This was the second ti Su Jin visited the Great Buddha Temple.
Perhaps because it was two days after the birthday of the Manjushri Bodhisattva, today’s pilgrims were not as nurous as last ti.
Even so, it was bustling.
After getting off the carriage, Su Jin and Xingxing headed straight for the Great Hero Hall.
The little monk trembled when he saw Xingxing.
He quickly clasped his hands together and chanted a Buddha’s na twice.
Even though the last experience was unpleasant.
Hmm.
It was unpleasant for the little monk.
But in Xingxing’s eyes, he had already been marked as an acquaintance.
Since he was an acquaintance, it would be easier to talk.
After Su Jin offered incense, Xingxing said to the little monk, "What fun places are there in the Great Buddha Temple? Could you guide us around?"
The little monk was speechless.
The little monk looked at the approaching abbot.
The abbot calmly said, "Just take the two lady benefactors around."
"Yes."
The little monk reluctantly led the way.
They ca out of the Great Hero Hall, entered the Heavenly King Hall, the Thousand Buddha Hall, and then to the Buddha Hall...
The Great Buddha Temple was built along the mountain, with its layout both layered and harmonious, the red walls and green tiles, the many pavilions.
Surrounded by mountains on three sides, with dense bamboo forests, murmuring springs, and an ethereal mist, it was a paradise on earth.
The little monk was talking until his mouth was dry.
Xingxing looked at him and said inquisitively, "I forgot to ask last ti, what grudge does the Great Buddha Temple have with Princess Nanzhang?"
The little monk was speechless.
A monk does not tell lies.
He couldn’t lie and deceive people.
But if he told the truth, would he pay with his life here?
"I was just following orders," the little monk said.
"Can’t you tell us? Perhaps my lady can help you. My lady also has a grudge against Princess Nanzhang," Xingxing coaxed.
The little monk was speechless.
The grudge between the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion and Duke Chong’s Mansion was well-known, and the Great Buddha Temple was no exception.
The little monk looked troubled.
Su Jin chided Xingxing, saying, "Don’t make it difficult for him."
Xingxing looked at the little monk, a bit unwillingly.
The little monk quickly turned his head away and said, "There’s nothing interesting ahead. If you go this way, there’s a Bodhi Tree. Would the lady benefactors like to see it?"
"Ah, could it be that Bodhi Tree?" Xingxing said excitedly.
The little monk looked at her, puzzled.
Su Jin recalled the Bodhi Tree that Marquis Dongxiang had soone show to Emperor Kuang.
She twitched her mouth.
"Please lead the way," Su Jin said.
The little monk, confused, said, "This is a narrow path, it’s a bit difficult to walk. If you co from the mid-mountain waist, the way is easier."
The little monk walked in the front.
Su Jin walked in the middle.
Xingxing was at the back.
From a distance, they saw the Bodhi Tree, lush with leaves, appearing serene and peaceful.
But soon—
Su Jin’s mood was no longer peaceful but awkward.
The little monk stopped suddenly as he walked.
Su Jin’s mind was focused on her footing.
When the little monk stopped, she asked, "Why aren’t you moving?"
The little monk’s face turned pale.
He slightly turned his body, and Su Jin saw the figure in black hiding in the bushes.
The figure in black was staring at them, eyes cold with murderous intent.
Su Jin was speechless.
Really.
She felt like dying.
"Just passing by."
"We’re just passing by."
"We’re leaving now!"
After saying this, she quickly turned around to run.
But it was already too late to run.
The figure in black drew a sword and charged at them.
The Hidden Guard leaped to block in front of Su Jin and began fighting with the assassin.
Xingxing scread at the top of her lungs, "Help! Help! Help!"
In the distance, the Emperor had just arrived.
A sound of fighting suddenly erupted, and Eunuch Fu anxiously shielded the Emperor.
Before they could react to what was happening, soone was already calling for help.
"Why does that voice sound so familiar?" Eunuch Fu frowned.
After listening again, Eunuch Fu suddenly realized, "Emperor, it’s that bandit maid calling for help."
"Who dares to trouble them?" Eunuch Fu said, twitching at the corner of his mouth.
"Go have a look," the Emperor said.
Eunuch Fu blocked him, saying, "Emperor, it may be dangerous."
He wasn’t worried about Su Jin.
He feared that the Emperor would be accidentally injured by the might of the Eldest Young Madam of Duke Zhen’s Mansion, like a swarm of hornets.
The Emperor brushed Eunuch Fu aside.
The Emperor had left the palace in plain clothes, accompanied only by Eunuch Fu and two Shadow Guards.
But as soon as they had taken a few steps forward—
The figures in black, concealed in the darkness, attacked.
The Emperor knew martial arts, but Eunuch Fu was in trouble.
He clutched his head and hid under the Bodhi Tree, hitting his own mouth hard twice.
It was truly a jinx.
When the Emperor decided to leave the palace, he feared sothing would go wrong.
But the Emperor didn’t heed the warning, and indeed, they encountered assassins...
The Hidden Guard was on the verge of being overpowered, but the assassins abruptly turned to leave.
The Hidden Guard realized their target was the Emperor and chased after them.
Xingxing was stunned.
Xingxing fumbled frantically through her bag.
Unable to find what she needed after a long ti.
She simply dumped everything onto the ground.
Finally, she fished out a bamboo tube.
With a pull on the bamboo tube—
With a swoosh—
A green smoke exploded in the sky.
Su Jin was of little help, her only contribution was not to cause chaos.
As long as the assassins didn’t co for her, the Hidden Guard could protect the Emperor.
A Shadow Guard was struck by a sword and fell to the ground.
The Shadow Guard struggled to get up, but collapsed as soon as he stood.
"The sword is poisoned!"
The Shadow Guard shouted with all his might before passing out.
Su Jin rushed over and saw the Shadow Guard’s lips turn purple.
She quickly took out antidote pills from her purse, dropped one, and stuffed it into the Shadow Guard’s mouth.
As soon as she did, Eunuch Fu scread from the other side, "Emperor!"
Su Jin looked up.
Seeing Eunuch Fu had been shot in the shoulder with an arrow.
The Emperor had a cut on his arm.
Su Jin’s face turned pale.
She ran over.
But she had only taken two steps.
The assassin lunged at her with a sword.
The blade’s cold glint flashed in her eyes, making Su Jin feel ice-cold all over.
Fear instinctively made her close her eyes.
Until a loud crash from a fall sounded, she finally opened her eyes.
The assassin lay on the ground.
A sword was lodged in his body.
It looked familiar.
Su Jin looked up and saw Xie Jingchen leaping over, pulling his sword from the assassin’s body, and turning to fight off the approaching assassins.
Xie Jingchen didn’t stray far.
He kept Su Jin and the Emperor shielded.
Another man soon arrived and joined the fight against the assassins.
The lead assassin commanded, "Retreat!"
The Shadow Guards quickly ran off.
Worry flashed in Xie Jingchen’s eyes, "Are you alright?"
"I’m fine," Su Jin shook her head.
"You should be alright now," Su Jin said.
Su Jin entered the ditation room.
Xingxing didn’t let herself go inside, she just clutched another bamboo tube.
Then shot it into the sky.
Earlier it was green smoke, now it was red smoke.
A Hidden Guard ca out at the sight and asked, "What’s this?"
Xingxing explained, "If we were in danger, the green smoke ans a rescue is needed, and Marquis Dongxiang would bring people to help us. If everything is fine, the red smoke ensures the Marquis won’t worry."
From the mont Dongxiang received news of green smoke, he rode with his n to rescue at the Great Buddha Temple.
Not far from the foot of the mountain of the Great Buddha Temple, they saw the red smoke.
"Marquis, don’t worry, the lady is safe now," they said as they noticed the red smoke.
Just then, he ran head-on into the assassins fleeing down the mountain.
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