The journey from the palace to pray for the disaster victims was meticulously guarded, with layers upon layers of protection.
This had happened before, so Emperor Qi and the Empress did not find it unusual. The common folk, however, were incredibly excited, craning their necks in anticipation of seeing the Emperor and Empress.
The crowd was so dense that it was impenetrable, with everyone kneeling and shouting "Long live the Emperor!"
The Eldest Prince rode beside the imperial carriage. Each time he witnessed such a scene, he couldn't help but fantasize about the joy of sitting on the imperial carriage and experiencing it himself one day.
His eyes betrayed his undisguised excitement, but he failed to notice some sharp gazes from the crowd that were fixed upon them.
The imperial carriage soon arrived at Fahua Temple. The entire temple had already been surrounded by imperial guards. Not an inch of land, not a single blade of grass, had been left unexamined, ensuring absolute safety.
As it was a prayer ceremony, Emperor Qi, to show his sincerity, walked hand in hand with the Empress up to Fahua Temple.
By the time they reached the temple entrance, a slight sweat had appeared on the Emperor's forehead, and the Empress's cheeks were flushed.
After composing themselves, they walked together to the abbot.
Master Jueyuan had been waiting there early. Upon seeing them, he bowed and said,
"This humble monk Jueyuan greets Your Majesty and Her Majesty."
"Master, there is no need for such formalities."
Master Jueyuan nodded and praised, "Everything is ready. Your Majesty, please."
Making an inviting gesture, Emperor Qi and the Empress exchanged a look, and then they entered the main gate of Fahua Temple together.
Although the palace had places for prayer, it was ultimately not a pure Buddhist sanctuary.
The moment they stepped inside, gazing at the surrounding green pines and cypresses, and smelling the faint scent of sandalwood in the air, Emperor Qi felt a sense of relief.
When he was still a prince, he would visit Fahua Temple periodically. The scenery in the nearby estates and small courtyards was beautiful, perfect for quiet cultivation.
In the main hall, the grand ceremony for praying for the disaster victims had already been prepared.
Numerous disciples sat in meditation within the hall, their lips moving in silent recitation.
The table was laden with countless offerings and fresh lotuses, symbolizing their devotion.
"Heaven above, this disaster has caused no small damage to the people of our Great Jin. We implore the Buddha to protect them and help them overcome this ordeal!"
The Emperor and Empress knelt respectfully before the Buddha statue. Beside them, Master Jueyuan offered guidance. They murmured prayers, seeking divine protection for Great Jin and its people.
The monks of the temple would then chant scriptures for forty-nine days to pray for the disaster victims.
Only the Eldest Prince accompanied them this time. If not for the pregnancy of Princess Ke, he too would have been present.
He respectfully followed the Emperor and Empress after offering incense and performing the devout kowt before standing up.
Just as he was about to insert the incense into the censer, he suddenly saw several monks who had been chanting scriptures draw their swords.
They lunged towards Emperor Qi, shouting loudly,
"Dog Emperor, take your life!"
The Empress recoiled in fear. The Eldest Prince, however, stepped forward to block the suddenly appearing monk, his eyes filled with murderous intent as he asked,
"Who are you! How dare you assassinate His Majesty!"
"Hmph, the dog Emperor is not favored by heaven, which is why disasters abound. What face does he have to hypocritically pray for the disaster victims here!"
As he spoke, he snatched the sword from the Eldest Prince and lunged towards Emperor Qi.
Emperor Qi's face was filled with fury, but he remained composed and immediately shouted,
"Guard!"
Suddenly, many guards rushed in from outside and ran towards him.
Leading them was General Meng, the Emperor's confidant. He immediately assumed a defensive posture, and the guards surrounded Emperor Qi and the Empress, daring not to let any assassin get close.
Although the Eldest Prince knew some martial arts, he was not particularly skilled.
After a short while, he began to falter. The monk seized the opportunity, slashed his arm, and then lunged towards Emperor Qi again.
Holding a fuse, he lifted his robe to reveal that his entire body was covered in firecrackers. The fuse had already been lit. With a resolve to die, he intended to drag Emperor Qi to hell with him.
General Meng, in a moment of crisis, struck the man, severing one of his arms.
However, he was still unable to stop it in time, and the firecrackers exploded.
With a bang, the entire hall shook precariously.
The area where the man stood was a bloody mess of dismembered limbs.
Fortunately, guards had rushed forward and shielded the Eldest Prince behind them, otherwise, he too would have been maimed.
"Father Emperor!"
"Mother Empress!"
The Eldest Prince's voice, echoing to the heavens, caused many outside to rush over. Master Jueyuan also sustained minor injuries, his face looking extremely grim.
How could this disaster occur at Fahua Temple? Was it meant to destroy his temple and his life?
He immediately stepped forward to find Emperor Qi, hoping he could still be saved. Otherwise, Fahua Temple would face the Emperor's wrath.
Unfortunately, by the time he dug Emperor Qi out from the pile of corpses, the Emperor had been blown to pieces.
The assassin was determined to kill the Emperor; how could he have failed!
Therefore, when Master Jueyuan saw the deceased Emperor Qi, his heart sank. He could only hope that the imperial family would blame him and spare the innocent!
The monks in the hall were all powerless. They trembled in fear at the sight, clutching their prayer beads and chanting incessantly, lest they be implicated.
The Eldest Prince's eyes were bloodshot. He never imagined that after offering incense and praying for blessings, his father and mother would both perish!
The thought ignited his fury, and he immediately roared,
"Guards! Investigate! Even if you have to turn this Fahua Temple upside down, find the culprit!"
"Yes!"
General Meng stepped forward to support him. Looking at his bleeding arm, he said,
"Your Highness should attend to your injuries first. There are many matters in court awaiting your attention!"
The sudden, earth-shattering explosion had stunned everyone.
However, General Meng's words brought the Eldest Prince back to his senses, and he began to strategize.
With Emperor Qi gone, the throne was vacant. His sixth brother was not in the capital, and his ninth brother had just been punished by caning. His path to greatness was now clear, how could he not be excited.
In an instant, the grief of losing both parents was overshadowed by this sudden good fortune, pulling him back to reality.
He then said menacingly to Master Jueyuan,
"Hmph, if you cannot produce the murderer this time, I will surely flatten Fahua Temple to appease the spirits of my father and mother!"
He then immediately galloped towards the capital. The most important thing now was to obtain the imperial seal and ascend the throne legitimately before dealing with anything else.
The wound on his arm was only hastily bandaged. At this moment, he felt no pain, only an irrepressible excitement and joy.