Chapter 56: The Buddha's Lamp
Li Chengqian limped to the Zhengzhi Hall, swaying as he walked, but Wei Wang Li Tai had not yet arrived. By the side of Empress Zhangsun were only Emperor Taizong and eight-year-old Jin Wang Li Zhi.
Several imperial physicians of the Imperial Medical Office are gathered together, discussing a good prescription for treating Empress Longsun.
Li Chengqian hastily ran to Li Shimin's side, knelt down and paid his respects: "Your son has seen the Emperor. Father, what about Empress Zhangsun?"
"Get up." Li Shimin weakly waved his hand, signaling Li Chengqian to get up. He said, "Sit down, sit next to your mother. Your mother has always doted on you, take this opportunity to spend more time with her."
"Thank you, Father Emperor." Li Chengqian got up from the ground and sat down beside Xiao Lichizheng, looking at the pale-faced Empress Longsun lying on the bed. Tears flowed out uncontrollably. Holding Empress Longsun's icy hand, he cried out: "Mother Empress! Mother Empress! Wake up, I'm your son Qian! Mother Empress, open your eyes and look at your son!"
Li Shimin saw him crying bitterly, and his heart was also filled with sorrow. Longsun had married him at the age of 13, and now it had been 23 years. During this period, more than half of the time was spent in war and unrest. Even when she gave birth to Li Chengqian, he was unable to accompany her due to going out to battle.
As for this wife and children, Li Shimin felt guilty in his heart.
Li Shimin patted Li Chengqian's shoulder and said, "Qian'er, don't be like this. Your mother has always been strong-willed. If she knew you were crying so hard, she would definitely not be happy. You shouldn't make your mother unhappy again..."
Having grown accustomed to the life and death separations on the battlefield, Li Shimin had become indifferent to a person's life and death. It was just this Changsun that made him feel extremely reluctant in his heart.
Li Chengqian wiped away the tears on his face and asked Li Shimin, "Father Emperor, what did the imperial physicians say? Is it true that Empress Zhangsun really...?"
"It's hard to say if she can pull through, the imperial physicians are also discussing a plan of action. They're experts in treating illnesses and saving lives, we can only wish them well but there's nothing more we can do." Li Shimin sighed, looking at Longsun who was calm and serene. He couldn't help but think back to when they first met twenty-three years ago. At that time she was a lively, healthy, and polite young girl, how did things change so quickly?
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"
"Your Majesty!"
"Huh, what's going on?" Li Shimin was startled awake by Li Chengqian beside him and asked aloud.
Li Chengqian replied in a low voice: "Your Majesty, Wang Zikuai from the Imperial Medical Office has something to report."
"Oh?" Li Shimin hastily asked Wang Ziqiao, who was standing beside him: "Royal Doctor Wang, is there any progress?!"
"The queen's illness is due to the previous cold, which triggered her old disease, causing weakness in the lungs, spleen, and kidneys. The evil of yin coldness is flourishing while yang energy is insufficient, leading to prolonged coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath, resulting in her current state of syncope. If medication is used, it should..."
"Wang Qing," Li Shimin interrupted Wang Ziqiao's lengthy and incomprehensible medical jargon, asking directly: "I only want to know now, can you doctors cure the Empress's illness?"
The prince knelt down with a thud and knocked his head to reply, "Your Majesty, we are incompetent! The queen's illness can only be alleviated, but there is no cure. Please forgive us!"
Liu Yitiao was entwined by Liu Ertiao, unable to move, and had no choice but to sit up and say: "Ertiao, you are now a scholar, and after this year, you will also reach the age of wearing a hat, becoming an adult. You must learn to handle things on your own. Moreover, this matter of poetry is the duty of scholars like you, how can you ask for my opinion as a farmer? If this gets out, won't people laugh at us?"
"Alright, alright." Liu Er Tiao nodded in acknowledgement and then proceeded to defend himself: "However, big brother, you are a master of the classics, with extensive knowledge and exceptional memory. How can ordinary farmers compare to that? Even our private school teachers pale in comparison to your abilities. So when we encounter problems, it's only natural to seek your advice, Er Tiao doesn't think there's anything wrong with that."
"You're really something." Liu Yitiao, who had been slapped on the back by Liu Ertiao and was now in a great mood, with his sleepiness gone, sat up straight and laughed as he said to Liu Ertiao: "Alright, speak up, what's this difficult problem that can stump even our family's Liu Ertiao?"
"Big brother, it's like this." Liu Er Tiao hurriedly said after seeing Liu Yi Tiao agree to help: "It's a very strange upper verse. It was given by a strange old man who sells lanterns, and the content is: The first of the four waters is Jiang, the second of the four seasons is Xia, I live in Jiangxia, who is the first, who is the second?"
"The Yangtze River is first, the four seasons are second. I live in Jiangxia, who is first and who is second? The river, summer, Jiangxia...hmm, it's interesting." Liu Yitiao savored it for a moment, then smiled and asked Liu Ertiao: "What kind of person was that old man who gave you the riddle, and why did he give you such a difficult one? There must be a reason, right?"
"So that's why I said he was strange. That old man is clearly a lantern peddler, but his lanterns can't be bought with silver or money. You have to recite the poem, verse or couplet corresponding to each lantern in order to get it."
"Oh? Then his lanterns must be extraordinary? To make you give up the excitement of the Lantern Festival and return early to wait for me." Liu Yitiao was also stirred up with interest, curious about the person selling lanterns. It's likely that this person could come up with such a sales method, he must be a refined gentleman, much better than Du Zigui who sought fame and fortune.
"The lantern is a very special Buddhist lamp, with an exterior that resembles a cross-legged Buddha with his hands clasped together in prayer and a smile on his face, looking very peaceful. If Mother saw it, she would definitely like it." Liu Er Tiao's eyes lit up when he talked about the lantern, and it was clear that he really wanted to bring it back home.
"You're actually thoughtful, knowing to consider your mother's feelings when you play." Liu Yitiao comforted with a smile. Liu He was a devout Buddhist and would be delighted if Liu Ertiao were to give her an exquisite Buddha lamp.
At the same time, Liu Yitiao also thought of the second half of the couplet on the implication of the Buddha's lamp.
Buddhism is one of the three teachings, under Confucianism and above Taoism. Before Tang Monk returned, Confucianism was in the first place.
Liu Yitiao thought for a moment in his heart, then smiled and said to Liu Ertiao: "I've already come up with the next line, go get the pen and ink, write it down, and let's exchange lanterns."
"Ah, I knew this wouldn't stump Big Brother!" Liu Er Tiao responded with a shout, and then he rushed out the door in big strides.
Waiting for him to bring paper and pen, Liu wrote without hesitation: "The three teachings of Confucianism are in the front, the three talents are in the back, I am a Confucian, how dare I be in the front, how dare I be in the back."
After blowing on the wet ink twice, Liu Yitiao handed the paper to Liu Ertiao and said, "Here, take it. Once you're done, don't come bother me while I'm sleeping again."
"The first is the river, the second is the summer. I live in Jiangxia, who is the first and who is the second? The three teachings of Confucianism are in front, the three talents are behind. As a junior Confucian, how dare I be in front or behind?" Liu Er Tiao read it through, looked up, and sincerely praised: "Great! Wonderful! Big brother, you're so awesome! I admire you!"
