Chapter 131: Void for Void, Fear upon Fear

Li Wei had never witnessed the Dharma assembly at the Great Ci’en Temple, though he had heard tales of its unprecedented grandeur. Not only from within Chang’an city but from many neighboring prefectures and counties, pious men and women flocked to attend. On that day, nearly every bailiff and even soldiers in Chang’an were mobilized to maintain order.

As for how many purses were stolen or how many women were surreptitiously harassed in the crush, there was no way to account for it.

The scale of this Dharma assembly at White Horse Temple was even greater. The vast square in front of the temple gate was packed, and when it could hold no more, the crowd spilled over onto the mountain paths and into the surrounding woods. However, the seats in front of the Dharma platform were reserved. His Great Imperial Majesty, the Empress, and the Crown Prince sat in the center, flanked by officials and nobility. Merchants were intentionally arranged toward the front, as they were expected to "bleed heavily" for the cause later.

Li Wei found it all quite absurd. Those seated in the front could hear, but those in the back could hear nothing, and those further back could likely barely see the people on stage. Yet, looking at the crowd, their eyes were filled with such extreme fanaticism, as if the monks on stage were not merely men, but Arhats and Bodhisattvas descended to earth.

He sighed. After listening for a whole morning, he had nearly fallen asleep several times. Finally, the morning session concluded, and as privileged figures, they were ushered into the refectory to rest.

Beyond their immediate circle, the refectory was filled with other officials, their families, and merchants. When you have been shown such "respect," how could you not be expected to open your purse?

Li Wei did not recognize most of the people, but he spotted Di Renjie talking with Yan Liben. Apart from himself, Di had brought his two foster daughters. Had the old man finally come to his senses? He had indeed kept Di Hui and Di Hao almost under house arrest—they likely had less freedom than a concubine cast into the cold palace. Since it was the Dharma assembly, he had brought them out for a change of pace. Yet, seeing the throng of people everywhere, Di Renjie grew anxious, saying, "Hui’er, Hao’er, stay by your father’s side. Do not wander off."

The two girls only smiled; they were not used to Di Renjie’s tight grip. But they understood. Given their past status—entering the palace and gaining the favor of the Crown Prince—it had been a difficult path, and their foster father’s actions were for their own good. They held no grudges.

Li Wei walked over.

Di Hao said with profound admiration, "Your Highness, I... I was deeply impressed by the responses you gave to those masters."

"Your Highness, I was just about to speak to you about that," Di Renjie said with a stern expression. "Buddhism encourages goodness, which is not a bad thing. However, it is ultimately a Western sect, while Confucianism is the true principle for governing the nation. Your Highness must not be led astray."

Yan Liben’s expression immediately became solemn.

He had met countless people in his life, but he admired Di Renjie the most. As an advisor to the Crown Prince, not only was strategizing important, but moral guidance was equally vital. Look at this—a single piece of remonstrance like this surpassed the words of all the great Confucian scholars of the Chongwen Pavilion.

Li Wei shook his head and whispered, "Minister Di, rest assured. Regarding the ways of ghosts and gods, I do not oppose people’s faith, especially in upright religions that teach people to be good. But I myself do not truly believe in them. I only spoke up because I heard certain teachings of the Chan sect and recalled a phrase: 'To see a mountain is to see a mountain; to see a mountain is not to see a mountain; to see a mountain is to see a mountain again.' I merely elaborated on it."

"What is meant by seeing a mountain as a mountain, not a mountain, and then a mountain again?" Di Renjie asked curiously, as the concept had not yet been popularized.

"It is a state of mind. When you first see a mountain, it is just a mountain—you don't think about it. Then, you begin to ponder: there are rocks, soil, trees, and flowers; some mountains are high, some low—and in your heart, it no longer seems like a mountain. Finally, you slowly understand its essence, grasping the true meaning of the mountain, and it becomes a mountain once more. Yet, this is different from the first time. The Chan sect distinguishes between 'sudden enlightenment' and 'gradual enlightenment.' Sudden enlightenment is what Master Shenxiu said of Master Lu, but ordinary disciples lack that capacity, so they must use gradual enlightenment. Whether sudden or gradual, one cannot grasp it all at once. So, when one enters the Buddha’s gate, emptiness is emptiness; then, in a state of half-understanding, emptiness is not emptiness; and finally, when one achieves enlightenment, emptiness is emptiness again."

It was a convoluted explanation, but that was indeed how the Chan sect operated.

Hearing him speak so strangely, everyone couldn't help but laugh.

"In the end, if everything is truly 'empty,' then everyone stops working and waits for a harvest. But crops must be tilled to yield, scholars must study hard to gain knowledge, and from the Emperor down to the officials, we must govern diligently for the nation to prosper and the people to be at peace. Thus, for thousands of years, the industrious spirit of Confucianism has been the true principle under heaven."

Confucianism was not necessarily always correct, but these officials were all trained in it, so they had to say so. However, in terms of governance, Confucianism was certainly slightly better than Taoism or Buddhism.

"Furthermore, though I have not heard much, I have heard that some lazy men, in order to evade national taxes, take refuge in temples and monasteries to live without labor. As the number of monks and Taoist priests grows, they occupy vast tracts of fertile land, all of which are exempt from national taxation. This places a heavier burden on the common people, which is not good."

"Indeed," Di Renjie sighed. When he was at the Shaolin Temple a while ago, he had discussed similar issues with the Crown Prince. The rise of temples and monasteries had placed a heavy burden on the state.

Di Hui asked in confusion, "If that is so, why did Your Highness speak as you did?"

"Since the Emperor and Empress rarely travel, and they enjoy these Dharma assemblies, I did it to make them smile. It is the duty of a son." This was a pleasant explanation—or rather, a bit of flattery to ease the tense relationship.

As the Crown Prince went to speak with Di Renjie, Yan Liben took his leave.

Watching him depart, Di Hao stuck out her tongue and whispered, "Father, I am so afraid."

"Why?"

"Minister Yan once heard of my painting skills; we have met before. Father, should we not just tell the truth? I am worried."

"No one has asked, so why bring it up?" Di Renjie immediately discouraged her. If it were to spread and invite criticism, it would be impossible to enter the Eastern Palace again. If one were to speak, one should wait for an opportunity to reveal it to the Empress. Others need not know. If the Crown Prince were to eventually ascend the throne, who would dare say anything then?

Li Wei did not mention that his own interactions with his parents were often half-truth and half-false. Honesty was indeed a virtue, but sometimes a well-intentioned lie was also a virtue...

Yet, Di Hao’s character made him like her even more. Lying out of necessity was one thing, but taking pride in lying was something else entirely.

On the road, the old servant had heard continuous news from Luoyang that left him terrified. Yet, despite the memorials pouring in like snowflakes, the two Sovereigns kept them suppressed and did not act.

He slowly began to realize: so far, only Ming Chongyan had managed to make the Emperor’s illness show signs of improvement. Under heaven, nothing was more important than the Emperor’s life. If they continued to press like this, the Emperor and Empress would be placed in a very awkward position, which would do the Crown Prince no good.

Perhaps his own master had anticipated this?

He set off for Luoyang again. Fearing to seek an audience directly, he disguised himself as a peddler to enter the Ming residence.

Upon meeting, he reproached, "Doctor Ming, why were you so careless?"

Using the Crown Prince’s status to apply pressure was one thing, but allowing others to suppress him in his own area of expertise was wrong.

"You dare ask me? How long have I been at court? My foundations are unstable—no, I have no foundation at all! You forced me to do this great deed. It’s not that it couldn't be done, but it required seizing the right momentum." Ming Chongyan was also furious. While he craved wealth and status, it had to be worth the struggle. At this rate, he might as well have stayed in the Western Capital, living a stable life without worrying about food or clothing. Before the ritual, he had been filled with trepidation, but the people under Xu Jingzong had pressured him too urgently. Without waiting for the right moment, success was unlikely, and he was left in this passive position.

He continued, "If you hadn't pushed so hard, I wouldn't be in such a state of panic. Tell your master: my abilities are limited, and your demands are too great. I am powerless to continue. If the Tutor is not satisfied, he can expose me—I am waiting for death anyway."

"Doctor Ming, do not panic. If the Emperor meant you harm, he would not have left the memorials suppressed."

"And what of it? Will the Emperor reward me?"

"No, but the Crown Prince is indeed in a difficult position..." As a trusted aide to Xu Jingzong, he had dealt with the former Crown Prince several times. After this maneuver, the original Crown Prince had long since been toppled by his master. But since falling ill, the current Crown Prince seemed to have gained a sudden, sharp clarity. Ming Chongyan wanted to withdraw, and he himself wanted to withdraw. But could they?

He thought for a moment and said, "Perhaps this whole affair was wrong from the start. The Minister chose you not only because you are skilled in witchcraft and medicine, but because of one thing you haven't utilized well."

"What thing?"

"Your appearance. You treat the Emperor and have free access to the palace. What if you told the Empress she was ill and prescribed medicine—including some hidden aphrodisiacs?"

Ming Chongyan was so frightened by these words that he collapsed. After a long while, he said, "I absolutely refuse. Your master wants to play the role of Lu Buwei and treat me like Lao Ai? And look at the end that awaited Lao Ai! Not to mention the Emperor is still alive. I am finished. I will return all the money I took from the Minister immediately."

"Do you think you can just stop and be safe? If you sit idly by, what will be your fate when the Crown Prince ascends the throne?" The old servant pulled him back down and said, "Doctor Ming, you are also mistaken. The Empress is the Empress; she is not to be compared to low-born concubines like the Empress Dowager Huayang. Furthermore, she served the Taizong Emperor and now serves the current Emperor. A minister is ashamed to serve two masters, and a woman is ashamed to marry two husbands—let alone father and son. You know the Emperor’s health. The Empress is in the prime of her life, and she is not a chaste widow. This plan can work."

"It is improper, improper! The Emperor won't even let me into the palace now. Do not mention this again." However, the boy was somewhat tempted. Mixing medicine was not a problem, and he knew several ways to prevent conception. Having entered and left the palace several times, he knew some of its secrets. The Empress was a woman of immense power, and though she was a bit old, she was still a breathtakingly beautiful woman who maintained herself well.

Li Wei knew nothing of this thought. If he did, he would not care what his father thought; he would take his saber and cut the man down.

"Doctor Ming’s worries are not unreasonable. However, as the Emperor’s health continues to decline, he will eventually have need of you again. When his condition worsens, he will think of you. The Tutor’s words are paving a golden path for you."

Though he was persuading, his own fear grew heavier.

The Tutor had been successful in dealing with those prime ministers in the past, but that was partly due to his methods and partly because the Emperor and Empress had implicitly allowed it.

Now, not only was that not the case, but they were targeting the Crown Prince, who was extremely difficult to handle, and they were using the Emperor and Empress as pawns. If this were exposed... it didn't even need to be fully exposed; if just one part were revealed, the entire Xu household would face total annihilation. Had they not seen the fate of Helan Minzhi?

Though the Emperor had shown mercy, the Empress had sent men to chase him to the Xiang River, where he and all his servants were dragged from their horses and strangled! Even the bailiffs who served him were not spared. Like Ming Chongyan, he had boarded this ship and could not get off. He added, "What if, before the two Sovereigns issue their decree, you use powerful, volatile medicine? Besides, the Empress is already filled with resentment..."