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Chapter 642: Monk Daoyan (an extra update to celebrate May Day)
After listening, Monk Daoyan remained silent. After a long time, he sighed, stood up, and paid homage to Li Beichen.

"I didn't expect the Holy One to be so proficient in Buddhism. This is the first time I heard this statement about the ego, self, and superego, but I was deeply shocked. Sure enough, God blessed me with the Ming Dynasty. The emperor's inheritance of the throne is in compliance with the way of heaven."

Li Beichen smiled slightly and said, "I heard that this theory was proposed by the abbot of Hanshan Temple. Could it be that the master has not heard of it before?"

Monk Daoyan clasped his hands together, smiled and shook his head.
"The poor monk has traveled all over the world and has not returned to Suzhou for many years. I have never heard of it. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me. If there is a chance, the poor monk would really like to meet this real master. After listening to it, I feel like I am in a state of ecstasy."

Li Beichen was very happy after hearing this, "My Concubine Jianing and the master are both from Suzhou. I first heard this from Concubine Jianing that day. Like the master, I was also deeply shocked and enlightened."

Monk Dao Yan immediately said, "Your Majesty is the destined emperor from heaven, and he is surrounded by blessed people to assist you. The poor monks have also heard among the people the legend of Empress Jianing's decisive killing and protecting your majesty. She is really a strange woman. Jianing has It is your Majesty’s blessing to have your empress in the harem.”

Li Beichen thought for a moment and then asked, "Just now you said you knew the art of yin and yang. Can you calculate it for me?"

Monk Dao Yan lowered his eyes: "I can calculate it myself. In the Tang Dynasty, Yuan Tiangang and Li Chunfeng assisted the Mingjun. Your Majesty has great ambitions, like a flying dragon in the sky. I am willing to follow the example of the sages Yuan and Li and try my best to assist your Majesty. I just care about the way of heaven and ignore the people's hearts. Regardless of people's hearts. If the prediction is unlucky, will your Majesty be able to deal with it calmly?"

Li Beichen avoided answering and asked, "Master, is it possible that divination and fortune-telling are just to comply with God's will and become a son of Heaven? If you can't seek good fortune and avoid misfortune, why bother to spy on the secrets of heaven?"

Monk Dao Yan smiled: "What your Majesty said is true knowledge and insight. It's just that disasters come in different sizes. Small disasters can be avoided, but big disasters cannot be avoided. Just like the previous rebellions of the kings. This is the way of heaven. There will be three major changes in the Ming Dynasty within a hundred years. These are First, it cannot be violated.”

After Li Beichen pondered for a moment, "How many more years can the Ming Dynasty last?"

Monk Dao Yan, "It can die in twenty years, or it can last for five hundred years. It depends on who you make your queen and who you pass the throne to."

Li Beichen asked with great interest, "Then who do you think should be established as the queen and who should the throne be passed down to?"

Monk Daoyan raised his lips and smiled, "If the emperor can win this game of chess, I will answer a question from the emperor."

Li Beichen said angrily: "Presumptuous!"

Instead, Monk Dao Yan burst out laughing. He looked out the window at the dazzling sunshine and heard the chirping of cicadas. He asked, "Is it possible that your Majesty is afraid?"

Li Beichen suddenly laughed sarcastically and said: "That's nonsense! Alarmist talk. Why should I believe you? You must have been bribed to say this."

Monk Dao Yan shook his head and smiled mysteriously, "No, no."

Li Beichen raised his chin and looked calm: "Don't think that because I have a happy conversation with you, I don't dare to kill you. Who knows if you are a spy sent by someone to mess up people's hearts."

Monk Dao Yan twisted the black chess piece: "The emperor and the poor monk actually have a relationship. The poor monk also gave the emperor a meeting gift and helped his majesty. If you don't believe it, your majesty can send someone to ask Li Beizhi to ask the military advisor before he entered the city. The three tips below.”

After speaking, he held a thin piece of letter paper folded into a long strip between his fingers and handed it to Li Beichen.

Triangle's eyes were shining brightly, and he seemed to be more confident.

"The Emperor will make his own judgment at that time."

Li Beichen took the note and opened it hesitantly. After reading it, he couldn't help but smile. "Three great tips. It's a pity that the emperor didn't follow any of them."

Dao Yan gave a ruffian smile and said, "Your Majesty is wise. The way of heaven is like this. No matter whether they do it or not, the result will be the same. I am doing this to achieve your Majesty's success. This is the meeting gift that the poor monk gave to Your Majesty."

Li Beichen stared at Dao Yan for a long time without saying anything, "How about playing the next game?"

Dao Yan was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "I obey. Thank you for not killing me, Your Majesty."

"It's too early to say this," Li Beichen twisted the white pieces, "I will give you three sons."

"It's too early to give up." Dao Yan laughed. Drop it casually.

After one set, Li Beichen was defeated.

Li Beichen threw away the last white piece and said, "I want to kill you now."

Dao Yan picked up Bai Zi with a smile, "Your Majesty, you won't. There is no second Dao Yan in the world. It would be a pity to kill him."

Li Beichen suddenly leaned forward and stared at Dao Yan with piercing eyes, "I just ask you, how can you continue for five hundred years?"

"If Your Majesty wants to know, you can come back and play chess tomorrow. Every time Your Majesty wins against me, I will answer one of Your Majesty's questions."

After Dao Yan finished speaking, he looked at Li Beichen with a smile, as if he had no fear of life or death. He has a detached attitude that "even if he encounters a sharp knife, he is always calm, and when he pretends to be poisonous, he is still calm".

Li Beichen looked at Dao Yan playfully, "That's interesting. Then what are you asking for?"
Dao Yan's gaze was like an eagle or a leopard, and he did not hide his ambition at all, "A poor monk does not seek fame or fortune. What I want in my life is just to use what I have learned throughout my life to seek a peaceful and prosperous age and a heavenly kingdom."

Li Beichen held the note in his hand and looked at Daoyan steadily without saying anything.

After a while, he stood up and said softly, "I had a great time chatting with the master today and gained a lot. Let's play chess again another day."

Daoyan put his hands together and saluted without saying much. He knew that he had successfully attracted the emperor's attention with his shocking words.

After Li Beichen left the funeral palace, he immediately ordered Xu Fang to go to the secret prison to interrogate the prince Li Beizhi and inquire about the military tips left behind.

He also summoned Murong Chi and others who had participated in the work of the Executive Yuan to inquire in detail about the whole process of quelling the rebellion of Liuyang King and recruiting the rebel army.

The more Li Beichen listened, the more incredible he felt.

At first, each one of them said it in a convincing way, adding fuel to the fire. Li Beichen only thought it was an image project for the subordinate officials to flatter the court because of victory, but he never thought that it was true.

Everyone present, including Xu Fang, remembers that dream shared by the whole city clearly. Although there are slight differences in details. But the main plot is exactly the same, and the main characters say exactly the same things.

If the emperor is not the emperor recognized by heaven, how could such a thing happen?

The information revealed by Li Beizhi surprised Li Beichen even more. The three tips that only the father and son knew were exactly as written on the paper.

What's even more surprising is that the man who served as the military advisor to King Liuyang was also named Yao, but his name was Yao Zhiqiu. He was also from Suzhou, and his dharma name was Daoyan. He was good at calculations, physiognomy, and yin and yang. He once served in the army and suppressed bandits many times. He was brave and good at fighting, good at leading and training troops, and was good at planning and raiding.

On the night when King Liuyang was preparing to attack the city, the military advisor left his advice bag and left without saying goodbye.

So this monk Daoyan is that military advisor? Appearing in the palace without anyone noticing?
Did he predict that King Liuyang would be defeated, so he followed the way of heaven and took refuge in himself?

*
In the evening, the emperor summoned Mr. Xie to attend his bed. Xie Guiren has been secretly thinking about men and women these days.

That day, after Wei Chang went to bed, she followed Xi Bin to visit Yi Jieyu, who was pregnant. As a result, Yi Jieyu was so angry that she accidentally revealed that Wei Chang liked to cry and pretend to be weak when he went to bed.

Therefore, when she went to bed today, she deliberately imitated the feeling of being bullied. It turned out that the effect seemed to be pretty good.

On this day, Mr. Xie was kept overnight in Qianqing Palace. The next day I slept until I woke up naturally, feeling terrified for a moment. The palace attendant told her that the emperor had ordered not to wake her up.

After hearing this, Xie Guiren's face glowed with pride. It's a pity that there is no morning meeting, otherwise I could show off by being late.

After returning to Jingyang Palace, I followed the rules and went to the main hall to pay my respects to the concubines.

Because Xi Concubine had the privilege of staying in Qianqing Palace before, she was the only one who had the privilege of staying in Qianqing Palace, but now Xie Guiren also had it, so she was not the only one who had a preference. What's more, Meng Zhaoyi led an army and took away the palace power, which made him feel very unhappy.

But last night, the palace maid Putao gave her some psychological massage and counseling. At this time, when she saw Xie Guiren with a proud face, although she still felt uncomfortable, she felt much calmer.

Xie Guiren said in a coquettish voice, "I would like to say hello to Sister Xi. I slept late at the emperor's place last night. Please forgive me."

"We are all in the same palace, so don't stick to these rules. If my sister is liked by the emperor like this, she will not be like a pearl. I'm afraid she will have to move out sooner or later." Xi concubine said it a little unnaturally, and she did it reluctantly. .

Xie Guiren hurriedly said: "Well, I am just a concubine for a day. I am not as good as my elder sister, and I am not as smart as my elder sister. I will definitely become a concubine in the future. Please take more care of me in the future."

These two sentences made Concubine Xi very happy, "When I really become a concubine in the future, I will definitely remember my friendship with my sister."

Xie Guiren smiled, "Concubine, I would like to thank my sister first."

Concubine Xi followed Putao's suggestion last night and said, "It's hot now and I can't go out. The emperor gives me a lot of ice, and there are also many dishes delivered from the imperial kitchen every day. You and Xiao Chang are here with me every day." Let’s have lunch and dinner in the palace.”

There is air conditioning when you eat, and you can also add extra meals. Such a good thing? Haha, I still don’t want to go.

Thank you for your unwillingness, so you hurriedly gave in and said, "Thank you for your kindness. It's just that I always eat slowly, and I'm afraid that I will disturb my queen."

"What a coincidence, I happen to be slow to eat. Let's make it more lively together. Tell me what you want to eat. Let's see if the imperial kitchen can do it." Xi Bin said with a smile.

Now that the conversation has come to this point, Mr. Xie has no choice but to agree.

Concubine Xi added, "Then you go to the west hall and talk to Xiao Changzai. Her exposure to the west will make the room hotter. Putao, you go with Xiao Chang."

Mr. Xie quickly took the opportunity to praise, "Your Majesty is kind."

But I was thinking in my heart, what is this concubine doing?

Xie Guiren went to the west side hall, and it was indeed as hot as a big stove. He couldn't stay there for a minute. However, Xiao Changzai went out and heard from the eunuch who was the eunuch of Sasou that he had gone out early in the morning.

Xie Guiren thought for a moment and then told the rough eunuch that Xiao Chang should go to the concubine's house after he comes back. If the queen has anything to do, she can come to her.

I thought to myself, no wonder Xiao Chang went to the funeral palace to pay homage every day. It turned out to be because it was too hot in the palace, so she went to soak up the air conditioner.

In fact, it is. Who likes to be abused for nothing? Wouldn't it be stupid not to go when you have the opportunity to enjoy free air conditioning?

What's more, the current emperor is known as a filial son. This is a good opportunity to create a filial, sensible, non-competitive, and non-grabbing persona. As long as she persists, the emperor will notice her sooner or later.

After Jiang Yuebai heard Susu mention this about Xiao, Ming Susu went with the flow and took care of her more while paying homage at the funeral palace. He brought her some snacks, tea and fruits to share with her. On the day she moved into Ning'an Palace, Jiang Yuebai organized and recorded the food preferences of each concubine, and all these snacks were made according to her taste.

Most of the time, Mrs. Xiao declined politely, and without forcing herself, she gave them to the monks and Taoist priests who worked in the funeral palace.

Sometimes when she encounters something she really likes, Ms. Xiao can't help but taste one or two out of curiosity. He and Su Su maintained a distance that seemed far away, yet almost as close, as if there was nothing there.

Susu openly told the Taoist monks that Jiang Yuebai was not only grateful for the Queen Mother's gift and protection, but also prayed to the Queen Mother for the health and safety of the child in her belly. Therefore, in addition to sending her to worship every day, Concubine Jianing also recited the Buddha's name 10,000 times and copied a copy of the Heart Sutra for the Queen Mother.

As we all know, Jiang Yuebai was personally conferred the title of concubine by the Empress Dowager before her death, and she was also given the title. It can be said that it protected her wealth throughout her life.

Such a great kindness was just to send some delicious snacks, and everyone accepted it calmly.

What's more, Susu recited sutras very devoutly every day on site, and brought in Concubine Jianing's handwritten sutras for burning at regular intervals. This has been going on for three months without interruption, rain or shine.

Everyone in the funeral palace was full of praise for Concubine Jianing. They did not think she was pretentious, but felt that she was kind and virtuous and knew how to repay her kindness.

After returning to the palace, Li Beichen went down to the Queen Mother's Funeral Palace every few days to worship, chant, and sit for a while. Sometimes I meet Xiao Changzai, Susu, and other concubines.

Some concubines were very attentive and thoughtful, taking the opportunity to express themselves. When these two people saw the emperor coming, they were polite and thoughtful, and did not take the initiative to approach him. They just went about their business calmly, which actually made Li Beichen look at him with admiration.

Li Beichen didn't doubt Jiang Yuebai's motives at all, but felt particularly at ease.

In his heart, the Queen Mother had deep feelings for Jiang Yuebai, otherwise the Queen Mother, who had always been decisive in killing, would not have given up again and again, and finally spared Jiang Yuebai's life, and would not have given her the title of concubine on her deathbed to protect her. A comprehensive life.

It was their duty to respect Jiang Yuebai and the Queen Mother.

Despite this, there are also people who are ungrateful for the kindness they receive from the Queen Mother.

For example, that concubine.

When he was restored to the position of nobleman, it was the Queen Mother who personally granted him the title "Qi". This is a unique honor.

Xi concubine doesn't have Jiang Yuebai's gratitude. Since collective worship during the 27-day mourning period was cancelled, she rarely went to the funeral palace alone.

Far worse than Jiang Yuebai.

In Li Beichen's view, it is only about inner virtue and simple moral values, and has nothing to do with whether one is smart or not.

Li Beichen held the tea cup on the table and stared blankly at the ripples inside. He also recalled the appearance when he first met Jiang Yuebai. The green crickets on the pleated skirt were very interesting.

Unknowingly, a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.