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 on and off.
Zhao Duan sat back on the bed, couldn't help but pinched his eyebrows gently, and said with a wry smile:
"If this is really the case, then His Majesty's trip to Shenlong Temple just now was successful. Great purification and the thoughts of the ancestral court in the Western Regions.”
When he said this, his heart moved:
If Zhenbao has seen through this, then he still chooses to find trouble in such a big way... If it is just to vent his anger and show the authority of the court, there is actually no need to use this method Way.
Xu Zhenguan sat on a round stool, glanced at him with phoenix eyes, and smiled slightly:
"Having said that, is it not in the interest of the court?"
Zhao Duan blinked his big eyes: "Your Majesty, you mean..."
Xu Zhenguan sighed and said seriously: "As for the stance of these two Buddhist sects, the imperial court's stance is always the same, that is, it does not want the two to merge into one."
Zhao Duan was startled, and then suddenly realized .
Yes.
East and West Buddhism have been in conflict for hundreds of years. What was the attitude of the Dayu court? On the one hand, the imperial court had good relations with Shenlong Temple, and on the other hand, it also maintained trade with the Western Regions.
Because for the Yu Dynasty, a divided Buddhism was a good Buddhism.
Once things merge into one, it may mean the emergence of a behemoth, which is definitely not what the empress wants to see.
“The branch of Shenlong Temple has become increasingly large in the past two hundred years. In terms of strength, it has caught up with or even surpassed the ancestral temple in the Western Regions. That’s why Xuan Yin is thinking deeply about his career as abbot. Here, we will complete the great cause of promoting the merger."
Xu Zhenguan explained softly, with some emotion in his tone:
"On the surface, the imperial court has no objection or support, but if there is an opportunity, It is not a bad thing to weaken Shenlong Temple and make it more balanced with the power of the Western Region. Of course, the premise is that the Western Region cannot be too strong."
Zhao Duan understood.
For the empress, Shenlong Temple was an important force to check and balance the Buddhist ancestral court in the Western Regions.
It is not good for Shenlong Temple to be too weak, but it is not good to be too strong.
"I heard that the Western Region seems to have sent people into the territory of Dayu." Zhao Duan said suddenly.
Xu Zhendian nodded and said: "In a few days, we will arrive in the capital."
"What are they doing here?"
"Two things. One is to represent the Western Region and discuss next year's trade with the imperial court. Winter has already entered, and it is the end of the year in a blink of an eye. These things should be discussed as usual. The other is to cause trouble for Shenlong Temple. There is no way to fight. As for debating scriptures and comparing Buddhism, there must be something.
This is not the first time. The monks from the Western Regions have come, and they must drag Shenlong Temple to debate scriptures and fight for victory. Tell the world who has inherited the essence of Buddhism," Xu Zhenguan explained.
Debate?
Good guys, just as the old scholar from Zhengyang left, another group of monks came... Well, but the difference is that the monks are not looking for trouble with the empress...
If the guess just now is Really, the Great Pure Monk has defected to the Western Regions, so I’m afraid no one will be found in the search. I can only seek revenge against the Western Regions Monk?
Ask them for people? Asking for ghusl to be handed over...heh, it's a fantasy.
Not to mention that it is impossible for the other party to surrender, the mere mention of "Gathering and defecting to the Western Regions" is just speculation without evidence...
Zhao Duan frowned slightly, worried about what was about to happen. I don't have a good impression of the mission from the Western Regions.
“Your Majesty, I don’t know much about the ancestral court in the Western Regions. I only heard that the ancestral court is like an emperor in the small country over there in the Western Regions. It has the highest authority. The king of Dharma is its leader and the king of Dharma. The monks below seem to be divided into several sects?”
Xu Zhenguan said “En” and said:
"Indeed, the monks under the ancestral court of the Western Regions are divided into five parties, that is, five sects, distinguished by the color of their hats, namely red, white, green, yellow, and black monks. The leader of the sect is respected as the guru. As for the The monks over there are called 'Tantrayana Practitioners'."
After a pause, she continued:
"The leader of the mission here is the Red Sect Master. , with the name of 'Holy Monk'"
Divided by the color of the hat?
Good guys, isn’t it true that the green monks here are green hats per capita... Oh, monks, that’s okay... Still a ‘holy monk’, is the layman’s surname Tang or Chen? Is there a monkey around you?
Zhao Duan complained in his heart and couldn't help but feel a little curious.
Xu Zhenguan did not continue to talk in depth, but instead said:
"Okay, you don't need to worry about these things. Your priority now is to recover from your injuries. You may not be able to escape through ghusl. Even if he escapes, I promise you to catch him sooner or later. Before that, you can vent your anger on Nagarjuna."
After a pause, she suddenly remembered something interesting and said:
< br>"This group of monks should be the last group of outsiders before the New Year. You can recuperate at home and spend the New Year peacefully. However, when the New Year is approaching, some generals and the Duke of Guo who guard the Dayu border will come back. When the Duke returns, he may look for you again.”
The Duke of Zhenguo? Tang Da Ren?
"Little Master" Tang Ping's father?
Zhao Duan was stunned for a moment. He punished the young master at Shenji Camp, but he did not give any face to Tang Guogong who was guarding Xiping Road.
But... I later transferred Tang Ping back to Shenji Camp. This matter should be considered over... right?
"The Duke of Zhen's family is extremely doting on the young master and is the most protective of his shortcomings." Xu Zhenguan said with a smile.
"...Your Majesty, I think it would be good to go on a business trip during the Chinese New Year..."
"Haha," Xu Zhenguan rolled his eyes and deliberately frightened him and said:
"You did it yourself Please, clean up the mess yourself."
Zhao Duan's eyes wandered and he said:
"Your Majesty, I have issued a military order, and I have to arrest Zhuang Xiaocheng before the end of the year..."< br>
"You have been seriously injured for the country. I allow you some grace. There is no rush at this time."
"...Uh." Zhao Duan lost his temper and wilted, feeling aggrieved as if he had been abandoned. The dog (pretending)
The empress snorted, stood up and left, saying:
“Seeing that you are in good spirits, I feel relieved. I will stay in the palace tonight. If you can move again tomorrow morning, go home."
"Your Majesty..." Zhao Duan was anxious and reached out to grab the empress's wrist, which was smooth and warm.
"Huh?" Xu Zhenguan turned around and stared at him with unkind eyes.
Zhao Duan said weakly: "Your Majesty, I feel that I am a little weak and need to be taken care of."
As he spoke, he covered his chest with gestures, but when he touched the wound, he screamed and grimaced in pain. .
Xu Zhenguan panicked and subconsciously stepped forward, leaning down to investigate. When he caught a glimpse of the pride in the eyes of the wailing Zhao Duan, he suddenly realized that he had been played.
Angrily, she stretched out her hand, pinched the fat around his waist, and used the "twist" technique, a woman's natural skill.
"Ah - it hurts, it hurts... Your Majesty, please spare my life!" Zhao Duan cried out.
Xu Zhenguan sneered: "Are you honest?"
"Honest."
"Are you okay?"
"No... …Ah, OK, OK!”
"Do you want me to take care of you?"
"...I feel that my injury has suddenly healed. Your Majesty has many things to do, so don't waste time. I send you off respectfully!"
Ha!
Can’t cure you?
The corners of Xu Zhenguan's mouth curled up slightly, with pride in his eyes. He retracted his hand and turned to walk out the door.
Zhao Duan grinned, lying on the bed, looking at the back of the empress walking out of the room, feeling a little reluctant.
But as an emperor, and having just had such a big fight with Shenlong Temple, it is conceivable that all the court officials in the capital have already rushed to the palace, wanting to ask questions situation.
The empress also needs to heal the aftermath.
"Oh, I am alone in my empty boudoir." 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.
"Well, do Lao Hai and the others know that I teleported back? Not necessarily...well, but after the ghusl monk assassinated me, he must have been in a hurry to escape. Faced with the siege, Lao Hai and the others should not be affected. What kind of injury..."
"Tsk, speaking of which, the letter I sent back when I was at Huting has arrived..."
...
Outside the room.
Xu Zhenguan walked out for the second time. The sky outside was getting darker and darker, and a cold wind blew on her face. She looked at the group of female officials waiting outside the door and found that their eyes were a little strange.
Well...
As they had witnessed Mr. Zhao being injured, His Majesty visiting him, and then going to Shenlong Temple to make a big fuss, they did not say anything, but they all seemed to guess that His Majesty was so angry because of Mr. Zhao...
So, Are the rumors true? Your Majesty really has an affair with Mr. Zhao...
"What are you doing here, Du Chu? Let's break up." Xu Zhenguan frowned helplessly, "By the way, send the order and let go of all the people who were banned before." "
She initially blocked the news of Zhao Duan's injury because she didn't understand what happened.
Now that we have a showdown with Shenlong Temple, there is no need to keep it secret.
"Yes!"
A group of slaves bowed and saluted, but in the distance they saw the "female prime minister" wrapped in a cotton skirt and with plum blossom makeup on her eyebrows hurriedly walking towards her with the hem of her skirt in hand.
Mochou glanced at the empress with complex and sad eyes, lowered his head and said:
"Your Majesty, a secret letter has been delivered."
"Letter?"
"It was sent by Mr. Zhao from Huting. Due to the bad weather, the delivery was a little late."
In fact, it was not too late, but Zhao Duan used "teleport" to directly save half of the journey. The letter sent arrived in the capital earlier.
Xu Zhenguan raised his eyebrows and reached out to take it.
Tear open the envelope and unfold the letter. Sure enough, it contains what Zhao Duan saw and heard after arriving at Huting... However, she had just heard these words orally. The empress hurriedly scanned to the end and was stunned.
"In addition, I enjoyed the scenery south of the Yangtze River in the Humble Administrator's Garden, which was different from that of the capital. When I was in a trance, my thoughts were wandering, and I missed your Majesty Xu Yi enjoying the scenery in the Imperial Garden at that time.
It's like seeing thousands of taels of gold in an empty mountain and a poor valley, and outside, there is a beautiful person with white egrets and quills.
I asked myself whether I am tempted?
He said: Move, move, move, move, move..."
Xu Zhenguan looked blankly at the densely packed string of "moving" characters in the second half of the secret letter, and his cheeks suddenly turned red. Her expression changed. She suddenly gritted her teeth, turned around, kicked open the door again, and walked in.
Mochou and others were left with confused faces, not understanding what happened.
"Hey, Your Majesty? Why are you back again?" Zhao Duan was distracted when he suddenly saw Zhenbao returning and was overjoyed. Then he saw her holding the letter in her hand, with a smile on her face.
The empress reached out her hands in shame and used the "twist" technique again:
"I asked you to move, move, move for me, why can't you move?"
"Ah...I can't move anymore, I don't dare to move...I don't dare to move anymore..."
outside the door.
A group of female officials listened to the words of tiger and wolf coming from the crack in the door, whispering.
Only Mo Chou felt like an arrow had been hit in his waist. He looked up at the sky slumped and speechless, but he felt a sudden coldness between his brows, which slowly melted away.
She was startled for a moment, stretched out her hand, and saw a snowflake falling on her palm. It's snowing.
……
……
To the west of the capital is Xiping Road.
At this moment, the cold wind is rolling, and the cold wind is as biting as a knife.
A little bit of flying snow slowly fell from the sky, and the first snow in three years of Dayu Chaotianfeng arrived as promised.
A long motorcade hurriedly arrived at an abandoned temple near the official road to avoid the wind and snow.
With the sound of shouts, a monk known as the "Tantrayana Practitioner" began to lead the horse and get off the vehicle.
“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 car curtain opened, and an old monk with dark skin and an old monkey-like appearance walked out. He was wearing red monk robes and a red monk's hat, but his style was different from the other travelers.
A string of beads made of white ivory hangs around the neck.
The sunken eye sockets are full of wisdom.
"Master, are you going to enter the temple?"
Out of the car, another little novice monk, about a teenager, emerged.
The same red monk's robes have the typical three-dimensional facial features of people from the Western Regions, but their manners and manners are different from the wildness of the Western Regions, and are instead similar to people from the Yu Dynasty.
This will be busy stuffing the flag box into the box.
"Well, let's go into the temple." The chief of the Western Region Mission, the master of the Red Order, the "Holy Monk" straightened the young monk's hat with a smile.
“Wait a moment for the princess.”
The young monk named Dan Che looked towards the end of the motorcade.
It turns out that the team of the Western Regions Mission was divided into two ends, with this group of monks at the front, and another group of Western Regions people dressed as warriors with scimitars on their waists and at the back.
They all complimented a carriage. At this moment, a strong female warrior from the Western Regions came out of the carriage.
He wears leather armor, is tall, has braided hair, rough and red skin, the scimitar at his waist is inlaid with gems, and his eyes are sharp and alert.
After the female warrior got off the car, she said something, and then another woman got out of the car.
He is a typical Yu person.
The woman was about forty years old, wearing a Yu-style dress, and her black hair was dotted with many colorful gems.
However, it could not cover up the woman's appearance that had aged well but was still good-looking.
The woman has a gentle demeanor, but has a sense of majesty. She has no stage fright when facing a group of warriors. On the contrary, the large group of warriors salute respectfully.
"Princess Manzhu..."
The old monk wearing a red hat and ivory prayer beads said with emotion, "I am traveling with the princess who returned to the Yu Kingdom to visit her relatives. Danche, do you know what this means? What?”
The little monk carrying a bamboo strips 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 Yu State, we only sent an official from the Western Region State.
This year, Princess Manzhu But going back in person must be related to the struggle for the throne in the Yu Kingdom. Hehe, a married princess should not care about her mother's family affairs, but blood is thicker than water, so how can she not care?"
Dan Che was confused: "Disciple doesn't quite understand."
The old monk smiled and did not explain.
Just looking at the princess in the distance, during the late emperor's time, she was sent to the Western Regions for marriage because she was disliked by the old emperor. From then on, she stationed in the Western Regions Kingdom and gradually became the leader of the princess with her hands clasped together.
Princess Manzhu also smiled and saluted him.
The two parties did not talk. After the ceremony, the two groups of people walked towards this large temple.
Snowflakes are falling one after another and the wind is howling.
The monks and warriors entered the temple and each occupied a separate area, making fire and boiling water in a familiar manner.
The old monk looked at the broken statue of the earth temple, shook his head, raised his hand and waved it gently, and the dust on the ground disappeared as new.
After a while, the fire rose, and the snow fell and it became dark outside the temple.
Dan Che put down the bamboo strip box and took out the 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 both hands, and reviewed the game according to memory, preparing to restore the half of the chess game he had just played with his master in the carriage.
If there were any chess masters here, they would be greatly surprised.
This young monk who grew up in the Western Regions has a terrifyingly strong memory. He seems to be reviewing the game without any structure, but every chess piece that falls is exactly the same as the previous steps in the game.
And the chess game has almost reached the late stage. The board is so complicated that even if it is shown to the powerful players in the capital, they will treat it with caution.
However, the surrounding monks were not surprised and knew that Danche's chess skills were extremely powerful in the local area.
But no one knows exactly how powerful it is.
But considering that Go was introduced from the Yu Kingdom, he subconsciously felt that Dan Che's chess skills must be far inferior to those from the Yu Kingdom.
Only the old monk knows how terrifying Danche’s chess skills are, just as terrifying as his own depth of research on Buddhism.
"Master, you said it was strange that Princess Manzhu led the team, but it is also strange that you are willing to lead the team to the Kingdom of Yu," Danche whispered while reviewing the story:
" In the past, you were reluctant to go out.
This time you went to the Yu Kingdom. Others said that it was because the Shenlong Temple failed in the battle and the momentum was waning, so we and the orthodox people went to debate the scriptures and teach the people of the Yu Kingdom. , it is not Buddhism that loses, but only Shenlong Temple, the orthodoxy of Buddhism lies in the ancestral court...
Your Dharma is the most profound among the five directions, probably second only to Dharma King. But I always feel that there are other reasons why you are willing to come out. "
The old monk was sitting cross-legged on the ground, drinking milk tea, and looked at his disciple in surprise. After thinking about it, he solemnly nodded and said:
"Yes, I am going to the Kingdom of Yu as my teacher. , debating scriptures is only one of them, the more important purpose is to find 'wisdom'. "
Dan Che knelt beside the chessboard and said blankly:
"Master, what exactly is your so-called wisdom? ”
As a disciple, the young man knew that his master suddenly came out of seclusion around spring and summer, claiming that he "saw" "wisdom" coming to the east.
From then on, the "holy monk", who was a giant of the Five Directions Sect in the Western Regions, seemed to be possessed by a demon and had the idea of leaving for the Yu Kingdom.
The old monk looked at the wind and snow outside the temple and said softly:
"My Buddha and God are the 'World Honored One'. The World Honored One is the god in charge of wisdom. His incarnation when he comes to the human world is 'Hui'."
Dan Che said in surprise:
"You mean, the Buddha's incarnation has come to the 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:
< br>"That's what a ignorant person who doesn't understand Buddhism says. How can you believe it? The Dharma King only believed in the World Honored One. He was the earliest enlightened person in the world and the reincarnation identity of the prophet who received the inheritance of the World Honored One...but not the god himself. It's not the incarnation of a god."
Dan Che shrank his neck, knowing that once he talked about this, the master would be confused:
"But since it is the 'Hui' transformed by the World Honored One, why? Appearing in the capital of Yu State? Is it because Shenlong Temple is there? It is clear that our ancestral court is the orthodox one..."
The holy monk shook his head and said: "I don't know this either. I only saw where wisdom came this spring."
Dan Che asked curiously: "How to find wisdom?"
The holy monk Said: "When wisdom comes to the world, it must be extraordinary, just like a bonfire shining brightly at night. As long as you look for the people who are emerging in the capital this year, you will naturally find them."
Dan Che said curiously: "Then what happens after you find it? ?”
The old monk’s eyes suddenly burst out with enthusiasm, like a converted believer:
"Hui is the incarnation of the World Honored One and represents the World Honored One's will. As believers, we should follow him."
"After following..."
"Shut up and play your chess game. , Aren’t you thinking about challenging the national players of Yu State?”
“…Oh.”
The little monk put down the last black stone, got rid of distracting thoughts, and entered the world of chess.
...
The other side of the ruined temple.
The tall female warrior held the hot food and came to Princess Manzhu who was sitting by the bonfire, looking at the snow falling outside the temple.
"Princess, please have a meal."
Princess Manzhu looked away and smiled: "You can sit down and eat too."
The female warrior did not refuse and sat on the floor. She couldn't use chopsticks, so she ate her portion with a spoon:
"Princess, in a few days, we should be able to arrive in the capital."
< br>"Yes." Princess Wenzhu, who was well-known for loving the people like her own son in the Western Regions and was extremely popular, was a little distracted and said softly:
"Three years ago, there was news of the death of my brother, the prince, and Jian Wen. When the news came, I was dissuaded and did not go back. Two years ago, when the news came that Zhenguan was crowned emperor, I was tied up by trivial matters and did not go back. This year I was finally able to go home. "
Dun. After a pause, the princess, who was over forty years old, sighed:
"But the home is already deserted."
The female warrior said confused: "In that case, why do you want to go back?"
Princess Manzhu was silent for a long time, then shook her head and said:
“I don’t know either, but I want to persuade Zhenguan. Many relatives have already died, so we can’t die anymore.
I heard that Yunyang has been banned and locked up. It seems that she is trying to cut down the vassal status and attack other uncles because of her reputation. I am worried that... Zhenguan has been seduced by treacherous ministers and has done unwise things."
The female warrior said:
"Mianshou...means concubine of a man? That one named Zhao? I have also heard that in the great competition between Buddhism and Taoism, holding the sword of Emperor Taizu of the Yu Kingdom, he defeated Tianhai of Shenlong Temple."
Princess Wenzhu nodded and said worriedly:
"This is what I am worried about. How can an unknown person hold the sword of his ancestors? br>
Zhenguan must have secretly helped... Even if it was for the royal family, how indignant would the ancestors of all generations be if they knew about it?
With Zhenguan's temperament, he shouldn't have done such ridiculous things. I'm afraid he just confuses the treacherous minister named Zhao. "
After a pause, she said solemnly:
"When I get to Beijing, I want to see how this man has brought disaster to the country and the people. ”
……
(End of this chapter)