"My dear brother, there is no need to be polite. Let's go to the temple to talk first. I will take you to Ci'en Temple later."
This is what I said yesterday. Li Shimin will ask Master Sanzang to serve as the abbot of Ci'en Temple.
But the monks in Hongfu Temple didn't know about this yet, so when they suddenly heard His Majesty's words, they were still a little confused about what he meant.
Ci'en Temple has just been built, and all the monks have gone to see it. If we only talk about its size, it is no exaggeration to say that it is the first temple in Chang'an. There are even many monks who are waiting for the opening of Ci'en Temple and are ready to move there. In the past, I was still running around for relationships some time ago.
But later I heard that His Royal Highness the Prince was in charge of the Ci'en Temple, and no one else could get involved. Even the two masters whom His Highness often summoned in his spare time were not promised, let alone the other monks.
Li Shimin waved his hand and first asked the guards to stay outside the temple, then asked the monks to disperse, and then asked Sanzang to take him to the Zen room.
The Great Sage and others met and knew that the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty had something to say to his master. The Great Sage offered to take a walk around Chang'an City with his junior brothers. After receiving the master's permission, the four junior brothers Then they left the temple together.
At first they were still in the same place, but then they gradually dispersed because of their different interests.
After taking only two steps into the temple, Fahai saw the man Li Shimin brought with him. His steps were quite awkward. Although he was extremely restrained, his lameness was also very obvious.
Fahai had a guess in his mind, but didn't say much.
Until entering the Zen room——
"My dear brother, you may not recognize him, but this is my unlucky eldest son."
There were only three of them in the room at this moment, so Li Shimin naturally didn't hide anything and went straight to the point, telling Master Sanzang who Li Chengqian was.
"It turns out to be His Highness." Although Fahai had some guesses in his mind before, he could never really confirm it. Now that he heard Li Shimin's words from his own mouth, he naturally no longer had any doubts.
The most important point is that from the history he knows, at this point in time, both Li Shimin, Empress Changsun, and the former Crown Prince Li Chengqian have all died.
Now they are all still alive and well
So what exactly went wrong?
Is it the seducer?
Or the King of Hell?
Or is it the Book of Life and Death?
However, Fa Hai does not get too entangled in these matters. Birth, old age, illness and death are normal human conditions, and there are also examples of people dying before their life span is over.
"When the poor monk left Chang'an, His Highness was still well-known as a virtuous man, but why did he suffer such drastic changes and end up in this situation now?" Fahai was not polite, and asked Li Chengqian directly.
Li Shimin brought Li Chengqian to Master Tripitaka because he was worried about his mental condition, hoping that through Buddhism, he could calm down and return to normal.
As for the methods used by Master Sanzang, Li Shimin believed in Yu Di's methods.
Li Chengqian's mental state is not good, and his parents' expectations were too high when he was a boy, causing him to live under "high pressure". Maybe he is really talented, but for a young man, it may be counterproductive. .
Fa Hai knew a little bit about Li Chengqian's life, but now it seems that he has not yet gone to the stage of rebellion.
Li Chengqian sat directly on the bed, as if he didn't care about anything. After listening to Master Sanzang's inquiry, he only said a few perfunctory words: "Master, you might as well ask my father."
After hearing this, Fa Hai said to himself: It seems that the rebellious period lasted for a long time and has not passed yet.
Li Shimin on the side felt angry when he saw what Li Chengqian did, but mostly he hated him.
Fahai could see clearly that the more Li Shimin acted like this, the more Li Chengqian smiled, as if he felt that he had made his father angry, which was a very proud thing.
Similarly, this will also make Li Shimin angrier and more angry, thus falling into a cycle of superposition.
When Li Shimin was about to reach the critical point and was about to wave his hand, Fahai stopped him in time: "Brother, I wonder if I can let the young monk have a private chat with the high priest?"
"well--"
When Li Shimin saw that there were steps, he was not polite and walked down directly. He also said to Master Sanzang: "Then Brother Lao Xian will take the trouble."
After saying that, Li Shimin glared at Li Chengqian fiercely and said angrily: "You are already here, but you still don't know the importance of it. Master Sanzang is my imperial disciple and an eminent monk in this world. You must not neglect me, do you understand?"
Li Chengqian replied: "If I knew the importance, I should have accepted the request of Uncle Qi and others in the early years and set up a team of troops outside Xuanwu Gate."
"You're such a traitor, you're simply unreasonable. Hmph!"
Li Shimin flicked his sleeves, opened the door, and stepped out. He turned around and saw Master Sanzang waving his hand, and the door of the Zen room was closed.
He had to stand alone in the yard and sulk, and the more he thought about it, the angrier he became. If it weren't for Sanzang's sake, he would have to let this traitor feel his father's serious love.
But after the door was closed, Li Chengqian got off the bed, bowed seriously to Master Sanzang, and said: "My nephew Chengqian, I have met the emperor's uncle."
"Amitabha." Fahai accepted the salute first, then recited the Buddha's name in return, and then said: "Your Highness, please do not be too polite. You should sit down and talk."
Li Chengqian didn't show any pretense. He asked him to sit down and sat down. He even added a cup of tea for himself.
Seeing the huge contrast in his mood after Li Shimin left, it was not difficult for Fa Hai to detect the symptoms.
Family matters are always the most difficult to deal with, especially those involving the Tian family. But this trouble has already come to the door, and he is also the sworn brother of the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, so naturally he will not refuse this matter.
Although the matter is a little more troublesome, it is not without a solution. It is nothing more than a difference in means.
"The scene when I bid farewell to Master is still vivid in my mind, but Master Tripitaka doesn't seem to remember his nephew."
Fahai responded with a smile: "Perhaps it is the fourteen years that have made His Highness lose his youthfulness. We only had a quick glance back then, so we couldn't recognize each other for a while."
"Fourteen years have passed by like a fleeting moment. Things have changed and people have changed. It's amazing." Li Chengqian rubbed the tea cup in his hand, but his eyes looked outside the door, "Since I was dethroned as the crown prince, .Father thought that I was angry and unwilling, so he brought me here to let the mage resolve it."
"Your Highness, you think you don't?"
"Maybe, but so what?" Li Chengqian's voice was cold and his face seemed expressionless, "But I just felt that the burden on me was lifted, and I was relieved for a moment."
But Fahai could see Li Chengqian's smile when he said this from his eyes, but there was still some embarrassment hidden in the smile.
"Perhaps you are blaming your father. Since you are going to dethrone your position as the crown prince, why not just be more thorough and demote you to a commoner and release you from the palace. Give your highness a real freedom and be a real prince for a time." Own?"
Li Chengqian raised his eyebrows slightly after hearing this, and unconsciously sat upright. He looked at Master Sanzang curiously and asked, "Master, do you think my father can believe this?"
"Most of them don't believe it."
"Even if you ask the mage to tell you, my father won't believe it?"
"Amitabha." Fahai also looked at Li Chengqian very seriously and said: "Your Highness, please note that monks do not lie. If this is told to Your Majesty by a poor monk, and Your Majesty still believes it, then in the days to come, Your Highness I have the shackles of a poor monk added to my body."
"Why is this?" Li Chengqian asked subconsciously.
"If His Highness breaks his promise, the poor monk will be in a very difficult position. Therefore, I have to act as a supervisor to ensure that His Highness's words and deeds are consistent, so as not to make any mistakes."
After hearing this, Li Chengqian almost threw the teacup in his hand and looked at Master Tripitaka with an expression of disbelief: "Master is really a distinguished monk, very different from the monks I usually see!"
"Amitabha." Fahai said humbly: "Whether it's an eminent monk or not, a poor monk doesn't dare to claim it. It's just that he has traveled a long way, seen many things, and gained some insights that others have not had."
"I've been talking for a long time, but I don't know how Master wants to enlighten me?"
"Regardless of the depth of His Highness's problem, the poor monk believes that the root cause is still within that palace wall. As for enlightenment and resolution, if His Highness himself is unwilling to open his heart, relying on the poor monk alone will be nothing but useless efforts." Fahai said to Li Chengqian said: "But if Your Highness is free, the poor monk lacks a novice to sort out the scriptures these days. He might as well change his cage and feel the difference."
"Isn't the Master afraid that I will run away?"
"Your Highness, you can give it a try."
"Okay." Li Chengqian responded, "I'll go report it to my father and see what he has to say."
Li Chengqian stood up first and bowed seriously to Master Sanzang. Although he was a bit rebellious, he had been taught by his mother since he was a child. These etiquettes were extremely regular. Apart from being lame, no one could fault him at all.
only
Fa Hai looked at Li Chengqian through the wide open door as he limped up to Li Shimin. He just gave a casual salute and didn't even raise his hands. His slightly bent body had already straightened up without any sign of it. Respectfully.
Although Li Shimin was annoyed, he seemed to be used to his appearance. He just couldn't help but glance back, as if asking Master Sanzang: Why doesn't this work?
"Father, Master Tripitaka asked me to become a monk with him."
Li Shimin: (｀Д)!!
Fahai:.
But soon, Li Shimin calmed down and seemed to be seriously considering the feasibility of this matter.
Just when Li Chengqian was feeling bad, he saw that his father had made this decision very difficultly, and gritted his teeth and said: "Okay, I will tonsure you personally!"
Li Chengqian: (╯°Д°)╯︵┻━┻
Fahai:.
finally.
Even if Master Sanzang opened his mouth to explain, Li Chengqian still did not escape the fate of being ordained. In this regard, Li Shimin only left one sentence to Li Chengqian: "You have nothing to say, this is what I taught you when you were six years old."
Li Chengqian didn't care about this. Instead, he touched his bald head and said with a smile: "Sure enough, once these worries are gone, I feel relaxed and comfortable. Your Majesty has many children, including me, an unfilial son. Now that I have been tonsured, I will be here." I want to become a monk in Hongfu Temple, and I also ask Your Majesty to give me a dharma title so that I can end this young monk’s worldly world.”
Bang!
Li Shimin finally couldn't help but kicked him to the ground and said: "After eight days, get the hell back to Daming Palace."
Then he left.
Li Chengqian lay on the ground without getting up, and said to Master Sanzang: "Uncle, you can see it. My father is definitely one of the few heroes in the world throughout the ages, and he is the only king who is open-minded and kind to the people." He is not a good father. Growing up, he never asked me what I wanted. He only cared about what he wanted me to do and whether I could do it."
"As far as the poor monk knows, His Highness was always smart when he was young."
"Are you smart? Maybe." Li Chengqian looked up at the sky, "Why doesn't the emperor think that I was forced to do all this?"
"Talent...maybe cannot be forced out. If you don't have it, you don't have it. You won't even be rewarded for your hard work, let alone being forced. What do you think, Your Highness?"
Although Li Chengqian felt that there was something wrong with what he said, it sounded very reasonable.
Emperor Gaozu died of illness and during his mourning period, Li Shimin issued an edict to the prince to supervise the power of the country and know about military affairs. Li Chengqian was rated as "quite knowledgeable" and "quite able to listen" by the ministers of the court at that time. It can be said that these early Tang Dynasty officials The recognition of important ministers also shows his talent.
From then on, whenever Li Shimin went on patrol, the prince would stay in Beijing to supervise the country.
And the turning point of all these changes probably happened after the former prince became lame——
Li Shimin returned to the palace angrily.
Queen Changsun felt a little strange when she saw it, so she asked: "Didn't Your Majesty go to see Master Sanzang? Why are you back now? But you have already led Master Sanzang to Ci'en Temple? Could it be that something went wrong?"
Only then did Li Shimin realize that before he even got down to business, he was angered by the traitor.
But he wanted to save face in front of the queen, and the queen didn't know that he had led the deposed prince to see Master Sanzang. At this moment, he couldn't say that he had shaved off Li Chengqian's hair due to a temper tantrum.
So he hesitated and said a few words, trying to fool him.
Empress Changsun was very attentive and considerate, so it was not difficult for her to notice that Your Majesty was deliberately concealing it. She didn’t want to ask more questions, but when she suddenly saw the calligraphy treasure on the table, she couldn’t help but ask: “Your Majesty, is this not what you are doing for Master Tripitaka? When I came back, I spent the whole night writing the preface as a gift. Why did I get it back again?"
Li Shimin said in a deep voice: "My calligraphy is ordinary, and the writing is inconvenient to make me look ugly. Let's call Chu Qing to transcribe it, and then send it to my younger brother."
"If it is not convenient for Your Majesty to tell me, I will not ask you."
If you use some special reasons, Empress Changsun will believe it. You said that your calligraphy is inconvenient to show off. Oh, you have to show off your works in front of me. However, Chu Suiliang's calligraphy is indeed unique in the Tang Dynasty, especially after Ouyang Xun died of illness, no one in the world can surpass him.
Seeing that Li Shimin was not in a good mood, Empress Changsun sighed helplessly, stepped forward to hold his shoulders, gave him a few gentle touches, and said: "But if it is not an important national matter, I still hope that your majesty will tell you something." place."
Li Shimin hesitated for a moment, but finally couldn't hold it back and told him about taking Li Chengqian to Hongfu Temple to meet Master Tripitaka.
(End of chapter)
