Why My Domineering Prince Regretted Filing for Divorce?-Chapter 440 - 385 Inner Altar Dharma Assembly

Shang Ruyi took several deep breaths, still keeping her head down, and asked softly, "Who is the person behind him?"

"..."

Although Yu Wenye felt even more puzzled inside, he glanced at her but did not ask further questions. He then looked up at those people again and said, "Doctor of Universal Discussion, Imperial College, Capital Commandant..."

Shang Ruyi asked urgently, "Is there a lady?"

"A lady?"

Yu Wenye examined again carefully and whispered, "No ladies. It seems these officials’ family members haven’t been granted titles, so they didn’t bring their wives."

No?

Shang Ruyi was stunned, quickly raised her head to look over there, and indeed, beside Dong Bizheng and Yu Dingxing, there were other officials, but no sign of any ladies.

Earlier, that feeling of almost a soul leaving her body had completely vanished.

Could it be that the fleeting figure was really just a mistake in what she saw?

At this time, Shang Ruyi completely calmed down, although still covered in cold sweat, her complexion had improved significantly, even sighing deeply. Seeing her somewhat lost state, Yu Wenye’s expression grew even more solemn, and he whispered, "What happened? You seemed very uncomfortable just now."

"..."

Shang Ruyi shook her head and did not respond to that, just glanced at Yu Dingxing again and whispered, "So that’s Yu Dingxing."

"Indeed,"

Yu Wenye also looked at that person, with a hint of complex emotions in his eyes: "So that’s Yu Dingxing."

These words made Shang Ruyi freeze for a moment, turning her head to look at him: "Have you never seen him?"

"It’s the first time I’ve seen him."

"Then, how do you know it’s him?"

"Last night, I asked someone about him and heard his appearance—indeed."

"——!"

Upon hearing the words "last night," Shang Ruyi’s heart sank again. As for who he asked, it was clear without further explanation.

At that moment, Yu Wenquan also stood firm, scanning the surroundings. Seeing that all the civil and military officials had arrived, he nodded very satisfied and then asked the person beside him: "Why haven’t we gone in yet? Isn’t the Dharma Assembly about to start?"

Dong Bizheng and the others immediately stepped forward, seemingly wanting to say something to him.

Just then, a loud chant came from ahead—

"Amitabha Buddha." 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

The voice was deep and heavy, like a morning bell in a silent forest, clearly reaching everyone’s ears, not deafening, yet shaking one’s mind and spirit.

Everyone quickly raised their heads and saw a crowd emerging from the mountain gate, all wearing ochre robes draped in kasaya.

Walking right in the center was Master Xinzeng, the abbot of Dayan Temple.

Seeing him, Shang Ruyi felt a bit emotional.

Speaking of which, her childhood was spent in Daxing City. Her parents had once brought her to Dayan Temple for worship, so Master Xinzeng’s appearance was not unfamiliar to her.

But back then, he was a robust middle-aged man with a beard, always smiling at everyone, somewhat like Maitreya Buddha; now seeing him again, he was already an elderly man, his beard trimmed short, yet his eyebrows were long and grey, almost about to droop to his cheeks; beneath the curved eyebrows were a pair of smiling eyes, nearly void of any other emotion.

In those smiling eyes, clarity and cunning were clearly written.

Compared to the ascetic monks seen earlier in Yanyue City, Master Xinzeng, as the abbot of a Royal Temple, was naturally extraordinary in wealth and privilege. In fact, because he mingled among high officials and nobles for years, he had few traces of a monk’s asceticism, but instead bore the atmosphere of the ups and downs of officialdom.

At this moment, he led the monks out, and upon seeing Yu Wenquan, immediately greeted him with a smile: "Greetings, Prime Minister."

Yu Wenquan merely nodded and said, "Master Xinzeng, why aren’t you letting everyone in yet? Are you canceling the Water and Land Dharma Assembly?"

Master Xinzeng hurriedly smiled apologetically, saying, "How dare I? It’s just that some unexpected occurrences."

"Unexpected occurrences?"

Yu Wenquan furrowed his brows slightly: "What unexpected occurrences?"

Master Xinzeng leaned in and whispered beside him: "The Empress Dowager has arrived."

"What?!"

Yu Wenquan was startled upon hearing this.

And Shang Ruyi’s breathing also became heavier upon hearing these words.

Yet Yu Wenquan maintained composure, pondering for a moment, then said in a deep voice: "Wasn’t it previously stated that the Empress Dowager would not come, nor would Your Majesty?"

Master Xinzeng smiled bitterly, saying: "That was indeed how it was arranged, so our temple did not make preparations. Who would have thought, the Empress Dowager’s sudden visit this morning almost caught this humble monk off guard."

"Why did the Empress Dowager suddenly change her mind?"

"This, I do not know."

"..."

Yu Wenquan said no more, but after a moment of silence, he turned to glance back at the crowd again.

Shang Ruyi vaguely wondered if he saw Yu Wenye. Seeing Yu Wenquan retract his gaze and continue talking with Master Xinzeng, she gently raised her head and looked at Yu Wenye beside her.

His gaze, expression, remained calm.

Though trying hard to hold back, Shang Ruyi couldn’t help but whisper, "Was it you?"

"..."

Yu Wenye looked down at her briefly without speaking.

Meanwhile, Yuwen Yan had already composed himself, asking solemnly, "Where is the Empress Dowager now?"

Master Xin Zheng replied, "The Empress Dowager is inside the main hall."

Seeing Yuwen Yan about to step inside, Master Xinzeng quickly added, "However, the Empress Dowager has sent word that she isn’t meeting anyone at the moment, only listening to the teachings inside the hall."

"Oh?"

Yuwen Yan slightly furrowed his brow, then turned his head to glance at the crowd behind him.

This time, Shang Ruyi clearly felt his gaze fall on her, but it was only a fleeting glance before he looked back at Master Xinzeng, asking solemnly, "No one is to be seen?"

"Yes."

"..."

Yuwen Yan pondered for a moment and finally said, "Very well. Everything shall proceed as usual; the Dharma assembly will start as planned."

"Yes."

Once everything was settled, Master Xinzeng seemed relieved, and Shang Ruyi saw him turn sideways, raising his hand to respectfully invite Yuwen Yan and the other civil and military officials into Dayan Temple. His curved eyebrows seemed to twitch with his smile, and there was a slight twinkle in his laughing eyes.

When Shang Ruyi followed Yu Wenye past the mountain gate, she also walked by his side.

Master Xinzeng suddenly stepped forward, speaking softly, "Second young master, young madam."

Yu Wenye stopped upon hearing this, and Shang Ruyi also halted, both bowing their hands in salute to him. Master Xinzeng also greeted them with a smile and said, "I heard the second young master and young madam returned to the city this time, bringing back my little disciple Congzhen. The old monk specially came to thank you both."

"...!"

Shang Ruyi heard this and was somewhat surprised, saying, "We only arrived last night, and Congzhen remained outside the city. Did the Abbot already know?"

Master Xinzeng smiled, saying, "The young madam is too humble."

"Oh?"

"Not only did you return last night, but from the moment you crossed Tongguan, countless eyes were watching you both in Daxing City."

"...!"

Shang Ruyi’s heart skipped a beat.

Master Xinzeng was already smiling, raising his hand to invite them, "Please, enter the mountain gate."

Yu Wenye didn’t say much and began to walk inside, and Shang Ruyi silently followed him.

On their way inside, they saw both sides of the road were adorned with prayer flags fluttering in the wind. In the breeze, there was not only the sound of flags waving but also the chanting from the temple emanating from who knows where. Though continuous, it didn’t feel noisy but rather comforting, even calming a part of the soul.

Soon, they passed through a gate, and ahead was the Great Hero Hall.

Shang Ruyi immediately sensed Yu Wenye looking at the great hall ahead, his breath seemingly quickening.

But now didn’t seem to be the time for him to head over.

Moreover, before reaching the Great Hero Hall, they needed to cross an expansive plaza that seemed endless. At the moment, the plaza was surrounded by prayer flags on three sides, and a cushion was placed every three steps, densely covering the entire square for monks and laypeople attending the Dharma assembly to use.

Roughly counting, it could hold at least a thousand people.

Shang Ruyi softly said, "So many?"

Hearing her words, Master Xinzeng turned, smiling, "Young madam, this is only part of it."

"What?"

"At our temple, similar halls are set up at places like the Heavenly King Hall, Jialan Hall, and Arhat Hall. Yet even with this, it cannot accommodate everyone coming from different places to participate in the Dharma assembly."

Shang Ruyi sighed softly.

Previously at Tongguan, hearing Chu Zhengfei speak about countless monks from various states and counties arriving for the assembly, they thought there would be many, but they didn’t expect so many!

At this point, Yu Wenye also withdrew his gaze from the Great Hero Hall.

He glanced around, then turned to Master Xinzeng and inquired, "Where is my eldest brother?"

Shang Ruyi immediately looked up at him.

Master Xinzeng hesitated for a moment, smiling, "The eldest young master is at the Inner Altar Dharma Assembly."

"Inner Altar Dharma Assembly? What does that mean?"

"Second young master may not know; this Water and Land Dharma Assembly is divided into inner and outer altars. The Outer Altar Assembly, like these lecture halls, welcomes monks and laypeople from various regions for lecturing and meditation, also for the departed, chanting for blessings, eliminating karma, accumulating boundless merit, and passing into the Western Pure Land. Both the young master, the young madam, and civil and military officials attend the Outer Altar Assembly."

The word "departed" caused a slight stir in Shang Ruyi’s heart.

She certainly understood that the "departed" Master Xinzeng referred to was none other than Chu Yang.

This was the primary purpose of the assembly.

However, it was her first time hearing that the assembly was divided into Inner and Outer Altar Dharma Assemblies. Since the Outer Altar was for chanting to liberate Chu Yang, what was the Inner Altar Assembly for?

Sure enough, Yu Wenye also asked the same question.

Master Xinzeng glanced at them, smiling, "The Inner Altar Dharma Assembly is at the Scripture Pavilion and was set up by the eldest young master himself, for the sake of liberation merit."

"Liberation merit?"

Though Yu Wenye didn’t believe in the Buddha, he seemed not to be entirely ignorant of Buddhist matters. Hearing these words, his eyebrows furrowed instantly, saying, "Isn’t liberation merit about renunciation? Does he intend to——"

"No,"

Master Xinzeng said with a smile, "After this, he will completely detach himself from Buddhism."