The Ming Dynasty: The most ruthless imperial grandson, Old Zhu begged me not to kill him.

Chapter 170 People from the Buddhist and Taoist Families Arrive
Zhu Xiong Ying asked anxiously, "Grandmother, are you alright?"

Empress Ma smiled and nodded.

"U.A. is here. Don't worry, I'm fine. It's just some old ailments!"

"Grandma is old, so it's not a big deal if I'm not in good health!"

"You guys all came?"

Zhu Gang and the others nodded in agreement.

Empress Ma struggled to sit up and said with a smile.

"Xiongying, I know you have many ideas and want to make the Ming Dynasty strong, but everything must be done step by step. Although those scholars and officials also have their own ulterior motives, there are still many useful people among them. Don't condemn them all at once!"

Zhu Xiong Ying nodded hurriedly.

"Please rest assured, Your Majesty, Xiong Ying understands. Xiong Ying will definitely make good use of the talents in the court!"

Empress Ma smiled and nodded, looking at Zhu Gang, Zhu Shuang, and the others.

"You guys must help Xiong Ying properly. We're all family, so please don't cause any trouble!"

Everyone nodded in agreement upon hearing this.

Empress Ma waved her hand.

"Alright, you can all leave now. Let me rest for a while!"

After everyone left, Zhu Xiong Ying's face instantly darkened.

"What happened?"

Upon hearing this, everyone lowered their heads and remained silent.

Yu'er said softly.

"It's strange, something like this has never happened before. As for the Empress's health issues when she was young, they never happened so suddenly!"

At this moment, King Zhu Shuang of Qin spoke in a low voice.

"That's strange, but thankfully the imperial physician said there's nothing wrong. Let's go to the Faxiang Temple outside the city to pray for the Empress Dowager!"

Everyone nodded in agreement upon hearing this.

Zhu Xiong Ying was a little puzzled. Just then, Yu Hua Tian ran in from outside and whispered something.

"Your Highness, news of the Empress's illness has already spread. Many people are saying that the reason the Empress fainted was because the Crown Prince was cruel and harsh, and treated meritorious officials poorly. This is Heaven's punishment!"

Upon hearing this, everyone became furious.

"Damn it, who dares to spread such rumors? Those who were killed by Xiong Ying deserved to die, how could they be punished by heaven?"

Prince Zhu Gang of Jin looked grim.

Prince Yan, Zhu Di, shook his head: "It's still uncertain who it is. Xiong Ying has offended quite a few people, and anyone could be the culprit. Yu Huatian, can you find out who's behind this?"

Yu Huatian shook his head.

"The rumors are spreading so widely that it's impossible to pinpoint their source. It's likely the work of more than one force!"

Zhu Xiong Ying's face was icy cold. Clearly, he had offended many people by expelling these nobles from the court and implementing the land tax reform. These people would not allow him to have an easy life.

"The most urgent task now is to think about how to resolve this matter!"

Zhu Xiong Ying gave a cold laugh.

"Since they've already made their move, I have no choice but to accept it. I just hope they won't regret it later!"

The rumor quickly gained momentum, and many people began to believe it.

Since the matter concerned Empress Ma, no one dared to be careless in the slightest.

Previously, Zhu Yuanzhang had killed many ministers, but Empress Ma had stopped him each time.

If anything happens to Empress Ma this time, Zhu Xiong Ying will likely be severely punished.

In the imperial court, an imperial censor stepped forward and spoke.

"Your Highness, rumors are spreading throughout the capital, all because Your Highness has gone too far and incurred the wrath of Heaven. We beg Your Highness to repent and appease Heaven and the gods!"

Several more officials quickly stepped forward. Empress Ma was of paramount importance to them.

If Zhu Yuanzhang was a sharp knife, then Empress Ma was the scabbard.

Zhu Yuanzhang's experiment with the land tax reform in Fengyang Prefecture did indeed make many people feel threatened.

If the experiment is successful, it will inevitably be rolled out nationwide, and then their lives will probably become much more difficult.

"Your Highness, the laws of our ancestors cannot be changed, otherwise we will surely incur the wrath of Heaven. The Empress's current situation is a harbinger of this. I urge Your Highness to abolish the land tax reform, or you will surely incur the wrath of Heaven!"

The court officials all nodded in agreement.

Lan Yu stepped forward and said with a displeased expression.

"You lot believe everything you hear. What does the land tax reform have to do with this matter? If the immortals and Buddhas you speak of are so unable to distinguish right from wrong, then you are unworthy of being called immortals and Buddhas!"

Many civil officials were furious upon hearing this.

This blue jade is truly unrestrained.

"How dare you slander immortals and Buddhas! Do you know that your actions will cause great calamity in the future, and will not be a blessing for the Ming Dynasty!"

Among the officials in the imperial court today, there are still quite a few who believe in Buddhism and Taoism.

Lan Yu scoffed at this, believing that he had earned his place on the battlefield by fighting his way up, and that he only trusted his own strength, not any gods or Buddhas.

If these methods really worked, why bother fighting wars back then? We could have just prayed to the gods and Buddhas.

At this moment, a guard outside the hall suddenly spoke.

"Your Highness, Master Faming of Faxiang Temple outside the city requests an audience!"

The court officials were shocked to hear this.

Master Faming was the abbot of Faxiang Temple. It is said that he had cultivated a great deal of merit and was a rare Buddhist giant in the entire Ming Dynasty.

Many civil and military officials in Yingtian Prefecture had visited Faxiang Temple to offer incense money, but very few of them had the opportunity to meet Master Faming.

At this time another voice came.

"Your Highness, Master Zhang from Qingyun Temple in Jiangnan requests an audience!"

"what?"

"It's actually Master Zhang from Qingyun Temple?"

Many officials in the court were also unsettled.

The Azure Cloud Crown is not far from Yingtian Prefecture, but it is extremely magnificent. In particular, there are rumors that Master Zhang is a branch of Zhang Tianshi, but how credible this is is unknown.

The court officials looked somewhat nervous, now that Buddhism and Taoism were both involved.

The gathering of great sages and capable individuals in Yingtian Prefecture suggests that things are not as simple as they seem.

Zhu Xiong Ying frowned. Now that such a thing had just happened, these people had appeared out of nowhere. He wondered what they were up to.

Zhu Xiong Ying did not believe in the matter of Buddhism and Taoism. On the contrary, the power of Buddhism and Taoism was now too great.

In terms of financial resources, population, and land, both are equally impressive.

Hu Zhen, the Minister of Justice, said in a low voice.

"Your Highness, the two masters have come together; perhaps it's related to the Empress's matter!"

"In that case, let them be summoned to the palace!"

Soon, the monk and the Taoist priest arrived at the imperial court and looked at Zhu Xiong Ying, who was sitting there, and said...

"This humble monk, Faming, pays his respects to His Highness the Crown Prince. Amitabha!"

"This humble Taoist priest, Zhang Xingyou of Qingyun Temple, greets His Highness the Crown Prince and the Infinite Heavenly Venerable!"

The two men looked at Zhu Xiong Ying, who stood before them with neither arrogance nor servility, and indeed gave off the feeling of a reclusive master.

Zhu Xiong Ying smiled.

"I have long heard of your great names, and now that I see you in person, I can confirm it. May I ask what brings you two masters here?"

(End of this chapter)