Chapter 621

Chapter 621: Truly Vexing

Lotus City did not impose a curfew.

Before dawn, the villagers from surrounding towns carried baskets laden with homegrown vegetables and livestock, making their way into the city.

Some balanced carrying poles over their shoulders, the baskets brimming with freshly plucked lotus pods, still glistening with morning dew.

There was no toll for entry. One simply needed to find a quiet corner along the roadside to squat down and set up shop.

However, they were not allowed to stir up trouble or obstruct the passersby.

Today marked the Grand Buddhist Gathering, where a Bodhisattva would descend to expound the Dharma. The common folk had already begun securing spots early in the morning.

When Shan Shan woke up, he let out a yawn, his red and swollen eyes betraying a sleepless night.

His large eyes were veined with blood, making him look as though he had stayed up all night.

“Young Master, did you not sleep well last night? Are you feeling homesick?” the wet nurse asked, surprised. She brought a warm towel to soothe his eyes, reducing the swelling.

Shan Shan obediently nodded, drooping his head without a word.

Not sleep well?

He had not slept at all!

Lu Chao Chao had stood by his bedside, sword in hand, nearly scaring him into wetting the bed. He hadn’t dared to close his eyes all night, terrified he might talk in his sleep and reveal something he shouldn’t.

“After the Buddhist Assembly, the Princess will be entering the palace to meet the Bodhisattva. Since Young Master did not sleep well, why not rest in the posthouse instead? It would not do to hinder Her Highness’s affairs,” the wet nurse suggested. She was aware that a few individuals were hiding inside the carriage.

She had never seen them eat nor leave the carriage, only at night would Zhu Mo and Windchaser carry them out in secret.

Yet, she felt no fear at all.

She couldn’t even explain why.

Inside Lotus City, the air was filled with the sounds of chanting and prayers. The entire city echoed with the voices of those seeking blessings.

A beam of golden light descended from the heavens, illuminating the land in its brilliant glow.

In that instant, the city was suffused with the fragrant scent of lotuses, a fragrance that seeped into one’s soul.

The golden light coalesced atop the lotus platform, revealing a faint, indistinct figure.

“We humbly welcome the Honored One’s descent.”

On the grand dais, the High Priest led a congregation of monks in greeting, while countless esteemed monks from distant lands gathered below.

The discourse on Buddhist teachings continued for an entire day and night.

At midday, the sun blazed overhead, scorching the earth beneath. The heat waves rose in shimmering distortions, nearly engulfing those standing in their path.

Many villagers emerged from their houses. They were dressed in simple clothes, their complexions sallow, their faces lined with hardship. The faint scent of medicine clung to their bodies.

“Daughter, the weather is hot. Sit under the eaves while your father and mother pray…” A pair of elderly villagers knelt barefoot upon the scorching ground, their foreheads touching the earth, fervently seeking divine mercy.

Behind them, a long line of young and old alike followed suit—families with loved ones who had suffered from incurable illnesses, all desperately praying for the Bodhisattva to bestow the Spirit Rain.

As dusk fell, a sudden bolt of lightning split the sky.

“The Spirit Rain is coming! Quickly, bring out the pots and bowls!”

“Daughter, we are saved! We are saved!”

“Old man, there is Spirit Rain! You will recover!” An aged woman trembled as she held out a basin, allowing the raindrops to drench her face.

The gentle rain pattered down, and the sick and their families prostrated themselves on the ground, knocking their heads fervently. “Thank you, Honored One! Thank you, Honored One!”

But the rain did not last.

Where once the Spirit Rain would fall for half an hour, this time, it lasted only the span of a single incense stick.

Lu Chao Chao extended her palm. A single droplet of Spirit Rain landed in her hand, only to be instantly absorbed by her body.

The rain contained a trace of Buddhist power—enough to dispel ailments but far too feeble.

“What is going on? The rain used to last longer! Why has it stopped so soon?” Panic swept through the crowd, people clutching their basins while guarding the water they had managed to collect.

A sense of unease and despair crept into their hearts, and faint sobbing could be heard along the long street.

Lu Chao Chao took a deep breath as Zhu Mo guided the carriage forward.

Outside the Ten Thousand Buddhas Hall, numerous monks were already kneeling in wait.

Xie Yu Zhou followed behind Lu Chao Chao, his face contorted with reluctance.

“I still need to carry on the family name. Even if not ten, at least one wife is a must, right?”

“If I just go and become a monk, what kind of nonsense is that?”

“My parents raised me with hardship. I haven’t even repaid them yet!”

Windchaser scoffed, “I thought you said your father treated you poorly?”

Xie Yu Zhou jumped up in protest. “Our father-son relationship is just fine! Before I left the capital, I even knelt at my parents’ doorstep! My father even gave me a… special send-off.”

Windchaser found it hard to imagine the notoriously fierce Prince Jing Xi engaging in affectionate gestures.

“What kind of send-off?”

Xie Yu Zhou blinked and muttered, “His foot… made intimate contact with my rear.”

Windchaser stumbled in his step and rolled his eyes. “So, he kicked you? And you make it sound so poetic. Regardless, with your temperament, you’d be a disaster in the Buddha Realm.”

“Better to embarrass yourself here than up there.”

The High Priest stood waiting outside the hall, gently pushing open the doors as Xie Yu Zhou and Lu Chao Chao stepped inside.

As Zhu Mo and Windchaser lifted their feet to follow, the High Priest raised his arm, barring their passage.

Exchanging glances, they stood guard outside.

Inside the grand hall, Lu Chao Chao raised her eyes.

A hint of surprise flickered through her heart.

All the divine statues had opened their eyes, their golden light filling the chamber, forcing her to squint.

“Benefactor Xie, this humble monk has aching feet.” A calm, ethereal voice echoed from all directions as countless divine figures turned their gazes toward a corner of the hall.

Xie Yu Zhou, confused, looked up—only to see a Bodhisattva smiling at him.

He was currently grimacing, clutching the Bodhisattva’s golden foot.

A sigh resonated through the hall. “Benefactor, this humble monk is gilded.” The voice carried a trace of helplessness.

Xie Yu Zhou sheepishly released his grip. “You should put in more effort. Look, all the others here are solid gold, while you’re just gilded… No prestige at all.”

“Wealth is but an external possession, not to be coveted.”

Xie Yu Zhou crossed his arms behind his back and sauntered over to Lu Chao Chao.

She instinctively took a step to the side.

He was indeed embarrassing.

She could feel the weight of scrutinizing gazes upon her.