"You wish to see Consort Shang? Ah! Right! I also need to find her!"
The Wanli Emperor, having been threatened by his grandfather, Emperor Jiajing, was feeling rather aggrieved. Ji Xiang's reminder immediately brought to mind the existence of the Imperial Consort in the harem.
However, this was not a matter the Wanli Emperor could handle directly. He could only seek out his mother, Empress Dowager Li. Although Empress Dowager Li was one generation junior to Consort Shou, she was at least able to communicate with her.
The Wanli Emperor had long known that Consort Shou was no ordinary person, but he hadn't expected Old Zhang to know her as well?
"No, no, no, I truly don't know her, but after this subject ascended..."
"Hearing that one can see for ten thousand miles from the Nine Heavens... this is truly a convenient ability! I find it quite good. You did well! Don't look again next time! Won't you know everything happening within the Forbidden City?"
Although the Wanli Emperor and Old Zhang had a good relationship, he could not accept the idea of Old Zhang having the ability of human surveillance. Old Zhang could only promise that his eyes would absolutely not look in the direction of the Forbidden City in the future.
"In fact, you carry the nation's prestige and destiny. Your movements within the Forbidden City are invisible to me, but that Consort is different. The nation's prestige has already disappeared from her."
Those associated with members of the imperial family would carry a strong national prestige, and even a portion of the nation's destiny. This power could conceal their whereabouts, preventing them from being divined by those with ill intentions.
However, Consort Shang no longer possessed any national prestige or destiny.
The Wanli Emperor quickly led his men to find Empress Dowager Li. The Empress Dowager was observing Buddhist rituals and chanting scriptures. Upon hearing that the Wanli Emperor wished to find Consort Shang, Empress Dowager Li's expression changed: "Why are you looking for her?"
"If there is nothing important, do not go to the palace where she resides."
"Your Majesty, what are you saying? If I had nothing to do, I wouldn't be here."
The Wanli Emperor felt like saying that his mother was speaking nonsense; if he had nothing to do, would he still seek her out?
He then recounted some of Emperor Jiajing's affairs to Empress Dowager Li. Upon hearing this, Empress Dowager Li appeared incredulous and sternly rebuked the Wanli Emperor: "I think you have been blinded by gods and ghosts! How dare you insult Emperor Shizong so!"
"You believe what those gods and ghosts say? Did you personally hear Emperor Shizong speak like that!"
"Where is the evidence? If you say such things, can you still go to the Imperial Ancestral Temple to offer sacrifices to the past emperors? Taoism, it's Taoism again. I think you have been deluded by those Daoist priests. That Zhang fellow is no longer involved with you, and now he can even be called a Celestial Master!"
When words fail to agree, silence is golden. The Wanli Emperor was thoroughly berated and retreated. However, to his surprise, as the Wanli Emperor was preparing to leave, Empress Dowager Li inexplicably reappeared. She handed a lotus flower to the Wanli Emperor, instructing him to carry it with him when he went to see Consort Shang.
Before Ji Xiang left, he glanced at Empress Dowager Li.
Within the Inner Scenery Divine Tablet, text suddenly appeared: .oΓg
[Bodhisattva of Nine Lotuses (Empress Dowager Li): Holy Mother, benevolent and compassionate, touching Heaven! True position and rank unknown! The Wanli Emperor's divine position, bestowed by his birth mother, Empress Dowager Li, is an appendage to the divine position of Bi Xia Yuan Jun. She can bestow blessings and longevity upon all living beings.]
[Bodhisattva Manifestation! Empress Dowager Li's body serves as a medium to communicate with the Buddhist realm of the Inner Mountains and Rivers. Many Buddhist temples have been established in Shuntian, indirectly strengthening the power of Buddhism in the Inner Mountains and Rivers. Thus, by borrowing the incense from Buddhist temples, manifestations can appear on Empress Dowager Li's body!]
[The Lord of the Manifestation is "Guanyin"! ]
Ji Xiang was momentarily stunned. At this moment, the divine light in Empress Dowager Li's eyes did not seem to belong to her. It was as if a powerful being from the Inner Mountains and Rivers was exchanging a glance with Ji Xiang. The being then clasped their hands together and bowed slightly, as if expressing no ill will.
"A Bodhisattva of Buddhism, a manifestation of Guanyin! This is truly extraordinary. Has the divine position of Guanyin Bodhisattva been received by someone in the Inner Mountains and Rivers? A great divine position, one of the Three Saints of the West. Unexpectedly, within the Forbidden City, the Wanli Emperor's mother is a pawn of the Buddhist sect."
"However, becoming a manifestation through prayer indeed means not being considered an enemy by the nation's prestige. After all, this is not an act of evil, but of good. Empress Dowager Li favors Buddhism and has greatly promoted Buddhist temples in Shuntian. It seems this is Buddhism's method of obtaining the Great Dao of the Surface Mountains and Rivers Dynasty."
"Others forcefully support those with strong destiny or seek agents to walk the Surface Mountains and Rivers, but Buddhism has directly approached the Emperor's mother. By leveraging the Empress Mother's status, they build Buddhist temples to gather incense and wishes..."
Thus, Ji Xiang then looked at the lotus flower in the Wanli Emperor's hand.
[Seven Treasures Yellow Lotus: Spiritual Object! I am a monk, living in a chaotic world, I should be like a lotus, unstained by the filth!]
[As mentioned in the 'Amitabha Sutra', there is a Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, with pools of seven treasures and waters of eight virtues, filled therein. The bottom of the pools is covered with pure gold sand. The lotuses in the pools are as large as chariot wheels, with blue lotuses emitting blue light, yellow lotuses emitting yellow light, red lotuses emitting red light, and white lotuses emitting white light, all subtle, fragrant, and pure.]
[If living beings receive good retribution, Guanyin Bodhisattva will hold a lotus flower to welcome them, assisting the deceased in transforming into new bodies within the lotus, achieving the Righteous Dharma.]
[Those who hold the Seven Treasures Yellow Lotus can pass twelve years of secluded cultivation in advance! Reducing the required time to six years! However, this will burn their good karma in exchange for the shortened time!]
[To achieve Celestial Immortality, one must accumulate thirteen hundred good deeds. Good deeds are reflected in one's fortune. If good deeds are consumed excessively, one will be plagued by calamities and repeatedly face tribulations until death and the scattering of their soul!]
[Those who cultivate evil methods can also hold the Seven Treasures Yellow Lotus, refine it, and convert it into good karma to avoid misfortune and calamities!]
Upon seeing this description, Ji Xiang's heart was struck by a sudden urge to seize the treasure!
He had just been discussing with Old Zhang whether there was a way to shorten time, and now a treasure had appeared!
But no matter how he looked at it, this did not seem like a free benefit. This was clearly Buddhism fishing.
"This bait is not for me. They seem to recognize me, yet also not recognize me... Is this a gift from Buddhism to Consort Shang, to foster good relations with her?"
Not long after, the Wanli Emperor did not bring Old Zhang and Ji Xiang into the inner palace, as the inner palace was the emperor's private residence.
"Tian Yi, go invite the Consort out. If she is unwilling to come, you may be more assertive."
The Wanli Emperor was determined to pick a fight. He wanted to inquire about Emperor Jiajing's affairs. After Tian Yi went, not long after, Consort Shang actually emerged from her palace.
The meeting place remained the Longde Hall. After Consort Shang was escorted by the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the first thing she saw was the Seven Treasures Yellow Lotus in the Wanli Emperor's hand. She couldn't help but smile.
"So, Your Majesty invited this old one here to present such a precious treasure!"
She then saw Ji Xiang and smiled slightly: "Little Daoist, it's only been a few days, and it seems His Majesty has taken you as an important minister?"
"Hmm?"
Her smile gradually disappeared as she realized that Ji Xiang's condition seemed somewhat peculiar.
"You, you are not the little Daoist from before? Why does your aura feel so strange?"