The Abbot spoke, his tone frantic and frustrated.
Liao Kong also gripped the Buddhist beads in his hand tightly.
"If the Ji Family lacked external support, they could never have breached the secret chamber's mechanism, much less moved everyone off the mountain so silently."
"Grandmaster Uncle, you suspect that..."
"Is there even a need to suspect?" Liao Kong retorted. "The timing of the Empress Dowager's sutra recitation was too coincidental. When the Phoenix Vehicle first arrived, she was adamant about seeing the Eldest Princess. If I hadn't used public sentiment to reason with her, she would never have compromised. I never imagined this was her scheme! The Empress Dowager has truly played a masterful game of chess!"
