Li Shimin stroked her long hair that bore no ornaments and said softly: “Don’t worry, this is the path I chose myself. No matter how difficult it becomes, I will persevere to the end!” Then he said: “Are you feeling better?”
Yunyi tested moving her feet and said: “Yes, I’m fine now.”
“Are all your belongings packed? I had Ruhui bring a carriage over. He’s a bit slower than me, but should arrive soon!” Just as he finished speaking, Du Ruhui walked in. Ruyi laughed lightly: “Speak of the devil, and he appears!”
Du Ruhui only heard the words “devil” and said: “What devil?”
Ruyi pressed her lips together: “Nothing, I was just saying General Du arrived so quickly!”
Du Ruhui smiled: “Today is the day Yang Consort leaves Mingyue Nunnery. Of course I had to arrive quickly. If I were late, I’d surely be punished by His Highness the Crown Prince!”
Saying this, he put away his smile and bowed respectfully to Yunyi: “This general congratulates Yang Consort on your suffering finally ending!”
“Thank you, General Du.” Yunyi placed her hands at her waist and returned Du Ruhui’s bow: “Fortunately, these years you’ve remained loyally by His Highness’s side!”
Du Ruhui said solemnly: “His Highness has shown this general great kindness in recognizing my talents. This general will obey His Highness’s commands for life!”
Yunyi smiled and looked up at Li Shimin: “The things I need to take have already been packed by Ruyi. However, before leaving, I would like to see one more person.”
Li Shimin pondered briefly: “Is it Abbess Jingkong?”
“Yes, during these years at Mingyue Nunnery, I’ve received much care from Abbess Jingkong. I want to thank her.”
Li Shimin nodded: “That’s appropriate. I’ll accompany you.”
When Jingkong saw Li Shimin and Yunyi appear together, her face was filled with surprise. When Yunyi was sent to Mingyue Nunnery to practice Buddhism with her hair, His Majesty had given strict orders forbidding them from meeting. Yesterday’s incident, she had already turned a blind eye and pretended not to see, but unexpectedly they came again today, and so brazenly. If this reached His Majesty’s ears, not only would they suffer, but Mingyue Nunnery would also be implicated.
Yunyi, seeing her furrowed brow, guessed her thoughts and smiled: “Abbess need not worry. His Majesty already knows about the past events. I was wrongly accused, and he has permitted me to return. His Highness came to fetch me by imperial decree.”
Hearing this, Jingkong immediately breathed a sigh of relief and put her palms together: “Amitabha, excellent, excellent. Miashan, that you can renew your matrimonial bond with His Highness is truly wonderful news.” Miashan was the Buddhist name Yunyi took after coming to Mingyue Nunnery.
Jingkong had always known that Yunyi’s heart was not in Buddhism. For her, Mingyue Nunnery was not a Buddhist sanctuary, but a prison that constrained her various emotions.
Although she sympathized with Yunyi, imperial commands were like mountains, and she was helpless. She could only provide extra care in daily life. Actually, when Zhangsun Shi sent people to contact Yunyi secretly under the pretext of offering incense, she wasn’t entirely unaware. She simply pitied Yunyi and chose not to expose it.
Yunyi returned the bow and said earnestly: “During these years at the nunnery, thanks to the abbess’s care, I didn’t suffer as much. Thank you, Abbess.”
Jingkong smiled: “Buddhism has always been about helping others. There’s no need for such formality.” Then she chanted a Buddhist invocation again: “After parting today, I don’t know when we’ll meet again. May Miashan and His Highness the Prince of Qin be healthy and happy from now on, free from illness and disaster!”
“Thank you, Master.” Li Shimin didn’t correct her incorrect title. After glancing around, he said: “I remember Mingyue Nunnery has been built for over eighty years. Has it never been renovated since?”
“About ten years ago, it was renovated once. At that time, rebels attacked Chang’an, and Mingyue Nunnery was also affected. Several people died. Later, relying on the nunnery’s savings and donations from devotees, we repaired the damaged temples and buildings. However, the funds were always insufficient, so the back two sutra towers were abandoned, and the stored scriptures were moved to two vacated meditation rooms.”
Du Ruhui said: “I see that Mingyue Nunnery doesn’t have many buildings and courtyards. Vacating two meditation rooms – wouldn’t that crowd the masters?”
“This was unavoidable. We could only inconvenience the fellow sisters. Actually, these past years, the nunnery’s disciples have been going to the city to seek alms. Once we have enough savings, we’ll restore the original sutra towers so the disciples can live more spaciously.”
Li Shimin said slowly: “Tomorrow, I’ll send people to renovate and expand the nunnery buildings and recast the Buddha statues in gold. Additionally, from today forward, for the next ten years, Mingyue Nunnery will be exempt from corvée labor and taxes. Consider this my thanks to the abbess for caring for Yunyi these past years.”
While the previous sentences were nothing special, the last sentence truly shocked Jingkong. The silver needed to expand the nunnery buildings and recast golden Buddha statues wasn’t much for Li Shimin as a prince, but exempting corvée labor and taxes involved court matters. Even as a prince, Li Shimin had no authority to decide this, and if done improperly, it could bring trouble upon himself.
Thinking this, Jingkong said kindly: “Actually, Mingyue Nunnery’s corvée labor and tax burden isn’t much. Your Highness needn’t trouble yourself over this.”
Du Ruhui said: “Since His Highness has spoken, Master, you should graciously accept it.”
Jingkong said uneasily: “But matters of taxation should be decided by His Majesty. How can Your Highness… interfere?”
Du Ruhui smiled: “Master, rest assured. His Majesty has already established His Highness as Crown Prince and issued an edict for the Crown Prince to act as regent. His Highness has the authority to exempt Mingyue Nunnery from taxes!”
Hearing this, Jingkong was shocked but also relieved. She put her palms together: “Congratulations, Your Highness the Crown Prince. This poor nun was unaware just now and may have been offensive. Please forgive me, Your Highness.”
“Master speaks too seriously.” Saying this, Li Shimin said: “Tomorrow I’ll send people over. Master, whatever requirements you have, please tell them freely.”
Yunyi laughed lightly: “After Mingyue Nunnery is renovated, I’ll come to offer incense!”
“Your Ladyship’s visit would be Mingyue Nunnery’s honor.” Jingkong wisely changed her form of address. With Li Shimin established as Crown Prince, he would soon ascend to the throne, and with Yunyi being so favored by Li Shimin, she would surely be ranked among the highest consorts.
After bidding farewell to Jingkong, Yunyi boarded the carriage waiting outside the nunnery with Li Shimin. Du Ruhui personally drove the carriage, heading toward Chang’an City under the starlight.
The gate officials at Chunming Gate had already received Li Shimin’s instructions and kept the gate open. Wherever the carriage passed, everyone prostrated themselves in salute.
Everyone understood that from this night forward, the Great Tang realm would belong to the former Prince of Qin, now Crown Prince – Li Shimin!
“We’ve arrived!” With these words, Du Ruhui stopped the carriage. Li Shimin helped Yunyi down from the carriage. When she saw this familiar residence again, Yunyi was filled with emotion as memories floated before her eyes. Four years – it had taken a full four years before she could stand here again.
“Before going to Mingyue Nunnery, I had Zhihong return to the residence with a message. Kuan’er should be waiting for you right now.” Li Shimin’s words made Yunyi’s hands tremble slightly. Kuan’er… her child…