Insufficient balance

  I used to listen to the Buddhist monk's lecture on Zen, Buddha said that cause and effect, this life and the next are all causal retribution; Buddha also said that opportunities, when the opportunity comes, suddenly great enlightenment.

  Two months ago, Xue Chongxun suddenly obtained memories from another world. Was it fate? He couldn't tell whether it was his past life or future life, because the memory came from 1,300 years later: If it was his past life, why would his past life be in the future; if it was his future life, his future life hadn't happened yet, where did the memory come from?

  Or perhaps before Pangu opened up the sky and earth, heaven and earth were in chaos, time was in chaos, and originally there was no distinction between past and future...

  Is there really a Buddha in the world? Whether it's this life or the next, Xue Chongxun doesn't quite believe.

  But that memory wasn't a dream, because it was too vivid. Xue Chongxun didn't believe people could dream up such a clear alternate life.

  ……

  From Qianfo Temple to the Mansion of Princess Taiping, it's just a couple of blocks away.

  The sun is about to set, and the last rays of light make the sky and earth seem to be coated with a layer of gold. The orange-yellow glow is like a dream or an illusion. The princess's mansion is even more magnificent than the imperial palace, with towering palaces looming in the misty clouds, as if it were a heavenly palace. The lake sparkles, creating waves that are like silk and satin, luxurious to the extreme.

  "Local officials send local specialties to Chang'an every month, and foreign envoys who come to the capital to pay their respects also bring gifts for Mother. Tonight's family banquet might even feature delicacies from Xichuan." Xue Chongxun smiled casually at the young man in purple robes with large peonies embroidered on them.

  The young man beside him had a pale complexion, which was completely opposite to Xue Chongxun's dark skin due to his martial arts training. However, the contours of their faces were somewhat similar, with broad foreheads, big eyes, straight noses, and regular facial features.

  He was Xue Chongxun's younger brother, Prince of Lijing Xue Chongjian. Taiping Princess had been married twice, each time giving birth to two sons and two daughters. The reason for the failure of her first marriage was that Wu Zetian killed her husband... In other words, it was Xue Chongxun's paternal grandmother who killed his father, but what does gratitude and resentment mean in the imperial family?

  Their kinship in their hearts is lighter than that of the common people, just like Xue Chongxun and Xue Erlang, two biological brothers who are actually distant in relationship and rarely meet. Xue Erlang is closer to his cousin, Crown Prince Li Longji. Last year's coup against Empress Wei, Princess Taiping and Emperor Ruizong joined forces, sending people to contact Li Longji, including Xue Erlang, which further deepened the relationship between the cousins.

  Li Longji's father, Li Dan, and the mother of Xue Ji's two brothers, Princess Taiping, were both children of Wu Zetian and Gaozong, making them siblings. Therefore, Li Longji and Xue Chongjian are cousins.

  Xue Er Lang was not as physically strong as Xue Chongxun. After entering the mansion, he walked for a while and started to pant slightly, his face turning even paler. He said with some difficulty: "Today I came to see Mother, I want to offer some advice, who knows if it will anger her, why bother eating dinner?"

  "Since we know it will make Mother angry, isn't it better not to say anything?" Xue Chongxun said casually.

  "I won't be relieved until I spit it out."

  Xue Chongxun shook his head, with an expression of not being bothered on his face, but in his heart he thought: Erlang has been gloomy since childhood, but he is very careful and would never speak recklessly for temporary pleasure.

  This temperament is not a shortcoming in the midst of dangerous wealth. Xue Chongxun thinks so, probably also similar to Xue Erlang, after all, two people are born by the same father and mother... However, Xue Chongxun prefers the word "hide cleverness and reveal clumsiness".

  Two brothers chatted about family matters while each had their own thoughts, and they walked into the inner palace of the princess's mansion. The eunuchs had already reported their arrival and led them through countless corridors and stone paths to a pavilion.

  Along the white stone steps, a dust-free wooden floor appeared in front of me. I saw that Taiping Princess, wearing a long skirt, was standing alone with her back to the door between the crimson pillars of the main hall, looking up at the west, while a group of eunuchs and maids were standing far away on the wall.

  Her hair was adorned with pearls and jade, and her long skirt was magnificent, making her look elegant and noble. However, those who knew her felt a strange sense of intimidation when they saw her, so the servants couldn't help but lower their heads and bow respectfully.

  "Junior brother greets mother." Xue Chongxun and his brothers walked into the hall, bowed their heads and said.

  Princess Taiping turned around, and the entire palace seemed to light up. The plump princess was dressed in a grand attire, wearing a bright red tank top with a low-cut collar, revealing her chest. Her skin was smooth and well-maintained under the thin silk fabric, despite being over 40 years old. Adorned with luxurious gold, jade, and pearls, she still looked stunningly beautiful.

  "Come here, come to mother's side." The majestic princess saw her two sons and a hint of kindness appeared between her eyebrows.

  This warmed Xue Chongxun's heart... Previously, he might not have been able to feel this way, but since he regained his memories of his past life, the thick familial love in those memories left him in awe, a feeling he had never experienced in this life, making him nostalgic. This made him realize that his own life was actually lonely and cold.

  The two brothers went to Princess Taiping very obediently, with a very respectful attitude. When Xue Chongxun quietly turned his head to look at Xue Erlang, he found that his face was still gloomy and showed a resentful emotion, but he just lowered his head, and Princess Taiping in front couldn't see it.

  The Princess Taiping pointed at the palace and mountains under the sunset glow and said: "Look, isn't the scenery in my mansion beautiful?"

  Xue Chongxun raised his head, looked carefully for a moment, and indeed it was as beautiful as a fairy palace. He and Xue Erlang both praised it with one sentence. Xue Chongxun's praise was sincere, but Xue Erlang's tone was just perfunctory.

  Princess Taiping nodded slightly and walked slowly, her long skirt trailing behind her. Xue Chongxun and his brothers had no choice but to follow her, accompanying her for a while.

  At this time, Xue Er Lang suddenly said: "Mother, I heard that Zuo Pu She Duan Huai Zhen, Shi Zhong Xian Xi, and Zhong Shu Ling Xiao Zhi Zhong Cui Ying etc. often enter and exit the mother's mansion. These people must be slandering the Crown Prince to the mother, is this true?"

  This sentence was like a thunderclap, startling both Taiping Princess and Xue Chongxun, the warmth of their mother-son reunion vanished instantly.

  Princess Taiping's face suddenly turned cold, and she looked back at Xue Erlang and said, "Are you questioning me?"

  Xue Erlang lowered his head, his face pale. Under his mother's intimidating presence, he might have been afraid too, but still gritted his teeth and said: "I dare not, I'm just risking incurring your wrath to advise you, Mother. Please don't listen to rumors."

  The face of Princess Taiping turned red with rage, extreme anger turned to laughter, but it was a cold laugh... Now still advising not to fight back against the Crown Prince, do you want to watch the ambitious Crown Prince without taking any precautions and wait for death?

  "You scoundrel, eating inside and peeling outside!" Taiping Princess was furious, pointing at Xue Erlang's hand trembling with rage. "Come on, take him down to the execution ground and beat him! Beat this scoundrel to death!"

  Eunuchs from a distance heard the loud order and immediately rushed forward, grabbing Xue Erlang's arms and pulling him out.

  At this time, Xue Chongxun recovered from the surprise just now, pretending to be shocked and standing aside with his hands hanging down, not saying a word. He was thinking why Erlang had come up with such a trick: Wasn't Erlang also aware of the danger of being killed, so he deliberately did this, using the trick of suffering to find a way out for the future?

  Xue Er Lang's body was weak, and he usually looked frail and unable to withstand the wind. However, when faced with a situation, he was not a coward. If someone else were to face the wrath of Princess Taiping, infamous for her ruthless and cunning ways, they would have been scared out of their wits. But Xue Er Lang, disregarding his own life, continued to speak resolutely: "Mother, please listen to my advice! When our great-grandmother (Wu Zetian) held absolute power, she slaughtered the aristocracy in order to eliminate her enemies, and the scholars still shudder at the memory. Would they be willing to see another woman hold power again? The hearts of the people cannot be disobeyed, Mother should withdraw early and ensure the safety of our family. Fearing that my words may be unpalatable!"

  "Shut up! Beat them, what are you still standing there for? Take the whip and beat them to death!" Taiping Princess gritted her teeth in anger.

  Before long, the sound of whipping and Xue Erlang's painful cries came from downstairs. He shouted again: "Eldest brother! Eldest brother is still standing there doing nothing, you can't just watch me being beaten without saying a word, eldest brother please persuade mother... Ahh!"

  Xue Chongxun thought to himself: I'm no match for you, you can lean towards the crown prince, but I can't. Following you is a dead end for both of us!

  The attention of Princess Taiping was diverted by Xue Erlang, and she noticed the taciturn Xue Chongxun, who had not spoken a word. She turned her head to look at him and said, "What, are you also going to betray me?"

  Xue Chongxun knew his mother was angry and hastily said: "I would never dare."

  Princess Taiping said coldly: "Today you secretly met Feng Yuanjun's fiancée Yuwen Ji at Qianfu Temple, don't tell me it was a coincidence!"

  How could his mother know such a small thing? Xue Chongxun really didn't expect it at all, and even more unexpected was that she would find out so quickly.

  Yuwen's fiancé was Feng Yuanjun, Feng Yuanjun was the cousin of Gao Lishi, a eunuch who was close to the Crown Prince (Gao Lishi was originally named Feng Yuanyi), and when he met with Yuwen in private, there were indeed suspicions of an illicit affair... Such an alliance tactic is not unusual, as Emperor Zhongzong of Tang had once tried to consolidate his power by allying himself with the Wu family, even going so far as to have his wife Empress Wei and Wu Sansi play chess together on the same bed.

  Xue Chongxun lowered his head and said, "I came from home to pay respects to my mother. Since I arrived too early, I went for a walk at Qianfu Temple along the way. Unfortunately, I ran into Yuwen Ji... Mother is wise, what benefits do I have in leaning towards the Crown Prince?"

  Although Princess Taiping was in a fit of rage, her mind was still clear. Xue Chongxun's last words were indeed reasonable. She looked at Xue Chongxun and said: "I'm not going to monitor you, an official happened to come over from that side, saw the two of you coming out together, and mentioned it to me in passing."

  Xue Chongxun said: "Please spare Erlang's life, everyone has their own ambitions, and beating him is of no use."

  This sentence is not a persuasion, but rather has the implication of adding insult to injury...but Xue Chongxun could only say this, his mother was in a fit of anger, if he didn't say so would he have to say that Erlang's words were reasonable?

  Maybe it makes sense, but people in their positions can't help themselves. Moreover, this doesn't conform to Princess Taiping's style of handling things, and a word of advice won't be effective. Xue Chongxun is clear about it, isn't Xue Erlang also clear?