Back to the capital, after Chen Chong led his troops to leave Chang'an, Guanzhong gradually returned to normal. The Wei River is flowing, farmers on both sides of the strait are still working hard in the fields, the green hills are smoke, and hunters chasing wild geese are still shuttling back and forth in the Qinling mountains. From time to time, merchants from Longyou can be seen meandering with their carriages and horses on the official road, which is the city of Chang'an The children of the noble family also go to Kunming Lake for outings from time to time, which makes the land of Guanzhong present a peaceful scene without fighting against the world. It seems that no matter how many disputes arise in Guandong, it is only the officials of the imperial court who are concerned about it, and has nothing to do with the rest of the people.
However, as the news of Chen Chong's recovery of Wuguan came, the turmoil in the court quickly subsided. When Zhong Yao and others thought about it, although there was war on both sides, the north took advantage of the danger and the south was evenly matched. A serious problem has arisen, so for now, I am focusing on farming, prison trials, and rent transfers. Even major matters such as executions and executions have been put on hold for the time being, and I plan to wait for Chen Chong to come back before making a decision. It can be said that the Western Dynasty is on the right track both internally and externally, no different from previous years.
But for the current emperor, this period of time was somewhat torturous. Since the last meeting with the crown prince Liu Xie, the emperor felt humiliated and decided not to meet with Liu Xie again. Unexpectedly, after Chen Chong left Beijing, Liu Xie actually participated in the affairs of the minister, so he often came and went in the palace. Even if the emperor lived in seclusion in the palace, he would meet from time to time, which made the emperor feel embarrassed.
Especially after discussions at the Chancellor's Desk, Liu Xie often came to see the emperor. After the two sat across the curtain, Liu Xie often waved to the palace attendants and handed the written edict to the emperor. After the emperor's seal was sealed, the palace attendants walked back to the prince. After the prince got the book, he just curtsied and strode away. Sometimes he didn't say a word the whole time, coming and going so casually, just like the master of Weiyang Palace.
This made the emperor feel even more depressed. Within twenty days, he often sighed secretly, thinking that he had no love in life and was suffering from fate. Just remembering Jia Xu's advice back then, I had to suppress my anger and still allowed myself to be manipulated by Liu Xie and others.
Empress Fu saw the emperor in embarrassment and depression, and felt sad for her own life experience, and felt the same way. He then petitioned Zhong Yao, the minister in charge, saying that the emperor had been troubled recently and hoped that he could summon Kang Mengxiang, a famous monk from Yuanjue Temple in the east of the city, to come to the palace to lecture on sutras, so that he might be able to provide some relief. This is also a common occurrence. In addition to the doctors who come to the palace to give lectures, the palace also has monks give lectures about once every half a month. After all, the emperor was under house arrest now, and Chen Chong never made things difficult for him on such a trivial matter, so Zhong Yao naturally agreed.
On this day, Master Kang Mengxiang and his two disciples entered the Weiyang Palace and went to the bedroom to meet the Emperor. Seeing that the most famous master in Guanzhong was coming, the Emperor quickly removed the curtain and asked the palace people to wait outside the palace, while he personally served the Master. Tea. Kang Mengxiang was flattered and thanked him again and again, and said with emotion: "How many people in the world can bear the emperor's tea? Your Majesty has really embarrassed me."
But the emperor said softly: "How can there be an emperor like me in the world? In just a few years, I will no longer be there. Why does my mentor need to be in a state of presence?"
Kang Mengxiang was stunned when he heard this, and couldn't help but laugh: "Your Majesty can say these words, it is obvious after thinking about it, so my efforts in preaching and preaching in the past few years have not been in vain."
These words touched the emperor's sadness. After he sat down and remained silent for a while, he slowly said: "If you really look at it, there is none. However, when I listened to the Buddha Dharma of form and space taught by my teacher, I felt very conscious. It makes sense, but when there is no one around at night, all kinds of thoughts will still come to mind. Even if you chant sutras more, your mind will become more tormented and difficult to get rid of."
Kang Mengxiang shook his head slightly, sighed and said: "It seems that Your Majesty is still impure in the six senses. Why don't you follow me and practice the Eight Fasting Precepts, chant the Buddha's name and vow to be reborn in the Land of Ultimate Bliss, and achieve a middle-grade rebirth."
But the emperor said: "I am the emperor in this life. Didn't I come from cultivating the Seven Fields of Blessings in ten lifetimes? The so-called rebirth in the Land of Ultimate Bliss may not be something that can be achieved in this lifetime."
Kang Mengxiang didn't expect the emperor to be so pessimistic. He still shook his head, clasped his hands and said, "Even if you don't cultivate the afterlife, you should still make your heart happy. This is because your majesty studies that although there are many forms and emptiness, you don't cultivate the Buddha nature, which makes your heart lacking. I have just been worried all day long.”
Speaking of this, the emperor couldn't help being curious, and stood up to ask for advice: "Do you dare to ask my teacher, how to practice the Buddha nature? I read the scriptures extensively, from Prajna, Lotus, Golden Light, Vimalakia, Infinite Life, Nirvana, Avalokitesvara, The law and the strictness of the law are all involved, but we don’t know much about it.”
Kang Mengxiang didn't even raise his head, and just said: "What is a Buddha and what is a human being cannot be understood by reading the scriptures. Don't always look outside, look inside. Once you see clearly, it will naturally become clear and transparent!"
Speaking of this, the emperor seemed to have some realization. Looking inside, isn’t it just looking into the heart? Confucianism also talks about "sincerity and correcting the mind", and then "cultivation of Qi Zhiping". We must first look at it from the inside, and then send it out to the outside. It seems that the human heart is already inwardly round and full, just like a blank for becoming a Buddha. Is this the foundation of the so-called "Buddha nature"?
He asked Kang Mengxiang again, but the master did not answer directly, but said: "With your Majesty's wisdom, there is no need to study Buddhist scriptures now. I will send another sentence to Your Majesty: 'In order to cultivate wisdom, everything is false; first cut off the worries, and now it is enough.'"
The emperor pondered the Master's words, but there was a look of confusion on his face. He had been studying scriptures in the past. Could it be that he was going in the wrong direction? But when he said he wanted to put an end to his worries, his father's face on the hospital bed gradually appeared in front of his eyes, and his brother smiled sadly as he was deposed and removed from the throne. If I get to Jiuquan, how should I face them? They all died on this throne, but I could only be at the mercy of others and could not stand up to fight. For the sake of peace of mind, should I forget them all?
Thinking of this, the emperor's expression turned sad. He stroked his white hair and said to Kang Mengxiang: "Although I have been taught by my mentor, I still can't let it go. The doctors have told me about the principle of filial piety and brotherhood since I was a child. Now if I want to stop it, Worrying is actually about letting go of human relations, so what’s the difference between humans and dogs?”
After hearing the words, the Master couldn't help but recite a few Buddha's names. After hesitating for a moment, he took out a scroll wrapped in yellow silk from his arms and handed it to the Emperor. He said to him: "I have said everything I can say. If Your Majesty is still troubled, Then there is nothing I can do. I can only give your Majesty this "Pharmacist Glazed Light Tathagata Original Vow Merit Sutra". Your Majesty can read and copy more, recite the Medicine Mantra more often, and recite the name of Namo Pharmacist Glazed Light Tathagata as the foundation, which may help get rid of heart diseases. , gain great freedom.”
Kang Mengxiang sent scriptures to the emperor, which was a common thing, but wrapping it in yellow silk was the first time. The emperor was surprised, but he still took it respectfully with both hands. The moment the two people touched each other, the mage suddenly opened his lips and spoke in vain. Although there was no sound, the emperor read his lips and teeth and could clearly hear the mage's words. What he said was "the method of leaving the palace is in it."
The emperor was startled, and a storm suddenly rose in his chest. He forced himself to calm down and sat back down as the chairman as usual. Then he looked around with the corner of his eyes to make sure that no one else was in the room, and then he slowly breathed a sigh of relief. Looking back at the mage, Kang Mengxiang said: "I have nothing to teach your majesty anymore. Whether you can fully understand it in the future depends on your majesty himself, not the poor monk." The mage paused, and then said sincerely: " No matter what, I still hope that Your Majesty will let go of his attachments so that he can have a happy ending."
After the matter was over, the two talked for a while, but it was obvious that both parties were absent-minded. After a hasty lunch, the mage bowed to the emperor and resigned, but the emperor did not see him off. After the master had left, the emperor did not open the scripture rashly. He knew that although no one from the palace was present at the time, eight years after Yanxing, the secret history of the palace had been monitoring his conversations. Therefore, he pretended to read poetry that night, and the next day he invited a doctor to give lectures in the palace. For two days in a row, everything was the same as usual. It wasn't until the third day that he untied the yellow silk cloth and examined the "Medicine Master's Sutra" presented by the master.
The scripture itself is indeed an ordinary scripture, but there is a note included in it, which reads: "On the first day of the fifth month, the army entered Chang'an. Your Majesty heard the sound from the south of the city. You can use the emperor's sword to fight against the rebellion and clear the way. I will welcome you." Go south.”
There was no signature on the note, but the handwriting made the emperor feel strange and familiar. This must be Dong Zhao! When his affair was exposed, he disappeared, which made me quite worried. Did he go to Yizhou? Why did he suddenly receive a letter saying that he would be picked up to go south? How did he get here? What do you mean by asking me to set things right? How did he find Yuanjue Temple and deliver this news to him?
For a time, thousands of questions flooded Liu Xie's mind. He looked at the note in his hand and was stunned for a while. Then he suddenly realized that he must not leave anyone with an excuse and quickly swallowed the note and the tea. The bitter taste spread from his lips and teeth, and the emperor instantly understood the current situation.
He has reached the age where he can see many things more rationally: Liu Fan is not a pure minister. After Lu Bu gained power, he and Lu Bu launched an army to attack, which is the best proof. So it's hard to say what kind of treatment you can get if you go to the south. But no matter what Dong Zhao's intentions are, he will always be just a living puppet in Chang'an.
At this time, Liu Xie seemed to see Liu Xie's cold eyes again when he was dancing with the sword, and hatred could not help but roll silently in his heart. He thought: If he waits until he reaches the Zen position, will he live like his brother? Even if he survives for a few years, what will Liu Xie do with Chen Chong a hundred years later? This is really a bad thing. Why not give it a try?
Thinking of this, he immediately understood what Dong Zhao meant. Dong Zhao's so-called crusade against rebellion and clearing the way was for him to rely on his status as the emperor and openly leave the palace with a sword, killing anyone who stood in his way. Since the two governments claimed to be loyal ministers and filial sons, they would either have to bear the infamy of regicide in the street, or they would have to allow him to leave openly. You must teach yourself not to disregard life and death in order to find a way out.
】
Naturally, there was a sword in the emperor's palace. He pulled out a sword and compared it with his pale face, looking back at Pan, thinking in his heart: "Although he is young in body, his heart is old."
Alone in the main hall, he made up his mind to leave Chang'an even if he died.
