Chapter 466: Drugged? Light a big fire!

Li Qingluo: "You're all seeing flowers! Hurry up and leave!"

She led Que'er and the others back to the courtyard at a quick pace.

Li Qingluo took a sip of hot tea, then summoned the several people again: "Today, no matter what you see in the hall, you must not speak nonsense—understood?"

Including those who haven't yet been to Guanyin Hall, tell them to keep their mouths shut.

You are the people I and Your Highness trust most and are closest to; you surely know how to act without me needing to say more.

Just one thing: keep your identities well hidden.

We must absolutely not reveal that we're all from DaLiang!

After Princess Qinyu died in DaLiang, Zong Zheng Wuheng also ended up with a body full of disabilities; back then, he was half-dead in Yangzhou before scouts found him and rescued him to Nan'an.

Thus, the superficial peace between DaLiang and Da Chu was completely shattered.

Especially in the past half year, there have been frequent reports of border unrest.

DaLiang has gone to war again with the Western Regions; likely Da Chu's side won't be able to sit still much longer.

If they were to reveal their DaLiang identities now, it would surely cause trouble.

Zhui Yu solemnly nodded first: "Miss, rest assured, we know the seriousness."

However, the face of the Buddha inside Guanyin Hall is really……

Just thinking about it, Zhui Yu couldn't help but shudder.

Sure enough, as soon as evening arrived, a sudden muffled thunder boomed in the sky.

Que'er couldn't help but step forward again and complain, "The temple's food is terrible!"

Not having meat is understandable, after all this is a temple of ascetic practice.

But even the plain boiled tofu sent over is all tofu dregs, and there are hardly any greens.

The rice portion is sufficient, but it's all unknown-how-long-stored coarse rice.

This rice tastes moldy.

"We're not not paying for food, yet they want to get rid of us with this lousy stuff?"

"I originally said, if you can't make good food, just lend us the kitchen and we'll cook ourselves, guaranteeing we won't touch meat and disturb the temple's ascetic grounds."

"But they simply refuse to agree no matter what!"

"They also say we merchants only crave pleasure, can't endure even this bit of hardship, so we should hurry down the mountain to buy whatever chickens and ducks from villagers."

"Miss, after saying such things, do they even deserve to be monastics? They outright defile and ruin all monastics under heaven!"

"In their eyes, all beings are fundamentally unequal!"

"They look down on people even more than those nobles and aristocrats!"

"I see them as riding on our heads to bully us, going too far!"

Que'er's anger today exceeds that of the past half month combined.

Seeing her ready to roll up her sleeves, she's probably about to burst and go beat someone herself.

Even Zheng Mama, who has endured the hardships of military camp, can't take it: "Miss, when exactly will we make a move? This old servant also wants to stretch her bones!"

Li Qingluo had no appetite for the perfunctory food on the table.

She had just idly stirred with her chopsticks when A Duo rushed in and snatched the chopsticks from her hand.

"Little martial uncle, you can't eat!"

Jin Ning and A Duo just live in the neighboring room.

Over the past half month, wherever they go, as soon as Jin Ning sets foot down she rushes into her room and hardly ever comes out.

After A Duo was rescued, it took over a month of treatment for her injuries before she could move freely.

During this time, she also became gloomy and withdrawn all day due to her ordeal with the Witch Moon Sect, no longer chatting and laughing with Que'er as before.

This is the first time in half a month that her face has shown such an anxious expression.

Li Qingluo immediately understood: "Is there a problem with the food?"

A Duo nodded eagerly: "Yes. It's drugged with monghun medicine!"

Because everyone had already moved their chopsticks, even Zheng Mama didn't notice that the food was actually problematic.

She quickly smelled it, and her face instantly turned deathly pale.

"Miss, it's true!"

A Duo: "Master took a bite and vomited."

"This is although it's your Han people's medicine, but because Doctor Dong went to your Central Plains to study medicine, the master has also come to understand some of your Central Plains medicines over these years."

"She tasted that the food had a problem, so she called me to come over quickly to warn you."

"Little martial uncle, you haven't eaten, right?"

Li Qingluo: "I haven't eaten. Go tell your master not to worry."

As soon as her words fell, Zhui Yu and Sha Yi also hurried over.

"Miss, the food…"

Seeing the untouched food on the table and the fallen chopsticks, the two finally let out a sigh of relief together.

Opening the window, waves of cold air poured into the room.

Li Qingluo's expression at this moment was even colder and more intimidating than the cold air: "If so, then let's just endure hunger a bit longer; tonight we'll give everyone an extra meal!"

Que'er's face instantly broke into a bright smile, and she replied cheerfully: "Yes, miss!"

When the first lightning bolt sliced the night sky, the entire Ningyuan Temple was still tranquil.

When the second lightning came, before the raindrops even fell, the monks of the front hall noticed smoke rising from the side rooms.

"Oh no!"

"Master, it looks like there's heavy smoke over in the east wing!"

The abbot opened his icy eyes: "Thick smoke? Is that what the merchant's wife stirred up?"

"I heard they find our temple's food unpalatable and want to cook their own fish and meat."

"What a bunch of troublemaking civilians!"

A plump monk named Jiechi stepped forward and said, "Abbot, it's true."

"Moreover, that merchant's wife, right in front of Jiekong, complained that our temple is rundown and cramped, and the rooms we gave them are unsatisfactory."

"She's clearly carrying a big bag of silver and gold, yet she only offered a tiny silver coin—evidently she truly looks down on our Ningyuan Temple."

Another tall, thin monk, Jiewang, flared with anger: "Are they secretly cooking their own food right now?"

"Didn't they not eat the food we sent?"

"I feel ashamed that the disciples…"

Jiewang didn't dare make a fuss about having slipped them a soporific.

He kept giving Jiekong meaningful looks, and Jiechi quickly said, "Abbot, these merchants are really pushing their luck, bullying us terribly! We can't just let this go!"

The abbot twirled his prayer beads and said, "Amitabha."

"As monastics we value harmony; what's the point of harboring such resentment?"

"Jiechen, hurry up and take some people to check what's going on."

"If they really caused this commotion, however much compensation is due, let them pay it."

"But if they dare to flee or play any tricks, just go inform the magistrate in the county—these merchants wouldn't dare cause trouble even with ten times their courage."

"Go."

Jiechen led a crowd of monks mightily toward the east wing.

But on the way he muttered to himself.

Because the east and west wings are better located.

So today those merchants were lodged in the south wing.

But why… is the thick smoke coming from the east wing?

He was puzzling over this when the little novice beside him suddenly cried out, "Oh no! Fire! Fire!"