Lady Shen was granted a fragrant bath.

The Venerable Sanbao covered his mouth, desperately trying to suppress his laughter—His Highness's face had turned green. You've been spoiled so much that you've become lawless; now you're getting your comeuppance!

Xiao Zhian sat upright on the futon, feeling a sudden surge of irritation.

This wicked cat killed his ministers, copied his handwriting, and used his Imperial City Guard to commit murder.

Before he could even find her, interrogate her, or deal with her, she actually came here meowing and acting cute in front of others, and even dared to drag him into being with another woman.

Is she all she has in her belly but a fat gallbladder?

Xiao Zhian stared at the small silhouette, wanting to lift Lin Huaiyin by the back of her neck, flip open her belly, and pinch to see how it grew inside.

Xiao Zhian wanted to go out; he had many things to ask her.

But the words "seeking a child" that Lin Huaiyin had just said kept echoing in his ears.

The more he stared at Lin Huaiyin, the louder the words "seeking a child" became.

Does she really want Shen Congyun's child that badly?

He spared no expense, humbled himself, and came to snatch the high monk from him, using his name to deceive the Shen family, all just to curry favor with a mere Shen Congyun.

What is Shen Congyun anyway?

She's clinging to another man, so why should he go see her? Even if he were to see her, he should take her to the East Palace, make her kneel in the hall, and have her put away her claws and confess honestly.

The bad cat is naughty.

Xiao Zhian decided to retract his indulgence, coldly gesturing for the monk Sanbao to bring his ear over, and whispered, "Alright, just say it's me, and send fragrant water for Madam Shen to bathe in."

Upon hearing this, Abbot Sanbao felt a chill run down his spine.

Your Highness, what a wicked trick!

The Crown Prince openly sent fragrant bath water to his minister's wife; he dared not even imagine how miserable Lin's fate would be.

His Highness seems to be angry.

After more than a decade of interactions, this was the first time that Abbot Sanbao had witnessed Xiao Zhian's emotional turmoil over a woman, and how he had even maliciously harmed her.

At first, they would dote on and agree with whatever people said, but suddenly they turned on you faster than flipping through a book?

Your Highness is taking this too seriously.

Abbot Sanbao dared not speculate further. He rose, nodded to the screen, and replied to Lin Huaiyin, "Alright, as Benefactor Lin wishes. This humble monk will send someone to deliver it to your residence later."

"This is possible?"

Lin Huaiyin's eyes widened, wanting to say, "Why don't you ask a few more questions? Why don't you confirm why? Aren't you afraid of incurring the Crown Prince's wrath?"

Is this abbot still half asleep and talking nonsense?

She pressed on incredulously, "Abbot, are you sure? I meant His Highness is fond of Miss Shen and specially granted her a bath?"

Lin Huaiyin repeated herself with a stronger tone, and Xiao Zhian immediately closed his eyes and stopped looking at her.

Abbot Sanbao hurriedly replied, "Yes, yes. Did Benefactor Lin ask for a child? Hurry up and go, don't miss the auspicious time."

Upon hearing the sudden cry of "I wish for a child," a vein throbbed in Xiao Zhian's temple.

With his eyes closed, he could see clearly that Lin Huaiyin was holding his hands in a daze, pitifully calling him "Your Highness".

His right hand still retained the cool touch of her palm. He had never met her, but she seemed to have an infinite longing for him.

It was she who first gave him that look, which annoyed him.

What's wrong with her?

A strange sense of unease coursed through Xiao Zhian's body.

Lin Huaiyin stopped worrying, clasped her hands together in praise of "Master's compassion," and respectfully took her leave.

She closed the door and stepped back, glancing back at him. She knew perfectly well that there was more than one person behind the screen.

However, within Xiangguo Temple, the abbot is the most powerful, and as the Crown Prince's substitute monk, his conduct is certainly different from that of ordinary monks. It is not up to Lin Huaiyin to investigate who is hiding in his room.

The other party accepted the entire sum of 800,000 taels of silver. Lin Huaiyin had no other thoughts; she only awaited the delivery of the white-cloaked woman and the fragrant soup. Once the money and goods were settled, neither party would owe the other anything.

Now, it's time to deal with those nine high-ranking monk assassins.

Lin Huaiyin turned to head towards the Dharma Hall, but the young novice monk moved very quickly and was leading nine senior monks towards her.

The high monks, dressed in robes and holding various ritual implements, all had solemn expressions.

The reason they were so easily summoned by a young novice was not because they were at Lin Huaiyin's request, but because Xiao Zhian had not been to the Dharma Hall. Upon hearing that he was with the abbot, the group rushed over.

Lin Huaiyin saw them from afar and was about to say that they had arrived at the perfect time, but upon closer inspection, she saw that the nine men had their eyes lowered, their hands hidden in their sleeves, and the veins on their necks were bulging, all of them showing signs of murderous intent.

She sensed something was wrong, thinking that she had disrupted their plans and gotten herself into trouble. In her panic, she didn't know how to deal with it. Suddenly, she noticed that Mu Zhanjuan was following closely behind and looking at her.

Lin Huaiyin acted decisively, raising her right arm, opening her palm, and pressing down forcefully.

Mu Zhanjuan immediately understood – this was a common charging maneuver in the military!

"Take it down!"

With a stern shout, several people sprang out from behind him, and in the blink of an eye, all nine high monks were subdued.

The situation was brought under control in an instant, and the murder weapon hidden in the ritual implements was seized on the spot.

Lin Huaiyin gestured for silence, and the jaws of the nine high monks were instantly dislocated.

The young novice monk leading the way was taken aback, and Lin Huaiyin quickly explained that His Highness the Crown Prince was capturing an assassin.

Xuan Ge, who was hiding under the Bodhi tree, was stunned upon seeing this.

Xuan Ge and Mu Zhanjuan noticed each other, exchanged a knowing glance, and neither of them pointed out the other's presence.

Lin Huaiyin squatted down in front of the young novice and asked, "Junior brother, do you have any vacant rooms we can borrow?"

The young novice monk, who had not yet been formally ordained, blushed bright red when someone called him "senior brother" for the first time. He raised his chin like a little adult and said, "Come with me!"

"Alright, please, junior brother."

Lin Huaiyin stepped aside to let the young novice monk lead the way.

In the blink of an eye, the area in front of the abbot's room was empty. The morning breeze blew, and the horn bells tinkled, as if nothing had ever happened.

As Mu Zhanjuan walked, his gaze remained fixed on Lin Huaiyin.

He had a million questions in his mind.

A chill ran down his spine; his undergarment was soaked with sweat, and his face was filled with lingering fear.

Today's grand ceremony is to pray for His Majesty's well-being, and it is not appropriate to see any fighting. After the Imperial Guards cleared the area, they all retreated to the outskirts of Xiangguo Temple. His Highness was only accompanied by Xuan Ge, a personal bodyguard.

However, nine assassins were hiding at the Dharma assembly that His Highness was to attend. Mu Zhanjuan only realized that the magic artifacts contained hidden weapons when they left the Dharma Hall, so he led his team to follow them.

These monks are not skilled in martial arts, but if they suddenly launch an attack, and Xuan Ge is isolated outside the Dharma Hall, he is too far away to help. Your Highness is definitely in grave danger today.

Mu Zhanjuan was drenched in cold sweat, and the more he thought about it, the more terrified he became.

He stared intently at Lin Huaiyin's back, wanting to ask her how she knew in advance that these people were assassins and arranged for them to come and protect her.

He wanted to ask His Highness if he knew about this matter, and even more so, he wanted to ask Lin Huaiyin how she intended to deal with the assassins and why she didn't report to His Highness immediately.

He had so many questions he wanted to ask, but he had to consider Lin Huaiyin's status as "Your Highness".

Lin Huaiyin appeared with the coded message "Wild deer carrying flowers," and she was on par with His Highness the Crown Prince.

His Highness's actions are not for him to question.

Today, Mu Zhanjuan's act of anticipating the enemy's moves and turning the tide has made him even more willing to submit and serve.

Regardless of whether Lady Shen had an affair with His Highness or whose child she was carrying, her devotion to His Highness was as clear as day.

Mu Zhanjuan thought this through and silently adopted a respectful expression.

We walked quietly to the meditation room.

Lin Huaiyin thanked the young novice, asked him to keep it a secret, and saw him off for the time being.

She closed the door and gestured for Mu Zhanjuan to put the monks' chins back in place.

Once they had coughed and were able to speak again, Lin Huaiyin asked directly, "Among you, who is in charge?"

The men didn't answer, but their eyes betrayed them. Lin Huaiyin noticed that the eight men's gazes were drawn to one of them, and she immediately understood. With a slight smile and lowered eyes, she took out half a bamboo arrow from her waist, and with a swift movement, the arrow fell—"Pfft!"

An arrow pierced his throat, and the high monk coughed up two mouthfuls of thick blood before collapsing straight down.

"Pass!"

The living person was turned into a corpse and crashed to the ground with a loud thud.

The eight high monks were greatly shaken, and immediately seemed to accept their impending fate, their expressions solemn and silent.

Mu Zhanjuan and ten palace guards were instantly intimidated by Lin Huaiyin.

Such a delicate girl, with fair and tender hands, yet she concealed a deadly weapon in her waistband, ready to strike with deadly precision.

The most crucial point—she uses arrows!

Her skill with the arrows was so exceptional that it was clear she was involved in the assassination attempt on Minister Zhao of the Ministry of War!

Does His Highness know anything about this matter?!

Mu Zhanjuan looked at Lin Huaiyin, too excited to speak.

Among the group, Lin Huaiyin was the shortest, and everyone lowered their heads, focusing their attention on her.

Lin Huaiyin stood with her hands behind her back, her gaze sweeping over the eight high monks one by one, finally settling on Mu Zhanjuan, and kindly explained to him:

"I believe that with the resources of Xiangguo Temple, gathering and verifying the identities of these senior monks should not be a problem. The monks are indeed senior monks, and the assassins are definitely not fake either. Monks do not kill, so their sudden gathering to plot the assassination of Your Highness suggests that they are compassionate and ruthless, acting on behalf of the people."

"You say you're speaking up for the people?" Mu Zhanjuan's gaze sharpened, and he retorted sternly, "Your Highness is a diligent and benevolent ruler who loves his people. What is there to speak up for—"

“No.” Lin Huaiyin shook her head and interrupted: “Your Highness loves the people, but you must know the people first. Your Highness is diligent in governing, but you must know where the problems lie. But the current situation is that Your Highness is unaware of the people’s suffering, and the common people are unaware that Your Highness has been deceived. Both sides are confused, and with the deliberate provocation of those with ulterior motives, this is the situation.”

As she spoke, Lin Huaiyin glanced at the corpse on the ground, and everyone instantly understood—this was the person who had deliberately provoked them, which was why she had acted so ruthlessly, killing him in one move.

"Absurd!" Mu Zhanjuan did not believe Lin Huaiyin's words and argued with reason—"The imperial court has the Censorate, which regularly dispatches officials to inspect the prefectures and counties. His Highness personally reviews every report. Local officials can also submit memorials directly to the emperor, which are reviewed and submitted by the Secretariat. Not to mention that the Crown Prince also frequently sends people to secretly investigate the people. How can you say that he is unaware of the people's hardships?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Huaiyin countered, "So, Your Highness, have you been able to trace the origins of the White Lotus Rebels who have been on the run ever since?"

"This—" Mu Zhanjuan was speechless for a moment.

Lin Huaiyin smiled faintly and said, "If the Censorate and the Secretariat are colluding, with one knowing but not reporting, and the other intercepting and suppressing memorials, and the Crown Prince's secret agents are always known in advance and deliberately arranged, then with such a meticulous plan, how can Your Highness's eyes and ears still see the true colors of the common people?"

With just a few words, Lin Huaiyin exposed the crux of the court's problems. These words were too shocking, and behind them lay a shocking conspiracy. Mu Zhanjuan was so frightened that he turned pale and dared not breathe.

The eight eminent monks were also shocked. Their wise eyes reflected Lin Huaiyin's figure, and they all narrowed their eyes, pondering this sudden shock.

They came here with the belief that "if I don't go to hell, who will?" and to plead for the sake of all living beings.

Corruption is rampant in the local areas. Officials and wealthy families bully men and women and act tyrannically. Ordinary people live in fear and are displaced. The people are suffering. Buddhism has never been so prosperous. However, they cannot bear to see the people suffer. They were summoned to the capital for the Buddha's Birthday. At the suggestion of Zen Master Kuwu, they decided to conspire to assassinate the Crown Prince.

With the Emperor seriously ill and the Crown Prince overseeing the country, it is clear that the Crown Prince's ineffective governance has led to rampant corruption and widespread poverty. He must take responsibility for the people's suffering.

The eminent monks were willing to sacrifice themselves to kill the incompetent crown prince for the sake of the people, to restore order to the world and protect the peace of the people. However, when the time came, Lin Huaiyin actually came up with such a set of excuses.

Does His Highness the Crown Prince, sitting on the throne in the capital, really know nothing about the common people?

The high monks were at a loss, unsure of what to do.

Lin Huaiyin knew they were confused and respected their righteousness. She stood still and nodded, explaining to them: "The difficulty lies in the fact that no one in the capital is involved. Local officials act with impunity, extorting money from the people. The court is unaware of this and no one is soliciting or accepting bribes. It is all thanks to a powerful hand deliberately covering it up. Therefore, it is difficult for Your Highness to notice anything unusual while in the capital."

Upon hearing this, Mu Zhanjuan felt a chill run down his spine.

"Such manipulation, covering up and concealing without accepting bribes, all to disrupt the court—does someone intend to—"

“Yes.” Lin Huaiyin nodded approvingly: “It is because some people deliberately condone local unrest, force good people to become refugees, and then gather refugees to become White Lotus rebels. This not only causes widespread resentment among the people and damages the reputation of the Crown Prince, but also allows them to use the White Lotus to attack the court.”

At this point, all that's needed is to instigate a high-ranking monk to assassinate His Highness. With His Highness in danger, power will inevitably fall into the wrong hands. Then, the person in power can simply sacrifice the White Lotus Sect they've nurtured, eliminating the corrupt officials they know so well. Naturally, the people will praise them, the court officials will submit, and then—”