This edict from His Majesty made Master Liao Kong and the Abbot secretly grind their molars.
Originally, Master Liao Kong planned to immediately take the Princess and depart for the Western Regions. However, he hadn’t expected that just as he was about to act, but before he could, the Emperor of Great Han would issue such an edict to Qixia Temple...
"Abbot, Master Liao Kong, please accept the edict!"
After General Dugu Xiao finished reading the Imperial Decree, he saw that they hesitated to accept it, much less offer thanks for imperial grace, and his temper flared. Thus, his reminder for them to accept the Imperial Decree sounded quite impolite. He even subtly placed his hand on the hilt of his sword at his waist.
This was a sacred Buddhist site where he should have disarmed. However, ever since receiving His Majesty’s order to surround Qixia Temple, he had been contemplating the Emperor’s intentions along the journey.
The court should be preoccupied with disaster relief right now. Any dispatch of troops should be to transport silver for this relief effort. Yet, His Majesty had mobilized forces, ordering him to lead three thousand Elite Soldiers to surround Qixia Temple, permitting entry but no exit.
Since the order was to allow entry but no exit, there must be something within Qixia Temple that His Majesty coveted.
Though Dugu Xiao appeared to be a mere warrior, he was, in fact, a cultured general. This was because he had a childhood friend, a rival with whom he had grown up playing chess, devising stratagems, and simulating battles on sand tables!
This friend, who possessed a mind full of cunning schemes, was named Ji Youze!
As Dugu Xiao journeyed, constantly trying to discern His Majesty’s intentions, a messenger from the Palace delivered another Imperial Decree to him by express horse. After reading its contents, he had only one thought: The Emperor’s real intention lay elsewhere!
The prayer for blessings is a pretense; His Majesty wants to detain someone in the temple, or perhaps a specific pilgrim who came to offer incense!
Armed with this realization, Dugu Xiao became extremely vigilant, meticulously studying every word of the Imperial Decree to decipher its underlying meaning.
Now, observing Master Liao Kong and the Abbot before him still hesitating to accept the Imperial Decree, he immediately connected their reluctance with His Majesty’s intentions. Consequently, his hand moved subtly to rest upon his sword hilt!
Master Liao Kong’s many years of cultivating Buddhist Dharma were not in vain; he naturally understood Dugu Xiao’s intentions.
The General, arriving with an Imperial Decree, certainly had substantial backing. He could, in fact, take the Princess away to the Western Regions.
However, that was before receiving this Imperial Decree. If he were to act stubbornly now and take the Princess away, the fate awaiting Qixia Temple was all too predictable!
"Amitabha, this old monk will accept the decree!"
Under Dugu Xiao’s watchful gaze, Master Liao Kong accepted the Imperial Decree and departed with a grim expression.
Dugu Xiao waved his hand, and the Imperial Guard returned to their positions. Soon after, news spread that the Empress Dowager’s Phoenix Vehicle would soon arrive at Qixia Temple to pray for blessings.
The pilgrims, who had been uneasy due to the Imperial Guard surrounding Qixia Temple, suddenly grew excited. Those who lived a manageable distance from Qixia Temple, upon hearing the news, all hurried towards it!
His Majesty’s order to Dugu Xiao was to permit entry but no exit, so Dugu Xiao did not prevent people from entering the temple.
However, Qixia Temple, citing a lack of space in the Guest Courtyard and concerns for the Empress Dowager’s safety, took the initiative to politely decline subsequent pilgrims wishing to enter.
While Dugu Xiao was inspecting the pilgrims’ Guest Courtyard, he found Ji Youze in one of the superior rooms.
"You... how could you be here?"
Dugu Xiao pointed at Ji Youze in utter astonishment. He then recalled His Majesty’s edict and immediately questioned,
"Tell me, is His Majesty’s edict somehow related to you?"