King Zheng had not expected her to say that. Although he was angry because she said that Yu You and Wei An's words were not very nice, now all his anger disappeared because of her motherly love. He hugged Bao Ge'er and said to him with a smile: "Bao Ge'er, if you like me, I will let me live here with you, okay?"
Princess Zheng felt a sore nose and whispered, "Yes, my dear child, as long as you like, mother will do whatever you want. As long as you are fine, I will do it even if it means taking my life."
King Zheng was moved. Seeing her holding back her sobs and her face pale, he shook his head gently and said, "Don't say such things. Didn't the imperial physician say that it might not come to this..."
The wet nurse just brought in some milk. Princess Zheng wouldn't listen to anything she said and didn't want anyone else to feed her. She fed Baoger herself. Seeing Baoger smiling and nodding and saying it was delicious, she couldn't help but burst into tears.
Baoger stopped drinking and looked at his mother in confusion. Seeing that his mother was crying again, he probably thought that he had done something wrong. He grabbed the hem of Princess Zheng's clothes and shook her, reaching out for her to hold him.
Princess Zheng wiped her tears quickly, and with a smile she handed the cow to the wet nurse beside her. She took Baoger from Prince Zheng's arms and held him tightly in her arms.
Prince Zheng was watching from the side and felt that Princess Zheng loved Baoger so much that if anything happened to Baoger, she would probably die, so he couldn't help but sigh in his heart.
He also understood why Princess Zheng was so angry before. The child was sick, but her husband was only concerned with the sacrifices for his ex-wife, and didn't even come back to check on the severity of the illness. It was no wonder that she reacted so strongly...
He patted Princess Zheng on the shoulder.
Princess Zheng sobbed for a while, and when Baoger fell asleep again, she came out and said to Mother Ding, "Go... go prepare some things. I'm going to Puci Temple."
Now
Mother Ding looked at her hesitantly and advised, "Princess, it's getting dark soon. I'm afraid the city gates will be closed soon. Even if you are sincere, it's not the right time...why don't you go to the small Buddhist temple first, and wait until tomorrow when we are ready, and then take the prince with you, isn't it better?"
Princess Zheng shook her head resolutely and said stubbornly: "No, let's go now without Bao Ge'er. The Bodhisattva will know my sincerity. Bao Ge'er can't travel. He is not in good health... I will go by myself, I will go by myself..." As she spoke, she instructed Mother Ding: "Prepare more silver, go to Puci Temple, and then go to Huangjue Temple..."
This was a desperate attempt to find a cure. Mother Ding felt sorry for Princess Zheng, and seeing that she was urging him anxiously, she went to see Prince Zheng.
Prince Zheng also knew that if Princess Zheng didn't do something today, she would not be able to sleep well, so he nodded at her, signaling her to do as he was told, and said to Princess Zheng: "Don't worry, I will take care of Bao Ge'er, Bao Ge'er will be fine."
Princess Zheng nodded silently with tears in her eyes. She waited until Mother Ding was ready and the carriage outside was harnessed, and then she quickly got on the carriage.
She didn't say a word the whole way, she was in a daze the whole time. Mother Ding couldn't bear to see her like that, so she comforted her with tears in her eyes, "Princess, don't be too hard on yourself. Things may not be that bad. You prayed to the Bodhisattva so sincerely. The Bodhisattva is spiritual and can sense your sincerity. He will definitely protect the prince and keep him safe."
These were all empty words, she could not hear a word of them and just nodded randomly. She didn't know how much time had passed when she heard that they had arrived outside. Then she came to her senses with a start. She waited for Mother Ding to get down and stand firmly and take a footstool, then she stepped on the stool and got out of the carriage, and nodded to Master Jinghui who came out to greet her.
Master Jinghui didn't know it was Princess Zheng who came, and Princess Zheng didn't have any ceremonial guards. When she saw Princess Zheng, she was startled at first. When she saw that Princess Zheng's eyes were red, it was obvious that she had just cried, she became more cautious. She thought it was because of Princess Zheng's matter. She couldn't help but feel guilty. She put her hands together, chanted a Buddhist prayer, and asked Princess Zheng: "I am sorry for not welcoming you in person. I didn't know you were coming, and I didn't clear the gate... I am really sorry..."
It was already completely dark. On the way up the mountain, the servants of the palace were trembling with fear, fearing that rocks would roll down. Now that they were on the mountain, lanterns were hung everywhere, which was much better than walking in the dark on the mountain road before. Princess Zheng's expression did not change, and she did not find any faults. She just said, "We came here at the last minute, and did not call anyone to inform us. We just asked the mountain guard in the hut at the foot of the mountain to come in and report the news. We were rude, how can we blame you? I came to worship Buddha, and I hope you can help me."
Nun Jinghui was puzzled, but she knew that Princess Zheng must have encountered something to say that, so she nodded quickly: "Yes, Princess, you are so pious, I really admire you. The Bodhisattva will definitely be able to feel your sincerity and grant you what you ask for..."
As he walked in to greet Princess Zheng, he asked, "Princess, did you burn incense first, or did you have dinner first? It must have taken you more than two hours to come all the way from the capital. You must not have eaten yet, right?"
They had been on the road since the evening, and indeed had not eaten yet. Mother Ding lowered her voice to persuade Princess Zheng: "Why don't you eat something first? You haven't eaten anything since noon. Now that we're here, there's not much time left. Why don't you eat something first?"
Princess Zheng refused. Although she looked haggard, she was still very determined and said to Master Jinghui: "No need to work, Master, please take me to the main hall first..."
When people are at a loss, they always hope that gods and Buddhas can solve their problems for them. Princess Zheng knelt devoutly on the cushion, kowtowed three times respectfully to the Bodhisattva above, stood up, picked up three incense sticks, bowed respectfully again, and began to make a vow very devoutly.
She prayed to herself that from now on she would never ask for things that did not belong to her, and only hoped that the child would grow up healthy and safe. If the child was okay this time, she would eat vegetarian food on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month, burn incense every month, and bring fragrant oil to fulfill her vows, so as to rebuild the golden body of the Bodhisattva.
Because her mind was so confused, the wishes she made were also chaotic. She silently recited whatever came to her mind. Later, she even left the cushion, touched the ground with her head, and kowtowed one by one.
Mother Ding was waiting on the side. As she listened to the sound of her kowtow echoing in the hall, she began to pray to the gods devoutly in her heart, hoping that the gods and Buddhas would protect the prince from harm. Otherwise, looking at the state of Princess Zheng, she was afraid that she would not survive. (To be continued)