Legend of Zhan Zhao

Chapter 103 Am I, Pang Ji, someone who rose to power because of my daughter?
"...Because of Prajnaparamita, the mind is without hindrance; because there is no hindrance, there is no fear; one is far removed from distorted views and dreams, and ultimately attains Nirvana..."

"Thank you, Master!"

In the main hall, Madam Luo listened to the Heart Sutra again, and finally clasped her hands in a gesture of respect.

She had never felt that believing in Buddhism had such immediate benefits.

It is truly a joy to have such a master chanting sutras and praying for you.

As she listened, she almost completely let go of her lingering attachment to Xiyan Flower.

As the Heart Sutra says, by staying away from distorted dreams, one can eventually reach the other shore of perfect bliss.

"Amitabha!"

Zhan Zhao used the Six Hearts Clarity Technique and the Heart Sword Divine Technique. It would be strange if the opponent could not let go of his delusions.

However, this effect cannot last indefinitely.

If Luo Shijun were to come and try to fool her again, perhaps Luo's desire to regain her youth would be immediately rekindled, once again overriding her reason.

After all, people's thoughts are not static; they come up one after another in endless streams. Without a secret method of the mind to completely guide them, it would become mind control.

Therefore, we still need to address the root cause.

"mother!"

Just then, accompanied by a loud voice, Pang Yu strode in with his head held high.

Zhan Zhao kept his eyes straight ahead, but in reality, he carefully observed the other person.

After Grand Tutor Pang gained power, his eldest son Pang Yu was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Anle.

During the disaster relief efforts in Chenzhou, Pang Yu forcibly conscripted laborers to build a garden, embezzled relief grain, and built Ruan Hongtang to imprison respectable women, causing widespread suffering among the local people.

Bao Zheng eventually discovered Pang Yu's crimes of concealing the disaster and oppressing the villagers. After interrogation and a written confession, he executed Pang Yu using the dragon-head guillotine.

However, that conservatism was a matter of more than ten years later, or even later.

The current Pang Yu is unrecognizable from his time as Marquis Anle; he exudes the air of a spirited young man.

He showed even greater affection for his stepmother, Lady Luo, and knelt down, saying, "Seeing Mother looking radiant puts my mind at ease!"

Looking at her son, who, though not her biological child, she treated as her own, Luo felt quite gratified: "Get up quickly! Get up quickly! With such good children like you, what do I have to worry about?"

"Come! Greetings to the two masters!"

Pang Yu stepped forward to pay his respects. He remained calm upon hearing the Dharma name, and also bowed with his hands clasped together, saying, "Greetings, Master Jiexian! Greetings, Master Jiese!"

The two men smiled and returned the greeting: "We will not disturb the lady and her son's conversation any longer. Please enjoy your family time. This humble monk will take his leave."

"I will escort the two masters to their lodgings to rest."

Luo got up and went forward to see him off, but Jie Xian stopped her again and again before she sat back down.

"This master is so young, yet his martial arts skills are so high!"

Pang Yu watched Zhan Zhao's disappearing figure and thought, "He must be an extremely outstanding person in the Great Xiangguo Temple!"

Madam Luo was very pleased: "Yu'er has good taste. This is a highly accomplished monk who doesn't usually leave the temple."

Master Jiese was a handsome man, but I had never seen him in any of the mansions before. It was certainly not because his Dharma name had just been given; he must be a hermit in a temple. It was a great honor for him to be seated at her birthday banquet.

Overjoyed, Luo noticed that Pang Yu looked somewhat travel-worn and asked with concern, "My son, were you tired from your trip to Western Xia? Were you in any danger? I heard that Li Yuanhao harbors rebellious intentions?"

"It's not just disloyalty; Li Yuanhao is practically a rebel!"

Pang Yu's expression turned serious: "Within Western Xia, Li Yuanhao has already proclaimed himself emperor, built a capital, and appointed civil and military officials. How can he still consider himself the King of Western Xia?"

"He also practiced a divine skill of the Western Xia Buddhist sect called 'Prison-Suppressing and Heaven-Breaking Force.' When our delegation arrived at the self-proclaimed capital of Western Xia, Li Yuanhao was on a killing spree, killing many people, including his pregnant wife!"

Madam Luo's expression changed: "Is my son's journey so dangerous?"

"When two countries are at war, envoys are not to be harmed. The Western Xia would not dare to do anything to our delegation..."

Pang Yu said, "It's just that Li Yuanhao wants our Great Song to recognize his imperial throne, so he's been using both soft and hard tactics on Shenhou. The most hateful thing is that he actually sent someone to steal Shenhou's Panlong Staff!"

"what?"

Luo asked, puzzled, "What do these Tanguts need the dragon-coiled staff for?"

"This is an insult to the Divine Marquis, and we must force him to make a deal!"

Pang Yu shook his head repeatedly: "The Dangxiang barbarians are uneducated and utterly incomprehensible!"

Luo said worriedly, "Anyway, you can't go to such barbarian lands again in the future. Your father is the Junior Tutor. Why couldn't the court arrange a better position for him? Why did they have to make you go with the delegation?"

Pang Yu laughed and said, "I know Mother's good intentions, but such an opportunity is something others would love to ask for but can't get. I've broadened my horizons this time, and I'm overjoyed!"

Madam Luo looked him over and said, "A long journey is indeed a good experience! My child, you can think this way, which means the Pang family has a worthy successor. I imagine your father must be very pleased..."

Pang Yu looked around: "Where's Father? Is he still entertaining guests?"

"Let's put him aside for now and talk to our daughter!" Madam Luo took Pang Yu's hand, patted it gently, and said affectionately.

In fact, Pang Ji was not entertaining any other guests, but was talking with his brother-in-law Luo Shijun.

A wise and virtuous imperial tutor should not associate too much with relatives who are so worldly and unsavory. However, it is appropriate for them to catch up on old times at the birthday banquet.

Luo Shijun, who was usually arrogant and domineering, was noticeably more reserved in front of Pang Ji, or rather, he deliberately showed a reserved demeanor.

Pang Ji appreciated this about the other party, so he didn't beat around the bush: "Are you clear about the Six Doors matter?"

Luo Shijun hurriedly said, "Fortunately, brother reminded me, otherwise I would have really fallen into Su Wuqing's trap and would have been seriously injured!"

In terms of age, Pang Ji is indeed a year older than Luo Shijun, but this way of addressing him is undoubtedly humble.

Hearing Luo Shijun say that Su Wuqing was plotting to harm him, Pang Ji sneered inwardly, but said solemnly on the surface, "Although the Six Doors are powerful, they can't touch the Luo family in the slightest. If Su Wuqing wants to arrest someone, he'll have to ask me first!"

Luo Shijun breathed a sigh of relief: "Absolutely! With your help, brother, I have been able to establish myself in the capital for a long time. I have always been clear about this. My haste in dealing with the Six Doors was also to remove this obstacle for you!"

"This isn't about removing obstacles; it's about Su Wuqing abusing his power for personal gain. How can we be careless?"

Pang Ji corrected him, then suddenly asked, "What's the deal with the Xi Yan Flower? Is it really that magical? Tell the truth!"

"How dare I deceive my brother?"

Luo Shijun said solemnly, "This item is quite miraculous. Saying it can reverse aging might be an exaggeration, but long-term use will definitely have the effect of preserving youth. I was fortunate enough to obtain it by chance, and that's why I'm presenting it as a gift to Madam at her birthday banquet..."

Pang Ji narrowed his eyes and continued, "You want to sell it to a noblewoman in the capital?"

Luo Shijun said, "Of course I think so. If this business goes through, it will truly be a fortune, something that can't be compared to anything else!"

Nowadays, the Luo family's business is not a legitimate one; they meddle in the canal transport and profit from it, which is why they have attracted the attention of the Six Doors.

As for legitimate businesses, they are arduous and exhausting, and don't earn much money. Which powerful or wealthy person would be willing to do that?
Pang Ji used Luo Shijun as a front man, wasn't he just trying to maintain his reputation while enjoying life?
"I'm afraid that even if this business succeeds, it won't be yours anymore!"

Pang Ji said calmly.

His understanding of the path to power was that only by first gaining absolute power could one's lucrative businesses generate wealth like boiling water poured onto snow.

Otherwise, even if mountains of gold and seas of silver are laid out before you, you'll only be doing the work for someone else, and they'll surely be snatched away by envious powerful and wealthy people.

Luo Shijun quickly said, "Brother, why belittle yourself? With your current power, how many people in the court and the country do you fear? If you can win the hearts of the noble ladies of various families with your former beauty, I think the position of the head of all officials will undoubtedly belong to you!"

"Rising to power based on a single flower?"

Pang Ji felt a sense of absurdity: "Then you might as well say that I rose to power by relying on women!"

Luo Shijun's spirits lifted, and he quickly added, "Other women are indeed unreliable, but we have Lingyi! Lingyi is exceptionally talented and beautiful, a true beauty. If she were to obtain the secret to preserving her youth, when she enters the palace, all the beauties of the six palaces would pale in comparison!"

"You're still thinking about this?"

Pang Ji frowned: "His Majesty is indeed approaching the age of marriage, but the Empress will not belong to the Pang family. Marrying off a daughter to become a concubine would be a loss."

He is now highly regarded for his virtue. Although he comes from a family of military generals and is deeply rooted in the army, he is also well-regarded by civil officials and scholars.

But once a daughter is sent to the palace, she becomes a relative of the imperial family.

It's not that maternal relatives are necessarily unacceptable. During Emperor Zhenzong's reign, a daughter from the Pang family entered the palace to take care of the family. Marriage between the imperial family and military families was a rule established by Emperor Taizu.

But if the daughter is overshadowed by the Empress and not favored in the harem, and then has to gain the status of a maternal relative for no reason, then she will be at a great loss. Why bother?

"No need to say more!"

Seeing that Luo Shijun was about to speak again, Pang Ji's tone turned serious, and he stopped him directly.

"Yes."

Luo Shijun lowered his head slightly, reverting to his submissive demeanor.

Pang Ji continued, "You can try to use that flower yourself, but don't use the Pang family's name. Also, don't give it to Yunyu (Madam Pang's maiden name) or Lingyi recently, understand?"

Luo Shijun continued to obey: "Understood."

"Go!"

After bowing, Luo Shijun left the study. As night fell, the suppressed ferocity in his eyes suddenly burst forth.

"You old scoundrel! He treats me like a dog all the time, and then he humiliated me so badly at my birthday banquet, making me lose all face!"

"Just you wait and see! The Xiyan Flower is my secret weapon for turning my life around! Before long, I'll have you begging me for your wife and daughters!"

Pang Ji, who was in the study, also turned his head slightly.

He knew that Luo Shijun, with his江湖 (jianghu, a term referring to the world of martial arts and chivalry) air, was definitely not convinced, but no matter what the other party was thinking, as long as he obeyed in action, that would be enough.

If they start to outwardly comply but inwardly contradict themselves, then abandon them.

A large family like the Pang family, which has stood strong since the time of the founding emperor, has countless relatives. Does Luo Shijun really think he is irreplaceable?
As for Lingyi's marriage.

His daughter's surname is Pang. Who Pang's daughter marries is none of Luo's business.
Looking again at the character "忍" (patience/endurance) on the table, Pang Ji smiled proudly:
"Am I, Pang Ji, someone who rose to power because of my daughter?"

(End of this chapter)