As Taiping listened to his lucid reasoning, her taut nerves gradually relaxed. She gave a soft laugh. "I was only worried that those 'tiger claws' might frighten Wu Sansi into not showing his face at tomorrow's Buddha-Bathing Festival. That would truly spoil the fun."
Lu Changfeng shared her concern, but then another thought occurred to him. "Arrogance and tyranny have become second nature to Wu Sansi. Even if fear takes root in his heart, those followers counting on him for promotions and riches will surely 'persuade' him, keeping him perched over the fire and carrying on with his swagger."
The man even had a famous saying: "I know not whom the world calls good or evil. Those who are good to me are good men; those who are bad to me are evil men."
That he could say such a thing openly showed just how outrageously arrogant he was!
"Besides."
Lu Changfeng continued his analysis. "In his eyes, this is merely the work of demonic cultists who dare not face the light, remnants of the Great Vehicle Sect stirring up trouble in the shadows. Their target is the Buddha Bone, not him personally. Tomorrow, the emperor will attend the Buddhist assembly in person, surrounded by a heavy guard. To Wu Sansi, that will instead be the safest place of all. Any demonic cultists who dare come will be walking straight into the net. Moreover, now that the assassination attempt has occurred, there is bound to be talk both at court and among the people. He needs to appear to set their minds at ease."
Lu Changfeng spoke with easy assurance and clear logic, untangling the tangled clues and calculations of human hearts until everything lay plain.
Princess Taiping listened quietly, gazing at his calm, focused profile. The irritation stirred up