Red Mansion: Seizing Jiangdong, starting with pirates

Chapter 252, Demonic Monk’s Evil Way

Nothing unexpected happened.

When they passed Ningrong Street, some people from the Jia family, including Jia Baoyu, came out to congratulate Fang Yong.

Fang Yong responded with a smile.

In this world, Daiyu was abducted by Fang Yong before she even entered the Jia family mansion.

Jia Baoyu had never even met Daiyu, so naturally he couldn't have any feelings for her.

The wedding procession drove out of Ningrong Street.

Suddenly, a subordinate came to report.

A monk and a Taoist priest, a bald-headed monk and a lame Taoist priest, blocked the way. They presented two poems, saying they were for the King of Wu and his queen, and then disappeared.

Fang Yong's expression hardened upon hearing this.

These two are mysterious figures who appear throughout the Dream of the Red Chamber.

Their appearances are often shrouded in mystery, as if they possess some extraordinary abilities, but they have never actually used them in public.

Taking the poem presented by his subordinate, he saw that it read:
The fate of the nation and its people rests on our shoulders; let us not fail the grace bestowed upon us by Heaven.

Fleeting dreams and enduring affections are ultimately illusions; little do we know that everything is beyond our control.

Fang Yong read it once and felt that the words on the white paper were jumping around, and the handwriting seemed to transform into wisps of Taoist sounds, drilling into his ears.

However, with his mind and spirit focused and without impurity, he dispelled the demonic sound in an instant.

Fang Yong remained expressionless and looked at the next song.

This is for Daiyu.

The fairy flower is untouched by worldly dust, so why should it be entangled in worldly affairs?

The true colors of the Ling River's banks are beyond question; let no one inquire about the past years.

This time, the words seemed to transform into Buddhist teachings, pouring into my mind.

However, it still couldn't have any effect on the other party, and the evil words were dispelled in just a moment.

In the shadows, a monk and a Taoist priest were astonished to see Fang Yong completely unaffected.

Could it be that this person truly has a destiny protecting him, which is why he can ignore their illusions?

But the Great Hee's national fortune has clearly not run out!
The two couldn't understand it.

To the outside world, a flash of ruthlessness crossed Fang Yong's eyes.

What a wicked monk! How dare he use such methods on him!

Fang Yong didn't know the fate of the Great Xi Dynasty, but he knew that the Buddhist and Taoist fortunes of the Great Xi Dynasty were coming to an end.

Fang Yong raised his hand and tore the two poems to shreds, then channeled his internal energy into his hands.

In a short while, Fang Yong's hands turned red and purple.

His subordinates were terrified upon seeing this and shouted:
"Oh no, the paper is poisoned!"

Fang Yong's face showed a pained expression, and he gritted his teeth as he commanded:

"The entire city must apprehend these two heretical monks and Taoist priests! Surround all temples and Taoist monasteries! We must bring those two heretical monks and Taoist priests to justice!"

"Yes!"

The order was relayed instantly.

The bald monk and the lame Taoist priest, who were hiding in the shadows, widened their eyes upon seeing this and could no longer maintain their aloof image.

The two looked at each other and asked each other:
"You poisoned me?"

After receiving a negative answer, the two looked at Fang Yong, their eyes filled with anger.

This is outrageous! This is blatant slander!

The King of Wu was assassinated!

This matter swept through the entire capital city like a storm in an instant.

Some were angry, some were happy, and some were sad.

The most unfortunate were the Buddhist and Taoist families in the capital.

They were completely innocent victims, taking the blame for the plague-stricken bald monk and the lame Taoist priest.

The Huaiyin army quickly mobilized, surrounding temples and Taoist temples throughout the capital. Many monks and Taoists were arrested and awaited Fang Yong's judgment. The wedding was inevitably delayed, but fortunately, the imperial physician arrived in time and, after a series of "treatments," promptly neutralized the poison from Fang Yong's hands, thus preventing the wedding from being significantly affected.

Upon learning the news, the Longqing Emperor was so angry that he wanted to kill the imperial physician himself.

How dare you treat that traitor Fang! You are a true traitor, a traitor!

At the same time, he was deeply moved, wondering which eminent monk or Taoist priest had performed such a loyal and righteous act. He thought that if he were to regain power one day, he would certainly bestow great honors upon these two individuals.

It's lamentable that all these mediocre gentlemen in the hall are not even as good as these two reclusive scholars.

The final wedding ceremony was held in the Hall of Supreme Harmony. This was an honor specially bestowed upon Fang Yong by Emperor Longqing in gratitude for Fang Yong's great contributions to the country and the people.

The guests invited to the banquet were all important officials in the court, high-ranking generals in the army, and heads of various noble families.

Among them are Grandmother Jia, Jia She, Jia Zheng, Jia Zhen, and others.

Jia Jing and Fang Yong had originally sent people to invite them, but the other party declined to come because they were practicing Taoism.

He's probably already been arrested.

Since Jia Baoyu and other younger members of the family were not present, the banquet would continue for several days, and they were scheduled to attend at other times.

Once everyone had arrived, the wedding ceremony began quickly.

Due to the previous delays, it was already quite late, so all aspects of the wedding ceremony were expedited.

In the back hall, the old man, looking displeased, changed into his auspicious robes.

Aunt Liu advised from the side, "Today is the prince's wedding day. You must at least smile, otherwise wouldn't you be making the prince lose face?"

The old man snorted coldly upon hearing this, and said impatiently:

"Face? That's my son, I still have to give him face! Marrying a skinny little girl, who doesn't look like she can bear children, he's going to make me lose all face in front of our ancestors!"

Aunt Liu looked helpless upon seeing this.

The old man's temper has become increasingly stubborn over the years, especially after moving to the capital. He has been served by more and more people, and his temper has become increasingly worse.

Suddenly, a figure walked over; it was Fang Yong's sworn brother, Li Ni.

Li Ni was dressed in festive attire today and was responsible for welcoming and seeing off guests outside.

This job should have been done by the old man, but Fang Yong knew that the old man was incapable of doing it, so he handed it over to Li Ni.

At this moment, everything outside was ready for the wedding ceremony, and Li Ni came over to inform the old man.

As soon as he entered, Li Ni noticed the old man's reluctance. He smiled and said:

"Uncle, His Majesty is waiting outside right now. If he sees you with such a face on your joyous day, wouldn't that be an offense to His Majesty?"

The old man's spirits lifted immediately upon hearing this, and he asked:

"Muddy boy, is what you're saying true? Is His Majesty really waiting outside?"

Li Ni nodded and said, "Of course it's true. How could I dare to joke about the Emperor?"

The old man was very excited upon hearing this and didn't dare to linger any longer, so he hurriedly went outside.

In the old man's simple mind, the emperor was still the supreme being.

Fang Yong, the King of Wu, was also appointed by the emperor.

Therefore, the emperor is naturally above all else.

And Fang Yong's public statements were indeed true, which led to this situation.

Fang Yong also tried to communicate with the old man.

But the two were not on the same wavelength at all.

The old man still retains the habit of slapping Fang Yong every time he said a few words.

If Fang Yong's words did not conform to the old man's views in the slightest, the old man would use his status as the father to forcibly suppress Fang Yong, making it impossible for the two to communicate normally.

Fang Yong could only imprison the old man in a small courtyard of tens of thousands of square meters in the palace, and send dozens of servants and palace maids to accompany him in cockfighting and dog racing, living a completely meaningless life.

As time went on, the old man grew tired of this kind of life and angrily rebuked Fang Yong for being unfilial.

Fang Yong also felt that the old man couldn't be kept locked up forever, so he even found someone to teach the old man about literacy.

But once the old man began to learn, he immediately stopped being bored with his previous life of cockfighting and dog racing.

Therefore, after so many years, the old man has not changed much. He is still the same Li people who work for Master Fang and support himself and his son with three acres of land. He has only changed into wearing silk clothes and living in a tall house.

(End of this chapter)