prosperous age

"crash"

The chains scraped against the ground with a grating sound as a senior monk was escorted out of the Ministry of Justice's prison by three government officials.

It was already past midnight, and the officials in the yamen had all packed up and were preparing to leave work.

The Ministry of Justice's prison was located in the backyard of the Ministry of Justice's office, but some officials who were not in office would still pass by here. When they saw the monk being escorted out, they would naturally know what was going on.

The imperial decree arrived at the Ministry of Justice at the beginning of the 11 PM (1-3 PM), and all departments within the ministry worked around the clock, completing all procedures by the 5 PM (5-7 PM) in less than half a day.

All case files and prisoners were handed over to the Embroidered Uniform Guard on the same day.

At this moment, in the main hall of the Ministry of Justice, Zeng Shengwu was handing over case files with Liu Shouyou, while the Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards) were waiting outside the prison to receive the prisoners.

Although the conditions in the Ministry of Justice prison were poor, there were also some slightly better prisons. Although he was dragging his hands and feet in chains, making it difficult for him to move around, the head monk's complexion and robes were still relatively clean, indicating that he had not suffered in prison.

Come to think of it, during the trial, Zeng Shengwu, Zhao Jin and others were worried about changes in the palace, so they always took good care of Monk Deqing.

Even after Emperor Wanli issued the imperial edict, they were not mistreated. This was because each of them had their own thoughts and were worried about offending the nobles in the palace and affecting their careers.

No matter what, they are mother and son. If they were to exchange a few words, they would inevitably suffer the consequences.

“The criminal, Monk Deqing, is here. Please present your identity.”

Upon seeing the monk approach, a senior official from the Ministry of Justice immediately spoke to a leader of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

"The Embroidered Uniform Guard has been ordered to take in the criminal monk Deqing, and his identity has now been verified."

The Jinyiwei (Imperial Guards) naturally knew what the monk Deqing looked like.

The person who came to hand over the man was actually the imperial guard who brought him back from Jiangnan. He recognized him as soon as he walked out of the prison.

The handover of the prisoners was carried out quickly. Two officers in brocade uniforms stepped forward and pushed Monk Deqing from the left and right as they walked out.

They weren't as cautious as the prison guards in the Ministry of Justice.

Even if the abbot were to rise to power one day, it would be difficult for him to find fault with the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

After being shoved several times, Monk Deqing stumbled as he walked and nearly fell.

He merely turned and glared at the two captains, but didn't utter a sound.

He knew that talking to these insignificant people was pointless; only high-ranking officials would be wary of his status.

These insignificant people, what do they know?

He didn't see anyone from the Ministry of Justice, and at first they didn't pay much attention to him. But after he went through court once, the jailers in the prison became very polite to him.

However, even now, Monk Deqing still doesn't understand how things turned out this way. Taiqing Palace was just an abandoned Taoist temple, with only two rooms remaining, one in front and one in back, housing two Taoist priests.

He spent money and then said he would find them a better place, which is why he occupied Taiqing Palace and built Haiyin Temple.

Later, although some Taoist priests were dissatisfied and came to demand the return of Taiqing Palace, the local authorities, whether the county government or the prefect, ruled in his favor. So how did the imperial court manage to take it away?

I asked myself, and it seems I haven't made any major mistakes.

Moreover, the temple was built with money bestowed by the empress in the palace; otherwise, he wouldn't have had the money to build it. So how did he end up in jail?

Moreover, I've been here for almost half a month, and no one from the palace has come to inquire about the situation.

He didn't believe the Empress Dowager was unaware of the situation.

Although he was suspicious, he dared not say anything. In any case, he had told the truth during the trial and would be punished accordingly. He figured the Empress Dowager would take care of things.

However, I never expected that when I came out of the prison today, I would find out that I had been handed over to the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

As someone who lived in the capital, he was certainly aware of the power and influence of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

So, when he was being pushed around, he could do nothing but glare at the two captains.

Soon, Monk Deqing was led to the front, where he saw Zeng Shengwu, the Minister of Justice, and Liu Shouyou, who was wearing a flying fish robe beside him.

Knowing this was his last chance, otherwise he would be in real danger if he were handed over to the Embroidered Uniform Guard. So he hurriedly ignored the shoving behind him and shouted at Zeng Shengwu, "Minister, I am innocent! Why have you come to this?"

Zeng Shengwu heard the monk Deqing shout, but he didn't intend to pay attention to it. He simply cupped his hands to Liu Shouyou and said, "The case files and the prisoners have been handed over. This matter is no longer related to our department. Commander Liu, please leave."

I have official duties to attend to, so I will not stay here any longer.

After saying that, without waiting for Liu Shouyou to speak, he flicked his sleeves and walked back.

"My lord, Minister!"

Seeing Zeng Shengwu turn and walk back, the monk Deqing, sensing something was wrong, hurriedly shouted, "My lord, please inform the palace! I need to see the Empress Dowager! My lord, waaaah!"

This time, after he shouted twice, two captains stepped forward from behind. One of them grabbed his hands, while the other took out a gag and stuffed it into the mouth of the monk Deqing, and then put a string on his head.

He then released his grip and shoved the person out of the Ministry of Justice.

Liu Shouyou certainly knew the inside story. As later generations have said, those who wronged you knew better than you did how wronged you were.

Whether the monk Deqing was wronged or not, he actually violated the "Great Ming Code" to some extent.

After all, he occupied Taiqing Palace without the court's permission; he merely settled the Taoist priests there.

He thought that with his connections in the capital, even if he were to be exposed one day, he would have a chance to get away with it.

How big of a deal could it be?
At worst, he can just reissue the paperwork; someone will naturally take care of this for him.

Unfortunately, they encountered someone who took it seriously and sent the complaint directly to the capital, causing such a commotion.

This was the first time Liu Shouyou had seen him since the monk Deqing escorted him back to Beijing. Compared to before, he looked somewhat disheveled, but still had some spirit.

He knew that the Ministry of Justice wouldn't dare to use force.

If the Embroidered Uniform Guards hadn't discerned the Emperor's and the Cabinet's intentions, they might not have dared to do it.

They could only fabricate evidence and then report the matter to their superiors.

But once the emperor's attitude was revealed, and with further hints from the cabinet, they dared to do things they wouldn't normally dare to do.

“Master Deqing, I am here by imperial decree to bring you here. You would be better off cooperating honestly to avoid physical suffering.”

Liu Shouyou glanced at him with a cold smile, then strode out of the Ministry of Justice.

Outside the Ministry of Justice, prison carts were already waiting.

After being escorted out, Monk Deqing was thrown directly into a prison cart, which was then slowly pulled by horses toward the Northern Garrison Command.

On one side of the Ministry of Justice gate, Liu Shouyou had already taken the reins, but did not mount the horse. Instead, he instructed the centurion in charge of receiving the prisoner: "Take him back to the prison and keep a close watch on him. I will interrogate the criminal tomorrow."

"Don't worry, sir. I'll stay at the yamen tonight and make sure everything goes smoothly."

The centurion hurriedly bowed and said.

"Yes, do your job well, and be careful not to make any mistakes."

After saying this, Liu Shouyou stepped on the stirrups, mounted his horse, and rode away.

Behind him, more than a dozen officers in brocade uniforms followed on horseback.

After the cavalry left, the centurion straightened up, had his men bring him horses, mounted them, and rode off after the prison cart.

That night, Monk Deqing was imprisoned in the Northern Garrison Prison, a regular cell, much worse than his treatment in the Ministry of Justice.

There weren't even any stools in the room, just a wooden bucket and a pile of dry grass in the corner—that was all the cell had to offer.

The gag was removed, but the bracelets and anklets on his body remained, so he could only sit on the haystack and begin to meditate and practice Zen.

Monks meditate by sitting in meditation to cultivate their minds, quiet their thoughts, and generate wisdom.

It's not just about sitting physically; the key is to keep your mind calm.

The Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch says that being unmoved by external good or bad is called "sitting," and being unmoved by seeing one's true nature is called "Zen."

It is said that one can see one's true nature and gain great wisdom; it is not just about practicing leg exercises or sitting still.

At this moment, on the dry grass, Monk Deqing sat upright with his eyes closed, concentrating on meditation.

There have been many interpretations of "sitting meditation" by eminent monks throughout history.

In the Platform Sutra, Master Huineng explains: Good friends! What is meditation?
In this method, there is no obstruction or hindrance; externally, one's mind remains undisturbed by all good and evil circumstances, which is called sitting meditation; internally, one sees one's own nature unmoved, which is called Zen meditation. He said that in the Zen school of Buddhism, the method of "sitting meditation" actually contains two concepts.

To truly understand it, it must be explained by separating it into the two concepts of "sitting" and "Zen".

The so-called "sitting" means being unobstructed and without any barriers or obstacles, and no longer having any thoughts about the good or evil, beauty or ugliness of the outside world.

Only such a state can be called "sitting".

Therefore, for him, "sitting" is no longer the sitting we usually talk about, but a state of being.

Once you reach the state of "no longer having any thoughts or intentions," you can call it "sitting" no matter what state you are in, even if you are running, jumping, sleeping, walking, etc.

His concept of "sitting" is no longer limited to a fixed posture or state; he is more concerned with whether practitioners can reach the level he requires.

He believed that the so-called "Zen" was "seeing one's own nature unmoved within."

"Inner insight" means what one realizes and experiences for oneself.

"Self-nature" means the original true nature of oneself, so "Zen" means that one can realize that the original "true self" has always been unmoved and untouched by any dust.

Only when one attains such a state of enlightenment can it be called "Zen".

Therefore, the most important practice in Zen Buddhism, "sitting meditation," is not the sitting meditation you think it is.

If "meditation" were as simple as ordinary people sitting and daydreaming, then enlightenment and becoming a Buddha would be far too frivolous.

Therefore, in actual spiritual practice, if you haven't reached the required level, don't just randomly "meditate." It won't do any good, and you might even add to your illness.

When you reach that level, any posture you adopt will be considered "meditation".

Therefore, Master Huineng could confidently tell his followers: Zen is not something that can be achieved by sitting.

As for the monk Deqing, no one knows or wants to know the extent to which he has attained enlightenment.

That evening, jailers from the imperial prison carried buckets and bowls to deliver water to the prisoners.

When they arrived at the cell where the monk Deqing was being held, they called out to the inside, "Great monk, would you like some water?"

"Hey monk, say something, don't just stand there like an idiot."

The jailer in charge of this cell block shouted from the side.

Monk Deqing slowly opened his eyes, glanced at the jailer outside, and nodded slightly.

Soon, a bowl of water was prepared and passed through the wooden fence into the cell, after which the three jailers continued walking forward.

This is no longer the prosperous Jiajing era, when the imperial prison housed many people.

The cells seemed insufficient to hold all the prisoners, who would chat and laugh among themselves to pass the time.

Currently, there are not many prisoners in the Imperial Guard prison, so they are all detained in a scattered manner, and there is no idea that centralized detention would be more convenient for management.

Soon, the footsteps faded into the distance, and Monk Deqing sighed before slowly getting up.

He was thirsty.

He was merely trying to project the aura of a highly accomplished monk, which is why he acted that way.

The person had already left. Monk Deqing slowly walked to the prison gate, picked up the bowl of water, and drank most of it.

"call."

He let out a long sigh, picked up the bowl, turned around, walked to the corner, and slowly sat down.

Where is he?

Before long, footsteps sounded again. The centurion who had escorted him here stood outside the cell under the direction of the jailer, glanced inside, and then felt relieved.

He then said, "Keep a close watch and don't let anyone near here."

"Yes, sir, rest assured, I will guard the front tonight and absolutely not allow anyone to approach this cell."

The jailer bowed and scraped as he spoke.

"Ah."

After inspecting the prison cell, the centurion strode back.

Soon, another jailer brought the evening's meal: a small wooden bucket containing a bowl of rice, a vegetarian dish, and a bowl of soup. Next to the bucket were wooden bowls and chopsticks, which were handed directly into the cell door.

"Eat quickly, we'll take it away in half an hour."

The jailer in charge of serving the food said something, and then added, "The food is like this. If you want something better, you can pay extra. We can make an exception."

After speaking, the jailer stared at the monk for a moment. Seeing no response, he muttered something and quickly left.

In the latter half of the night, the faint sound of a wooden clapper could be heard in the prison.

One of the prison guards, who was dozing off at the entrance of the passageway, was startled awake and asked, "What time is it?"

"I don't know. It was past midnight before, but I guess it's past midnight now, maybe even past 1 AM."

"It seems so, but I didn't hear exactly how many times it knocked."

Several jailers answered in hushed tones.

"You two go and take a look at those people."

"That's what the jailer ordered."

"Yes, my lord."

The two prison guards who were called out reluctantly got up. They had been doing this job their whole lives. Although it was a leisurely job, the working environment was really bad.

But since this was a family business, and he didn't have the money to pull strings to transfer it out.

The two yawned as they walked into the passageway, looking through the cells, which were the same few people currently in the prison.

"Sleeping like a dead pig."

"hehe."

At this time, most of the prisoners were lying asleep on the hay. Those who snored were fine, but for those who didn't, the prisoners had to find a way to check their reactions and make some noise.

The worst thing is when you can't wake them up.

What kind of place is this? Those imprisoned here are not ordinary people.

Something went wrong, it's troublesome.

However, when they arrived at the cell where the new prisoners had been brought in that day, they saw that the prisoners were lying on the hay, but their posture was incorrect.

The wooden stick made a sound when it was knocked on the wooden door.

no response.

"This guy can sleep so soundly on his very first day here?"

"I don't know, continue."

Despite the continuous knocking, the person on the hay did not react at all.

"Go quickly and tell the jailer to open the door; something's wrong inside."

A jailer suddenly exclaimed.

Before long, the cell door opened, and several jailers came in carrying oil lamps. When they saw the monk on the hay, their expressions changed drastically.

Bleeding from the mouth and nose, it was clear that the person was already dead.

"Oh no, report this immediately."

The jailer knew something was wrong; the man had just entered the prison and was already gone, clearly indicating that the monk was no ordinary person.

I'd heard that someone could be locked up in the Ministry of Justice's prison for half a month without any problems, but who would have thought they'd be gone as soon as they got in?

In the middle of the night, the Northern Garrison Command was shaken. (End of Chapter)