boyutpedia Chapter 178 Ganlu Temple
Chapter 178 Ganlu Temple
Although Zhang Mi's reports always said that he seemed to be getting better, his frail appearance a few months ago and his current energetic and spirited appearance made the emperor secretly worried, fearing that it was just a last gasp of glory.
There was a slight chill in the air, like a thin frost that had quietly fallen in early autumn. The morning light on the horizon was like a veil, gently edging the clouds with a faint golden edge.
The imperial palace was already bustling with activity.
The vermilion palace gate slowly opened, and a mighty procession filed out. The guards, dressed in armor and holding spears, led the way, clearing the road all the way. The sounds of horses' hooves and footsteps intertwined, looking majestic and awe-inspiring.
The sedan chair in the front is the one used by the emperor for traveling. It can be said to be a mobile palace that brings together the world's most ingenious craftsmanship and ultimate luxury.
The main frame of the sedan was crafted from high-quality golden nanmu wood, its body covered in a vibrant, rich vermilion lacquer. Atop the vermilion, auspicious motifs were meticulously outlined with gold powder. The sedan's roof, dome-shaped, like a canopy, was gilded and shimmered brilliantly in the sunlight. Layers of soft, smooth brocade curtains draped the sedan's perimeter, embroidered with majestic, ferocious golden dragons, their threads shimmering in the sun.
Behind them were three equally magnificent sedan chairs and then ordinary sedan chairs that stretched for miles. Although they were called ordinary, they were actually larger than ordinary carriages. Above the huge wheels were hollow stained glass windows carved in the shape of various blue phoenixes and birds, and inside were hung all kinds of flowing and complicated colorful silks.
Nian Shilan, dressed in a gorgeous palace gown, reclined in the sedan chair, her eyes closed, resting. The delicate Sichuan embroidery of peonies on her skirt blossomed dazzlingly, and the pearls and jade on her head jingled as the sedan moved. Her expression was filled with a hint of impatience, and Songzhi carefully observed her expression as she massaged her legs.
With a jolt, Nian Shilan let out an impatient "tsk!", and Songzhi quickly apologized quietly, not daring to stop. Even with the thick, soft pillow pressed against her waist, Nian Shilan felt a throbbing pain in her scalp. She had rarely worn such ostentatious headdresses since her brother's passing. But the thought of going there to pray for blessings made her want to dress as beautifully and extravagantly as possible, so as not to make her brother worry in the afterlife.
Jiang Ruyin leaned against the thick leather-covered carriage wall, closing her eyes to rest. Hongxuan simply sat on the ground, watching the gently fluttering curtains, observing every move outside.
The procession advanced slowly along the official road, the clatter of horses' hooves and footsteps interwoven with the occasional whispered conversations of the concubines. Green trees shaded the roadside, wildflowers bloomed, and a gentle breeze carried the fresh aroma of grass and trees.
Shen Meizhuang's face was filled with sorrow, and she stared out the window for a long time. She was wearing her aquamarine palace dress, a matching pearl flower on her head, and a tassel of southern pearls dangling from one side. This was the dress she often wore during her most favored years, highlighting her beauty as ethereal as a solitary orchid in a valley. Five years had passed, and aside from a title, she had made no progress.
Caiyue pulled her arm distressedly, "My lady, please stop frowning. I can see there's a slight wrinkle between your eyebrows!"
Upon hearing this, Shen Meizhuang quickly relaxed her brows and then sighed.
"My lady, don't sigh. We have finally come to the end of our hardships. Come, my lady, you can lean on my arms. It will be much more comfortable." Caiyue puffed out her chest generously.
Shen Meizhuang tried her best to calm down, but she still felt a lump in her throat. She politely declined Caiyue's offer and turned her gaze out the window again. Only when the red walls and yellow tiles came into view did she catch her breath.
The flying eaves and brackets of Ganlu Temple finally appeared before everyone's eyes. Nestled between verdant mountains and clear waters, its red walls and yellow tiles looked exceptionally solemn and majestic in the sunlight. On the steps in front of the temple, monks had already lined up to greet them. The sounds of wooden fish and chanting could be heard faintly, filling the space with a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere.
The carriage slowly stopped. With Caiyue's support, Shen Meizhuang had regained her beautiful and graceful appearance. She walked steadily on the ground and looked ahead calmly.
In the main hall, incense smoke curls up, candlelight flickers, and Buddha statues look down at everyone with compassion and solemnity.
The emperor stood before him, respectfully holding incense and chanting something, praying for good weather, peace, and prosperity for the country and the people. The concubines followed suit, one after another, each with a solemn expression on their face, their usual pouting and calculating expressions seemingly forgotten at this moment.
A little behind the emperor sat Nian Shilan, her ornate dress and jewelry jarringly out of place. Her brows knitted together as she muttered a barely audible prayer. Jiang Ruyin and Hongxuan sat to the emperor's left, with Concubine Duan on the other side. Shen Meizhuang, on the other hand, closed her eyes and knitted her brows. She clasped her hands together, silently muttering a prayer. She felt a certain unease in the presence of a hall filled with deities and Buddhas.
At this moment, countless conspiracies and calculations were put aside, and everyone was sincerely expressing their visions.
The palace concubines and palace maids occupied almost the entire hall. In a hidden corner, Zhen Huan, dressed in plain clothes, was looking around secretly.
She is now practicing in Ganlu Temple, and thought she could stay away from the troubles in the harem, but she didn't expect that the emperor would come with a group of concubines to pray for blessings. The familiar yet unfamiliar figure appeared in front of her, which still made her heart ripple.
She hid behind a pillar, half of her body leaning out, her gaze fixed on the emperor, her eyes filled with complex emotions: past love, present disappointment, and an unspeakable bitterness. Looking at the concubines surrounding the emperor, some delicate and some dignified, a self-deprecating smile played at the corner of her mouth. She had once been one of them, striving for that favor, but now she could only watch from the corner like an outsider.
Perhaps because they were still young, Wen Yi and Xin He were not in the palace. They had been taken to the side rooms by their mothers' trusted palace maids.
When she saw that Nian Shilan was almost on par with the emperor, she couldn't help feeling a little sad. She could still vividly remember the difficulties and suppression Nian Shilan had inflicted on her in the past, but now she was just an ordinary nun in the mortal world, while the other party was the undisputed number one in the six palaces of the east and west.
Looking at Shen Meizhuang again, her still gentle appearance made her feel a little comforted. However, the thought that the two sisters were now one in the palace and the other here, and could not always be together, made her feel a little lonely.
She shifted her gaze slightly, and instead of seeing Lou Yong'er, she saw An Lingrong. She frowned slightly, thinking of the friendship she once had with Lingrong, which had now become as thin as water, and her heart was filled with emotion.