming raised her voice, suppressing the words of the Duke of Zhenguo, her tone was dull but tolerant of arguments, "The children have grown up, and they will get married in two years. There is no need to avoid them on this matter. You are a duke, but you don't have someone who understands your feelings. It's not decent. You should marry a wife, and after you get married, it will be a good opportunity for Erlang and Erniang to find a wife. Even if you don't think about yourself, when Erniang brings her aunt back, there can't be no mistress to entertain them, right?"
At first, it was only Duke Zhenguo who was embarrassed, but now Ming Huazhang and Ming Huashang also started to feel embarrassed. Ming Huashang thought to herself that she didn't even have a romantic relationship, so why was she considering bringing her aunt back home?
It was Mrs. Ming who was worrying too much. She really would not bring a son-in-law back home. Even her daughter was fake, so how could there be any aunt?
Seeing that Madam Ming was determined to let him remarry, Duke Zhenguo also put on a stern face and said solemnly, "Mother, Yulan and I lost our first child, but we managed to save the second one, but she passed away. At that time, I swore to Huazhang and Shangshang in their cradles that I would never remarry in this life and would concentrate on taking care of them."
Madam Ming looked unhappy and said, "But they have grown up. The first wife has only one son and one daughter. When Erniang gets married, Erlang will be the only one left in the first wife. How can this be possible?"
Duke Zhenguo still refused to give in and insisted, "Even if they grow up, get married, and have children, they are still my children. Huazhang is both civil and military, steady and honest. He is better than eight or ten brothers. Shangshang..."
The Duke of Zhenguo paused slightly, and Ming Huashang sensed something subtle in this pause. She raised her eyes and stared at the Duke of Zhenguo quietly.
Fortunately, Zhenguogong immediately took over the conversation and said, "Shangshang is lively and lovely. In my heart, she is the best young lady in the world. There is no need to compare her with others. Mother, your son understands your good intentions, but I really don't have the intention to remarry. Please don't mention it again."
Madam Ming was a little embarrassed. Seeing this, the second wife hurriedly laughed and said, "Since the eldest brother is unwilling to remarry, then forget it. Mother, I heard that a new Buddhist temple has been built in Chongyefang, and it is very effective..."
The third wife also started to joke, and Madam Ming's expression gradually softened. She started chatting about family matters and no longer mentioned remarrying.
Duke Zhenguo knew that he had made his mother unhappy, so he said no more and directly transferred 50,000 yuan from his personal account and asked Madam Ming to donate it for merit.
The smile on Madam Ming's face finally became genuine. She was so happy that she asked all her daughters-in-law and granddaughters to go out together to burn incense at Chongyefang.
The second and third wives of Duke Suanzhen were able to take out 50,000 yuan without blinking an eye, but the female members were very happy to be able to go out, and they quickly discussed the arrangements for the day of the trip.
Finally, everyone agreed to wait until the weather got warmer in February before going to worship Buddha. This was a good time to cut spring clothes for the unmarried ladies.
After that, the topic revolved around clothes and jewelry. Duke Zhenguo had no interest in these things. He sat patiently for a while and then left. Ming Huazhang naturally went with Duke Zhenguo. Ming Huashang thought about it and followed him out.
The three of them went out. Duke Zhenguo knew what they were going to say, so he kept silent along the way. When they reached a secluded place, Ming Huazhang spoke up: "Father, what the old lady said makes sense. You don't have to..."
"It has nothing to do with you." The Duke of Zhenguo said solemnly as he walked in the snow-covered courtyard. "I really have no intention of getting married. It was unnecessary when you were young, and it is even less necessary now."
Ming Huazhang lowered his eyes and remained silent. Seeing that his father and brother were both very depressed, Ming Huashang smiled and said, "Father, it's okay. My brother and I will be twice as filial to you and will definitely not let you be worse than those who have ten or eight sons."
Duke Zhenguo laughed loudly when he heard this, but Ming Huashang came over and asked, "Second brother, is that right?"
Ming Huazhang looked at the little face that came to him, feeling helpless, but his expression relaxed unconsciously. He looked at the person in front of him, not knowing who to say, "Of course."
Duke Zhenguo smiled enough and waved his hand, saying, "I don't need you to honor me. I am satisfied as long as you and your sister are living well. I don't worry about Huazhang. He will live well wherever he goes. But you are not good at literature or martial arts. You find it tiring even to embroider flowers. How are you going to find a wife in the future? It seems that your father cannot relax and must earn you a generous dowry. Otherwise, how can you get married?"
Ming Huashang was unhappy and said angrily, "Father, what are you talking about!"
The servants and maids all knew that the Duke and his daughter were joking, and they all joined in the fun. Ming Huazhang listened, but suddenly said very seriously: "Even if Second Mother gets married, she will always be my sister. I will make sure she is happy and well throughout my life."
His voice was solemn, out of tune with the surroundings. Duke Zhenguo was stunned for a moment, then he put away his smile and said seriously, "Her life is her own business. The family will protect her until she gets married, but she has to walk the rest of the way on her own. Don't take everything on yourself, or you will spoil her."
Listen, is this reasonable? Ming Huashang said, "Father, you are too partial. I almost doubt that my second brother is your biological son, and I was picked up by you."
Everyone laughed. Ming Huashang walked to the door amidst the laughter. Knowing that the Duke of Zhenguo still wanted to discuss the matters in Feihong Garden with Ming Huazhang, she stopped tactfully and said, "I'm tired, father, second brother, I'm going back first."
Duke Zhenguo nodded without much concern, but Ming Huazhang stopped, turned around and told her seriously: "I have something to do in a few days, so I may not have time to accompany you to the Buddhist temple. You should take the maids and guard you, and stay with your grandmother and aunt, and don't get lost."
"I know." Ming Huashang grew up in Luoyang, and had been to at least fifty Buddhist temples. He was very familiar with this place. "Thank you for the reminder, second brother. I'll go back now."
Ming Huazhang stood under the cedar in plain clothes, looking elegant as if he was blending into the background: "Okay."
After Ming Huashang left, Duke Zhenguo said curiously, "You two brothers and sisters have become much closer since you went out."
Ming Huazhang was still staring at the road, and only looked away when he could no longer see Ming Huachang's back: "I neglected her too much in the past. Father is right, she is indeed a very good young lady."
Outsiders had no idea what was going on in the palace, but the people were excited and welcoming the spring. In February, the ice and snow melted, willow branches quietly sprouted new buds, and the streets were full of tender green. Madam Ming picked a good day and went out with her daughter-in-law and granddaughters to the Chongyefang Bodhi Temple.
The royal family of Li Tang worshiped Taoism, and the empress worshiped Buddhism after she came to the throne, so Taoist temples and Buddhist temples were very prosperous in Luoyang.
Ming Huashang had no interest in Taoism or Buddhism, but temples were not just for worshiping Buddha and burning incense. Temples provided free accommodation for students, and some even had schools and clinics. Therefore, scholars and painters frequently visited the temples, and the temple walls themselves were the stage for the spread of poetry and painting. If you were not interested in literature, there were temple fairs, markets, and even theaters around the temples, which were very lively.
For a young lady like Ming Huashang, accompanying the elders to burn incense is equivalent to going out for fun.
Madam Ming was very devout to Buddha, but the young ladies did not have such a deep faith. Seeing the young ladies looking around on the mats, as if sitting on pins and needles, Madam Ming knew that they could not sit still, so she said, "I don't need you to accompany me here, go out and walk by yourselves."
Ming Huashang and Ming Shuo were obviously delighted. Ming Yu, who always boasted of being a filial daughter, said, "Let the sisters go out. I will accompany grandma to chant sutras."
Ming Huachang's smile froze, and Ming Shuo glared at Ming Yu fiercely. Old Madam Ming half-closed her eyes and said calmly, "No need. If you are forced to stay, your body will not be there in spirit. If you are not sincere to the Buddha, it is better not to worship. The weather is good today, and many people come to Bodhi Temple for an outing. You can also go out to relax and get to know people, but don't go too far."
Ming Yu's lips moved, and she finally stopped pretending. Ming Huashang let out a long sigh of relief and quickly bowed to Madam Ming: "Thank you, Grandmother."
The three sisters acted their inconsistency to the extreme, and after they left the temple affectionately, they turned their heads away from each other and went their separate ways, as if they didn't know each other. Soon they disappeared.
Ming Huashang was also happy and relaxed, taking Ruyi to admire the flowers in the Bodhi Temple. Madam Ming was right. Today, there were many visitors to the Bodhi Temple, including dignitaries and celebrities, and literati reciting poems everywhere. When someone was in a good mood, he would pick up a pen and write a poem on the temple wall. Whether it was scholars or ordinary people around, they would stop and comment on it.
Although Ming Huashang was a novice in literature, she liked this atmosphere very much. She also took Ruyi to the wall to watch the excitement. As soon as the poet finished writing, others came up to compete with him. The audience commented on the poems on the wall. Some thought the first one was good, and some thought the second one was good. In the end, the audience became divided and argued with each other.
Ming Huashang was watching the excitement with great interest. Just as the noise was getting louder, a terrified voice suddenly came from outside: "Help! There's a ghost!"
The heated atmosphere suddenly stagnated, and Ming Huashang also turned around and looked behind curiously.
A man who looked like a servant rushed into the Bodhi Temple, but was tripped by the door sill and fell. He got up as if he felt no pain and stumbled towards the main hall: "Abbot, my master wants to see you. Please go to the house to exorcise the ghost!"
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