"You want to see Imperial Concubine Shang? Ah! That's right! I need to find her too!"

The Wanli Emperor had been stifled by his grandfather, the Jiajing Emperor, and was feeling aggrieved. Ji Xiang's reminder immediately made him remember that there was still an imperial concubine in the harem.

However, it wasn't appropriate for the Wanli Emperor to come forward himself. He could only seek out his mother, Empress Dowager Li. Empress Dowager Li was also a generation below Imperial Concubine Shang, but at least she could speak to her.

The Wanli Emperor had long known that Imperial Concubine Shang was not simple, but he didn't expect Old Zhang to know her as well?

"No, no, no, I really don't know her, but after I Ascended..."

"Hearing across the nine heavens and seeing across thousands of miles... that really is a convenient ability! I think it's very good, you're watching well! Don't you dare watch again next time! Does that mean you know everything that happens in the Forbidden City?"

Although the Wanli Emperor had a good relationship with Old Zhang, he couldn't accept Old Zhang's current setting as a human-shaped surveillance device. Old Zhang could only promise that his eyes would never look in the direction of the Forbidden City again.

"In fact, because you carry the majesty and fortune of the nation, I cannot see your movements in the Forbidden City. But that imperial concubine is different; the national majesty has disappeared from her."

People associated with the royal family carry a strong national majesty, and even some national fortune. This power can conceal their movements, preventing them from being divined by those with ulterior motives.

But Imperial Concubine Shang no longer had national majesty or fortune.

The Wanli Emperor quickly led his people to Empress Dowager Li, who was reciting Buddhist scriptures. Upon hearing that the Wanli Emperor was looking for Imperial Concubine Shang, Empress Dowager Li's expression changed: "What do you want her for?"

"If there's nothing to be done, don't go to the palace where she resides."

"Listen to what you're saying, I wouldn't be here if there wasn't something."

The Wanli Emperor wanted to say that his mother was spouting nonsense. Would he be looking for her if there wasn't something?

So he told Empress Dowager Li about the situation with the Jiajing Emperor. After hearing this, Empress Dowager Li looked incredulous and sternly said to the Wanli Emperor, "This old one thinks you've been driven mad by gods and ghosts! How dare you insult Emperor Shizong!"

"You believe the words of those gods and monsters, but have you personally heard Emperor Shizong say such things?"

"Where is the evidence? How can you say such things and still go to the Imperial Ancestral Temple to worship the past emperors? Taoism, it's Taoism again! I think you've been bewitched by those Taoists. That Zhang boy hangs around with you, and now he can even be called a Celestial Master!"

Words spoken out of tune are too much to bear, and the Wanli Emperor was scolded thoroughly and retreated. But surprisingly, just as the Wanli Emperor was about to leave, Empress Dowager Li suddenly came out and gave the Wanli Emperor a lotus flower, telling him to be sure to carry it when he went to see Imperial Concubine Shang.

Before leaving, Ji Xiang glanced at Empress Dowager Li.

Suddenly, words appeared in the Inner Vision Divine Tablet:

[Nine Lotus Bodhisattva (Empress Dowager Li): Holy Mother of Compassion, touching Heaven! True position and rank unknown! The divine position conferred upon Wanli Emperor's birth mother by himself, affiliated with the Bixia Yuanjun divine position, capable of bestowing blessings and increasing life upon all beings.]

[Bodhisattva Incarnation! Empress Dowager Li's body serves as a medium for communication with the Buddhist Kingdom of the Hidden Rivers and Mountains. Many Buddhist temples have been built in Shuntian, indirectly strengthening the power of Buddhism in the Hidden Rivers and Mountains. Thus, by means of the incense offerings of Buddhist temples, manifestations can occur on Empress Dowager Li's body!]

[The lord of the incarnation is "Guānzìzài!"]

Ji Xiang was stunned. At this moment, the divine light in Empress Dowager Li's eyes did not seem to belong to her, but rather to a master of the Hidden Rivers and Mountains, who made eye contact with Ji Xiang and pressed his palms together slightly, as if to express that he had no malice.

"A Bodhisattva of the Buddhist faith, an incarnation of Guanshiyin! This is truly extraordinary. Has Guanshiyin Bodhisattva's divine position been taken over in the Hidden Rivers and Mountains? One of the three great divine positions of the Western Paradise, to think that the Wanli Emperor's mother in the Forbidden City is actually a pawn of the Buddhist faith."

"However, relying on prayer to become an incarnation will indeed not be regarded as an enemy by the national majesty. After all, this is not evil, but good. Empress Dowager Li is devoted to Buddhism and has built many Buddhist temples in Shuntian. It seems that this is the means by which Buddhism gains access to the Great Dao of the dynasty of the Visible Rivers and Mountains."

"Others are forcefully supporting those with strong fortune, or seeking agents to walk in the Visible Rivers and Mountains, while the Buddhist faith directly found the emperor's mother and used the identity of the Imperial Mother to build Buddhist temples to gather incense and vows..."

So, Ji Xiang looked at the lotus flower in the Wanli Emperor's hand again.

[Seven Treasures Yellow Lotus: Spiritual Object! I am a Shramana, living in the turbid world, I should be like a lotus flower, undefiled!]

[As mentioned in the *Amitabha Sutra*, there is a land of ultimate bliss, with pools of seven treasures and waters of eight virtues filling them. The bottom of the pool is covered with pure golden sand, and the lotus flowers in the pool are as large as wheels, blue with blue light, yellow with yellow light, red with red light, white with white light, subtle, fragrant, and pure.]

[If sentient beings obtain good fortune, then Guanshiyin Bodhisattva will hold a lotus flower to greet them, helping the deceased to transform into a new body in the lotus flower and achieve the True Dharma.]

[Those who hold the Seven Treasures Yellow Lotus can pass through twelve years of closed-door cultivation in advance! Making the required time six years! But it will burn one's own good deeds in exchange for the shortened time!]

[Those who attain the Heavenly Immortal position must establish thirteen hundred good deeds. Good deeds are reflected in fortune. If too many good deeds are consumed, then calamities will befall them, and they will repeatedly encounter tribulations until their body dies and their soul is scattered!]

[Those who practice evil arts can also hold the Seven Treasures Yellow Lotus, refine it, and convert it into good deeds, avoiding misfortune and tribulation!]

When Ji Xiang saw this description, a sudden impulse to snatch the treasure arose in his heart!

He had just been discussing with Old Zhang whether there was a way to shorten time, and now this treasure appeared immediately!

But no matter how you look at it, this doesn't seem like a free benefit. This is clearly the Buddhist faith fishing.

"This bait isn't aimed at me. They seem to recognize me, yet they don't seem to recognize me... Is this a gift from the Buddhist faith to Imperial Concubine Shang, to befriend her?"

Not far away, the Wanli Emperor did not bring Old Zhang and Ji Xiang into the inner palace. After all, the inner palace was the emperor's private residence.

"Tian Yi, go and invite the Imperial Concubine to come out. If she is unwilling to come, you can be a little more forceful."

The Wanli Emperor was determined to find fault. He wanted to ask about the Jiajing Emperor. After Tian Yi went over, Imperial Concubine Shang actually came out of her palace not long after.

The meeting place was still in the Longde Hall. After Imperial Concubine Shang was invited by the Embroidered Uniform Guards, the first thing she saw was the Seven Treasures Yellow Lotus in the Wanli Emperor's hand, and she immediately smiled.

"So it turns out that Your Majesty has invited this old one here to bestow such a precious treasure!"

She then saw Ji Xiang and smiled slightly: "Little Taoist, it's only been a few days since we last met. It seems that you have been made an important minister by His Majesty?"

"Huh?"

Her smile gradually disappeared at this moment because she discovered that Ji Xiang's situation seemed a little strange.

"You, aren't you the little Taoist from before? The feeling you give me, what's wrong?"