kvmb Chapter 1035 Find someone to keep an eye on things
Chapter 1035 Find someone to keep an eye on things
Li Cunxi glanced at it and said, "Lamb penis soup, of course it's hot. Go back to your wife, I don't need your protection today."
Ma Rong blushed and said, "Your Majesty, please be careful this morning. I will definitely come this afternoon."
"You should stay home for a day."
"That won't do. After all, I'm here to protect Your Majesty."
Ma Rong left with a flushed face, hurriedly exiting Taichu Palace to find his wife, Lu Xiaofeng.
Li Cunxi wasn't idle either. With nothing else to do, he got up and called Yu Shi over. He then led Yu Shi away from Taichu Palace and quietly headed towards Hanguang Temple.
In the past, there was a sorcerer named Huaiyi in the territory of the old White Horse Temple. Later, Huaiyi was killed by Li Cunxi and Wu Chengsi. Wu Zetian never came back.
Even the pilgrimage to Hankwang Temple, an essential activity for civil and military officials of the court, was announced to be discontinued.
Abbot Jingkong of Hanguang Temple, having learned of Li Cunxi's incognito trip, came out to greet him ahead of time.
"Jingkong greets Your Majesty."
Jingkong, who used to have a fierce look, has become gentle and calm after serving as abbot for several years. He bows his head and lowers his eyebrows respectfully, just like a true monk.
“Abbot Jingkong is now a true abbot.”
Li Cunxi stepped down from the luxurious carriage and looked Jingkong up and down.
Five years ago, in the case of the Snake Spirit, Jingkong finally replaced the original abbot and became the new abbot.
Three years ago, before Li Cunxi ascended the throne, this abbot orchestrated the "Great Tang Prospers, King of Zezhou" incident.
It can be said that Li Cunxi's ascension to the throne was due in part to the efforts of this person.
"Thanks to Your Majesty, this old monk has now devoted himself to Buddhist practice, and has not eaten meat for several years," Jingkong said in a low voice.
"If Abbot Jingkong is willing, I can send someone to deliver some wine and meat."
"Alcohol is the first precept for monks, and it is absolutely forbidden."
"Hmph, Abbot, you've had a tough time these past few years."
“What suffering is there for monks? If you are afraid of this, you might as well not practice Buddhism and chant scriptures.”
The two chatted idly as they walked inside.
Pilgrims came and went without stopping. When the young monk saw Jingkong personally accompanying the two of them in, he thought that distinguished guests had arrived. He was about to step forward to accompany them when he was frightened by a look from Yu Shi and stepped aside.
Upon entering the main hall, Li Cunxi looked at the Buddha statue, lit incense, and then turned and left.
"There are quite a few worshippers today, so I'll head over first. You may continue with your business."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Jing Kong stood still, watching Li Cunxi's back.
The other party quickly turned and changed direction. Jingkong noticed this and just sighed softly.
"Xue Aocao, you and I have severed all ties here, but I can't hide it from you anymore."
……
Two new houses have been rebuilt at Huaiyi's former residence.
Xue Aocao, who had shaved his head, was weeding in the yard, while Xue Nan, with his buttocks sticking out, was kneeling on the ground blowing on the fire under the stove.
The two were clearly preparing breakfast. Xue Aocao threw down his hoe, went back into the house, brought out a bunch of vegetables, washed them on a stone slab, and then had Xue Nanze chop them and put them in the pot.
Outside the courtyard, Li Cunxi and Yu Shi watched quietly, not daring to disturb the two brothers.
The two brothers had seen the people outside the courtyard early on, but neither of them spoke, afraid that Li Cunxi would recognize them.
After a long while, a pot of vegetables was finally ready. Xue Nan then ladled it into a large plate and stood up, looking at the two living people outside the courtyard.
"Brother, didn't you say outsiders aren't allowed inside?" He sniffed, as if he were shy.
"Foolish little brother!" Xue Aocao said with a bitter face, looking at Li Cunxi: "We commoners Xue Aocao and Xue Nanze pay our respects to Your Majesty!"
Li Cunxi pointed to the dishes Xue Nanze was carrying: "You don't need to bow, the soup is about to spill."
Xue Aocao was extremely miserable. He invited Li Cunxi into the courtyard, then took two bowls outside and scrubbed them vigorously until they were clean. Only then did he hand them to Li Cunxi along with the freshly washed chopsticks.
Xue Aocao: "Your Majesty, after all these years, still shines with brilliance."
“Hmm…you two brothers were quite fast runners back then.” Li Cunxi didn’t touch his chopsticks.
"It's nothing more than trying to survive. If this were in the imperial court, how could Wu Sansi and the Zhang brothers tolerate a commoner living?"
"That's true. I only found out later that there was a Mr. Ao Cao who deposited a full 100,000 taels of silver in my Xize Silver Shop, and also deposited 100,000 taels of silver in his younger brother Nanze."
Xue Aocao smiled helplessly: "There's nothing I can do. I have too many enemies, so I dare not use my surname. But even without using my surname, His Majesty still found out."
Li Cunxi picked up his chopsticks, took a piece of radish, and slowly put it into his bowl.
Xue Nan, sitting opposite, thought Li Cunxi was afraid the food was poisoned, so he picked up a piece of food with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth first.
Looking at Li Cunxi again, he realized that the other person's gaze was not on him at all.
"I did not look for you for nine years. Even after I learned where you lived, I did not send anyone to look for you. Today I am looking for you because I have come to Hanguang Temple."
"Someone like you wouldn't want to be a monk for the rest of your life, would you?"
"Go to the imperial court and become an official. I will also grant each of you brothers a marquisate. It will definitely be much more comfortable than your current life."
Xue Aocao's eyes flickered between light and shadow as he subconsciously looked at Xue Nanze.
Xue Nan stared longingly at Xue Aocao, fearing that Xue Aocao would refuse this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
He cupped his hands in greeting: "I am deeply grateful for Your Majesty's favor and am willing to serve Your Majesty."
……
Xue Aocao never expected that he would be a monk in the morning and appear in the Imperial Preceptor's mansion in the afternoon.
The Imperial Advisor Xu Gu Zi and Xue Ao Cao exchanged a glance and were immediately amazed by the round head.
"You brat, instead of cultivating Taoism, you've gone and become a monk."
Xu Gu Zi circled Xue Ao Cao again and again, his eyes full of admiration.
"Oh dear, what a pity. You didn't stay a monk for long before you came to be my disciple again."
“From now on, we’ll address each other separately. I’ll call you Brother Xue, and you can call me Master. How does that sound?”
Xue Aocao: "Of course, but you must understand why His Majesty sent me here."
"Don't worry, I know much better than you do. I knew His Majesty's decision as soon as you arrived," Xu Gu Zi said.
"Are you and His Majesty secretly doing something?"
"This is a secret that will last forever. I will not tell you. No one but me and His Majesty will know."
"Then I won't ask anymore, so as not to cause trouble. I'll just follow you around and keep an eye on you."
"That would be perfect."
Xu Gu Zi was in a great mood and immediately took Xue Ao Cao to the nearest restaurant to welcome him back.
On the other side, Li Cunxi arrived at the Imperial Ancestral Temple and gazed at the memorial tablets of his posthumously honored father and grandfather with a deep look in his eyes.
"I have chosen a talisman for the future generations of the Li family."
"Father, what I did shouldn't have been wrong, right?"