"Is that so? Then I'll definitely feast my eyes on it." Jingwan was obviously very interested. She thought for a moment and said, "I'll invite Sister Jia, Cousin Yuan, and Yingshuang. The more the merrier. I'll send them the invitation right away. "
Jingwan wasn't a person who would drag her feet and act on her words.
Granny Gong hoped that she would refuse. If she did, then the King of Hell wouldn't blame them for not doing a good job. Unfortunately, this excuse just happened to poke at the young lady's weak spot. She once again "helped the tyrant do evil". She sighed in her heart, "Young Lady, you're so excited, but you're taking the initiative to walk into the wolf's den, into the tiger's mouth!
Jingwan said as she wrote the invitation, "When you go and report to Grandmother, you might as well ask her if she wants to go together. Grandmother has been away from the capital for so many years. She must miss a lot of places in the capital."
"You're so filial." With Madame Luo around, it was perfectly justifiable for her to keep the girl by her side. Naturally, she wouldn't easily be left alone. If the King of Hell wanted to make a move, he would have to think twice. Although Mama Gong didn't think that he could be stopped as long as there were more people, she could only comfort herself with this.
"This has nothing to do with filial piety. I'm just putting myself in Grandmother's shoes and thinking about it, I think she would probably be like that."
Jingwan finished writing the invitation and brought it directly to the main courtyard. She suggested going to White Dragon Temple to play and burn incense. Madame Luo naturally didn't disagree. She didn't have anything to do for the time being and didn't care much about the peach forest in White Dragon Temple. What she missed more was the vegetarian food in White Dragon Temple. "It's been so many years. I'm afraid the cooks have changed long ago. I wonder if the taste is still the same."
"As the saying goes, take the essence and discard the dregs. Maybe the taste will be better." Jingwan said with a smile.
"Wanwan is right. Who knows, it might be even better. When are you and your close friends going to meet? "
"Tomorrow."
"When it comes to flowers and plants, you're always so impatient." Madame Luo pointed at her in the air.
"Granddaughter only has that little hobby." Jingwan did not feel that there was anything wrong with this at all. "If Grandmother feels that it is not appropriate, we can delay it. Anyway, the invitation has not been sent out yet." Although she was eager to see the beautiful scenery, it was not impossible to wait for one or two more days.
"No need, just tomorrow." Madame Luo directly asked the person beside her to send the invitation.
Then, Jingwan thought of another question, "Grandmother, do you want to ask the other sisters if they want to go together?" She didn't think of them in the beginning, was it not good? Jingwan began to reflect on herself. After all, she was no longer in Qi 'an prefecture. She was not the only girl who needed to go out from time to time. Moreover, there was no freedom in the capital.
"There's no need. They've been in the capital for a long time. They've seen what they should see and played what they should play. Maybe they've already been there when the peach blossoms first bloomed. I'll get someone to ask your fourth aunt later. "
"Okay, I'll listen to Grandmother." If she could not go with Luo Jingying, Jingwan was naturally more than happy.
The invitation that Jingwan sent out quickly received replies. They were all sent back by the person in charge of sending the invitation. They all said that they wanted to go.
The fastest belonged to Sun Yijia, who was of the highest status. According to common sense, the invitation sent to Ding Guo Manor would only be received the next day. However, Sun Yijia returned home yesterday and told the gatekeeper that if there were people from the Luo Shangshu Manor looking for her or sending her an invitation, he should directly lead them to her place. Therefore, Sun Yijia directly met the servants of the Luo Family. After receiving Jingwan's invitation, she was naturally very happy. Not to mention going to White Dragon Temple to admire the flowers, even if it was to look at the weeds in the suburbs, she would be happy. She immediately replied and said that she would go to the Luo Manor as soon as possible tomorrow.
The other two families were not so complicated or troublesome. In addition, it was the people of the Luo Family. The gatekeepers of the two families did not dare to neglect and smoothly met the person.
Jingwan had just finalized the trip here. On the other side, Li Hongyuan had almost arrived at White Dragon Temple.
What Li Hongyuan did in the Flower Market could be said to be ruthless, involving more than half of the officials in the capital. On the surface, none of the most powerful princes were able to escape unscathed. Not only that, but it also caused another fierce fight among them, causing them to suspect each other. And as the main culprit, after stirring up the water, not only did he clap his hands and walk away, no one even suspected him.
Those who vaguely guessed that it might be his doing did not say a word no matter how emotional they were in their hearts. They just repeatedly warned themselves that if they followed such a master, even if their room to display their abilities was reduced a lot, and they might even become a person who only needed to do things and not talk, they should not have any disloyalty.
Hidden in the woods at the side, Li Hongyuan looked at the magnificent temple that was filled with Buddhist incense. His thoughts drifted.
White Dragon Temple was a temple of the imperial family. Except for a few special days, it was also open to the common people. Thus, it was full of incense all year round. In addition, its abbot, Master Liaochen, was one of the most eminent monks in the world.
Master Liaochen's fortune-telling was very accurate. However, he could only tell at most three trigrams a year, and it had to be a fated person. Otherwise, not even the Emperor could make him make an exception. For some people, the so-called fated person was someone that the other party found pleasing to the eye. But Master Liaochen wasn't like that. He didn't care about high or low status. He didn't even need to rely on his eyes to determine whether someone was fated or not.
Every year, countless people hoped to become the 'fated person' that Master Liaochen spoke of. Not only did they want to know their own fate, but they also hoped that Master Liaochen could change it. That's right. Rumor had it that Master Liaochen's greatest ability was to defy the heavens and change people's fates.
No one knew where this rumor came from, but the world firmly believed it. It wasn't that there weren't any influential people who wanted to force Master Liaochen to change his fate. However, that person died an unnatural death not long after. That person had been criticized by several masters at the same time: Although the road to life was bumpy, it was a sign of longevity. But he hadn't even reached thirty when he died. For a time, those who were itching to make a move kept quiet out of fear. They all treated Master Liaochen with respect. It was good to have him tell their fortunes or give them a few pointers, but they couldn't and wouldn't force it.
However, Master Liaochen had a few rules. It wasn't about the fate of the nation, the near future, or the distant future.
The affairs of the nation were easy to understand. The near future referred to things that would happen in a very short time. The world was ever-changing. Things that were close at hand were difficult to change even if one could predict them. The distant future referred to things that wouldn't happen in a hundred years. The distant future was too distant to be divined. It couldn't be divined.
Master Liaochen wasn't an elusive person. Although he left the capital from time to time, he wouldn't be completely untraceable. Even if an important person or someone special wanted to see him and listen to the teachings of Buddhism, he wouldn't avoid them because of his status.
Li Hongyuan and Master Liaochen could be considered old acquaintances. Not only in this life, but in his previous life as well. During his years on the throne, if Master Liaochen hadn't comforted him from time to time, he would've been even more vicious and killed even more people. His reputation as a tyrant would've spread far beyond the imperial court.
In this life, when he left the palace at the age of sixteen, the first thing he did was find Master Liaochen. He didn't say much, only one thing: Can this prince get what he wants?
No one knew if Master Liaochen had seen through him. He only said, "Your Highness's obsession is like a demon. Will Your Highness give up even if I say no?"
"No." The mischievous Li Hongyuan's answer was straightforward.
"In that case, what's the point of caring about whether I can or can't? You'll know when the time comes."
From then on, Li Hongyuan stopped asking and didn't ask Master Liaochen to tell his fortune. Occasionally, he would come to the master to play chess, drink tea, or discuss the teachings of Buddhism. In fact, Li Hongyuan was well-versed in the teachings of Buddhism, but he had always been dismissive of it. He'd even criticized it as worthless in front of Master Liaochen. Master Liaochen would only smile and say nothing. When Li Hongyuan finished, he'd laugh and say, "Your Highness understands the teachings of Buddhism, so you can find other ways to refute it." In return, Li Hongyuan snorted coldly.
Li Hongyuan only had Eunuch Mu with him. After standing there for about fifteen minutes, they went directly to the rear courtyard of White Dragon Temple without attracting any attention. Master Liaochen was already waiting there with a group of people. He was dressed in a monk's robe and had a benevolent countenance. He had a long white beard and looked quite old. However, his complexion was ruddy and his eyes were not as cloudy as an ordinary old man's. Instead, they were as clear as a baby's. It was incredible. However, just by looking at you with those eyes, it seemed to be able to make you calm down quickly.
Master Liaochen put his palms together. "This poor monk greets Your Highness." The monks behind him followed suit.
"Master, there's no need to be so courteous." Li Hongyuan returned the greeting. Compared to when he had left the Li Palace, he was now like a completely different person, a world of difference.
The group went directly to Li Hongyuan's small courtyard. They pushed open one of the side rooms. It was clean and simple, filled with a fragrant aroma. Naturally, the incense burning there was the best quality of sandalwood.
Li Hongyuan and Master Liaochen sat on opposite sides of a short table. The novice monk quickly served them tea. This was a tea unique to White Dragon Temple. It was grown from a several-hundred-year-old tea tree, and only a small amount was produced each year. More importantly, Master Liaochen was in charge of everything from the picking of the tea to the final product. Perhaps because of this, he was tainted with a hint of Buddhist nature. In his previous life, after Li Hongyuan became emperor, he domineeringly took all the tea for himself. Fortunately, Master Liaochen was magnanimous and didn't argue with him. If he wanted it, he would give it to him.
Li Hongyuan looked at the faint smoke rising from the cup. The tea had a unique taste. It was bitter, then sweet. After swallowing the tea, his mouth would be filled with a sweet fragrance. It was truly memorable. More importantly, it had the effect of calming the mind.
"Your Highness seems to be in a good mood," said Master Liaochen.
"Master, you have sharp eyes. Of course I can't hide anything from you," replied Li Hongyuan unconcernedly.
"Your Highness will get what you want," said Master Liaochen. His words didn't seem stiff at all.
Li Hongyuan paused, then raised his head. "After six years, why are you suddenly bringing this up again? Compared to before, Grandmaster's attitude is poles apart. "
"Your Highness will get what you want. It is the fortune of the world."
"Master, you're too serious."
"Your Highness should know that this humble monk's words are not empty."
Li Hongyuan had been haunted by his obsession. Now that he had gotten what he wanted, his obsession was gone. His heart was at ease, and everything was at peace. If his obsession didn't disappear, the more time passed, the deeper his inner demons would grow. Moreover, he held great power in his hands. Who knew what kind of storms he would stir up? The ones who would suffer would naturally be the innocent. Perhaps he would lose his reason one day, or perhaps he would let himself do whatever he wanted. It was hard to say whether he wouldn't cause misery and suffering. Although he didn't want a crumbling empire, that was because he wanted to have time to enjoy himself with Jingwan. If Jingwan couldn't get what he wanted, he would naturally have plenty of time. Perhaps the more chaotic the world was, the happier he would be. That way, he would have something to pass the time. Compared to his previous life, this was undoubtedly even worse.
"Then dare I ask Master, was this prince able to get what he wanted all along, or were you prepared to change this prince's fate?"
"Six years ago, it was still like looking at flowers in the fog. There were many uncertainties, but Your Highness' actions opened up a path."
"So, as expected, everything depends on effort. She will come to White Dragon Temple in a few days. Master, you should take a look. "
"Your Highness wants this monk to read the girl's fate?"
"Everything will be done according to Master's rules. This prince won't insist."
"It's rare for the words' won't insist 'to come from Your Highness's mouth."
"When it comes to her, this prince won't insist. Master, you should know the reason."
Master Liaochen nodded. "Your Highness's original intentions have never changed. You don't care about other things, good or bad."
There was a light knock on the door. "Master, the old benefactor at the foot of the mountain requests an audience." It was the crisp voice of a child.
"Amitabha, Master understands. Go and ask the old benefactor to wait for a moment." Then, he looked at Li Hongyuan with clear and kind eyes. "Your Highness, please do as you wish. This poor monk will be back soon."
Li Hongyuan glanced at him. "You're still the same as before, pretending to be benevolent. You can abandon this prince for a commoner. If you want to leave, then leave. You don't have to come again today. This prince can enjoy some peace and quiet." It sounded like he was angry at Master Liaochen's neglect. After all, his words were no longer respectful. But in reality, Master Liaochen was special to him, so he was relatively lenient.
"Amitabha, it's all because Your Highness is benevolent. If Your Highness didn't allow it, this monk wouldn't have acted so boldly."
"Old monk, you've learned how to be glib?"
"Monks don't lie."
Li Hongyuan sneered. "Don't use the word 'benevolent' on this prince. This prince's heart and lungs are all black. Don't taint it."
Master Liaochen was still compassionate. He smiled warmly. "This monk is never wrong."
Li Hongyuan couldn't be bothered to pay him any more attention.
After Master Liaochen left, Li Hongyuan stood up and walked to the window. Eunuch Mu pushed it open first.
Because White Dragon Temple was an imperial temple, there were naturally places where ordinary people couldn't enter. This small courtyard was more unique. It was secluded, quiet, and not too far away. Under normal circumstances, it wouldn't attract much attention.
Li Hongyuan liked this room because he could see the entire peach forest behind the mountain when he opened the window. The view was unusually wide, and the peach blossoms were truly beautiful.
"Master, Miss Luo and the others will come to White Dragon Temple tomorrow." Eunuch Mu did his job as a lackey.
The competition among eunuchs was fierce. There were only so many masters, and few of them were doing well. There were countless people with cheap lives. No matter who stood out a little, there would always be a large group of eunuchs keeping an eye on you. They weren't there to prevent you from making mistakes, but to expect you to make mistakes. Just like in other places, there were endless schemes and tricks. One careless mistake and you could be pulled down. Last night, because he didn't guess the real purpose of his master's visit to White Dragon Temple in time, he was almost demoted. Therefore, Eunuch Mu was doubly alert. He had to let his master know that he was irreplaceable. Even if his master had a bad temper, and following him was like hanging one's head on one's waist sometimes, it was better than being trampled into the mud by others. Moreover, there were two sides to everything. When his master was in a bad mood, he should think more about his good.
Li Hongyuan wasn't surprised. Based on Wan Wan's infatuation, it was already too late for her to wait until tomorrow. "Who's coming?"
Eunuch Mu named the people invited by Jingwan one by one, and then the people of the Luo Family who would accompany them.
Li Hongyuan's expression was indifferent. No matter how many people came, they could not stop his plan from being carried out. He had been hiding in the dark all this time. Naturally, he was not satisfied. Even if he could not have intimate behavior openly, at least he had to let Wanwan know him first. When they met as strangers in the bridal chamber, he would waste one or two years of beautiful time. How stupid would he be to do that?
"Go and get a jar of six-year-old peach blossom wine."
"Yes."
Therefore, the rules and precepts of Buddhism were really nothing for Li Hongyuan. Whether he broke or kept the precepts, it was all up to him. Everyone thought that Li Hongyuan enjoyed life and couldn't bear the slightest hardship. However, after he ascended the throne in his previous life, he lost too much because of the fight for the throne. At first, he didn't have any available talents, so he went to war himself. For a period of time, because of the defeat on the battlefield, as the emperor, he lived in the open. Li Hongyuan didn't make a sound. The hardship in the temple was nothing to him.
Of course, Li Hongyuan wouldn't go too far. It didn't matter if he drank a little wine and ate a little meat. He wouldn't break the precepts of lust, unless Wan Wan took the initiative to make him break it. However, according to his understanding of Wan Wan, even if they were in love and even got married, she wouldn't agree to mess around here.
Just thinking about that scene made him particularly want to have a try. Maybe because of the taboo, Wan Wan would have an unexpected reaction. Li Hongyuan's eyes became somewhat gloomy. He even licked his lips. That appearance was particularly tempting and frightening.
Mu Gonggong dug out a jar of wine from under the tree under the eyes of the monks in the courtyard. The four monks were all like wooden pillars, not even lifting their eyelids.
When Li Hongyuan was sixteen years old, he went to Bai Long Temple to get countless peach blossoms to brew wine and directly buried it in the courtyard. He said that this would make the wine more mellow and delicious. After that, once a year, more than half of the courtyard's underground space was filled with wine. However, no one said anything because it was permitted by the abbot.
According to Master Liaochen, Jin Qinwang's status was noble. There was no need to care about such a small matter. It seemed to show that he was also a layman who would bow his head to the powerful. But when he said this, if his expression wasn't as compassionate and compassionate as usual, perhaps it would have been a bit believable. Those who knew about it all believed that if it was anyone else, even if it was the Emperor, Master Liaochen would have refused. Unfortunately, except for Li Hongyuan, this living King of Hell who deviated from the orthodoxy, there was probably no one who would do such a thing.
So some people hoped that he couldn't bear the hardship of breaking the precepts and would be beaten by the upright and plainspoken monks. Naturally, they were disappointed. Just as he said, if they wanted to find fault with him, they first had to know what he had done. More than one person secretly used tricks to make the eunuchs who went to Bai Long Temple to deliver the oral message to hurry up and arrange everything before Li Hongyuan arrived. As a result, there were a lot of monks inside and outside the courtyard, but they were all decorations for some people in the Imperial Palace to see or to play the role of guards.
Eunuch Mu patted the clay to clean the edges of the wine jar and the outside. He took out the wine cup from the secret compartment in the wing room and washed it, ready to pour wine for Li Hongyuan. Li Hongyuan waved his hand, reached out to pick up the wine jar, and directly raised his head to drink.
Part of the wine slid down the sides, down the neck, into the collar, and disappeared. Gradually, the color of the clothes darkened. It was obvious that the clothes were soaked and stuck to the skin. Even if he wore more than one layer, the lines of his chest and the rolling of his throat could be seen clearly …
Eunuch Mu secretly regretted. Fortunately, there were no women here.
After finishing the wine jar, Li Hongyuan casually threw it through the window into the courtyard with a bang.
Li Hongyuan was still sitting steadily. There was no redness on his face, as if he wasn't drunk at all. He even said, "Mu 'an, have the kitchen cook two vegetarian dishes and quickly send them back to the Imperial Palace for Noble Consort Su. As long as I'm in Bai Long Temple, I can't rest."
Noble Consort Su said that she missed the vegetarian dishes in Bai Long Temple, so his master sent them back to her? Such filial piety! But his master called her Noble Consort Su, not mother. Stop! "Yes."
Li Hongyuan walked to the side of the hard kang bed and sat down. He slowly closed his eyes and his body went limp. He propped himself up with one hand and laid down flat. His breathing soon became light and long, as if he had already fallen asleep. Eunuch Mu was lucky to taste the peach blossom wine once. It didn't taste strong and even had the fragrance of peach blossoms, which was more in line with women's preferences. But it was very strong. He drank the whole jar directly without any buffer.
Eunuch Mu stepped forward and looked at his wet clothes. He hesitated for a moment and covered him with the thin quilt, but he didn't dare to change his clothes. There was once a similar situation. Before his hand reached out to his master's collar, he was kicked away. That kick almost killed him. Thinking about it now, he still felt the pain. Since then, he didn't dare to act rashly. Fortunately, his master didn't punish him for his poor service after he woke up.
"Wan Wan …" He murmured. It seemed that he was really drunk.
Hearing this, Eunuch Mu quietly retreated and gently cleaned up the spilled wine and the broken wine jars outside. It was really a sin to let those monks clean up and smell the wine. Master had harmed enough people. It was better to let go of these monks who had lived in peace.
Master Liaochen finished his work and returned. He stood by the window in the corridor and looked at the sleeping Li Hongyuan. He put his palms together and said, "Amitabha."
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