Chapter 201: [Big Shotâs Story 35] Pray for the child
âAccording to legend, Emperor Shunzhi was a devout Buddhist, particularly in Zen Buddhism. As a result, he also taught Zen Buddhism to his favored consort, Consort Dongâe. Being of erudite and clever nature, Consort Dongâe eventually attained an equivalent mastery of the faith.
âThe pair was in perfect harmony, and Consort Dongâe was showered with his love day after day. However, good things donât last forever. Consort Dongâe later carried a prince in her womb for 10 months, but he only lived for 3. Because of this, Consort Dongâe fell ill from the heartache of losing a child and passed away the very same year.â
âAfter Consort Dongâeâs death, Emperor Shunzhi was inconsolable and was extremely aggrieved. Due to his grief, the thought of leaving home to become a monk suddenly popped into his head. And so, after his beloved Consort Dongâeâs funeral, Emepror Shunzhi asked the monk in charge of cremating Consort Dongâe to shave his headâŠâ
On the trail of a steep mountain, a man and a woman wearing conical bamboo hats were climbing up. The man among the two was telling a popular legend in a magnetic tone, while the girl next to him listened with gusto.
âIn the end, did Emperor Shunzhi go to Wutai Mountain to become a monk?â
âThere was such a rumor, but there wasnât any substantive evidence to prove that,â Yan Zhan explained unhurriedly, âItâs just that, starting from Emperor Kangxi, every generation of emperors would pay a visit to this place. So, if you say that there isnât really anything on this Mt. WutaiâŠâ
âI donât believe it!â
Chu Jiao rubbed her chin while pondering, feeling that perhaps there might really be precious treasure hiding in this Mt. Wutai.
âEh? Brother Yan,â Chu Jiao lightly tugged on Yan Zhanâs sleeve. âDo you see someone in the thicket up ahead?â
Yan Zhan looked in the direction where Chu Jiaoâs fingers were pointing to, his face immediately hardening as he said, âWait here first. â
Waving a hand, one of the soldiers following not too far behind them quickly ran forward to check.
âGovernor, itâs a young monk! Heâs injured and unconscious.â
With this new information, Yan Zhan was finally put at ease and brought Chu Jiao over to check the situation.
âWho would be so cruel as to not even let go of a child!?â
Upon seeing the novice monk be covered with bloody stab wounds all over his body, Chu Jiaoâs rage was provoked.
âLetâs rest here,â Yan Zhan instructed, âOrderlies, bring the medicine kit over and treat him.â
Yan Zhan had dared to take Chu Jiao to Mt. Wutai, so naturally, he made extensive preparations beforehand.
He has been fully informed of Zhang Chongâs and Du Shourongâs whereabouts. Their two troops had already reached Jinzhong. However, Zhang Chong was currently entangled by the mutiny in his army, so he was a bit preoccupied at the moment; Du Shourong, on the other hand, had disappeared in the nearby Taihuai Town in Jin Di. According to reports from his scouts, Du Shourong was not alone when he came to Jinzhong and was closely guarded by numerous skilled experts. The scouts didnât dare get too close for fear of alerting him, so the tracking was stopped.
Mt. Wutai was just a few kilometers south of Taihuai Town, so one didnât need to second guess where Du Shourong was intending to head off to.
âIt was a Japanese katana.â The orderly was treating the young monkâs wounds. Yan Zhan then squatted at the side to examine one of the wounds more carefully, soon coming to a conclusion.
âThe Japanese?â Chu Jiao sneered, âI havenât settled my debt to them yet⊠Itâs definitely Du Shourongâs party!â
Yan Zhan had gone abroad before. He lived in Japan for ten years and gained fluency in the language.
Right now, Chu Jiao could still remember the words Yoshida Hideaki left unfinished in her ear âAfter all, even your âQiqiââŠ.â
Later on, she asked Yan Zhan what âQiqiâ meant, and Yan Zhan told her that it meant âFatherâ in Japanese.1 Qiqi in Chinese sounds very similar to the pronunciation of chichi (ç¶ / ăĄăĄ) in Japanese.
Chu Jiao believed with an 80% certainty that the original ownerâs father was murdered by the Japanese. And, their real goal was the little troublemaking seal that was hanging around Yan Zhanâs neck.
As for whether the Du father and daughter pair had a hand in it⊠Hehe, Chu Jiao was too lazy to investigate them.
Du Shourong was bold enough to cooperate with the Japanese, so he deserved an early death.
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As for Du Xiruo, it wouldnât be excessive at all to give her the title of âThe One Who Helped Tyrant Zhou in His Oppressionâ2This means to take the side of the evildoer so sheâs calling Du Xiruo an accomplice. today.
âCough! Cough! Cough!â
About half an hour later, the little monk woke up with a burst of coughs.
âYou! Who are you people!?â
With a panicked look, he wanted to retreat far away, but with this wounded body of his, he could only grimace from the sheer force of the pain, causing tears to leak out of his eyes. Yet, he still put on a look that showed them that he would rather die than submit. Wiping his tears away, he cautiously stared at the group of people in front of him, like a small frightened animal pretending to be fierce.
âDonât be afraid, little master,â Chu Jiao slowly squatted down and gently held the little monkâs hand, âWe are not bad people.â
âWe found you injured and unconscious along the path, so we simply took care of your wounds and bandaged you up. Be careful and donât move that much, otherwise, your wounds might open again.â
âWe came from a distant place. I heard that the Zhenhai Temple on Mt. Wutai is very spiritual.â Chu Jiao lovingly patted her belly before turning to glance at Yan Zhan at the side and leaning against him, âWe merely wanted to donate some money to the gods and pray for the happiness of our childâŠâ
ââŠâ Upon hearing this, Yan Zhan almost fumed in anger, but under Chu Jiaoâs discrete eye signals, he merely nodded and responded, âYes, thatâs itâŠâ
Hui Ran stared at the kind sister in front of him, and the vigilance in his heart dropped. He quickly warned them, âDonât bother going anymore, the mountain is full of bad people!â