It was February 14th, the 30th year of Hongwu, and the cold winter had not yet passed. Seoul is still covered in snow, with long ridges of ice hanging from the eaves, and the sky is blue and high, making it look particularly cold.
As soon as Zhao Pang, the secret minister of Zhimi, returned to Seoul, he went straight to Gyeongbokgung Palace and went to Qinzheng Hall.
As Fatty Zhao is named, he has gained weight in middle age, and his already short figure appears stocky and round. With his double chin, small eyes and always smiling, he is North Korea's most outstanding diplomatic talent.
Since the founding of North Korea by Li Chenggui, Zhao Pang has been going to Yingtian Mansion, the capital of the Ming Dynasty, every year to pay homage to the beautiful ladies. Korean ginseng, horses, lacquerware, seal skins, etc. were very popular in the Ming Dynasty; the gifts given by the Ming Dynasty, silk medicinal materials, tea leaves, books, musical instruments, etc. were also in short supply in North Korea.
Geunjeongjeon is the main hall of Gyeongbokgung Palace, where the king of Joseon went to court. It is tall and magnificent, with carved beams and painted buildings, and is located in the middle of Gyeongbokgung Palace. On this day, in order to receive the imperial edict from the imperial court, hundreds of officials were in attendance, princes were sitting in rows, and Princess Yining was quickly summoned to the Qinzheng Hall.
The lotus flower is still in filial piety. The white clothes, white skirt, even the satin edges of the cuffs and collar are also white. The whole person is as straight as a fresh and white lotus flower. Without the application of powder, the skin looks more like coagulated eyebrows. When it floated by, the hem of the skirt did not move and the tie hung straight down, but it was like light clouds floating in the flowing wind. At that moment, everyone suspected that they smelled the fragrance of water lotus.
The officials looked at Zhao Pang, the secret intermediary, waiting for him to read out the imperial edict brought back from heaven, and secretly speculated.
Only Li Fangyuan only looked at Lotus without blinking since she entered the palace. The crown prince Li Fangshuo pulled Li Fangyuan's sleeves to remind him that Li Fangyuan seemed to be staring at the lotus without knowing it. Li Fangshuo is twelve years older than Li Fangyuan, and they are the eldest brother and younger brother. Knowing that this younger brother has played with Lianhua since he was a child, the two of them are much closer than ordinary people. Li Fangyuan has a stubborn and stubborn personality, so he couldn't help but sigh in his heart and feel a little uneasy, worried about this baby. The younger brother didn't want anything to happen, so he quietly winked at Li Fanguo next to him.
There was silence in the court hall, so quiet that you could hear everyone's breathing.
I only heard Zhao Pang, the official who knew the secret, read: "I have received an edict from the Emperor of Heaven: Princess Yining of North Korea is twenty-eight years old. I am already seventy years old. At this special age, I am paying tribute to my daughter. What is the plan without trial?" Are you so greedy?" The tone of the imperial edict was extremely stern, meaning that the princess is only sixteen and I am seventy. There is such a big age difference but you want to marry your daughter to me. What are your plans in North Korea? Fatty Zhao couldn't help but paused, sweating on his forehead.
After a while, he continued to read: "I remember that North Korea has always been respectful and the people are innocent. From now on, we should guard our borders carefully and avoid deceit, and our blessings will increase." Fatty Zhao paused again, raised his sleeves to wipe away the sweat, and continued to read. He said: "I have a great grandson named Yunwen who has always been talented and virtuous. Princess Yining of North Korea is both virtuous and quiet. She will be named the Lady of the East Palace and come to the capital on a day off. I admire this!"
The emperor actually betrothed Princess Yining to the emperor's grandson and canonized her as a lady of the East Palace!
Li Chenggui was surprised and happy, and led hundreds of officials to kowtow and accept the decree. The lotus flowers also kowtowed to express gratitude, but Li Fang remained far away. The king just ignored him, thought for a moment, and asked Fatty Zhao: "Do you know the age of the emperor's grandson?"
"Hongwu was born in ten years, and he is twenty-one years old this year."
"Does the emperor's grandson have a concubine?"
"The emperor's grandson got married six years ago, and married Ma, the daughter of the young minister of Guanglu Temple. The former prince passed away four years ago, and the two were named the emperor's grandson and his concubine. They have not married each other yet, and the harem in the East Palace only has There is only one grandson, Concubine Ma."
"Has the sexton seen the emperor's grandson?" the king asked again.
"I haven't seen him twice before, but this time I happened to meet him at the Ministry of Rites. He was extremely gentle and humble. The emperor's manners and manners are extraordinary. I heard that both the former prince and the emperor's grandson were personally taught by the emperor since they were young, and their knowledge is also the same. Excellent." Fatty Zhao said and glanced at Li Fangyuan secretly.
Li Fangyuan's face turned pale and he snorted coldly.
All the officials were wondering. How did Fatty Zhao know that he had just arrived in Seoul? Really good things never go out, but bad things spread thousands of miles.
Li Chenggui pretended not to hear and asked Fatty Zhao: "What is the court's attitude this time?"
Fatty Zhao respectfully replied: "Congratulations, Your Majesty. This time, the Minister of Rites, Zheng Zheng, personally received you. The standard is quite different from the past. He is very polite and cordial."
"Did you meet anyone else?"
"And Zhu Gaochi, the Crown Prince of Yan, was together at that time."
"Prince Yan..." Li Chenggui thought for a while, then waved his hand, and Fatty Zhao stepped aside.
Li Chenggui asked Lianhua: "When does my son plan to come to Beijing?"
Lian Hua lowered his head and said, "But please let me, father, make the decision."
Li Fang looked far away at the lotus, looked at the king, and then wanted to get up, but the crown prince Li Fangshuo and Li Fangguo next to him held him down hard.
Li Chenggui calculated in his mind that although he was not the emperor but the emperor's grandson, and although she was only a low-level lady, she was officially canonized by the court this time. This was the first time in the history of North Korea! As long as the first step is good, the next step depends on Lotus's own luck, and there is no guarantee that she will become an imperial concubine. Now it is justifiable to enter the capital and enter the East Palace according to the order. It is better to do it sooner rather than later to avoid causing further complications.
Li Chenggui motioned to the chamberlain beside him to take the almanac, read it carefully for a long time, and said: "The 26th of next month is an auspicious day, let's set off on this day!"
Lotus bowed: "Yes!"
Li Chenggui told Fatty Zhao: "Hurry up and report to the court immediately."
Li Fangyuan fell onto the seat, looking gloomy.
****************
"Princess! Princess!"
Shanxi was shouting again. Lianhua frowned slightly and glanced at Shanxi. Hai Shou stood nearby, looking disapproving.
Shanxi is a maid of the Cao family. She has followed Lianhua since she was a child. She is fifteen years old, chubby, and has a very lively and active personality. She talks a lot. Lianhua always thinks she is noisy and lively.
Shanxi lowered her voice: "Princess! You need to bring so many scriptures? There are too many wives!" Then he glared at Hai Shou with a provocative look: "Can you protect me?"
The three of them were at Anguo Temple outside the city, preparing scriptures to be brought to the Celestial Empire. In the late Goryeo Dynasty of the 13th century, North Korea took several decades to engrave the famous Goryeo Canon, Sutra, and Recarved Tripitaka, totaling more than 10,000 volumes and containing nearly 3,000 Buddhist scriptures. There are more than 80,000 yuan. Commonly known as the "Korean Tripitaka", it covers the Tripitaka of the Northern Song Dynasty and the Khitan. It is extensive, vast and rigorously edited. Many Buddhist scriptures are even unknown in China. It has always been a treasure among the world's Buddhist scriptures. So this time Li Chenggui and Lianhua specially discussed bringing this set of Buddhist scriptures to show that Korea is peaceful and respectful, but it should not be underestimated.
"I only protect the princess, but I don't care about Buddhist scriptures or you." Hai Shou answered coldly with his hands behind his hands.
Hai Shou is of medium height, always upright, and exuding the unique toughness of a martial arts practitioner. He has thin lips, small eyes and a big face, always serious and unsmiling.
Shanxi said angrily: "I don't care, I don't care about you either. If you have any problems, don't come to me!"
Lotus couldn't help but laugh when she saw the two bickering. The two of them seemed to have an enmity in their previous lives. They would fight each other whenever they met, and it ended when Hai Shou stopped talking and became silent.
At this time, Master Zichao walked in slowly, and the three of them quickly stood up and saluted. Master Zichao is over eighty years old. His originally short body seems to have shrunk a bit as he grows older, and he looks shorter than a lotus flower. He is dressed in a moon-white monk's robes spotless, with a white beard and eyebrows, and only a pair of wrinkled faces. The eyes are exceptionally warm and radiant.
Looking at the piles of scriptures piled high, Zichao smiled and said, "It's so good to spread the Dharma and save your life! It's so good!".
Lian Hua said quickly: "You should do your duty as a disciple, Master has given me a reward."
Master Zichao took a copy of the "Light Praise Sutra" from the table and flipped through it. He hesitated for a while and said nothing.
Lianhua asked curiously: "Master has been to Heaven before? What is Heaven like?"
Zichao thought for a while and said slowly: "I studied in China for many years when I was young, traveling all over the north and south. China has a vast territory, a long history, and world-class literary and military skills. It is really not comparable to our North Korea. Even if they are as strong and barbaric as the Mongols, He was rampant for a while, but was finally driven out by them." He paused and continued: "There are many talented people in the court of the Celestial Dynasty, and even among the people, there are many talented people hiding dragons and crouching tigers. Princess Hui has a pure heart, and she will always put the word of tolerance first."
"Thank you, Master, for the tip. Disciple, please keep it in mind."
Zichao put down the scriptures in his hands, took out a few letters from his arms, and said, "Can the princess pass through Peking?"
"Master has ordered that disciples should go on their own."
Master Zichao handed the letter to Lianhua and said: "This letter is for Master Huiren of Tianxi Temple in Yingtian Mansion. When the princess arrives at Yingtian Mansion, it may not be easy for her to go out, but Tianxi Temple is the largest temple, so it should be There is also a chance. Princess, let's see when the time comes, don't force it."
Lianhua opened her eyes wide: "The largest temple in Yingtian Mansion?"
Master Zichao nodded slightly: "That's right. Tianxi Temple was built during the reign of Sun Quan of the Eastern Wu Dynasty. It is the second temple in the Celestial Dynasty."
Lianhua did the math and said in surprise: "Soochow? Isn't that a thousand years ago?"
"More than 1,100 years ago. Not only is it the oldest, it is also the largest in scale. In particular, there are many Tibetan scriptures, and it is the center for the circulation of Buddhist scriptures in the Celestial Dynasty." Zichao said lightly, but his words were full of admiration.
Lian Hua couldn't help but be fascinated, thinking that she might have the opportunity to visit this thousand-year-old temple, and she was a little excited.
Zichao continued with a smile: "This letter is for Master Huiqin, who is my Korean Zen monk; the other is for Buddhist monk Zikong, both of whom are at Daguan Temple in Peiping. The princess is passing through Peking, so she can send her greetings. "After a pause, he said: "The four of us used to talk about scriptures and practice Confucianism and Buddhism together. More than thirty years have passed in the blink of an eye. I wonder how the three of them are doing now?" He said, feeling a little dazed.
Lotus took it with both hands and comforted: "Disciple will definitely deliver it. The three of them, like Master, have practiced Zen and Purity and have immeasurable merits. They must all be good. Master, don't worry too much."
Master Zichao nodded, took another object and held it in his palm, saying, "There is also this."
Lotus looked closely and saw that it was a small nine-story pagoda. Although it was only about two inches high, it was pure, flawless and crystal clear. I didn't know what it was made of.
Master Zichao continued: "This is the glazed pagoda. It was given by Master Hui Ren thirty years ago. It is a treasure passed down from generation to generation of Tianxi Temple and has been with me for many years. The glazed pagoda is the first of the seven treasures of my Buddhist family and can store my Buddha. The light of wisdom illuminates the darkness of the three realms. Take it with you. The Buddha's teachings are boundless and immeasurable. May I protect you and keep you safe."
"Master, this is too precious, this disciple cannot have it." Lianhua looked at Zichao with wet eyes.
"Master is old and will die one day. Once you leave, I'm afraid I won't see Master again." Master Zichao said slowly, with a calm expression. After decades of practice, Master Zichao's eyes are as warm and transparent as glass, and he looks at the lotus with kindness and compassion, but also with reluctance.
"Master!" Lotus' eyes filled with tears, she knelt down and took the pagoda with both hands.
The color of the glazed pagoda flows with aura of aura, as if it is alive. Is it the compassion of the Zen masters of the past that gives life to the pagoda? Is it Master’s thirty years of cultivation poured into the pagoda? Or is it that the Glazed Pagoda has already achieved Bodhi, but is just here to experience reincarnation and save all sentient beings
The lotus flower held the glazed pagoda, prostrated at Zichao's feet, and said with tears: "May Master achieve Bodhi in the next life, with a body like glazed glass, clear inside and outside, pure and free of dirt, and bright and vast."
Master Zichao's warm and transparent eyes also filled with tears.