Chapter 178: Bound to Succeed
Chapter 178: Bound to Succeed
Fang Jifan returned to his residence with a thunderous expression. The gatekeeper noticed the Young Lord had come back alone and wondered where Tang Yin and the others were. He dared not ask, though, given the Young Lord’s foul mood. Timidly, he whispered, “Young Lord, a Taoist is here to see you.”
“Oh,” Fang Jifan adopted a stern face, as if someone had deeply offended him.
Only Fang Jifan knew the truth: pride surged within him! Five Metropolitan Graduates! Including the Top Three Candidates! Once these five disciples became officials, wouldn’t Fang Jifan live extremely well?
Of course, revealing his joy now was absolutely forbidden.
Hmm, he had to seem utterly devastated.
He had to seize this perfect chance to give these five a harsh lesson!
Xu Jing’s example served as a warning. They needed to understand their Mentor’s instructions were absolute. Such things happened once; they’d surely happen twice. Any evil thoughts sprouting in their minds had to be crushed immediately.
But… a Taoist was here?
“Where is he?” Fang Jifan asked.
Observing Fang Jifan’s expression, the gatekeeper assumed the Young Lord’s disciples must have performed poorly in the exams. Trembling with fear of angering his master, he hurriedly replied, “In the main hall. He claims you are his Martial Uncle.”
A glint of realization flashed in Fang Jifan’s eyes; he knew instantly who it was. He nodded and strode quickly into the residence.
Entering the main hall, he saw Li Chaowen. Dressed in Taoist garb with a headscarf, Li Chaowen shifted restlessly, shaking his head with a face full of misery and sighs.
Li Chaowen’s red-rimmed eyes welled up the moment he spotted Fang Jifan. He lunged forward as if grasping at straws. Thud! He knelt right at Fang Jifan’s feet, wailing, “Martial Uncle! Save me! Save me, please!”
“…”
Scoundrel!
Fang Jifan cursed inwardly. Look at this spineless, useless wretch.
“What happened?” Fang Jifan sat down, spreading his legs slightly.
Tears streamed down Li Chaowen’s face. “Ever since I took charge of the Vegetarian Hall, Eldest Martial Brother… Eldest Martial Brother has made things impossible for me! Just a few days ago, someone accused me… accused me of embezzling temple funds! Pure slander! Somehow, they even found piles of gold and jewels stuffed into my bedroom! Martial Uncle… I’ve been so cautious every day at the Vegetarian Hall, treading carefully lest I make a misstep! How would I dare to embezzle?! Now, Eldest Martial Brother has reported me to the Perfected Master… they’re expelling me from the Longquan Taoist Temple! Martial Uncle… I became a Taoist as a child… I have no family… where can I go if I’m thrown out…?”
Fang Jifan listened. He wasn’t overly surprised, yet he was surprised…
He wasn’t surprised because Zhang Chaoxian was undeniably troublesome and was bound to persecute Li Chaowen. What did surprise him was… Li Chaowen, you utter fool! Do you possess not a shred of resourcefulness? Couldn’t you rally your fellow disciples? Couldn’t you fight back?!
This guy was pure trash.
“Martial Uncle… this poor Taoist is finished! Utterly finished! Eldest Martial Brother won’t spare me! Martial Uncle, what should I do? What can I do?!”
Fang Jifan stared coldly at the pitifully weak Li Chaowen.
Sigh… Clearly, expecting Li Chaowen to outwit Zhang Chaoxian was futile. The man completely lacked intelligence.
But… should he abandon Li Chaowen completely?
Abandoning him meant losing the vast lands of the Longquan Taoist Temple. Fang Jifan, despite his prestigious title of Grandmaster Uncle, wasn’t a practicing Taoist. He couldn’t meddle directly in the temple’s practical affairs.
The land! That immense stretch of land! He had to get his hands on it.
But… how to solve this?
Fang Jifan narrowed his eyes. “What special skills do you possess?”
S-special skills?
The sudden question stunned Li Chaowen. He hung his head low, unable to answer.
Fang Jifan gazed at him coldly. “You are a Taoist. Surely you can perform a Rain Prayer Ritual?”
“R-rain Prayer Ritual…? N-no… I can’t!” Li Chaowen’s face paled to ashen terror. “Martial Uncle! Who can actually do that?! If anyone could pray for rain successfully, the Capital Region has been parched for so long, the imperial court would have ordered rituals ages ago! Grandmaster Uncle… please don’t jest! Rain prayers… they’re utterly fake! Worthless nonsense!”
Fang Jifan was mildly touched. It was rare to find a Taoist admitting the fraud of rain prayers! It reinforced his belief in the inherent honesty of native Taoism.
However…
Fang Jifan stared at him seriously. “Can’t you even pretend to do it?”
“Th-that… yes… I could pretend…”
Fang Jifan snorted coldly. “Then do the Rain Prayer Ritual. If you succeed in bringing down rain, who would dare drive you from the Longquan Taoist Temple? Immediately, your Eldest Martial Brother would lose his position! We’re suffering months of drought. Everyone, from the Imperial Palace down to soldiers and civilians, desperately needs the sweet rain. Succeeding would be your monumental achievement.”
Li Chaowen froze, then grimaced painfully. “Martial Uncle… this is no time for jokes! It’s pure trickery! Heaven… Heaven itself deceives! Even those celestial deities, those demons… it’s all nonsense, utter rubbish! Have decades as a temple Taoist taught me nothing?! There is no Dragon King! With no Dragon King, who exactly do I pray to…?”
Fang Jifan bared his teeth. Of course he knew there was no Dragon King. Did Fang Jifan, a man of Science, need an uneducated Taoist from the sixteenth century to lecture him?
But… Fang Jifan vaguely recalled records mentioning a great rain after the drought of the twelfth year of Hongzhi in Northern Zhili. Roughly ten days away. Whether it actually happened, or the exact timing, he wasn’t sure.
Rain Prayer Rituals involved risk. Succeed, and credit was immense. Then…
Fail… well, Li Chaowen was doomed anyway. Might as well try this desperate remedy.
Fang Jifan made his decision. “So it’s settled. Perform the Rain Prayer Ritual in ten days. The Crown Prince himself will preside. I, Fang Jifan, am an honest man. I’ll speak plainly: succeed, and both His Highness and I gain recognition. So will you. Fail… then it’s treason. You deceived His Highness the Crown Prince. Prepare to die horribly. Make sure you don’t implicate His Highness. You know the consequences of harming the Crown Prince. Go. Start preparing. Honestly, Rain Prayer Rituals are simple. Fan the flames, burn some paper, chant scriptures… done!”
“Martial Uncle…!” Li Chaowen wailed in despair!
Heaven hadn’t sent rain for months! It showed no sign of doing so! This… this was sending him to his death! How could he pray for rain under such skies?!
Tears streaming, he begged, “Martial Uncle… I know nothing! Spare me, please!”
Fang Jifan snorted icily. “It will rain in ten days! Cease your nonsense! Must I beat you senseless? Enough! Get out now. Wait for the order.”
“…”
Facing someone as weak-willed as Li Chaowen, Fang Jifan had no time for politeness. Gentleness only encouraged impossible bargaining and undermined the forced Rain Prayer Ritual.
Large-scale planting of sweet potatoes was urgent. Fang Jifan was determined to secure the Longquan Taoist Temple’s vast, fertile fields. He couldn’t wait any longer.
To save countless impending famine victims… Li Chaowen? Insignificant. His death meant little.
Sacrificing one to save millions! Instantly, Fang Jifan felt his spirit soared to new heights of nobility.
Besides, he felt reasonably confident about the rain prayer. Li Chaowen might just survive.
Li Chaowen stared at Fang Jifan’s frosty expression and complete despair seized him.
Fang Jifan’s formidable presence, especially his menacing glare, frightened him deeply. A lifetime secluded on the mountain as a bullied, indecisive Taoist left him utterly drained of courage for further argument. He could only tremble, engulfed by sorrow. Heavens! This Martial Uncle would be the death of him!
What cursed sin had he committed?!
Just then, the gatekeeper rushed in. “Young Lord! Young Lord! People from the Imperial Palace are here! A verbal edict from His Majesty commands you to enter the palace immediately! They say… envoys were also sent for the Crown Prince and Master Fang!” He paused for breath. “Young Lord, you must rush! They said it’s most urgent! His Majesty awaits in the Warm Pavilion! No delay!”
What… what was going on?
Fang Jifan felt momentarily bewildered.
Had he done anything wrong lately?
Seemed not.
Good. That was good.
Still… unease prickled him. Why would the Emperor suddenly think of him? Very strange.
He dismissed Li Chaowen entirely, ordering him to prepare quickly. Then, he rose swiftly, mounted his horse, and raced towards the Meridian Gate.
Dismounting, Fang Jifan saw Zhu Houzhao’s carriage arriving simultaneously.
Zhu Houzhao stepped down and spotted Fang Jifan. His face lit up with delight as he approached. “Old Fang! Truly happy for you! I heard your disciples took the Zhuangyuan!”
The two hadn’t seen each other in days, making their reunion particularly warm.
Today, Zhu Houzhao had also sent someone to check the Examination Hall results. The news truly left him staggered. Incredible!
Furthermore…
Zhu Houzhao looked at Fang Jifan with admiring cheer. “And there’s even more great news! Heh. Have you caught wind of it?”
Fang Jifan shook his head, completely clueless.
“A great victory!” Zhu Houzhao looked ready to bow down to Fang Jifan, bursting with excitement. “In Guizhou! A great victory! The news hasn’t spread yet, but This Palace heard Imperial Father has ordered the Edict Drafting Office to prepare a memorial! Do you know what kind of victory this was?”
Hearing of a victory, Fang Jifan relaxed internally. Very good news indeed. At least it eased some burdens on the imperial court. Though… this victory likely had nothing to do with him. What was it to him?!