But equality for all was nothing more than an illusory Buddhist saying.
What was more, even within temples, wealthy families and common folk received entirely different treatment.
As Li Hanlin was thinking this, his vision suddenly went black, and he took a heavy blow from a brick to the back of the head.
He fell to the ground.
Only one thought remained in his mind: It's over. Someone has finally set their sights on me.
I should have taken a sedan chair.
Then he thought again: In this mighty Great Ming, in the vital Capital City itself, someone had actually attacked a high-ranking minister in broad daylight. It was utterly absurd!
Of course, he did not know that in a later dynasty, this would be nothing. By its middle and later years, even outsiders and commoners would break into the Imperial Palace.
Before long, several people hauled the dizzy Li Hanlin to his feet, put a hood over his head, gagged him, tied him up, and sent him into a sedan chair.
After many twists and turns, he was finally brought to a remote, desolate courtyard.
"Is he awake yet?"
"He should be."
He heard several people with Jiangnan accents.
"Who are you people?" he wanted to shout, but he could not make a sound.
"Let him speak."
"Yes, sir."
Soon, Li Hanlin felt the cloth in his mouth being removed, and he let out a breath of relief.
"Who are you? What do you want? I am an important minister of the court."
"We captured an important minister of the court precisely because of that. Let me ask you: what do those trans—no, those southerners usually say?" A young man's voice rang out.
"Don't think you can make me betray court secrets!"
"Very good. I like people with backbone.