After the ghost-hunting master descended the mountain, his fame spread throughout the capital.

Inside the imperial study, the scent of ambergris was so strong it was almost pungent.

The doors and windows were tightly shut, cutting off outside light and sound. Only a few palace lanterns embedded in the walls illuminated the room, casting distorted and swaying shadows.

Emperor Cangqi leaned against the softly cushioned dragon bed, the dark circles under his eyes appearing even deeper in the light, and his breathing was slightly rapid.

He dismissed all the eunuchs and palace maids, leaving only him and Abbot Hong'an standing quietly in the vast and empty imperial study.

"Abbot." Emperor Cangqi's voice was urgent. He leaned forward, his gaze fixed on Hong An's calm face.

"Tell me, is Xie Dai... truly dead?! Was that snow a sign of injustice from heaven and earth, or... or was someone playing tricks, creating a false impression?!"

He spoke quickly and urgently, as if he wanted to confirm something, or perhaps he was afraid of the answer:

"And that good-for-nothing Shi Qinglian! He swore to me that everything would go perfectly, and what happened?! He vanished without a trace, neither alive nor dead! Those monks from Huguo Temple I sent to secretly assist him were all wiped out; not a single one returned!"

"Now that the late emperor's edict is missing, strange phenomena are occurring in Qingzhou, rumors are rampant, and even the crown prince and those usually subservient ministers dare to unite and force the emperor to abdicate!"

He grew angrier as he spoke, his chest heaving violently, his breathing becoming rapid and disordered, and the faces of those in the imperial court, seemingly respectful but actually coercing, seemed to reappear before his eyes.

Abbot Hong'an kept his eyes down, twirling his prayer beads, his expression neither sad nor happy, like an ancient Buddha who had seen through the world.

After Emperor Cangqi finished speaking and his breathing calmed down, he slowly raised his eyelids.

"Amitabha." A faint glint of light flashed in those seemingly peaceful eyes:

"Your Majesty, please calm down." His voice remained calm. "Anger harms the body and disturbs the mind."

He continued to twirl his prayer beads and slowly said, "Long before I went into seclusion to meditate, I reminded Your Majesty that although Shi Qinglian has some skills, his heart may not be pure. He is too greedy, angry, and deluded, and he may not be a person of ordinary character. He should not be trusted completely, much less entrusted with important responsibilities."

He shook his head slightly, with a hint of indifference: "Now it seems that this person has long harbored ulterior motives and hidden ambitions, and is not truly serving His Majesty."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Cangqi's pupils contracted, and he said hatefully, "This traitor! This piece of trash! I will definitely tear him to pieces!"

But in the vast sea of ​​people, with Shi Qinglian's fate unknown, these harsh words could only be an outlet for her emotions.

"As for Duke Xie," Abbot Hong'an changed the subject, his tone still calm, but it made Emperor Cangqi's heart jump, "his fate is entangled in a chaotic web of cause and effect, and the secrets of heaven are already in turmoil."

"Although I have some knowledge of divination, I cannot determine his exact fate at this moment. That autumn snow was indeed strange; it was not merely a celestial phenomenon, nor could it be caused by ordinary human effort."

"It may contain some extraordinary power that should not exist in the world."

"An anomaly?" Emperor Cangqi keenly grasped this word, his eyes filled with surprise and uncertainty.

Abbot Hong'an lowered his eyes and said, "Your Majesty need not worry too much. If it is a demon, it will eventually reveal itself; if it is a sin, it will eventually be punished. This old monk will also investigate carefully on this trip."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Cangqi took a few deep breaths and forced himself to calm down.

"The Crown Prince is known throughout the land for his benevolence. Having him accompany you to Qingzhou this time will at least temporarily stabilize the situation and demonstrate the court's fairness."

A cold glint flashed in Emperor Cangqi's eyes, as if a venomous snake had finally bared its poisonous fangs.

"Qingzhou is mountainous and densely forested, making it the perfect time to make a move." A cold smile appeared on his lips. "At that time, you must find that woman named Jiang Dusheng for me."

"This woman has repeatedly thwarted my important plans, bewitched Chen'er, and possesses evil magic. She must die!"

Emperor Cangqi paused, a complex and unfathomable emotion flashing in his eyes, but it was quickly covered by coldness:

"As for Chen'er..." He sneered, his laughter devoid of any fatherly affection, only filled with calculation and exploitation, "Bring him back alive."

"As for the Crown Prince, I will speak to him myself. At that time, I will pin the blame for Xie Dai's death on Jiang Dusheng, the demoness will be executed, the Crown Prince will be in danger, and you, Abbot, will be credited for protecting me."

"Then I have sufficient reason to reclaim that half of the tiger tally, and justify reorganizing military affairs and cleaning up the court!"

Abbot Hong'an kept his eyes down, fiddling with his prayer beads, his expression indifferent.

After Emperor Cangqi finished speaking, he raised his hands and placed them together in front of his chest:

"Amitabha." His voice remained calm, carrying a compassionate tone, a stark contrast to the chilling content of his words:

"Although Your Majesty's plan involves bloodshed, at its core, it is to eliminate treacherous and wicked officials for the sake of the country and the people, to stop unnecessary wars and prevent future troubles. This is a thunderous approach with a compassionate heart."

He paused, "That Jiang Dusheng possesses evil magic and disrupts the will of Heaven; Prince Xie carries malevolent energy and is prone to attracting weapons. This old monk is willing to share Your Majesty's burdens and also to cleanse the people of this evil influence."

Abbot Hong'an bowed slightly, his words carrying a profound meaning: "This old monk will make proper arrangements, ensuring that the inevitable happens, and that those who are destined to die... are reborn in the Pure Land."

"This has absolutely nothing to do with His Majesty or the court."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Cangqi finally smiled, as if the long-suppressed rage had finally found an outlet.

"Good! With the abbot's words, I am relieved! After this is accomplished, Huguo Temple will become the foremost temple in our dynasty. I will build numerous temples there, bestow upon the abbot the title of Holy Monk Protector of the Nation, and grant him the incense offerings of all people, so that he may be revered for generations to come!"

Abbot Hong'an clasped his hands together again and bowed deeply.

The lowered eyelids concealed the fleeting glint of light in her eyes:

"Amitabha."

His voice remained calm and even, as if he were politely declining, yet also completely accepting: "This old monk is a hermit, destined to live a life of quiet contemplation and Buddhist practice. I do not seek worldly fame or worldly riches."

"However, Your Majesty's great favor concerns the propagation of Buddhism and the stability of the nation. Being able to relieve Your Majesty's worries and stop the war in the world will also bring glory to our Buddhist community and help us to build good relationships."

Emperor Cangqi was very satisfied with Abbot Hong'an's attitude. "I will wait here in Changling City for the abbot's good news."

Abbot Hong'an clasped his hands together, about to take his leave, but suddenly stopped, as if remembering something, and turned to look at Emperor Cangqi:

"Your Majesty, I have another matter to ask you."

Emperor Cangqi frowned slightly and looked at him with a puzzled expression.

Abbot Hong'an slowly asked, "Is Your Majesty's health still good? Besides the elixirs, has he taken any special remedies? Or has he been near any unusual objects, or even... people?"

How could someone who can sit on the throne and stabilize a vast empire be a true fool?

With just this one sentence, Emperor Cangqi straightened his back instantly. He suddenly remembered his increasingly uncontrollable rage and the frequent dizziness and auditory hallucinations.

His pupils contracted sharply, and a terrifying ashen color washed over his face: "You...you mean I was...?"