Chapter 858: Chapter 858: Praying for Blessings with One’s Life
The Prince turned his head and saw that those who were praying to the gods and Buddha were indeed, as Ye Jiu had said, mostly wealthy people.
"Ha!" The Prince found it amusing, "If Buddha could relieve all the suffering in the world, there wouldn’t be so many heartbroken people."
Someone like the Prince, born with a silver spoon and who had never experienced any setbacks, might never understand that those people were not praying for personal gain. Perhaps all they sought was some comfort in their hearts, a spiritual sustenance, and likewise, a hope.
At this moment, a young monk came over to the group, "Amitabha, it is now noon, would the Prince, Commandery Princess, and young sir like to stay for a vegetarian meal?"
Ye Jiu looked at the Prince with an inquiring gaze. The Prince, slightly uncomfortable, said: "No need, we’ll go see the Princess Consort ourselves, you just lead the way."
The young monk bowed and then led the way.
In the small courtyard, the sound of a wooden fish echoed from inside the house, accompanied occasionally by violent coughing.
Nanny Liu, holding a dustpan, returned with a mournful face. As soon as she heard the coughing inside, she immediately dropped what she was holding and opened the door to go in.
"Princess Consort, didn’t I tell you to lie down properly? Why are you up again? Without even a bit of charcoal in such cold weather, how can you endure this?" Nanny Liu said with heartache.
The Princess Consort didn’t look well; her face was pale, her body thin and frail like a piece of paper when helped up by Nanny Liu, as if she could collapse at any moment, her throat occasionally emitting violent coughs.
"Nanny, I’ve said, I’m here for redemption, not to enjoy blessings," the Princess Consort said.
Nanny Liu could only shed silent tears.
In the past few years, regardless of the weather, whether it was windy, rainy, scorching hot, or freezing cold, the Princess Consort would kneel here for two hours every day to pray for the little Commandery Princess, yet she wouldn’t allow notifying the Commandery Princess.
The little Commandery Princess has never visited, and even the Prince has been so ruthless. It is pitiful for the Princess Consort, whose health deteriorates by the day, her spirits growing more and more depressed, and it’s unclear how much longer she can hold on.
"Today, this old servant was a bit late, and the charcoal was all taken by the people from the Crown Princess Consort’s side. In such cold weather, without an ounce of charcoal, how can we endure? Princess Consort, I beg you, even for my sake, don’t torture yourself anymore. Otherwise, if you leave, what hope does this old servant have left in life?"
Nanny Liu hadn’t intended to burden the Princess Consort with these trivial matters, but now they were continually oppressed by the Crown Princess Consort, and the Princess Consort, focused on atonement, refused to ask the Prince for help. Moreover, with the Princess Consort’s condition worsening, they feared they wouldn’t survive long enough for the Prince and little Commandery Princess to forgive them!
Hearing these words, the already pale face of the Princess Consort grew even more defeated, "Nanny, you have been with me for many years and have suffered much these years. When I’m gone, you should return to your son’s place. I have nothing more to give you, but there are some Silver Taels in the box beside the bed; take them as a bit of pension."
Nanny Liu refused, "What nonsense is the Princess Consort saying? This old servant has followed you for most of my life and considers you my own life. If the Princess Consort doesn’t cherish her life and truly passes away, this old servant won’t live alone either."