Ya She

Chapter 28 Jade Buddha

465 AD.

Tuoba Hong straightened his robes. He still preferred the narrow-sleeved robes of his Xianbei tribe, which were simple and practical. However, the Empress preferred Hanfu, and when she summoned him to an audience today, the maidservant specially made him wear this kind of wide-sleeved robe.

By the way, she's no longer the Empress, but the Empress Dowager.

Tuoba Hong stared blankly at the entrance to the Buddhist hall and stopped in his tracks.

Tuoba Hong, who was made crown prince at the age of three, is only twelve years old this year. His father, Emperor Tuoba Jun, passed away recently, and tomorrow is his enthronement ceremony.

Although still young, Tuoba Hong, known for his youthful prowess, wisdom, and intelligence, knew the immense responsibility that lay ahead of him as the emperor of the Wei Dynasty.

Why did his father abandon him so cruelly when he was only twenty-six? Tuoba Hong lowered his head, thinking blankly.

The Wei Dynasty had a custom of killing the mother upon establishing the son as heir. To prevent interference from the maternal relatives and their families in politics, when the three-year-old Tuoba Hong was made crown prince, his mother was given a white silk ribbon. Tuoba Hong still remembers the look in his mother's eyes, which was filled with pride, longing, and resentment.

He only had one mother, so although Tuoba Hong called Empress Feng "Mother" in his mouth, he did not acknowledge the title in his heart.

That's wonderful! Now we can call her Empress Dowager.

Tuoba Hong chuckled self-deprecatingly.

"Hong'er, you've arrived?" A gentle, soothing female voice came from inside the Buddhist hall.

Tuoba Hong straightened up and subconsciously straightened his robes before gently pushing open the door of the Buddhist hall. A strong sandalwood fragrance wafted into his nostrils.

As the doors of the Buddhist hall opened, the silhouette of an infinitely beautiful woman slowly came into his view. Feng Qi knelt upright before the Buddha statue, dressed in a plain white mourning robe with wide sleeves and a short collar, over which was a long, flowing skirt, and a short skirt tightly cinched at the waist, perfectly outlining her slender figure. Her cloud-like hair was simply tied back with a white ribbon, adorned with a white silk flower, and some of the ends still bore the marks of charred curls.

Tuoba Hong withdrew his gaze. Yesterday, when his father was performing the ceremony of burning his clothes according to the customs of the Xianbei people, Feng Qi rushed over, intending to go with him. Fortunately, Shang Xie, the chief eunuch who had served the royal family since the time of Emperor Taiwu, noticed her and saved her; otherwise, it wouldn't have been as simple as just burning a few strands of hair.

Tuoba Hong wasn't actually surprised. As the person closest to his father and Empress Feng, he saw the deep affection between them most clearly. But he could never truly see Feng Qi as his mother.

One reason was that he couldn't forget his mother. Another was that Feng Qi wasn't that much older than him. Her grandfather was the last emperor of the former Northern Yan dynasty, which was overthrown by the Wei dynasty. As the daughter of a traitor, she entered the palace at a very young age to serve. He, whose mother had just died, took a liking to her and kept her by his side as a head palace maid. But this woman, who became his father's concubine at eleven and ascended to the throne of empress at fourteen, left Tuoba Hong unsure whether to be thankful she hadn't given birth to his child, or whether he felt such a shrewd woman should have given birth to a crown prince and been executed according to Wei dynasty custom.

In the distant past, amidst the hibiscus flowers, a fleeting glimpse of that beautiful face lingered in Tuoba Hong's mind. For a moment, he vaguely thought she was still the innocent palace maid who served him, and he was still that naive child.

"Hong'er greets the Empress Dowager." Tuoba Hong concealed the complex emotions in his eyes and obediently knelt down.

The doors of the Buddhist hall slowly closed behind him, taking away all the sunlight and making the entire hall feel somewhat cold and gloomy.

“Hong’er, get up. From now on, you will be the emperor of the Wei Dynasty. You will no longer need to kneel before anyone.” The young Feng Qi was filled with emotion, and her nightingale-like voice drifted through the empty Buddhist hall.

Tuoba Hong stood up, took a few steps forward, looked at Feng Qi kneeling on the prayer mat, and at the empty prayer mat next to her that was clearly prepared for him, and asked provocatively, "Then can Buddha accept my kneeling?"

Feng Qi sighed, lowered her head slightly, silently apologized, then raised her head, looked at Tuoba Hong with a smile in her eyes, and said indulgently, "Buddha is not human, so naturally he is worthy of your kneeling."

When Tuoba Hong saw Feng Qi's face, his breath caught in his throat. Feng Qi's beauty was unparalleled; otherwise, her father, the emperor, wouldn't have made an exception and taken her into the harem at the tender age of eleven. She was now in the prime of her life, a woman tinged with the vulnerability of widowhood. A few strands of hair fell beside her ears, and her phoenix eyes were still slightly red from crying. Even Tuoba Hong, who was used to seeing her, couldn't look directly at her pale, delicate face. A strange emotion welled up within him, like a tender sprout breaking through the soil, unstoppable. Tuoba Hong immediately knelt before the prayer mat and bowed his head reverently before the Buddhist shrine. His father was a devout Buddhist and had even built the Yungang Grottoes, so Tuoba Hong was no stranger to Buddhist worship. However, he had never been inside this particular shrine before, and in his haste, he hadn't had time to examine it closely.

“Hong’er, tomorrow you will ascend the throne as emperor, and this Buddhist hall will belong to you.” Feng Qi said calmly.

Tuoba Hong sensed a hidden meaning in her words and looked up in confusion. However, his gaze inadvertently fell upon the Buddha statue enshrined on the shrine, and he was stunned.

The reason was simple: he clearly saw that, amidst the rising incense smoke, the jade Buddha, only an inch tall, was broken. An irreparable crack had split the Buddha's neck, separating its head from its body. Even when forcibly placed together, it exuded an indescribable eeriness. The Buddha's face remained gentle and benevolent, but the crack was grotesquely menacing.

I have never seen anyone worship a cracked Buddha statue.

Tuoba Hong looked around in surprise and doubt, only to find that in this huge Buddhist hall, there was only this broken jade Buddha statue.

“This jade Buddha statue is made of jade from Dushan Mountain, hence it is called the Dushan Jade Buddha. Dushan jade is one of the four great jades, produced in Nanyang, and its mining has been recorded since the late Shang Dynasty. This Dushan Jade Buddha was given to Emperor Taiwu many years ago,” Feng Qi explained softly, turning the sandalwood prayer beads in her hand and slightly closing her eyes. Her face was beautiful and her expression compassionate, much like the merciful Guanyin Bodhisattva.

"Emperor Taiwu?" Tuoba Hong was taken aback upon hearing this. Emperor Taiwu was his father's grandfather, who finally unified the north, ending the more than one hundred-year-long division of the Sixteen Kingdoms and establishing a north-south confrontation with the Liu Song regime in the south. From then on, the Wei Dynasty was referred to as the Northern Wei by the southerners. Emperor Taiwu's fame spread far and wide, but the event that particularly shocked the southerners was his order to "suppress Buddhism."

During Emperor Taiwu's reign, all monks and nuns under the age of fifty were required to return to secular life. Buddhist images and scriptures were destroyed and burned, and many elderly and stubborn monks and nuns were even buried alive. Throughout the Northern Wei Dynasty, the word "Buddhism" was forbidden. Although Emperor Taiwu (Tuoba Hong) did not approve of these measures, he understood Emperor Taiwu's intentions. The Northern Wei had just unified the north, and with years of warfare and widespread devastation, there was no surplus of funds to support monks and nuns who did not work the land. While Buddhism was beneficial for controlling the populace, some monks made boastful and outrageous statements that exceeded the bounds of the law, which Emperor Taiwu, with his decisive and ruthless approach, could not tolerate.

How could anyone dare to give Emperor Taiwu a jade Buddha statue? It must have been given before the edict to suppress Buddhism was issued, right? Tuoba Hong looked at the damaged Buddha statue with some understanding, thinking that it must have been broken by Emperor Taiwu.

Feng Qi naturally knew what Tuoba Hong was thinking, and chuckled, saying, "This Buddha statue was given to Emperor Taiwu by a young man after he issued the edict to suppress Buddhism." Feng Qi was lost in distant memories. She wasn't very old at the time, but she remembered that scene very clearly. "That person told Emperor Taiwu that the edict to suppress Buddhism was too much and would be punished by Heaven. If we could worship this jade Buddha, it might be able to avert the injustices committed by Emperor Taiwu."

"This..." Tuoba Hong was speechless. He naturally knew what would happen after he said these words. "And then this jade Buddha was smashed?"

Feng Qi nodded gently and sighed, "The young man looked at the decapitated jade Buddha on the ground and said regretfully, 'Because Emperor Taiwu possessed supreme murderous aura, this calamity could only be repaid to his descendants. From then on, none of the heirs to the throne of the Wei Dynasty could live for long.'"

Tuoba Hong's eyes widened; this was too absurd. But then he suddenly remembered that his father had died young at the age of twenty-six. His lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but he said nothing.

Feng Qi squeezed the Buddhist beads in her hand, her words tinged with a hint of bewilderment: "That young man was put into a death row prison by Emperor Taiwu, but he disappeared without a trace before his execution. Emperor Taiwu was furious because the matter was too strange. This jade Buddha was put away by your grandfather, who later became Emperor Jingmu."

Tuoba Hong took a deep, difficult breath. The normally sweet scent of sandalwood now felt almost suffocating. He knew of this Emperor Jingmu; he had died mysteriously when he was still the crown prince, at the young age of twenty-three. That was why he was posthumously honored as Emperor Jingmu after his father ascended the throne.

“Hong’er, I summoned you here today not for any other reason,” Feng Qi sighed softly. “This karmic debt has been fulfilled like a curse for two generations. Even if you don’t believe it, you should still be careful.” Tuoba Hong thought of how his father, after ascending the throne, immediately abolished Emperor Taiwu’s edict against Buddhism and, despite the empty treasury, ordered the construction of the Yungang Grottoes. He must have been trying to atone for that karmic debt. Tuoba Hong nodded in agreement, but inwardly he was somewhat skeptical.

It was just a coincidence.

As Tuoba Hong was apologizing and leaving, he heard Feng Qi suddenly say, "Hong'er, you are not young anymore. After you ascend the throne tomorrow, I will choose some daughters from good families for you."

"Thank you for your trouble, Your Majesty." Tuoba Hong suppressed the inexplicable frustration that suddenly rose in his heart and bowed his head in agreement.

"Life is like walking through thorns. If the heart is still, the person will not act rashly, and will not be harmed. But if the heart is moved, the person will act rashly, injuring their body and causing pain to their bones, and thus experiencing all kinds of suffering in the world." Feng Qi's ethereal voice, accompanied by the rhythmic sound of the wooden fish, slowly dissipated behind the slowly closing doors of the Buddhist hall.

Tuoba Hong stood silently outside the door, pondering the Buddhist verse repeatedly, becoming completely absorbed in it.

467 AD.

Tuoba Hong looked down at the newborn baby in the swaddling clothes, feeling a sense of unreality. The baby was so light that it was almost negligible, and the child was so fragile that it seemed he could crush it if he exerted too much force.

He is only fourteen years old, but he already has a son.

Tuoba Hong knew that among the Xianbei people, it was quite normal for someone his age to have a child; his father had him when he was fourteen. Tuoba Hong looked at Consort Liu, lying on the bed, her beautiful face revealing her exhaustion, and saw the complex emotions on her expression. He knew that in the Great Wei Dynasty, the women in the harem harbored extremely conflicted feelings. They both hoped to be favored by the emperor and were apprehensive about becoming pregnant. If they gave birth to a daughter, all would be well; but if they gave birth to a prince who was favored by the emperor, then according to the Great Wei Dynasty's custom, the mother would have to be killed upon being chosen as heir.

No one would willingly die, not even for their own son. Tuoba Hong recalled the indescribable look in his mother's eyes when he was made crown prince.

Looking at Consort Liu, who bore a resemblance to someone, Tuoba Hong silently apologized in his heart. If the child in his arms could live to be two years old, he would be his crown prince. But until then, it was best not to let the mother and child get too close. He didn't want his son to have the same painful memories as him.

Instructing the palace maids to take good care of Consort Liu, Tuoba Hong personally carried his son out of the inner room and happened to see Feng Qi sitting in the side hall.

Two years had passed since her father's death, yet Feng Qi still observed mourning for him according to Han Chinese customs. She was dressed entirely in white, wearing a cross-collar, straight-sleeved blouse with a silver-embroidered collar, a wide silk ribbon cinching her waist to accentuate her slender figure, and a long, flowing silk skirt that trailed on the ground in layers. Her features were exquisite, a faint melancholy shrouding her brows; though she wore no makeup, her beauty remained unparalleled.

Tuoba Hong paused for a moment. Because he was holding a child, he did not bow as usual, but simply nodded slightly and said, "Greetings, Empress Dowager."

Feng Qi gracefully set down the white-glazed lotus teacup in her hand, her gaze immediately falling on the swaddled baby in Tuoba Hong's arms. She naturally reached out to him and said softly, "Come, let me see you."

Tuoba Hong took a few steps forward and caught a whiff of sandalwood scent emanating from her, causing him to pause slightly in surprise. He knew she had been observing Buddhist rituals and chanting prayers for his father in that Buddhist hall, but he hadn't expected that even she would be covered in such a strong sandalwood fragrance.

Feng Qi took the swaddled baby without a second thought. The baby probably found the sandalwood scent on her body a bit pungent and waved its little arms restlessly, crying and fussing.

Tuoba Hong quickly took his son back and took a few steps back. Sure enough, the baby seemed to sense the familiar presence and immediately calmed down.

A hint of melancholy flashed in Feng Qi's beautiful eyes, then she smiled lightly and said, "It seems this child is not meant for me. So be it." The Buddhist hall was lonely, and the more she ate vegetarian food and chanted Buddhist prayers, the clearer the memories of their past harmonious days became. Feng Qi had originally wanted to raise this child by her side, but given the current situation, it seemed that she could not fulfill her wish.

Tuoba Hong frowned slightly and couldn't help but advise, "Empress Dowager, you must also take care of your health." He was only fourteen years old this year. Although he was exceptionally intelligent, it was truly too much for him to wield the power of the entire country. Two years ago, when he first ascended the throne, the reins of power were in the hands of General Yi Hun. Yi Hun harbored treacherous intentions and frequently twisted his edicts to eliminate dissidents. In just over forty days, he rose from General Yi Hun to Grand Commandant, then to Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, and finally to Chancellor, ranking above the Crown Prince. He held absolute power and completely disregarded the young emperor.

He was unwilling to be controlled by others, but he had to admit that he was no match for Yi Hun. In the end, it was Feng Qi, who had been chanting sutras in the Buddhist hall, who personally took action. She silently observed Yi Hun's indulgence, secretly devised a grand plan, and swiftly executed Yi Hun on charges of treason. Afterward, she announced that she would rule from behind the curtain. Although she rested in the empty Buddhist hall after court, every decree of the Great Wei Dynasty was issued by her.

Tuoba Hong smiled bitterly to himself. Although she had personally taught him, he was no match for her in terms of cunning or magnanimity.

Feng Qi seemed to see through his thoughts. She twirled the sandalwood prayer beads in her hand and said softly, "Hong'er, don't worry. As long as you have the ability, the Great Wei Dynasty will still belong to you." Feng Qi looked tenderly at Tuoba Hong, who had grown into a handsome young man. She was slightly lost in thought. When she met Tuoba Jun, he was about the same age. Tuoba Hong looked remarkably like his father. It was as if the person she had been longing for was standing perfectly in front of her. Feng Qi was momentarily captivated.

Tuoba Hong's heart skipped a beat when he met her gaze, followed by a wistful sigh. He knew she was reminiscing about his father through him. He was about to say something when he saw her gaze clear again, and she subtly turned her face away.

It's always the same; she's the one who approaches first, and she's also the one who leaves first.

Tuoba Hong's arm tightened slightly involuntarily, and the baby in the swaddling clothes seemed uncomfortable, squirming restlessly. Tuoba Hong was startled and immediately relaxed his grip.

"Hong'er, have you named this child yet?" Feng Qi casually picked up the slightly cool teacup and took a sip of warm tea.

"To sum it up, let's call him Tuoba Hong," Tuoba Hong said calmly.

"Tuoba Hong?" Feng Qi frowned slightly, feeling that it was somewhat inappropriate for the father and son to share the same name. But since Tuoba Hong had said so, she couldn't very well deprive him of the freedom to name his son. So she nodded and said, "A good name. If this child lives past the age of two, I will personally teach him."

Tuoba Hong watched Feng Qi stand up gracefully and knew what she meant: she would return the power of the court to him in two years.

For a moment, I didn't know whether I was more happy or disappointed.

"Wealth and beauty are to people what honey is to a knife's edge—not enough for a single meal, but if a child licks it, he will cut his tongue." Feng Qi's soft voice, accompanied by the familiar scent of sandalwood, drifted past his ears until her graceful figure disappeared around the corner of the corridor.

Tuoba Hong held his infant son, still lost in thought.

470 AD.

"The Emperor is awake! The Emperor is awake!"

Tuoba Hong struggled to regain consciousness, hearing the eunuchs' cries of alarm rising and falling beside his bed. Feeling his throat incredibly dry, Tuoba Hong deduced that he had been unconscious for some time due to an infection of his carbuncle.

"Your Majesty, you have just woken up, please don't rush." ​​An old voice came from the bedside as the person spoke, helping Tuoba Hong sit up and skillfully placing a cushion behind his back.

When Tuoba Hong looked up, he found it was Shang Xie, the chief eunuch. He smiled and said, "Eunuch Shang, I am fine. You should go and rest too." Shang Xie had served in the palace of the Great Wei Dynasty since the time of Emperor Taiwu. Tuoba Hong had been taken care of by Shang Xie since childhood and regarded him as an elder. Seeing that Shang Xie looked haggard from keeping watch, Tuoba Hong was quite worried.

Shang Xie tucked Tuoba Hong in, then pointed to the person beside him and said, "I'm not tired, but His Highness the Crown Prince has been keeping watch over His Majesty and refused to sleep. He just couldn't stay awake any longer and rested next to you."

Only then did Tuoba Hong notice a tiny child lying on his dragon bed. The child's rosy face was filled with sorrow, and even in sleep, the child was restless, its little hands tightly clutching Tuoba Hong's clothes. Because Tuoba Hong feared his own tragedy would repeat itself in his son, he had taken Tuoba Hong away from Consort Liu when he was just born. Furthermore, Tuoba Hong couldn't stand the sandalwood scent emanating from Feng Qi as a child, so the boy was raised and educated by Tuoba Hong himself. Last year, on Tuoba Hong's second birthday, he was made crown prince, his birth mother Consort Liu was executed, and Feng Qi kept her promise, taking Tuoba Hong in to raise him and relinquishing control of the court.

"Your Majesty, the young crown prince has been personally taking care of you. He even personally cleaned the sores on your body." Shang Xie handed over a bowl of freshly brewed medicine, lowering his voice so as not to wake Tuoba Hong, who had finally fallen asleep.

Tuoba Hong felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He took the medicine and drank it all in one gulp, not even finding the bitter taste particularly unpleasant. He handed back the empty bowl and waved to Shang Xie, saying, "Eunuch Shang, you may leave now. I need to rest for a while." He knew that Shang Xie would not leave until he had gone to sleep.

He knew that if he didn't sleep, Shang Xie would definitely not go down.

Tuoba Hong lay down again and saw the small body lying wholeheartedly beside him. He couldn't help but reach out and hug him.

When Tuoba Hong woke up again, he found that his physical condition had improved a lot. When he opened his eyes, he saw a pair of clear black and white eyes staring straight at him. After discovering that he had woken up, the clear pupils showed great joy.

"Father!" Tuoba Hong's lips curled up. Eunuch Shang hadn't lied to him after all; his father was indeed alright!
Tuoba Hong, in an extremely good mood, ruffled Tuoba Hong's loose hair; it was soft and felt wonderful to the touch. "Hong'er, you've been staying with your father these past few days. Have you properly asked the Empress Dowager for leave?"

When Tuoba Hong heard his father mention Feng Qi, his face turned cold, and he snorted through his nose, "She doesn't have time for me right now!"

The hand that was stroking Tuoba Hong's head paused. Tuoba Hong rarely saw his son speak in such a tone, and he couldn't help but frown and say, "How can you speak to the Empress Dowager like that? Do you know the difference between superiors and inferiors?"

Tuoba Hong seemed to be provoked, his big eyes widening immediately, and he said in a crisp voice, "Does the emperor not know the difference between superiors and inferiors? Does she know the difference between superiors and inferiors? To be entangled with men in the harem, is that the difference between a empress dowager and a ruler?"

These words struck Tuoba Hong like a bolt of lightning. His mind went blank, and he only vaguely asked himself, "Who taught you to say that?" Yes, many people couldn't stand seeing him and Feng Qi get along peacefully, and they often gossiped in their ears, hoping to gain some advantage from the gaps in their power struggles. Hong'er is so young, what could he possibly understand?
"What do you mean, 'who taught me'? I saw it with my own eyes! That man is Li Yi, the younger brother of Li Fu, the Minister of the South. I saw him at a palace banquet before, but I didn't know he and the Empress Dowager had that kind of relationship!" Although Tuoba Hong was only three years old, he had grown up in the palace and knew what he should and shouldn't do. Besides, this matter was not a secret in the Empress Dowager's palace. The Xianbei people did not value propriety and shame too much. Even Feng Qi, who admired Han Confucianism, only wore Han clothing and recited Buddhist scriptures. In her behavior, she had no restraint whatsoever that of a Han woman. It was just that the people serving in the palace had all tacitly kept this matter from their father, the Emperor.

After Tuoba Hong finished complaining, his face still sullen and indignant, he saw his father, the Emperor, who had just recovered from a serious illness, silently rise and summon a eunuch to help him wash and dress. His handsome face was expressionless, radiating a terrifying aura of menace. Tuoba Hong vaguely understood why no one dared to speak of Feng Qi's secret to his father—no one dared to bear the Emperor's wrath. But Tuoba Hong didn't quite understand; his father's current state wasn't solely due to Feng Qi's promiscuity in the harem.

Watching Tuoba Hong stride away, Tuoba Hong sat blankly on the bed for a while before snapping out of his daze. He quickly summoned a eunuch to help him change, then stomped after him in his shoes. But when he rushed into the palace where the Empress Dowager resided, he saw only a drop of blood. His father, the Emperor, stood there holding a sharp sword, blood still dripping from its tip. Li Yi lay on the ground, a gaping hole in his chest, already lifeless.

Tuoba Hong's face paled. Only then did he realize that Li Yi's face bore a striking resemblance to his own father, the Emperor—both were young and handsome, with deep-set eyes. Tuoba Hong shuddered, instinctively feeling as if he had discovered a deeply hidden secret. Therefore, instead of entering the hall, he stood timidly by the window outside.

Feng Qi was chanting sutras in the Buddhist hall when she arrived quickly after being announced by a eunuch. Upon seeing the already deceased Li Yi, she paused. She was no longer the pale-faced woman in mourning three years ago; instead, she wore a loose, flowing crimson embroidered with gold, a wide, pale yellow belt cinched at her waist. The wide sleeves and hem of her dress billowed rapidly with her movements, exuding an unparalleled air of elegance and nobility. A light layer of rouge was also applied to her face. Even Tuoba Hong had never seen Feng Qi so beautiful, and for a moment he was stunned. Then, remembering for whom she had so meticulously dressed, he grew even angrier.

At this moment, Feng Qi had clearly seen the situation inside the hall. A trace of resentment flashed across her beautiful face, but she quickly concealed it perfectly. Looking at the blood-dripping blade in Tuoba Hong's hand, she said calmly, "Your Majesty has just recovered from a serious illness. Why don't you rest properly and instead come to my place?"

Tuoba Hong gripped the hilt tightly. He shouldn't have acted so impulsively. He could have found a fault and dealt with Li Yi slowly, without fear of Li Yi's unfortunate end.

He really just wanted to see what kind of person Li Yi was, but when he saw this young man who looked somewhat like him, he couldn't control the raging anger in his heart.

Clearly, isn't he the one who resembles his father the most?

Clearly, wasn't it him who first found her crying among the hibiscus flowers?

Clearly, the person he wanted to rely on first was him, wasn't he?

Why can't he be the only one?

Tuoba Hong heard his own voice and calmly said, "Minister of the South Li Fu accepted bribes and was reported. Li Yi just refused to admit it and spoke rudely to me. I was so angry that I lost my temper."

Feng Qi raised her eyebrows and sneered sarcastically, "Does Your Majesty truly act according to your own will? Does he think the Censorate is just for show? I am truly not at ease entrusting this Great Wei Dynasty to Your Majesty. It seems that I should still attend court tomorrow."

Tuoba Hong's face stiffened, realizing that he had indeed gone too far today. In a fit of anger, Feng Qi was even going to take back the power of the court that he had only relinquished a year ago.

Feng Qi gracefully knelt down, disregarding the filth that stained her beautiful dress in the pool of blood, and gently closed Li Yi's unseeing eyes with her hands. Then, without a second thought, she got up and left.

"Those who are consumed by lust are like those who carry a torch against the wind; they will surely burn their hands..." Feng Qi's blood-stained dress left a mottled mark in the hall, which then slowly dried as she murmured, becoming an ugly bloodstain.

Tuoba Hong staggered, as if his hand had been burned. His body, still recovering from a serious illness, could no longer hold the long sword, which clattered to the ground, its echo reverberating endlessly in the empty hall. 471 AD.

"Are you insane!" Feng Qi pushed open the door of the ruling hall with one hand and glared angrily at Tuoba Hong, who was sitting behind the desk.

Tuoba Hong's brush remained steady as he continued writing the transcribed Buddhist scripture with fluid grace. Only then did he put down the brush, raise his head, and smile at the uninvited Feng Qi. He realized that Buddha was truly a wonderful refuge. Since he had renounced worldly affairs and devoted himself entirely to Buddhism last year, his heart had become much calmer. Even seeing her again did not stir a ripple in his heart; he viewed the woman before him purely with admiration.

Feng Qi was startled by his gaze. She was already used to the young man in front of her looking at her with either admiration or fervor, but she had never expected him to gaze at her so calmly and composedly. Only then did Feng Qi realize that Tuoba Hongnian was already eight years old, and in two more years he would be of legal age according to Han custom, but the man sitting there now was already a handsome and dashing emperor, just like Tuoba Jun who had been by her side many years ago.

Feng Qi gathered a few stray strands of hair that had fallen as she hurried along. She tried to calm her voice. She took a deep breath, but couldn't hide the overwhelming rage within her: "Your Majesty, you are only eighteen years old this year, how dare you wish to abdicate?"

Tuoba Hong stroked the freshly dried Buddhist scriptures and smiled, saying, "I am at ease with you managing the affairs of state."

Feng Qi felt a lump in her throat. Was he complaining that she hadn't delegated power to him? But wasn't it he who had killed her male concubine without permission? Wasn't she allowed to vent her anger? She wanted to ask these questions, but meeting Tuoba Hong's calm gaze, she knew that even if she did, he wouldn't answer. Feng Qi gritted her teeth, her voice barely a whisper, and said, each word distinct, "You're really comfortable passing the throne to Tuoba Hong? He's only four years old!"

Tuoba Hong smiled faintly and said, "Isn't there you I still have?" He lowered his eyes, concealing his true feelings. Was there a difference between four and eighteen? He would rather be a carefree retired emperor, moving away from the palace that had imprisoned the first half of his life, where the sky was high and the clouds wide. Why should he dwell on something that never truly belonged to him?
The throne never belonged to him.

Power never belonged to him.

She... never belonged to him.

Feng Qi gripped the purple sandalwood prayer beads in her hand and said coldly, "I'll ask you one last time, are you determined to abdicate?"

"Yes." Tuoba Hong raised his head again, smiling calmly.

A cold glint flashed in Feng Qifeng's eyes, and she sneered, "Then you'd better not regret it later." With that, she turned and left.

Tuoba Hong stared blankly at her retreating figure for a long time, then chuckled self-deprecatingly and continued to copy Buddhist scriptures.

In August, on this bright and cloudless day, during the abdication ceremony, Tuoba Hong personally led his four-year-old son, Tuoba Hong, into the main hall and then lifted him onto the dragon throne. Tuoba Hong knew he was certainly not the youngest emperor in history, but he was definitely the youngest retired emperor.

Feng Qi stood to one side, dressed in a crimson robe with phoenix patterns, observing coldly, her thin lips pressed tightly together.

Tuoba Hong didn't pay attention to her. Instead, he stood beside the dragon throne, stroked his son's head, and gently whispered to Tuoba Hong, "Hong'er, why are you crying?"

Tuoba Hong was already in tears, sobbing as he clutched Tuoba Hong's clothes, "Father, don't want me anymore..."

“How could I not want Hong’er? It’s just that Father is tired. Hong’er will surely understand, won’t he?” Tuoba Hong’s smile darkened. He knew how irresponsible his actions were, but he was just a figurehead in the palace anyway, so why humiliate himself? It wasn’t that he hadn’t wanted power, but he had already tried and hadn’t done as well as Feng Qi. The power struggles in the court were simply beyond his comprehension, given his simple nature. Although their conflicts hadn’t been major in recent years, they would inevitably lead to an irreparable tragedy if things continued this way. Feng Qi only needed a puppet, and the young Tuoba Hong would likely suit her better.

"Father..." Tuoba Hong continued to cry, refusing to let go. He didn't understand much else, but he knew that from today onwards, his father would be moving out of the palace. He had been raised by his father since childhood. Even after he was two years old and handed over to Feng Qi for education, the latter would not allow him to stay overnight; he always returned to his father's side at night. But what would he do if his father left the palace?
Tuoba Hong gently wiped away the tears from Tuoba Hong's small face with his sleeve, then slowly pried open the little fingers that were clutching his clothes. Hardening his heart, he slowly knelt down on one knee beside the dragon throne. From his angle, he could see Feng Qi's fiery phoenix eyes on the other side.

Yes, a few years ago, she had taught him that he didn't need to kneel before anyone except Buddha.

But this time is different. He is no longer the emperor. What's wrong with kneeling before the monarch he chose?

Tuoba Hong took the corner of Tuoba Hong's dragon robe, slowly lowered his head, and reverently kissed it on the corner of his lips.

"See my emperor."

He entrusted the country to him, not now, but he believed that the Great Wei Dynasty would prosper under Tuoba Hong's rule.

"Greetings, Your Majesty!!!" The courtiers below the hall also prostrated themselves on the ground, their cries of worship echoing through the heavens. In the entire hall, only Feng Qi stood gracefully on the spot, her expression inexplicably pale as she watched everything unfold.

In her sleeve was a piece of paper that a eunuch had taken from Tuoba Hong's study, on which was written only one sentence.

"From love and desire arises sorrow, and from sorrow arises fear. If one is free from love, what sorrow or fear is there?"

If one is free from love, what is there to worry about or fear?!

Feng Qi crumpled the paper in her sleeve, a hint of resentment flashing across her beautiful face.

He will definitely regret it...

472 AD.

Tuoba Hong stood with his hands behind his back in the courtyard, admiring the red plum blossoms under the falling snow, completely at ease.

Ever since moving out of the palace, Tuoba Hong had been in a completely relaxed state, feeling for the first time that his destiny was in his own hands. He shut himself away from guests, completely detached from the court, spending his days copying Buddhist scriptures and appreciating the scenery of the courtyard, living a carefree and leisurely life. Although he was only nineteen years old and should theoretically be unaccustomed to this kind of solitary life, he loved it to the extreme.

"Your Majesty, Eunuch Shang from the palace has come to see you, saying he has important business to discuss." A servant reported at the courtyard gate. Although the Emperor Emeritus had said he would not see anyone, these were all old servants who had served him closely and did not know that Eunuch Shang was not to be neglected.

Tuoba Hong was taken aback, then turned and walked towards the front hall. He knew that if it were a normal matter, Shang Xie would not have bothered him. He walked faster and faster in the corridor, his bad premonition growing stronger.

"Your Majesty!" Shang Xie, who was pacing anxiously back and forth in the front hall, rushed to Tuoba Hong's side as soon as he saw him and said anxiously, "Your Majesty, the Emperor has been summoned by the Empress Dowager for instruction. I don't know what the Emperor did to displease the Empress Dowager, but he has been locked in the woodshed for two days and three nights! It is said that the Empress Dowager has not sent the Emperor any food at all!"

Upon hearing this, Tuoba Hong was completely stunned. He had never imagined that Feng Qi would treat him so harshly. The child was only five years old this year, and it was the dead of winter. Let alone two or three days, he couldn't even endure being locked in the woodshed for half an hour, let alone without any food...

Tuoba Hong felt his blood rush to his head in an instant. He didn't care that he was wearing ordinary clothes and his hair was simply tied behind his ears. He didn't even have time to prepare a carriage. He ordered someone to bring a horse and galloped towards the palace.

Shang Xie, leaning shakily on his cane, looked anxiously at the hoofprints in the snow and let out a long sigh.

Tuoba Hong nestled in the dark, low woodshed, glanced disdainfully at the meat pie in his hand, but still couldn't resist taking a bite.

In truth, Feng Qi hadn't done anything to him, but Tuoba Hong disliked her intensely and constantly opposed her. So, he was banished to the woodshed to reflect on his actions, but this turned out to be a good opportunity.

Tuoba Hong puffed out his cheeks and swallowed the meat pie with difficulty, thinking that this was a chance to get his father, the Emperor, to come see him. He hadn't seen his father for a month since the New Year's banquet! And with his father's devout Buddhist practices, he was genuinely afraid that his father might suddenly decide to become a monk. Besides, he wasn't wrong; while Empress Dowager Feng hadn't sent him food, she hadn't stopped his eunuchs from doing so. He had stayed with the Empress Dowager for two days and three nights. Eunuch Shang, unaware of the specifics, couldn't be blamed for exaggerating his imagination!

Upon hearing the eunuch outside who had been reporting the news meow like a cat, Tuoba Hong quickly stuffed the unfinished meat pie in his hand behind a pile of dry firewood in the corner, then slapped his cheeks hard with his hands, and curled up on the ground hugging his knees.

When Tuoba Hong pushed open the door to the woodshed, he saw his son lying pitifully on the cold ground, curled up helplessly. His little face was flushed, probably from a fever, and his small body was shivering from the cold. Tuoba Hong was heartbroken. He rushed forward, picked Tuoba Hong up, and took him away immediately, returning to the palace to summon the imperial physician for treatment.

"Father...you've finally come to see me..." Tuoba Hong opened his big eyes and looked at his father, whom he hadn't seen for a long time, with affection.

"Yes, Father has arrived." Hearing his hoarse voice, Tuoba Hong felt even more heartbroken and hugged him even tighter.

Tuoba Hong snuggled against his father's chest, feeling the coolness of the fabric. He then realized that Tuoba Hong wasn't wearing a fur coat either, meaning the emperor must have rushed over as soon as he heard the news. Tuoba Hong felt both heartache and satisfaction, and pleaded with his small face, "Father...it seems I'm not suited to be emperor. How about you take over the throne of the Great Wei Dynasty?"

Indeed, this had been the young emperor's wish all these days. He hated this cold, impersonal palace, hated the empty dragon bed, and hated seeing that woman every day. He longed to return to the past, where even though he had to go to Feng Qi for instruction every day, he could still have his father's company.

Tuoba Hong entered the warm bedroom and gently placed Tuoba Hong on the bed. He wiped the charcoal ash from Tuoba Hong's face with his hand and said softly, suppressing his anger, "Hong'er, do you think being an emperor is child's play? You are already the emperor of this Great Wei Dynasty, and that cannot be changed."

Tuoba Hong pouted in disappointment.

Tuoba Hong warmed his cold little hands with his own, a sharp glint in his eyes, and said firmly, "However, this time I will be your blade. As the Buddha said, 'Lay down the butcher's knife and become a Buddha on the spot.' For my son, what's wrong with laying down Buddha and taking up the butcher's knife again?"

Tuoba Hong was speechless. This... was completely different from what he had expected.

476 AD.

Tuoba Hong nimbly dismounted at the palace gate, handed the reins to a guard, removed his helmet, and strode into the palace. As the retired emperor, he did not need to remove his sword in the palace, nor did he need to wait for a summons to enter.

Looking at the long-unseen palace, Tuoba Hong couldn't help but feel a longing for home. Although he had always regarded this place as a cage before he turned eighteen, the past five years of leading troops in battles had filled him with nostalgia. Watching the eunuchs and palace maids bowing down one by one along the path he walked, their faces filled with heartfelt respect and fear, Tuoba Hong smiled with satisfaction.

Five years ago, after realizing that yielding would not bring him true freedom, Tuoba Hong decided to create a better future for his son. Since he could not compete with Feng Qi in the court, he turned his attention to the army.

As the emperor of the Xianbei people, Tuoba Hong, though raised by women in the inner palace, never neglected his studies in archery and military strategy. He then fully understood that to avoid being looked down upon, he needed formidable strength. Fortunately, he had already abdicated in favor of Tuoba Hong; otherwise, as emperor, he certainly wouldn't have been able to personally lead troops into battle. In the past five years, he had expanded the territory through campaigns in the south and north, and domestically, his increased power allowed him to inspect and reform the bureaucracy, promoting capable officials. With continued diligent governance and a focus on both internal and external affairs, he was sure to create a peaceful and prosperous empire for Tuoba Hong. He was only twenty-three years old; his future was long.

The more Tuoba Hong thought about it, the more ambitious he became. He wasn't a particularly ambitious person; he simply wanted to protect the only person he cared about. Once Tuoba Hong grew up, he could gradually entrust the affairs of state to him.

Tuoba Hong thought of his son, who was already nine years old this year. He hadn't seen him for over a year since this expedition, and wondered if he had been eating well and if he had grown taller. Tuoba Hong quickened his pace, but just before he stepped out of the corridor, a palace attendant rushed out from the side, knelt before him, and respectfully said, "Your Majesty the Retired Emperor and the Empress Dowager invite you."

Tuoba Hong narrowed his eyes slightly, hesitated for only a moment, and then nodded and said, "Lead the way."

Following the eunuch through the winding corridors, Tuoba Hong had no idea where he was being led. He had rarely returned in the past five years, and the palace had been renovated. It was the height of summer, and all the flowers were in full bloom. Tuoba Hong felt relaxed as he looked at the beautiful scenery. The eunuch stopped in front of a pavilion in a hibiscus garden.

Tuoba Hong's heart skipped a beat as he watched the graceful figure enjoying wine and flowers in the pavilion.

Even though he had already placed himself on the opposite side of this woman, and although he had long since given up any illusions about her, he could not deceive his own heart the moment he saw her.

He was fighting on the front lines, probably because he wanted to avoid her.

Tuoba Hong sighed silently, stepped onto the stairs leading to the pavilion, and walked up step by step.

Hearing the crisp scraping sound of armor, Feng Qi turned her head and saw a handsome young man holding a helmet, wearing silver armor, incomparably dashing, his brows filled with the imposing and domineering aura honed on the battlefield, striding towards her in the sunlight. The armor on his body reflected the sunlight, almost dazzlingly so, making him seem like a celestial being descended to earth.

Feng Qi narrowed her phoenix eyes, her resolve wavering slightly before she forcefully suppressed it.

Tuoba Hong also looked up, gazing at Feng Qi, her beauty surpassing even the flowers in her lake-blue dress, nestled among the hibiscus blossoms. Time had left few traces on her face; she remained incomparably beautiful. Tuoba Hong was momentarily lost in thought, almost believing he had returned to the scene of their first encounter many years ago. Back then, she too was wearing a lake-blue palace maid's dress, hiding among the hibiscus blossoms, weeping softly…

The situation is actually the same now.

Her lips were clearly upturned, but her expression looked like she was about to cry.

Tuoba Hong could clearly see that a mask covered her face, concealing her gentleness and replacing it with scheming and indifference.

He knew that if he wanted to, if he simply reached out, he could lift the mask off her face and see the person she used to be. He also knew that if she wanted to, if she simply raised her hand, she could remove that dignified mask.

But none of them moved.

However, after their eyes met for a fleeting moment, they both instinctively looked away from each other.

She was still wearing that mask, and he was still clenching his fists.

Feng Qi knew that the mask she wore could be easily removed, but she also knew that if she wore it for too long, even she herself wouldn't know how to take it off. The person beneath the mask was gradually becoming like the mask itself, and she could no longer find her former self.

She heard herself smile and say, "Hong'er, you're back. Would you like to have a drink with me?"

Feng Qi knew that the young and handsome man in front of her would not refuse; he was madly infatuated with her, even now.

The Xianbei people were different from the Han people; it was not uncommon for fathers, sons, and brothers to share a wife. Back then, if she had only slightly loosened her grip, she could have easily controlled this young emperor through love.

But she didn't want to use such methods against him; she wanted a perfect emperor to succeed Tuoba Jun. She arranged concubines for him, watched his son being born, hoping to see a powerful emperor emerge and lead the empire left by Tuoba Jun to prosperity.

But she was disappointed. He actually went to worship Buddha? To abdicate? To even lead troops into battle?

Such an emperor is better off not being needed.

She will take over the empire left by Jun. Because this empire originally belonged to her grandfather, and now it belongs to her; she will not give it to anyone else.

Feng Qi watched as Tuoba Hong put down his helmet and sat down in front of her. She rolled up her sleeves and personally poured him wine, watching him slowly drink all the poisoned wine she had specially prepared for him, not leaving a single drop.

Seeing him suddenly open his handsome eyes wide and stare at her in disbelief, with blood continuously spilling from his lips, Feng Qi felt as if her heart was being pierced by needles, as if she were the one who had drunk poison.

It turns out, she really has changed.

She was unwilling to relinquish power and influence in the court, yet she was also the one who truly fell into the vortex of power.

She refused to let go of power because all that remained in her life was power.

Just like when a Buddha statue breaks, the true body is destroyed, and it is no longer a Buddha statue.

Just as she is no longer the kind-faced Bodhisattva she once was, she has long since degenerated into a demon in the cruelty of time.

Feng Qi gently brushed a stray hair from her ear and sighed softly, "The Buddha said that life has seven sufferings: birth, old age, sickness, death, being forced to be with those you hate, being separated from those you love, and not getting what you want..."

In 476 AD, Emperor Xianwen of Northern Wei, Tuoba Hong, was poisoned to death by Empress Dowager Feng Qi at the young age of twenty-three.

The following day, Tuoba Hong suppressed his anger and waited for Feng Qi's summons in front of the Buddhist hall. Just like his father eleven years ago, he pushed open the door of the Buddhist hall and saw the jade Buddha statue with its head and body separated and broken.

In 493 AD, Emperor Taizong of Tang moved the capital to Luoyang and began construction of the famous Longmen Grottoes.

In 499 AD, Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei, Tuoba Hong, died suddenly from an illness at the young age of thirty-three.

The curse of the Buddha statue continues...

The Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang, 2012.

"Wow...it's really magnificent..." In the pitch-black night, beneath the towering Buddha statue in the Binyang Cave, stood a young man wearing a black shirt embroidered with red dragon patterns. But these words were not spoken by him.

The shopkeeper had a rabbit plush toy perched on his shoulder; it was the doctor. He found wooden puppets too inconvenient, and recalling the concept of artificial bodies in a certain anime he'd seen before, he realized that a soft plush toy would be easier to control in his condition. So he asked the shopkeeper to find a plush toy to try. Although its soft and cute appearance left him speechless, the fact that he could control the toy's limbs was a welcome improvement over the immobile wooden puppet, and the doctor was quite satisfied.

However, a more imposing lion or tiger design would be even better, the doctor said, twitching his overly long rabbit ears as if he couldn't resist. But his attention was quickly diverted by the story his boss had just told. "Boss, is that jade Buddha you're holding the solitary jade Buddha? Is it really cursed like that?"

Inside the brocade box in the shopkeeper's hands lay a jade Buddha, its head and neck adorned with gold rings that perfectly concealed the original jagged crack, making it appear as if the Buddha itself was adorned with gold. The shopkeeper lowered his eyes and said calmly, "That's right. Since Emperor Taiwu, almost every emperor of the Northern Wei Dynasty did not live past their prime. Emperor Xiaowen, Tuoba Hong, lived the longest, but only because of his diligence in governing and his love for his people, and because he built the Longmen Grottoes. Actually, he built the Longmen Grottoes not for himself, but to pray for his father's well-being. Therefore, after Tuoba Hong's death, he was posthumously honored as Xiao."

"This jade Buddha statue is tainted with the curse of an emperor, so it should be able to suppress the imperial aura of this place." The shopkeeper sighed softly. He had presented this jade Buddha statue to Emperor Taiwu of the Northern Wei Dynasty, but not for this purpose. Jade is an auspicious object, but broken jade is an evil object, and a broken jade Buddha is even more depraved. All the benevolence on the surface, which pretends to be peaceful and dignified, cannot conceal the darkness within.

As the doctor watched the boss bury the jade Buddha statue in the Binyang Cave as if it were the Heavenly Axe, he murmured, "The Heavenly Axe represents the emperor's suspicion, so what does this jade Buddha statue represent?"

The boss remained silent for a long time before sighing softly, "Life has seven sufferings: birth, old age, sickness, death, being forced to be with those you hate, being separated from those you love, and not getting what you want... Even emperors are still mortals and cannot escape these seven sufferings..."

(End of this chapter)