Chapter 12: The Prayer That Backfired

Shunyin was led back to the city on horseback.

Moreover, from the city gates all the way to the military governor's mansion, Mu Changzhou personally held her reins, the two horses always close together. Even with her head bowed behind the veil, she could feel countless gazes upon her along the way…

The afternoon sun shone warmly from outside the door to the corner of the table.

Shunyin gripped her pen and closed the notebook in her hand.

Having just finished writing a few lines describing the scene outside the south gate, she couldn't help but recall that day, a lingering unease in her heart.

Suddenly, Shengyu entered from outside, holding a card in both hands and presenting it to her, announcing loudly: "Madam, an invitation has arrived."

Shunyin snapped out of her reverie and took it, asking, "Who sent it?"

Shengyu replied, "It's Governor Lu, inviting Madam to the Buddha's Birthday celebration."

Shunyin unfolded it and examined it closely; it was indeed written by Lu Tiao. Buddhism is prevalent in the Hexi region, and Liangzhou holds a grand celebration every year for the Buddha's Birthday. Lu Tiao, fearing she might not know, had come to invite her, but the invitation was sent too late—today was the appointed day.

Shunyin remembered hearing him mention some kind of grand event in the city when she went to mail the letter that day; so this was it. She put away the invitation and stood up: "Then let's go."

Shengyu invited her to her dressing table to do her makeup, saying, "The Buddha's Birthday in Liangzhou is in the evening. Would you like to wait for the military commander to return before going together, Madam?"

Shunyin couldn't help but glance outside the door. Mu Changzhou hadn't been seen since that day, and probably hadn't even returned home these days. Indeed, her facade was useful—used and then discarded.

"No need, I'll go by myself," she said calmly.

Shengyu looked at her. That day, everyone in the manor saw the military commander return with his wife, even personally holding her horse's reins, inseparable the whole way. They thought the military commander and his wife's relationship was growing stronger, but now they felt something was off, so they kept quiet.

The sun was already setting when they set out, and evening was approaching, but since the grand event was in the evening, it was just right.

Shengyu chose more than ten servants from her household to travel with her, just in case there were too many people. As the carriage traveled to the main street of the city, sure enough, there were already many pedestrians, and it took a long time to slowly reach their destination.

Shunyin had already heard the bustling noise outside. She lifted the bamboo curtain and descended to see people everywhere, a scene of prosperity and clamor. She found it a bit noisy and took a few steps to the side. Turning her head, she saw Lu Tiao already walking quickly out of the inn by the roadside to greet her.

Upon seeing her, Lu Tiao's eyes lit up, and he raised his hand, saying, "Please forgive me, Madam."

Shunyin returned the greeting, explaining that it was because he had invited her late. Before she could speak, he continued, "The letter from Madam was supposed to be sent that day, but it was the military officer who delivered it. I promised Madam, but I almost failed to do it properly. I am truly ashamed."

Shunyin remembered Mu Changzhou saying that he could no longer make decisions, and guessed that he no longer had the power of a governor. How could she blame him? She didn't want to speak directly, so she only said, "Governor, you don't need to take it to heart. It's not right for Liangzhou to be like this."

Lu Tiao sighed, "It's just an extraordinary time. Hexi has powerful neighbors on both sides. To prevent military intelligence from being leaked, caution is necessary. It will be better in the future."

Shunyin thought to herself: So that's the reason he used. Hexi has the Western Turks on its back and the Tibetans on its side, so it is indeed necessary to be on guard. With that explanation, checking the letter made sense.

As they spoke, they entered the guesthouse. There were only a few soldiers coming and going, all rushing towards the door.

Lu Tiao invited her to sit on a folding chair in the room and poured her a cup of freshly boiled tea from the table. He said, "Madam, please sit here for a moment. Originally, the Chief Steward and his wife were also supposed to attend this year, but they cannot come due to the affairs of the Governor of Shanzhou. Please go and offer incense later."

Shunyin had long realized she could learn a great deal from him, which was why she had gladly attended the meeting today. Hearing him mention Shanzhou, she sat down and deliberately asked, "The Governor of Shanzhou only left today after suppressing the bandits?"

Lu Tiao was about to answer, but then said, "Never mind, it's an official matter after all."

Shunyin hesitated for a moment before saying: "I wonder if Governor Lu has heard of my writings on my travels. I'm currently observing the scenery everywhere, but I lack anecdotes, so I can only glean some from you, Governor Lu."

Lu Tiao immediately replied, "I've heard of it long ago. Madam, you are truly talented! But must you include all these things in your travelogue?"

Shunyin smiled faintly, "I know what can be recorded and what cannot."

Lu Tiao was relieved. He had been here for a long time, and it was a rare opportunity to meet Shunyin, who had come from Chang'an. He felt a real connection with her and didn't hide anything from her. He sat down across the table, speaking much softer, and recounted everything in detail.

Shunyin sat to his right, occasionally glancing at his lips to make sure she understood what he was saying.

Shanzhou was not far from Liangzhou, and it was only then that troops were selected to be dispatched to suppress bandits. Unexpectedly, the Governor of Shanzhou, Yu Shixiong, personally led five thousand elite troops, but they found nothing.

The Liangzhou governor was furious, believing it a disgrace that the combined forces of Liangzhou and Shanzhou had been unable to subdue these petty bandits on the trade routes. He planned to appoint someone else to command the 5,000 troops in Shanzhou, and send additional troops from Liangzhou to jointly suppress the bandits.

However, Yu Shixiong refused to relinquish his command, insisting on continuing to lead the troops in the suppression.

Before the Liangzhou governor could agree, he learned that Yu Shixiong had not deployed all his troops during the suppression, leaving behind over a thousand men who were preparing to cause trouble. Enraged, the governor immediately stripped Yu Shixiong of his command, ordered all his troops to be transferred to the Liangzhou governor, and sent him back to Shanzhou that very day.

"That's why the General Manager and his wife have no interest in participating in the grand event." Lu Tiao chuckled as he said this. "Originally, Governor Yu and the Military Commander were at odds, and I even suspected that the Military Commander was involved in this matter. But when the General Manager learned that on the day he summoned officials to discuss the failed bandit suppression, the Military Commander and his wife went out to the south of the city to enjoy the scenery. They weren't in the city and didn't see the General Manager at all. Everyone in the city saw you two going out and returning together that day. How could there be any talk of the Military Commander being involved in seizing his troops?"

"..." Shunyin understood. That's why Mu Changzhou specially took her out that day—so that they could obtain military intelligence from the Shanzhou military camp without being in the city.

Now they had cleanly taken over the other side's five thousand elite troops. No wonder they haven't been seen recently; they were busy with this matter.

I guess Yu Shixiong is not someone easy to deal with. He took precautions when he brought his troops here, leaving more than a thousand men in the camp to hold back and sending people to patrol everywhere. If the commander-in-chief had sent someone else to take over his troops, he would have allowed these thousand-odd men to cause trouble in the camp, creating the impression that the Shanzhou troops were difficult for Liangzhou to control.

Unfortunately, this backfired; the scouts discovered the decision to leave the troops unattended, angering the commander-in-chief, and the five thousand elite troops ultimately changed hands.

She thought for a moment and said, "So now the military commander himself is leading the troops to suppress the bandits?"

Lu Tiao chuckled, "Why is Madam asking me this?" But he continued, "It's not the military commander. The previous bandit suppression efforts were largely ineffective, and the military commander wasn't leading the troops. He doesn't concern himself with such trivial matters anymore. This time, military power has been given to the assistant clerk, Zhang Junfeng, simply because he previously provided swift support to the governor."

Shunyin thought to herself: What difference is there between this and giving it to Mu Changzhou? Anyway, once the troops entered Liangzhou, they would all be under his command. He must have planned every step meticulously, and even dragged her into it...

In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, it had already darkened outside, and the noise on the street had increased. Lu Tiao stood up and said, "The grand event is about to begin. Madam, please go out to attend the ceremony."

Shunyin followed suit and, as she walked out, asked again, "You just said that Commander Yu and the Military Commander are not on good terms?"

Lu Tiao nodded, "That's not surprising. I arrived in Liangzhou late, and I heard that the military commander is a scholar by birth, and at such a young age, he already holds a high position of power in Hexi. It's inevitable that some people will resent him."

Shunyin thought it over in her mind and said nothing.

It was already dark outside, but the streets were brightly lit, as bright as day. There were even more pedestrians on the road than when they arrived, and the streets were packed with people.

Shengyu waited by the door and asked the guards to part the crowd on both sides so that Shunyin could follow Lu Tiao forward.

After a few steps, they arrived at the foot of a high platform, which was ten feet high. In the center of the platform was a golden Buddha statue about half a person's height, surrounded by colorful silk and dried flowers, with incense smoke rising. It was probably set up specifically for this grand event. A circle of monks were chanting sutras and striking their bowls around the Buddha statue.

There were also soldiers guarding the platform below, and several civil officials in blue robes were waiting below with their families, not yet going up.

Lu Tiao led the way and invited Shunyin to go up first.

Shunyin followed him up, looking around. It was true that the Hu style was prevalent in Liangzhou; almost half the crowd on the road was dressed in Hu clothing. She, on the other hand, wore a high-waisted ruqun, and because she was participating in the Buddhist ceremony, she didn't wear a veil, revealing her high-coiled hair, making her stand out like an exotic flower.

Lu Tiao glanced at her and said, "I wanted to say this as soon as I saw you, Madam. Your arrival in Liangzhou is like a strong wind blowing from Chang'an."

Before Shunyin could speak, he had already taken a lit long-handled incense burner from a nearby soldier and handed it to her.

"Madam represents the Military Command, please offer incense first."

Shunyin looked around. She didn't believe in Buddhism or Taoism, but with such a grand display, she couldn't be negligent. She accepted the incense burner and walked towards the Buddha statue.

---

The city gates were open today. The group had just returned from outside the east gate, but when they reached the main street, the road was blocked, so they had to stop.

Sitting on his horse, Mu Changzhou, though still some distance away through the crowd, spotted a figure on the high platform. The figure wore a pale yellow wide-sleeved blouse and a crimson pomegranate skirt, cinched at the waist, with elegantly styled hair and a shawl draped over her arm, offering incense to the Buddha.

Hu Bo'er, following behind, found the crowd unbearable and cursed a couple of times. Turning around, she saw Mu Changzhou had dismounted and immediately followed.

Zhang Junfeng caught up, dismounted, and whispered behind him, "Commander, the troops have taken over."

"Hmm." Mu Changzhou handed his bow to the archers behind him, signaling them to lead their horses back.

Hu Bo'er and Zhang Junfeng followed him, suddenly looking up and seeing Shunyin standing on the platform. They exchanged a glance, then looked at Mu Changzhou ahead.

After the incense offering was completed, the old monk meditating before the Buddha returned the gesture, his fingers twirling prayer beads, and, as was customary, chanted sutras to bless the first incense offerer.

Lu Tiao, standing nearby, said, "This is the wife of the military commander, a noblewoman of the Feng family of Bohai, who has come all the way from Chang'an."

The old monk nodded, recognizing her identity, and softly recited the inscription for her.

Lu Tiao said to Shunyin, "The high monk has also been to Chang'an and met many high-ranking officials; perhaps he even met the lady."

The surroundings were too noisy, and Shunyin only understood what he was saying by reading his lip movements. She shook her head, "Impossible."

The old monk had just finished reciting when he opened his eyes and suddenly said, "I have long since withdrawn from worldly affairs, but the Feng family still remembers that I attended a Dharma assembly at the Great Ci'en Temple in Chang'an and met many officials, including Minister Feng."

Shunyin immediately pursed her lips.

The old monk recalled, "That year, when I passed the imperial examination, I inscribed my name on the Wild Goose Pagoda; it seems there were members of the Feng family there as well."

Lu Tiao was immediately surprised, "Is that so?"

Shunyin hadn't expected this to be a monk who had actually been to Chang'an. She turned her head and said, "The high monk is mistaken; that wasn't a member of the Feng family..."

Her words trailed off as she caught sight of a long shadow. Her gaze met his.

Mu Changzhou stood below the stage, his robes tightly bound, a sword at his waist, clearly having just returned from outside the city. His eyes were fixed on her.

For a moment, it felt as if he were still at the Qujiang banquet seven years ago, only the people were no longer the same.

She turned her eyes away.

Mu Changzhou stood in the dim light, seeing her gaze, a slight smile playing on his lips, knowing she was still simmering with anger.

She was cold by nature, never showing her anger outwardly, but even her eyes were icy, yet paired with this striking attire, she was dazzling. He suddenly remembered that she always wore the same expression when she was a child, so indifferent—truly unchanged.

The bathing of the Buddha began, clear water gushing down from the top of the Buddha statue, irrigating the golden body. Immediately, the chanting of devout men and women below filled the air, a chaotic and disorderly cacophony, as they began to crowd towards the high platform.

Lu Tiao had to step in to maintain order.

Shunyin, unable to hear the surrounding chatter and seeing the chaotic scene, turned to descend the steps. However, the officials in blue robes, accompanied by their families, had already climbed up, blocking her way. Annoyed but unable to show it, she touched her left ear and stepped aside.

Suddenly, the officials moved aside.

Shunyin looked up and saw Mu Changzhou walking unhurriedly towards her, placing his hand on her shoulder and leading her down the steps.

The old monk who had been chanting suddenly said, "Isn't this the Jinshi from the Feng family back then?"

Shunyin heard only half a sentence and stopped. Mu Changzhou glanced at the old monk but said nothing more, placing his hand on her shoulder again and leading her down the steps.

Lu Tiao said, "High monk, you've mistaken him. That is our Liangzhou Military Commander."

The old monk recited a Buddhist verse without asking if it was correct.

Zhang Junfeng and Hu Bo'er, below the steps, were stunned by the old monk's words, exchanging bewildered glances.

They walked along the roadside for a long time, one on each side, until they were far away from the crowd and the surroundings became quieter.

Shunyin stepped back from his side and said, "I won't thank you, Second Brother Mu. After all, you've received my help."

Mu Changzhou turned to look at her, a smile playing on his lips, "Indeed."

Shunyin didn't speak and went to find her carriage.

Shengyu followed, carrying a cup of fragrant medicinal sweet soup, "This is for praying. Madam hasn't prayed yet."

Shunyin turned back and saw someone on the platform offering sweet soup to the Buddha. It was indeed for praying. She glanced at Mu Changzhou, took the cup, and said, "Then I pray that Second Brother Mu will never need my help in anything in the future."

Mu Changzhou looked at her, reached out, took the cup, and drank it all in one gulp, as if deliberately saying, "Praying to the Buddha probably won't work."

Next