Entering the temple hall, Zhu Su soon sensed the atmosphere inside was much more solemn than the outside. The wind blowing from the outside brought the scent of leaves and fresh dew. The emptiness occupying this vast hall was seemingly separating the temple from the chaotic, suffering world. Zhu Su took a deep breath. For a moment, he seemingly forgot the difficulties he just experienced.
The abbot took his three guests into a luxurious room whose purpose was to receive guests of honor. The abbot was indeed eager to meet with Zhu Su. Zhu Su donated a lot to temples and pagodas, including to the Daxiangguo Temple. However, Zhu Su never showed himself and the donations were only given through the representatives. For that reason, as he and Hu Nayin had been in the room (Wu Qi waited outside), the abbot immediately expressed his thanks.
"Your Highness, let me express my deepest gratitude to you. You've helped us a lot. Without your help, this temple will never be so beautiful... perhaps this temple has ruined because of the flood!" It turned out that the corrupt official did not corrupt the donation for this temple.
"It's my responsibility, Sir Abbot. Daxiangguo Temple is a holy temple for those who want to pray and seek for the blessings and protection from the Supreme Beings. If Daxiangguo Temple ruins, I am not only guilty to Heaven and Earth, but also to the people, because the people no longer have access to pray and connect with Divine Spirits," Zhu Su quickly answered.
For a moment, the abbot looked enchanted by Zhu Su's answer. "Your Highness, you are very concerned with the people. Such a great leader! Before I thought, your purpose to donate is the same as other nobles' - only for their own sake since they hope the Buddha would pay attention to their donation and thus grant them good karma. It is really beyond my expectation to hear this kind of answer."
The abbot smirked. On the other hand, Zhu Su was surprised by the praise the abbot just gave him.
And spontaneously, he uttered, "Am I... really a good person?"
The abbot stared deeply at Zhu Su. Sharply and thoroughly. It then made Zhu Su stunned. "Ah... I mean... it's indeed my responsibility!..."
"Your Highness, are you having a big problem?"
The question asked by the abbot in a serious manner made Zhu Su's face change.
"You come here in the late evening, so eager to meet with me, you must have an important matter to discuss with me. And this matter must be very difficult to be solved and burdening your mind so much, mustn't it?"
"It's true..." Zhu Su nodded. "I have a big problem. And would like to ask for your advice, how to solve it."
He thus told about the riot to the abbot.
"Kaifeng people hate Ming and me so much, only Heaven knows the reason. But actually they were fine and still respected me and this country. However now they are willing to follow Huan Shikang and even become his death squads. But, above all, what makes me frustrated the most, is their accusation. They call me a despot who has the heart to gloat over their misfortune, they say I am deserved to be overthrown... It makes me so frustrated! Sir Abbot, I have tried my best for them. When they face difficulties, I help them by reducing taxes, I even give donation for them... but why? Why do they still hate me? Are their accusations true, that I don't deserve to be a leader?..."
This time Zhu Su was so different from usual. If he usually appeared calm, gentle, and could master himself to behave as if everything was fine no matter how severe the problems struck, but now everything had changed. He even could not sit upright, as if his back was weighed by too much burden, and he had no energy to straighten it. His face was disheveled. He knew, he was devastated. He had entered into a very deep pitch-black hole, and could not get out of it.
He was in a state of very severe depression.
The abbot kept staring closely at him. Deeply, and in a long time.
Thus, he stood up.
Zhu Su looked up. The abbot stood up so abruptly, he was even walking towards the door. And getting out of the room.
The abbot walked through the corridor, and for some reason only God knew, he remained silent. However, instead of being stunned, Zhu Su chose to stand up, following him who was apparently walking to the Great Hall.
In the Great Hall, the abbot stopped in front of the Buddha statue.
"Your Highness. Please ask the Buddha for His help. Let Him give help and solve your problem by Himself." Finally, the abbot spoke out.
"Ah... alright..." That was a piece of unexpected advice, yet Zhu Su somehow agreed with it. This problem must be beyond his capability so the abbot gave it up to Buddha.
Zhu Su thus fell himself onto the ground, kneeling down in front of Buddha, and began his praying. Hu Nayin and Wu Qi followed him.
Making no sound, Zhu Su poured out all of his problems in his heart. He told everything to Buddha. That he did everything he could to help Kaifeng people who became the victim because of flood disaster. Although he was injured, he still exerted his effort by investigating the real condition of Kaifeng people. Finding out that people needed help, he soon gave the help. However, Huan Shikang and his cronies appeared, and even though they launched public duping, yet the people respected them so much and even worshipped them as if they were Gods. When he tried to enact the law in order to forbid they deceive the people, the people defended them instead, and fought against him fiercely.
"Buddha, I can't even figure out the real of myself. What kind of person actually am I? Why do people misunderstand me? Why don't the people understand that everything I do is all for their sake? Why do they hate me? And why is Huan Shikang, who has done public duping and manipulate the innocent people, being worshipped by the people? Or what they said is true, that I am a despot?"
Zhu Su fell silent for a few moments, before he lowered his head and bowed to the Buddha. But he did not soon get to his feet. He just kept kneeling here.
Even for half an hour.
More precisely to say, he just rose to his feet when he suddenly remembered that Hu Nayin was also kneeling down beside him. The Wang Fei was pregnant, if she kept kneeling here she might catch a cold and it would endanger her womb.
Zhu Su immediately stood up, then helped Hu Nayin to get to her feet. She was somehow difficult to lift her body.
"I am fine, Your Highness... don't worry..." Realizing that Zhu Su was worried about her, Hu Nayin quickly assured him.
"Well... it's not good for you to stay longer here. It is very cold, you may catch a cold. I'm done. We can go home." After he made sure that Hu Nayin was okay, Zhu Su turned around. He looked back at the statue of Buddha, and bowed down again, paying his respects before returning to his palace.
Zhu Su was just about to thank the abbot when a little monk came to view. The monk walked very fast, his footsteps were barely audible. Zhu Su twitched in surprise as the little monk stood suddenly before him, and offered him something.