As they were talking, they arrived at the Empress Dowager's residence.
After changing out of the gorgeous clothes that represented nobility and getting rid of the shackles that followed her like a shadow in the palace, the Empress Dowager felt brighter than ever before, smiled more often, and looked no different from the kind and amiable ancestor of a wealthy family.
After taking the tea and drinking half of it, the Grand Empress Dowager took a box from the female official and handed it to Hua Zhi. She looked at the couple with a smile and said, "May you live in harmony and grow old together."
"Thank you, Grandma."
After the two of them bowed again, Gu Yanxi helped Azhi stand up. The empress dowager was deeply moved by the natural care and concern shown by them. These two people really earned their current situation with their lives, and everyone unanimously ignored the late emperor's will, and no one tried to stop them.
The three of them moved to the dinner table and sat in three groups. They were all sensible people and many things did not need to be said explicitly. When they addressed her as grandmother instead of the respectful title of Grand Empress Dowager, they naturally got along like ordinary grandparents and grandchildren. Without the distance brought by that title, the relationship between the grandparents and grandchildren became closer.
"Although the emperor has been taught very well, he is still young and attached to his family. Even if he becomes a daughter-in-law of the royal family, he does not need to care about those taboos at this time." The Empress Dowager stood up and walked forward a few steps. "Not every daughter-in-law of the dynasty can have the ability of a tutor. You are qualified to act specially. Grandmother hopes that you can be as confident as before."
Hua Zhi knelt down and responded respectfully. She would have done so even if no such words had been spoken, but it was heartbreaking to be protected like this.
The Grand Empress Dowager pulled the man up and sighed softly, "That child is probably also worried, but how can he, as an emperor, express his feelings? You still need to pay more attention to him and don't alienate him. After all, there are not many people he can be close to."
"yes."
"You see clearly, I am relieved." The old man laughed again, "I don't want to go back to the palace. Don't look down on me for staying here for a long time."
"Yan Xi hopes that you can stay longer." Hua Zhi glanced at her husband who had been silent and gentle. "It's not easy to leave the palace. You don't have to be trapped in the palace. When the weather is good, you can walk around the city. There are many villas. You can go wherever you want. When we are free, it is feasible to go to a farther place."
The eyes of the Empress Dowager, who had been trapped for a lifetime, were filled with ripples. She was yearning just by hearing this. If that day could really come true...
She lowered her head and blinked, suppressing her expectations. The Empress Dowager smiled and nodded, "Then Grandmother has to take good care of herself."
"You will live a long and blessed life."
The words of the Empress Dowager still made Hua Zhi cautious. After entering the palace to pay attention, she noticed that the Emperor's smile was still the same, and his expression was no different. However, the look that seemed to be there but avoided her when she looked over was clearly a test. The young emperor was not sure whether the tutor was any different after marriage.
This uncertainty made Hua Zhi feel a little distressed.
After a few thoughts, the words came out naturally, "Your Majesty, do you still remember that I asked you and Berlin to visit the people to find out the prices?"
The emperor nodded. He certainly remembered it. It was the first time in his life that he had such an experience and he would never forget it.
"Your Majesty, please do not underestimate such trivial matters. The rise and fall of prices is closely related to the people, and it can also be used to see whether the harvest is good or bad." Hua Zhi smiled, "Your Majesty is high up in the temple. Although you can see far away, you are also farther away from the people. If someone covers your ears and blindfolds your eyes, you can only know what they want you to know. But if you know the prices of all commodities, you can know which places have suffered disasters and which places have suffered man-made disasters. You can also see whether the people's lives are stable. Who can cover your ears and blind your eyes?"
The emperor's eyes sparkled. Could it be that the Grand Tutor's words meant...
"You can't go out to the people as often as before. Your safety is more important than anything else. But if you go out to the market occasionally, I think the benefits far outweigh the disadvantages."
The emperor was of course willing to do so, but he was afraid that no courtier would agree. He subconsciously looked at the regent.
Gu Yanxi certainly would not oppose Ah Zhi's decision. He also knew very well how outstanding the emperor would be if he was trained according to Ah Zhi's method, so he nodded without thinking and said, "I second the motion. Now that you know this, you won't have to worry about being deceived by the people below."
The emperor was overjoyed. With the regent's words, the matter was basically settled. Even though he could only go out occasionally, he felt less anxious about not having to stay in the palace every day.
"I remember there is a market not far from Dazhuo Temple." Hua Zhi said calmly, as if it was nothing unusual. "The troubled times have passed, and now the weather is good. If the emperor goes there, it would be a good opportunity for him to go to Dazhuo Temple to burn incense."
Gu Yanxi almost couldn't hold back her laughter, this was really... To be frank, she went through so much trouble just because she didn't want to make the emperor feel uneasy, so she was just trying to comfort him.
Looking at the emperor's mouth corners which were trying hard to straighten but still turned upturned, Gu Yanxi's eyes and heart were filled with warmth. This was the person he finally married. Only after getting to know her did he realize how soft her heart was and how good she was to her own people.
I felt this way just by watching from the sidelines. It was understandable that the emperor felt a warmth that seemed to be overflowing in his heart. Perhaps it was too much and too full, so much so that his heart and nose were sour. With full joy, the emperor secretly thought, it's great, the tutor is still the same as before!
After coming out of the palace, the two went straight to Dazhuo Temple. Neither of them was the type to make a big fuss, so they did not inform Master Prajna in advance. It was only after they had burned incense in the main hall that Master Prajna got the news and rushed over.
In the quiet room, Hua Zhi put down the teacup, took the box from Yingchun, put it on the table and opened it, and the sandalwood beads were quietly scattered inside.
"Thanks to the Buddha's blessing, I have survived the ordeal of life and death."
Master Prajna looked down at the box, smiled and shook his head, "The princess should have such a blessing."
Hua Zhi did not argue. She did not believe in ghosts and gods, but she was also awed by them. Whether it was just a coincidence or she was really blessed by God, she was grateful. In this matter, she was willing to believe that she was a good person and was rewarded.
Gu Yanxi took over the conversation, "Master, please bless me again."
"It should be so." Master Prajna closed the box and put it aside. He raised his head and chanted a Buddhist name. "Recently, more and more people have come to Dazhuo Temple to seek ordination. Dazhuo Temple is open to welcome guests, but it is not good to turn people away. If I have disturbed the peace of the prince and princess, please forgive me."
"More people are becoming monks?" Hua Zhi was a little surprised. Isn't life hard now? Although the new emperor took the throne, there was no turmoil. Why are there so many people becoming monks
Master Prajna sighed, "If the number of monks in Dazhuo Temple had not always remained constant, I'm afraid there would be more monks than pilgrims."
"Master, have you ever asked why you want to become a monk? Is your family unable to make ends meet? Wait." Hua Zhi suddenly stopped talking. She thought of something. "If I remember correctly, the late emperor issued a new decree not long before his death. Monks with flying saucers can be exempted from taxes at home."
Master Prajna smiled bitterly and nodded. This was a good thing for a monk, but once someone took advantage of it, the good thing would turn into a bad thing.
In fact, this was not a law only in the Daqing Dynasty. There were many dynasties in history that had special treatment for monks. When it comes to believing in ghosts and gods, who can compare to the emperor? Hua Zhi sneered in her heart, but did not show it on her face. As a royal woman, she still had to save this face for her man.
She raised her eyebrows and looked at her husband, "This matter is not big or small, I think it is just right to let the emperor practice."
Gu Yanxi's mind raced, and she nodded in agreement, "Madam, what you said is very true. I will send someone to report it."
Master Prajna looked back and forth between the two of them, feeling inexplicably that he was quite redundant here.
PS: I’m back and will start updating the extra chapters.