Chapter 306: The Dharma Assembly’s Shock
The eighth day of the first lunar month, the Valley Festival.
Yesterday’s light snow had covered the palaces and pavilions in a thin layer of silver.
Inside Baohua Palace, sutra banners hung down, and the chime stones rang with a long, resonant sound.
Gilded Buddha statues lowered their eyes, gazing down at the imperial clan’s noblewomen and chanting monks and nuns who held their breath in reverence.
The imperial clan’s noblewomen and the consorts of the harem were seated according to their rank.
Amidst the curling incense smoke, the low chanting filled the hall, echoing and reverberating between the high beams and pillars of the grand palace…
Master Miaozhen, clad in a brand-new Zen robe, led five disciples from Shui Yue Nunnery, seated cross-legged on cushions before the Buddha, chanting sutras.
Xue Sui knelt behind Master Miaozhen. Her voluminous Zen robe draped to the floor, her head bowed and eyes downcast, revealing a clear jawline and a pale, fragile neck. Amidst the splendor of the hall, she appeared exceptionally slender and cold.
Xue Yuechen sat a little further back, her gaze somewhat unfocused and her mind wandering.
The charming figure of Princess Ruihe and the smiling face of her daughter A Ning repeatedly intertwined in her mind, unsettling her.
Last night, Li Huan had again slept in the study without a word of explanation.
At this moment, while attending the Dharma assembly, she felt suffocated, as if she couldn’t breathe.
She didn’t even notice that Xue Sui’s gaze had briefly rested on her for a fleeting moment.
Everyone closed their eyes, concentrating on chanting the sutras.
Only the protagonist of today, Xiao Qing’er, was an exception.
Xiao Qing’er sat regally below the Buddha statue, dressed in an apricot-yellow brocade palace gown with a scrolling peony pattern, and a silver fox fur-lined cloak. She was dazzlingly opulent, fully displaying her current favor and prosperity.
She appeared to calmly observe the nuns chanting, but her peripheral vision kept darting towards the plainly dressed figure. The corners of her lips twitched upwards almost imperceptibly…
Xue Liu.
She let out a cold laugh inwardly.
The sound of sutras chanted within the hall buzzed.
The snow falling outside the hall was silent…
No one noticed that a murderous aura was quietly spreading amidst the warm fragrance.
–
The Dharma service gradually reached its peak.
The Buddhist chants were soft and melodious, reaching the very dome.
Master Miaozhen rose and personally picked up the white jade water vase filled with clear water, preparing to perform the final ritual of “sprinkling pure dew.”
She walked with steady steps towards the Buddha.
All eyes in the hall focused on the jade vase.
Just as Master Miaozhen reached the area below the Buddha statue, about to pour the pure dew onto the offered lotus dharma artifact—
“Ding… Dang!”
An extremely abrupt, extremely piercing crisp sound suddenly cut through the air.
The chanting in the entire hall was interrupted…
The priceless mutton-fat jade vase slipped from Master Miaozhen’s hand without any warning.
The vase struck the cold gold bricks on the floor, shattering into pieces.
Water splashed out, unexpectedly drenching Xiao Qing’er’s head, face, and body…
“Ah!”
A short gasp of surprise arose from the hall.
The sudden turn of events.
The noblewomen, palace servants, and nuns in the hall, as if frozen in place, stared with wide eyes, their faces drained of color…
The sacred object, symbolizing royal blessings, shattered on the spot before everyone’s eyes, during the Dharma assembly, without any warning.
This was not a simple breach of etiquette; this was… a dire omen.
It was a naked curse upon the imperial heir…
Time seemed to stretch.
Eunuchs and palace maids descended into panic, while the noblewomen were distraught.
Some went to support Xiao Qing’er, who was swaying as if about to faint, while others began to clean up the mess…
Immediately after, Consort Li, who had been sitting in formal attire moments before, suddenly curled up, clutching her lower abdomen tightly with both hands. Her beautiful face contorted in extreme pain, her expression twisted…
“Your Ladyship.” Her trusted palace maid, Lü E, rushed forward, crying out as she went to support her.
A suppressed groan escaped Xiao Qing’er’s lips.
“Quick… save… save my child…”
Bright, startling red blood gushed from beneath her skirt…
A shocking sight.
“My child! My imperial child!” Xiao Qing’er’s voice was shrill and desperate, laced with sobs.
As the palace maids fumbled to support her, she suddenly raised her tear-streaked face and looked directly at the center of the chaos—the stunned and frozen Master Miaozhen, and behind her, kneeling Xue Sui.
“It’s them, the demonic nuns of Shui Yue Nunnery… They harmed my imperial child… That holy water, that holy water was poisoned…”
This accusation struck the heads of the Shui Yue Nunnery nuns like a thunderclap.
Instantly, the air froze.
The scene fell into a deathly silence.
Xue Sui slowly raised her head.
She placed her hands together in front of her chest, her movements not flustered.
“Amitabha. Your Ladyship, please speak with caution. This nun and the others are terrified.”
Her tone was respectful, her demeanor impeccable. Her eyes, clear and bright, fixed on Xiao Qing’er, like ink jade immersed in a cold pool, unfathomably deep.
“The holy water is an imperial offering, an artifact before the Buddha. How can it be defiled by such slander?”
Xiao Qing’er cried out shrilly, struggling, and with all her might, pointed at Xue Sui.
“You vicious woman. My child is lost, it’s you… Xue Liu, it must be you… and you too…”
She then looked at Tuya, who stood quietly to the side. “Consort Jingzhao is always in Hanzhang Hall, reciting those heretical scriptures daily. Isn’t she performing sorcery and curses?”
Lü E immediately chimed in, “Yes, this servant also saw it clearly. Master Miaozhen clearly let go of the vase intentionally… And Master Miaozhen, her eyes were unfocused while chanting earlier; she must have had ill intentions.”
Hearing this, Xiao Qing’er’s tears flowed even more freely. “Xue Liu, even if we had some grievances when we were young, it shouldn’t extend to our offspring. Why do you harbor resentment and harm the dragon seed in my womb…”
Xue Sui stood in place.
Her smooth forehead and slender, pale cheeks were exceptionally calm.
“Your Ladyship, your words are mistaken. This nun has long severed worldly ties. How could I have any old grudges with Your Ladyship? Shui Yue Nunnery was ordered to pray for blessings for the imperial family. From the moment we entered the palace, we were searched inch by inch by eunuchs and palace servants. How could we commit such treasonous acts?”
“You’re quibbling!” Lü E exclaimed as if enraged. “Your Ladyship, this servant personally saw Master Miaozhen and Consort Jingzhao whispering for a long time before the Dharma assembly began. They must have colluded in secret, plotting something nefarious…”
Xue Sui smiled.
“If one wishes to accuse, why lack a pretext?”
She did not look at the scattered fragments on the floor. Her gaze calmly swept past the panicked crowd, past the feigning Xiao Qing’er, and directly towards Tuya in the corner.
“Consort Jingzhao is here. Why doesn’t Consort Li personally ask if this nun and she have exchanged any improper words?”
Tuya’s face was still covered by a light veil, revealing only her calm, well-like eyes.
Among the consorts, she appeared out of place.
Facing Xiao Qing’er’s accusations and the astonished gazes of the entire hall, not even her eyelashes fluttered. It was as if the sky were falling, and it would have nothing to do with her.
“During the chanting, this consort did not glance sideways, nor did I pay attention to the movements of others. As for Consort Li’s unborn child, I have no leisure to speculate.”
Her voice came through the veil, calm and unruffled.
Empress Xie, observing the scene, felt a splitting headache and forced herself to maintain composure.
“All of you, speak less! The priority now is Consort Li’s unborn child! Where are the Imperial Physicians? Quickly summon the Imperial Physicians!”
“Empress. This matter concerns the imperial heir and cannot be taken lightly,” Empress Dowager Cheng Qing suddenly spoke.
Her voice, carrying the might of thunder, echoed through the palace halls.
“Guards, seal the hall immediately. The people of Shui Yue Nunnery are suspected of plotting to harm the imperial heir. Arrest them and search them thoroughly. This Empress Dowager wants to see who dares to commit such evil deeds under my nose…”
“Yes.”
A group of trusted eunuchs immediately surrounded them.
The atmosphere in the hall tensed, filled with murderous intent.
“Wait a moment.”
A clear, cold voice, like a spring striking jade, suddenly came from the entrance of the hall.
Everyone turned in astonishment.
Outside the grand, half-open vermilion doors of Baohua Palace, a tall, imposing figure stood against the light.
A black brocade robe, a black fox cloak.
Crown Prince Li Zhao’s face was etched with frost, his features handsome.
Wherever his cold gaze fell, the clamor of the entire hall was instantly silenced.
“The Dharma assembly for praying for blessings is meant to ward off disaster and invite good fortune. Why are we resorting to violence?”
His voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone’s ears, carrying a natural authority.
Empress Dowager Cheng Qing frowned. “The sacred object shattered, and Consort Li is bleeding. It is suspected that Shui Yue Nunnery and Consort Jingzhao colluded to harm the imperial heir. This Empress Dowager is about to investigate thoroughly. Crown Prince, you are not in the Eastern Palace overseeing state affairs; why are you here?”
“Replying to Imperial Grandmother, my Father Emperor was concerned about the Dharma assembly and specifically sent me to check.”
Li Zhao spoke, stepping into the hall.
The soles of his boots trod on the gold bricks. The oppressive aura emanating from his tall figure caused several eunuchs to involuntarily step back…
“Crown Prince, you have arrived at a most opportune moment,” Xiao Qing’er’s eyes instantly reddened. She called out weakly and aggrievedly, “These demonic nuns… they destroyed the sacred object and cursed the imperial heir. Their hearts deserve to be punished. I beg Your Highness to uphold justice for the child in my womb…”
Whispers filled the hall.
“Consort Li is carrying a dragon descendant, a golden branch, and these demonic nuns dare…”
“How can Shui Yue Nunnery harbor such people with malicious intent?”
“They must be severely punished! Otherwise, where is the imperial majesty?”
The voices rose, their spearheads pointing directly at Shui Yue Nunnery.
The Buddha statues in the hall appeared solemn and majestic, their eyes seeming to carry a cold judgment.
Li Zhao did not express his stance.
With a condescending scrutiny, he looked at the mess in the hall and at Xue Sui.
Their gazes locked, filled with an indescribable depth.
“Imperial Grandmother, based solely on the shattered jade vase and Consort Li’s abdominal pain and bleeding, is it too early to conclude it was a curse and poisoning? Consort Li, do you have concrete evidence to accuse Shui Yue Nunnery?”
