NFBE Chapter 278 What is Mingkong's weakness?
Chapter 278 What is Mingkong's weakness?
Prince Chen watched his retreating figure, a meaningful smile playing on his lips.
Calm and unperturbed? Completely indifferent?
Not necessarily.
Li Xuan was wholeheartedly devoted to Li Mubai and was willing to do anything for him.
Now that Li Xuan is in a hopeless situation with almost no chance of turning things around, Li Mubai must be regretting it so much he's about to vomit blood.
Before leaving, Prince Chen nodded slightly to Yun Shang, who stayed behind to clean up the mess.
He was right about Yun Shang.
If the only problem with this winter festival is the royal decree, then Yun Shang, the official in charge of the festival from the Ministry of Rites, would certainly be severely punished.
But who could have imagined that Mingkong would publicly expose the Yongwang’s cruelty to pregnant women, instantly attracting everyone’s attention? Who would care about a small oversight in the winter festival?
After the court officials and princes left one after another, the huge venue gradually became deserted.
Yun Shang methodically arranged for the Ministry of Rites officials to handle the aftermath.
At this moment, those officials from the Ministry of Rites who had previously followed Wang Ling and always outwardly obeyed Yun Shang but inwardly defied him were now eager to kneel down and pledge their loyalty to Yun Shang.
Who would have thought that during a perfectly good winter festival, Wang Ling, who should have been recuperating at home, would suddenly appear in the Buddhist temple and do... do that kind of thing with a monk...
Now, he has been ordered to be executed by the emperor himself, and the news hasn't even spread yet.
One of the officials, with a pointed face and a monkey-like appearance, had a fawning smile on his face and said, bowing and scraping, "Lord Yun, is there anything you need us to do? Please give us your orders, and we will certainly do it properly for you!"
As he spoke, he kept glancing at Yun Shang's expression, afraid that he might accidentally upset her.
Yun Shang looked at the officials, his expression still cold and calm, like ice that had never melted for a thousand years, without a ripple.
He frowned slightly and said calmly, "Everyone should just do their job."
The voice was not loud, but it revealed an unquestionable majesty.
The smiles on the officials' faces froze instantly, and they immediately put on a submissive look, nodding hurriedly and slinking off to work.
Yun Shang turned and walked into the main hall.
A figure was kneeling on the prayer mat.
He is Mingkong, the abbot of Huangjue Temple.
Emperor Wenjing allowed him to pass away in meditation before the Buddha statue.
Mingkong knelt on the prayer mat with his head bowed, striking the wooden fish.
His monk's robes were somewhat disheveled, and in the silent main hall, he exuded an aura of loneliness and despair.
He tapped the wooden fish in his hand intermittently, the sound echoing in the empty hall, adding to the loneliness.
Yun Shang's footsteps were particularly clear in the empty main hall.
Mingkong paused in striking the wooden fish, then turned his head slightly to look over.
Yun Shang's expression was cool and calm, his pupils were pitch black, making it impossible to see through his inner emotions. "Master Mingkong can now face the Buddha directly."
Mingkong sighed softly, slowly putting down the wooden fish in his hand. His movements were slow and heavy, as if the wooden fish weighed a thousand pounds.
He slowly got up and turned around.
Looking at Yun Shang, his eyes revealed a trace of vicissitude and a clear understanding of the world. "Everything today was within Yun's calculations."
Yun Shang raised an eyebrow slightly, his expression unchanged. "What do you mean by that, Master? What does all of today have to do with me?"
"Lord Yun's strategy is flawless, making everyone a pawn in the game. I am just one of them, right?"
Yun Shang did not respond to him.
Mingkong seemed not to need his acknowledgment, and only gave a bitter smile, "The affairs of this world are all preordained. Everything that happened today is the result of my own actions."
After saying this, he knelt down on the prayer mat again, picked up the wooden fish, and said, "Please take good care of Dou Niang and her daughter, Benefactor Yun. I will be eternally grateful."
Yun Shang's expression was indifferent. "I will naturally not go back on my word."
He glanced at Mingkong one last time, then turned and left the Buddhist temple.
Who would have thought that the abbot of Huangjue Temple had already become tainted by worldly affairs?
Only when the footsteps gradually faded into the silence of the hall did Mingkong slowly raise his hand and strike the wooden fish again.
The sound of the wooden fish seemed to be telling of his endless repentance.
"Amitabha……"
In the royal palace, in the royal study.
Emperor Wenjing lay exhausted on his dragon bed, while two beautiful women gently massaged his shoulders and back.
The candlelight flickered inside the palace, casting dappled shadows on the walls. With a beautiful woman by his side, Emperor Wenjing had no other thoughts whatsoever.
"Your Majesty, it's time for some ginseng soup. Don't overwork yourself."
One of the beauties spoke softly, her voice as melodious as a nightingale's, her face showing concern. She held a bowl of ginseng soup in her hands and carefully handed it to Emperor Wenjing.
Emperor Wenjing frowned, impatiently avoiding the ginseng soup offered by the beauty, and said with a hint of annoyance, "All of you, step back."
The beauties were stunned; their smiles vanished instantly, replaced by fear and unease.
They exchanged a glance, then immediately knelt down, not daring to utter another word, and hastily retreated outside.
Upon seeing this, Liu Haifu quickly raised his hand to signal the rest of the palace staff to leave as well.
After everyone had left, he tiptoed to the dragon bed, knelt down, and began to massage Emperor Wenjing's legs, his head bowed obediently, appearing extremely cautious.
A short while later, Emperor Wenjing asked, "What do you think of today's events?"
Liu Haifu immediately knelt down and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, this servant dares not speak presumptuously."
"It's alright, just speak, I will pardon you."
Upon hearing this, Liu Haifu hesitated before saying, "This servant feels that there are many suspicious points in today's events. Wang Ling's leg injury is indeed very serious, and he will not be able to walk for a short time. He should be recuperating at home. His sudden appearance at Huangjue Temple is too strange..."
As he spoke, he secretly glanced at Emperor Wenjing's expression. Seeing that the emperor was not displeased, he continued speaking.
"There's also Master Mingkong's accusation that Prince Yong abused and murdered pregnant women... Why did Master Mingkong choose to expose this today?"
"This humble servant is foolish and always feels that this series of events seems to be manipulated by someone behind the scenes."
Emperor Wenjing suddenly laughed, a laugh tinged with helplessness and sarcasm, "They're all eyeing my dragon throne."
Liu Haifu's heart skipped a beat, as if he had been struck hard.
He was so frightened that he quickly lowered his head, pressing his forehead tightly to the ground, not daring to breathe, for fear that a single wrong word would bring about his death.
He dared not accept that.
"I am tired, you may leave as well." Emperor Wenjing waved his hand, closed his eyes, and looked exhausted.
"Yes."
Liu Haifu felt as if he had been granted a pardon and quickly bowed and withdrew.
He closed the door quietly, his movements careful, afraid of making even the slightest noise that might disturb the Emperor.
As the door closed, he seemed to catch a glimpse of a dark figure flashing through the hall out of the corner of his eye.
His gaze paused, and his heart tightened suddenly.
He quickly turned around, his eyes wide, wanting to see clearly.
However, there was nothing in the hall except for the flickering candlelight!