Huguo Chan Temple is the temple of the imperial family of Greater Zhou. Historically, all of the masters of the temple itself were named by the Imperial family as the Grand Priest. The temple was situated in the northern parts of the capital, facing south, the size of which was about the same as the palace. There was even a golden dragon signifying the imperial family carved inside the temple, but the only difference between that and the palace dragons was that it had not been given eyes. In the temple, there is a nine-story tower hidden from view. Other than the sitting Emperor and the Grand Priest who keeps it in good order, no one else can enter. In legends, the vein of power of the Long family who sat on the throne was situated beneath this very tower.
Other than the palace, this temple was the most scared and cherished place of Greater Zhou.
Long Xiang was born an imperial prince, and as one such prince he’d been brought here to receive a Buddhist ceremony after his first month. After that, there were no other opportunities for him to visit this temple. Right now, as he sat in a meditation room inside the temple watching the empty walls, Long Xiang thought to himself, perhaps he’d drank too much too, and this was in his dreams?
“The fifth prince should rest,” Master Fu Yi said to Long Xiang, “Not to worry, you can return to the palace tomorrow morning.”
“But my brother?” Long Xiang couldn’t put away the concern he felt about Long Xuan, who’d been left at a little Buddha hall by Master Fu Yi.
“Do not trouble yourself,” Master Fu Yi said, “The second prince’s emotions are disquiet, the hall will allow him to set them at peace once more.”
“But he’s drunk.”
“Is he drunk of the heart or drunk of the body, that, only the second prince knows for himself,” Master Fu Yi left that as his final words before he exited the room. A little monk entered soon after, to help Long Xiang get ready for sleep.
Long Xiang wanted to go and see Long Xuan. But this was the Huguo Chan Temple. Forbidden places here were even more numerous than those in the palace. Even if he was a prince, Long Xiang didn’t dare to take an extra step in the temple grounds. The only thing he could do was let the little monk get him ready for sleep, and open his eyes again once the little monk left him alone. There was no way for him to sleep this night. The entire Liu family was being exterminated, Long Xuan was drunk, Luo Wei had turned into an enemy from a friend. All of these things made it difficult for Long Xiang to get a single moment of rest.
In the little Buddha hall, Long Xuan had already taken some broth to help wake him up from the intoxication. He sat in front of a statue of the Laughing Buddha, staring emptily.
“Your Imperial Highness,” Master Fu Yi entered the hall and lit the oil lamp in front of the statue himself. The light seeped from the altar, quickly brightening up the entire hall.
“Why is this Buddha laughing so happily?” Long Xuan suddenly asked.
“Without obsessions persisting in his heart, it’s natural to be happy to the point of laughter,” Master Fu Yi explained, “Can Your Imperial Highness not laugh anymore?”
Long Xuan wanted to get up, but he couldn’t do it. He tilted his head and looked up at the Grand Priest standing in front of him. This man had never spoken to him before, so why did he bring him into the temple?
“Your Imperial Highness ought to rest,” Faced with Long Xuan’s inquisitive stare, Master Fu Yi only responded with a smile.
“They say that the Grand Priest has opened his inner eye,” but Long Xuan continued, “Does he have words for me?”
“I have words and yet no words,” Master Fu Yi answered, “An emperor’s son being drunk on the streets cannot be good news for anyone if it were passed around. Chancellor Liu has been careful and exacting with his calculations throughout his life, and yet he didn’t see that these calculations would one day take his life. Does Your Imperial Highness think that all of this wasn’t worth it for Chancellor Liu?”
“Not worth it?” Long Xuan said, “Obviously not now that he’s lost. He betrayed our nation, doesn’t it serve him right to die?”
“Your Imperial Highness is not wrong,” Master Fu Yi still only smiled. He didn’t say anything else about whether Long Xuan was right or wrong, but also didn’t seem to have an interest in speaking to Long Xuan, “Your Imperial Highness should go to one of the rooms and rest.”
“I’ll just sit here tonight,” Long Xuan said, “It’s not too bad here with the oil lamps and an ancient Buddha. The temple at the Imperial Tombs in Xia Chuan should be even quieter than here.” At that, Long Xuan felt another wave of discouragement. Once the Liu family has fallen, what is the future going to be like for him, Long Xiang, and his consort mother? Perhaps the Imperial Tombs in Xia Chuan would be where they’ll belong.
Master Fu Yi sighed quietly, “Your Imperial Highness, the Buddha says to cast away obsessions and obstinacy, make the best of that.”
Cast away obsessions and obstinacy? Long Xuan sat in the hall lit by a single lamp, wondering how he was supposed to cast those away? The Buddha in front of him smiled but said nothing. The bells in the temple sounded far and quiet. Long Xuan sat like this for an entire night.