"Does Master Lin know the Zheng family's intentions for inviting you to Siam?" Long Pu asked.
"I didn't know before I left. I only found out after arriving in Siam," Lin Fan replied truthfully.
"Then, Master Lin, do you think the Zheng family's long-cherished wish can be fulfilled?" Long Pu inquired.
Lin Fan chuckled lightly, "Whether it's fulfilled or not has little to do with me. As a practitioner of the mystic arts, I am here to take money and do things for people."
"It's all about money."
Long Pu seemed somewhat incredulous. After pondering for a moment, he spoke again, "Master Lin, for the peace and tranquility of Siam, would you be willing to show some leniency? Of course, we won't ask you to help for nothing. Whatever the Zheng family offers you, we will double it."
Lin Fan was startled and began to scrutinize Long Pu from head to toe.
From his words, it seemed he was acting as a mediator.
Wasn't he the abbot of the Zheng Wang Temple?
And by his appearance, he looked like a Hua or at least had Chinese ancestry.
He...
"Master Long Pu, what do you mean by that?" Lin Fan asked, fearing he might have ulterior motives.
"Amitabha, as a monk, compassion is in my heart. I, this old monk, do not wish to see war break out in Siam again, leading to widespread suffering," Long Pu's tone was compassionate, and he didn't seem to be lying.
"Then... may I ask, is this your own idea, or are you acting under the orders of some power?" Lin Fan asked.
"It was me!"
A pleasant female voice echoed from not too far away.
Lin Fan, with his sharp ears and keen eyes, had not heard any footsteps, indicating that the person had been hiding there for a while.
A graceful figure approached with a captivating gait.
Her face was veiled with black silk, and her attire was simple, exuding a Siamese charm.
As she drew closer, Lin Fan noticed she was quite tall, appearing like a goddess under the moonlight, emanating an aura of mystery.
"May I know who you are?" Lin Fan, collecting himself, asked in a deep voice.
"Sirivan Na Rai," the woman replied, her voice cool and clear.
Lin Fan's head began to ache upon hearing the name. Couldn't she just be called Na Rai?
Long Pu looked at the woman and said, "Your Highness, please speak to Master Lin."
"Wait, what did you say?" Lin Fan's eyes widened, suspecting he had misheard.
After three seconds of thought, Lin Fan suddenly realized, "She's the Second Princess of the Siamese Royal family?"
"That's right, she is indeed Your Highness," Long Pu replied.
Lin Fan felt puzzled. The abbot of Zheng Wang Temple, Long Pu, who had deep ties with the Zheng family, was secretly colluding with the Siamese Royal family? It was simply unbelievable.
He had been treated as an honored guest by Zheng Xingchao, and he never expected this...
For a moment, Lin Fan looked at Long Pu with a complicated gaze.
In the words of China, this could be called treason.
"It's not what you think," Na Rai seemed to know what Lin Fan was thinking.
Lin Fan knew about Na Rai because Zheng Yue had mentioned her that afternoon.
Zheng Yue had said that in Siam, King Rama X was known for his philandering and dalliances.
Princess Na Rai's mother was an air hostess who was assigned to serve the royal family during a royal trip.
Later, the old king...
To put it nicely, it was love at first sight. To put it bluntly, it was lust at first sight.
In any case, this air hostess suddenly soared to prominence.
Later, the two were inseparable, and Rama X crowned her as queen.
The story ended, much like the fairy tale of the prince and Cinderella.
However, after only a few years, Rama X's ardor waned, and she quickly lost favor in the harem.
Rama X stripped her of her queen title.
Just then, a holy monk appeared and told Rama X that Na Rai was the reincarnation of a guardian beast.
Upon hearing this, Rama X decided to keep Na Rai.
Over twenty years passed.
The young girl indeed grew up to be sharp and intelligent, far surpassing other princesses and princes.
When Zheng Yue spoke of Na Rai, her words were filled with a sense of camaraderie.
The fates of the two women were similar. Although they belonged to different factions, they regarded each other as confidantes.
Because Zheng Yue spoke of other royal family members with disdain and contempt, but praised Na Rai highly, Lin Fan remembered her distinctly.
"Wait a moment."
Lin Fan looked at Long Pu and asked, "The holy monk rumored in the past, could it be you?"
"Amitabha." Long Pu nodded.
Damn!
I'll be damned!
Lin Fan was so shocked his scalp tingled.
The Zheng family treated him like a deity, yet he had been colluding with the Siamese Royal family twenty years ago.
With such a major spy in their ranks, could the Zheng family's long-cherished wish be fulfilled?
Na Rai glared at Lin Fan displeasedly, "Master is compassionate and does not harbor such petty schemes. He acts this way for the sake of all people."
For some reason, when Lin Fan heard the words "all people," it felt a bit awkward.
Siam had a population of sixty million, and its area was comparable to a province in China.
Where did "all people" come from?
Long Pu spoke, "The royal family was not unaware of the Zheng family's previous actions."
Na Rai added, "Our royal family has shown great tolerance towards the Zheng family. We have tolerated even this act of rebellion, yet they show no restraint."
"Um..."
Lin Fan scratched his head, "How did I hear that your royal family has been hesitant to act because the influence of overseas Chinese in Siam is too great, and they fear retaliation from China?"
"Who told you that?" Na Rai's anger flared, "No matter how great the Zheng family's influence is, can it be greater than Siam's forty thousand troops? Humph, although the eighteen families have heavily infiltrated various sectors, military power has always been firmly in the hands of the royal family."
Lin Fan remained silent.
He thought to himself that if China from the north intervened, let alone forty thousand troops, even four million or forty million would be dealt with.
Besides, the Zheng family was plotting rebellion!
If there were any other way, would your father have tolerated it for so long?
Thinking this, Lin Fan asked, "Are you looking for me to collude with you and forge something?"
Long Pu nodded, "Master Lin, Siam is poor and weak. If war breaks out again, it will be the common people who suffer."
Na Rai's tone carried a hint of threat, "The royal family's patience has its limits. The Zheng family has repeatedly provoked us, and this time, my father will absolutely not stand idly by. If drastic measures are taken, there will likely be many casualties. Overseas Chinese are also members of Siam. For centuries, we have never mistreated them."
"Master Lin, we hope you will consider the bigger picture," Na Rai said, looking deeply at Lin Fan.
"No," Lin Fan shook his head.
Na Rai snorted, "If you want money, name your price, and I will satisfy you."
Lin Fan chuckled, "Princess Na Rai, your family must be very wealthy."
Na Rai said proudly, "My personal assets are around one hundred million US dollars. However, this matter concerns the entire royal family. Believe me, I can offer more than you desire."
"Since the royal family is so wealthy, why are there still so many poor people in Siam?" Lin Fan looked calmly at Na Rai. "I know a very skilled Muay Thai fighter who has been fighting in matches since he was eight to support his family. Over time, his body has suffered immense damage, and he might not even live to fifty."
"I also heard that many impoverished families give their children drugs from a young age to turn them into ladyboys. When they grow up, they perform in big cities to entertain foreign tourists. They also have short lifespans due to their physical injuries," Lin Fan added.
Na Rai glared fiercely at Lin Fan, "What do you mean by that? The poor have their own destinies. Which country doesn't have poor people?"