Chapter 13: Why is it so hard to return to secular life?

  "Today is a good day, everything I think of can be achieved..."

  Zhao Zhuang hummed a little tune and got up early, today he would be returning to secular life, thinking about it still made him feel a bit excited!

  Take off the monk's robe and put on new clothes, you can go out and have fun, enjoy the delicious bamboo shoot and pork bun without any worries, openly admire the figure of the young lady, throw a flirtatious glance, hold hands and so on.

  But when they arrived at the Temple of Heaven, Zhao Zhuang couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.

  Good grief! Today is actually Zhao Kuangyin's birthday, and the Ministry of Rites is trying to curry favor with the emperor by ordering all temples in Bianjing City to recite scriptures and offer blessings.

  Sister!

  Zhao Zhuang silently cursed in his heart and only then did he feel a little sorry for Zhao Yanran.

  In a feudal dynasty, the emperor is like heaven. The Ministry of Rites asks you to recite scriptures and offer prayers for the emperor, dare you say no?

  The secularization ceremony was inevitably postponed, and Zhao Zhuang was unhappy in his heart, but he still had to sit with the monks and pretend to move his lips.

  No choice, when one is a monk for a day, he has to chant scriptures all day!

  It's finally the end of the prayer ceremony, and it's already time for lunch. Can't let the monks in the temple go hungry just to hold a secularization ceremony for myself!

  A lunch break, though short in time, felt especially long for Zhao Zhuo who was anxiously waiting.

  As soon as Jingkong Fashi put down his bowl and chopsticks, Zhao Zhuang finally breathed a sigh of relief and was about to go forward to invite everyone to hurry up and finish the ceremony.

  The night is long and dreams are many, lest there be further delay!

  Sometimes things are just like that, worrying about what comes next. Just as Zhao Zhuang was about to speak, the monk rushed in to report: The Right Commander of the Tiger Guard, Zhang Guanghan, the Military Governor of Jiangning, has arrived with his mother to burn incense.

  It seems that because of today's Dragon Boat Festival banquet, the emperor gave some rewards, so they came to the temple to thank and repay.

  It's better for you to go and thank Zhao Kuangyin instead, what's the point of burning incense and worshiping Buddha?

  Watching Master Jingkong leave, Zhao Zhuang had a helpless expression on his face, and a bad premonition arose in his heart.

  Maybe good things come to those who wait, Zhao Zhuo could only comfort himself like this.

  I don't know how I managed to get through it, but finally the time arrived and all the incense guests were sent away. Zhao Zhēn hastily stepped forward and said: "Master, can you preside over the secularization ceremony for your disciple?"

  "Abstaining from lust, ah, it was because the Master was remiss and thus missed the auspicious moment; wouldn't it be better to choose another day and select a more propitious time?"

  Good grief! It's not like we're getting married, do we have to consider auspicious timing? If we miss today, who knows when the next one will be? Zhao Zhen can't wait a single moment longer!

  Zhao Zhuang accompanied with a smile: "It's okay, the sky is still early, it's still a good time, thanks to Master!"

  "Alright then!" Master Jingkong felt a sense of loss, but since Zhao Zhuang was insistent, he couldn't force him to stay.

  "Thank you, Master!"

  The monks in the temple were very cooperative and all gathered in the Heavenly King Hall. The secular people didn't seem to be tonsured, with such strict ceremony procedures.

  But Jingli Temple is a famous temple, and as the senior brother of the Precepts and Vinaya Master, he has a special status, so at least there should be a decent ceremony.

  In front of the Buddha statue in Tianwang Temple, Master Jingkong said: "Qieshe, even if you return to secular life and live at home, after all these years of listening to Buddhist scriptures in the temple, you must still remember to be compassionate and do good deeds."

  "Disciple remembers!" Zhao Zhuang replied respectfully, but in his heart he was slightly resentful, thinking "Can't we just skip the formalities now?"

  "Good!" Master Jingkong said loudly: "Alright, from today on, the monks of this temple will abstain from lust..."

  "Halt!" A shout rang out at the grand temple entrance, disrupting the secularization ceremony.

  Who's there? Calling you/sister!

  Zhao Zhuang cursed in his heart and couldn't help but think, Master, are you really sure today is a lucky day?

  Turning back, he saw Zhao Guangyi approaching quickly with a sly smile on his face.

  "Your Highness, Duke of Youyu!"

  His Imperial Highness was only a title for the crown prince and close relatives, but Zhao Guangyi had not yet been granted a noble rank. However, as the emperor's younger brother, it was inevitable that he would be enfeoffed in the future. Therefore, his subordinates habitually referred to him as His Imperial Highness, which Empress Dowager Du and Zhao Kuangyin did not object to. But when it came out of Zhao Zhen's mouth, it became such a strange title.

  Zhao Guangyi smiled and didn't mind, asking: "Is the secularization ceremony over?"

  "Not yet, can I ask Your Highness to wait for a moment, it will be done soon!" Master Jingkong only knew that Zhao Guangyi was there to pick up Zhao Zhen, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder in his heart. The younger brother of the imperial family had come to welcome him personally, and the face of the Buddhist monastery was truly not small.

  "It's just as well you haven't returned to secular life yet, the ceremony can be suspended for now, no need to continue!"

  What's going on? What does "don't bother" mean? Zhao Zhuang was a bit confused and also a bit angry.

  Looking at Zhao Zhen's puzzled and indignant eyes, Zhao Guangyi smiled slyly and said in a low voice: "The imperial family has an edict, declaring that the monk Fa Sheng is summoned to enter the palace for an audience."

  Zhao Zhuang's face was covered with dark lines, and his heart felt even more unpleasant!

  Zhao Kuangyin, you haven't paid attention to me for many days, and now you come here to stir up trouble, what's the meaning of this?

  *

  *

  Standing in front of the Wengong Hall, Zhao Zhuang still had a belly full of resentment. Today was indeed not a good day, purely an unlucky day!

  "How is it that you come into the palace to see me with such reluctance?" Zhao Kuangyin looked at Zhao Jiong's expression, his brow furrowed.

  "I dare not!"

  "Your Majesty's brother happened to arrive at the Determined Strength Temple just as the young monk Zheng was having a complicated secularization ceremony, but then he was interrupted by Your Majesty's brother, so..."

  Zhao Kuangyin couldn't help but smile and said: "So that's how it is. It seems to be fate. Zhao Jiong, you'd better not return to secular life."

  "Why? Your Majesty promised me, you are the Son of Heaven, with a golden mouth and jade words..." Zhao Zheng was somewhat perplexed and also slightly displeased.

  Isn't it just a monk returning to secular life? Even the emperor has to intervene, is it necessary? It's already been a rollercoaster ride, and now Zhao Kuangyin still flatly rejects him. Can it be that he's destined to be a monk for this lifetime?

  Zhao Kuangyin's heart was greatly displeased. Zhao Kuangyin, I have saved your wife and children, how can you be so ungrateful?

  If it were someone else, such an attitude would have been considered a breach of etiquette. However, Zhao Kuangyin just thought that Zhao Jiong was being childish and playful, straightforward but not intentionally offending him.

  Zhao Kuangyin smiled and said: "I did say that, but now I want to discuss with you whether the secular affairs can be postponed for a while."

  "What?" Zhao Cong was taken aback at first, then asked: "Your Majesty, is there any instruction?"

  "Indeed clever!" Zhao Kuangyin said: "There is a task, your identity is suitable for going to Langzhou, I want you to go there."

  "Lu Prefecture? I beg Your Majesty to enlighten me in detail!" Zhao Zhuang was somewhat bewildered, and wasn't even very clear where Lu Prefecture was.

  "Then you come and explain!"

  Zhao Cong had long recognized Zhao Pu as the middle-aged official from that day, but only now did he know that he was the very same Zhao Pu who governed the country with half of the Analects.

  After listening to Zhao Pu's explanation, Zhao Zhen already had a plan in mind!

  To protect Wei Wang Fu Yanqing's daughter, this matter...

  Maybe a month ago, Zhao Zhuang would have agreed without hesitation, being able to get in touch with Fu Yanqing was a great opportunity.

  But now Zhao Zhuang hesitated, this was clearly a thankless task.

  She was the princess of the imperial palace, the younger sister of the two empresses of the Later Zhou Dynasty, a true spoiled daughter of heaven. Such a delicate young lady must be difficult to serve.

  Furthermore, according to Zhao Pu's words, Li Yun of the Zhaoyi Military Prefecture in Luzhou had a heart of rebellion. In connection with past life memories, this person indeed rebelled at the beginning of the Song Dynasty.

  Luzhou will be a place of war and danger, with gunfire and fighting everywhere. Safety is not guaranteed at all. I really don't want to go on such a perilous mission.

  Seeing Zhao Zhen hesitating and speechless, Zhao Pu said: "With the ability of a small master, you must be able to complete this task with ease."

  "Zhao Dafu, you overestimate me, a minor monk. Such an important matter is beyond my limited abilities, I'm afraid I'll mess it up!" Zhao Zheng hastily declined.

  Zhao Kuangyin frowned: "You don't want to go?"

  "Your Majesty, it's not that I don't want to go, but I really have no confidence. What if things go awry?"

  "I believe in you, I have confidence in you! Even if there are mistakes, it's not your fault!"

  What right do you have to blame me? Zhao Zhuang thought, the trip to Lanzhou must be particularly dangerous, with a risk to his life. If he were killed by Li Yun's knife, would it matter whether he was blamed or not? He had only been reborn in the Song Dynasty for over a month, and he was still young, how could he take such a risk?

  "What? Don't you want to go?" Zhao Kuangyin said: "What did you just say? If it's not that you don't want to go, then it must be that you do want to go?! If you continue to make excuses and hesitate, I will have to ask you for the crime of deceiving the emperor!"

  Don't be so threatening! Zhao Kuangyin, how can you be so excessive?

  "Your Majesty, I'm really limited in ability and fear that I will disappoint you."

  "Alright!" Zhao Kuangyin's expression suddenly changed, and he said in a deep voice: "Since you're not talented, what's the use of being secular? You might as well stay in the temple and recite scriptures for the rest of your life!"

  Whoa!

  The threat of Chi Guo! Zhao Cong furrowed his brow and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, you promised me that you would be reasonable!"

  Zhao Kuangyin coldly said: "Reason? My words are golden rules, as for the previous words, I take them back as an imperial decree!"

  It's simply a rogue behavior, but he is the emperor, who can you reason with?

  The poor little monk who wanted to quit his religious life was so sad that he had no tears to cry, and sighed deeply: Isn't it just wanting to return to secular life? Why is it so difficult?