Ding Long nodded, then said, "One of them is Yu Ji, an Assistant Director of the Secretariat. He's a man of considerable renown and is on close terms with several eminent monks. He was already thinking of seeking their help."
"Yu Ji? He's impeached me often enough." Hou Andu gave a cold laugh. "But if he wants to make trouble for Chen Fangqing, that's good news." He glanced at Ding Long. "If I recall, he impeached Chen Fangtai not long ago, didn't he?"
"That's right!" Ding Long smiled. "I heard Chen Fangtai cursed him out on the spot when he learned of it. Yu Ji and the Prince of Nankang's Lineage can be counted as enemies now!" Then his tone shifted. "And it isn't just Yu Ji. Several other households are making moves of their own. If you give them a push, Great General, Chen Xu's plans will come to nothing!"
Hou Andu pondered for a moment. "You want the Buddhists to make trouble for Chen Fangqing? But I've heard the boy has ties to them too."
Ding Long chuckled. "True. A junior brother of mine is a Buddhist, and I learned a little from him. Chen Fangqing once stayed at Guishan Temple, but afterward, neither the Temple Master nor the Presiding Monk—not even the Guest-Master Monk who welcomed him—ever mentioned him. If they were truly close, how could they ignore him so completely? Besides, if they are close, wouldn't learning that Chen Fangqing is possessed by an evil demon give them even more reason to step in?"
Only then did Hou Andu relax. "You disciples of the Vertical and Horizontal Sect are well informed indeed!"
Ding Long beamed. "Besides, what matters most is having a pretext. If the Buddhist School steps forward and provides cover, how can Kunlun readily