When Cao Hao saw Zhiran, he was already three days later.

It was the turn of the household department to be on duty, and Cao Hao followed several officials of the household department to Changchun Garden to face the king.

When I came down from the imperial front, I saw a few people waiting outside the Qingxi Book House. Because there are laymen and monks, it is very eye-catching, so Cao Hao took a look at it more.

The layman was dressed in a bright Mongolian robe; The monks dressed up several people, and the first one was looking at Cao Hao with a smile, not Zhiran, which one?

Cao Hao stopped, and before the joy of reuniting after a long absence was revealed, he was a little surprised, and he couldn't imagine why Zhiran was standing in front of people in this costume.

Although they are all monks, there are many differences between Tibetan Buddhism and Buddhism in the mainland, and the monks' clothes are also different.

Zhiran was in gray monk's clothes all the year round in his early years, but now he is already in purple and red lama clothes, standing in front of the Mongolians and lamas, with a little different majesty.

I haven't seen him for a few years, and Zhiran doesn't look like he has changed much, but his complexion is not as fair as before, and he looks like he has been dyed with mortal dust, which has added a lot of popularity.

"Zhiran ......," Cao Hao called in a low voice.

Zhiran smiled at the corner of his mouth and looked at Cao Hao, but he didn't say anything.

At this time, I saw Wei Zhu come out and said loudly: "Spread the emperor's edict, Xuanze Buzun Danba Hu Tuketu under the seat of the Lingzhi Venerable Master to meet you!" ”

Then, Zhiran lowered his hand and said: "The poor monk leads the order!" ”

Cao Hao was on the sidelines and couldn't help but be dumbfounded. Zhiran actually converted to the Yellow Sect and worshiped under the name of Jebtsundam Bahutuktu, what is going on?

Zhiran had already lowered his head and followed Wei Zhu into the study room.

Several officials of the household department had already moved away, and Cao Hao hesitated, but went out first with a few adults.

Out of the second palace gate, Cao Hao walked a few steps quickly, and stepped forward to take leave with the two Shangshu of the same household. only said that the sixteenth elder brother had something to look for him, and he returned to the yamen with a few adults.

It was a well-known fact that he was friendly with the sixteenth elder brother, so the two Shangshu didn't ask anything.

According to the usual practice, Cao Hao, as an official of the entourage, had a ten-year vacation after returning to Beijing. Because he had two errands in his hands, and he felt that it was time to remit accounts at the end of the previous year, he only rested for a while, and then went to the household yamen on an errand.

He was so diligent, and the two Shangshu naturally saved trouble, let Cao Hao feel free, and then took the carriage back to the city.

Cao Hao waited outside the gate of the second palace and did not rush out of the garden.

A few guards on duty outside the gate of the second palace knew Cao Hao, and they bowed their heads slightly.

Zhiran went to Mongolia to study Buddhism, Cao Hao knew it, and the two had been exchanging letters in the past few years. It's just that I always feel that something is different.

After waiting for two quarters of an hour, I saw Zhiran, who was surrounded by monks and laymen, walking slowly.

Seeing Cao Hao waiting in front, he stopped, turned around and said a few words to those people, and then walked in front of Cao Hao alone.

"Master Cao!" His smile was peaceful, his voice was still as crisp as it was, and he stood there as if the two had not been separated for so many years.

Cao Hao is a little dazed, if you say that the appearance of Zhiran when he was a teenager is a little Xiao Cao Hao; After years of precipitation, Zhiran's appearance is more like Cao Yin.

If you want to say that others can't see it, Cao Hao believes it; If you want to say that Kangxi can't see it, Cao Hao definitely doesn't believe it.

"Zhiran, did you really convert to the Yellow Sect?" Cao Hao asked.

Zhiran's face was unpleasant, and he smiled: "Whether it is the Zen Sect of Middle Earth, or the Yellow Sect of the Western Regions, Wanyuan will not leave its sect." Master Cao is not a persistent person, how can he have an obsession? ”

Cao Hao smiled bitterly: "I thought that you were a surname who could not be restrained. ”

Outer Mongolia is different from Inner Mongolia, although it cannot be said that it is completely integrated with religion and state, but the status of Zebtsundamba Hutuketu is unshakable.

The Khalkha kings and Mongol princes are mostly the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Zebtsundamba Hutuktu; In the hearts of the Mongolian people, the Great Lama is the living Buddha and the person who should be worshiped the most. In the yurt of Khalkha, the ** of the Ten will be pasted with a small statue of Zebtsundamba Hutuktu. In the hearts of the people, the degree of respect for this living Buddha is no less than that of Guanyin and Rulai.

To be a disciple of Zebzundan Bahu Tuketu will never be as comfortable as being a little monk of Qingliang Temple; When enjoying the supreme honor, he also put on the shackles of fame and fortune.

Cao Hao is a friend of Zhiran's young man, and he knows his surname, and he is by no means a person who likes power and wealth.

Was this shackle really put on by him voluntarily?

The north wind struck, and Cao Hao felt cold all over.

Zhiran looked at him quietly, as if he understood his guess, and said: "All lives are suffering, how can the little monk be exempt from vulgarity since he has gone through the world?" Laughing and scolding, it's all illusory, Master Cao doesn't need to mind! ”

Seeing that Zhiran had a sense of appeasement, Cao Hao let out a long sigh, didn't say anything else, and walked out of the garden with him.

Not far away, those monks and laymen who were walking with Zhiran stood in front of several carriages, all looking at Zhiran's side, and had no intention of leaving.

Cao Hao was interested and said to Zhiran: "After a long time, I don't know where to tell each other in a thousand words." I don't know when I have time to say goodbye? ”

"The big lama said that he would go to Beijing after that, and the little monk said that he would go to the Yellow Temple today and tomorrow to prepare for the stationing of the big lama. If it is convenient for the Cao Shizhu, the little monk wants to visit the Cao Shizhu when the Ming Dynasty is said to be Youshi? Zhiran thought for a moment and said.

Cao Hao nodded, said goodbye to him, and watched him take everyone away in the car.

Cao Hao groaned in place for a long time, took the waist card, called an attendant at the gate of the garden, and asked him to pass the word to the sixteenth elder brother.

One less time, the sixteenth elder brother paced.

"Fu Ruo looking for me?" Sixteenth elder brother asked.

"When will the Sixteenth Master return to Beijing?" Cao Hao asked.

"I'll go back today, if it weren't for Huang Ama ordering Nanyuan to besiege Nanyuan, I would have gone back a long time ago." Sixteenth elder brother said.

"Nanyuan Xingwei?" It was the first time Cao Hao heard about it, and he was a little strange, and said: "The holy driver has only been back from Rehe for a few days, why did he think of Xingwei again?" ”

"After a few days, Zebzundan Bahu Tuketu led the Khalkha kings to the court, and he always wanted them to see the divine power of the Eight Banners and horses." The sixteenth elder brother said this, "By the way, I entered the list of the Li Fan Academy yesterday, and Hengsheng's father is also on the roster. ”

"Can the Sixteenth Master know the Master of Spiritual Wisdom?" Cao Hao asked.

"The Venerable Master? The name is somewhat familiar. The sixteenth elder brother groaned and said, "Yes, I saw it in yesterday's booklet, the eldest disciple of Buzundan Bahutuktu, and his name is very high. The great lama is about to be ninety years old, and this big disciple can't be light. It's just that in the early years, I didn't hear about it, and Xu was always in Outer Mongolia. ”

"If the Sixteenth Master enters the city, can you do me a favor? Go to the Imperial Court to check whether the emperor has any intention of canonizing the 'Lingzhi Master' in recent years. Cao Hao said.

Zhiran went from a small monk in Youfang to a big disciple under the name of the great lama, which cannot be explained by a single "fate".

"Huh? Why is Fu Ruo still nosy? "Brother Sixteen was a little puzzled.

"Sixteenth master, wisdom is wisdom." Cao Hao said.

At this time, there are already guards who have brought the horses of the sixteenth elder brother over. The sixteenth elder brother waved his hand, but he didn't mean to get on the horse, but got into Cao Hao's carriage.

Zhiran had a close relationship with Cao Hao, and stayed in the capital for several years, and the sixteenth elder brother recognized him.

After listening to Cao Hao's words, the sixteenth elder brother couldn't wait to get up even more than Cao Hao.

After the carriage entered the city, the sixteenth elder brother called to rush directly to the Li Fan Courtyard.

Because what the sixteenth elder brother wanted to inquire about was not a secret decree, but it was all in the file, so it didn't take much effort to find the canonization decree that Cao Hao wanted to find.

The time of the promulgation of the decree was "September 17, the 56th year of Kangxi".

This may be an ordinary day for others, but Cao Hao remembers it. Because, this is Cao Yin's "first seven", and the Cao family also received a holy decree, that is, the will to give Cao Yin a nickname.

Cao Hao couldn't say what it was like in his heart, there was no doubt that this proved that Kangxi had long known Zhiran as a person. Choosing the same decree, are they all "grace" Cao family?

It's just that I don't know what role Cao Yin played in the connection between the two.

"Canonized six years ago, it's early enough!" The sixteenth elder brother also saw that something was wrong.

After leaving the Imperial Court, he asked in a low voice, "Could it be that Zhiran is a person from Huang Ama?" It's no wonder that he became a big disciple at a young age. Speaking of the big lamas, the disciples and grandchildren are all over Khalkha, and it is not easy for a little monk to mix a big disciple, even if he squeezes into the door to mix a small disciple. ”

What the sixteenth elder brother was puzzled about was what Cao Hao guessed. But speculation is speculation, and the truth is still up to Zhiran.

The sixteenth elder brother went back to the palace with suspicion; Cao Hao thought about it, and went to the yamen of the household department.

was so busy that he fell into the office, and Cao Hao went back to his house directly.

The earlier sympathy for Kangxi's imminent death was all anger at the moment. Although Zhiran has the blood of the Cao family, he has not received the slightest favor from the Cao family, is it just because he is a descendant of the Cao family, should he be driven by Kangxi?

Compared with himself, an outsider who borrowed the corpse to resurrect his soul, Zhiran is the real eldest son of the Cao family.

Cao Hao took care of the Li family and did not pierce the window paper to recognize the Zhiran brothers, but in his heart, he had already included Zhiran in his protection.

thought that he insisted on not returning to the vulgar and could be at ease, but who would have thought that his relationship with the Cao family would make him deeply involved in power disputes.

In the day and night of waiting for Zhiran's visit, Cao Hao thought a lot.

For the so-called heavenly affection, it can be regarded as a deep understanding. What kind of mood did Kangxi have, on the one hand, the monarch and the ministers were affectionate, and they were kind to Cao Yin; On the one hand, Cao Yin's illegitimate son was put on the reins and turned into the eyeliner of the imperial court?

"You went to Mongolia, didn't you go to Mongolia, did you receive the emperor's order?" The moment he saw Zhiran, Cao Hao asked in a hoarse voice.

Zhiran nodded, sat there, and looked into Cao Hao's eyes with a little compassion.

"Why do you want to do it?" Cao Hao then asked.

Zhiran is an outsider and does not care about life and death, what is the reason why he is willing to go to Mongolia?

"It's just a long-cherished fate of cause and effect, don't think too much about Lord Cao." Zhiran's expression remained unchanged and replied lightly.

The so-called "cause and effect" is still for the Cao family's "kindness", right?

Cao Hao sighed and said, "Father is underground, and he won't approve of you doing this." ”

Cao Hao is not a cheeky person, and after Zhiran was burdened by the Cao family, he could still be calm.

Zhiran was stunned, slowly lowered his eyelids, and said in a low voice: "It's a blessing for the end, and it's good ......to repay it."

(To be continued)