Miao Shenke's family was making arrangements for his funeral.
Miao Shenke had a son and two daughters, and his two sons-in-law also lived with him. The one who answered the door was Wang Qi, Miao Shenke's eldest son-in-law. When he saw Di Renjie and learned that these people were sent by the Empress, Wang Qi hurriedly invited them in.
Although Wu Zetian suspected that Miao Shenke was killed, the Miao family did not know. They all thought that Miao Shenke had committed suicide because he could not bear the pressure of Empress Wu. Therefore, the so-called condolences sent by the Empress were naturally a show of crocodile tears, but they did not dare to show this mentality.
Di Renjie's old eyes were very sharp. He not only noticed that the grief of Wang Qi and Li Xianguang, Miao Shenke's two sons-in-law, was fake, but he also noticed that they had a kind of relief. If it were not for the tall mourning shed, the monks sent by the abbot of Tiangong Temple were chanting the Rebirth Mantra, and the incessant crying of Miao Shenke's son and two daughters, and the heavy atmosphere at the scene, they would have even unconsciously revealed a happy expression.
After all, they were not Miao Shenke's biological children. They knew the reason why Miao Shenke hid here and avoided going out, and they had no idea how Wu Zetian would deal with Miao Shenke. It was likely that they had always been worried that they would be implicated and that they would be executed by Empress Wu's decree. Now that Miao Shenke was dead, the noose around their necks could be considered to have been untied.
Di Renjie, who was familiar with the affairs of the world, only sighed secretly and did not point it out. He did not tell the Miao family that he was here to investigate the case. After burning incense and worshipping, he chatted with Miao Shenke's son for a while and asked if Miao Shenke had any unusual behavior before and after "committing suicide," and whether there were any guests visiting the Miao family that day.
As Divine Guest Miao's disciple, Du Xian also wore mourning clothes and busied himself inside and outside. Suddenly, he saw a rather familiar face among the group of people who came with the fat old man surnamed Di. After taking a closer look, he couldn't help but exclaim, "Ah! It's you! "
Yang Fan bent down and patted his head. "Little brother, you're here too."
When Di Renjie heard their conversation, he turned his head and asked, "Oh, you two know each other?"
"Yes," Yang Fan replied, "A few days ago, I received Shangguan Daizhao's order to pay a visit to Scholar Miao to ask for a set of calligraphy. At that time, it was this Xiao Xiongdi who opened the door for me."
Yang Fan sighed and said, "I didn't expect that when I come back today, I would be separated from Scholar Miao by Yin and Yang."
Di Renjie's expression slightly changed as he asked, "Is it the day you saved me?"
Yang Fan said, "Yes!"
Miao Shenke staying here was actually equivalent to house arrest. Di Renjie also knew that the person watching over him was Shangguan Wan 'er. Shangguan Wan' er was fond of poetry and was specialized in dealing with the court officials. It was a very common thing for her to ask for a set of calligraphy. He nodded and stood up. He said to Miao Shenke's son and two sons-in-law, "This old man will go back now. My condolences!"
The Miao people quickly returned the gesture. Di Renjie led Yang Fan, Zhang Xitong, and the others out. The Miao people sent them to the main gate and returned. Di Renjie stood outside the main gate and did not leave immediately. He looked at the narrow and narrow alley, then looked at the high walls on the left and right, a thoughtful expression on his face.
After a while, Shu Asheng quickly walked over. Shu Asheng was Di Renjie's personal attendant and had always been by his side. However, not long after arriving at the Miao family, he disappeared without a trace. No one knew where he went.
Shu Asheng came to Di Renjie's side and bowed. "Ah Lang!"
Di Renjie asked, "How is it?"
Shu Asheng said, "This lowly one has asked. The peddlers selling dates, walnuts, and incense at the entrance of the alley did not see anyone enter this alley on the day Scholar Miao hung himself."
Di Renjie said with a smile, "They can remember it so clearly? These businessmen have been watching this alley for a long time. How can they be sure that no one entered the alley and escaped their eyes? "
Shu Asheng said, "This lowly one has asked. They said that because there is only one family with the surname Miao in this alley, the Miao family rarely goes out. Other than the Miao family's servants coming out to buy some vegetables in the morning, no one from the Miao family comes out all day, and no one has ever entered the alley. So they don't need to remember whether or not anyone entered the alley on the day Scholar Miao hung himself. In fact, no one has entered this alley these days."
Di Renjie nodded. "Hmm, if that's the case, their testimony can be trusted!"
He raised his head and looked at the two high walls on the left and right. He said, "If Scholar Miao really did not hang himself, then someone must have forced him to do so, and this person did not enter through the normal path. You see, the left side of this alley is Tianjin Bridge, a busy street with people coming and going. It is impossible for someone to climb over the wall to enter from this side. Behind the house is the Luo River adjacent to Tianjin Bridge. That place is also not suitable for sneaking. As for the rest … "
Yang Fan said, "Then it can only be this right side. The only possibility is that he climbed over the wall to enter from Tiangong Temple!"
Di Renjie nodded and said, "Let's go! Let's go to Tiangong Temple to take a look! "
Di Renjie and his group walked out of the alley and went around to Tiangong Temple. They saw that the Tiangong Temple was crowded with people entering but not exiting. Before they entered the door, they heard a buzz. Di Renjie could not help but ask, "What day is it today? Is there a big ceremony in the temple?"
Shu Asheng said, "This lowly one will go and ask."
Shu Asheng squeezed into the temple and ran out after a while. He reported to Di Renjie, "Ah Lang, the abbot of Tiangong Temple is teaching the Great Cloud Scripture to the believers."
Di Renjie was a little surprised and said, "Oh? There are actually so many people coming to listen to the scripture? "
Shu Asheng said, "I heard that everyone who came to listen to the scripture today will be rewarded with a liter of rice!"
Di Renjie suddenly understood and said to Yang Fan, "Let's go in and take a look!"
The group followed the crowd into Tiangong Temple. Zhang Xitong and the other guards were still surrounding Di Renjie. They saw that on the high steps in front of the Mahavira Hall, an old monk wearing a red kasaya was sitting solemnly on the altar. In front of the altar, there was a cauldron-style four-legged censer with countless sandalwood incense sticks as thick as an arm. The incense curled around the altar, making it look like a looming heavenly palace.
The abbot of Tiangong Temple, Master Yuan Shu, was sitting on the altar and chanting Sanskrit. He mumbled something that no one knew what he was saying. After a long while, he stopped and picked up his bowl to drink some water. A young novice monk at the side said loudly, "Be quiet, be quiet. Listen to the abbot's explanation."
Abbot Yuan Shu put down his bowl, coughed and said, "The Revered One of the World has said: I have reached Nirvana, and thou have temporarily heard the Great Nirvana Scripture from that Buddha. Because of fate, I have obtained the heavenly body today. It is worth it for me to come out and hear the profound meaning. Giving up the heavenly form is to use the female body as the kingdom's territory. At that time, all the ministers will worship thee as the heir of the king. Since the female has inherited the righteousness, her prestige will rule the world. All the lands in Jambu Kingdom will be worshipped, and no one will refuse … "
"The Revered One of the World's words means that after Buddha has reached Nirvana, this personal disciple will descend to the human world and rule the human world on behalf of Buddha as a woman. All the ministers and ministers, all the people in the world, and all the barbarians should surrender to her. We all know, after Buddha has reached Nirvana, which Buddha will rule the Buddhist Kingdom? "
The believers who were listening to the scripture below the stage were all talking at once, and someone answered, "It's the Future Buddha!"
"It's the Maitreya Buddha!"
"The Maitreya Buddha is the Future Buddha!"
Abbot Yuan Shu smiled and said, "Yes, it's the Maitreya Buddha. And this female Empress who descended to the human world to rule the human world is the incarnation of the Maitreya Buddha in the human world. At this point, some of the benefactors with the root of wisdom must have already thought of it. Yes! From today onwards, she will be the incarnation of the Maitreya Buddha in the human world, and will rule the human world under the Revered One of the World's orders. If the Empress becomes the Empress, the world will be at peace, and all suffering can be removed … "
Di Renjie stood in the crowd, shook his head secretly, and sighed softly.
Di Renjie had naturally seen through Wu Zetian's intention to become the Empress. Di Renjie had a very contradictory mentality towards Wu Zetian. Di Renjie was loyal to the Tang dynasty, but his loyalty was not to Li Tang's family, but to the entire Tang dynasty. Therefore, he did not reject Wu Zetian becoming the Empress.
From Di Renjie's point of view, it did not matter who the Empress was. What was important was that the country was still stable and strong, and that the millions of people in the country could live peacefully. Currently, there was indeed no one more capable than Empress Wu to rule this huge empire.
However, he also clearly understood that for thousands of years, it had been men ruling the country. Empress Wu becoming the Empress would be more of a hindrance than men changing dynasties. Therefore, it would be the best choice for her to control the power as the Empress Dowager. Once she wanted to become the Empress, she would inevitably have to carry out massacres, which would inevitably cause great losses to the country.
From his personal point of view, he was loyal to this country, and also admired Empress Wu's boldness. Therefore, he was loyal to Empress Wu as a person. He supported Empress Wu to rule this country, but the country was already under Empress Wu's rule. He did not approve of Empress Wu's insistence on fighting for the title of Empress and the series of methods she had used.
At the same time, he knew that Empress Wu was already old. Once Empress Wu passed away, this country would eventually return to the hands of Li Tang's royal family. If the Wu family inherited this country, it would definitely cause greater unrest in this country. The reason was that there was no outstanding person among the Wu family's descendants who could be the ruler of a country.
On the other hand, Li Tang had already gone through three generations of emperors, and his rule over the Tang dynasty was deeply rooted. This kind of influence was not something that Empress Wu, the daughter-in-law of the Li family, could erase after just a few years of being the Empress. No matter how ruthlessly she massacred, it was impossible unless she was given thirty to fifty years to rule this country and at least ten years to raise an heir. But could she live that long?
Di Renjie sighed softly. He suddenly remembered the banquet held by Princess Taiping a few days ago and couldn't help but think, "The royal family of Li Tang is not thriving, and those who wanted to revive the royal family were all killed by the Empress. But … as the Empress' most beloved daughter, Princess Taiping is not regarded as a threat by the Empress. This is the 'darkness under the lamp'."
"The Crown Prince and the Prince of Luling are cowardly and mediocre, and neither of them are great talents. Among the many members of Li Tang's royal family, only this Princess Taiping is capable. Taiping has invited this old man to a banquet, and all the ministers have come to accompany her. It seems that she intends to get involved in court politics. This is a great thing! In order to obtain the throne, Empress Wu has no choice but to rely on the Wu family. In Taiping's struggle for power, she can only rely on the members of Li Tang's royal family. In this way, she has to do her best to protect the members of Li Tang's royal family. Then … there will be a glimmer of hope for the revival of the Li family … "
Thinking of this, Di Renjie inwardly nodded and made up his mind.
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