Chapter 6: Almsgiving

The actions of the royal clan have nearly completely severed the so-called ties of sentiment

It should indeed be quite magical

Xia Xiaosu looked at the clean bowl and curiously asked, "Do you really enjoy eating vegetarian food, brother?"

The Sutra Repository

The only one that exists is the Ninth Princess born of this mother before me

The rosy clouds are like blood

Xia slightly raised the corners of her lips; the abbot's verdict was indeed given promptly. Who is this verdict intended for?

The noble consort must also take control of herself

This is quite good, although this reputation cannot compare to the support of the military for the Crown Prince, the admiration of the great scholars for the Third Prince, or the respect from the Blackwater Platform and even the righteous sects of the world for the Fifth Prince. However, when others mention this Seventh Prince, who has been under house arrest, they will no longer utter the word "waste".

Turning the pages one by one

Bang

He cast a sidelong glance out the window, from where he could see a glimpse of the bustling capital, a corner of its iceberg, a glimpse of a high tower in the deep palace, and he could also see that there was no friend left under this vast sky

Isn't Lady Wan the mother of the Third Prince? Why does she need to concern herself with my three meals?

Xia Xiaosu did not notice the change in her brother's state of mind and continued, "Wanfang said that this three-part demonic nature will hinder cultivation

I simply like it immensely

The pages of the book have been closed

The moonlight, like water, inundates the imperial city

The princess explained: "It was the Consort Wan who arranged for this."

The monk has also entered the secular world

Xia smiled gently and said: "I like it."

If we say that the Zen of the Tathagata leans towards "Heaven and Earth resonate with my heart, and my heart also resonates with Heaven and Earth," it emphasizes a focus on the integration with the natural world of Heaven and Earth

Eunuch Mei smiled meaningfully and praised, "Has the prince actually broken this chess game? What skill, truly impressive, I am greatly enlightened."

After taking a few more steps, he sighed again: "Reciting the Buddha has its own merits; going to a temple to become a monk can also allow one to survive. Even if it means losing dignity, a bad life is better than a good death"

The Son of Heaven is also not favored by himself

The skill orb shattered, and the golden flow merged with him, allowing him to perceive the power and Zen heart of the Buddha from the past

It seems that the monks who have renounced the world are not truly renounced after all

Thus, the Zen of the Light Lamp leans towards "The first meeting at Longhua, all brightness like a lamp, the lamp is the Dharma." This Zen teaching is quite unique, unlike the current Tathāgata Zen, which manifests in every gesture and movement, where snow ceases and winds stop, even influencing the surrounding environment, causing it to exhibit patterns distinct from nature.

Warriors must consume meat to strengthen their muscles and blood, while strategists must possess a ruthless heart to seize every opportunity. Without the richness of meat, and having diminished their demonic nature, this is to cut off all their possibilities.

Eunuch Mei approached and asked, "Seventh Prince, have you broken the chess game?"

After the summer crisis was resolved, there was no further delay, and he went straight down the mountain

How many siblings are there, yet they hide daggers behind their smiles

Is the Buddhist country good

Master Mei shook his head with a mocking expression, saying, "We thought that breaking through the sea of suffering in Xumi Mountain was something remarkable, but it turns out it is still this pitiful state.

Seven parts Buddha, three parts demon

In the blink of an eye, dawn, noon, and dusk have arrived

After hearing these words, Xia Ji suddenly let out two hearty laughs

This Zen lies in brightness, in the lamp

In the summer, with closed eyes, one can feel the profound currents at the center of the universe, as well as the fifth golden skill orb produced by the primordial spirit at the center of the brow—"Past Enlightenment Zen"

However, Consort Wan could not bear to see me, as a princess, personally cooking and working so hard, so she instructed the imperial kitchen to prepare special meals for the princes every day

It is destined to be this way

Hehe, since the Seventh Prince does not speak to us, we shall not inquire..." Grandfather Mei chuckled ominously, and then followed the imprisoned prince all the way to the Fifth Peak

Xia Ji took the scripture without paying him any mind and continued walking ahead. Master Mei said nothing further and followed behind as if nothing had happened, until they reached the foot of Mount Sumeru, where he finally sat in the driver's seat of the carriage, took the reins, and carried the imprisoned prince back to the inner palace

At the Fifth Peak, monks had long been waiting at the mountain gate, holding the "Past Lamp Sutra" that had been prepared for presentation. The scripture was contained in a secret box made of seven treasures, adorned with gold, silver, glass, crystal, mother-of-pearl, red pearls, and agate, making it appear quite precious

The Son of Heaven learned of it and merely praised it with a single remark of approval

She does not know

Seeing his sister genuinely happy for him, Xia Ji smiled. He opened the lunch box, only to find it filled entirely with vegetarian dishes. After sniffing again, he realized there wasn't even a hint of meat. When he touched it, he discovered that even the hidden wine was gone.

Xia Xiaosu organized her thoughts and said: "Consort Wan is highly favored by the Emperor, and in front of outsiders, she is gentle, virtuous, and knows how to maintain propriety. She shed tears and said that our biological mother passed away early, and in the depths of the palace, there is no one to care for or inquire about us, which is truly pitiful

After a little more than half an hour, he had already mastered the ninth level of "Past Lamp Zen".

In order for her brother to have a greater future in Buddhism and Taoism, she specifically instructed the imperial chef to prepare vegetarian meals from now on, to help her brother eliminate this demonic nature

Recite word by word

"Go back, the Emperor has said that you must return to the palace before dark, do not delay."

He was eating vegetarian food, the sky was filled with countless shadows, their faces indistinct, transforming into the Five Elements Mountain pressing down on him, wanting to pin him firmly in the Sutra Repository, ensuring that he could never rise again, unless he died, unable to escape this chessboard.

It was not until the very end that the seventh prince of the great merchant dynasty opened the "Past Lamp Sutra" in the darkness

The nine princesses of the Shang Dynasty seemed to be aware that their elder brother's wishes had been fulfilled. Upon arriving at the entrance of the courtyard, they heard the distant sound of Buddhist scriptures being recited, which caused them to halt in their steps

And the elder brother can also go to the land of Buddha

However, although the abbot is proactive, the judgment is incorrect

It has been predetermined by heaven

But still ... . ... Even if it is acceptable, it is perhaps destined fate

and ... ... mental bondage

When the chanting finally ceased, she stepped forward to push open the door, carrying a lunchbox as she entered, laughing and saying: "Congratulations, brother, on being able to break through the suffering of the Xumi Mountain and borrow the secret treasures from the Thunder Sound Temple. Many people in the palace are talking about this, saying that your connection to the Buddha is profound"

To put it plainly, it is a form of psychological attack

She is already prepared to go to hell

The palace gradually fell silent

In the past, she had been negligent, and she felt quite guilty about it. From now on, she will treat my siblings as her own and will take good care of us. Moreover, the Son of Heaven has also tacitly approved this, and other learned scholars who are aware of this matter believe that this action is commendable, aligning with the great benevolence of Confucianism

It has never been within one's control

Who would dare to provoke the Turkic princess who is to be married in three months

So have you prepared the vegetarian meal

However, it is not surprising. With only a few rudimentary skills, even if one possesses a Buddha nature and a demonic heart, what difference does it make? ... It is merely a joke ... ... Hahaha

After finishing the vegetarian meal, Xia Xiaosu tidied up the empty bowls. This foolish princess clearly did not see through the underlying implications and still believed that her elder brother was wholeheartedly devoted to Buddhism, thinking that eating vegetarian food was a proof of stepping away from the secular world. She considered it a gradual withdrawal from the intricate power struggles, which was a good thing. Therefore, she smiled and said, "If you want anything else, just let me know. No one will bother me now."

Although he once harbored expectations, hoping that those monks had truly left the secular world, retreating into the realm of emptiness, and no longer dwelling in the mundane, in the end, expectation was merely expectation.

Yet his expression remained calm, for none of this came as a surprise to him; thus, he did not overly display the Zen of the Tathāgata while at Mount Sumeru

Then, he took out the vegetarian meal that contained not a single drop of meat oil and began to eat it directly, savoring every bite.

The elder brother has made a name for himself, and Xia Xiaosu feels a sense of pride as well. Although the elder brother is obsessed with Zen scriptures and is confined in a small pavilion, he has ultimately gained recognition through the scriptures and has established a reputation.

Even the eunuch Mei outside the pavilion has begun to yawn, yet he continues to read.

Xia Xiaosu nodded and said: "Yesterday, my brother went to play chess, and by this morning, the abbot of Leiyin Temple had sent back the verdict, stating that my brother harbors seven parts of Buddha and three parts of demon within his heart, which is why he was able to break through the sea of suffering and attain clarity."

The Ninth Princess pushed the door open and gently closed the palace gate with her other hand. The last ray of light, as the door creaked shut, became narrower and smaller.

It is wrong

He looked at Xia Xiaosu, his eyes revealing a hint of confusion