Farewell Flower Festival

Two days later, news spread from the palace that Emperor Mu was seriously ill. Concubine Yin invited Master Liaokong from Yuquan Temple into the palace to chant sutras and pray for Emperor Mu.

Master Liaokong had been in seclusion for three years to study Buddhism. After he came out of seclusion, he opened a Dharma altar to preach Buddhism and save the world. It is said that the people under the Dharma altar at that time saw with their own eyes that after the master finished preaching Buddhism, he put his hands together and chanted "Amitabha". He was immediately enveloped by a golden light and was covered with golden light, like a living Buddha descending to the earth. Everyone came to worship him.

After that, Master Lekong went into seclusion again for three years. After coming out, he held a Dharma forum to spread Buddhism. At that time, the hundred-meter-high steps outside the gate of Yuquan Temple were crowded with people, just to see this living Buddha.

When Master Liaokong came with Concubine Yin to pay homage to Emperor Mu, Chaoyan was there. Chaoyan had also heard of the name of Master Liaokong. When Shang Ye invited everyone to go to the back mountain of Yuquan Temple for an outing, the master was still in seclusion and had no chance to meet him.

Seeing the master in person now, Chaoyan's first reaction was a bit of surprise. It was different from the image she had imagined of a kind-looking man with white eyebrows almost hanging down to his chin.

The Master Liaokong in front of her looked about half younger than she had imagined, perhaps forty or fifty years old, with thin eyebrows and features, a pale face and thin lips. He must have had a good-looking appearance when he was young, and if he had not become a monk, he would have already married and had children.

After Emperor Mu invited Master Kong to take a seat, he said, "Master, you have devoted yourself to studying Buddhism for many years. I believe you have already become indifferent to life and death and can see what ordinary people cannot see. In your opinion, can my illness be cured?" Kong replied, "Your Majesty is a man of destiny. I am a mortal monk and I dare not make a rash judgment." Emperor Mu smiled and said, "It is said that people in Buddhism have unique insights. If even the master is a mortal, then wouldn't a layman like me be extremely vulgar?" Kong replied, "Your Majesty is the ruler of the world and is not an ordinary person. How can you say that he is vulgar?"

Seeing that Emperor Mu and Master Lekong were getting along well, Concubine Yin left with Chaoyan. After coming out, Concubine Yin asked Chaoyan to sit with her. Chaoyan couldn't refuse, so she said she wanted to change her clothes. Concubine Yin left with Aunt Hong.

In the afternoon, Aunt Hong came over again and asked Chaoyan to sit over.

The excuse of changing clothes has already been used, and using it again would be too deliberate.

At this critical juncture, Concubine Yin invited her over again and again, which inevitably made people think too much. But if she didn't go, Concubine Yin would definitely think too much. After some consideration, Chao Yan decided to go over and see what Concubine Yin wanted to say to her. Just in case, she asked Feicui to stay and took Feicui with Aunt Hong to the direction of Fenghua Palace.

After arriving at Fenghua Palace, Aunt Hong led the master and servant into the hall. Concubine Yin was sitting on the couch in front, holding a cup of tea in her hand and shaving it twice. When Chaoyan came over to pay her respects, Concubine Yin raised her hand to let her don't bow, and motioned for her to sit down. Then Aunt Hong brought a cup of tea and placed it in front of Chaoyan.

"I heard that you visited the Crown Princess a few days ago?" Concubine Yin asked casually.

Chao Yan nodded and said "hmm".

"I haven't seen the Crown Princess for some time. I wonder how she is doing?" Concubine Yin asked with concern.

Chao Yan replied: "I think the Crown Princess is too concerned about His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and has lost a lot of weight."

Concubine Yin scraped the teacup twice and took a sip of tea. Chaoyan did not touch the tea in front of her. She was still a little scared by the cup of daughter's tea before. Now she dared not drink tea outside casually.

Seeing that Chaoyan didn't drink tea, Concubine Yin said that this was the tribute tea that had just arrived from the south, and asked her to try it to see how it tasted. Chaoyan picked up the teacup, covered her sleeves and pretended to take a sip, and then commented that it was indeed good tea, with a rich tea fragrance that lingered on the teeth and cheeks. Concubine Yin said that whether the tea is good or bad depends on whether it suits the taste of the tea drinker. If it suits the taste, it is naturally good tea. If it doesn't, it's just a few words to get rid of people.

Asagao played dumb and acted as if she didn't understand any of the subtext.

Concubine Yin asked again, "I heard that your father went back to the border two days ago?"

Chao Yan nodded and said "hmm".

"Now, people outside the palace are saying that the emperor is sick because of the prince." At this point, Concubine Yin glanced at Chao Yan. Chao Yan continued to play dumb, pretending to know nothing. Concubine Yin continued, "You have seen the emperor's good intentions for the prince in the past few days. Before, the prince was ignorant and could not understand the emperor's painstaking efforts, and his behavior was somewhat inappropriate. The emperor was very worried about this. Since the prince married the princess, he has been diligent and hardworking, and the emperor is happy. Now that the princess is pregnant, she will give birth to a grandson in the future, and the gossip outside should stop."

Chao Yan knew that there were some rumors because the Crown Princess had not been pregnant. However, Shang Qingrong became pregnant within half a year after marrying Wen Yunlan, and there was no news for more than a year after Liu Sui married Mu Tianyuan. Some gossipers speculated whether the Crown Prince or the Crown Princess had some hidden illness. Now that the Crown Princess was pregnant, those rumors were self-defeating.

However, Chaoyan felt as if she hadn't heard anything after listening to what Concubine Yin wanted to say, and she didn't know what the main idea she wanted to express was. Then Concubine Yin brought up an old story and brought it up with Mu Tianqi.

"Remember before, I asked Aunt Hong to send you a pot of green chrysanthemums. In fact, it was Qi'er who came to tell me that you liked to look at that pot of green chrysanthemums when you were appreciating flowers. I was optimistic about you and Qi'er, and I thought you would be my daughter-in-law." Zhao Yan wanted to drink some tea to calm her nerves when she heard this. Can she say this casually? She is a married woman now. If there are rumors about these trivial things, the one at home will be depressed again. She interrupted Concubine Yin's fantasy in time and said, "The second sister-in-law is pregnant now. This year, the queen will be able to hold her grandson."

Concubine Yin also praised Han Min for her knowledge, good manners, and intelligence, and said she was very satisfied to have such a daughter-in-law.

Chaoyan was a little speechless. If she was satisfied, why did she say those things? She suspected that the imperial concubine hadn't talked to anyone for a long time, so she chatted with her for no reason. She felt something was wrong, so she left first and said it was getting late. Imperial Concubine Yin called Aunt Hong to come in and send Chaoyan off. Chaoyan felt dizzy as soon as she stood up. Her heart skipped a beat and she caught a glimpse of the smoke from the incense burner. She covered her mouth and nose and staggered to run out. Aunt Hong grabbed her arm. She wanted to call Amber, but a handkerchief covered her mouth and nose. The strong dizziness made her faint.

After a while, Aunt Hong came out and told Amber that Chaoyan had fainted. Amber hurried in and saw Chaoyan fainted on the chair. As soon as she called Chaoyan, she was knocked unconscious by Aunt Hong from behind.