The Empress's No.1 Lackey-Chapter 493 - 387. Traitor (5000 words)_3

"Your Majesty..."

Zhao Douan swallowed, hoping to seize the moment for some flattery.

But Xu Zhenguan saw through it at a glance, actively dispelling the slightly ambiguous atmosphere:

"What is your view on the matter of the Divine Dragon Temple?"

Isn't it... impossible to discuss romance with a wounded man, and you have to talk about serious matters at this time... Zhao Douan complained inwardly.

But he also knew the Empress's character, which determined that her softer side was always hidden within a dignified and graceful shell, making it challenging to break through that barrier, unlike the ordinary woman whose mind was filled with love.

Moreover, given his current physical condition, he truly was incapacitated...

So he reined in his thoughts and replied earnestly:

"In my opinion, Long Shu and Da Jing should be viewed separately. It's unlikely that they conspired together, otherwise, appearing together at Yansuo Lake, or jointly lying in ambush would have made their chances of success much greater."

"Of course, the first thing to confirm is Master Xuan Yin's attitude. According to what Your Majesty just said, Xuan Yin might truly be unaware of this matter because logically, it doesn't make sense.

If this assassination was orchestrated by Xuan Yin, it would mean that the Divine Dragon Temple was prepared to confront the court head-on, choosing sides with the Eight Princes. But Xuan Yin did not retaliate, withstood three sword strikes, and even publicly stated he would cooperate with the investigation... There was no need for this at all."

Xu Zhenguan nodded slightly, "Continue."

Zhao Douan analyzed:

"As far as I know, there are four factions within the Divine Dragon Temple. The Xuan Yin lineage is the main one, and the Bodhisattva Parnashavari leads a group of nuns who prefer not to get involved in the integration with Buddhist Tao.

The remaining Long Shu Bodhisattva and Da Jing Master have been scheming for a long time to compete for the position of the next abbot."

He paused, pondering and continuing:

"Therefore, I can understand Long Shu's actions. I even suspect that Long Shu had no real intention of assassinating me at Yansuo Lake. His purpose was merely to make an appearance, which he could declare was to seek trouble with Tian Hai over the little monk... to avoid taking things too far.

After the last Buddhist Tao competition failed—a plan Long Shu had been plotting for years—and given Xuan Yin's consistent good relations with the court, Long Shu would need to find other support to defeat Xuan Yin...

So Long Shu's faction indeed had the motive to collude with the Eight Princes... and by doing so, away from the Capital, the court would inevitably pressure Xuan Yin, also dealing a blow to Xuan Yin's power... killing multiple birds with one stone."

Xu Zhenguan gave a slight nod, "And what about Da Jing?"

Zhao Douan responded helplessly:

"That is what I find puzzling. Da Jing's assassination attempt was too direct, leaving no room for turning back. His actions were clearly aimed at killing me... they can't be explained as simply annoying Xuan Yin.

Because the consequences he would face are far more severe than just finding Xuan Yin accountable...

We can almost conclude, if Da Jing Master had killed me, he would have had no chance to return to the Divine Dragon Temple unless Xuan Yin and the other factions decided to protect him, even if it meant going to war with the court immediately... which is clearly unrealistic."

Xu Zhenguan listened quietly to his analysis and said:

"So, in your view, Da Jing's attempt on your life was almost suicidal?"

"Yes," Zhao Douan nodded earnestly:

"That's what confuses me. By doing so, he essentially forwent the chance to compete for the position of abbot and abandoned the base he'd spent years building.

Unless Xuan Yin was willing to protect him at all costs, his only fate would be that of a fugitive—a reason I think it's illogical that he'd be allied with Long Shu Bodhisattva. With Da Jing's status and position, why would he go to such lengths? Where does he get the confidence that he is backing the winning prince among the Eight Princes and that they can help him handle Xuan Yin and the others?"

Xu Zhenguan looked calm in response:

"You're right, Da Jing's actions are indeed hard to understand, but what if he never intended to continue in Great Yu?"

Zhao Douan was struck silent, staring blankly at the Empress's composed face as a possibility suddenly crossed his mind, exclaiming:

"Your Majesty means... the Western..."

"Yes, the Western Regions," Xu Zhenguan sighed softly, as if she already had a guess:

"Do you know that 'Master' is a traditional title within the Western Regions Buddhism Ancestral Court?

When this lineage of Buddhist Tao entered the Great Yu, they seldom used the title 'Master' anymore, instead changing to Bodhisattva, Parnashavari, Long Shu... Only Da Jing retained the title of 'Master.'"

"Of course, this is no issue within Buddhist circles. Instead, it signifies his support for the integration of Eastern and Western Buddhism, replacing Western Regions Buddhism, to inherit the true lineage of Buddha. But now that I think about it, there might be another explanation as well."

Zhao Douan listened, awestruck, rapidly speaking:

"So, Your Majesty is saying, Da Jing Master is likely deciding to join the Western Regions? To return to the Ancestral Court? He had no thoughts of furthering himself within the Divine Dragon Temple, so he had no attachments...

And such a person, wanting to return to the Western Regions Ancestral Court, would need to submit a sufficient 'pledge' to show his break with Great Yu... So, attempting to assassinate me is a good option?

By killing me, he would have no path of return, the Western Regions Buddhist could accept him with confidence, and also use his identity to force the court to severely punish the Divine Dragon Temple, severely dampening the temple's power in one fell swoop..."

Xu Zhenguan nodded and added:

"The Western Regions Ancestral Court and the Great Yu Divine Dragon Temple have been in strife for a long time, each wanting to promote integration, to absorb the other, to gain the complete lineage of Buddha. The weaker the Divine Dragon Temple is, the greater the chances of victory for the Western Regions Ancestral Court."

Zhao Douan fell silent, his mind suddenly enlightened.

If explained this way, then all the actions of these monks made sense!

All the behaviors that he previously found logically contradictory now had reasonable explanations.

And if their speculations were true, then Da Jing Master was likely already on his way to the Western Regions.