RPAGF Chapter 405 Master Shengtong
Chapter 405 Master Shengtong
Be back soon.
Yin Xin said, "The Crown Princess sent me back, saying that she is too busy with the matter of the concubine entering the palace and really can't spare the time. Please forgive her, Your Highness."
The younger sister asked, "Did you see her?"
“I saw her,” Yinxin replied. “I even observed her carefully. The Crown Princess showed no signs of anything amiss. She even pointed out the residence she had arranged for the concubine after she entered the palace.”
The next day, Gui Shan's head palace maid came and presented her with a jade ruyi as an apology.
The younger sister casually asked, "It's understandable that she's busy, but the concubine entering the palace is a major event. By the way, wasn't it you who served the Crown Princess before?"
The palace maid replied, "Your Majesty, Miss Xia Zhi was engaged before entering the palace and was originally supposed to stay with the Crown Princess for several years before leaving the palace. However, Miss Xia Zhi's fiancé is seriously ill, and the Crown Princess, seeing that Miss Xia Zhi was worried, allowed her to leave the palace ahead of schedule."
It is logical and well-founded, and seems to be without any flaws.
But my younger sister always felt that something was wrong.
That evening, she spoke to the Emperor: "I haven't seen my family for several months and I miss them... Your Majesty, may I see my sister?"
The Emperor readily agreed: "If you wish to see me, simply send someone to invite you. There is no need to be so cautious in my presence."
The younger sister leaned against him and said, "Your Majesty, I know you have your own plans, and I'm always worried that if I act recklessly, I'll put you in a difficult position."
"I won't make things difficult for you as long as it's something you're willing to do."
At this moment, the Crown Prince was at his residence outside the palace. The residence was filled with the fragrance of incense, and everyone knew that the Crown Prince was a devout Buddhist. Even though he was busy with state affairs, he would go out of the palace to worship Buddha every few days, showing great piety.
The pilgrimage was also for the prosperity of the nation and the speedy recovery of the emperor.
People say he is kind and filial.
But such a filial person, let alone serving the emperor when he was ill, even visiting the emperor was a rare occurrence; he would only go to report for duty each time.
Today he sat in the Crown Prince's residence, listening to the eminent monk Shengtong chanting Buddhist scriptures.
That Shengtong veils his face with black gauze, never showing his features to anyone. It is said that when he was young, a great fire broke out in a Buddhist temple, and in order to save people and Buddha statues, he disfigured himself in the flames.
After finishing his Buddhist chant, Sheng Tong sighed and said to the Crown Prince, "Your Highness is ordained by Heaven. This humble monk has calculated that Your Highness should already be the ruler of the world, but..."
The Crown Prince's eyes lit up slightly: "Does the Holy Monk mean that I should have already ascended the throne? No, my father is still alive. Everyone praises me for my benevolence, filial piety, and virtue, and I would never do anything immoral."
Sheng Tong shook his head: "No, what this humble monk means is that, according to the results of my calculations, His Majesty's lifespan has long since ended, but for some reason he has not passed away, thus obstructing Your Highness's path."
The Crown Prince had been suppressing his thoughts, believing that his father was only his son and that his succession was only a matter of time, and that he had no reason to overstep his father's bounds.
Now that he knows the throne should have been his long ago, how could he possibly maintain his composure? He wished he could immediately get his father to relinquish the throne!
The Crown Prince was impatient: "Why? How can we... restore order to the past?"
Sheng Tong counted on his fingers, went outside to examine the celestial phenomena, and after a long while said, "Everything is ready except for the east wind. Your Highness enjoys great prestige among the people, but lacks a bit of luck. If Your Majesty could request to abdicate..."
The Crown Prince was overjoyed: "If that's the case, then it's the perfect fit."
Sheng Tong closed his eyes and calculated for a long time before continuing, "Hold a Dharma assembly and ask the Emperor to abdicate based on the celestial signs."
"Is this... feasible? What if Father Emperor is unwilling?"
With his face veiled in black, Sheng Tong's eyes shone brightly. He turned to look at the Crown Prince, his tone unusually calm: "Then it depends on Your Highness's abilities."
The prince's heart pounded.
He had considered that at the palace banquet, he wished he could have stabbed his father to death. But he was also incredibly afraid, unable to overcome the guilt within himself.
So in the end, all they did was have the dancer smear a poison on the knife that would weaken people.
He had a good plan. With the only threat, Xiao Jingren, gone, and his father needing to recuperate due to a serious knife wound, it was only natural for him to oversee the country.
Although it's a year later than expected, it's not too late. Now that he's overseeing the country and has taken so many actions, most of the court officials have already submitted to him, while a small number insist on remaining loyal subjects.
Chunchen?
They won't last long.
Sheng Tong's words have strengthened his resolve: many things should not be expected from others; one must reach out and take them oneself!
Otherwise, if Father Emperor could live for another twenty or thirty years, wouldn't he have to wait another twenty or thirty years?
He really didn't want to wait a moment longer.
The Crown Prince said, "Please have the eminent monk accompany me to the palace to visit my father. He has been bedridden for a long time, and perhaps the monk's prayers will be of some help to him."
"nature."
The next day, the Crown Prince brought Sheng Tong to the Zichen Palace.
The Emperor lay weakly on the bed, looking blankly at the Crown Prince: "You... haven't come to see me in a long time."
The Crown Prince knelt down and begged for forgiveness: "Father, this is my first time overseeing the country, and I am somewhat flustered and unable to attend to your illness. Please forgive me."
A slight smile appeared on the Emperor's lips: "I've heard... you leave the palace every few days to worship Buddha... but you never have the time... to come to me..."
He coughed incessantly, and his younger sister quickly went up to pat his back and brought over a strong herbal medicine, her brows furrowed with worry.
She advised, "Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince is still young, and it is inevitable that he will be somewhat negligent when there are many things to attend to. However, his trip to the palace to worship Buddha was also to pray for Your Majesty's well-being and wish for Your Majesty's speedy recovery. It is rare to see such filial piety."
The Crown Prince glanced at his younger sister and assumed that she was trying to curry favor and build a relationship.
He quickly replied, "Your Highness is right. It's all my fault. I was negligent. I will be more careful in the future and come to take care of you as soon as I finish my official duties."
The Emperor's expression softened slightly, and he felt a little better after taking the medicine. He waved his hand and said, "Never mind, state affairs are more important... I have your stepmother with me, so it's nothing serious."
The Crown Prince naturally refused: "Your son is unfilial, but you are my father. Now that I have realized my mistake, how can I continue to make the same mistake?"
Seeing his sincere attitude, the Emperor was indeed much happier and said with a smile, "It's good that you're willing to think this way. However, state affairs cannot be delayed. I have been ill for a long time, so you have to pay more attention to state affairs. Also, worshipping Buddha requires sincerity, and there's no need to go every two days. Let the Crown Princess go. You must prioritize important matters."
"Yes, Your Majesty, I understand." The Crown Prince replied respectfully.
After getting up, he introduced Shengtong beside him: "Father, this is the eminent monk Shengtong whom I invited from Wuxiang Temple. He is very capable and can help you overcome difficulties. Father has been ill for two months, and I am really worried. I thought that if Shengtong could serve Father, perhaps Father could recover sooner."
The Emperor glanced at Sheng Tong casually and nodded: "It is the Crown Prince's filial piety. You may stay and go to the Buddhist hall to pray for me."