The Guide to Capturing a Black Lotus

Chapter 40: Soul and Sandalwood (4)

Liuyue Palace. 

The square wooden fence in the round window caused countless thin strands of shadow to cover the table. As the light moved, shadows moved along with it. The moving clouds reflected indigo warm sunlight onto the windowsill. 

The incense smoke rose gradually and the thick aroma of incense stained the Son of Heavens gold-lined black gown. The young Son of Heaven lightly leaned back as he scowled at the thick incense smoke. 

Dowager Consort Zhao was supporting her forehead with her palm as she dozed off. She wore her long nail guards and in between her fingers, the deep, long lines of her crows feet were visible. 

Mother Consort. 

Imperial Son. Dowager Consort Zhao didnt open her eyes, still maintaining her exhausted posture. You lowered yourself and disregarded your high standing and came here to your Mother Consort all for the sake of taking that maid with you? 

The young Son of Heaven was stunned by this sentence of hers and paused for a moment before replying: Mother Consort, you know that Peiyun was wrongly accused. She has stayed at Zhens side since a young age, she has always been honest and prudent 

Dowager Consort Zhao coldly smiled and raised her eyes. Her eyes were filled with a mocking sneer as she looked deeply at him: Imperial Son, people will change. 

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The Son of Heaven was stunned: Zhen Thats not what Zhen 

He looked into Dowager Consort Zhaos blood streaked eyes and understood that there was no way for them to properly communicate and disappointedly gave up. 

The mother and son duo sunk into silence for a long time. The atmosphere was heavy and stiff. He took the initiative to speak up: Mother Consort, youve always held some anger in your heart. Is it anger at this son for not letting Mother Consort become the Dowager Empress? 

Dowager Consort Zhaos mouth curled into an empty, cold smile. 

The Emperor patiently continued: You gave me the gift of life and youre the Nations mother. Naturally, your position is worthy and uplifted, theres nothing to criticize. 

These words of his were somewhat pointed and sounded extremely harsh, stabbing into Dowager Consort Zhaos sore spot. She was greatly riled and her chest heaved for a good while before she spoke with trembling lips: You still arent willing to let go of things that happened a decade ago! You stubbornly maintain that I was wrong and because of that, I can never hold up my head in front of you who do you think I did all of that for? Try and take a gander at it!

The Son of Heavens temper had also been aroused: Zhen was raised in the previous Empress Dowager residence. Zhen never lacked food or drink and was protected very well. What could have Mother Consort worried over? Chasing after fame and fortune at the expense of human lives, dont tell me that it was all for Zhen?! 

She protected and raised you up well? Dowager Consort Zhaos eyes became laden with tears. Her hand clutched the cloth around her waist as if she was trying to suppress an explosion of fury, Im worthless! My own son isnt close with me. Whether or not he ate well, slept well or even went to school I dont know any of these! After spewing out this spiel, she was basically clenching her teeth, Son, do you understand the heart of a mother? 

The Emperor was struck into an awkward silence by her furious outburst. 

He was used to giving out iron-handed commands and upon encountering a cadence he was completely unused to, he felt like he was wading through mud. With the grievances and love slowly built up over many years, he felt even more at a loss as to what to do. 

Ten years was enough to let even the most intimate people turn into strangers. 

After her outburst, the atmosphere turned both stifling and ugly. Dowager Consort Zhaos tears were flowing as quickly as a brook, ruining and smearing her thick makeup. Before she had been married off, she sat in the Seven Fragrance Carriage with countless people looking up to this Miss Zhao. She had been a beauty, one both beautiful and noble, yet in the end she still turned into a locked up old mother stuck deep within the castle walls. 

The past was already in the past. There was no point in chasing after it. 

She only spoke up after a long time had passed. She spoke long and wide without any clear indication as to who she was talking to. Her voice was low, nearly husky, just like an old rickety wheel: Do you know? When your uncle died, he pulled my hand and handed the Mu Jade Tablet to me. Tears rolled down his face as he handed his children to me to care. I was completely astonished at the time, I remember it clearly. I thought that even after he had lived such a glorious life, married a stunning woman and had both sons and daughters, that he would still care so much for a wild child. She gave the Emperor a look and smiled with a pale face, Now I understand. This was a curse. Our Zhao family has long been used to achieving our goals through hook or crook. Taking other children for the sake of gaining empty fame, I suppose it all has come back to bite us in the end. 

The Son of Heaven was suspicious within his heart. 

His mother consort suddenly brought up the topic of his maternal uncle, the uncle who had died for seven or 8 years already. Before he died, he hadnt been close to the Imperial family and even when he died, there wasnt much fanfare for his departure from earth. He was just someone who had nearly been completely forgotten by the people. 

He felt strange upon hearing this but didnt want to think too deeply. 

His time was limited. This time he only had only one objective: Ease his relations with Dowager Consort Zhao and get her to let Peiyun leave. Everything else to him wasnt a part of his plan at all.

He took out a sandalwood box from his sleeves and lightly placed it on the table. He took a side glance at Dowager Consort Zhaos expression and took the first step to weaken his stance: Son didnt come today to wound mother consorts heart. So many years have passed and there are many places your son doesnt understand either. Today I brought a gift, mother consort, please forgive me. 

Dowager Consort Zhao weakly lifted it up and opened up the box to take a look. She suddenly acted as if a bolt of lightning landed on her head, her face turning paler than ever and her hand starting to tremble terribly. After a long time she said: What is this 

The Emperor didnt sense her change in expression as he looked at the box. He shrewdly replied: It is the Tianzhu Continents ashes after cremation. Legends say that this Buddhist arra is the most valued treasure in Buddhism. Zhen thought that since Mother Consort sincerely worshipped Buddha, you would definitely like it. So Zhen specially gifted it to you 

Ashes Budhhist arra Dowager Consort Zhao didnt seem to be hearing him as her hands shook more and more. Suddenly, her eyes rolled around and she fell down from her chair. 

Buddhist arra? 

Ling Miaomiao was speechless: How many things had this woman not revealed? How many versions were there of the events of that day?

Miss Ling Do you know what Buddhist arra is? Guo Xiu wiped off a forehead of sweat. Under the blistering weather, after two trips spent under the sun, his clothes were as drenched as if he had been fished out of a pond. For the sake of this arra, the Dowager Consort till this date has been in a half-dead state; If you bring this up shell go insane! 

He held his hand against his stomach as he panted for breath, 

Ling Miaomiao went to confirm once more: You said that her Highness the Dowager Consort was the one who sent the Buddhist arra to Tianzhu¹ [1] Ancient name for India. and that she became dizzy just from giving it a single glance? 

Guo Xiu nodded: Miss Ling, you might not know. He half bent over and somewhat awkwardly lowered his voice, The moment something happened, Liuyue Palace turned into a mess of confusion. The female official gugus ² [2] Honestly I cant remember what I translated for this before so Im just gonna put a note here for you all as well: Gugu is sort of a term for a middle aged (normally) rough servant lady. at her side could only tell everything to this lowly one. Originally, a decade ago, that person named Tao Ying brought the monks into the palace but not for the sake of teaching buddhism. It was for the sake of presenting a treasure, the arra, which was a treasure of Tianzhus Buddhist Temple. The Dowager Consort and his Highness both secretly looked at it and became extremely trustful of his identity. Then, that arra was placed in uh  at the highest floor of the previous Xingshan Buddhist Temple.

Miaomiaos massive brain spun at a rapid speed, so fast that it was nearly overheating and crashing. 

In the original books plot, the main point of view was completely on Liu Fuyi. This entire episode was written from Liu Fuyis view, of how he bravely rushed into the old Xingshan Temple and saved Princess Duanyang from the ghost laden place. The two of them would grow closer and the atmosphere ambiguous after going through trials and tribulations together. No matter how Mu Yao inwardly blamed herself, no matter how difficult the path to love for her was there was absolutely nothing about Mu Shengs situation at all! So in the end, the Black Lotus and her, these two people had to continue the plot without any clue as to the situation, completely blindly heading into this case. 

She was only just some half-baked university student. She definitely didnt have enough IQ, but Mu Sheng definitely had enough. Unfortunately he wasnt interested in solving the issue, only in watching the hustle and bustle. 

With this crackhead of a condor hero and his blind companion, only a fool would think of them as dependable. ³ [3] I have been informed that this is likely a reference to Return of the Condor Heroes about the main lead and his disciple who are a couple. Mu Sheng = the main lead. Miaomiao = the disciple. Idk Luna & Liltato, did I explain properly?

Ling Miaomiao could only bear with the headache: You said that Tao Ying presented the arra and placed it in the old temple. According to reason then, the arra shouldve been burnt into ashes So then, what exactly did his Highness take out exactly? This arra is the Buddhist Temples most precious treasure, its not like its just some pebble you can find anywhere on the ground 

Guo Xiu lamented: Thats what is strange about all this! The arra that his Highness sacrificed clearly shouldve been brought over the mountains and the seas by a senior monk! It absolutely cannot be Tao Ying, that 

So youre saying that the arra Tao Ying offered was fake? Yet somehow it managed to trick both the previous Emperor and Dowager Consort Zhao into believing that it was a real arra? After carefully protecting it for so long, after Dowager Consort Zhao saw the real one today, she suddenly felt like she was tricked and then passed out from anger? 

Miaomiao couldnt continue speaking at this point as she turned around to look at the ever silent Mu Sheng. She saw that he was still absent-mindedly looking at the ground and couldnt help but use her elbow to stab at him: What do you think? 

Mu Sheng curled up his lips into a cold sneer: Zhao Qinru was born in a large and powerful clan and she also became a pampered concubine. Of all the treasures present under the heavens, shes seen many if not most of them. How could she so easily be led by the nose by some stranger with some fake treasure? 

Guo Xiu was struck dumb and rubbed his nose: Young Noble Mus meaning is Tao Yings arra was really the real thing? 

Whether or not it was real, I dont know. But what I do know is that it was definitely very holy. Mu Sheng glanced at Guo Xiu as his sneer became even stranger, Did you think that simply because Tao Ying could pinch some beads, he would manage to hoodwink Zhao Xinru? 

A kacha sounded within Ling Miaomiaos head just like chains locking together, the entire process slowly came together into a successive, unbreaking line. 

Dowager Consort Zhao said that she completely believed Tao Ying. 

There were no real living buddhas in the world. What did he depend on to make Dowager Consort Zhao completely wholeheartedly strive for living a life of compassion in such a short amount of time? He was just like a daoist immortal descending from the heavens, luring her in step by step, even daring to attempt something like incinerating her daughter.

So what if the spiritual one wasnt Tao Ying, but rather the treasure in his hands?

It doesnt look holy to me at all! Its evil! Miaomiao clutched onto Guo Xius clothes spitting out words as fast as a machine gun, Did she say where she put the arra? 

Where Guo Xiu had been so bombarded with questions that he became muddle-headed, Wasnt it placed above the pagoda in the old temple? 

Miaomiao coldly sneered, What a joke. If that thing had really been burnt into ashes ten years ago, she wouldnt have become dizzy today. 

Dowager Consort Zhao performed buddhist ceremonies not for the sake of stabilizing her internal thoughts, but for the sake of hoping that her desires and wishes would be fulfilled. She was a very outcome-oriented woman. Whether it be ceremonies, practicing buddhism or messing with evil cults, as long as they could help her achieve her wishes, she would dare to take the leap and try them all out. 

For Dowager Consort Zhao whose heart was filled with desires, she could still go and perform buddhist rites even after the evil cult burned down Xingshang Temple from the start, it was rather unjustifiable. (Shameful?) 

How could she give up on the arra with such fantastical powers, filled with her desires? How could she bear to let the jewel of her heart become covered in dirt? With her treasure buried in the sea of fire, if she were to move attention away from this giant secret of hers, she could continue to use it for herself in secret

However, once she finally saw the real arra after countless years of throwing her inner desires at a fake and treating it as a real buddhist treasure, finally realized that it was actually the source of all her disaster; How could she possibly not pass out!

The Dowager Consort Zhao decrees-

A few men on horseback suddenly surged forward, the leading horseman carrying a wooden box painted with red lacquer in both hands. Atop the soft green satin wrapping the box, a palm-sized jade plaque was placed with the red threads below sewn into tassels. 

I come bearing the Mu Family Jade Plaque! Young Noble Mu, may your distinguished self please head towards Xingshan Temple immediately to find and bring back the arra to Liuyue Palace! There can be no delay! 

Mu Sheng shot a side glance at the jade plaque and reacted as if he had seen his teacher handing him homework, scrunching up his eyebrows with complete unwillingness filling his tone: Mu Sheng obeys the orders. 

TLN: So this chapter isnt edited, it might be a bit off in some places (I kind of did a cursory look through to make sure nothing was misspelled or overly obviously wrong >.> enjoy?

Also idk if its obvious but I only finished half of this chapter before I started my hiatus and I feel like my chinese has improved a lot since then so the second half of the chapter might feel more smooth???