Chapter 316 Mid-July

After bidding farewell to Xiao Cui in Xishi, Princess Ankang left with the Eighth Prince and Princess Yuanan.

Today was their last day out of the palace. I don’t know what kind of program the Eighth Prince had arranged. He was so confident and said that he would definitely bring Princess Ankang and Princess Yuanan to have fun.

Following the Eighth Prince, Princess Ankang and Princess Yuanan came to their first destination today.

Dayunjing Temple.

This is a temple very close to Xishi. It is very majestic. It is obvious that it took a lot of effort to build it.

"Old Eighth, why did you bring us to the temple?"

Princess Yuanan asked puzzledly.

She originally thought that the Eighth Prince was going to take them to some fun place, but she didn't expect to take them to a temple.

This temple does look good, but what fun places can there be here?

The Eighth Prince was not in a hurry to answer Princess Yuanan's puzzlement.

"Yuan'an, don't be anxious."

"As the saying goes, you can't eat hot tofu in a hurry. Just follow me today."

The Eighth Prince said so and led the way for them in front.

He seemed to be very familiar with this place, and the monks of Dayun Sutra Temple were also very respectful to the Eighth Prince.

It seemed that the Eighth Prince was not here for the first time, at least he was a frequent visitor.

The Eighth Prince took Princess Ankang and Princess Yuan'an to visit the temple.

It should be said that the scenery here is really good, and wherever you go, you can hear the faint chanting of Buddhist scriptures, which makes people feel peaceful.

Li Xuan looked around curiously in Princess Ankang's arms.

He could feel that the atmosphere in the temple seemed to be subtly different from the outside world.

But he couldn't tell what was different.

It was a mysterious feeling.

"Look, this place is called Qianfo Pavilion, which is also a scene in the capital."

The Eighth Prince introduced them.

When everyone stepped into the Thousand Buddha Pavilion, they saw that the huge space was filled with various Buddha statues. Even the beams and the roof were engraved with various Buddha sculptures, which looked spectacular.

"Wow——"

Even Princess Yuan An, who had been expressing her dissatisfaction, couldn't help but open her mouth and eyes wide.

What the Eighth Prince said was indeed correct. The Thousand Buddha Pavilion in front of them was indeed a scene in the capital.

Speaking of which, the three little ones had not really enjoyed the scenery in the capital when they were playing in the capital these days.

Especially famous attractions like the Thousand Buddha Pavilion in front of them, they had never been to any of them.

Of course, if Huajie is also a famous attraction in the capital, then they have also checked in.

The Eighth Prince took them to visit the Thousand Buddha Pavilion, and from time to time he would introduce to them which Buddha the Buddha statue in front of them was, and occasionally he would quote scriptures and tell them a few Buddhist stories.

It seems that the Eighth Prince has a good understanding of Buddhist allusions.

"Will this guy want to become a monk in the future?"

Li Xuan looked at the chattering Eighth Prince and couldn't help but guess.

"Eighth brother, I see that there are many places in the temple decorated with lights and colors. Is it a certain day today? Are there any activities to be prepared?"

Princess Ankang asked curiously.

"Haha, Ankang is still careful."

The Eighth Prince praised, causing Princess Yuanan to roll her eyes.

Then, the Eighth Prince continued to explain:

"Today is the 15th day of the seventh month. Buddhism calls it the Ullambana Festival, and Taoism calls it the Zhongyuan Festival."

"It is one of the three major ghost festivals in a year."

Princess Yuanan couldn't help but ask curiously:

"Three major ghost festivals?"

"That is, Qingming Festival, the 15th day of the seventh month, and the Cold Clothes Festival." The Eighth Prince continued to explain patiently.

Princess Ankang and Princess Yuanan had heard of Qingming Festival, but the two festivals behind them sounded a little strange to them.

But in fact, this is not the fault of Princess Ankang and Princess Yuan'an, because in the palace, sacrificial activities are mainly held on the Qingming Festival.

There are no special arrangements for the other two festivals.

And it is good enough that Princess Ankang knows about the Qingming Festival.

After all, she has lived in the cold palace for a long time and is even less clear about the things in the palace.

In the past, she could keep in touch with the outside world only through the monthly gatherings in the imperial garden.

The Eighth Prince was not surprised that Princess Yuan'an did not know the three major ghost festivals.

But seeing Princess Ankang also showing a confused look, a trace of sympathy flashed in his eyes.

But it was soon hidden by the Eighth Prince.

"I will take you to visit the nearby temples and Taoist temples during the day, and then choose a satisfactory place to participate in the July 15th event in the evening."

"By then, the people nearby will also come to participate, it will be very lively."

It turned out that this was the program arranged by the Eighth Prince today.

If it weren't for him, the two princesses would not know that today was the July 15th.

Next, the Eighth Prince took Princess Ankang and Princess Yuan'an to visit all the nearby temples and Taoist temples.

Dayunjing Temple, Ximing Temple, Chongsheng Temple, Jianfu Temple, Xuandu Temple, Daxingshan Temple, Chongji Temple, Ci'en Temple...

They hadn't visited all the temples and Taoist temples yet.

They didn't have time to visit more remote temples.

At noon, they found a random temple to have vegetarian food.

You know what, it was just a clear soup, not oily, but also delicious.

Li Xuan was used to eating big fish and meat on weekdays, and occasionally having some vegetarian food gave him a big surprise.

There are indeed many temples and Taoist temples in the capital, and they all have their own characteristics.

According to the Eighth Prince, only temples with profound heritage can build pagodas.

They looked all the way here, and they really only saw two or three pagodas, and they were all built very high.

More importantly, Li Xuan sensed the aura of many masters in these temples and Taoist temples.

"Sure enough, there are always many masters hidden in Buddhism and Taoism."

These people have been practicing for their whole lives, and compared with secular people, they have fewer distractions and can concentrate on practicing.

After a day of visiting temples and Taoist temples, the sun soon set.

But the activities of the Mid-Autumn Festival have just begun.

Finally, they chose to participate in the activities of the Mid-Autumn Festival at Ci'en Temple.

According to the Eighth Prince, Ci'en Temple is the most famous and magnificent Buddhist temple in the capital.

Therefore, it is also the most lively place in the capital during the Mid-Autumn Festival tonight.

"This Ci'en Temple was ordered to be built by Emperor Shengzu of Daxing to commemorate his biological mother and pray for her afterlife and repay her kindness, so it is named Ci'en Temple."

The Eighth Prince made this introduction, staring at the plaque in front of the temple with a complicated expression.

Even Princess Yuan'an, who had been talking back all the way, listened obediently and did not interrupt the Eighth Prince's introduction.

"Let's go in."

The Eighth Prince invited them to go in together, and the group walked into the Ci'en Temple in a mighty manner.

At this time, night had just fallen, but the Ci'en Temple was already crowded.

People were scrambling to burn a stick of incense from the Ci'en Temple for their ancestors.

It is said that the incense of the Ci'en Temple is very effective, and filial piety to the ancestors can protect the descendants of future generations from peace and health, without illness or disaster.

Various small activities were arranged in the temple, such as burning incense and praying for blessings, burning paper for ancestors, and lighting river lanterns to save the lonely.

The Ci'en Temple also held a grand ritual to worship the ghosts of heaven and earth.

Although the 15th day of the seventh month is the Ghost Festival, the atmosphere is very joyful.

The streets outside the temple are even more lively, with not only dragon and lion dance parades, but also various tricks and performances, as lively as the New Year.

Originally, the three little ones thought that the atmosphere of the Ghost Festival would be dull, but it was completely different from what they imagined.

Perhaps, this is a lively performance by the living for the dead.

It is to make the deceased no longer worry about them.

Under the leadership of the Eighth Prince, a group of people shuttled through the crowd.

Because there were eunuchs in flowery clothes to lead the way, they did not suffer from the crowd and easily participated in and tried many activities of the Mid-Autumn Festival.

In the end, they came to a pond in the backyard of Ci'en Temple.

This is a place specially arranged for river lanterns.

The river lanterns are in the shape of lotus flowers. After being placed in the pond, they will slowly drift with the current.

The pond of Ci'en Temple leads to the outside world, flowing all the way to the moat outside the city, and then flowing along the moat to a farther place.

According to the introduction of the Eighth Prince, the purpose of releasing river lanterns is to pray for salvation.

According to legend, the road from the underworld to the world of the living is very dark. If there is no light, you can't see the road, so releasing lanterns is a good deed.

In this way, the wronged souls who are lingering in hell and begging for reincarnation can drag a river lantern, find a way, and finally be reborn.

Humans are always so romantic about death.

Li Xuan can perceive this through these customs that are similar to his previous life.

Princess Ankang held a beautiful lotus lantern, closed her eyes and prayed silently, and finally carefully put it into the pond.

Looking at the lotus lantern in the pond, which was slowly drifting away with the waves, Princess Ankang's eyes were slowly covered with a layer of mist.

This is the first time she has released a river lantern for Concubine Xiao in so many years.

This made Princess Ankang feel somewhat unfilial.

She looked at the river lantern that was constantly moving away from her and thought of Concubine Xiao on the sickbed that day.

Suddenly, the originally vague memory began to become clear, which hurt Princess Ankang severely.

"Your Highness."

Yu'er gently pressed Princess Ankang's shoulder and called out with some concern.

Princess Ankang shook her head and smiled slightly, but tears fell from her eyes.

"Nothing, I just..."

"Meow~"

Li Xuan stood up from Princess Ankang's arms, stretched out his tongue, and gently licked away the tears on Princess Ankang's cheeks.

Princess Ankang felt an itch on her face, and when she looked at Li Xuan and Yu'er, who were full of worry, her smile became brighter.

"I just miss my mother."

The three little ones turned their heads silently, looked at the river lantern that was gradually going away, and thought of Concubine Xiao's appearance.

Speaking of which, Concubine Xiao is really a very special person.

When Li Xuan was still a kitten, Concubine Xiao often hugged him and said some incomprehensible words.

Although she is a mother, she is like a little girl in her daily life.

But Concubine Xiao occasionally became serious and looked very reliable.

But later her illness became more and more serious, so serious that she had no strength to talk to Li Xuan.

Princess Ankang's habit of always talking to Li Xuan was also learned from Concubine Xiao.

At the beginning, they didn't know that Li Xuan could understand human language.

Even so, there were endless things to say to Li Xuan every day.

The Eighth Prince and Princess Yuan'an did not disturb the three children, but each of them released their own river lanterns.

Like Princess Ankang, the Eighth Prince also closed his eyes deeply before sending the river lantern away, and reluctantly pushed the river lantern into the pond after a long time.

Princess Yuan'an simply sent the river lantern into the water and simply completed the ceremony.

At this time, the huge pond of Ci'en Temple was filled with dim lights, like a bright starry river falling on the water.

There were many people releasing river lanterns, but until the river lanterns could no longer be seen, many people could clearly distinguish the river lanterns they had put down in the lights.

The three children silently retracted their gazes, and the river lanterns that Princess Ankang had put down earlier had already flowed out of the pond.

Just looking at the scene in front of them, no one wanted to leave.

Even for Princess Yuan'an, this was a rare beauty.

The vast number of lotus lanterns gently sank and floated on the water, gradually drifting away, and no one could stay.

They looked for a long time before the Eighth Prince said, "Let's go. It's time to go back." Princess Ankang and Princess Yuan'an were about to agree when suddenly another commotion came from not far away. A long black shadow stood in the direction of the commotion. "It seems to be the direction of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Let's go and have a look." The Eighth Prince frowned and said. The Big Wild Goose Pagoda is the pagoda in the Ci'en Temple. It is a square cone with seven floors. Even in the capital, it is a very conspicuous building. "This place is usually not open to the public, and it should be the same today." "Let's go and see what happened." After the Eighth Prince said this, Li Xuan also became interested. "It's a place that is not open to the public." "Interesting." "Could there be some treasure hidden there?" Li Xuan's eyes lit up immediately. The group hurried to the direction of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, and found that the Big Wild Goose Pagoda was brightly lit and many people gathered there. These people can see that there are two distinct parties.

One side is a monk wearing monk's robes and holding a wooden stick. I think they are from Ci'en Temple.

These monks are all strong, with tendons and extraordinary momentum. They are obviously masters with cultivation.

The other side who confronted the monks looked familiar.

The dress and temperament of the person were exactly the same as Xu Lang and others.

"Huh? It seems to be the flowery eunuch?"

Li Xuan saw it at a glance and felt strange.

"Why did the flowery eunuch conflict with the monks of Ci'en Temple?"

"Could it be a prince?"

During this period, the only ones who wandered around the capital with the flowery eunuch were the princes and princesses who participated in the Imperial Garden Trial.

Apart from this, Li Xuan couldn't think of any other possibilities.

At this time, the monks of Ci'en Temple shouted in unison:

"Ci'en Temple is a forbidden area, outsiders are not allowed to trespass!"

This was said to the flowery eunuch who was originally confronting them, and also to Princess Ankang and others who had just arrived.

Princess Ankang, the eighth prince, and Princess Yuan'an immediately stopped their steps and did not move forward easily.

Before things are clear, it is better not to get involved in the dispute at will.

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The depression after indulgence is so uncomfortable...

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