Upon hearing this, Li Hong immediately said seriously, "Please ask Master Hongqing for your guidance."
Fang Jian said, "I am a celestial official in heaven and shouldn't interfere in human affairs. However, I owe you a favor in the past and now I have to repay it."
"Oh?" Li Hong said, "Who does Master Hongqing owe a favor to?"
Fang Jian said, "The Bodhisattva Samantabhadra of Mount Emei."
Li Hong paused for a moment, then immediately reacted and asked, "Is it possible that Master Hongqing came here to destroy Buddhism?"
"Yes and no," Fang Jian said, "The Tang Dynasty's suppression of Buddhism is a national policy, and I cannot interfere. However, I have come here to repay a favor to Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, so I would like to ask Your Majesty to show some leniency and exclude Shu County from this suppression of Buddhism."
Upon hearing this, Li Hong did not dare to object, but he did not want to agree immediately.
After much deliberation, Li Hong gritted his teeth and said, "Master Hongqing, destroying Buddhism is a national policy. We just discussed it with all the civil and military officials in the court and finalized it today. Now you suddenly want to exclude Shu County. This matter... needs to be discussed again with all the ministers."
Fang Jian nodded upon hearing this and said, "That's right. I'm merely making a request to Your Majesty, and I have no other intentions. Your Majesty can discuss this with the court officials tomorrow morning. Whatever the outcome, I will accept it with equanimity."
After saying this, Fang Jian bowed to Li Hong and said, "It's getting late, Your Majesty, please go to bed early."
As soon as he finished speaking, Fang Jian turned into a rainbow of light and flew up into the sky, disappearing from sight.
Li Hong looked up at the direction where Fang Jian left. There was a mysterious golden light hanging high in the sky, but it was difficult for Li Hong to see what it was with his naked eyes.
At this moment, a eunuch's sharp voice suddenly came from behind Li Hong and exclaimed, "Your Majesty? Why did you come out? What happened just now?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
