Chapter 4: The Cunning Rabbit's Three Burrows

  Night, silent and soundless!

  It's just when winter is leaving and spring is arriving, the cold air still lingers heavily.

  The atmosphere in the quiet and solemn Jingde Temple was somewhat heavy, with only the incense candles in front of the Buddha in the Heavenly King Hall shining brightly.

  A spark drifted with the wind, and in everyone's eyes, a flicker of flame danced, under the shadow of the Buddha statue, adding a few more eerie and thrilling feelings.

  She couldn't help but shiver with anger, glaring at Zhao Zhuang with a resentful gaze.

  A long cold night, no warm bed, no red stove fire, all the monks in the temple are waiting in the Heavenly King Hall, keeping vigil with the family of the Commander's mansion!

  It's really strange that the Abbot is furious, what exactly did Little Master Zhao say to the young lady from the Zhao family? The Taifu's family members suddenly decided not to leave and chose to stay overnight at Dingli Temple.

  What's even stranger is that they weren't allowed to prepare the guest rooms, but instead were made to sit in the Heavenly King Hall with all the monks from the entire temple. It was as if they were facing a great enemy, and there was a sense of impending doom, like the feeling before a storm.

  What's going on?

  No one dared to ask questions, nor did they dare to have any words or expressions of resentment. The power and prestige of the Grand Commandant, along with the gleaming swords of his entourage, had a most excellent intimidating effect.

  His gaze fell back on Zhao Zhuang. After a major illness, the stupid and lustful Shidi seemed to have changed, and was now mysterious!

  And he can even get in touch with Taiwei Fu, how strange, really strange!

  "Qie Se Shidi, what exactly did you say to Zhao's daughter?" Qie Chen couldn't help but lean in, asking in a hushed tone.

  Zhao Zhuang shook his head and said: "The Buddha's words cannot be passed on to others' ears!"

  "You..."

  He was just a clown jumping around, Zhao Zhuang didn't pay any attention to him, his eyes were fixed intently on something, and his palms were already sweating.

  This is a gamble; if Chen Qiao's mutiny had not occurred today, and the Zhao family young and old could not have been safe and sound, then...

  The consequences are unthinkable!

  Looking up at Zhao Yanran's sharp and solemn eyes, Zhao Zhuang's mood was somewhat heavy, as if more tense than the first time he defended in court years ago.

  At this moment, a sudden horseshoe sound rang out at the temple gate, breaking the silence of the night and making everyone's heart tighten.

  Two attendants from the Zhao family rushed in, hastily whispering a few words to the ladies of the Zhao household.

  The calmest Zhao Yanran turned her head to look at Zhao Zhuo, with a mixture of surprise, puzzlement and a hint of delight in her eyes.

  It seems like... I guessed it right!

  Without any joy, upon hearing Zhao Yanran's next sentence, Zhao Zhuo's heart suddenly hung in mid-air.

  "Little monk, you won, but Master Fan's men are already on their way to Dingli Temple!" Zhao Yanran's tone was heavy, having narrowly escaped the first disaster, what about the second one?

  What's wrong?

  Zhao Guangyi's heart also skipped a beat, previously thinking too simply, thinking that Zhao Kuangyin's family members just hiding in the temple would be able to easily escape disaster.

  How can it be so easy? Now it's good, the pursuers have come directly to the Dingli Courtyard, where else can they hide?

  In order to seize this rare opportunity, he hastily clung to Zhao Kuangyin's thigh, without thinking twice, and didn't have a foolproof plan, being somewhat rash!

  "Change places and hide again!"

  "It's too late!"

  "Then I won't leave after all, I'll just hide in the temple!" Historical records should be accurate, Zhao Zhuang had confident reasons and courage.

  "Master, is there a secret place in Dingli Temple?"

  "This..." Master Jingkong stared at his foolish disciple, who suddenly became very clever, and was greatly shocked. As for what happened tonight, he was even more bewildered.

  "Excuse me, Madam Zhao," interrupted Qian Zhen, "but what exactly happened? I'm not quite clear about it myself, and it's hard for me to help."

  "Chancellor Fan Qi and Vice Commander of the Imperial Guard Han Tong are plotting a rebellion, intending to harm us, and intimidating my brother!" Of course, Zhao Yanran wouldn't say that her own brother was plotting to usurp the throne.

  "Ah!" Xie Zhen was suddenly shocked. In his impression, the Grand General was a high-ranking official, and the Prime Minister was an even higher-ranking official. Now that two tigers were fighting each other, the situation was unclear, which side should he lean towards?

  "Within the temple, there is a hidden place..."

  "Master!" Xing Chen interrupted in a low voice, his meaning was very clear, the gods were fighting, and it would be better for a group of little monks not to get involved, so he hesitated.

  Zhao Zhuang hastily said, "Master, don't think too much about it. General Ta has a strong army and has already returned from Chen Bridge Post House. Tomorrow the rebellion will be put down, and when rewards are given for meritorious service, our temple will have rendered great service! On the other hand, if we turn a blind eye and something goes wrong with you nobles, how can we explain it to General Ta?"

  At this time, it is necessary to stabilize these monks in order to cover the safety of Zhao's family members. The signboard of the Commander-in-Chief is still very useful.

  Jian Chao's face was full of suspicion, as if to say, "How did you know?" However, upon hearing that Taiwei had military power, he didn't say anything else and became more disciplined.

  The abbot Jingkong said: "There is indeed a secret underground palace in the temple, which is relatively hidden. You noble people can hide and avoid for the time being!"

  "Would you kindly lead the way?"

  After the crowd arrived at a courtyard in the back hall, the high tower was gone, leaving only the base of the tower. It turned out that Dingli Temple had a Buddhist pagoda, which was damaged during the Later Han period and has not been rebuilt since then. However, the base of the tower and the underground palace below are still there, becoming a secret room in the temple for storing precious offerings and rewards.

  "After the underground palace, there is a stone gate. After closing it, it is sealed with a strip of stone and cannot be easily opened. It's quite safe, so all of you nobles can temporarily take refuge here!"

  Zhaoyan nodded and said: "For the time being, there is no other way. However, we women are not familiar with the layout of the palace. Would it be possible for Master Jingkong to accompany us?"

  Zhao Zhuang couldn't help but praise her, indeed a heroic woman among women, with meticulous thoughts. This was to use Jingkong Fashi as a hostage and coerce the monks in the temple to cooperate.

  Zhao Yanran's eyes were sharp, and she had two knife-wielding attendants by her side. Jingkong Fashi didn't dare refuse. Jie Chen looked at the situation and also didn't dare make a sound.

  Zhao Yanran was about to enter with her mother when Zhao Zhuang stopped her, saying: "Wait a moment, let the filthy air in the underground palace dissipate for a while. By the way, please ask Master Jie Xin to prepare some food and water for the noble person's use." As he spoke, he secretly glanced at Zhao Yanran, his eyes hinting at something.

  "Alright, please go to the Heavenly King Hall and wait for now. Later, I will let Xiaoshi Master take charge of external matters. For the safety of our masters, please cooperate." Zhao Yanran understood tacitly, dispersed everyone, and had the attendants watch as they took all the monks to the Heavenly King Hall.

  "What's wrong? Is anything amiss?" Zhao Yanran finally asked.

  "Yes!" Zhao Zhuang nodded and said: "Staying here is indeed not suitable, I'm afraid we need to change places!"

  "Why?"

  "Doesn't Mistress Zhao know about the three burrows of the wily rabbit?" Zhao Zhuang said in a low voice, "Furthermore, can all the monks in the temple be trusted? If even fathers and sons, brothers can betray each other, what's to say about masters and disciples?"

  The credibility of these monks is indeed hard to say, at least Qiexin makes people uneasy from the start.

  Zhao Yanran's heart was stern, and her eyes had a hint of approval. She asked, "Are there any other hiding places in the temple?"

  "It really does exist, follow me!" Zhao Zhuang led the crowd to quietly leave, and two attendants consciously went down to the underground palace, closed the stone gate, and put down the strip of stone.