Master Dingzhen accompanied the emperor up hundreds of steps. By the time they finally entered the temple, the emperor was sweating and panting. Though he had been in excellent spirits that day, he was elderly, after all.
The eunuch beside him had not dared offer support earlier, but now hurried over to steady him and wipe away his sweat.
"Ah, these old bones of mine really are showing their age. Back in the day, a little walk like this would never have left me breathless!"
Master Dingzhen smiled and said,
"Your Majesty, this old monk is delighted to see you in good health. But fretting over your age is itself an attachment to appearances. Please look behind you!"
The emperor turned to look back. Among the imperial relatives, Princes and Nobles, and civil and military officials following him up the path, many were panting like oxen. Quite a few staggered from side to side, needing others to support them.
It was not just the older ones. Even some who were clearly quite young were sweating or gasping for breath, looking far worse than the emperor himself.
Naturally, there were also people doing well-indeed, even more of them-but those struggling were so conspicuous and eye-catching that it seemed as though a great many had poor stamina.
"Hahahahaha! You are quite right, Master. Let us go."
After that laughter, the group entered the temple one after another, led by the emperor. Master Dingzhen knew he could not oversee everything; his hands could reach only as far as his strength allowed.
Another eunuch accompanying the emperor held a wooden box throughout. Inside were the three dragon scales.
As the dragon scales entered the Dragon Painting Temple, the sky grew still gloomier. Dark clouds gathered unnoticed, and daylight seemed to dim further.
Hidden behind