kvmb Chapter 201 Meeting an old friend again
Chapter 201 Meeting an old friend again
"Whether to wait for her to turn on you or to completely extinguish her hopes as soon as possible is entirely up to Your Excellency. I have said all I have to say."
Jing Anle knew that although Jiang Qing was kind-hearted, she was also a daughter of a prominent family and had her own courage and strategy. She would never joke about the family's reputation, her parents' lineage, or her clan.
Jiang Qing cracked her knuckles, seemingly having already made up her mind, and said, "This concubine understands, thank you for your guidance, Princess."
"However... since I have helped you, I would like to ask you to do me a favor in return."
Jiang Qing looked up in surprise at Jing Anle.
……
The next day, the setting sun was like blood, bathing the entire palace in a warm glow.
Ci'an Palace.
"What does Master Jiquan think we should do?"
The Empress Dowager was a devout Buddhist, and after Ji Quan entered the palace, he was immediately summoned to the Cining Palace. Everyone fears death, and even Chen Huaping, despite her high position, still sought ways to prolong her life.
At this moment, the Empress Dowager was sitting on a high platform, separated by a curtain in the middle, and surrounded by palace servants.
Standing below him was none other than Ji Quan, the eminent monk from Wanfo Temple who had entered the palace that day.
He looked young, around thirty years old, tall and slender. His plain-colored robe accentuated his already aloof face, making him appear even more solitary, like a snow lotus on a high mountain, cold and unapproachable.
"The Empress Dowager is blessed with great fortune and is protected by Buddha. However, her birth chart is special, so it is necessary to have someone with wisdom to copy scriptures for her in front of Buddha." Ji Quan lowered his eyes, showing respect but without any intention of flattery or ingratiation.
After some thought, the Empress Dowager pressed further, "What are the requirements for a person with innate wisdom, as Master Jiquan has mentioned?"
"To pray for the Empress Dowager, one must possess a noble status, a dignified appearance, and most importantly, a compassionate heart that helps others," Ji Quan replied.
The Empress Dowager was taken aback. Finding the person was easy, but having such requirements was a real challenge.
“Your Majesty need not worry. How can someone of noble birth compare to those in the palace?” Master Jiquan saw the Empress Dowager’s doubts and spoke up.
"Master Jiquan means..."
"The concubines in the harem are fed by the emperor, and the empress dowager is the head of the harem. It is only necessary to choose one of the concubines."
At this moment, Su Rong quickly said, "Your Majesty, why don't you have all the concubines come over and let Master Jiquan choose for himself?"
The Empress Dowager nodded. "Let's do it that way."
Upon hearing this, Ji Quan kept his head down and remained silent.
A moment later, a palace maid named Xi'er came to report: "Empress Dowager, all the ladies have arrived."
The Empress Dowager waved her hand and said, "Let them in."
A moment later, dozens of concubines entered. In addition to Consort Chen, Consort Li, and Consort Lin, four newly appointed concubines this year also arrived, including Jiang Qing.
Jiang Qing glanced at Ji Quan without making a sound, then bowed her head respectfully, as if the two were strangers.
"Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager!" Everyone bowed in greeting, but Consort Lin, having knelt for a long time, moved a little slower in her greeting.
"Everyone, get up."
The Empress Dowager glanced at the concubines below, then turned to Su Rong and asked, "Are they all here?"
Su Rong quickly replied, "Your Majesty, all those below the rank of Beauty have arrived."
The Empress Dowager nodded. After all, below the level of a beauty was a concubine, whose status was really low. So she said, "I'll trouble Master Jiquan to take a look."
"Yes."
Ji Quan then raised his head, his eyes filled with determination. He looked down, his expression calm and composed.
The concubines, dressed in brightly colored silks and satins, resembled a flock of butterflies surrounding Ji Quan.
Consort Lin had just finished praying to Guanyin this morning, and was summoned to Cining Palace again this afternoon. Her knees were in great pain, and she was barely managing to stay awake.
"Please raise your heads, Your Highnesses," Ji Quan said, turning around to the concubines.
That voice? Lin Fei looked up and felt her body stiffen; even her eyes wouldn't move. Was it him? Could it really be him?
But Ji Quan's eyes were calm.
As Lin Fei watched Jinan walk past her, she felt a burning sensation in her throat. She wanted to say something, but reason told her she couldn't. Lin Fei's heart suddenly raced, and she became completely deaf to her surroundings and numb to the pain in her body.
"Master Jiquan is not mistaken?" The Empress Dowager asked in surprise.
While Consort Lin was still in a daze, Ji Quan had already told the Empress Dowager that Consort Lin was the one with the wisdom.
At this moment, everyone's eyes were on Consort Lin, some surprised, some doubtful, and some calm.
Consort Chen was the first to express her dissatisfaction. She chuckled and said, "Master Jiquan, you may not know this, but although Consort Lin holds the rank of Consort, she is only the daughter of a fourth-rank official, and her status is not very high."
"Furthermore, Consort Lin has been kneeling before the Bodhisattva these past few days, praying for an heir. I'm afraid she won't have time to pray for the Empress Dowager. Perhaps Master Jiquan should choose someone else."
Conversely, Consort Li breathed a sigh of relief. It didn't matter who it was, as long as it wasn't her. She didn't want to be pregnant and still have to copy Buddhist scriptures.
As for the other concubines, their ranks were not high, so they had no choice but to obey orders.
Consort Chen's words brought Consort Lin back to her senses. Praying for a child? Her heart skipped a beat for no reason, and she subconsciously looked at Ji Quan, but Ji Quan remained calm and expressionless.
The Empress Dowager was the same; she had just punished Consort Lin by making her kneel, so how could Consort Lin sincerely pray for her? Therefore, she also looked at Ji Quan.
Ji Quan respectfully said, "Your Majesty need not worry. As a concubine, Your Highness has already received the Emperor's aura."
"As for praying for a child..." Ji Quan hesitated for a moment, then continued, "If we are to pray for the Empress Dowager's well-being, the person praying for the blessing must be childless for the time being in order to succeed."
After some thought, the Empress Dowager said, "According to you, Consort Lin is indeed a suitable candidate?"
"This humble monk dares not speak presumptuously, but only in this way can the Empress Dowager enjoy good health and longevity."
"Empress Dowager!" Consort Chen was displeased. If this was the case, then Consort Lin would no longer have to kneel as punishment every day. How could she be willing to accept that?
The Empress Dowager glanced at Consort Chen with anger on her face. Consort Chen immediately lowered her voice and muttered, "I am only thinking of the Empress Dowager's best interests."
Ji Quan said in a low voice, "Amitabha, this humble monk has said all I have to say. I ask the Empress Dowager to make the final decision."
"Every man for himself, or the world will destroy him," the Empress Dowager coughed lightly and looked at Consort Lin, "Consort Lin, would you be willing to pray for my well-being?"
She was getting old, and her health had not been good since returning to the palace. The medicine prescribed by the imperial physicians was not working. Now that she was praying for her own well-being, the Empress Dowager would never refuse.
"Your Majesty, I am willing to serve you," Consort Lin said.
Lin Fei had an indescribable feeling in her heart. The past, the boy of yesteryear, now that she had this opportunity, she wanted to ask what exactly happened back then!