Standing in front of the temple gate of Shaolin Temple, the eminent monks finally let out a sigh of relief when they saw Zhu Biao and his group gradually walk further and further along the mountain path until they reached the end of the path.
Finally…he had sent this God of Plagues away!
The abbot frowned and seemed to be troubled.
"What is Senior Martial Brother Abbot thinking about?”
"I'm thinking about why His Highness the Crown Prince is asking for alms from Shaolin Temple!"”
At the mention of this, Liaokong was a little angry."What is there to think about? The Crown Prince must be crazy poor. He actually wants money and food from our Shaolin Temple for military expenses. He is probably the first to do so since ancient times.”
He sighed." His Highness the Crown Prince does things without any scruples. He is always unexpected, and he is extremely intelligent. I think that he is not interested in the alms given by the temple, but is showing us that he is not a person who sticks to the rules. Therefore, the etiquette and customary rules in the past do not apply to him, so he wants us to be obedient. Otherwise, if we anger him, he will dare to risk universal condemnation!”
"Senior Brother Abbot, do you mean that the Crown Prince would dare to destroy Buddha?" Liaokong asked in surprise.”
"Hard to say! However, it shouldn't be like this!" The abbot looked worried and seemed to have aged a few years in an instant. He muttered,"Perhaps I'm thinking too much. His Highness the Crown Prince is just expressing his dissatisfaction with our Buddhist Sect, pointing out why we can ask for alms from others without doing anything.”
After a while, Zong Le's figure reappeared on the mountain path. He had sent Zhu Biao and the others halfway up the mountain before returning to Shaolin.
He knew that the abbot was waiting for him outside the Hall of Great Strength.
"Master Zongle, please come in. Master's name is resounding throughout the south. I also want to discuss Buddhism with Master Zongle!”
Zong Le put his palms together and said,"Then I'll have to trouble you for a few days!"”
"Amitabha. The Buddhist sects in the world are one family. Master Zongle is too polite. Please enter and have a chat! Oh right, why are Master Zongle and the Crown Prince together? Also, the monk beside His Highness seems to be the master's martial nephew, right? But it seems that he is also His Highness 'advisor…"
Zhu Biao and the others were still talking about what they had seen and heard in Shaolin Temple as they descended the mountain.
Song Zhong sighed." Crown Prince, I didn't expect Shaolin Temple's Eighteen Arhat Formation to be so powerful. Changqing and I can defeat any of the eighteen martial monks in a one-on-one battle. However, once the other party forms the formation, its power will suddenly increase several times. We have no way to do anything. I dare to say that even if there are twenty-eight of me, we might not be able to break this Arhat Formation!”
"I agree with Song Zhong!" Changqing nodded in agreement. This Arhat Formation is not simple!"
"That's why I brought this thing over! If it was successfully used in battle, there might be unexpected effects!”
Dao Yan suddenly reminded him tactfully," Your Highness, This Penniless Monk feels that you should not have asked Shaolin Temple for alms just now. 10,000 taels of silver and 100 catties of grain are just a drop in the bucket for the 200,000-strong Northern Expedition Army. It's not worth it to ask for this!”
Zhu Biao looked at Dao Yan with a faint smile,""Grandmaster, do you really think I'm here for that bit of silver and food? To tell you the truth, after raiding the Zhou and Zhao Clans, the Northern Expedition Army will have more than enough food and pay!”
"That's right, Crown Prince. This general is also puzzled!" We clearly don't lack these things!"
Zhu Biao smiled.”
Dao Yan frowned and pondered for a moment before revealing an expression of sudden realization. So there was such a profound meaning behind the Crown Prince's actions.
Zhu Biao had just arrived at the foot of the mountain when a messenger rushed over on a horse."Crown Prince, the imperial edict has arrived!"
"They're finally here. Father's speed is too slow!”Zhu Biao complained, then remembered the important matter and asked,"What did the imperial edict say? Did Father agree to the terms regarding the captives?”
The messenger said," I can't answer the Crown Prince's question because the imperial edict hasn't been read out yet. The official said that he would like you to go back and receive the imperial edict with Marshal Xu!"”
"What the hell!" Zhu Biao muttered in his heart.
"Your Highness, it should be His Majesty the Emperor who has a personal edict for you!" Dao Yan said with a smile.”
"Well, that's the only way! I'm in a hurry to return to the city, so we won't rest midway. Or if you're tired, you can take a short rest and then catch up later!”
After galloping for nearly four hours, they finally returned to Bianliang City.
At this moment, in Xu Da's marshal's manor, the official who announced the imperial edict had waited for eight hours and was already very impatient. He had arrived at Bianliang in the morning, but he had waited from morning to afternoon. The sun had already set, but the person who received the imperial edict had not returned.
However, the other party was the Crown Prince, the second generation of the most famous official. He, a small official, might be able to put on airs as an imperial envoy in other places, but putting on airs in front of this master was courting death.
"Scholar Fang, have some tea!" Xu Da sat at the side and said with a smile,"Looking at the time, the Crown Prince should be here soon. Please wait a little longer!”
The proclaiming officer thought to himself that he had already drunk tea for a whole day, and his stomach was full of water.
He had complaints in his heart, but he did not dare to voice them out. This was because besides being the commander of the Northern Expedition Army, Xu Da also held the position of the Left Prime Minister of the Hall of Governmental Affairs. The Left Prime Minister was the head of all officials. In other words, he, the official who announced the imperial edict, also belonged to the Ministry of Central Affairs. Xu Da was his official boss.
"Minister Xu, you are too kind. This is my duty. The Crown Prince is busy with official matters, so it is only right for me to wait!”
The two of them were chatting awkwardly when Zhu Biao and his men walked in from outside.
"It's my fault for making the proclaiming officer wait for so long!”
The official sprang up from his chair and cupped his hands in a salute."This lowly subject Fang Keqin greets Your Highness the Crown Prince. Your Highness has spared no effort to go to the prefectures and counties below to inspect the people's feelings. This lowly subject admires you.”
Zhu Biao thought to himself, What is this?
Xu Da quickly came over and whispered to Zhu Biao,"Crown Prince, I lied and said that you went down to inspect the people!”
Zhu Biao secretly praised Old Xu for his ability to handle things. He raised his hand to ask Fang Keqin to excuse himself. Knowing that the other party's surname was Fang, he joked with a smile,"Your surname is Fang? Did she have a son named Fang Xiaoru?”
Who knew that Fang Keqin looked up and wondered,"Your Highness also knows about children?"”
Zhu Biao, who was about to sit on the chair, suddenly stopped in mid-air. The one executed by Zhu Laosi was your son? Ten of your old Fang family's clans were destroyed!
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。