Transmigration: A Farm Girl’s Brocade
Chapter 637 - 317 Zhu Suji_2

Chapter 637: Chapter 317 Zhu Suji_2

Liang Jinzhao and the Liang Family were definitely on the Little Monk’s side; when the time came, the slaughter between the two factions would be too terrible, too brutal.

Ma Mian said Prince Ning would become the Emperor. Thus, the ones surely defeated would be the Little Monk and the Liang Family. Qian Yixiu couldn’t bear the thought of such an adorable and kind Little Monk being killed, nor could she bear the Liang Family and Liang Jinzhao being wiped out.

Qian Yixiu grew increasingly fearful and hastily asked, "What do you think then? Do you really want to go back to the capital to be the Imperial Great-grandson and inherit the throne?" If he truly harbored such thoughts, she must find a way to extinguish them; she couldn’t let him return to the capital to face death.

The Little Monk shook his head, "No, I don’t like being the Emperor, and I’m not suited for it either. My master said it was because of the princes’ struggle for succession that my father was assassinated. I don’t like killing, I don’t like politics. But once you become Emperor, you must kill people, you must engage in power plays, and I don’t like that."

Qian Yixiu let out a large sigh of relief. That was better, and it even saved her the trouble of persuading him. She then said, "Hongji, I also think you aren’t suited to being the Emperor. To be the Emperor, you must be ruthless. For the sake of gain, let alone killing strangers, you even have to kill your own family members. But you are so compassionate that you can’t even bear to step on an ant. And you’re so pure, like the clear water of a stream. You are definitely not suited to be the Emperor."

The Little Monk said, "My master said the same. He told me I can’t be the Emperor; I can’t even harbor that thought, or else disaster might befall me."

It was no wonder he was called the Half Old Immortal, yet again he had guessed right.

"Have you replied to the Emperor? And now that you know your origins, what do you plan to do in the future?" Qian Yixiu had always been concerned about the Little Monk’s future, truly not wanting him to be a high monk. She continued to persuade, "Why not secularize then? Once secularized and not vying for the throne, to be a Prince uninterested in anything but scholarly pursuits—that would be quite nice. Then, you could live at my home every day."

The Little Monk shook his head and said, "My master says it’s not appropriate for me to secularize now. If I did, it might endanger my life."

Qian Yixiu thought it through and understood. His identity was too sensitive; to this very day, some scholars still reminisce about the learned and cultured Former Crown Prince. If he were to secularize, he would get in others’ way and could be used by those with an agenda.

However, the Old Monk had more to his words; he only said it was not appropriate for him to secularize right now, not that he must be a monk forever.

The Little Monk continued, "I have already sent a letter to my grandfather, expressing my thoughts and my master’s words, firmly declining his request and hoping he would choose someone else as his successor. However," his eyes reddened again, choking up, "I just found out he is my grandfather, the kin who has been caring for me all along, yet he is about to leave me. I can’t bear it, I really can’t bear it... Why is it that the bond with my kin is always so tenuous?"

Before he could finish, he was already sobbing uncontrollably.

Qian Yixiu began to cry as well, feeling for the kind and pitiable Little Monk, who had longed for kinship and the care of family from a young age. His apprenticeship with the Old Monk had lasted so long, yet his worldly desires had never ceased. Moreover, he possessed traits such as peacefulness, kindness, openness, and simplicity which seemed to epitomize excellent human attributes.

Peacefulness, kindness, openness were traits a Monk should have. But simplicity or rather purity was not what a prominent monk should embody.

The Old Monk was a highly esteemed monk, regarded as the Old Fairy of the Great Qian Kingdom. His closed-door disciple should at least be a leader or abbot in Buddhism. At the very least, he should be an elder.

Although the Little Monk was well-learned and had a profound understanding of Buddhist teachings, Qian Yixiu always felt he wasn’t cut out for such a lofty vocation.

Now it seemed that perhaps the Old Fairy had intentionally guided the Little Monk this way. The Little Monk joining Buddhism was entirely for survival; once his life was no longer in danger, perhaps he would be allowed to return to secular life.

His "worldly desires" had not faded, which is why he would be willing to secularize. His peacefulness, kindness, and openness are why he would not become the Emperor. His simplicity, his detachment from worldly strife, is why he wouldn’t covet what he shouldn’t.

The Emperor had done well in entrusting the Little Monk to Master Beikong; although he couldn’t fulfill the Emperor’s wishes to inherit the great authority, at least he could save his life. Had someone else guided him, allowing him even the slightest ambition, he surely would have died young. It would have also caused great turmoil and misery across the land.

Qian Yixiu extended her arm to embrace his trembling shoulders, whispering softly, "Little brother, you are the Emperor’s grandson, I am the Emperor’s outer grandniece. The same blood flows in our bodies. I am your cousin, my mother is your maternal aunt, Jingjing and Mingming are your cousin and cousin once removed, Jinwa is your paternal cousin... We are all your kin. Your bond with them may be faint, but with us, your family, it is strong. From now on, consider me your real sister, and my mother as your real mother. Oh, and the Empress Dowager, she is your biological great-grandmother." She then pulled him to his feet and, walking out, said, "Come, let’s go see my mother. She’s the most heartbroken for you, caring for you as her own son."