The Seventh Princess was completely still at this moment, exactly like their controlled state earlier.
The other Flower-Clothed Eunuchs and martial monks were also in the same state; it seemed that Master Chenghai's earlier shout of "Stop" was not directed at Li Xuan and the others, but merely affected them.
Master Chenghai's true target was the people inside the Great Wild Goose Pagoda.
"This is too outrageous, isn't it?"
"To be able to control them for so long from such a distance."
Li Xuan looked at the scene before him, his face filled with disbelief.
The Flower-Clothed Eunuchs were not weak; each of them was a Middle Three Ranks expert, yet Master Chenghai only uttered a single word, and he could make all of them become like wooden or clay figures, completely powerless to resist.
"Could it be that the true qi cultivated in the Middle Three Ranks undergoes a qualitative change when it reaches the Upper Three Ranks?"
Li Xuan couldn't help but make a bold guess.
This might explain the strange scene before them.
The abilities Master Chenghai was now displaying seemed to have completely transcended the realm of martial arts.
After bringing everyone down from the Great Wild Goose Pagoda, Master Chenghai remained silent, waiting for these people to regain their ability to move.
The Eighth Prince, who had long since regained his mobility, quickly went to the Seventh Princess's side to check if she was injured.
Seeing that the Seventh Princess seemed to be fine, the Eighth Prince breathed a sigh of relief, then quickly explained to Master Chenghai:
"Master, my Imperial Sister here means no harm."
"She's just a bit too..."
The Eighth Prince was about to continue explaining, but Master Chenghai raised his hand to stop his next words.
Master Chenghai didn't speak, just silently looked at the Seventh Princess, seemingly wanting to hear her explanation herself.
After a while, the people Master Chenghai had brought down from the Great Wild Goose Pagoda gradually regained their ability to move, then each returned to their respective positions.
The Seventh Princess was the last to recover from the control. She first froze when she saw the scene before her and the unfamiliar old monk, then looked around, finally realizing what had happened.
"I finally climbed to the third floor, how did I come down again!"
The Seventh Princess's knees buckled, and she collapsed to the ground, holding her head, looking utterly distraught.
"It's over, I won't be able to climb up by myself tonight."
She looked back desperately at the Great Wild Goose Pagoda behind her, saying with a hint of resignation.
Then the Seventh Princess couldn't stop muttering to herself, and it was unclear what she was saying.
This Seventh Princess was acting strangely, seeming a bit off.
Princess Ankang and Princess Yuan'an both looked at their Imperial Sister with curiosity.
The Eighth Prince, however, seemed used to such scenes and showed no significant reaction to the Seventh Princess's behavior.
At this moment, Master Chenghai silently extended a hand towards the Seventh Princess, then succinctly uttered another word:
"Speak."
The Seventh Princess turned her head, looking blankly at the old monk before her, somewhat not understanding what he meant.
It was the Eighth Prince beside her who nudged her, then reminded her:
"Imperial Sister, why did you trespass into the Great Wild Goose Pagoda today?"
"Quickly explain it properly to Master Chenghai, so as to avoid any misunderstanding."
"Master Chenghai is the abbot of Cien Temple. If you have a good reason, he is not a petty person and certainly won't make things difficult for you."
Upon hearing this, Master Chenghai raised his eyelids, glared at the Eighth Prince, but said nothing more.
The Eighth Prince chuckled, not daring to say anything further.
"I, I just wanted to go up and look at the stars."
"I heard people say this is the tallest pagoda in the capital, so I thought it must be a good place to look at the stars."
As the Seventh Princess spoke, she couldn't help but lower her head in disappointment, hugging her legs tightly, curling up into a lonely ball on the ground, muttering something again.
Listening to this absurd explanation, everyone around couldn't help but frown.
No matter how much of a Royal Princess she was, trespassing into someone's forbidden area and not even bothering to give a proper explanation was simply too unreasonable.
The Eighth Prince, fearing that Master Chenghai wouldn't believe her, quickly helped explain:
"Master Chenghai, my Imperial Sister has loved stargazing since childhood. She must have trespassed into the Great Wild Goose Pagoda just to look at the stars. Please don't think it's absurd."
The Eighth Prince understood the Seventh Princess. Perhaps others wouldn't do such a thing, but the Seventh Princess was perfectly capable of it.
For the sake of stargazing, this Seventh Princess had done countless absurd things.
Master Chenghai looked at the Eighth Prince, then turned his gaze back to the Seventh Princess on the ground.
After pondering for a moment, he changed the direction of his outstretched palm, pointing outwards.
"Leave!"
With a simple word, Master Chenghai issued his order for them to leave.
Even the Imperial Princes and Princesses could not cause trouble in his Cien Temple.
Seeing that Master Chenghai had no intention of pursuing the matter further, the Eighth Prince was overjoyed and readily agreed:
"Master Chenghai, please rest assured, I will take everyone and leave now."
"We have caused much disturbance tonight, and we are truly sorry."
"When I have time in the future, I will definitely come to apologize in person."
The Eighth Prince spoke pleasantries, then picked up the Seventh Princess from the ground.
He then winked at the Flower-Clothed Eunuchs present, signaling them not to continue clashing with the martial monks of Cien Temple.
The group, under Master Chenghai's watchful eye, left Cien Temple dejectedly, not daring to look back.
After leaving Cien Temple, the Seventh Princess's attendants took over.
They brought out the stretcher that had been used in the Imperial Garden that day, and the Seventh Princess lay back down on it.
"This thing is actually more convenient than a wheelchair."
"But at least two people need to carry it."
Li Xuan thought to himself as he looked at the Seventh Princess's stretcher.
In Jingyang Palace, there were usually only Li Xuan and Yuer. If Princess Ankang also wanted to travel by stretcher, she would probably fall a dozen times a day.
Li Xuan and Yuer could carry this stretcher, but due to their significant height difference, Princess Ankang would never be comfortable lying on it.
But Li Xuan couldn't help but imagine that comical scene, and immediately had to suppress a laugh.
Outside, they found a quiet corner.
"Is Imperial Sister Seven alright?"
Princess Ankang asked with some concern, looking at the listless Seventh Princess on the stretcher.
"Don't worry, she'll be fine again in a couple of days."
The Eighth Prince said with certainty.
Princess Ankang and Princess Yuan'an both looked at the Seventh Princess on the stretcher with curious eyes, as they were quite unfamiliar with this Imperial Sister.
Coupled with the Seventh Princess's unconventional words and actions, it made them even more curious.
"Old Eight, does Imperial Sister Seven really like stargazing?"
The Eighth Prince nodded, then replied:
"That's true. Look at her dark circles; those are from staying up all night stargazing for years."
"I don't know what's so good about the stars in the sky that she can't get enough of them every night."
The Eighth Prince said with some confusion.
"What do you know?"
At this moment, the Seventh Princess on the stretcher spoke.
However, her voice was weak and soft, with a lazy tone that made it sound like she was pouting.
But everyone knew that no one would pout at Old Eight.
So everyone was certain that this was just the Seventh Princess's usual speaking tone.
"The myriad stars in the sky are constantly changing; every moment is different."
"Crude fellows like you simply cannot appreciate the beauty of this vast starry sky."
One could clearly feel that the Seventh Princess was almost too lazy to communicate with the Eighth Prince, seeming to greatly despise his aesthetic taste.
"Hey, hey, hey, I just saved you."
"Do you know what Master Chenghai's status is in Buddhism?"
"If you anger him, do you believe that Father Emperor will lock you in the cellar and make you never see the stars again?"
The Eighth Prince said, crossing his arms and looking down at her.
Upon hearing this, the Seventh Princess's arrogant demeanor immediately faltered, clearly showing a good deal of guilt.
"That, that old monk is really that powerful?"
The Seventh Princess couldn't help but confirm.
"He is the abbot of Cien Temple, and Cien Temple is the number one temple in the capital, holding a very high position in Buddhism. Not to mention Master Chenghai's strength and seniority, he is absolutely a heavyweight figure in Buddhism who commands respect."
Seeing that the Seventh Princess still seemed a bit unconvinced, the Eighth Prince briefly introduced Master Chenghai's background.
Li Xuan didn't doubt anything the Eighth Prince said.
Just based on the strength Master Chenghai had displayed earlier, he absolutely deserved such a status.
"I just don't know how much influence Buddhism and Taoism have in this world."
No matter where, strength is always respected.
According to the current human cultivation system, the forces of Buddhism and Taoism must not be underestimated.
Today, when they were visiting the temples and Taoist monasteries in the capital, Li Xuan found that there were many hidden experts within them.
Even the small monks and Taoist acolytes responsible for greeting guests had some cultivation.
Li Xuan thought that in the Buddhist and Taoist schools of this world, there probably wouldn't be purely theoretical factions.
Those who only cultivated by reading Buddhist scriptures and Taoist texts were probably as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns, very few.
If there were many strong individuals in both Buddhism and Taoism with strength comparable to Master Chenghai, it shouldn't be difficult for them to secure a place in this world with such power.
"Alright, thank you this time."
The Seventh Princess thought for a moment, then finally thanked the Eighth Prince.
It seemed that the relationship between the two of them was quite good.
Although they bickered, their relationship was clearly much better than that with their other siblings.
Seeing Princess Ankang and Princess Yuan'an cast curious glances at them, the Eighth Prince explained:
"This fellow is the same age as me, just one month older."
"Since childhood, she's stayed up every night to stargaze and has been punished several times."
"I was also quite mischievous when I was little, always sneaking out at night to play, and I ran into her a few times."
"Over time, and always being punished together, we became closer and closer."
"Speaking of which, every time I'm the one who takes the blame for her and cleans up her messes."
The Eighth Prince said with a hint of helplessness.
Li Xuan hadn't expected this guy to ever be at a disadvantage.
Upon hearing this, the Seventh Princess immediately protested.
"Old Eight, don't talk nonsense!"
"I also took the blame for you when we were little. How come in your mouth, it's all about your good deeds?"
Although the Seventh Princess was scolding him, her soft tone was utterly unthreatening, even making one's ears tingle.
Princess Ankang and Princess Yuan'an both couldn't help but secretly scratch their earlobes. Listening to the Seventh Princess speak always made their ears feel tingly and numb.
"Alright, alright, everything you say is right, okay?"
"You should speak less and not embarrass yourself in front of the Imperial Sisters."
The Eighth Prince couldn't help but cover his face, clearly very familiar with the Seventh Princess's soft-spoken habit.
"I told you not to stay up so late."
"If you do stay up late, remember to ask the imperial physician to prescribe some tonics for your health."
"Look at you now, with dark circles like who-knows-what, and speaking so weakly. You don't look like a princess at all."
The Eighth Prince said with a look of disdain.
"None of your business!"
The Seventh Princess turned her back on the stretcher, unwilling to even look at the Eighth Prince again.
Seeing her attitude, the Eighth Prince got the idea to tease her and said, feigning seriousness:
"Speaking of stargazing, I do know a good place."
"In this capital, this place can be considered a holy land for stargazing."
"It's just that not many commoners know about it, so very few people have been there."
As the Eighth Prince spoke these few sentences, the Seventh Princess, lying on the stretcher, had unconsciously pricked up her ears.
Seeing the Seventh Princess's head half-raised, the Eighth Prince smiled smugly.
Princess Ankang and Princess Yuan'an, witnessing this scene, also couldn't help but cover their mouths and snicker.
"This Imperial Sister Seven is quite interesting."
Princess Ankang thought to herself.
"Oh, Imperial Brother Eight, is there really such a place in the capital?"
Princess Ankang cooperatively asked.
"Of course, and you, Ankang, know about this place and have even been there a few times."
Hearing the Eighth Prince say this, the Seventh Princess scrambled up from the stretcher and grabbed Princess Ankang's hand.
"You must be Imperial Sister Thirteen."
"As the rumors say, you are indeed a beauty of unparalleled grace. I am your Imperial Sister Seven, Li Simian."
"From now on, you can just call me 'older sister'."
Previously, the Seventh Princess had paid no attention to Princess Ankang and Princess Yuan'an, but now her demeanor had suddenly changed.
Then, she impatiently asked:
"Imperial Sister, tell me, where is the place Old Eight mentioned?"
This Seventh Princess knew that the Eighth Prince was not an easy person to talk to, so she directly abandoned him and turned to ask Princess Ankang.
"This..."
Princess Ankang immediately showed a look of difficulty.
From the Eighth Prince's earlier words, she had indeed guessed a place.
It was just that the Seventh Princess couldn't get into that place at all.
"What's 'this'?"
"Hurry up and tell me!"
The Seventh Princess urged impatiently.
At this moment, the Eighth Prince, suppressing a laugh, watched the unfolding comedy.
Finally, Princess Ankang had no choice but to say:
"I guess Imperial Brother Eight is talking about the Thousand Stars Pavilion in the East Palace."
As soon as these words were spoken, the Eighth Prince could no longer hold back and burst into laughter, watching the Seventh Princess's bewildered expression.
The Seventh Princess blinked, then asked with some uncertainty:
"You can enter and exit the Thousand Stars Pavilion?"
The Seventh Princess usually lived a nocturnal life, with her days and nights reversed.
Aside from stargazing, she had no interest in anything else, so she didn't know that Princess Ankang could go to the Thousand Stars Pavilion to borrow books every month.
She saw Princess Ankang nod silently, feeling as if her heart had been subjected to ten thousand points of critical damage.
The Seventh Princess had once begged Emperor Yongyuan to stargaze in the Thousand Stars Pavilion, but was mercilessly refused.
She never expected that such a good thing would fall into someone else's lap, and her mood at this moment was indescribably bitter.
She turned to look at the Eighth Prince, who was laughing heartily at the side, and angrily reached out to grab him, cursing:
"Stinky Old Eight, come here and die!"
As a result, the Seventh Princess forgot she was on the stretcher, and due to her exaggerated movement, she directly fell off the stretcher with a "thud," landing solidly on the ground.
Seeing the Seventh Princess clutching her bottom, tears welling up from the pain on the ground, the Eighth Prince immediately spread his hands impishly and said:
"This has nothing to do with me."
The Seventh Princess on the ground suddenly felt her bottom hurt even more, almost crying out in anger.