Wenkong's teacher, the old monk Lioyuan, came to Jia Cong early in the morning and told Jia Cong that his disciple could not return to secular life. Jia Cong wanted to know the reason, so he raised his eyebrows slightly: "Why?"
The old monk shook his head and said, "Your Majesty, you don't need to know."
Jia Cong shrugged: "Master refused to tell the reason, so he must not be aboveboard."
Liao Yuan sighed: "Why does the prince need to ask these trivial matters?"
"Xiao Wang is committed to safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of every citizen of Yan State." Jia Cong said seriously, "One of the most important ones is freedom of religious belief. This includes the right to believe in religion and the right not to believe in religion. All citizens have
They have the right to believe in any religion, whether it is Buddhism, Taoism or Western Nestorianism. At the same time, they also have the right not to believe in any religion, which means that Taoist priests have the right to become monks at any time, and monks also have the right to return to secular life at any time. Only one person can make the decision, that is
He himself, master, neither you nor me, can make the decision for Wenkong. Whether he wants to be a monk, return to secular life, or change his career to become a Taoist priest, he has the final say. You and I, even if he goes underground
His parents have no right to interfere. Master, he is an adult and he must be responsible for himself."
Li Yuan recited the Buddha's words: "How can things in the world be generalized? Hearing emptiness has its own cause and effect."
Jia Cong thought for a while: "Master, does he know that he has some hereditary disease that is difficult to cure, which may be passed on to his children? Then tell him himself and ask him not to get married in the future. It is not necessary to get married before returning to secular life.
If a woman is willing to marry him, it’s okay not to have children. Besides, we have to focus on developing medicine. Maybe his disease can be cured?"
After realizing the fate, he recited the Buddhist saying: "No."
"Xiao Wang can't think of any other reason to restrict a monk from returning to secular life. If the master can't give a reasonable explanation, Xiao Wang will definitely defend Master Wen Kong's freedom of religious belief."
Liao Yuan smiled bitterly and said, "This poor monk really cannot tell you that the prince knows."
"That's alright." Jia Cong picked up the tea cup, "In that case, if Master Wenkong wants to return to secular life, please ask your temple to help him complete the procedures as soon as possible, so that he can grow his hair earlier and adapt to life outside the temple.
Master, don’t worry, maybe he won’t return to secular life after thinking about it. After all, there is food to eat in the temple, and you have to make money to support yourself when you go out.”
Liao Yuan sighed: "That's all." Then he stood up and said, "If the regent doesn't bother, the young disciple will not return to the secular world."
Jia Cong shrugged: "Okay. But he is only in his early twenties. Young people's temperament is uncertain, it's hard to tell. Master, don't be too confident, what if?"
After reciting the Buddha's name, he said goodbye and left. Jia Cong's curiosity burst out like a spring, and he quickly changed his clothes and rushed to the political hall.
Zhan Kun, Lin Daiyu and others had been discussing matters for a long time. When they saw him come in, they all gave him a big look. Jia Cong did not dare to disturb trivial matters, so he smiled flatteringly and said: "Good morning everyone, happy New Year and good luck." Lin Daiyu said nothing.
He pointed to a pile of documents on his seat. Jia Cong sat down with his hands folded, looked at the documents and joined in the discussion.
It was not until lunch time that Jia Cong had time to catch Zhan Kun and ask: "Brother-in-law, do you know what is special about Wanshou Temple? Why did the Dharma Society choose to hide there?"
Zhan Kun glanced at him: "Why did you say that?"
"I want to know why there is a young monk who cannot return to secular life." Jia Cong said, "My intuition tells me that there is something bloody here." Then he talked about Wen Kong. He did not mention that his sister-in-law had an affair with Wen Kong, but
He added, "There are clues that show that this monk Wen Kong has a weak Buddhist heart. I have always believed that only those who sincerely want to become a monk can become a monk. This is out of respect for the religion itself. In the future, Buddhism and Taoism will have to be rectified."
Zhan Kun thought to himself: "These are not urgent matters. But Wanshou Temple... really deserves to be investigated. I wanted to investigate it when I heard the Dharma, but I really didn't have the time."
Jia Cong said: "Leave it to Liu Xiaoqi. He will make a secret visit first, and then we will investigate openly." The matter was settled.
Three days later, Liu Xiaoqi jumped in from the window of the political hall in broad daylight, startling many people. Lin Daiyu cursed: "You are so reckless!"
Liu Xiaoqi smiled and held up his hands: "Prime Minister, forgive me! I was reckless." Then he waved to Jia Cong and Zhan Kun.
Lin Daiyu said with a cold face: "Wait until I finish the meeting."
Liu Xiaoqi pursed her lips: "Oh." She sat down on a chair behind her. Everyone laughed.
After waiting for more than half an hour, the meeting finally broke up. Jia Cong and Zhan Kun hurriedly gathered around Liu Xiaoqi. Liu Xiaoqi took out two paintings from his arms. Jia Cong opened one and Zhan Kun opened one.
The one in Jia Cong's hand was that of Monk Wen Kong, but he was wearing the clothes of a Confucian scholar. He asked quickly: "Is this Wen Kong's brother?"
Liu Xiaoqi said: "No. I painted it after Wen Kong's appearance." Jia Cong stretched his head and looked at Zhan Kun's picture again. The painting was of a beauty, who looked the same as Wen Kong, except that her face was slightly smaller.
Liu Xiaoqi said again, "This is also a painting based on Wen Kong." He pointed at the painting and said with a smile, "You always say that Qin Zhong looks like a boy and a girl. Compared with this one, Qin Zhong is really a big man!"
But Qin Keqing happened to be there too, and cursed: "Don't fart! Who else can my Qin Zhong compare to?"
Liu Xiaoqi hurriedly hit herself: "Excuse me, Mr. Qin! I have stupid eyes and didn't see how old you are."
Jia Cong looked at the two paintings and asked, "Have you found out? What is the origin of this monk Wen Kong?"
Zhan Kun also looked at the painting and said, "If it was found out, would he be able to draw this? It's obvious that he wasn't found out."
Liu Xiaoqi slapped the case: "Master Zhan understands." He then explained, "There are 127 monks, big and small, in Wanshou Temple, and there are as many as 46 abandoned babies. Could it be that all the abandoned babies in the capital are abandoned?"
At the gate of their temple?”
Jia Cong hummed: "Who dares to throw away children randomly in a royal temple? These abandoned babies are 10% likely to have their origins."
Liu Xiaoqi said proudly: "There is a secret room in the abbot's courtyard, and I found it. Inside is the identity of a group of abandoned babies adopted by Wanshou Temple. There is really a dazzling array of everything. I think my eyes have been opened, and I can compare it with the drama commentary.
Interesting." He paused, "But the back of the empty space is really empty. It only recorded the birth date and nothing else." He scanned the surroundings with his eyes, and everyone couldn't help but look over curiously. He then pointed.
The portrait said, "Looking at the way he looks when he hears the Fa, either his father is a stunning beauty, or his mother is a stunning beauty."
Hearing that there was a stunning beauty, many people gathered around and talked about the portrait. Zhan Kun glanced at the gossip crowd and asked: "What are the identities of the monks with their origins?"
Liu Xiaoqi sarcastically said: "There are children born from an affair between a certain prince and a certain princess, there are children born from an affair between a certain prince and a certain imperial concubine, there are children born from an affair between a certain prince and a certain imperial concubine, there are children born from an affair between a certain prince and a certain imperial concubine, and there are children born from an affair between a certain prince and a certain imperial concubine.
There are children born through an affair between a certain princess and a certain Taoist priest, and there are children born through an affair between a certain princess and a servant. Anyway, all kinds of shameful children from the emperor's family have all become abandoned babies in the Wanshou Temple. I just don't understand.
, those monks all have identities, why is Wen Kong not there?"
Jia Cong thought for a while and asked, "Does Wen Kong have a fate with his master? Does he have an origin?"
Liu Xiaoqi immediately said: "Monk Liaoyuan is the eldest son of Prince Zhongming - the one who replaced the princess is his father. The current King Cai is his nephew, and his half-brother is dead."
Qin Keqing couldn't help but ask: "What about Princess Zhongming first?"
"have no idea."
The old man Zhan Qiao stroked his beard and said: "Because my mother-in-law has a certain background, I became a nun. Otherwise, I will die with a disease." Then he looked at the portrait and said, "Look, he looks about 20 years old?"
Liu Xiaoqi nodded: "I am twenty-one years old this year."
"Master Jingyuan doesn't recognize it. But you can send it to the palace to show it to the old eunuch next to the Empress Dowager. All the princesses in the family have ordered to pay their respects to her."
Jia Cong said: "It should have been twenty-two years ago when Wen Kong's mother conceived him. Did anything happen in the emperor's family twenty-two years ago?"
Zhan Kun said: "Several palace concubines went home to visit their relatives." Jia Cong glanced at him and smiled.
Liu Xiaoqi was also very curious. Seeing that he didn't recognize these people, he put away the portraits and went to the Forbidden City to ask. Qin Keqing hurriedly said: "I'm about to go over, you come with me." They then went to the Forbidden City together.
And go.
Jia Cong held his cheek and pondered for a long time, and said: "I always feel that Wanshou Temple is not just a simple place to adopt abandoned babies from the emperor's family, it should at least be an intelligence station. That cuckold king who heard the Dharma... He did it too arrogantly.
, is too easy to be discovered, and is not like the style of a royal temple. Besides, he is not a bloodline of the Situ family. It is more likely that King Yan borrowed the site of Wanshou Temple to facilitate his listening to the Dharma and taking action."
Zhan Qiao also thought: "I don't know anything about this temple."
Jia Cong spread his hands: "It means they are either relatively independent, or they are only responsible to the emperor. The prince... doesn't know. The fake emperor who has no real power may not know if he is really in charge. Oops, it feels like he can only go to the imperial mausoleum.
I asked the late Emperor."
Lin Daiyu coughed: "Since Xiao Qi has gone to investigate, there is no need to discuss it anymore. There are still many items to discuss." Everyone then dropped the matter.
In the afternoon, Liu Xiaoqi had a meal in the imperial dining room of the Forbidden City and returned to the political hall. He told Jia Cong and others: "I showed the portrait to some old eunuchs, and they immediately recognized it. The woman dressed as a woman looked like Concubine Wu."
After looking at it, they said that the nose and mouth were not similar, and the contours of the eyebrows and eyes were similar. They also thought the nose and mouth looked familiar, but no one could figure out who they looked like."
Everyone was stunned. It was obvious that if Concubine Wu stole someone, on the one hand she didn't have the ability, and on the other hand the child would be dead or alive after the concubine came out. Jia Cong touched his nose: "Concubine Wu has a brother who looks very much like him.
Are there any sisters?”
Zhan Qiao thought: "Concubine Wu is the daughter of cabinet bachelor Wu Tianyou. She has a brother and a sister. I have never seen her and I don't know if they look alike. Twenty-two years ago, Concubine Wu was born on the 15th day of the first lunar month.
After saving money for marriage, she was favored after returning to the palace, and the Wu family was extremely prosperous. Later, she became pregnant and gave birth to a princess the following year. She died at birth due to a congenital defect. Concubine Wu died of illness in less than half a year. After her daughter's death, Wu Tianyou immediately fell out of favor.
In the court, he was demoted six times in six months and was demoted to the rank of Minister of Rites, Wailang, which made the world sigh with regret. Wu Tianyou was originally a man of real talent, but it is a pity."
Jia Cong asked: "Where is he now?"
"He has resigned and returned to his hometown long ago. He is from Cangzhou and is still in the territory of Yan State."
"Then it's better to send someone to their house to ask." Jia Cong said flatly, "I just want to know the truth."
Roman coughed twice. Everyone turned to look at him. He said: "Now there are two people who obviously know the truth. One is Liao Chen, the abbot of Wanshou Temple, and the other is Liao Yuan, the master of Wen Kong. Why not arrest them for interrogation?
?”
Jia Cong spread his hands: "There has to be some truth, right? After all, I have jumped out of the Three Realms... Well, I am not an ordinary person."
Roman said: "In that case, there is still one person I can ask."
"who?"
"The Queen Mother."
"That's right!" Jia Cong clapped his hands, "We are already the ones in power."
Not bothering the two masters, Liu Xiaoqi took up the responsibility again. He ran back to the palace and asked. The expression of the Empress Dowager only changed for a moment, and then she said calmly: "Why is there such a secret? Because she is dead.
There are so many women with crazy children." Liu Xiaoqi tried many tricks, but couldn't get her out of her words. Nai Li stood in front of the Empress Dowager's bed and thought for a long time, then suddenly turned around and left.
That night, Jia Cong was sitting in the house reading a book. Liu Xiaoqi jumped in from outside the wall of Lixiangyuan and swaggered into the house. Jia Cong raised his head and glanced at him: "At this point, the question is
What’s coming?”
Liu Xiaoqi shook his head: "The old woman refused to say a word. I didn't use any means. Just look at her face and you can tell that even if I beat her to death, I wouldn't say anything. In that case, why bother?"
Jia Cong unconsciously put down the book: "The Empress Dowager will not say anything even if she is killed? That's interesting. That means that the identity of Monk Wen Kong is not an ordinary royal secret."
Liu Xiaoqi said: "I thought about it for two whole hours, but I really can't think of any other reason why the monk could be alive again, and even the Empress Dowager dare not reveal his identity."
Jia Cong clapped his fingers and said: "First of all, his surname must be Situ and not his mother's. Because the princesses and princesses are all married. Once they are married, they are no longer members of the Situ family. The Queen Mother will not be forced to dare to
Open your mouth. Secondly...hey, could it be that the child's birth date is not good, and it's hurting his father?"
Liu Xiaoqi said: "There are three surviving babies in Wanshou Temple who were abandoned because of their father's birth date. One of them was born to the late emperor's favorite concubine, and he is the direct brother of the current King of Qi."
"That's strange. Since the child is so normal and not a skinned civet cat, what other secrets in the palace cannot be mentioned?"
"I just can't figure it out!" Liu Xiaoqi said with a bitter face, "I'm so worried."
"If Concubine Wu's brother had an affair with the princess, I'm afraid Concubine Wu's sister-in-law would have died a long time ago, and her brother would have become the prince's consort. If her sister had an affair with the prince, she would also have entered the palace and become someone else's.
Little Wife. This child can only be born by Concubine Wu herself." Jia Cong sneered twice and lightly pressed his fingers on the table, "At that time, there were only two men in the palace besides the eunuchs. The emperor at that time, and the
The Supreme Emperor." Liu Xiaoqi gasped. Jia Cong stood up, "Concubine Wu is a beloved concubine, so the Supreme Emperor can only forcefully remove the ashes. No one in the entire palace knows whose son Wen Kong is. In other words, no one knows.
Is Concubine Wu’s son the emperor’s son or brother?” He looked at Liu Xiaoqi and said, “How about this secret? Will the Empress Dowager refuse to tell you even if she is beaten to death?”
After a long while, Liu Xiaoqi nodded: "I would rather die than say it."
"With Wen Kong's status, does it mean that even the emperor is inconvenient to kill him? At that time, the power of the court was in the hands of the Supreme Emperor."
"That's right. If the emperor hadn't been kidnapped by traitors in Xiaoci County, the day he sent his spirit back to the capital would have been the day Wen Kong died."