After listening to the advice, Xu Shilin bid farewell to Tongtian Jiaozhu and left with Guan Kong. They went to Chang'an City, where, through Guan Kong's introduction, Xu Shilin joined the Qin Prince's Mansion.
On the night of July 15th, the sky was filled with stars.
In the Crown Prince's residence in Bianjing.
Crown Prince Zhao Qin was sitting opposite a handsome, bald monk.
Zhao Qin showed great respect to this person.
A person who can be treated this way by the crown prince must have an extraordinary background.
He was none other than the famous Bodhisattva of Sunlight.
“Bodhisattva! The situation is becoming increasingly unfavorable for me. What advice do you have for me?” Zhao Qin asked, frowning.
Under the influence of a group of treacherous officials, Zhao Ji became increasingly distant from him, and even loathed him.
Everyone in the court, even the most foolish among them, knew that it wouldn't be long before Zhao Ji would depose him from his position as crown prince.
Throughout history, countless crown princes have been deposed, but none of them ever met a good end.
He's not the kind of person who's willing to sit idly by and wait to die.
Having served as crown prince with trepidation for so many years, he finally managed to outlive Zhao Ji until he was old and frail, and it seemed that he was just waiting for the emperor to pass away so that he could rightfully take over the throne.
But now, as if about to collapse just before dawn, anyone would be unwilling to accept it...
As the future emperor recognized by Buddhism, the Bodhisattva Sunlight is well aware of Zhao Qin's current predicament.
Upon hearing Zhao Qin's request for instruction, the Bodhisattva of Sunlight first uttered a Buddhist chant: "Amitabha..."
"The Crown Prince has already made up his mind, so why bother asking this old monk?"
Zhao Qin's face fell. "It seems the Bodhisattva already knows what I'm planning to do!"
The Bodhisattva of Sunlight smiled and nodded slightly.
It's nothing more than preparing for a rebellion; what's so surprising about that?
After all, seeing that he could not change Zhao Ji's mind about deposing the crown prince, what else could Zhao Qin do but fight back with all his might?
He couldn't just accept his fate, obediently wait to be deposed, and then be plotted against by the next emperor, resulting in his sudden death.
Besides, the Buddhist sect has already placed its bets on this person in this calamity. Even if Zhao Qin wanted to back down, the Buddhist sect would not allow it!
You have to understand that from the moment he was targeted by Buddhism, his future was already set, and he had no choice but to accept it or change it.
Besides, the Buddhist sect had already planned this; the prince's previous life was that of a devout Buddhist disciple.
Even if they are reincarnated, their reverence for Buddhism is already ingrained in their bones, so how could they possibly rebel against Buddhism...
The Bodhisattva of Sunlight smiled and said, "Of course I understand. Besides, do you have a better choice than that?"
Upon hearing this, a cold glint flashed in Zhao Qin's eyes, and he exhaled a breath of turbid air, saying, "That's right! I have no other choice."
Then, with a somber expression, he said, "Unfortunately, even though I have the will to fight to the death, I know that the chances of success are probably extremely slim."
"Oh? I wonder what troubles Your Highness? If this humble monk or even my Buddhist sect can help, we will certainly do our best." The Bodhisattva of Sunlight expressed his support for Zhao Qin.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Qin was overjoyed. He stood up from his seat, bowed, and said, "Thank you for your mercy, Bodhisattva."
“Your Highness, there’s no need for you to be so polite. If there’s anything this humble monk can do for you, please just tell me,” said the Bodhisattva of Sunlight with a smile.
Zhao Qin sat down again and said in a cold voice, "I have already secretly subdued some of the imperial guards in the palace, and the guards of the Eastern Palace are even more elite. They are just waiting for my order to enter the palace and ask my father to abdicate in favor of me..."
Upon hearing Zhao Qin use the word "please," the Bodhisattva of Sunlight smiled slightly, thinking that this was perhaps a little too polite.
"Since the Crown Prince already has a perfect plan, why has he summoned this old monk?" asked the Bodhisattva Sunlight.
"Alas! I am confident that I can take down the palace guards, but my father has many retainers around him. It is said that they are all cultivators, each with great supernatural powers."
Especially the Imperial Preceptor Lin Lingsu, whose magical powers and supernatural abilities are unfathomable.
"Although I have a few retainers in my residence, they should be no match for them. I hope the Bodhisattva can help me get rid of those people." Zhao Qin expressed his greatest concern.
The Bodhisattva of Sunlight did not refuse.
Emperor Huizong (Zhao Ji) was a follower of Taoism, so it was not surprising that there were some Taoist disciples in the palace.
As for Lin Lingsu...
The Bodhisattva of Sunlight also knew that this person was a third-generation disciple of the Chan Sect, and had heard that he was a disciple of Yun Zhongzi.
"Your Highness, rest assured, when you make your move, this humble monk will lend you a helping hand," the Bodhisattva of Sunlight assured him.
Zhao Qin was finally relieved...
...
A tall building stands deep within the palace.
This building was constructed by Emperor Huizong of Song (Zhao Ji) for his cultivation of immortality and is called the Star-Picking Tower.
At this moment, on a terrace at the highest point of the Star-Picking Tower, stood an old Taoist priest with a white beard.
He was Lin Lingsu, the Grand Preceptor of the Song Dynasty.
Lin Lingsu stood on the edge of the terrace, her hands behind her back, looking up at the starry sky.
Seeing that the Purple Star in the sky was dimming tonight, a look of worry appeared on his face.
The star's dimness foreshadows the impermanence of an emperor's reign.
"Perhaps within six months!"
He set a countdown to Zhao Ji's death.
Next, he withdrew his gaze and looked towards the city, where he saw the mortal world surging and the fortune shining like a rosy cloud.
Finally, he set his sights on the Eastern Palace.
At this moment, the Emperor's purple aura swirled above the Eastern Palace, and a golden dragon was circling within the pillar of light that resembled a rosy cloud.
And deep within that purple aura, wisps of Buddhist light emanated.
"This prince is too deeply entangled with Buddhism; he is truly not fit to be a ruler!"
Lin Lingsu sighed again.
He was filled with anxiety about the upcoming situation in the court.
Seeing that Zhao Ji was nearing his end, and that once he passed away and Crown Prince Zhao Qin ascended the throne, given his relationship with Buddhism, how could Xuanmen, especially Chanjiao, possibly have a foothold in the palace or even the court?
With his supernatural powers, he naturally had the means to prolong Zhao Ji's life.
However, Zhao Ji was the emperor, and his life and death concerned millions of lives.
Once he alters someone's fate, he will inevitably incur immeasurable karmic consequences and draw divine retribution.
Even a true immortal couldn't withstand it...
Just as he was pondering the future situation, a boy suddenly walked out of the Star-Picking Tower.
"Master, a guest requests an audience!"
"Hmm? Where did this guest come from?"
Just as Lin Lingsu was wondering what was going on, a middle-aged Taoist priest suddenly walked downstairs.
The Taoist priest was dressed in a green robe, handsome, tall and straight, and carried a precious sword on his back.
Upon seeing the newcomer, Lin Lingsu immediately smiled and quickly invited her forward.
"Who do we have here? It's you, Uncle Chunyangzi!"
Lin Lingsu smiled from a distance.
This Chunyangzi was none other than Lü Dongbin, a disciple of the Human Sect and one of the Eight Immortals of the Upper Cave, personally appointed by the Jade Emperor.
"Junior Nephew Lin! It's been a long time!"
Lin Lingsu approached and bowed respectfully. Lü Dongbin smiled and helped her up...
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com