Chapter 238: Chapter 105: Compassionate National Religion Established, Great Yin’s Demons Subdued

Prince Qing’s Mansion.

The maidservants heard the sound, saw it was Madam Tian, and hurriedly greeted her.

Tian Yuan sternly questioned, "Where are these gossipy rumors coming from?"

The maidservants couldn’t think far, upon first hearing "Buddha Mother was actually Prince Qing’s concubine maid," only found it amusing, not considering the misfortune it might bring.

Now, upon being questioned by the mistress, they quickly replied, "On the street, everyone is saying it, I... I heard it from Xiaoliu who sells breakfast.

But... but Xiaoliu said he heard it from a guest.

Over there, many guests are talking about it, and it wasn’t just Xiaoliu who heard it."

"Which guest, and when?" Tian Yuan further asked.

The maid replied, "Seems like it was this morning."

After asking, she couldn’t help but curiously inquire, "Madam, is it true?"

Normally, Tian Yuan treats people gently, so the servants dare to speak before her.

But now, Tian Yuan was furious, yet smiling, and directly said, "Of course it’s false, how dignified is Buddha Mother?

Such slanderous rumors deserve punishment!

You all, too, don’t spread such false news."

After speaking, she left anxiously, pondering how to resolve the problem.

As a major merchant, Tian Yuan deeply understood: to stop a rumor, suppression is futile, the more you suppress, the more people believe it.

The correct approach is to use a bigger rumor to distract away.

When the public’s attention is drawn to a new rumor, they naturally forget the old one.

And when the new rumor inevitably proves false, there’s no reason to believe the original...

Concerning the entire situation, Tian Yuan felt quite confused until she heard from the third Miss of the Prime Minister’s Mansion a few days ago, she realized it was the Wang family’s doing.

The Wang family intended to incite the Demon Buddha against Prince Qing, even if unsuccessful, they aimed to sow discord between the two.

Yet, which rumor should she use to counter?

Tian Yuan mulled over it deeply.

...

...

Her worries, the impending destruction of Prince Qing’s Mansion, were no big problem for Li Xuan.

Because this seemingly endless conflict with the Demon Buddha, Li Xuan himself was the cause.

At that moment, Li Xuan swiftly searched for those original rumor spreaders.

He quickly locked onto his target.

In the icy, snowy landscape, south of Red Flower Mountain, in a certain snowy forest...

Three men and two women gathered around a brightly burning campfire.

Roasted meat was placed on the rack.

Fat dripped down, sparking flames that licked the already glistening wild game.

The leading man first took a piece of golden-crusted roast meat, ate two bites, scanned the surroundings, and said in a deep voice, "No one exposed their tails, right?"

The remaining four shook their heads.

The man said, "Good, this matter is far too dangerous, we set out from Luoshui Province, entered Cyan Wood Province, and now are heading toward the capital... Once this news spreads to Cyan Wood Province, it will explode.

When that time comes, hide well, and if caught, immediately take poison and ensure not a single word leaks!"

The other four solemnly responded in unison, "Understood."

Having spoken, the five fell silent, quickly eating the meat. One took a flask of strong liquor from his waist, gulped down a mouthful, and then passed it to the others.

The others eagerly drank to fend off the cold.

The flask made one round and returned to the leading man.

The man took a fierce bite of meat, shook the flask, ready to drink, when suddenly... his movements froze.

Turning his head slowly, he saw, amidst the snowy winds, an enormously strong monk approaching.

The monk stood eight feet tall, hands clasped together, barefoot as he walked through the icy snow.

Moments ago, he was a hundred yards away, but the next instant, he seemed to shrink the distance, arriving at the campfire.

The five were startled, dropping everything in their hands, reaching for their weapons, and warily standing without restraint.

Upon a closer look...

Yet still remained unclear.

No one could describe the monk’s presence.

His robe was tattered, without footwear, but the terrifying aura emanating from him exceeded anyone’s imagination.

Of the five, all were battle-hardened spies, individually of high strength.

But before this monk, they couldn’t stand against him; all that remained was fear.

Especially in this land, their terror amplified.

The leading man attempted to speak but found himself frozen, lips trembling so much he couldn’t utter a word.

Only when the monk began to speak did they feel like thawing, relaxing slightly.

The monk said, "I am the Subduing Tiger Arhat under Buddha."

The five hastily bowed, "Greetings, Arhat."

The monk said, "This autumn, Empress Dowager Wang spoke of believing in Buddhism, and Buddha wishes to meet her. But you... is this the answer the Dowager provides?"

The first part was calm, the latter half crescendoed, by the time he said "provide," it exploded like thunder, loud enough to jolt the deaf.

The monk coldly asked, "Is it that the Dowager wants Buddha to visit the royal capital?" 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

The five were thoroughly stunned, hastily kneeling, repeatedly bowing, chanting "guilty."

The monk said, "The news you spread, you must retract. If the rumors die within a month, Buddha will agree to meet the Dowager."

"Yes, yes, yes..."

The five repeatedly agreed, not daring to say a word of contradiction.

Though it was deep winter with heavy snow, the five were drenched in sweat.

Raising their heads again, the Subduing Tiger Arhat had vanished without a trace, as if... he never appeared.

In physical exhaustion, the five collapsed to the ground, gasping heavily.