"Yes!"
Giving him a look of bewilderment at the solemn expression on his face, the confidant then prepared to slowly exit the room with a sullen expression.
"You handled this matter beautifully. Now, continue to monitor it. I want to know exactly who entered the dungeon tonight and how long they stayed. As for what they discussed, you don't need to find out. Just tell me who went in and out, or if anyone sent anything in!"
Just as he was about to reach the door, Du Chong suddenly spoke again.
"Yes!"
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"What are you talking about? Demolishing the bell tower and the Grand Hall of the Xiangguo Temple to construct a Dharma body for the Great Emperor Qinghua of the Eastern Pole?"
Upon hearing this news, Monk Daojian, who had been meditating in the backyard of the Xiangguo Temple, felt as if he had been forced to eat three pounds of dog excrement.
This was truly a case of calamity befalling someone while they were peacefully at home.
Ever since they had sent away that plague god, Han Mo, they had spent immense effort and resources, finally gaining the upper hand in their conflict with Lin Ling Su.
However, they had never expected Lin Ling Su's counterattack to be so fierce and decisive.
"Master, the Crown Prince instructed me to inform you of this. Furthermore, the Crown Prince said to please be extremely careful and not to fall into anyone's trap..."
The young eunuch felt somewhat embarrassed as he said this.
When other emperors or crown princes believed in religions, they often acted as patrons.
However, Zhao Huan, the Crown Prince, was different. Ever since the Crown Prince had a lengthy discussion with the venerable Monk Daojian, the old monk had been sending treasures to the Crown Prince's mansion every few days.
When the Crown Prince's wet nurse had a birthday, the old monk directly gifted a golden Maitreya Buddha statue as tall as a person.
When the Crown Prince sprained his foot, the old monk immediately presented a vajra pestle to ward off evil and calamities.
Besides the densely carved runes on it, the key point was that this thing was pure gold and weighed a hundred and seventy-six pounds!
Just last month, unable to find any reason for a gift, they learned that the Crown Prince's dog had given birth. The old monk, overjoyed, immediately sent a pure gold dog. Not only was it carved to life, but it also weighed a hundred and twenty-three pounds...
Even a fool would know that the old monk was paying "protection money" to the Crown Prince for the future of Buddhism.
Yet, now that a minor issue had arisen, this Crown Prince had fled faster than Wangcai, the Crown Prince's recently delivered dog.
"Did the Crown Prince say anything else?"
After his right hand trembled several times, the old monk clenched his fist tightly and asked the young eunuch through gritted teeth.
"Master, I am merely a messenger. This matter has nothing to do with me!"
Feeling the oppressive aura emanating from the old monk, the young eunuch trembled all over, almost collapsing to his knees.
"Amitabha, this old monk understands. Please convey to the Crown Prince that this old monk appreciates his intentions!"
As expected of a leader in Buddhism, the old monk took several deep breaths and quickly regained his composure.
"Thank you, Master. This humble servant shall take his leave!"
Upon hearing this, the young eunuch, who had been trembling, hurriedly wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. He didn't even bother to collect the reward money and turned to flee.
"Master, we cannot let this matter rest. That fellow surnamed Zhao took so much of our wealth, and now he is distancing himself when we encounter trouble?"
"Exactly, Master. If he refuses to help us, then he should return everything we gave him! This is simply too bullying, they are clearly treating us as fools!"
After the young eunuch left, some of the old monk's disciples, who had short tempers, could not help but start cursing.
"All of you, be silent! Will your words solve anything? If you think they can, then by all means, continue speaking!"
Hearing the old monk's words, the disciples grudgingly fell silent.
"I know you are all angry now, but anger will not solve the problem. Moreover, when we gave them those riches, we never expected them to be of use at this moment!"
Investing in the future was something they had all decided on beforehand.
After all, to completely expel the Taoists from Bianliang City during Emperor Huizong's reign was an almost impossible task.
Even if they could target a specific Taoist, such as Lin Ling Su or Liu Hun Kang, targeting the entire Taoist sect was quite difficult.
Unless their Buddha himself intervened, achieving this goal would be no different than a fool's dream.
"But Master, if we lose even the Xiangguo Temple, how will believers all over the world view us?"
Building a Taoist deity statue in a Buddhist temple, it was obvious to anyone that this would eventually lead to a situation where the usurper takes over the nest.
If it were any other temple, they might have reluctantly accepted it. However, the Xiangguo Temple was their symbol.
This was also their most direct front line in the fight against the Taoists.
If they lost even this place, even if they built a larger and more magnificent temple outside the city at all costs, it would likely not be able to compensate for the loss of image in the hearts of believers.
"All of you, get out!"
Seeing them start arguing again at the slightest disagreement, Daojian frowned and ordered them all out.
At this moment, he needed to come up with a solution as quickly as possible, not waste time on these meaningless quarrels.
"But Master..."
"Get out!"
Seeing that he had driven even a virtuous monk to such words, his disciples could only shrink their necks and turn to leave.
"Sir, these are some medicinal herbs sent to you by an imperial envoy. Please verify them!"
As the old monk was dejectedly lost in thought, in the Shenxiao Palace, Liang Shicheng spoke while waving to the young eunuchs behind him.
Immediately, over a dozen young eunuchs lined up, bowed, and held up the trays of precious medicinal herbs above their heads with both hands.
"Thank you, Grand Commandant, for making this personal journey. This old Taoist is immensely grateful. The Emperor's kindness to this old Taoist is as vast as the mountains and seas, and this old Taoist truly does not know how to repay His Majesty..."
After all, it was a performance. Lin Ling Su was also an experienced actor. With just a few words, he spoke with such heartfelt emotion in front of so many young eunuchs...