Chapter 76 On Buddhism
Zhu Zhanji couldn't help but laugh when he saw her rushing out so impatiently. He said to Wu Miaosu, "Look at how anxious she is..."
Seeing that Zhu Yuhuan had gotten what she wanted, Wu Miaosu couldn't help but feel happy for her. She smiled and made an excuse, "The princess knows that it's not easy for your majesty, and she really wants to help your majesty. Otherwise, why would a princess worry about all this?"
Zhu Zhanji was very pleased with these words. "She has been sensible since she was young." He saw Zhu Qiyu, who was leaning on Wu Miaosu's arms, reaching out to grab her hairpin. He smiled and took the child, saying, "Yu'er is just like you, quite lively. Back then, you were still a female official, and you looked very heroic when shooting arrows."
Wu Miaosu said smoothly: "Children mostly grow up with their mothers, so it is inevitable that their temperaments will be similar to their mothers."
Zhu Qiyu didn't understand what his mother said, but seeing the smile on her lips, he happily hugged Wu Miaosu's neck.
Zhu Zhanji thought of Hu Shanxiang when he heard this. He was silent for a moment before he said, "You always like to speak for her."
Wu Miaosu took off the hairpin from her hair and used the tassel to tease Zhu Qiyu, saying, "Seeing the princess working so hard, I always think of my childhood when I had to do my best for my mother and brother. I just feel the same way."
Zhu Zhanji smiled and said, "She is a princess. She didn't suffer any more than you did when you were a child."
"Everyone in this world suffers in their own way. Some suffer physically, while others suffer in their hearts."
Seeing her so gentle, Zhu Zhanji said, "Your statement does seem to imply that everything is suffering. Have you been reading Buddhist teachings recently?"
"The old lady often summoned me to the Renshou Palace. Seeing that she was deeply immersed in Buddhism, I also wanted to learn more, so I often copied Buddhist scriptures and sent them to her."
Zhu Zhanji frowned slightly and asked casually, "Does the Empress Dowager often ask you and Yu'er to come over?"
Wu Miaosu had also heard some of the rumors in the palace and said, "Yes. But your majesty, don't worry, the old lady still values the eldest prince the most."
Zhu Zhanji had never thought that she could be so insightful. He was a little surprised and said, "You..."
"The Empress has repeatedly warned against gossiping in the palace, but I understand that succession is the foundation of a nation. If we waver between Qin and Chu, how can the country be stable?" Wu Miaosu patted her son's head and said gently, "Yu'er is the younger brother, and he should be humble and yield to his elder brother."
Zhu Zhanji couldn't help but sigh: "You are more sensible."
Wu Miaosu was somewhat helpless and said, "I was also a little confused at first, and even complacent. It was only after the Empress came to my house several times and explained the reasons to me that I finally understood the painstaking efforts of the Empress and His Majesty."
Zhu Zhanji sighed and said, "She is a good queen. If all the concubines in the palace can follow her example, I won't have to worry."
Wu Miaosu naturally understood that he was talking about Concubine Sun, and comforted her, "The verse 'Miao Se Wang Seeking the Dharma' says, 'From love arises sorrow, from love arises fear. If one is free from love, there is neither sorrow nor fear.' If it weren't for love, how could there be sorrow and fear?"
Zhu Zhanji was silent for a long time, then asked, "What about the queen?"
Wu Miaosu was stunned. She didn't expect Zhu Zhanji to mention Hu Shanxiang.
Seeing her stunned, Zhu Zhanji chuckled and said, "You didn't expect me to talk about the Queen, did you?"
Wu Miaosu didn't deny it, but simply said, "Why does Your Majesty care about the Empress's feelings? The Empress is wise and generous, never jealous, and is praised by everyone inside and outside the palace. Isn't that good?"
"If there is no love in one's heart, there will be no worries or fears. It is obvious that the Queen does not have me in her heart." Zhu Zhanji said with some self-mockery, "I want to be a wise ruler, not a pair of resentful lovers with my Queen. Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, Taizu and Emperor Taizong of our dynasty, which one of them was not a harmonious couple with deep love?"
Wu Miaosu understood that what he was concerned about was the emperor's reputation, but she still said truthfully, "Your Majesty has been in the palace for eleven years. Hasn't she become more and more insightful over the years? Perhaps she no longer wants to confide in you."
Zhu Zhanji sneered and said, "Ever since she married into the Eastern Palace, I have never seen her open her heart to anyone."
Wu Miaosu didn't know about the past between the two, but she knew a little about Concubine Sun's affairs, so she said, "Perhaps the Empress knows that Your Majesty and the Concubine have been close friends since childhood, so she doesn't want to interfere... Your Majesty has forgotten that the Empress is one year younger than the Concubine, and before she got married, she still had the mindset of a little girl."
Zhu Zhanji was startled and remained silent for a long time before saying, "I forgot that she is not yet thirty years old, and the youngest sister in the family seems to have just reached the age to get married."
Wu Miaosu echoed his words, "How could Your Majesty not know the goodness of the Empress? It's just that the Empress is reserved by nature, and Your Majesty doesn't know how to treat her well."
Zhu Zhanji suddenly understood after hearing her words and said, "You are right. Although the Queen doesn't say it, she must be concerned about her family. The position of Deputy Commander of the Central Military Commandery is good and there is no need for promotion. I will grant him an additional 500 dan of food salary per year."
Wu Miaosu immediately responded: "Your Majesty is right."
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