After carefully rereading it several times, Lin Ling su still felt a little hesitant.
After all, if the plan was truly seamless, why would the other party have given it to them so readily?
"Master, I actually think you don't need to be so cautious. Even if the other party has some ulterior motives, what does it matter? Isn't it enough that we can achieve our goals? Those monks from Da Xiang Guo Temple have been holding Dharma assemblies every few days for the past few months, and the common people in Bianliang City look at them differently now!"
"Based on this, even if the other party has some ulterior motives, I think we can accept it!"
Unlike his idle senior brothers, Zhang Ruhui was responsible for the day-to-day affairs of the entire Shenxiao Palace and interacted with the common people more, naturally giving him more say.
"You're not wrong to say that. Come to think of it, I'm just too overcautious."
After a moment of stunned silence, Lin Ling su couldn't help but chuckle.
Thinking about it carefully, it was indeed true. Everyone had their own plans and their own little schemes. There was no need to delve too deeply into such matters. As long as the general direction was correct and they could achieve their goals, why bother about whether others had other plans?
"Master is thinking of everything, but where in the world is there something that is thought of for everything?"
"Alright, alright, you and I, master and disciple, don't need to flatter each other here! You go down and prepare first, spread the word. After I bathe and change, I will fast from today and enter the palace tomorrow morning!"
"Yes!"
Even though life in Bianliang City was becoming increasingly difficult, the small wine shops on the streets still seemed to be doing booming business.
Of course, if one had to point out any difference from before, it would probably be that the accompanying dishes on the guests' tables had gone from several plates to just one.
"Did you guys hear? Mister Yuan Miao from Shenxiao Palace has just made a great vow to erect nine divine statues in Bianliang City, arranged according to the Yin-Yang and Eight Trigram formations, to help His Majesty stabilize the scattered national fortune!"
At the old Hu Ji shop, while everyone was chatting, a patron who had had a bit too much to drink suddenly said loudly.
"What are you talking about? Scattered national fortune? I say, Old Wu, can you say such things? Aren't you afraid they'll take you for a heretic and send you to Kaifeng Prefecture?"
"Young Master Li, you're wrongly accusing him. I heard this news too, and the person who said it was actually a Taoist from Shenxiao Palace!"
"Is there such a thing?"
Seeing that the old shopkeeper, who was watching the excitement from the side, had spoken, the young man dressed in a scholar's robe's eyes widened.
"Young Master must have been diligently studying at the Imperial Academy recently and not paying attention to external affairs. You probably don't know that the Kaifeng Prefecture is currently handling a case of deceiving the emperor!"
Glancing at the bustling crowds outside and the familiar old patrons, the old shopkeeper lowered his voice and said.
"You're talking about Prefect Meng and Huang Qianshan, right? I've heard of that, but what's the connection between these two matters?"
Li Xun looked at the old shopkeeper with some curiosity.
"The connection here is huge. Let me tell you slowly!"
As the old shopkeeper spoke, he clearly recounted the events of Yuan Fu Year Three.
After listening to him finish, Li Xun's eyes widened.
"Thinking about it carefully, it does seem to be the case. Since Yuan Fu Year Three, disasters and calamities have indeed followed one after another. Could the theory of dragon veins actually be true?"
With one incident after another laid out before him, even Li Xun, a scholar, now had to believe these vague and ethereal claims.
"Isn't it true? I used to think that these Taoists were all talking nonsense, but this time I'm truly convinced. That old immortal from Shenxiao Palace, just by his own efforts, was able to know things that those corrupt officials had been hiding for so many years!"
The old shopkeeper couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement as he spoke.
"Even if he knew, what of it? The national treasury is empty now, isn't it? I heard that the few copper coins left in the national treasury are not even enough to reward the imperial guards and pay the salaries of officials!"
As a student of the Imperial Academy, Li Xun understood court affairs better than the common folk.
"Young Master, you're mistaken this time. I heard that this old immortal intends to use all the rewards His Majesty has given over the years for this matter!"
"Is there such a thing? If that's the case, then Li must have underestimated this true master!"
As soon as the old shopkeeper finished speaking, even Li Xun, a student of the Imperial Academy who slandered Buddhism and Taoism daily, began to show a hint of respect for Lin Ling su.
"This matter is good, and the old immortal has indeed put in a lot of effort. However, whether this matter can be accomplished is still unknown..."
Just as the conversation was getting lively, a middle-aged Taoist in a Taoist robe suddenly walked in from outside.
"Reverend, are there any other variables in this matter? The old immortal is already willing to pay for the construction of the divine statues himself, and His Majesty still wouldn't agree?"
Looking at his Taoist robe, the old shopkeeper immediately went forward and offered him a pot of good wine.
"You don't know, Mister Yuan Miao's desire to unite the major sects of Taoism to perform this great act of fortune consolidation is a good thing, but unfortunately, five of the nine array eyes are occupied by those Buddhist temples..."
"Bud-, Buddhist temples?"
Upon hearing these words, Li Xun's entire body suddenly froze. How did it feel like things had suddenly become so subtle?
"This is about national fortune! A great deed that benefits the country and the people. Would those monks be so unappreciative?"
"Why wouldn't they? Don't you know that the Changsheng Treasury behind Da Xiang Guo Temple has already been opened? Look at those monks, all of them are plump and well-fed. How is this a temple? It's a hen that lays golden eggs!"
After the Taoist finished speaking, the patrons in the room fell silent again.
If they were to continue talking, it would become a bit difficult to say...
Seeing that the atmosphere was becoming a bit awkward, a scholar in green clothes sitting in the corner, along with his attendant, turned and walked out of the wine shop.
"Sir, your move is indeed both ruthless and accurate. I fear the waters in Bianliang City will be thoroughly stirred up!"
After walking quite a distance, the coachman lowered his voice and said to Yuan Xingchi.
"If the water isn't stirred up, how can we fish?"