roccoschili Chapter 38 Qingque Hosts a Banquet, the Crown Prince Encounters Danger
Chapter 38 Qingque Hosts a Banquet, the Crown Prince Encounters Danger
Li Chengqian stared at Xuanzang: "Master, you are unaware of this, but Qingque has always coveted the position of Crown Prince and has tried to harm me several times, but I was lucky enough to escape."
"Good, good!
"You are brothers, how could such a thing happen? May Buddha have mercy and hope to guide him to enlightenment." Xuanzang was heartbroken.
Li Chengqian shook his head: "Thank you for your kindness, Master, but he seemed to have fallen asleep while he was listening to you chanting the sutras downstairs with me."
"Forgive me, forgive me. Everyone has the potential for wisdom, though perhaps his is not deep enough," Xuanzang paused, "Since you already know he intends to harm you, why don't you leave quickly?"
"No, I want to stay and see what tricks he has up his sleeve."
"Amitabha Buddha, this humble monk hopes that you two brothers can both be safe and sound, and turn hostility into friendship. If brothers are not on good terms, they will surely be bullied by outsiders."
"Thank you, Master."
The two chatted for a while longer before returning to their respective seats in the main hall.
When Li Tai saw Li Chengqian return, he asked with a smile, "Brother, what were you doing just now?"
"I went to use the restroom."
"Why did it take you so long to go to the toilet?"
"Oh, I probably ate something unsanitary when I came this morning, so my stomach hurts!" Li Chengqian said calmly.
"I see. Can you understand what the senior monk is saying? I can only understand half of it."
Upon hearing this, Li Chengqian smiled and said, "I know a little about it."
"I think this 'Mahayana-samgraha' is even more difficult to understand than the 'Analects'."
"Uh—," Li Chengqian thought to himself that these two concepts were completely different and not comparable. "Maybe your mind hasn't calmed down yet. When you calm down completely and listen to the lecture, you will be able to understand it."
"Really? Let me hear it again, little brother."
Soon, it was noon.
Wuguan Hall.
Buddhism believes that eating is also a form of spiritual practice. During the process of eating, people will have five kinds of contemplation, which reflect the level of a person's spiritual cultivation.
Li Tai hosted a vegetarian banquet here for Li Chengqian and Master Xuanzang, but Princess Gaoyang had disappeared.
Su Gui stood behind Li Chengqian the whole time.
A square table was placed in front of each person, on which vegetarian food was laid out.
Li Tai picked up his teacup and said with a smile, "Daxingshan Temple is a Buddhist holy site, and Master Xuanzang was a highly accomplished monk of our Great Tang Dynasty. Today, I am honored to have the opportunity to listen to the Master recite the Mahayana-samgraha. I am also very happy to reunite with my elder brother after a short separation. Here, please allow me to offer tea in place of wine to the Master and my elder brother."
Upon hearing this, Li Chengqian thought to himself that Qingque had become quite experienced, never showing his emotions, and that what he thought and what he said were completely different things.
Li Chengqian said, "Master, your preaching here to save all sentient beings is truly a virtuous act!"
"Amitabha, Your Highness, King of Yue, this humble monk deeply feels that your father, the Emperor, attaches great importance to our Buddhist community and monks. We have set up this altar here to preach the Dharma and spread the teachings, just to reduce the suffering of everyone."
We pray for the prosperity and strength of the Tang Dynasty, and for the people to live in peace and contentment.
"Seeing you two brothers so loving and affectionate makes this humble monk very happy."
"Master, in the future, if there are any difficulties in the temple, please tell us. As long as it is within our power, we will do our best to help you solve them."
"Excellent, excellent. I thank you in advance."
At this moment, Bianji walked in from outside, his palms clasped together: "Your Highness, Prince Yue, as arranged by Abbot Bopo, another table has been set up in the side hall. Please invite Su Gui to dine there."
"This—." Su Gui looked troubled.
Li Chengqian looked at him and said, "Since the abbot has made arrangements, then you may go."
"Your Highness, but..." Su Gui's meaning was clear: if I leave, who will protect you here?
Li Chengqian interrupted him, saying, "I am here having tea and chatting with the King of Yue and Master Xuanzang. Nothing will happen. You may go now."
Seeing that the Crown Prince had spoken, Su Gui had no choice but to follow Bianji.
Only Li Tai, Li Chengqian, and Master Xuanzang remained in the Five Views Hall.
Master Xuanzang looked at Li Chengqian and Li Tai with kind eyes: "Your Highness, Prince Yue, I am about the same age as your father, and I am fortunate to be on good terms with him. Your father once addressed me as Imperial Brother in front of all the civil and military officials, which made me feel flattered."
I had a conversation with your father, the emperor, who planned for me to travel to the Western Regions to obtain Buddhist scriptures. I wanted to bring back the true scriptures to save all living beings and free the people of the Tang Dynasty from suffering.
They haven't set off yet because things here haven't been finished.
It is truly fate that I have met you two brothers here today.
Li Chengqian had not heard of this matter and couldn't help but ask, "Did Father send you to the Western Regions to obtain Buddhist scriptures?"
"yes!"
Li Chengqian's expression was solemn as he gazed westward: "As far as I know, the journey to the Western Regions is more than ten thousand miles long. The road is treacherous and rugged, and we will have to pass through many mountains, swamps, rivers, deserts, volcanoes, and snow-capped mountains. It will be an extremely difficult journey."
"Nothing is easy, but if it can bring benefits to the people of the Tang Dynasty, what does it matter if I risk my life?"
Upon hearing Xuanzang's words, Li Chengqian was filled with awe: "Master, your broad-mindedness, fearless spirit, and deep concern for the country and its people are truly admirable!"
"Isn't the meaning of this humble monk's preaching, chanting, and seeking of true scriptures precisely to benefit all living beings?"
Li Tai disagreed: "Xiao Wang is just an ordinary person, he can't reach that level."
There are many unruly people in the world. If we do not impose severe punishments and harsh laws, they will harbor rebellious intentions and rise up in rebellion!
Xuanzang frowned: "King Yue, if what you say is true, then what is the difference between the Tang Dynasty and the former Qin Dynasty?"
Li Tai laughed heartily: "Qin Shi Huang spent ten years unifying the six states of Han, Zhao, Wei, Chu, Yan, and Qi. He thought his achievements surpassed those of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, so he named himself 'Emperor'."
Little did they know that my father pacified the country even faster than him. He joined the rebel army at the age of eighteen and pacified the country at the age of twenty-four, successively eliminating separatist forces such as Xue Ju, Liu Wuzhou, Wang Shichong, Dou Jiande, and Liu Heita.
Besides, Fusu is weak and frail; how can he compare to my elder brother, the Emperor?
"this--."
It must be said that what Li Tai said was basically true, and Xuanzang couldn't find a reason to refute it for the time being.
As they were talking, a monk walked in from outside.
Li Chengqian looked up and was also taken aback. He saw that the monk was over ten feet tall, with a fierce face, a fleshy tumor on his forehead that looked like a bead, and a pair of triangular eyes that gleamed with malice.
The monk's name was Puguang, nicknamed "Buddha's Crown Pearl," and he was one of Xuanzang's disciples.
Buddha's crown bead first bowed to Xuanzang, addressing him as "Master!"
"What brings you here?" Xuanzang asked, somewhat displeased.
"I have heard that distinguished guests have come to our temple today, including the Crown Prince and the Prince of Yue. What a wonderful opportunity this is!"
Furthermore, I find your way of eating and drinking tea rather uninteresting, so I have come to put on a show to enhance the tea experience.” Buddha’s Crown Beads spoke arrogantly.
"I did not summon you, how could you barge in without my permission?" Xuanzang said with a displeased expression.
Li Tai smiled and said, "Master, since he's already here, let him give us a performance."
Xuanzang had no choice but to agree when the King of Yue spoke.
He was also troubled by the unruly nature of the Buddha's crown bead.
Li Tai then asked, "What kind of performance would you like to give us today?"
Buddha's Crown Beads smirked, "This humble monk knows many kung fu skills. Let me first demonstrate how to break a stone tablet with a single palm!"
"How do you open it?"
"Don't worry, you'll find out soon enough."
"Slap, slap!"
Just then, the Buddha clapped his hands, and eight young monks pushed in a wheelbarrow with a stone tablet on it.
The stone tablet is about two meters high, one meter wide, and half a foot thick, and weighs at least several hundred kilograms.
"lay down!"
After the eight young monks slowly unloaded the stone tablet from the cart, they withdrew.
Buddha's crown tucked his robe in and then performed a set of boxing moves in the hall.
Then, he circled the stone tablet three times, and then raised his right hand.
When he strained his arm, it seemed to instantly become three sizes thicker.
Then look at him, his face is flushed red, the veins on his forehead are bulging, and he looks ferocious.
All I heard was him shout, "Open!"
He struck the upper part of the stone tablet with his palm, and the tablet broke off at waist height.
Because he used too much force, the upper part of the entire stone tablet flew off and headed straight for Li Chengqian's head.
Li Chengqian's eyes were fixed on him. At this moment, he was shocked to see the half of the stone tablet coming towards his face. He quickly leaned back, his upper body parallel to the ground. The stone tablet flew past his nose and hit the wall behind him.
With a loud "boom," a large hole was smashed in the wall, and rubble fell down.
Xuanzang was also quite surprised. He quickly stood up and went to Li Chengqian: "Your Highness, are you alright?"
Although Li Chengqian escaped this calamity, his heart was still pounding.
He forced himself to remain calm: "I'm alright."
Li Tai, however, looked disappointed, though he didn't seem surprised: "Brother, what do you think?"
Li Chengqian steadied himself and said calmly, "I am fine."
Xuanzang glared at the Buddha's crown bead: "What did you do? You almost hurt His Highness!"
You have alarmed His Highness; according to temple rules, you must be beaten to death!
Buddha's expression changed, and he knelt on the ground with a thud: "Master, I accidentally dropped it just now. I didn't mean to."
"You say you didn't do it on purpose, but why did the broken stone tablet fall squarely on the Crown Prince? Is that just a coincidence? You're clearly lying."
Li Chengqian waved his hand: "Master, don't blame him, he didn't do it on purpose! Besides, I wasn't injured, so please forgive him!"
Xuanzang, still furious, said, "Aren't you going to thank His Highness?"
Buddha's Beads kowtowed again: "Thank you, Your Highness, for your mercy in not punishing me!"
Li Chengqian looked at him and said, "Get up. Your skill in splitting the monument with one palm is indeed well-deserved."
Buddha's Beads stood up and left.
Xuanzang, Li Chengqian, and Li Tai returned to their seats and continued drinking tea and chatting, though the atmosphere was slightly awkward.
Li Chengqian glanced at Li Tai, who remained calm, as if what had just happened had nothing to do with him.
At that moment, another monk walked in from outside.
When Li Chengqian looked at the monk, he saw that he was dignified, but his appearance was different from that of people from the Central Plains. He was tall and mighty, with his upper body exposed and his muscles were bulging like blocks of iron.
However, he looks to be only twelve or thirteen years old.
"I heard that the Crown Prince of the Great Tang has arrived, so this humble monk came to see him. May I ask which one of you is Li Chengqian?" the monk said in a loud voice.
Upon hearing this, Xuanzang frowned, thinking to himself that this man was utterly disrespectful; how dare he address the Crown Prince by his title? Just as he was about to reprimand him, Li Chengqian laughed and said, "I am the Crown Prince!"
The monk looked Li Chengqian up and down, scrutinizing him seventy-two times: "So you are the Crown Prince."
"May I ask who you are?"
"My status is similar to yours. My name is Fatong, and my secular name is Murong Nuohebo. My grandfather was Fuyun Khan of Tuyuhun, and my father was Murong Shun. I am now a disciple of Master Bopo."
Li Chengqian was taken aback; he hadn't expected that Khan Fuyun would send his grandson to Daxingshan Temple.
"So you are the grandson of Khan Fuyun. What brings you to see me?"
Fatong sneered, "Everyone says the Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty is a sickly man, and seeing him today, it's certainly true. This humble monk enjoys wrestling; do you dare to challenge me?"
This is clearly a blatant provocation!
"How dare you speak to His Highness like that!" Although Xuanzang's cultivation was beyond that of ordinary people, he was still angry at Fatong's rudeness.
Li Chengqian appears mild-mannered on the surface, but he is actually very competitive and stubborn at heart.
Upon hearing Fatong's words, he waved his hand to interrupt Xuanzang, and smiled slightly: "You mean you want to have a wrestling match with me?"
"Indeed!"
"Very well, since that's the case, I'll keep you company today!"
Fatong was surprised that Li Chengqian dared to accept the challenge: "The room is cramped, please come to the courtyard!"
Xuanzang was worried that Li Chengqian would suffer a loss. If something went wrong, how would he explain it to Li Shimin?
Thinking of this, he stopped him, saying, "Your Highness, your status is noble; how can you stoop to his level?"
Li Chengqian thought that since Fatong had already challenged him, if he did not accept the challenge, wouldn't he appear cowardly? Moreover, this battle was not only a contest between him and Fatong, but also a contest between the Tang Dynasty and Tuyuhun.
"Please rest assured, Master, I will be fine." Li Chengqian said confidently.
Xuanzang frowned deeply: "Your Highness, this humble monk thinks it's better not to compete, in case..."
"There's no 'what if'." Li Chengqian said as he walked into the courtyard and stood opposite Fatong, who was actually half a head taller than him.
Xuanzang and Li Tai also came to the courtyard and stood aside to watch.
The courtyard is very spacious.
Li Chengqian also took off his shirt, revealing a well-defined physique, and said calmly, "Let's begin."
Fa Tong, resembling a fierce tiger, leaped forward and pounced on Li Chengqian.