Chapter 2430: Solemn

Every year in mid-spring during the Mao month, at its beginning, the Big Dipper points directly east. The "Dragon Horn Star" then rises from the eastern horizon, hence the term "Dragon Raises Head."

This signifies the momentum of the true dragon rising.

On the second day of the second month, the current Son of Heaven of Chu summoned his clan relatives and meritorious nobles for a spring hunt in the Shanglin Park. This was the most important activity to inaugurate the year in the Chu state, comparable to the year-end sacrifice.

Descendants of the clan boasted of their military achievements, while meritorious nobles did not forget their military exploits. Throughout the entire period of the military hunt, the Son of Heaven uttered not a single word. Only after the ritual official sounded the drum did he gallop his horse in three rounds and shoot three ghost bears.

The King of Fortune, Xiong Dingfu, accompanied the emperor, surveying the hunt objects while asking the Son of Heaven whether to proceed west or north next. Hunting ghost things in the west of Shanglin Park and fierce beasts in the north. The Son of Heaven hunted evil spirits in the spring, flattening them this year to pacify and calm the four directions.

The Son of Heaven said, "It is time to return."

Thus, this spring hunt, originally planned for seven days, was hastily concluded.

At that time, the high minister Zhang Zheng did not understand the Son of Heaven's meaning and asked his friend Li Henghua. Li Henghua was one of the twelve newly appointed pivot officials on Zhanghua Terrace, always renowned for his knowledge.

Just then, Zhuge Zuo passed by, and Li Henghua invited him to answer. The mere twelve-year-old Zhuge Zuo said that the imperial son, Xiong Du, was expected to return in March. Zhang Zheng then remembered that the Great Chu imperial clan always had a military hunt tradition. When Xiong Du was fifteen years old, he single-handedly hunted and killed a ghost bear, shaking the court and the country.

After returning, he wrote a memorial stating that "father and son should appear in the yang spring." This memorial was kept by the Son of Heaven, neither approved nor rejected.

As this matter spread, people at the time all believed that what Zhuge Zuo said was the meaning of the star witch, Zhuge Yixian.

"Thus, the world welcomed Imperial Son Du with endless enthusiasm."

Even more seemingly inauspicious omens appeared. For example, the Nanshan mountain collapsed, and a stele stone emerged, which read, "Hunting one bear masters the East Palace."

These chaotic and disorderly prophecies made people's hearts restless.

In reality, it must be said that the current Son of Heaven, since his ascension to the throne, had held power with extreme stability. The army was strong, the people were rich, the domestic situation was stable, and national power was gradually growing. For a long time, he was viewed as a model of a wise ruler. But in the Dao calendar year 3917, it became an important turning point in his reign.

Externally, the River Valley War was lost; internally, the upright, wise, and virtuous Imperial Son Xiong Du was imprisoned, showing a rather stubborn attitude. In the previous period, the Luo Mingyue Jing was released, allowing the world's largest brothel, "Three Parts Fragrance Building," to complete its relocation. Of course, the most important factor was the emperor's major reforms of court politics, which deeply touched the interests of the aristocratic families.

The state of Yue reformed its aristocratic families, with Wen Jingxiu first cutting down the Bai clan, then skinning the Ge clan, acting only after almost eliminating the old merits. Yet, even this did not yield good results; Wen himself was reformed.

Where could the Xiong clan be sacred? The roots of the Chu state's aristocratic families spread over several thousand years; they were not something you, the emperor, could simply cut down. Who helped you fight for the world of Chu?

Gradually, voices such as "failing to preserve integrity in old age" and "muddled old years" also began to appear. With a hundred years as a period of ruling life, the Son of Heaven of Chu had held power for less than sixty years, not as long as Emperor Jiang Shu of Qi. Yet, he was burdened with the name "politically old."

The emperor, mastering the highest military force, firmly grasped military and political power. With his solitary will, orders could still be implemented. The four great aristocratic families who enjoyed the country were almost the sole lords of several state dukes. They collectively supported the Son of Heaven, so no one in the court or the wild dared to directly obstruct his orders. Only sporadic attempts were made, not enough to warrant a knife cut.

But in the vast empire, the widespread middle and lower-level nobles did not all "deeply understand the great righteousness"—this was also nonsense. Before one's own interests, everything else was virtual. "Deeply understanding the great righteousness" is precisely against human nature.

The Chu state proceeded in a strange atmosphere. Politics was clearly layered; on one side, the people's voices boiled, on the other, roads were filled with eyes. The Xiong clan imperial family still held supreme authority. The broad common people who gained opportunities increasingly supported and loved them. But between heaven and earth, more and more gazes began to look far, with scrutiny, and even hostility.

Otherwise, the situation where a few prophecies caused people's hearts to become restless would not have occurred.

People's hearts think of change. To speak clearly, indeed many people wanted to change the sun and moon. The wise Imperial Son Xiong Du, whose political views were vastly different from the current Son of Heaven's, simply became the best choice.

Let's return to Zhuge Zuo. Zhuge Yixian had taken many disciples in his early years, but they all died successively, not one surviving. People all said this was caused by the backlash of heavenly secrets. Zhuge Yixian had peeped into too many heavenly secrets for the Chu state. His own merit was immense, his divine powers covered the world, and he could withstand the backlash. His side people, however, were not so fortunate.

Among them was a disciple named Yan Ling, whose ancestors were said to be barbarian naturalized, a descendant of the famous barbarian army in Chu history, the Ghost Mountain Army—this branch of the army was almost wiped out in the war against Emperor Jingwen's southern invasion.

Among Zhuge Yixian's group of disciples, this Yan Ling was particularly miserable. Others only died one, but he lost his entire family. His entire family perished in a major disaster during his childhood, and he alone escaped. In recent years, he again contracted a strange disease, to the extent that his whole family died out, leaving only the last person in his bloodline.

This child was then adopted by Zhuge Yixian, regarded as his own grandson, and his surname was changed to Zhuge.

Zhuge Zuo had such a background, and his early wisdom also carried a kind of curse. But no matter what was said, his explanation was verified. On the third day of March, he himself went to the Chaowen Dao Heavenly Palace. The emperor indeed issued a decree, releasing Xiong Du from the Fengdu Ghost Prison.

On the second day of the second month, the Dragon Raises Head. On the third day of the third month, the good son returns. Great Chu Imperial Son Xiong Du, his reputation cultivated for thirteen years! Fame like a mountain, virtue like the sea, the people of Great Chu, none did not look forward with stretched necks.

The people of the world had not seen his sound or appearance. The common people of the world all knew his virtue and conduct. The common people loved him because he loved the people like his own children, wearing simple clothes and eating plain food among the luxurious princes of the Chu state. He advised the emperor to lighten corvee and thin taxes.

The aristocratic families supported him because he was always very courteous and benevolent to the aristocratic families. He often said to people, "Too Ancestor justly obtained the world, we do not abandon the ten thousand people. If the regional lords do not betray me, how can I lose righteousness to the ancestors!"

The army supported him because the main reason for his imprisonment was precisely speaking up for the war dead Xiang Longxiong, for the souls of the war dead in the River Valley, for the soldiers who ate grain and the righteous words of the soldiers!

When he came out of the ghost prison, the entire city of Ying was everywhere hung with lanterns and tied with ribbons. People celebrated as if it were a festival, with gongs and drums filling the sky.

"Imperial brother is out of prison, the whole country celebrates!"

The current emperor's ninth son, Xiong Yinggeng, son of Wu Fei, wore magnificent ritual clothes, his face full of brilliant smiles, actively welcoming Xiong Du outside the majestic Huangji Hall: "Younger brother has been in Ying city for so many years, never seen such a grand occasion. Elder brother's fame directly chases that of the holy lord. Expect that year when Too Ancestor entered Ying, it should also not be more than this!"

Xiong Du looked at him with amusement, only saying, "Good younger brother, allow me first to pay respects to father emperor."

Xiong Yinggeng's smile froze. He subconsciously stepped aside to yield, saying forcefully, "Imperial brother, please."

Xiong Du lightly lifted the corner of his robe and walked forward with large strides. The majestic palace gate could not bury him. The broad avenue naturally called him to proceed straight. The sound of the wind by the roadside, such flattery tricks from people like Xiong Yinggeng, words without substance, such as the prophecy "Hunting one bear masters the East Palace" fabricated by some well-meaning brother, all at most rolled up the corner of his clothes; he could dismiss them with laughter. How could they harm him!

Since the current Son of Heaven of Chu ascended the throne, he usually held a small court every five days and a large court every nine days. He could be considered a diligent ruler. The small court was held in Yunlu Terrace, and the large court in Huangji Hall. Yunlu Terrace was a place specially for handling political affairs, with a huge secretarial office below. It could be said to be the central hub of this empire. Its importance was always considered equal to that of Zhanghua Terrace. Basically, all core officials of the entire Chu state had experience working in either Yunlu Terrace or Zhanghua Terrace.

Huangji Hall was a place that embodied the emperor's majesty, extremely grand. The Zhengdan large court, foreign countries paying respects, grand rituals, all took place in this hall. The number of attendees at the small court was indefinite, usually not exceeding thirty people, comprising the high officials who held the highest power in this country. Sometimes, some key figures would also be summoned to attend, for example, before Dou Zhao went to Taixu Pavilion, he had participated in a small court meeting.

The number of attendees at the large court was fixed at three hundred sixty-five people. High officials from various places all went to Ying city. Those who could not come generally sent a trusted subordinate to accurately convey instructions from the imperial city. Usually, people in the Chu state would judge whether an official had enough power and status based on whether they had the qualification to attend the large court.

Because three hundred sixty-five aligns with the number of Zhou Heaven, these officials also had a name, called "Zhou Heaven Great Officials." An aristocratic family son once boasted—"Worldly romance is only in Chu. Rivers and mountains are discussed and laughed about within a finger's reach. Zhou Heaven Great Officials all come from aristocratic families." A general who had gained fame on the battlefield indignantly rebuked him, "This is precisely the illness of Chu!" That foolish aristocratic family son was the elder brother of the current Wu Fei, who was later demoted to commoner because of a matter. The entire Wu family was implicated and frequently suffered blows. Now, among the aristocratic families in the Chu state, they don't even count as third-rate—this is still under the circumstances of Wu Fei being in the palace and Xiong Yinggeng being a rather talented imperial son.

Some things you also know are like this, and I also know are like this, but they cannot be said out loud. Moreover, not everyone can bear the price of speaking. That general who rebuked the illness of Chu was later executed because of a matter. The actual reason was still the same—not everyone has the qualification to speak. In this story, there were no lucky ones. That general's entire family was convicted, either imprisoned or exiled. Even the accompanying guards were stripped of their military posts and sent back to their original places without salary.

It is worth mentioning that among them was a taciturn old soldier named "Chu Zhong," who later set up a noodle stall in a square not far from Zhuque Great Street, in front of a large locust tree, to support his family. He had a son named Chu Yuzhi.

World affairs, sometimes like this. Not necessarily predetermined.

Xiong Du shook his head. Having stayed with that little monk for a long time, he unexpectedly also had several points of wildly reading causality. As a ruler, what causality law did he believe in? Causality was not determined by heaven, but by the ruler's decree.

A pair of straw shoes interwoven with the fate of common people. A piece of prison clothes, not forgetting the years in the prison room.

His footsteps crossed the high threshold of Huangji Hall. All miscellaneous thoughts were left behind with this step. Xiong Du walked into Huangji Hall with large strides, proceeding under the gaze of the three hundred sixty-five Zhou Heaven Great Officials. He quickly reached the front of the steps. He raised his head and stared intently at the Son of Heaven on the dragon chair. Time, like a carving knife, deepened the wrinkles around the Son of Heaven's eyes. The great matters of the world, the accumulated ills, all bore down on his shoulders, making this wise Son of Heaven also somewhat difficult to bear. Clearly, his ambition had declined since that year.

"Dad!" Xiong Du knelt down, tears in his eyes, "Thirteen years since we last met, your son misses you!"

In the hall, the faces of the Zhou Heaven Great Officials were varied. Xiong Yinggeng, who had followed Xiong Du in, could not even force a smile. How could a heavenly family father and son truly get along like a father and son! Only this Xiong Du, who at the age of five sat on the dragon chair, called him dad in Huangji Hall. All his siblings combined did not have half his boldness.

Fortunately, a voice on the steps rang out—"This is Huangji Hall. You should address His Majesty."

"Imperial brother, we all know you are filial, but this is after all not a private occasion..." Xiong Yinggeng stepped forward urgently, advising warmly, with a heart full of enthusiasm and warmth, raising a kind hand, trying to help up his imperial brother.

Who could be more filial than you, Xiong Du! It was precisely here that you contradicted father emperor, faced the rebuke of father emperor's wrong, and were then imprisoned in the ghost prison. Perhaps the people of the world have all forgotten, and father emperor also intends to ignore, but he wants to point out one thing.

Of course, he could not help him up. Xiong Du knelt there, like a stone cast in iron. Instead, it made Xiong Yinggeng look like a fly crawling on his body. No matter how secretly he exerted force, it was all useless. Gradually, Xiong Yinggeng also finally felt something was wrong. The eyes of the Zhou Heaven Great Officials in the hall looking over made him feel like he was naked in the hall. Even if he was truly silly, he could not stand those eyes looking at a silly person!

He awkwardly loosened his hand and knelt beside Xiong Du. Xiong Du did not rise, still in tears, his voice filled with sorrow: "Your son has been away from father for thirteen years. My heart remembers father's appearance, but seeing it again, there is also some strangeness. There is no spring and autumn in prison. Years chase without knowing the year. I also forgot long ago what kind of etiquette I should use in such an occasion, facing father, facing the assembled ministers. Father taught your son etiquette. Your son weeps and cannot speak, still remembering the old times, in father's embrace! I have been away from court too long. Coming to this hall again, I do not know what identity your son should use to address His Majesty?"

Is he asking for enfeoffment? Xiong Yinggeng could not understand and lowered his head, not speaking. He also wanted to know how father emperor would comfort his elder brother who had been imprisoned for thirteen years.

The emperor's voice on the steps was so clearly powerful and incisive: "This is Huangji Hall. The inner minister Song Min led you here. The hundred officials are here to witness. I am here to welcome you. The large court is opened for you. Xiong Du—what identity should you have? You say it?"

In an instant, Xiong Yinggeng's face turned ashen! He hadn't said it was a large court in the yang spring to discuss spring examination matters. How could he now say it was opened for Xiong Du? He knew nothing yet was still busy back and forth, jumping up and down, indeed stupid, truly laughable.

Xiong Du, kneeling there, lowered his head humbly, "Your son dares not speak!"

The emperor on the dragon chair said directly, "Crown Prince! You should call yourself son minister!" Saying this, he pointed to the eunuch attending beside him who held a jade axis: "This imperial decree was not read to you. The Tai'an Palace has already ordered the great supervisor to complete the repairs for you. I also thought of my son. What I wrote is sloppy. Crown Prince, hold it and read it yourself in your residence."

Sloppy, truly too sloppy! The Crown Prince of a country, the imperial handle of a hegemonic country, was actually delivered so casually. Xiong Yinggeng supported himself on the ground bricks with both hands, looking with his remaining light at the country's Crown Prince. For a moment, his mood was hard to describe. He only felt a grievance of twelve thousand points—father emperor, you also thought of your son! Did you only have one son?

He should have thought clearly long ago. Xiong Du had been imprisoned for thirteen years. Regardless of how the group of imperial sons and princesses performed, the emperor had not once enfeoffed a Crown Prince, not even a hint. For whom was this position left, was it not clear?

The emperor's golden mouth opened, and the East Palace of the Chu state was already fixed! From this, the country's handle was stable, and it was also the jade beam for the state altars. The remaining imperial sons and princesses could all give up their thoughts.

But Xiong Yinggeng's ears did not hear Xiong Du's thanks for the first time. Xiong Du did not say thanks. This position of East Palace should have been his originally.

"Son minister hears that when the holy Son of Heaven is in court, there are no hidden worthies in the wild, and the ten thousand states are peaceful!" Xiong Du's hands also supported the ground bricks. He was not seen to exert force, but his fingers were long and powerful, with blue veins like dragons. His voice echoed softly in the hall: "Now there is a dharma master, Fan Shi Jue, whose Buddhist law is profound, whose wisdom illuminates the world, yet he is hidden among the common people and cannot widely bestow dharma wisdom and greatly spread virtue. This son minister cannot select talent for Your Majesty. This is a slight on a great worthy in the holy dynasty."

Just in this Huangji Hall, this Great Chu Imperial Son who had just been released from prison, who had just been personally enfeoffed as the country's Crown Prince by the emperor's mouth, said loudly: "Son minister requests to be made a national master. Without this, I dare not correct the East Palace."

He, as Crown Prince, still wants to negotiate terms with the emperor!? This world is simply absurd!

Xiong Yinggeng suspected that he had heard every word. He even suspected the reality of this world. It was too much like a bizarre dream!

However, the voice from the steps below transmitted down, that real and forceful one—"The Crown Prince favors this person so much, how can I not see it? Crown Prince, please rise. Summon Fan Shi Jue to see me."

Song Min's voice outside the hall was vast—"Summon Fan Shi Jue!"

Then, a monk wearing prison clothes slowly walked into the hall. This monk's appearance was not very extraordinary, with nothing particularly impressive. After seeing him, one would easily forget. He only gave people a very clean feeling, like pure water from a willow branch, washing light into one's eyes. He wore prison clothes with the mark of the ghost prison, the same as the Crown Prince. He was originally the Crown Prince's prison friend!

He walked into the hall, facing the gaze of the hundred officials. He slightly lowered his eyes, feeling a little uncomfortable, but quickly saw Xiong Du, and his eyes firmed up again. They firmed up as if he wanted to run off with Xiong Du and become an outlaw, or do something even more outrageous—"Friend, let's do it! The monk is ready!"

"Fan Shi Jue?" The emperor's voice rang out, as if intentionally interrupting this firmness.

The monk did not speak. He was still not too familiar with this name and did not react to being called. Of course, the most important thing was that he was distracted again—thinking that today was the day the little junior brother opened the Chaowen Dao Heavenly Palace. He was out of prison today and could go help. When would this meeting end?

"An outsider does not know the rites." Xiong Du actively walked to Fan Shi Jue's side, explaining to the Son of Heaven for him: "Please forgive Your Majesty."

The Crown Prince of the Great Chu Empire lightly patted Fan Shi Jue's shoulder: "Monk, you should address him as minister."

"Whose minister?" The monk asked in a daze. This was truly great disrespect! But no one rebuked his rudeness, and no one blamed him for his mistake.

Xiong Du was also not flustered, only stroking his forehead with his hand and shaking his head: "Ah, right, you have not yet been enfeoffed as 'minister'."

"It was I who was negligent!" The emperor's voice on the steps had a smiling intent: "Master Fan's original heart is pure, and he has returned to heavenly innocence. The Crown Prince's eyesight is very good. Although he has gone through frost and rain, he has not lost his great ambition, and now that spring has come, he can select talent in the dark prison. How comforted my heart is. If there is a hidden worthy in the wild, it is a loss to the country and dynasty—I allow your request."

The Son of Heaven's golden mouth and jade words, every word was a heavenly rule and earthly principle: "There is one named Fan Shi Jue, whose Buddhist law is profound, whose wisdom illuminates the world. He should be enfeoffed as a national master, to harmonize the wind and rain, benefit my country's fortune, and peacefully aid the ten thousand people!"

A national master is a position comparable to the three dukes, with the weight of the world. Xiong Du spoke, and the emperor approved. Even the evaluation of Fan Shi Jue copied the Crown Prince's words, showing how unprepared he was beforehand. What kind of trust was this?

Still as Crown Prince, one word determined the national master! Was this still just a Crown Prince? Clearly, the emperor was sharing sovereign power with him! What kind of favoritism did the emperor have towards Xiong Du!

Xiong Yinggeng had already completely given up his thoughts. He only felt a thorough chill to the bone, rushing straight from his tailbone to his heavenly spirit. He seemed to finally understand that smile he faced when welcoming Xiong Du outside the Huangji Hall—that kind of carefree, indifferent smile, like watching children play. Children making noise still had some strength; where did he have any?

At the moment the dust settled, looking back at the past, he only felt that everything he had done during this period was like weaving a noose for himself. Until now, in the middle of the beam in Huangji Hall, he was hanging. He almost couldn't breathe!

But at this time, he felt a kind of warmth. He sensed a kind of brilliant, compassionate, vast love. He saw light. Warm Buddhist light shone in this Huangji Hall. It flowed like water, enveloping his body and mind. This was the kind of tolerance Xiong Yinggeng had almost never felt. He looked over with teary eyes.

A crowd of Zhou Heaven Great Officials were also all surprised and turned their eyes. But they saw one thing—that monk standing quietly in the center of the great hall, at this instant, was infinitely radiant and warm. He equally gazed at everything in the world, his eyes compassionate, his body emitting Buddhist light. And a kind of grand change was occurring specifically on his dao body.

His eye color became golden essence, his eyelashes like an ox king, a white tuft grew between his eyebrows, and a fleshy topknot rose on his head. His shoulders were round and full, he had forty teeth, his teeth were white, neat, and dense, his four canines were pure white. His body was straight, like a lion, his two armpits were full. His hands reached below his knees, his body was long and wide, his pores were blue... Those who understood immediately realized with shock—thirty-two signs! Combining the thirty-two dharma signs in one body, solemn and wonderful, said to be dignified!

Like the thirty-two signs of the Tathagata, this is the posture of becoming a Buddha. One could even say, the Buddha is this sign.

The Crown Prince finding this dharma master was indeed a profound and wonderful law, and his wisdom was solemn. With a slight push from the country's momentum, he stood and became a great Bodhisattva! Xiong Du was bringing a derived dao national master to correct the position of the East Palace. Truly, the king was returning!

Echoes sounded outside the Huangji Hall. The heaven and earth seemed to ring like a waking bell.

"Like the thirty-two signs of the Tathagata."

"The six signs of Jiang Jun."

"My ten thousand signs."

The voice was like a bell and like a sword cry. In the Lun Dao Hall of the Chaowen Dao Heavenly Palace, all seats were quiet. When they came, their thoughts were varied, but dao had no empty words, and people were all upright. The Wanxiang Sword Master, with disheveled hair like grass, was precisely standing up to seek dao: "Yet I ask the absolute peak of the transcendent mortal road, the one who proves my supremacy in the ten thousand realms—the original I has ten thousand signs, who am I?" The sword maniac, whose age was hard to distinguish but who certainly ignored the years, was like a sword standing on the ground asking the sky. His beard and hair were wild grass, all containing sword paths, his bright eyes reflecting his sword heart.

His life had been only to seek one dao. Ten thousand kinds of paths, ten thousand kinds of swords, ten thousand did not reach the youngest absolute peak in the current world. He had finally sat on his meditation mat. At this moment, in his heart, he seemed to have some understanding. He put his palms together in front of him: "The thirty-two signs of the Tathagata are in one body. My generation's six signs walk the six paths. Your dao friend's ten thousand signs are an illusion on one face. Each walks its own dao, seeming to be and not."

"The great dao is not only one. Different paths can return to the same destination."

The sign of a heavenly person, at one glance, saw compassion. "Dark leaves fly flowers, silent extinction of rotten fruits! Ten thousand worlds cannot grind, for there is the Tathagata."

Having chanted, he flipped his palm and rose, pointing a sword at the Wanxiang Sword Master's brow: "Sword guest, sword law, sword. This is also the three treasures! Grasp the three treasures and attain the Tathagata. Realize what is now, recall what was not yesterday. Sword has ten thousand signs, who are you? Good like the great bell and the great pitch."

The Wanxiang Sword Master stood and looked up, his eyes in an instant brilliant with indescribable sword light!