At Wu Se’s most frenzied moment, Yun Ye took the jade plaque down from the stand. That jade plaque continuously tumbled between his fingers, full of temptation. Before Wu Se could speak, Yun Ye opened his mouth and said, “Going to that distant place isn’t feasible for just one or two people. Perhaps not even for a team. I’m very curious to know exactly what method you used to reach that place and still return alive, rather than being thrown by those natives into some deep sacrificial altar?”
Wu Se looked somewhat disappointedly at the jade plaque in Yun Ye’s hand, then turned to bow to Zhangsun before saying, “This old one is already a renunciate. Only this stinking skin bag can be disposed of by others. Matters of life and death still cannot shake this poor nun’s Dao heart. Though concealing our identity and wandering through the mortal world is like a clear breeze brushing across the earth, this earth after all belongs to the imperial family. This is our fault. I pray Your Majesty will forgive us.”
Zhangsun shook her head and said, “People have names, trees have shadows. Today’s Great Tang realm is not one that cannot tolerate people speaking. In Chang’an’s markets there are clamorous noises, those who question government policies and criticize the monarch are countless. Have you heard of anyone being convicted for their words? Why such shadowy concealment? If you had identified yourselves from the start, could our magnificent Great Tang not accommodate a new school of learning?”
“Since this palace bound up her hair and began studying as a youth, what I learned was nothing but righteousness and integrity. Master, precisely because your learning is profound and your Buddhist teachings boundless, you were invited by the imperial family to preside over the imperially-constructed Ganye Temple. For the sake of human relations and for the imperial family’s dignity, we wanted to ask you to use profound Buddhist teachings to comfort these consorts and palace people who left the palace, to remove their worldly hearts and achieve great liberation. Yet you yourself stand improperly—how can you manage over a thousand monastics?”
Wu Se bowed and said, “The reasons within are not sufficient to tell outsiders. Your Majesty is a noble person—it’s better not to ask.”
Having said this, Wu Se lowered her head and eyes, silently recited scriptures, and would not speak another word.
Yun Ye sighed and said to Zhangsun, “They indeed have their difficulties that cannot be spoken of. Tian Xiangzi was like a centipede that dies but doesn’t stiffen. Back then he was trapped outside the Gate of Heaven, turning and calling out but unable to advance an inch, finally dying with his way extinguished. As disciples of Tian Xiangzi, I never would have imagined you would actually cross glaciers to set foot on another land, traveling tens of thousands of miles to reach that so-called Land of the Sun God.”
“Such tenacious willpower commands Yun Ye’s utmost admiration. I don’t know how many people died on your expedition, but I believe this journey must have been stained with blood and tears.”
“Master Wu Se, the reason I invited Your Majesty to Ganye Temple is not to completely eliminate you, but rather to announce this legendary experience of yours to the world through Her Majesty’s hands.”
“The wise have no worries, the brave have no fears, and the only ones invincible under heaven are the benevolent. Now the world is peaceful and tranquil. We don’t need to practice chivalry in moral decline, but serving as a model for all under heaven should be no problem, right?”
“This journey counts as great wisdom and great courage. If you can inform the world of what you saw and heard, you will become benevolent ones standing shoulder to shoulder with the ancient sages. Tian Xiangzi already, due to his heavy sins, received the Gate of Heaven but could not enter—that is his greatest punishment. Why must Master insist on holding onto those old rules and not letting go? Do you also want to follow in Tian Xiangzi’s footsteps?”
Wu Se’s face twitched, and she asked in a bitter voice, “Has your White Jade Capital already completely opened its bosom to the world? Guests of Binmei and Fox Charmers have spread devastation across the realm for nearly a thousand years—have you now suddenly achieved enlightenment in one morning and become Buddha or sage?”
Zhangsun stretched her neck to look at Xiao Wu. She didn’t care at all about what kind of person Yun Ye was. She had actually heard the terms Guest of Binmei and Fox Charmer long ago. Ever since Yun Ye refused to marry Xiao Wu into the imperial family, she had believed that Xiao Wu was the legendary Fox Charmer. Now carefully examining Xiao Wu, she saw her graceful figure, her flowing gaze, and how between glances charm immediately arose. Her exquisite face was like a fairy in a painting. Involuntarily, she confirmed tenfold that Xiao Wu was indeed the Fox Charmer.
However, when she saw Xiao Wu’s hand and Di Renjie’s hand tightly clasped together, she couldn’t help but smile knowingly. She didn’t care at all what Yun Ye wanted to say to Wu Se or what he wanted to do. In any case, she would always know in the end, so there was no need to waste mental effort guessing. She presided over the six palaces, commanding all the beauties under heaven. Aside from the Emperor, the Crown Prince, and her own children, everything else was insignificant. Even the entire world attacking Tang couldn’t shake Great Tang’s foundation—what could a small group of people do to Great Tang?
“White Jade Capital has naturally opened its bosom to the world. Many subjects taught at Yushan Academy originated from White Jade Capital. Master is also a person of our Great Tang, so naturally you can visit Yushan Academy to observe.”
“You’re saying even someone like this poor nun can glimpse your White Jade Capital’s great way?” Wu Se asked in surprise, raising her head to look at Yun Ye.
“Of course. Every year no fewer than a hundred scholars come to Yushan Academy for exchange and study. As long as they are people of our Great Tang, naturally there are no taboos. Now Yun formally invites Master to reside at Yushan. If that old farmer is also here, you might as well go together. The Yushan Agricultural Academy will certainly sweep clean the couch awaiting the gentleman’s arrival.”
Zhangsun interjected, “Master Wu Se, your identity is unclear, and it’s inappropriate for you to remain at Ganye Temple. In consideration of the fact that your management of Ganye Temple has been without error, this palace will specially build a Wu Se Hermitage for Master in a place with clear mountains and beautiful waters. Ganye Temple is an imperial secret place. Master, please let go. This palace will thoroughly investigate Ganye Temple today.”
“Hong Xiu, return to the palace immediately and command several old consecrated ones to come and investigate together with this palace.”
Zhangsun’s personal palace maid received the decree and hurriedly left Huifeng Pavilion. The old nun Wu Se’s face became deathly pale.
Yun Ye quietly gave Zhangsun a thumbs up, only to be glared at fiercely by Zhangsun. This little trick of speaking sweetly while stabbing in the back—Zhangsun had seen plenty of it and didn’t need anyone to teach her.
“Congratulations, Master! Felicitations, Master! From now on you’ve truly jumped outside the three realms and are no longer within the five elements. What could there be in Ganye Temple? To speak plainly, it’s nothing but some plants brought from the Land of the Sun God. You didn’t even let go of something like the Venus flytrap—it’s just that you brought back more plants. Yun Ye was able to be enfeoffed as Duke and Marquis relying on potatoes and corn. Master naturally can too. In this kind of matter, His Majesty is very generous. As long as you speak up, there’s absolutely no reason for refusal.”
Wu Se let out a long sigh and said bitterly, “Two hundred and forty people traveled together. All along the way, walking and dying. Some died of illness, some died of exhaustion, some were covered by cold ice, some were dried out by the scorching sun, some were buried in the mouths of fierce beasts, and others were entombed in dragon bellies. Suffering and walking, suffering and seeking—only three returned, and now all have made wedding garments for others.”
Wu Se made a gesture of invitation. Zhangsun and Yun Ye descended from the building and followed Wu Se to Ganye Temple’s garden. This was a very large plot of land, surrounded entirely by walls, with a hundred or so acres of farmland enclosed in the middle. Now it was spring, and countless nuns were working in the fields. Seeing the Empress’s procession from afar, they all prostrated themselves on the ground. All had come from the palace—how could they not know the Empress had arrived?
Yun Ye had no intention of looking at these beautiful nuns. He only glanced at what they were planting and was instantly enraged. With trembling hands, he scooped up a large handful of peanuts and placed them in the basket Di Renjie was carrying, saying sorrowfully, “Take them back, deep-fry them, and eat them with wine!”
“These are seeds. Why are you being so reckless?” Zhangsun couldn’t stand it anymore. Now all these things belonged to her, so naturally she cared.
“Before they’re shelled, they’re still seeds. After being shelled, they’re drinking snacks!” Yun Ye was very irritated, looking around everywhere, praying that these people hadn’t shelled all the peanuts.
“No wonder! So they need to be planted this way. This poor nun previously thought these things were naturally delicate and difficult to keep alive—planting a hundred stalks, not one in a hundred survived. So it was the wrong method. Since Lord Yun recognizes this thing, what is its name?”
“Longevity Fruit! It’s said that eating them can strengthen the body and extend life. Master Wu Se, you didn’t shell all of them, did you?” Wu Se shook her head slightly, still somewhat proud.
An old greybeard walked over from the distance. Xiao Wu tugged at Yun Ye’s clothes, indicating this person was the one who had attended her wedding. Yun Ye looked carefully—this old man was indeed full of weathered hardship and was even lame in one leg.
“Of the people who returned from the Land of the Sun God, only he remains. The other two have passed away one after another. That journey exhausted all their vital essence and spirit. Can you imagine he’s only thirty-seven years old this year?”
“He’s also about to die. Of Tian Xiangzi’s lineage, only I remain. I can no longer maintain such a grand scene. The reason I gave you the Venus flytrap was to see if you truly knew about that land. If you did, everything here would be entirely handed over to you. So you see, everything here actually belongs to you. Lord Yun, do you still think bringing the Empress into this was a good thing?”
Having said this, Wu Se laughed loudly and at length, laughing until tears and snot flowed, unable to restrain herself. Yun Ye’s expression remained normal. Xiao Wu’s eyes held deep regret, but Di Renjie was the same as Yun Ye—his expression showed little change.
“This matter was always meant to be made known to all under heaven. Even if Your Majesty didn’t know today, sooner or later she would know. I wouldn’t violate taboos by privately entering Ganye Temple.”
Zhangsun said solemnly to Wu Se, “This is indeed so. On this point, this palace has absolute trust in Yun Ye. Following the rules in all matters has no disadvantages.”
Wu Se didn’t answer but instead held the old farmer’s hand and walked before the Empress and Yun Ye, saying, “This poor nun has no other request but begs you to save my child. His life force is about to be severed. Yun Ye, you must promise me that you will do your utmost to help my child. Everything here shall be considered a congratulatory gift. Both being mothers, this poor nun asks Your Majesty to witness.”
“This palace can let your child first be illuminated by divine light.” When it came to extending life, the first thing Zhangsun thought of was that miraculous white light.
Yun Ye sighed quietly in his heart. This person who looked fully seventy-three years old was actually only thirty-seven—who knew what he had experienced to become like this? No matter from which perspective, he needed to help this person.
“Master Wu Se, you must not harbor thoughts of death. I tell you, if you die now, I’ll immediately go back on my word. For someone like me who has seen life and death everywhere, matters of life and death really don’t count as major issues.”