The Hu Guo Zen Temple didn’t allow normal visitors to enter and burn incense. If they wanted to burn incense and pray, they could only kneel outside the doors of the temple and kowtow against the ground. Thus, the sight that surrounds the temple every day is the throngs of visitors kneeling outside to pray to the Buddha.
When Luo Wei arrived at the temple, the doors were closed as they always are.
Wei Lan went up to the gates and knocked. After a good long while, a little young monk in training opened a small peep hole on the door. He peered at Wei Lan and asked, “Who are you looking for? If you’re here to pray, you have to do it outside.”
“I’m Luo Wei, Luo Yun Qi,” Luo Wei walked up behind Wei Lan, addressing the little monk, “I am here to beg for audience with Grand Priest Fu Yi. Could you please let him know?”
The little monk looked at Luo Wei, then answered, “Please wait a moment, Master Luo,” then closed the little peep hole.
“Are you cold, young master?” Wei Lan stood upwind, shielding Luo Wei behind him, “Should we wait in the carriage instead?” He asked.
Before Luo Wei could even answer, a matronly voice spoke up behind him, “Is this the third young master of the Luo family?”
Luo Wei turned to look, and recognized the matron behind him as Lady Li, the wife of the Marquis Li, “Lady Li,” Luo Wei put a smile on his face, and bowed towards Lady Li, “My most respectful greetings.”
“Is the third young master also here to pray to Buddha?” Lady Li asked with a smile. She was here to pray for good fortune for the new-born tenth prince. The fortune and success of the Li family was tied to this little prince, and thus Lady Li never felt quite at ease without praying to the Buddha at least once.
“I’m here to see the Grand Priest,” Luo Wei answered. He knew that Lady Li must have been here for the tenth prince, so he didn’t ask.
Hearing that Luo Wei was here to see the grand priest, Lady Li felt a touch of envy, but she couldn’t quite believe it at the same time. The Marquis Li had asked to see the Grand Priest many times as well, but hadn’t the luck to see this Grandmaster Fu Yi even once. How could a young kid like Luo Wei, be granted audience with the grandmaster just by standing outside the temple readily announcing that he wanted to him?
Luo Wei stood outside the gates and made small talk with Lady Li. He didn’t mention the tenth prince, and neither did Lady Li. It was between a few polite niceties that the gates finally opened.
“Third young master,” It was that little monk from before, addressing Luo Wei as he stepped out of the gates, “The grandmaster extends his invitation, please come with me.”
The commoners outside were abuzz with curiosity as they saw the gates actually open at the temple. Even if it was a smaller door, people were curious enough not to make a fuss and only stared quietly through the small opening, trying to see what the inside of this temple was really like.
“You must excuse me, Lady Li,” Luo Wei made another bow at Lady Li before heading into the temple with Wei Lan, led by the little monk.
“He’s the third son of Chancellor Luo’s family,” At this point, some of the common visitors recognized Luo Wei, and pa.s.sed the information along to their companions.
“No wonder he’s able to get inside. He’s the disciple of the emperor himself.”
“Maybe he’s even here on direct orders from His Imperial Majesty.”
…
Lady Li’s expression was a little stiff. She listened to the throng of comments made about Luo Wei. No matter if it’s about how Luo Wei’s appearance rivalled that of women, how he was in favour with the emperor, or recently, how the Luo family were in good solid standing in the court, everything sounded like a personal jab at her. Consort Li had birthed the tenth prince, but there were nine other princes in front of him. The crown prince was the direct offspring of the Empress himself, thus the official heir. How could she ever hope to remove these roadblocks? And this Luo family… with their existence, how could the Li family ever hope to rise above the rest? What will the Li family have to do in order to tread carefully enough, and make sure to not repeat the Liu family’s fate? Lady Li was not just another n.o.ble wife. She was the chief strategist behind Marquis Li. She’d been plotting the future of the Li family ever since she became the wife of the Marquis.
Luo Wei, Luo Yun Qi. Lady Li repeated this name. How could this youth gain so much favour with the emperor that even Grandmaster Fu Yi had to treat him differently? If the tenth prince wanted to gain the throne, this Luo Wei would be considered an enemy. But to make an enemy of someone like this… Lady Li thought of how Liu Shuang Shi accused Luo Wei of killing him with his dying words. Making an enemy of someone like this was not a very lucky thing.
Luo Wei followed closely behind the little monk. He was thinking of Lady Li as well. In the past life, Consort Li never had a son, and so the Li family had thrown their lot in with Long Xuan, and did not partic.i.p.ate in the compet.i.tion for the throne. This lifetime, a tenth prince had been added into the mix, and the Li family were unlikely to simply rally behind someone else. But the tenth prince had just been born, and within the depths of the Back Palace, even growing up was an uncertainty. For the Li family to be plotting right now was perhaps a little early. Instead of praying for the tenth prince to become a dragon in his own right, it’d be more useful to pray for him to grow up safely! These were the thoughts that floated around in his brain as Luo Wei stood in front of Grandmaster Fu Yi.
“Why does the young master hold death and killing in his heart?” Grandmaster Fu Yi looked at Luo Wei, and immediately asked after a glance
Luo Wei startled, and quickly held back his thoughts as he paid respects to the grandmaster, “My most respectful greetings to the Grand Priest.”
Grandmaster Fu Yi looked at Wei Lan, standing outside the chamber, “Is that the young master’s guard?”
“Yes,” Luo Wei answered.
“His life is difficult,” Grandmaster Fu Yi said, “But he has the fortune of having both a son and a daughter.”
“A son and a daughter?” Luo Wei turned to look towards Wei Lan, his voice a little shaken.
“It should be thus,” Grandmaster Fu Yi said, “It is fated, but achieving that fate will depend on himself.”
Outside the doors, Wei Lan had just turned as well. Seeing Luo Wei staring at him, Wei Lan cast a little smile to Luo Wei.
Luo Wei smiled too, back at Wei Lan, then turned to the Grandmaster, “Then what about me? Could the grandmaster tell me what my days in the future hold?”
Grandmaster Fu Yi responded, “Please take a seat first, let’s sit and chat.”
Luo Wei sat opposite the grandmaster. A little monk came up to offer clear tea. Luo Wei looked at the light green tea, then lifted his gaze back to Grandmaster Fu Yi, still questioning, “I don’t quite understand the words that the Grandmaster offered me that day in the palace. I’m here today to get to the bottom of it.”
Grandmaster Fu Yi held the tea in his hands, “Who did the young master want to kill just now?”
Luo Wei answered, “I was thinking of something unpleasant, but I didn’t want to kill anyone.”
“The business of killing and execution is not very well suited for the young master,” Grandmaster Fu Yi commented, “If the young master has already found someone to be with, why not leave?”
Luo Wei had lowered his head to touch the teacup, but in a moment his fingers shot back as if scalded, “The Grandmaster had said just now that he has the fortune of having both a son and a daughter.”
Grandmaster Fu Yi didn’t expect Luo Wei to be so open with him, but he smiled, “But I also said it’s up to him to achieve it, to see if he is willing. If the young master will not let go, this person will follow, never straying or abandoning you.”
“Can the grandmaster be so sure?”
“He’s someone who does not ask for much in life. A person like this lives simply, and his heart is the most true and honest,” Grandmaster Fu Yi turned to look at Wei Lan again, who stood guard outside, “People are hard to predict, but I have some experience in the judgement of character.”