I am Li Shen and Li Shimin, the free kings of the Tang Dynasty

"I lost my composure and didn't hold it firmly. Please don't blame me, Your Majesty."

Xuanzang quickly opened the door and called in a young monk, who wiped the water clean and brought another pot of hot water.

Xuanzang began to make tea again and poured another cup for Li Shen.

"Your Highness Prince Ji, I am just a monk who has been trusted by Your Majesty to translate Buddhist scriptures in Hongfu Temple.

I only understand some Buddhist teachings and know very little about worldly affairs.

I hope His Royal Highness Prince Ji can ask some related questions."

Xuanzang gave in and told him clearly, "I don't know the question you asked, so just give me some information from the Buddhist scriptures."

Li Shen didn't care and continued:

"Master, you are too modest. Everyone in Chang'an doesn't know that you are a great monk who has attained enlightenment.

Translate scriptures, preach the teachings, and save the world.

There are so many good men and women in Chang'an City who have suddenly become enlightened after listening to your lectures.

Isn’t it that the Buddhist scriptures also talk about how a person should cultivate his mind and cultivate his character? "

"What Prince Ji said is correct, but..."

He really wanted to say that what you asked were all nonsense questions, and that you could lose your life at any time. Even if you knew the answer, who would dare to answer it.

But he hesitated for a long time and couldn't say it out loud.

“Well, I am asking one last question, and it is also a personal question of mine.

Aren’t Buddhist scriptures all about teaching people how to cultivate their minds?”

Li Shen stretched out a finger.

"Okay, Your Highness Prince Ji, please ask."

After hearing the last question, Xuanzang felt relieved, thinking that he could somehow get away with it.

"Master, may I ask, if I want to...rebel, I have bad intentions, but how can I succeed?"

"Pfft~~cough cough cough."

"when!!"

Xuanzang spat out a mouthful of tea, followed by a violent coughing fit.

Just then, a slight sound came from the inner room.

"Hmm? What's the sound?"

Li Shen stretched his neck and took a look.

"Ahem, it's nothing. I guess the window was not closed and the wind blew a little."

Xuanzang explained.

"Well, please help me solve my doubts, Master." Li Shen didn't care, but looked at Xuanzang with a smile.

Xuanzang felt mixed emotions. As expected, King Ji came to cause trouble.

Why are you telling me if you want to rebel? Aren't you deliberately harming yourself?

If Prince Ji really rebelled, he would have to die regardless of success or failure.

"Your Highness Prince Ji, were you joking just now?"

Xuanzang really wanted Li Shen to take back his words.

"Are you kidding? Master Xuanzang, do you think I would joke about something like this?

Intent to rebel is a capital crime. All male members of the family over the age of thirteen will be beheaded, and women and children will be exiled thousands of miles away.

Do you think I am joking?"

Li Shen's eyes widened and his face looked serious.

"Ji...Your Highness Prince Ji," even with Xuanzang's concentration and practice, he spoke with a stutter.

“I hope Your Highness Prince Ji will think twice about this matter and stop talking nonsense. I cannot give Prince Ji an answer on this matter.

If you have nothing else to do, please go back."

Xuanzang started to chase people away; he was really scared.

"Really? Since Master Xuanzang doesn't know, then forget it.

By the way, I heard that Hongfu Temple has 300,000 acres of fertile land, all donated by devout believers over the years.

And the wealth is countless.

I would like to ask Master Xuanzang, does your temple save people who are predestined to be saved, or only the rich?"

Li Shen stood up and asked calmly.

“Your Highness Prince Ji, these worldly yellow and white things are all donated by believers to show their sincerity to the Buddha.

We monks are not interested in these things, but the donations from believers are not only given to the temples, but more of a donation to the Buddha.

It has nothing to do with us.”

Xuanzang bowed and explained to Li Shen.

“You said it had nothing to do with you, but you were the ones using the things they gave you.

You don't have to pay a penny of tax on the 300,000 acres of good farmland you have collected.

You don't have to pay a single penny of the millions of dollars you collect every year.

As far as I know, nowadays people are wealthy, the number of merchants has increased, and some even spend up to tens of thousands of strings of cash on incense sticks at one time.

You must have saved a lot of money over the years, this money can be used for many things, such as raising troops, such as...rebellion!!!"

Li Shen's final shout made Xuanzang's face change drastically.

"This...this...Your Highness Prince Ji is innocent.

How could we rebel? We are all monks. Monks are indifferent to fame and gain and do not care about worldly affairs. How could we rebel? "

Xuanzang explained anxiously.

"Haha, indifferent to fame and fortune? You have so much money every year and hundreds of thousands of acres of fertile land, and you tell me that you are indifferent to fame and fortune?

It’s ridiculous.”

Li Shen sneered.

"Your Highness Prince Ji, this is not what we want. It was given to us by those kind men and women."

“Humph, this king doesn’t care about you guys, you should solve your own problems.

This king shows you two ways. First, take the initiative to pay taxes. Since you are practicing asceticism, there is no need for so many worldly things.

Second, hand over all financial affairs to the court, and the temple’s future expenses will be paid from the national treasury. In this way, you will also be considered to belong to the court.

Otherwise, you just have to wait for the imperial court's decree. This applies to not only your temples but all the temples in the world.

This is ridiculous. I have to pay taxes, so why shouldn't you? Are you more arrogant than me?"

Li Shen snorted coldly.

Xuanzang understood immediately. He guessed that the last sentence should be the main reason, and what King Ji said before was all false benevolence and false righteousness.

He was just jealous that the temples didn't pay taxes.

"Your Highness Prince Ji, I am just an ordinary monk and cannot make the decision. The decision still needs to be made by the presiding brother."

Xuanzang also chose to pass the buck.

"Your reputation among the monks is now at its peak, especially after I wrote Journey to the West.

I guess many people are beginning to believe in you.

So you have to do this. You should have heard that my reputation is not very good, so don’t make me unhappy.

The last sentence is: Look at the mountains as mountains, look at the water as water. You can figure it out for yourself. "

After saying this, Li Shen flicked his sleeves and headed outside, leaving Master Xuanzang in a daze.

“When you look at mountains, they are still mountains; when you look at water, it is still water.”

Xuanzang repeated Li Shen's words and understood something, but it seemed as if he didn't understand.

Seeing Li Shen go out, Xuanzang immediately followed him and sent Li Shen out.

"Okay, go back and think carefully about what I said." After saying that, Li Shen turned around and left.

"Farewell to His Royal Highness Prince Ji."

Xuanzang bowed and waited until Li Shen walked out the door before he stood up and turned back to his room.

He looked around, then closed the door and went straight back to the inner room.

When he entered the inner room, he saw several people there, which Li Shen had not noticed at all before.

One of them stood by the window with his back to Xuanzang.

Xuanzang approached, bowed and said:

"Holy Lord, what King Ji just said..."

"Don't worry about it, I'll take care of it."