Chapter 80: Daring to Make Things Difficult for Her? That Bald Monk’s Time as Abbot Is Over

At the entrance of the main hall, Ban Xia carefully helped Tang Mi down.

Nanny Gui and Ban Xia supported Tang Mi as they entered the hall.

“Mi’er is here,” the old madam said as she quickly moved forward to assist her. “How are your feet? Are you alright?”

Tang Mi smiled and replied, “I’m fine. I can manage.”

The old madam nodded and turned to Master Jingkong. “We are all here now. May I trouble you to begin the ritual?”

“Amitabha…” Master Jingkong bowed slightly. “May I ask if Benefactor Tang has obtained the sacred water?”

“Yes, we have,” the old madam said quickly and glanced at Nanny Gui.

Understanding the cue, Nanny Gui brought out the water pouch collected earlier and handed it to Master Jingkong.

He took the pouch, poured the water into a clay bowl, and when he saw the water, he hesitated slightly, subconsciously glancing at Tang Ying.

Tang Ying noticed his reaction and her eyes flickered slightly.

What was that look? Could it be… the sacred water is real?

The thought startled her. She quickly gave Master Jingkong a look and shook her head slightly.

Master Jingkong understood the signal and immediately felt conflicted.

If the water were fake, he could have gone along with them. But if this really was the sacred water, how could he lie about it?

Seeing Jingkong staring at the water, the old madam frowned. “Master, is there something wrong with the water?”

Jingkong snapped out of it and looked solemnly at the old madam. “This water is fake. It is not the sacred water.”

In the end, he caved. He wasn’t just facing Tang Ying, Prince Yu was involved too!

Upon hearing this, Tang Mi’s eyes turned dark and cold.

So the monk had indeed been bribed by Tang Ying and Ye Junyu.

The old madam was also shocked and instinctively retorted, “That’s impossible! Mi’er wouldn’t lie to me.”

She turned to Tang Mi, her tone serious. “Where did you fetch this water?”

Tang Mi looked directly at her grandmother with calm eyes. “I got the water from the large pool beneath the sacred temple. If that pool is what you call the sacred spring, then this water is sacred. If it’s not, then I still fetched it from where you told me.”

She had watched the person fetch the water herself, it couldn’t be wrong. The monk was clearly lying.

Seeing her so calm and composed, the old madam was sure Tang Mi wasn’t lying. She turned to Jingkong again. “Didn’t you say the pool below the temple the Heavenly Pool, is the sacred spring? Mi’er didn’t go to the wrong place.”

“This is not sacred water. Benefactor Tang fetched the wrong water. I apologize, but I cannot perform the ritual,” Jingkong said stiffly. He had no choice now but to stick to the story Ye Junyu and Tang Ying wanted.

Tang Mi actually laughed in frustration. Her voice cold, she retorted, “And what right do you have to say this isn’t sacred water? I fetched it from the Heavenly Pool below the temple. You’re the abbot of Baima Temple, don’t tell me you don’t even recognize your own temple’s sacred water? If you really don’t, then call the other masters. Let them see whether the water I fetched is sacred or not!”

She refused to believe every monk in Baima Temple was as blind and corrupt as him.

Master Jingkong flushed red with shame but grew angry too. As abbot, he had never been talked back to by a devotee like this. His tone grew cold. “This is not sacred water. I will not perform the ritual. You must find someone else.”

Tang Mi was furious. She truly didn’t want this deceitful, morally corrupt monk performing her father’s ritual, but… her grandmother…

Hearing that Jingkong refused to continue, the old madam grew anxious. “Master, please don’t be upset. The girl is young and doesn’t understand. Surely this is a misunderstanding. This water is from the Heavenly Pool, how could it not be sacred? Please, just look again.”

But Jingkong ignored her and didn’t even spare the bowl a glance. His voice turned impatient and cold. “There’s no need. I’ve said it isn’t sacred water, so it is not sacred water!”

“How arrogant you’ve become, Master Jingkong!”

Just as he finished speaking, a cold and mocking voice rang out from the doorway. “This prince never knew that even the abbot of Baima Temple dares to show such airs to devotees now.”

Jingkong turned and his face changed instantly upon seeing Ye Chenxuan. He hurriedly stepped forward and bowed. “Prince Xuan!”

“Prince Xuan!” the old madam and others quickly followed suit after recovering from their surprise.

When Tang Mi saw Ye Chenxuan enter, her angry, agitated heart finally settled. At that moment, she felt as if she had found a safe harbor.

Ye Chenxuan gave her a reassuring look before stepping forward and picking up the clay bowl. “This looks like sacred water to me.”

Master Jingkong looked awkward, now at a total loss for words.

He didn’t fear offending the Tang family, but he couldn’t afford to offend Prince Xuan, nor Prince Yu. What was he supposed to say now?

Ye Chenxuan shot him a cold glare and ordered Yan Shu, “Go summon every master in Baima Temple. I want to see if there’s anyone here with the wisdom to recognize true sacred water or are they all blind?”

His words thundered through the hall, clearly showing his anger.

To dare bully her? That bald monk’s days as abbot were numbered!

“Yes,” Yan Shu replied and immediately left to carry out the order.

Seeing that Yan Shu was truly going to call everyone, Master Jingkong began to panic. He glanced nervously at Tang Ying, hoping she or Ye Junyu would step in to help.

But Tang Ying didn’t look at him. She was staring blankly at Ye Chenxuan.

Why was Prince Xuan helping Tang Mi? He had already behaved oddly at the poetry banquet. Could it be… he liked her?

The thought made Tang Ying clench her fists tightly.

Why? Why did every man have to revolve around Tang Mi?!

Tang Mi caught Jingkong’s panicked expression and couldn’t help but smile in satisfaction.

A monk who grovels to power should be put in his place by someone with real power.

She stole a glance at Ye Chenxuan, only to meet his deep gaze. Her face immediately flushed, and she quickly looked down.

The old madam noticed her expression and raised her head to glance at Ye Chenxuan, her brows gently furrowing.

Before long, Yan Shu returned with all the masters of Baima Temple.

There were four of the “Jing” generation, and two of the “Liao” generation. Among them, Liao Chan was the most senior.

But they weren’t alone, someone else had followed the masters in.

“Well, Seventh Brother,” came a cool voice. “What an impressive scene. Just what matter is important enough to summon all the masters of the temple?”