in2ebook Chapter 137 Shock to the Government and the Public
Chapter 137 Shock to the Government and the Public
Chapter 137 Shock to the Government and the Public
"Oh?" Lin Fei was also somewhat surprised to hear Yuan Daotong's words: "I wonder what the background of that Taoist priest from Changqing Temple is?"
The Yuan family has served as the Heavenly Master Protector of the Nation since the founding of the Southern Tang Dynasty. For someone to be able to shake the Yuan family's position in the hearts of the Southern Tang emperors, this person must be someone of great importance.
“I don’t know.” Yuan Daotong shook his head. “Because my Yuan family can see through the secrets of heaven, we have always been feared by the monarchs of all dynasties. Therefore, unless it is a major event, we never go to the capital, nor do we participate in anything in the capital.”
He sighed and said, "But now the secrets of heaven are obscure, and the imperial city is protected by dragon energy, so it cannot be easily investigated. I am now in the imperial city, just like a blind man touching an elephant, willing but powerless!"
"Is the emperor determined to strip Brother Yuan of his title of Celestial Master?" Lin Fei then asked.
“That’s not quite right.” Yuan Daotong shook his head. “After all, my Yuan family has served as the Celestial Master of the Nation for many years, so we still have some influence. His Majesty is undecided for the time being. He plans to summon the princes and ministers tomorrow to discuss and decide.”
"Tomorrow?" Lin Fei thought for a moment, then smiled and said, "Brother Yuan, you should rest well today. Go to the palace tomorrow with peace of mind, and you will surely have the help of a noble person!"
Seeing Lin Fei's confident demeanor, Yuan Daotong felt that he was more like a charlatan than he was. However, having spent a long time with Lin Fei, he knew that Lin Fei was definitely not someone who spoke without reason or made empty boasts, so he asked, "Brother Dao, do you know any inside information?"
"Heavenly secrets cannot be revealed, heavenly secrets cannot be revealed!" Lin Fei, looking every bit the charlatan, smiled mysteriously and said, "Brother Yuan, don't worry. Even if you don't trust me, surely you can trust your father's divination skills, right? Don't think about anything today, just get some rest, and go to the palace first thing tomorrow morning!"
After saying that, Lin Fei turned and walked out, leaving Yuan Daotong, who was full of doubts, standing there in a daze, thinking: "When did you learn such tricks of mystification and superstition, Brother Dao?"
……
Having heard Lin Fei's words and received his father's dying instructions, Yuan Daotong felt somewhat more confident. After resting for a night, he entered the palace again early the next morning.
Inside the palace, Emperor Li Yu of the Southern Tang Dynasty was sitting in his study, where many important officials, princes, and nobles were also present.
Today was not the day for a grand court assembly, so Li Yu did not summon all his officials. Instead, he gathered some high-ranking officials to hear their opinions.
To Li Yu's left was Lu Bing, the Grand Marshal of the Southern Tang army, who commanded a large army, along with a group of meritorious officials.
On the right-hand side, below, was Prime Minister Wang You, along with many other high-ranking officials.
"Your subject Yuan Daotong greets Your Majesty!" Yuan Daotong entered the imperial study and bowed to Li Yu, who was sitting high on the dragon throne.
"Minister Yuan, there's no need for such formalities." Li Yu waved his hand and addressed the assembled ministers directly, "I have summoned you all here today because Celestial Master Yuan has passed away, and the position of Celestial Master is temporarily vacant. I wish to hear your opinions."
The officials had already received news of Yuan Yuan's departure to the west before they arrived, so they were not surprised at this moment.
As the representative of military generals and meritorious officials, Lu Bing spoke first: "The Yuan family has been the national guardians of the dynasty for generations. Now that the position of guardian has become vacant, it should naturally be taken over by his descendants."
As he spoke, he glanced at Yuan Daotong: "However, the position of Celestial Master has always been reserved for those who have reached the Dharma Aspect realm. Since Yuan Yuanshan's descendant has not yet reached the Dharma Aspect realm, let's leave it vacant for now and wait until he does!"
Yuan Daotong had thought that Lu Bing was going to speak up for him, but he didn't expect that Lu Bing was just doing his job and didn't seem to have any goodwill towards the Yuan family. At the end, he added, "Anyway, I have never believed that the affairs of the world can be handled by these charlatans. It is not necessarily a bad thing that the position of Celestial Master is left vacant."
Emperor Li Yu pondered for a moment, then turned to Chancellor Wang You and asked, "Chancellor Wang, what is your opinion?"
Wang You was a man of considerable cultivation, but his rise to the high position of prime minister was not due to his cultivation, but rather to his ability to understand the emperor's intentions. He rolled his eyes and then smiled, "In my opinion, the Grand Marshal's words are only half right."
"Oh? What do you mean by that, Prime Minister Wang?" Emperor Li Yu of Tang asked with a smile.
Wang You cleared his throat and said unhurriedly, "As the saying goes, 'Heaven's mandate cannot be defied.' Although Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, with imperial aura, you are insightful in understanding the secrets of Heaven and observing the fortunes and misfortunes of the people. This will only bring benefits to the country and its people, and there will be no harm."
He then changed the subject, saying, "However, the Grand Marshal is right. Without reaching the Dharma Aspect Realm, one's abilities are limited and one cannot see through the secrets of heaven. Even if the Yuan family of Jiangling has a thousand-year-old lineage, it would be inappropriate and against the rules for them to take over the position of Celestial Master without reaching the Dharma Aspect Realm."
He bowed respectfully and said, "I have an idea. Master He Feng of Changqing Temple is proficient in divination and numerology. Perhaps he could take over the position of Celestial Master."
“Master Hefeng is indeed a good candidate.” Li Yu pondered for a moment, then hesitated slightly. “However, the position of Protector of the Nation Celestial Master has always been inherited by the Yuan family of Jiangling since the founding of this dynasty. Now that the Yuan family has not made any mistakes, it seems a bit inappropriate to remove them from the position of Celestial Master.”
This was what the Tang Emperor was worried about. He wanted the Taoist priest from Changqing Temple to take over the position of Celestial Master from the Yuan family, but he didn't want outsiders to gossip about him.
Wang You had already guessed Emperor Tang's intentions, and said, "That's not a problem, Your Majesty. We can let Daoist Hefeng temporarily assume the position of Celestial Master, and then, once Friend Yuan reaches the Dharma Aspect Realm, the two of them can determine who is superior and who will ultimately hold the position of Celestial Master!"
"That's not a bad idea." Emperor Tang stroked his chin, a look of satisfaction appearing on his face.
Yuan Daotong was extremely anxious. At this moment, the Tang Emperor was already considering giving the position of Celestial Master to someone else. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Wang You was fanning the flames from the sidelines, and Grand Marshal Lu Bing had no liking for any charlatans and was only handling official business. It seemed that he would not speak up for Yuan Daotong.
"Brother Dao, Brother Dao, where is the benefactor you spoke of?" Yuan Daotong was so anxious he almost jumped up. Although he always appeared carefree and unrestrained, the position of Celestial Master was a position that his Yuan family had inherited for a thousand years. If it were lost in his hands, Yuan Daotong would not only be unable to face his ancestors, but also unable to face his father, who had exhausted the future of the Yuan family and passed away prematurely.
"Minister Yuan, what do you think of Prime Minister Wang's proposal?" Emperor Tang asked Yuan Daotong, but his words carried an undeniable air of authority.
Yuan Daotong was so anxious that sweat beaded on his forehead; he didn't know whether to agree or not.
Just then, a voice came from outside the Imperial Study: "The Governor of Tianmen Prefecture, the Divine Might Marquis of the Great Tang Dynasty, Lord Su Lie, has arrived!"
The moment the sound entered, the entire Imperial Study shook violently.