Royal Road

flowers fell like rain.
But the ones that fell most were lotuses, white lotuses that drifted down like snow and burst with fragrance when they were crushed beneath the wheels of the carriage.

Yiyan grasped his spear anxiously.
He hadn’t imagined that the situation would be so uncontrollable! The cries deafened his ears, the flowers blinded his eyes.
The people around him seemed crazed and delirious.
If they all rushed up at once, would he be able to escort his lord to safety?

Suddenly, there was a commotion as a young woman burst through the crowd and threw herself before the carriage, “Master Liang! It’s all thanks to Master Liang that my father survived! I’m willing to do anything, anything at all, to repay this kindness, Master Liang!” 

Her words seemed to serve as a reminder, for the crowd began to kneel, like grass bowing in the breeze.
They touched their heads to the ground in thankfulness, clogging the streets even further.

Yiyan felt the hairs all over his body standing up on end.
He’d already begun to raise his spear, intending to drive these people away.
But an impassive voice coming from within the carriage stopped him, “Yiyan, no need.”

Liang Feng leaned forward slightly, picked up a white lotus that’d landed on the edge of the carriage, and handed it to the woman outside, “The doctors and monks had part in stopping the plague, as everyone here had part in saving themselves.
You needn’t thank me, but rather, the common people of Jinyang.”

The woman dumbly took the lotus and stared at that divinely beautiful man. 

Liang Feng retracted his arm, sat properly with his head raised high, and addressed the kneeling commoners, “Today, Huai’en Temple, in its benevolence, opens its doors to all.
The monks fast and incant scriptures to deliver the souls of the deceased.
I wish for everyone to make way, and accompany me to the ceremony.”

His voice wasn’t loud, but it was clear as the sound of pearls falling upon a jade platter.
The crowd’s excitement boiled over once more.
The bodhisattva said that their salvation was due to their own merit! The bodhisattva was willing to lead them to the ceremony as well, to pray for the dead!

The crowds parted like the red sea, instantly creating a path.
Then, like household servants, they followed alongside the simple ox-pulled carriage.

Liang Feng let out a small breath, then said, “Let’s continue.” 

Yiyan clenched his spear.
As he looked out at the endless horde of people, drunk and rapturous, he felt a sudden emptiness in his heart.
Was the person sitting in the carriage still his lord?

Without pause, the carriage steadily passed through the ever-growing crowd.

※

The entrance of Huai’en Temple was packed with finely decorated carriages.
The monks had risen early, lit incense, and tidied up, so as to greet their esteemed guests.
This was the first time they’d used Yulan Festival as a reason to hold a ceremony, plus, they were delivering the souls of the deceased.
Many of Jinyang’s elite were attending in person. 

As the greeter of Huai’en Temple, Nianfa was, of course, at the gates welcoming guests.
His appearance was comely, and his manners were superb, so he often earned the favor of noble ladies and highbrow scholars.
While he was carrying out his duties, he suddenly heard a great clamor.
He raised his head to look, then froze on the spot.

A black tide was surging towards the temple.
There were men, women, old, and young.
From their dress, it was apparent that they were all ordinary peasants.
Nianfa had been wondering why so few commoners had come – but it seemed that now they’d all come at once!

He peered at the crowd once more and finally noticed a carriage in the center.
It was extremely plain.
Seeming to realize something, he lurched and hurriedly sent someone to report to the abbot.

At that moment, the abbot was sitting within the meditation room, conversing with guests.
These people were the temple’s greatest benefactors, even he didn’t dare to disrespect them.
He was sipping tea and preaching when a monk quickly shuffled over to him, bent down, and whispered something by his ear.
The abbot raised a whitened brow then slowly stood, “Forgive me, my kind benefactors, for I must go to greet a guest of honor.” 

Just what kind of guest could make the abbot ditch his loyal supporters and greet him personally? Everyone wondered in shock.
An old woman wearing a curtained hat asked, “Who might this guest of honor be?”

“Someone for whom this ceremony is the effect to his cause,” the old monk smiled and saluted, then left for the door.

There weren’t so many rules and customs within the temple, so the guests followed him out of curiosity.

The temple wasn’t very large, so it didn’t take them long to reach the entrance.
Once they did, someone gasped in shock, “Why are there so many peasants?” 

Not even princes or dukes could gather such an entourage around them.
And yet the carriage they surrounded was extraordinarily ordinary.

Someone with a good eye noticed another vehicle within the crowd and yelled, “Isn’t that the Wang family’s carriage?”

It was as he said.
A luxurious carriage, which seemed to belong to the Wang Residence, followed behind the immense swarm.
But the frenzied peasants’ attention was completely focused on the ox-pulled carriage.

None of the people there were stupid – they quickly ascertained that perhaps the Wang family’s guest, Master Liang, had likely come to the temple.
Since when did he have the prestige and influence to sway so many commoners? 

The ox-pulled carriage stopped at the temple’s gates.
Liang Feng glanced at Lüzhu, who was flushed and shaking with exhilaration.
He said softly to her, “Stay inside the carriage, don’t go anywhere.”

Lüzhu bit her lip and nodded forcefully.
Her eyes teared up with thrill and fright that so many people would kneel to her master.
She wasn’t able to settle her emotions no matter how she tried.
Her legs were so numb that she could hardly move, much less get off the carriage.

Liang Feng smiled amusedly at her discomposure, then ordered, “Yiyan, lend me a hand.”

Yiyan instantly stepped forward and reached out.
Like it had in the past, that pale, slim, graceful hand rested on his arm.
As he had done countless times before, Yiyan helped him down the carriage.
But unlike any other time, his mind was in utter turmoil. 

He no longer wore his faint, customary smile.
Rather, his expression was hard and graven.
His turquoise robes solidly encased his thin frame, he seemed stern, lofty, and fearsome as a true deity.

Yiyan took one look, then hastily lowered his head as he attended to that person with utmost respect.

After descending from the carriage, Liang Feng stood in place to wait for Controller Wang’s carriage.
Shortly after, the Wang family’s carriage pushed through the crowd and arrived at the temple.
Wang Wen disembarked and chuckled, “It seems your fame far surpasses that of Anren‘s.”

“You praise me overmuch, Controller,” Liang Feng shook his head amusedly. 

“It is surely one of life’s joys, to have the chance to walk upon a street paved with flowers.
Come, walk with me.” Wang Wen was indeed magnanimous, to not care in the slightest that someone else had stolen the limelight.

Liang Feng could hardly refuse his goodwill.
The two supported each other as they ascended the steps.

Behind them, Yiyan’s jaw tightened as he glanced at his empty hand.
He silently followed behind that person, towards the temple.

The author has something to say: 

In regards to his appearance in this story, young Liang expresses: “it’s called the ascetic aesthetic, understood?” =_,=