dognovel Chapter 378 Taking a Concubine
Chapter 378 Taking a Concubine
The Imperial Tutor's face showed a rare smile: "Your humble servant originally planned to return to the capital on the third day of the month, but I was fortunate enough to meet Master Xuqing, who had returned from his travels, and he gave a lecture on the scriptures. So I stayed to debate with him. Before I knew it, several days had passed, which delayed my journey back to the capital."
The Northern Qi emperor was somewhat surprised that Master Xuqing had actually returned to the temple.
The Imperial Tutor grew up in his aunt's home and had a deep bond with her. More than twenty years ago, when his aunt fell seriously ill, he went to the National Temple to light a lotus lamp to pray for her, and happened to meet Master Xuqing giving a sermon.
On that day, Master Xuqing personally wrote a calligraphy piece and presented it to the Imperial Tutor, who brought it back and hung it in his study.
The emperor of Northern Qi had seen that calligraphy and still remembered its contents.
Ordinary people focus on external circumstances, while Taoists focus on their own minds; the true path lies in transcending both mind and external circumstances.
From then on, the Imperial Tutor became connected with Buddhism.
More than twenty years have passed, and it is understandable that the Imperial Preceptor met Master Xuqing again and specially stayed at the National Temple to debate scriptures with him.
After all, Master Xuqing is already over a hundred years old. Whether we can meet again in the future depends on fate.
"Your Majesty's men were at the mountain gate, and I heard about the recent events in the capital," the Imperial Tutor said. "Your Majesty has been unable to sleep at night because of the Lin family's massacre. Master Xuqing is a highly accomplished Buddhist monk, and I have specially invited him to the palace to give you a sermon."
When the Northern Qi emperor saw that his imperial tutor cared about him, he invited a highly virtuous monk down the mountain to preach to him, which completely dispelled his doubts.
If the Imperial Preceptor had not been debating scriptures with Master Xuqing at the National Temple, he would never have invited Master Xuqing down the mountain.
Buddhist disciples do not speak falsehoods.
If he asks, he will expose the Imperial Tutor's lie.
The fact that the Imperial Tutor was so open and frank shows that he was truly debating the scriptures with Master Xuqing.
"Imperial Tutor, you are very kind." The Emperor of Northern Qi sighed and was about to tell the Imperial Tutor about what happened on New Year's Eve when he caught a glimpse of Zhao Yi beside him and remembered his presence: "Yi'er, I have important matters to discuss with the Imperial Tutor. I will summon you to the palace another day to have some private conversations."
Zhao Yi glanced thoughtfully at the Imperial Tutor, feeling that the tutor's appearance was too timely, as if deliberately coming to his rescue. He concealed his thoughts, clasped his hands in a gesture of respect, and withdrew from the Imperial Study.
After the door to the imperial study was closed, the Northern Qi emperor briefly recounted to his tutor what had happened on New Year's Eve.
In the end, he frowned and said, "The Lin family suffered the calamity of being wiped out, and Consort Shu was the root cause. She dared to interfere in the fate of the nation and disrupt the court, which is why she was punished by heaven. I have deposed her as a consort and banished her to the Cold Palace to quell the trouble."
"As for the Prince Xian..." The Emperor of Northern Qi paused for a moment before continuing, "He committed the crime of negligence in this matter, and I have demoted him to his fiefdom."
The Imperial Tutor looked surprised: "This matter has nothing to do with the Wise Prince, so it's not enough to warrant the demotion of his fiefdom."
The Emperor of Northern Qi took out a letter and handed it to his tutor: "I do not wish to fight with my children. It would be better to use the Lin family massacre case to demote him to his fiefdom, thus preserving the bond between father and son and also breaking the prophecy."
The Imperial Tutor read the prophecy several times and, unusually, felt a pang of emotion: "Your Majesty is both a monarch and a father, and it is difficult to balance the fate of the nation with family ties. Sending the virtuous prince to his fiefdom is the best solution for the present situation."
When the Northern Qi emperor saw that his imperial tutor approved of his approach, a huge weight was finally lifted from his heart.
After discussing state affairs with the emperor and his ministers, the imperial tutor took his leave and returned to his residence by carriage.
The Northern Qi emperor ordered the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet to draft an edict to inform the people of Consort Shu's crimes.
When officials and common people heard that Consort Shu had altered the fate of the nation and disrupted the court, leading to the Lin family being punished by heaven and exterminated, discussions arose everywhere.
Some believe that Consort Shu, relying on the emperor's favor, became arrogant and tried to defy fate, which led to her downfall and the massacre of her entire family.
Because no one could break into the heavily guarded Ministry of Justice prison undetected, kill all thirty-eight members of the Lin family, and leave no trace whatsoever.
Unless the Northern Qi emperor had discerned that Consort Shu harbored ambitions to usurp the throne, he wouldn't have issued a secret edict to exterminate the entire Lin family. He would then pin the blame on Consort Shu and also punish Prince Xian.
If this is the truth, they dare not question it.
Those who didn't believe it also suspected that the Northern Qi emperor was behind it, and dared not voice any objections.
The widely publicized case of the Lin family's massacre has come to an end, and everyone's tense nerves have relaxed, no longer filled with anxiety.
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Meanwhile, the Imperial Tutor's residence presented a completely different scene.
The Imperial Tutor instructed the servants who were standing nearby: "Go and fetch the lanterns from the gate of the mansion."
The servant hesitated for a moment. Although he did not know the Imperial Tutor's intention, he still obeyed the order and went to the gate of the mansion to take down the lantern hanging under the eaves.
He carried the lantern toward the study in the front yard. The cold night wind made the lantern sway, and the howling sound in the wind seemed to come from the lantern.
The servant trembled slightly, and couldn't help but recall that a few years ago, when this lantern was hung at the gate of the mansion, rumors spread that it was made of human skin.
The more he thought about it, the more uneasy he felt, so he quickened his pace and carried the lantern to the study.
There were no lights in the study, only the faint glow of this one lantern.
The servants, filled with reverence for the Imperial Tutor, dared not look him in the eye and bowed their heads to ask, "Imperial Tutor, where is this lantern placed?"
The Imperial Tutor looked up at the lantern, the light illuminating the slight upturn of his lips, his expression somewhat enigmatic and difficult to decipher.
He took the lantern from the servant, slowly spun it around, and threw it into the brazier beside him.
The flames engulfed the lantern in an instant.
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At the same time, the Northern Qi emperor learned that public opinion had been suppressed, and he breathed a sigh of relief as a wave of fatigue washed over him.
He leaned back in his dragon throne, gazing at the empty hall, as if the clamor had dissipated, leaving only a desolate room.
"His Majesty……"
"Prepare the carriage for Chang Le Palace."
Liu Gonggong was stunned for a moment and didn't react for a long time.
The Northern Qi emperor said with a stern face, "I have important matters to discuss with the empress."
Realizing his rudeness, Eunuch Liu hurriedly knelt down to beg for forgiveness.
The Northern Qi emperor looked grim and left the main hall alone, heading towards Chang Le Palace.
The lights in Chang Le Palace were still lit, and the Northern Qi Emperor's mood improved slightly as he stepped into the palace amidst the greetings of eunuchs and palace maids.
The Empress had already heard the commotion and rose to bow to the Emperor of Northern Qi.
"No need for formalities." The Emperor of Northern Qi raised his hand to support the Empress, his gaze falling on her pale face, his tone gentle: "You are frail and should rest more."
"Medical books say that proper exercise can strengthen the body." The Empress subtly withdrew her hand, personally poured him a cup of tea, and handed it to him: "Your Majesty, is there something important to discuss with me today?"
The smile on the face of the Northern Qi Emperor froze. He was usually annoyed by state affairs and the quarrels with Consort Shu, and when he wanted to find some peace and quiet, he would come to Chang Le Palace for a short rest.
If it weren't for the first and fifteenth of the lunar month, he would find an excuse to avoid the Empress saying anything unpleasant.
Although he didn't visit Chang Le Palace often, the Empress would always ask him what important matters he wanted to discuss each time he came.
This time is no exception.
"I wanted to discuss the marriage of the Prince of Guangling with you." The Emperor of Northern Qi took the teacup and said casually, "The Prince of Guangling is twenty-three years old. He only has one queen and no children. I am thinking of arranging a concubine for him. Firstly, to give him an heir, and secondly, to give him more ties in Northern Qi, so that he will not be completely devoted to the Great Zhou."