The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 287 - 252, Visit the nunnery at night, Bodhisattva smiles sweetly

The wind stirred and clouds shifted, and moonlight cascaded down like water, setting the Empress in the carriage apart from the world.

"Yes." Zhao Douan was startled for a moment, then responded and lifted the hem of his robe to enter.

As the curtain fell, a delicately crafted small square table in the center of the carriage compartment lit up with the round Luminous Pearl changing from dim to bright.

It illuminated the jade pot and cups on the table, filling the air with a hint of alcohol.

"Has Your Majesty been drinking?" Zhao Douan sat down halfway, frowning slightly.

He, of course, was not referring to drinking at the celebratory banquet.

Xu Zhenguan, her jade-like hand picking up an empty cup, tipped her head back and drained it in one gulp.

With her hair done up, her normally "bare" neck appeared even more exposed.

From this angle, Zhao Douan could see her delicate jawline and the firm, white neck as she swallowed the wine, her throat undulating as it slid down her esophagus.

"Pour the wine," the Empress commanded softly as she set down the exquisite cup.

Without a word, Zhao Douan tacitly cradled the jade pot with both hands and poured her a drink.

The carriage began to move, but both remained silent. After the Empress had three cups, Zhao Douan covered the wine pot with his hand and sighed,

"Your Majesty, drinking excessively is harmful to your health."

In the dim light of the Luminous Pearl, the woman, clad in a bright yellow dragon robe and wearing a golden crown of the same color, looked emotionlessly at him as she reached sharply to snatch the wine pot.

But Zhao Douan evaded her, earnestly advising,

"Your Majesty, I remember you once said that only when you truly rejoice do you drink on your own.

This fine ale should bring joy. If it does not, and it serves only to forget sorrow, then it becomes a means to drown one’s sorrows."

Xu Zhenguan’s beautiful eyes still stared emotionlessly at him.

In the past, such gestures would have terrified the palace maidens and eunuchs, making them desperately compliant.

But Zhao Douan hugged the wine pot tightly, boldly holding her gaze with utmost sincerity.

Their eyes met, and he saw not the satisfaction of defeating traitors in the Empress’s eyes, but deep melancholy.

Xu Zhenguan’s lips curled up slightly, and she chuckled,

"If I were the late Emperor, a subject like you, who dares to defy monarchy so blatantly, no matter how great your achievements, you would still be cast into the ’Cold Palace.’"

Zhao Douan’s gaze did not waver as he replied seriously,

"That is why, Your Majesty is not the late Emperor, and thus I dare to offer direct admonition."

He had rich experience in gauging the mood of female leaders, knowing when to display "consideration."

Sure enough, Xu Zhenguan’s expression softened, and the jade hand that was suspended in the air, reaching for the wine pot, slowly lowered.

Her full lips breathed out a fragrant whiff of alcohol, she slightly arched back and leaned against the carriage wall, her eyes gaining a bit more moisture and warmth,

"How good it would be if there were more subjects like you in the court."

Zhao Douan put down the jade wine pot and smiled,

"Wouldn’t that mean I should fall out of Your Majesty’s favor?"

A not-so-funny joke, but it aptly lightened the heavy atmosphere in the carriage.

He knew that the Empress reacted this way because of Wang Heng’s attitude in confessing his crimes... If Wang Heng had resolutely denied everything, even if he had kowtowed, cried, and shouted injustice...

The Empress’s emotional response would not have been significant, nothing more than anger.

Despite holding high power and authority, toppling a minister like this was not new to her.

But still...

"How many like Wang Heng do you think there are in the court?" asked Xu Zhenguan suddenly in a soft voice.

Her tone... was not really seeking an answer but rather seemed reflective, or as if questioning herself.

Zhao Douan fell silent for a moment, instinctively feeling that the question was difficult to answer.

On the surface, the question was about identifying the parasites in the court, but actually, the Empress was hesitating over how to deal with these detestable yet not entirely detestable traitors.

Zhao Douan certainly could offer a plain, safe response that meant nothing.

Historically, eunuchs who accompanied the Emperor like a tiger had built a rich experience in responding to such inquiries at any time and place.

Yet, he eventually said,

"When the water is too clear, there are no fish; when one scrutinizes too closely, he has no disciples. Your Majesty should rejoice that those like Wang Heng have shown remorse, which suggests that the time when everyone turns to Your Majesty is not far off."

Xu Zhenguan appeared mildly surprised as she glanced at him, first chewing over his words then giving a quasi-smile,

"That doesn’t sound like something a slick talker like you would say."

… I am not a slick talker, at least not now... Zhao Douan insisted earnestly,

"Whatever Your Majesty asks me to say, I will say."

Tsk... Xu Zhenguan snorted, her face full of disdain, yet her mood had lightened considerably due to his playful banter or, perhaps, consolation.

"Let’s not talk about that," Xu Zhenguan looked towards the fluttering curtain and said softly,

"Do you know where I am going?"

"I am dull," Zhao Douan feigned a naive expression, "Having achieved this accomplishment, is Your Majesty planning to reward me?"

Xu Zhenguan replied without amusement,

"You dare claim credit. Isn’t it just your duty to handle your affairs well? And now you’re asking me for a reward?"

Zhao Douan was scolded but merely smiled; seeing his reaction, Xu Zhenguan also felt somewhat helpless.

She gently massaged her forehead with her fingers, and then softly said,

"We are heading to Jizhao Temple."

Jizhao Temple... the nunnery near Divine Dragon Temple... the place where Princess Yunyang is confined... Zhao Douan was stunned for a moment, then immediately realized,

"Is Your Majesty going to visit the elder Princess?"

It had been quite some time since he had slapped Princess Yunyang and sent her to the nunnery to chant Buddhist scriptures.

He had almost forgotten about the wayward elder Princess...

Xu Zhenguan hummed softly and said,

"After all, she is my aunt; it’s been long enough to pay a visit."

Zhao Douan’s eyes twinkled, saying,

"Perhaps we should send the eldest Princess back home."

Given his current power and influence, frankly, the matters from before no longer weighed on his heart.

Xu Zhenguan did not look at him, saying,

"With my aunt’s temperament, just a few months would hardly be enough to change her habits; praying at the temple is good for her."

It felt somewhat like sending an elder to a rehab center for internet addiction... Zhao Douan commented sarcastically.

Realizing that the reason the Empress visited was most likely spurred by the provocation from her Uncle, Prince Jing...

He did not continue the subject but rather asked curiously,

"I heard that there is a Buddhist Bodhisattva residing in Jizhao Temple?"

Xu Zhenguan hummed an acknowledgment before casually explaining,

"In today’s Buddhist community... setting aside the Esoteric Sect of the Western Regions, just taking the lineage from Divine Dragon Temple in Great Yu, the strongest in Buddhist Law, is Master Xuan Yin. Below him are three Worldly Realm Great Perfection Bodhisattvas.

The resident of Jizhao Temple is Prajna Bodhisattva, who primarily cultivates the Three Unleakable teachings of Buddhism... The other two are Long Shu Bodhisattva and Da Jing Master... Among them, Prajna is indeed the youngest."

"How young?" Zhao Douan inquired curiously.

"Fifty-two."

...A fifty-two-year-old nun... Zhao Douan lost interest, imagining an image of Master of Extinction.

...

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...

Jizhao Temple wasn’t far from the banquet hall, and while they spoke, they had arrived.

The carriage stopped at the entrance of the nunnery, and Zhao Douan followed the Empress out of the carriage.

The nunnery before them wasn’t very large.

Especially compared to the expansive and brightly lit Divine Dragon Temple visible in the distance, it seemed rather inconspicuous.

On the unimpressive main gate hung only two lanterns.

The eunuch knocked on the door and announced their identity.

The nun who came to open the door was immediately startled, clasping her hands in a salute to the Empress before hurrying off to report.

"No need for a big fuss, I’m just here to visit Yunyang and will leave shortly," the Empress said graciously.

The young nun who opened the door was genuinely flustered and dared not refuse.

She immediately gestured for them to enter.

Leaving the others outside, the Empress entered Jizhao Temple with only Zhao Douan.

In the evening ambiance, the nunnery was quite serene and picturesque, exhibiting a beauty of tranquility amidst chaos.

"Your Majesty, Donor Yunyang resides in the guesthouse ahead; I will lead you there," the nun said.

Walking on the stone path surrounded by well-kept flowers and plants,

she pointed to a zen house ahead that was lit.

Xu Zhenguan looked towards it and asked softly, "How has she been during this period?"

The unremarkably faced nun looked troubled,

"Donor Yunyang was initially very noisy, often smashing things. Unable to bear it, Prajna Bodhisattva had a talk with her, which calmed her somewhat.

However, she then complained about the monastery’s vegetarian food, ate very little of what was sent, and as for the Buddhist scriptures, the book delivered a few months ago hasn’t been replaced yet."

Goodness... What kind of "talk" was that?

Was it physical? Zhao Douan wondered, not surprised.

Xu Zhenguan sighed softly and said to Zhao Douan,

"I’ll go see her; you don’t need to come."

"I understand."

Zhao Douan bowed respectfully, slightly worried Yunyang might fabricate slander about him... but thinking the Empress probably wouldn’t believe it, he also relaxed.

Watching the Empress and the nun walk away, Zhao Douan stood alone in the peaceful and elegant courtyard.

With nothing else to do and not daring to wander far, he noted that the inner courtyard was quite spacious, almost like a small garden.

He strolled idly to alleviate boredom.

After a while, his ears perked up at the sound of a faint song.

The tune was quite peculiar, not the refined "elegant music" advocated in Great Yu, but rather somewhat "popular music," mixed with a hint of chant.

"A place of Buddhist sanctity, and someone is singing late at night..."

Curiosity piqued, Zhao Douan turned around.

Guessing Zhenguan wouldn’t return anytime soon, he followed the sound through a flower-laden gate and a winding corridor into a small courtyard.

Passing a loquat tree, Zhao Douan stopped abruptly, stunned.

In front of him was a small pond.

In it were wilting lotuses, with the moonlight reflected and shattered by ripples on the water.

By the pond sat a figure, plump and graceful.

Drenched, draped in loose white clothes, with round and slender legs exposed in the chilly early autumn night, her lower legs submerged in the water, her bare feet like lotuses.

Next to her was a plate of fruit and a pure white jade cleansing bottle.

She sang to the moon while holding a dark-colored comb, gently brushing her wet hair.

Sensing someone watching, the singing abruptly stopped.

The mysterious woman turned her head to look, revealing a beautiful face as if veiled behind a thousand layers of snow-capped mountains and a pair of nearly transparent eyes.

On the woman’s forehead, a Buddhist lotus mark, radiating an eerie light in the moonlight.

"Heh..."

Her appearance was between the ages of twenty and thirty, her body plump, the flesh of her monk robe barely concealing her form, she gently smiled:

"You must be Zhao Douan."

Not far off, Zhao Douan was taken aback, a name flashing almost subconsciously in his mind:

Prajna Bodhisattva! Experience more tales on novelbuddy