Finest Servant

Chapter 407 Blast It To Smithereens

"All manner of troubles lie within the Jade Buddha!" Lin Wanrong looked at the slip of paper, utterly stunned. This sentence that seemed like a verse but not a verse, like a riddle but not a riddle, what did they mean? From the literal meaning, it seemed to refer to the Jade Buddha Temple. He had visited that temple when he first came to the capital, and it was there that he first met Xu Zhiqing. Besides that, he only remembered the temple's broken walls and ruins, and a large reclining Buddha statue. Wasn't the Emperor's note equivalent to saying nothing at all?

Xu Zhiqing watched him in a daze, sneakily glanced at the note in his hand, and after seeing the sentence, slightly started. Recalling how they met, she asked softly, "When you went to the Jade Buddha Temple initially, was it to find Miss Xiao Qingxuan?"

Lin Wanrong gave a helpless smile, shaking the note in his hand, "I am not a devout man or woman; why would I go to worship at a temple? Qingxuan and I agreed to meet at the Jade Buddha Temple in the capital on the seventh day of the seventh month this year, so I hurried to see her. The Emperor's note now is no different from what I already knew."

Miss Xu took the note and looked at it closely, then shook her head, saying, "Don't be disappointed yet. Miss Xiao suddenly appeared today and then suddenly disappeared, as if she has some unspeakable secret. This note seems like a hidden riddle; the Emperor's wisdom is extraordinary. His instructions may not be as simple as you imagine, and there must be a profound meaning in it. Why not go to the Jade Buddha Temple again? Perhaps you will discover something."

Xu Zhiqing's analysis was logical, and Lin Wanrong snorted, saying, "I will definitely go to the Jade Buddha Temple. But His Majesty the Emperor is truly disappointing. I've been working hard to help him think, and he knew Qingxuan's whereabouts but didn't tell me, making me extremely frustrated."

"You want to die?!" Xu Zhiqing hurriedly covered his mouth with the note, looking around to see if anyone was paying attention. Only then did she relax slightly, her eyes filled with anger as she glared at him, "Criticizing the Emperor in the inner palace, don't you want to live?"

‘He's my father-in-law, and I've criticized him more than once or twice,’ Lin Wanrong didn't mind. Seeing Miss Xu's angry yet worried expression, he knew she was concerned about him and felt a touch of emotion. Suddenly he grinned, holding her hand, saying, "Miss Xu, did you stay in the palace specifically to pass messages for me?"

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Xu Zhiqing's face flushed, slightly panicking, she hurriedly took her hand back, scolding, "I have no time to wait for you. I saw that you are talented, and it would be a waste if you couldn't lead the troops against the northern nomads. That's why I wanted to do something for Great Hua. Don't get it wrong."

‘Did I get it wrong?’ Lin Wanrong chuckled and sighed, "Actually, Miss Xu, you're quite good, knowledgeable, pretty, with a nice figure. If you could calm down and earnestly pursue me, alas, I'm currently in a period of emotional confusion; maybe you would have a chance."

Xu Zhiqing's face turned red with embarrassment, she scolded hastily, "Stop talking nonsense! Who wants to pursue you? You can remain confused on your own!" She stomped her little foot and hurried out of the palace. Not far away, she suddenly stomped her foot again in slight anger, saying, "Are you dead or something? What are you doing still standing here? Hurry to the Jade Buddha Temple to find your Miss Qingxuan. If you're too late, and you miss each other, that would be a tremendous regret."

A single sentence reminded Lin Wanrong, and he dashed toward the exit. Xu Zhiqing bit her lip and swiftly grabbed his sleeve, saying firmly, "I will go with you!"

"Go together?" Lin Wanrong looked at her curiously. "I am going to look for my wife; what are you going for?"

Xu Zhiqing's face was serious as she calmly replied, "Very simple, to help you find Miss Xiao as soon as possible, fulfill your wish, and then devote yourself wholeheartedly to serving our Great Hua."

The reason was noble, and Lin Wanrong had nothing to say. He took strides out, while Miss Xu delicately lifted her skirt, cautiously stepping through the rainwater as she followed behind him.

Upon reaching the palace gate, they saw Xu Zhiqing's carriage parked there. A maid looked at the two and hurriedly approached, brushing the rainwater off Xu Zhiqing while exclaiming, "Miss, why have you come out with Master Lin? This morning, didn't you say you never wanted to see him again?"

"Don't chatter nonsense." Xu Zhiqing's pretty face turned red as she softly replied, "When did I say I wouldn't see him again? You must have heard wrong." Her voice inadvertently lowered near the end, and she looked away guiltily.

‘Wasn't this morning's incident just a joke? Why did it make you so angry?’ Lin Wanrong pretended not to hear the conversation between the maid and the young lady. Seeing that Miss Xu was entering the carriage, he laughed, "Miss Xu, you go ahead in the carriage, and I'll follow in the rain. Don't worry, I'm fast."

Xu Zhiqing glanced at him annoyedly, whispering, "If you want to come up, just come up. Why do you have to find so many reasons, trying to make people pity you?"

The maid, Yuzhu, giggled and said, "Master Lin, Miss Xu invites you to ride with her."

"You won't kick me off this time, right?" Lin Wanrong, still concerned about the morning's incident, cautiously climbed into the carriage. Seeing that Miss Xu was sitting there smiling without making a move, he relaxed and settled in comfortably.

Xu Zhiqing turned her head away, a light blush spreading across her beautiful neck. She muttered, "I've never seen such a cowardly person. Where did the courage you had when committing evil deeds in Shandong go?"

Lin Wanrong sighed, murmuring to himself, "Don't remind me of the heartbreaking events. I did some good deeds in Shandong, but people caught and beat me, and I'm still recovering. It's truly hurtful."

Xu Zhiqing gave a slight scoff, feeling uncomfortable all over, and dared not speak. The maid, Yuzhu, couldn't understand what riddle her young lady and Master Lin were playing, and she was completely baffled by the situation.

The journey was quiet, and the carriage was filled with silence, interrupted only by the rhythmic patter of rain, as intense as Miss Xu's own heartbeat.

The carriage sped through the rain toward the outskirts of the city. After nearly half an hour, Yuzhu peered out and announced, "Miss, Master, we have arrived at the Reclining Buddha Temple."

Xu Zhiqing let out a soft "Ah," returning from her thoughts, and murmured, "We've arrived so soon?"

"So slow to arrive?" Lin Wanrong's words came out simultaneously with Xu Zhiqing's, but they expressed two entirely different meanings. Seeing Miss Xu's angry stare, he quickly laughed, "I meant that the carriage was slow, not as fast as my flying heart. Miss Xu, please don't misunderstand. Actually, I wanted to spend a little more time with you."

He tumbled out of the carriage, the fine drizzle sprinkling on his face, refreshing his spirits. In the distance, the faintly discernible mountains hid within the thin mist, like a fairy donning a veil, exceptionally alluring.

The walls of the Jade Buddha Temple had collapsed in the spring rain, shattered and broken all around. The occasional standing rafter and scattered tiles and bricks showed no difference from his first visit.

Xu Zhiqing dismounted the carriage, and the young maidservant held an oiled-paper umbrella for her; both stood at a distance from him. In the misty rain, the distant green mountains and waters appeared elusive and untouchable. Xu Zhiqing sighed softly and slowly recited, "The stars last night, the wind last night, rain pelted the pavilion amid the mist; whose servant girl sings a mournful song, half with tears dripping, half with sorrow!"

Upon revisiting the Jade Buddha Temple, Lin Wanrong's feelings were extraordinarily complicated. The appearance of Qingxuan had brought some new hope, but he also feared that the greater the hope, the greater the disappointment. Looking at the ruined buildings, he was unable to move for a moment.

"This is the place." Xu Zhiqing's gentle voice broke Lin Wanrong's reverie. He looked up to see Xu Zhiqing and Yuzhu had already walked into the temple, to the only intact spot, where he had encountered Xu Zhiqing sheltering from the rain last time. Miss Xu's face wore a faint smile, as she said something to Yuzhu, then looked back at him. The young maidservant giggled, "So, this is how Miss and Master Lin know each other; no wonder you are so familiar."

"Isn't it familiarity?" Lin Wanrong laughed as he walked over, patting the pillar beside the door, where several deep arrow marks were clearly visible. "Your mistress is so ruthless, unparalleled in the world. Had I not run fast, I'd have become a night ghost in this desolate temple."

Remembering the past, Xu Zhiqing couldn't help but cover her lips and laugh, "Who told you to look so sneaky, like a bad person? A woman was sheltering from rain in a ruined temple, and you had to barge in; if you had bullied me, what then? Not shooting you into a hornet's nest was already letting you off easy."

The two women laughed together, but Miss Xu gradually lowered her head. At first, she had been afraid of being bullied by him, only to find that, after becoming familiar, she had grown numb to his bullying, even accustomed to it. How could she explain this?

Lin Wanrong laughed heartily, glancing at Xu Zhiqing, "Bullying you, so what? As long as I make a move, I can bully you into joy, believe it or not!"

Though the Jade Buddha Temple was expansive, it was dilapidated everywhere. Only the one giant reclining Maitreya Buddha faintly revealed the splendor of the past. Taking out the brocade bag bestowed by the old Emperor, he once again pondered the two lines: "All manner of troubles lie within the Jade Buddha." Now in the Jade Buddha Temple, he saw nothing at all. ‘Old man, don't play tricks on me!’

Xu Zhiqing also stopped laughing and slowly walked to his side, gazing at him before saying, "This line seems to have a Zen meaning. Think back again; when you parted with Miss Xiao, did she say anything else? Did she mention anything else related to this Jade Buddha Temple?"

That day on Mount Tu, had he not been alert, he would have been left without notice by Qingxuan. At that time, he hadn't even heard the name of the Jade Buddha Temple, so how could he have heard Qingxuan mention information about it?

Seeing Lin San shake his head, Xu Zhiqing felt a wave of disappointment. If he could not find Xiao Qingxuan, would he never have the opportunity to serve his country? Soon after, a baffling thrill of joy emerged within her heart, and she quickly shook her head, dispelling the chaotic thoughts. "Do not be anxious," she said, "There must be another secret within this imperial edict."

"All manner of troubles lie within the Jade Buddha!" Lin Wanrong murmured the two phrases as he paced slowly back and forth in the main hall, his eyes falling upon the massive Jade Buddha.

‘In the Jade Buddha, in the Jade Buddha,’ a spark flashed across his mind, and he suddenly slapped his palm, exclaiming joyfully, "In the Jade Buddha, in the Jade Buddha, I know, I know!"

He dashed towards the towering Jade Buddha, seemingly possessed, and slowly caressed the cold stone figure. This stone Buddha, carved into the cliffside and standing several dozen feet tall, was so large that Lin Wanrong could only reach its ankles. Miss Xu also gasped and, lifting her long skirt, ran to his side. "In the Jade Buddha? You mean there's a secret inside the Jade Buddha's belly? Oh, how did I not think of that!"

"Actually, your intelligence falls just a bit short of mine. With a little more effort, you may even surpass me," Lin Wanrong said playfully, in high spirits.

Miss Xu looked at him and smiled coyly, "I already knew that. Except for boasting, you may not be able to beat me at anything else."

Xu Zhiqing's hair was sprinkled with droplets of rain, and her charming cheeks were filled with joyous smiles. Her bright red lips were slightly curled, appearing like a longing young wife, yet also like a shy young girl. Lin Wanrong felt touched and smiled at her, "Miss Xu, thank you!"

"Thank me for what?" Seeing his fixed gaze, Xu Zhiqing felt a bit flustered and quickly turned her head, whispering.

"Thank you for coming with me." Lin Wanrong sighed, "Actually, my mood was really bad just now. If it weren't for you being with me, I don't know what I might have done."

Xu Zhiqing blushed and whispered, "You always jest and never seem serious; what great thing could you do? However, your feelings for Miss Qingxuan are beyond what I expected. It's not like your usual carefree style."

"My relationship with Qingxuan goes beyond your imagination and even beyond my own," Lin Wanrong laughed, "Although we haven't spent much time together, she is the person who understands me best in this world. She's a clever woman who knows me, understands me, and even risked her life to save mine. If you were me, what would you do?"

He recounted his experiences with Qingxuan in Jinling, including how she was able to converse with Lin San through the night—a feat that even she couldn't match. Listening to this, Xu Zhiqing couldn't help but sigh, "Miss Xiao is sincere and devoted. She knows you, loves you, and is willing to die for you. No wonder you are so attached to her. If it were me, even losing my life for her would be worth it."

"Losing your life is not acceptable," Lin Wanrong laughed, "If two people genuinely love each other, you should hope that you won't depart before her."

"Not depart before her?" Xu Zhiqing asked, puzzled, "What does that mean? Do you wish for the one you love to die before you?"

Lin Wanrong nodded and smiled, saying, "Considering the favor you've done for me today, I'll teach you a lesson you might find useful when you marry someday. The highest realm of loving someone is to watch over her until the end of her life, bearing all the grief and pain of longing. Do you understand?"

Such a novel idea was new to Miss Xu, and she was entranced as tears welled up in her eyes. She suddenly lowered her head, saying, "You're absolutely right, Lin San. Where did you learn all this?"

"I taught myself," Lin Wanrong laughed. "I'm naturally intelligent, as I'm sure you've noticed."

Xu Zhiqing looked deeply into his eyes and spoke softly, "There's one thing I don't believe, though. If the person you love dies before you, could you really go on living? If it were me, I'd never eke out a miserable existence."

The notion of dying for love was ancient, but Lin Wanrong's education had moved beyond such thoughts. Hearing Miss Xu bring it up, he paused for a moment, then softly recited, "Connected, connected, you and I agreed for a hundred years; Whoever dies at ninety-seven, wait on the Bridge of Helplessness for three years."

"Whoever dies at ninety-seven, wait on the Bridge of Helplessness for three years!" Miss Xu murmured to herself, tears streaming down. "Where did you learn this poetry? You must have brought it out just to make me cry."

"How did you know? Stealing bits of poetry to fool girls is my specialty," Lin Wanrong said, laughing.

‘I wonder how many poor girls have been deceived by this wicked spirit.’ Miss Xu's face turned red, and after a few stammers, she slowly wiped away her tears, saying, "Lin San, can you tell me, did you love any other women before Miss Xiao?"

Lin Wanrong was momentarily taken aback, then burst into laughter, "Who remembers such embarrassing things? I'm a very loyal person, as you well know."

"I don't believe you at all," Xu Zhiqing said with a covered smile, a wistful look in her eyes. "You must have loved other women. I can see it. The woman you love must be the happiest in the world. Miss Xiao is truly lucky."

"Naturally," Lin Wanrong replied unabashedly. "I have a famous saying: Love until you live, love until you die, love until you're both alive and dead. Love until you're numb, love until you're tingling, love until you're both numb and tingling!"

Xu Zhiqing covered her lips, smiling, a soft light in her eyes. "After being so serious for a moment, you've become unserious again. Just now, you were the most serious Lin San I've ever seen. If you were like that every day, I'm sure you could deceive many young ladies of good families."

Lin Wanrong spread his hands, looking helpless. "That's difficult. Some ladies like me serious, some like me unserious. It's hard to please everyone! Miss Xu, do you prefer me serious or unserious?"

"Like you? Ghosts might!" Xu Zhiqing snorted, easily seeing through his scheme, her face slightly flushed. He was deep and profound when serious, like the starry sky, and cunning and sly when not, like a fox. Choosing which she preferred was genuinely hard to say at the moment.

After talking with Miss Xu for a while, Lin Wanrong's mood was even more buoyant. He climbed up the Maitreya Buddha statue, tapping it continually, the smile on his face growing ever brighter.

Seeing Lin San climb so high, Miss Xu was terrified, calling out in a delicate voice, "Lin San, come down quickly! Don't hurt yourself!"

Lin Wanrong descended from the stone statue, exclaiming excitedly, "Miss Xu, this stone statue is hollow!"

Xu Zhiqing showed no surprise and covered her mouth as she giggled, "You fool, I knew that already. Hundreds of years ago, at the time of the founding of the Great Hua Dynasty, Emperor Taizu built this Maitreya Buddha statue. Thousands of workers were employed to hollow it out from the inside and cast the statue."

Lin Wanrong's eyes widened, "Why didn't you say so earlier? You made me climb up and down like a monkey!"

Miss Xu's face turned slightly red, and she spoke softly, "You were so eager just now, and I was fascinated by your storytelling. I didn't get a chance to tell you before you went up. Now what? Even if the statue is hollow, what does that prove?"

"I don't know either." Lin Wanrong wiped the sweat from his brow, only to be handed a fragrant handkerchief. He thanked her and continued, "But since His Majesty pointed to this place, there must be a secret inside. I'll return and gather the Infantry, Cavalry, and Divine Machine Unit and use cannons to blast this statue open."

Xu Zhiqing jumped in fright, thinking Lin San was indeed crazy. She hurriedly said, "No, you can't. This statue was built by Emperor Taizu, and it has a long history. No one can damage it without authorization. If someone reports you to the Emperor, it will be a capital offense!"

"What's a capital offense compared to Qingxuan?" Lin Wanrong scoffed, rushing out, "Miss Xu, lend me your carriage and maidservant."

Lin Wanrong hurried out and handed his personal seal to a maid named Yuzhu, instructing her to take it to General Li Tai's camp outside the city and find a general named Du Xiuyuan. Lin San ordered him to assemble the troops and cannons and hurry to the reclining Buddha temple within half an hour.

The maid looked helplessly at Xu Zhiqing, who had run out panting. Seeing Lin San's determined look, Miss Xu reluctantly nodded. As the carriage departed, she sighed softly, "Your unauthorized troop deployment and selfish motives, the bombardment of the reclining Buddha; any of these are capital offenses. You're doing all this for Xiao Qingxuan. If I were her, having a husband like you, I would be content for a lifetime."

Lin Wanrong chuckled, "You could also have me as a husband. I would consider it."

"Don't even think about it!" Miss Xu snapped angrily, tears suddenly rolling down, "I remember clearly what you said outside this temple. Do you think I'm that easy to deceive?"

Realizing that she still remembered that incident, Lin Wanrong was unsure how to comfort her as she sobbed. After waiting for a moment, they heard the distant sound of hoofbeats, and a man leaped down, saying, "General Du Xiuyuan greets General Lin and Miss Xu."

Miss Xu quickly wiped her tears and nodded slightly. Lin Wanrong was not polite either, slapping Du Xiuyuan on the shoulder, "Brother Du, how many cannons have you brought?"

"General, upon receiving your order, I have brought all of the Divine Machine Unit cannons under my command, a total of eight," Du Xiuyuan reported formally.

"Good," Lin Wanrong shouted, pointing at the Buddha's belly, gritting his teeth, "See that Buddha statue? Gather all the cannons and aim at that stone statue. Blast it to smithereens!"

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