Chapter 84: The Future and the Past

The Empress, holding supreme power, has summoned them!

To enter the Tang Dynasty’s Luoyang Palace!

For true citizens of the Tang Dynasty, it is an exceptional honor. Both Cheng Boxi and Yang Chengxian’s families exhorted them repeatedly: under no circumstances should they behave improperly in the palace.

Only the Princess of a Thousand Golds said nothing to Feng Xiaobao. Having spent much time with him, she knew his heart was fierce as a legion, disdainful of authority, and seemed to carry the bold air of “the world is vast, but I am the greatest.” This, too, was part of what drew the princess to him.

So she merely reminded him to mind his manners; more words were pointless. She believed that this audacious fellow would remain calm before the Empress and would not disgrace himself.

Luoyang Palace!

It served as the imperial palace of the Sui and Tang dynasties. During the Sui, it was called the Palace of the Purple Star. In the second year of Xianqing (AD 657, now AD 670), Emperor Gaozong officially established Luoyang as the Eastern Capital. At its height, the palace covered four square kilometers, six times the size of the Forbidden City.

The palace city was shaped like an inverted convex, its walls rising four zhang and eight chi, fifteen to sixteen meters wide, each rammed earth layer eight to ten centimeters thick, with brick enclosing both sides. Within this fortress-like city stood over thirty halls, terraces, and pavilions. The halls faced south, their heights varied, arranged along the central axis in orderly succession.

The main gate, named Zetian Gate since the Sui dynasty (coincidentally, the name of Wu Zetian herself, hinting at her destined rule), was followed by Yongtai Gate and Qianyuan Gate. There stood the magnificent Qianyang Hall, one hundred twenty chi high, three hundred forty-five chi east to west, one hundred seventy-six chi north to south—splendid beyond compare. It was the primary venue for imperial administration, where decrees were dispatched across the empire.

Qianyang Hall was used for grand court gatherings of officials, and there were countless other splendid palaces, too numerous to name.

Empress Wu Zetian received three young ministers who had served the nation in the Yaoguang Hall. North of Luoyang Hall lay the Nine Provinces Pond, winding like the nine provinces of the Eastern Sea, spanning ten hectares, over a zhang deep, with birds and fish swimming, flowers planted all around.

Within the pond was an island, and on the island stood Yaoguang Hall, built in the Sui dynasty. Empress Wu often visited this place for leisure; when she received officials here, it meant she was in high spirits.

Feng Xiaobao, the other two, and the Princess of a Thousand Golds, led by palace attendants, walked toward Yaoguang Hall. As they passed a towering tree, a strange wind suddenly arose, darkening the sky, sending sand and stones flying!

Everyone felt uneasy, but Feng Xiaobao was struck by a chilling sensation that seized his limbs, leaving him unable to move forward.

What was happening?

The evil wind affected only the princess, but she adapted fastest among them. After steadying herself, she saw the always robust Feng Xiaobao staggering, shrouded in black mist, as if haunted by sinister spirits.

His face was pale as paper, a streak of blood marked his crown—terrifying!

The two palace attendants were bewildered by the wind, while Yang Chengxian and Cheng Boxi recovered quickly. Strangely, Feng Xiaobao, the strongest among them, was most affected.

Seeing their concern, as they reached to steady him, Feng Xiaobao felt dizzy: What was happening to him?

He forced himself to focus, calming his mind. From deep within, a memory surfaced—a passage in English, softly spoken. It was the knight’s oath from the film "Kingdom of Heaven," which he remembered vividly:

Though he had studied many grand works and received much education, sometimes less was more. At this moment, he needed only this simple English passage.

“Be without fear in the face of your enemies.
Be brave and upright that God may love thee.
Speak the truth always, even if it leads to your death.
Safeguard the helpless and do no wrong.
That is my oath, I will never forget.”

Faced with formidable foes, fearless and unyielding!

Bold and loyal, worthy of Heaven!

Speak honestly, prefer death to deceit!

Protect the weak, never offend justice!

This is my oath—never to be forgotten!

On the road to the throne, Feng Xiaobao held fast to this oath, speaking and acting accordingly. Should he break this vow, let him die beneath the tree of Yaoguang Hall!

He uttered these words in a faint voice, incomprehensible to those around him, who assumed it was some foreign tongue unfamiliar to them. In the Tang Dynasty, exchanges with foreign peoples were frequent; many foreign languages appeared and vanished, countless in number. The Princess, in her whimsical musings, wondered if it was a language taught to him by that “Tang-named girl.”

Strangely, after Feng Xiaobao finished reciting the oath, the strange wind ceased, the sun shone through, as if nothing had happened.

Moreover, Feng Xiaobao felt invigorated, as if reborn!

The black mist and blood mark vanished, and he was now more radiant than ever.

“Xiaobao, are you alright?” the princess asked, grabbing his hand anxiously.

“I’m fine, what could possibly happen to me?” Feng Xiaobao clenched his fists and struck a pose of strength.

Seeing he was unharmed, they continued onward.

They did not know that if Feng Xiaobao had not traveled here, years later, a monk named Xue Huaiyi would, through arrogance and recklessness, provoke the palace’s mistress to select over a hundred strong palace attendants to ambush him, lured to Yaoguang Hall, and beaten to death beneath the tree by Prince Jianchang, Wu You-ning, then sent to White Horse Temple for cremation and a stupa built.

Before he became a monk, Xue Huaiyi was named Feng Xiaobao!

Is it permissible for the future Feng Xiaobao to cross time and arrive, but not for the wrathful, resentful, vengeful, furious spirit of the past Feng Xiaobao to cause trouble?

History has changed, but had Feng Xiaobao failed to recite his oath, he might have died beneath that tree—who can say?

To travel through time without rebellion is to suffer humiliation.

But is time travel for rebellion?

It is for the strength of the nation, the prosperity of the people, a better life for all! If one fails, humiliation is inevitable!

Thus, Feng Xiaobao’s task is daunting.

After leaving the palace, the princess questioned the guards and maids at the hall; all insisted they saw no strange wind beneath the Yaoguang Hall’s tree, only that everyone appeared well. She pressed them further, but they were adamant. The princess, perplexed, could only attribute it to the supernatural.

Xiaobao had never been in the palace before; why did the strange wind beneath the tree target only him?

She investigated further—Xiaobao’s language did not resemble a foreign tongue, though some knowledgeable individuals suggested it was a language from the far west, but there was no proof.

Not a foreign tongue, nor a western language—how could Xiaobao know it?

Who was he, truly?

Some things cannot bear scrutiny. The princess, ever curious, secretly consulted several eminent monks, all insisted it was karmic affliction!

Karmic affliction: the sins of a person; Buddhism teaches that the karma of past lives is repaid in this one, and clearly, the affliction from a past life sought him out.

Yet, the monks heard that when Feng Xiaobao was beset by karmic affliction, he managed to escape unscathed, and they recited the Buddha’s name ceaselessly. One eminent monk even cited Master Daoshi’s "Jewel Forest of the Dharma Garden": “Such divine spells possess great power; those who uphold them may have their karmic afflictions eliminated!”

“How do you interpret this, Master?” the princess asked urgently.

“This person can dispel karmic affliction and remain unharmed. He possesses deep roots and is destined for our Buddhist path (these words sound familiar), endowed with great wisdom, virtue, and power!” The senior monk finished and eagerly requested the princess to introduce him to the man!

After hearing the explanation, it seemed Xiaobao was truly remarkable.

So remarkable that the princess herself became both cautious and changed in heart.