vrcanaries Chapter 488 No Ambitions
Chapter 488 No Ambitions
Xie Yanli sat on the side of the couch, and after a long silence, he suddenly spoke.
"I never expected him to kill the Empress Dowager with his own hands."
“I don’t even know when he regained his memory; he never told me about it.”
Qin Jiuwei sat quietly without interrupting.
“However, I understand him.” Xie Yanli turned to look at her.
"If you were the one who died, I would kill everyone... without leaving a single one alive."
As he said this, a cold, bloodthirsty glint flashed in his eyes.
Qin Jiuwei placed her hand on the back of his hand, and the warm touch gradually calmed Xie Yanli down.
He continued, "His later attempt to commit suicide was also for my sake."
Xie Yanli lowered his head as he said the last sentence.
Qin Jiuwei felt as if something soft had bumped into her chest.
She reached out, put her arm around Xie Yanli's shoulder, and pulled him into her embrace.
Xie Yanli didn't say anything more, but rested his forehead on her shoulder and let out a deep breath.
Only with her could he temporarily unload all his burdens.
The next day.
The aroma of medicine lingered in the room. Gao Qiyuan, who was on the bed, stirred and frowned.
He felt something warm and damp fall onto the back of his hand, like... tears.
He slowly opened his eyes, his vision still a little blurry, and vaguely saw a small figure sitting by the bed.
He steadied himself and was met with a fair and lovely face.
When Xie Jue saw that he was awake, his eyes widened suddenly, and he rushed forward, "Grandfather! Why are you sick again?"
Gao Qiyuan's throat bobbed, and he raised his hand to gently rub Xie Jue's hair.
"Grandfather is fine, don't worry."
Xie Jue stretched out her little arm and carefully hugged his arm, choking back tears as she said, "Then you must get some rest."
"Okay." Gao Qiyuan closed his eyes briefly, a faint smile slowly appearing on his lips.
He will live well.
He also wanted to watch the children grow up.
Within the imperial city, bells and drums resounded softly, and white silk ribbons filled the sky.
The Empress Dowager's sudden death shocked the entire court.
The funeral procession was grand and imposing, and thousands of people stood solemnly in front of the Shou'an Palace.
A slight chill wind blew, and the frost penetrated the air.
Xie Jing was dressed in pure white, holding the still young Gao Che in his arms.
After the Empress Dowager's death, Gao Che was completely ignored.
Gao Xian didn't care about him either.
Hearing that Gao Che was fond of Xie Jing, he issued an imperial decree that Xie Jing could enter the palace at any time to look after the princes without having to report to the emperor.
After that, I stopped asking about it.
Gao Che is now three months old. He has shed the fragility of newborn, his eyes are bright and black, and his eyebrows and eyes are gradually becoming more defined.
He leaned against Xie Jing's chest, but didn't cry as loudly as before.
Upon hearing the sound of bells and drums, she suddenly shrank into Xie Jing's arms.
Xie Jing looked down at him, his expression as calm as ever.
He didn't comfort him, but simply shifted the position of the swaddled baby in his arms slightly, holding Gao Che a little more securely.
Funeral music played in front of the mourning hall.
The entire court of civil and military officials stood in a line, their faces solemn.
After the ceremony, the officials dispersed.
The Empress Dowager's funeral was extremely grand and lasted for three whole months.
The coffin was carried out from Shou'an Palace, and all officials kept vigil overnight, with civil and military officials kneeling to see it off.
Throughout the country, everyone wore mourning clothes; businesses in the capital closed; and temples chanted sutras day and night, their bells ringing incessantly.
Although Gao Xian did not personally attend to the funeral rites, he issued a very strict decree that all ceremonies must be conducted according to the national mourning standards for three consecutive months without any mistakes.
During this period, Gao Qiyuan has been recuperating.
Two weeks later, the gates of Jingxin Temple were opened wide.
As the morning bell tolls, the mountain mist has not yet dissipated.
Gao Qiyuan knelt on the prayer mat, his back straight and his figure slender.
He was dressed in coarse monk's robes, and although the wound on his chest had not yet healed, he sat upright with a respectful expression.
Incense smoke curled up in front of the Buddha statue, while the abbot beside him picked up a razor.
Xie Yanli led Qin Jiuwei into the temple, followed by Xie Jingchun, Xie Jing, and Xie Jue, all dressed in plain clothes.
Xie Jue blinked her eyes and whispered, "Grandfather."
Gao Qiyuan's lips twitched slightly, and his eyebrows curved into a slight smile.
He didn't speak, but lowered his head, bowed three times to the Buddha, and then knelt properly.
The abbot softly recited Buddhist scriptures, then slowly brought the knife down.
"From this day forward, I will sever all worldly ties and abandon all appearances."
The razor pressed against the scalp, and a strand of black hair fell.
Gao Qiyuan's face was calm and his expression was clear.
He then became a monk, taking the Dharma name Qi'an.
From this day forward, I will be accompanied by the long lamp, worship before the Buddha, and sever all worldly ties.
After the tonsure was completed, the abbot dismissed everyone.
Xie Yanli, holding Qin Jiuwei's hand, was about to leave.
A familiar voice suddenly sounded behind him, "Thank you, benefactor."
In the Zen room.
Gao Qiyuan, dressed in a gray monk's robe, sat cross-legged on a prayer mat.
His hair had been shaved off, his features were thin, and the scars on his face were still there, but he had gained a sense of tranquility that came from being detached from worldly affairs.
Gao Qiyuan looked up at him, his gaze gentle and clear. "Do you wish to regain your identity?"
"I don't want to," Xie Yanli said without hesitation.
"Why?"
Xie Yanli lowered his eyes, "I like life now."
He stayed with his wife and children.
"Besides, I've gotten used to the name Xie Yanli."
Gao Qiyuan lowered his eyes, his fingertips gently stroking a string of old sandalwood beads wrapped around his wrist.
He could tell that Xie Yanli had no ambition.
No, it has never happened before.
Even though his lineage was clear and he was of royal blood, he never harbored any covetousness.
He always valued the overall situation of the nation and its people more than his own.
Once the throne is in turmoil, it will have far-reaching consequences.
After such a great battle, the Great Jin Dynasty could no longer withstand further turmoil.
What we need most right now is a breather.
Let the people rest and recuperate, and let the nation cultivate itself and establish virtue.
Gao Xian was diligent in governing and cherished the people, and he was not afraid of being advised. He was not a foolish ruler.
Gao Qiyuan exhaled softly and raised his hands to clasp them together.
"Amitabha."
After a while.
“I want to move my mother’s grave,” Xie Yanli suddenly said. “The outskirts of Beijing are too far away, and my mother is too lonely there.”
"If it were closer, I could come and visit more often."
Gao Qiyuan felt a pang of pain in his heart, and after a long while, he spoke softly.
"Then let's move to the back mountain of Jingxin Temple."
"The terrain behind the mountain is stable, with evergreen pines and cypresses, and it is also quiet."
-
Half a month later, as spring warmed the air, a new tranquil space opened up behind Jingxin Temple.
Beside the mountains and forests, a new tomb has been built, with a white stone stele.
Before the new tomb, Xie Yanli and Qin Jiuwei knelt and kowtowed.
The three children stood on either side, imitating the adults, and obediently kowtowed.
Xie Jing was dressed in plain clothes and had a solemn expression.
Xie Jingchun held incense and burned paper money.
Xie Jue bumped his forehead repeatedly, muttering to himself.
"Grandma, don't be afraid, we've come to see you."
Xie Yanli quietly lit an incense stick in front of her grave and remained silent for a long time.
Gao Qiyuan watched quietly, his eyes filled with surging emotions.
From then on, he stayed by her side.