Chapter 290 Concubine Jing's Secret Letter
The fragrance of Qi Mo drifts through the willows like a thread, and time flies by like an electric current. Before we know it, it is the spring of the 11th year of Emperor Jin. Since the death of the first wife, the eldest master has never remarried. All the affairs inside and outside the Xiao Mansion are managed by Aunt Zhang. The second master is not ambitious. Although the second wife is the legal wife, she is also cowardly and not liked by the old lady. She dares not say anything about letting a concubine take care of the affairs of the mansion. From then on, the old lady turned a blind eye and pretended not to know, which made her feel free.
Being blind, the old lady loved to listen to music besides playing mahjong. Aunt Zhang simply bought a few upright opera singers and kept them in the Xiao Mansion. They would often sing for the old lady and occasionally set up a stage and invite a troupe to come in to please the old lady.
On this day, Aunt Zhang, the Second Mistress, and others sat together in the west wing of Shouxi Hall, listening to music with the old lady. The newly bought Linglong sat timidly on the embroidered cushion, plucking the pipa lightly, like pearls falling on a jade plate or dripping water from a cold spring. She opened her red lips slightly, bowed her head, and sang in a gentle voice:
Spring goes away while I am drunk, but the green window still sings to keep spring here.
When asked where spring is, the cherry blossoms fall silently.
My thoughts are vague, and the trees are in the smoke...
Just as she was listening intently, Ruyan came in hurriedly and whispered into the old lady's ear:
"Replying to the old lady, Concubine Jing from the palace sent Eunuch Li to deliver a message."
Upon hearing this, the old lady was startled and quickly waved her hand to signal Linglong to stop, and ordered:
"Hurry up and tell the master to set up an incense table in the front hall and change clothes..."
Before the old lady could finish, Ruyan quickly interrupted and said:
"Old Madam, Eunuch Li said that the message was a secret letter, and Imperial Concubine Jing said that there was no need to set up an incense table, and that Eunuch Li could just dictate it to you personally."
After hearing this, the old lady's face froze. She thought that it was a secret letter, and going to the front hall would arouse everyone's suspicion, so she sent everyone away and only kept the secretary and Aunt Zhang. Aunt Zhang helped her get off the kang and sit on a chair on the floor. Then she called Eunuch Li in.
After a while, Ruyan brought Eunuch Li in. Shishu had tea in the morning. After greeting, Eunuch Li did not drink the tea and said:
"Replying to Old Madam Xiao, Imperial Concubine Jing asked me to pass on a message that the Crown Prince petitioned His Majesty yesterday, saying that since the Empress Dowager has fulfilled her mourning period, she is begging His Majesty to grant her marriage and marry Li Qing's daughter Mengxi as the Crown Prince's consort!"
"What! Princess! Your Majesty agreed?"
A decree to grant marriage? That's unacceptable!
Not to mention that Xiao Jun had to marry Mengxi, not to mention how much benefit Mengxi's return would bring to the Xiao family, just say that once Mengxi was ordered to marry the prince and entered the palace, it would be fine for now, but when the prince ascends the throne one day, even if she is not made the queen but only a noble concubine, her status as a divorced woman would be devastating. In order to cover up his tracks, the prince would definitely destroy the Xiao family with his own hands!
It was too shocking. Even though the old lady was calm, she couldn't keep her composure. Before Eunuch Li finished speaking, she asked anxiously. Seeing that Eunuch Li looked embarrassed, Aunt Zhang hurriedly whispered to comfort him:
"Don't be impatient, old lady. Let Eunuch Li finish what he has to say first."
The old lady calmed down and stopped talking. Her unfocused eyes stared at Eunuch Li. Seeing that everyone had stopped talking, Eunuch Li said:
"The Imperial Concubine said that because Li was of low birth and was a concubine, it would damage the dignity of the royal family, so His Majesty did not agree. But because he admired Li's talent, he wanted to make her the Crown Prince's concubine. Because the father and son disagreed, His Majesty did not issue an order for the time being. The Imperial Concubine Jing asked the old lady to make plans early."
Mengxi's medicine skills are unparalleled in the world. It is always good to have her kept in the royal family. The prince wants to marry her, so how can the emperor miss it? Although the situation is awkward, I am afraid that once the royal family has this idea, Xier will be taken into the East Palace sooner or later.
After hearing this, the old lady finally understood the meaning of the word "fear". At this moment, she wished she could kowtow to Mengxi and call her "grandma" a few times, as long as she was willing to return to the Xiao Mansion.
She forced herself to ask the maid to reward Eunuch Li and sent him off respectfully. The old lady immediately became depressed. Aunt Zhang saw this and asked someone to call the master while cautiously saying:
"Old Madam, how about I persuade the Second Master to take Miss Li back with him..."
The old lady shook her head and said:
"It's difficult. It's been almost four years. Every time Xi'er came to the mansion, I persuaded her to come back, but because the ancestral teachings don't allow it, she refused to do so. Jun'er is the same. Where did the domineering spirit he had four years ago go? He just waits like an ascetic monk without marrying or taking a concubine."
"Yes, Third Master's child is already a toddler, but Second Master is still wasting time. Although you made Hongyu your concubine, Second Master doesn't even look at her. He just stays in Yuyuan like that. How long will this end? Second Master is a sentimental man. If His Majesty really issues an imperial decree to grant us a marriage, it will be hard to disobey the imperial decree. I'm afraid..."
Hearing this, the old lady shuddered, thinking back to the past. If Mengxi really got married, Jun'er would not be able to survive.
She was really old. If it weren't for Mengxi's good medicine, she would have been in the coffin long ago. But Jun'er had no offspring, and she died with regret. Although Yun'er had a son, he was not a legitimate grandson after all. How could he compare with Jun'er's!
Just as he was sighing, the eldest master rushed back after hearing the news. As soon as he entered the room, he heard what the old lady had said. His brows knitted into a knot, and he was silent for a long time before saying:
"Mother, if Xi'er enters the palace, not to mention that Jun'er will be in trouble, Xi'er was once the daughter-in-law of the Xiao family. The prince will not let the Xiao family go after he ascends the throne. If that is true, the Xiao family is really...really going to be wiped out..."
"Who said it wasn't true? It's just that it's hard to disobey our ancestral teachings. Over the years, Xier has refused to come back because of our ancestral teachings. We've thought of all the possible solutions. What else can we do?"
Seeing the old lady sigh, Aunt Zhang's eyes suddenly lit up and she said:
"Old Madam, why not tell Miss Li about this? Miss Li doesn't want to marry the prince. She is worried that she will not be able to disobey the imperial decree, so she may return home early..."
"Who wouldn't want to be the queen? I heard that Xi'er has traveled all over the famous mountains of Daqi in the past few years. Occasionally, Jun'er accompanies her when he's not busy, and the Crown Prince always follows her. Xi'er has never refused. It's hard to say that she doesn't like the Crown Prince. I think she's hoping that His Majesty will grant her marriage. Otherwise, she would have returned long ago. Why bother using the ancestral precepts as an excuse?"
After hearing this, Aunt Zhang and the master both drooped. The room fell silent for a while. After a long while, the master raised his head and said hesitantly:
"Mother, back then, you kept Xi'er because you listened to Master Jingyun. It is said that Master Jingyun has lived for hundreds of years, with infinite virtue and boundless magical powers. Perhaps he can help us pray to our ancestors and resolve this knot. Why don't we..."
After hearing this, the old lady's eyes lit up. Yes, if it wasn't for Master Jingyun, how could the Xiao family have been connected with the God of Medicine? The person who tied the bell must be the one to untie it...
…
Since her eyes were blinded by Shihua's poison, the old lady's ears have become particularly sensitive. Sitting in the carriage, she carefully listened to the gongs and drums of people performing martial arts, fortune-telling, singing songs, etc. on both sides of the road, mixed with the high and low shouts of the shops. Feeling the extraordinary bustle here, the old lady secretly guessed that they had arrived at Jingyun Temple. She felt a little uneasy, wondering if she would have the chance to meet Master Jingyun again this time...
This time when she came to Jingyun Temple, the old lady was not as ostentatious as before. She was accompanied by Aunt Zhang, and there were only a dozen people in the group. Normally, to show their piety, pilgrims usually get off the carriage at the Yimen Gate and walk all the way up, but the old lady was old and blind, so Aunt Zhang directly ordered the carriage to pass the Yimen Gate and stop at the Shanmen Hall.
After opening the door, Aunt Zhang and the Second Madam got out, walked quickly to the old lady's carriage, and helped her out. Because the old lady couldn't see, the crowd didn't appreciate the scenery in the courtyard, and they went straight into the Hall of Heavenly Kings, turned right and went out through the back door, heading straight for the Main Hall.
Supported by Aunt Zhang and the Second Madam, the old lady climbed the bluestone steps step by step and came to the incense burner in front of the Main Hall. Shishu Ruyi had been waiting there with lit incense in her hand. Seeing the old lady coming, she handed it to her with both hands respectfully. Aunt Zhang held the old lady's hand and helped her take it. She held the incense with her left hand on top and her right hand on the bottom, raised it high above her head, bowed devoutly three times, placed it in the incense burner, and lit nine sticks in a row. Then the old lady, supported by the two of them, turned around and walked into the Main Hall.
After entering the hall, the second wife stepped forward and donated a considerable amount of incense money. Then the secretary and Ruyi came in and presented the offerings they brought one by one. The little missal had already stepped forward to take them and arranged them one by one according to the rules. Ruyan stepped forward to spread out the futon prepared by the mansion, and then Aunt Zhang helped the old lady to kneel down devoutly.
The old lady knelt there with her hands clasped together, silently recited a few words devoutly, and prostrated herself on the ground. After prostrating three times, the old lady was helped to stand up. After Aunt Zhang and the maid finished their prostrations, the old lady told everyone to wait outside after they finished their prostrations. She herself, supported by the maid and Aunt Zhang, turned right and walked towards the back door.
After leaving the Great Hall, Aunt Zhang and the secretary looked at each other, not knowing how to get to the abbot's room. While they were hesitating, they saw a little priest coming out of the small door on the left and walking towards the Yuantong Hall. The secretary quickly let go of the old lady, stepped forward and bowed, saying:
"Young Master , please wait. My master wants to see the abbot. May I ask how to get to the abbot's room?"
"Amitabha, go forward from here, go out of that door, and then turn left..."
The little missal pointed and talked for a long time. The secretary was confused and confused. After he finished speaking, the secretary begged:
"This young master spoke too fast, and the route was too complicated. I couldn't remember it for a moment. Could you please take my master there?"
"Amitabha, does this female donor have an appointment with the abbot?"
"Well... my master is just visiting without permission."
"Amitabha, the donor may not know that the abbot of this temple only sees people with predestined relationships. I'm afraid it's..."
As he was speaking, an old monk with white eyebrows and beard and wearing a red robe walked out of Yuantong Hall and chanted from afar:
"Amitabha!"
The voice was as loud as a bell and could be heard from far away. The old lady trembled, turned her head and called out subconsciously:
"Master Jingyun"
The person who came was Master Jingyun. He walked down the steps slowly, stood in front of the old lady, put his hands together, and said:
"Amitabha, goodbye donor, we are also predestined to meet each other."
"Are you really Master Jingyun? Do you still remember meeting your disciple six years ago?"
After hearing this, the old lady asked tremblingly.
"Amitabha, female donor, it is me. I have been waiting for you for a long time. I didn't expect you to come today."
After hearing Master Jingyun's words, the old lady let go of Aunt Zhang's support, bowed devoutly in the direction of the voice, and said:
"It is really you. Disciple greets Master Jingyun."
"Amitabha! Donors, no need to be polite."
Helped up by Aunt Zhang, the old lady said devoutly:
"Six years ago, Master enlightened me, saying that my grandson's wife was a noble person and asked me to keep her with my grandson. However, her origin violated the teachings of my ancestors, which caused her to leave the mansion four years ago and she has refused to return. Her origin cannot be changed, and the teachings of my ancestors are even more difficult to violate. For the past six years, this matter has been entangled in my heart and I can't resolve it. I hope Master can give me some advice."
