Xuansu Temple was formerly an imperial villa, and ordinary common people had no opportunity to witness its true splendor. In the past when passing by, they could only look over the high courtyard walls to see the magnificent halls built on the mountainside in the distance.
Now that they had entered the main gates, what met their eyes was a brightly lit courtyard. Along the lakeside, white jade lamp posts were set at regular intervals, with candlelight flickering inside them, casting dreamlike reflections on the lake surface and making the halls under the night sky appear even more glorious.
The common people surged like a tide along the white jade arched bridge and the paths surrounding Mirror Lake toward the main hall.
The spacious square in front of the hall was paved with neat floor tiles, with elegant potted plants arranged around the perimeter. Fresh flowers bloomed in the flower beds, and the air was filled with the scent of sandalwood and floral fragrance.
At this moment, a hundred Taoist nuns were already seated in meditation at the front of the square before the hall.
The imperial guards held their sword hilts, standing ready in the shadows below the vermillion steps, each with tiger-like eyes blazing as they maintained strict formation.
Under the eaves hung with palace lanterns, two beautiful maidservants in azure robes stood to the left and right, with a woman in white robes standing between them, her back to the crowd.
The woman wore layered white gauze jacket and skirt, her long hair cascading down like satin in the lamplight. The night breeze gently caressed her hair and dress, giving her a faintly otherworldly air.
The common people who had rushed to the front had already stopped in their tracks, staring blankly at that figure who seemed like a banished immortal.
At this moment, people began preventing the crowd from pushing and shoving.
Soon, the square in front of the hall, the arched bridge, and the lakeside pathways were packed with people. Many more common people had no chance to get close and climbed onto artificial rock formations in the distance, while others climbed walls to look over.
Though there were many people, a strange quiet had spread throughout the square in front of the hall.
The common people dared not speak loudly, as if afraid of startling the person on the vermillion steps.
Qin Huaiyuan, Second Master, and Third Master were now standing on the steps leading to the square. Unable to see ahead clearly, they had no choice but to climb onto the railings on both sides and steady themselves by holding onto trees.
When Qin Huaiyuan saw his daughter’s attire, he had an idea of what was happening and felt somewhat more at ease.
“Saint.”
At this moment, someone in the crowd was the first to call out.
Immediately, the common people in the square began kneeling down sporadically.
“Saint, we beg the saint to show us a path to survival!”
Some people were weeping sorrowfully, but no one was shouting loudly. Everyone cast their earnest, hopeful gazes toward that figure dressed in white as pure as snow.
Qin Yining turned around and, attended by the two azure-robed maidservants, took a few steps forward, walking into the lamplight.
The common people nearby could see her features clearly and all stared wide-eyed. Ordinary people—where had they ever seen such a beautiful woman?
Those too far away to see clearly could only observe her white robes and what seemed to be a small fluffy creature in her arms. Looking more carefully, it was actually a snow-white little rabbit.
With Tianji Zi’s divination preceding this, and now seeing that the True Person was actually such a figure, the common people’s faith in her grew even stronger. Standing before the magnificent hall, that sense of mystery and sanctity was even more intense than before.
“This humble woman lacks talent and is merely a woman. To receive the Emperor’s trust and be commanded to pray for the nation’s blessings is truly a blessing of three lifetimes. Daily residing here, I can only do my small part. Today, to have the honor of meeting all fellow villagers is truly an honor. I wonder what matters you wish to ask about today?”
The villa was built with its back to the mountain and facing the water. During construction, consideration was given to holding ceremonies and occasions where the emperor might speak, so the architecture was designed to amplify sound. Qin Yining didn’t need to shout at the top of her lungs for the common people near the square to hear her voice clearly.
That sense of sanctity became even more pronounced.
At this moment, a woman boldly asked: “Saint, do you think we can survive?”
“The Heavenly Way cycles, and each person’s karmic connections have their own predetermined fate. However, Heaven has the virtue of cherishing life and has always left a thread of hope for people. As long as you persevere unrelentingly, you will surely see hope.”
Hearing these words, the common people’s faces all showed emotion, and hope grew in their hearts. Some quietly whispered to each other, and the atmosphere became more lively.
Someone else asked: “Saint, can we defend the capital city?”
“The current Emperor is an enlightened ruler, and the soldiers defending the city are all passionate young men devoted to the country. As long as everyone unites as one, doesn’t panic, doesn’t create chaos, doesn’t do things harmful to the Great Yan Dynasty, and doesn’t add extra burdens to the defending soldiers, I believe that as long as we do our utmost, even if the process involves hardships and obstacles, the result will definitely be good, and everyone will surely survive.”
With these words, smiles finally appeared on the common people’s faces.
What they feared most was the destruction of their homeland and losing their homes.
To put it plainly, everyone was afraid of death.
Now hearing their “saint” say that as long as they did their utmost, they could overcome this hurdle, everyone finally felt greatly reassured.
Second Master and Third Master in the crowd watched with mouths agape.
They had no idea their niece could actually play the role of a “charlatan” and had managed to control such a large scene.
Qin Huaiyuan, however, finally felt at ease.
He had initially worried that when Qin Yining saw so many people, she would first show timidity, which would naturally diminish that otherworldly immortal aura, and her words wouldn’t be convincing.
Actually, Qin Yining’s words were just standard rhetoric. Though they sounded grand and proper, they actually left room for maneuvering. In the end, regardless of success or failure, the fault wouldn’t be attributed to her.
But the common people first believed in their hearts that she was a saint who could protect the country. With the power of faith, when they looked at her, she seemed much more sacred. Qin Yining had also deliberately created this environment resembling a celestial palace. Her appearance and dress, combined with the environmental atmosphere, naturally had quite an impact on a group of common people who hadn’t seen much of the world.
Qin Huaiyuan nodded. It seemed his daughter clearly understood the key point now—since she had already been labeled with the “saint” hat, she could only firmly maintain this identity. If she were pulled down from this position, she would only die a very ugly death.
“Saint.” Another elderly man asked in a trembling voice, “It’s said that the Grand Emperor sold off the national treasury and tax grain. There’s no grain left in the granaries. We common people don’t have much stored grain left at home. But the profiteering merchants are selling grain at ten taels of silver per catty. Saint, can you punish the profiteering merchants and make them hand over their grain?”
“Yes, Saint, the profiteering merchants are too detestable!”
…
The common people began cursing the grain merchants with many voices speaking at once. Though they hated the Grand Emperor’s actions in their hearts, not one person dared to curse the Grand Emperor openly.
This was exactly what troubled Qin Yining most.
The relationships of interests involved were too complex for her to explain to the common people, and to solve the grain problem, she would need the Emperor’s cooperation.
Therefore, she smiled and said: “I already know about this matter. Tomorrow at the hour of the snake, I will set up an altar here to ask Heaven, and I believe Heaven will surely provide an answer.”
The common people erupted in amazement upon hearing this.
Their saint was going to ask Heaven about their grain problem?
If she could ask Heaven, then she surely had real abilities!
She truly was the saint who could protect Great Yan’s peace!
Everyone was both surprised and delighted, their panic completely gone. They all kowtowed and said in unison: “Thank you, Saint.”
Seeing everyone like this, Qin Yining imperceptibly breathed a light sigh of relief, held Er’Bai, and entered the main hall with Ji Yun and Qiu Lu.
Imperial guards came forward to organize the common people’s departure, calling loudly: “Everyone don’t push! Walk slowly!”
Qin Huaiyuan, Second Master, and Third Master stood in a corner, watching as tens of thousands of common people obediently left like a receding tide, finally breathing a sigh of relief.
“My niece is quite exceptional—she could control the scene in front of tens of thousands of people. If it were me, I would have been dumbfounded long ago!” Second Master patted his chest.
Qin Huaiyuan smiled bitterly and waved his hand: “It’s just being forced into an impossible situation. She’s also using delaying tactics. Second Brother, Third Brother, let’s go see Yining and discuss countermeasures.”