…
Jincao Academy.
In the backyard, in Zhuo Weian's house.
A picture scroll that was originally hanging on the wall has been taken down and laid on the wooden table with its back facing up.
Zhuo Weian's eyes were fixed on the contents of the scroll on the back.
His eyes were a little red, and he kept mumbling to himself: "Eight years, eight years... why? Why can't I understand, Your Highness... Wei'an has let you down!"
He squeezed his hands tightly, his nails dug into the flesh, and a drop of blood slipped from between his fingers.
"Boom!"
There was a thunder outside the window.
Raindrops began to fall, knocking on the window sill, making a crackling sound.
Zhuo Wei'an looked out the window, confused and absent-minded, as if he had once again seen the dead city with mountains of corpses and seas of blood eight years ago.
In that dead city, he kept walking like a zombie.
Gradually, an altar appeared in front of him.
Directly above the altar sat a man wearing a golden four-clawed python robe and holding a wooden box in his hand.
The man's expression was sluggish, and his face was covered with blood lines like earthworms. Those blood lines were constantly squirming in the man's flesh and blood, as if they were alive.
It seemed that footsteps were heard.
The man subconsciously raised his head and looked at Zhuo Weian who was walking over with his blood-red eyes.
"Wei'an, you're here."
"Your Highness!" Zhuo Weian rushed forward and knelt in front of the man: "Your Highness, what happened? Tell me quickly, what happened?!"
"It's not important anymore." The man shook his head: "It's not important anymore, everything is over."
"Your Highness!"
"Wei'an, take this box."
"This...what's in this box?"
""Taiping Tu"..."
""Picture of Peace"?!" Zhuo Wei'an's hands trembled.
Of course he knew what "The Picture of Peace" was.
Before the establishment of the Great Scenery, the world was divided and disputes continued. A Taoist appeared suddenly, holding the "Picture of Peace" in his hand, and recruited tens of thousands of followers with his supreme magical power.
Among them was Taizu at that time.
Taizu led the Tang clan and followed the Taoists to fight everywhere, and finally pacified the world.
However, after the establishment of Dajing, this Taoist gave the throne to Taizu, and then lost track of it, leaving only a "Picture of Peace".
"Wei'an, you should know what this "Taiping Tu" is. The things recorded in it are too powerful. Therefore, after Taizu got the "Taiping Tu", he divided it into nine parts. What I have in my hand is only one of them. One portion." The man continued.
"Why... why did His Highness give me the "Taiping Tu"? I'm just a scholar."
"Yes, you are just a scholar, but you are the number one scholar in my country. Your talent is unparalleled. You are the person I trust the most..." The man stretched out his hand, wanting to touch Zhuo Wei'an, but Immediately, he lowered his hand again: "Practice martial arts, Wei'an. If my guess is right, it will take at most another twenty years... Troubled times will arise, and martial arts cannot save the great scenery. Only the "Taiping Tu" can rebuild it. Prosperity!”
"But, Your Highness...I am already thirty years old."
"Thirty is a little late, but I have no one to trust. Wei'an, your self-discipline is unmatched. I believe in you... you won't let me down, right?"
"Your Highness!!" Zhuo Weian hugged the wooden box in his hand tightly.
"..."
"Boom!"
The thunder roared again.
It rained heavily.
Zhuo Weian's eyes looked at the scroll on the wooden table again, and then, a voice seemed to ring in his ears: "Anyway, Master can view bamboos regardless of rain or shine, why not try to see the bamboo forest in the night rain?"
"The bamboo forest in the night rain, the bamboo forest in the night rain... Yes, I should take a look. I should have taken a look a long time ago. Why have I never seen it before?"
Zhuo Weian turned around fiercely.
He pushed open the wooden door that was protected from the wind and rain.
The strong wind blew up his gray scholar's clothes. He looked up at the sky and stepped into the rain with determination.
…
Too Huajing.
Right Prime Minister's Mansion, study room.
A tall man was reclining on a rosewood chair. There were several opened letters piled on the desk, and various snacks and fruits were placed next to them.
Around the man, eight naked girls were lined up in a row, tightly surrounding the man, using their bodies to block the slightest bit of wind and rain blowing in from the window.
"Master Xiang!"
Outside the study, a voice sounded.
Li Xuanfu's brows wrinkled slightly.
He never liked to be disturbed when he was in the study.
However, he had already heard the voice outside the door, and finally waved to the girls around him.
Eight girls immediately gathered around and helped Li Xuanfu straighten out of his chair. Then they each put on their skirts, and then stood behind Li Xuanfu.
"Come in." Li Xuanfu said calmly.
The study door was pushed open.
The housekeeper of the Prime Minister's Mansion walked in from the outside. He glanced at the eight girls and immediately lowered his gaze: "Master Prime Minister, the Thirteenth Young Master was beaten and seriously injured, and he was also poisoned by cold poison."
"Cold poison?" Li Xuanfu raised his head: "Who did it?"
"It's the little princess from Prince Wu's Mansion." After the housekeeper finished speaking, he immediately added: "The Thirteenth Young Master said that the little princess had passed the second level of fate, and he beat him to protect Luo Silang from the Earl of Changping Mansion. I heard It was said that Ding Shangshu's son, the Guo family son and the Lu family son were also beaten, but the Lu family son was injured by Luo Silang."
"Luo Ye beat Lu Ping?" Li Xuanfu's expression was slightly surprised: "Isn't Lu Ping a disciple of Lingxiao Sword Pavilion? How could he be beaten by Luo Ye?"
"Master Thirteen said that Luo Ye is likely to have opened the Palace of Life."
"Opened the Palace of Life?" Li Xuanfu was startled again: "In the Earl of Changping's Mansion, a scholarly disciple, there is a genius who opened the Palace of Life at the age of eight?!"
"Yes, no one can imagine it." The butler nodded.
"Where's Madam?"
"The madam is crying in the backyard. Several young masters and young ladies have also passed by. The ninth young master looked at the thirteenth young master and went out just now. He should be seeking revenge for the thirteenth young master."
"I know." Li Xuanfu nodded and asked, "Has Lu Bojun left?"
"Let's go. We left the city last night and made a round trip from the capital to Zizhou City. Coupled with the time to investigate the case, we say we can come back on the 15th of next month at the earliest."
"Next month on the 15th? It takes a month to get back and forth, it's really too urgent..."
"Then do you want to write a letter and ask him to stay in Zizhou City for another half month?"
Li Xuanfu pondered for a moment, then waved his hand: "That's all, let's just go and write a letter to the Second Master and tell him about Thirteenth Lang being beaten by the little princess. He will handle it on his own."
"yes!"
"Did Madam send someone to the Earl of Changping's Mansion?"
"Yes, Madam has sent He Wu to the Earl of Changping's Mansion, along with eight palace officials."
"Nonsense." Li Xuanfu's eyes turned cold: "How long have you been there?"
"It's been a quarter of an hour, and I'm afraid it's almost here now."
"Oh... that's all." Li Xuanfu didn't say any more and stood up: "Let's go and have a look in the backyard."
"Yes, it's raining. Prime Minister, please be careful."
…
The Palace of the Minister of Civil Affairs.
Zong Shu was lying on the bed with a high fever.
The sound of crying came from outside the door from time to time.
…
Shangshu Mansion of the Ministry of Punishment.
Several head catchers were waiting in full formation.
Ding Boyi, who was dressed in official uniform, clenched his fists and his eyes were cold.
…
Lu's house, backyard.
A book boy had been beaten to death on the ground, dripping with blood.
Next to the bookboy, a lady with a stern look said, "Even if I have to wait for a month, within this month, I will make life worse than death for you, the people of the Earl of Changping Mansion!"
…
There is no curfew in Taihuajing.
Two pieces of news are spreading rapidly in various restaurants and teahouses.
1. The little princess of Prince Wu’s Mansion turned out to be in the second level of Ming Guan.
2. The fourth son of the Earl of Changping Mansion may have opened the Ming Palace.
…
In the middle of Beijing, there is a platform.
The name is: Bailu Terrace.
A beautiful woman in a white dress stood in front of the stage, looking at the falling rain.
Beside her, stood a white deer as tall as two people, with circles of thin cloud patterns on its huge antlers, like clouds in the sky.
However, Bai Lu's expression at this time was obviously wary.
Her sapphire-like eyes stared closely at a woman in a black dress in the rain, flashing with a faint blue.
Finally, the woman in the white dress who was looking at the rain withdrew her gaze and spoke to the woman in the black dress who had been standing in the rain for a long time: "Senior sister, why bother? You are no match for me."
Her voice is as ethereal as a mountain, just like her temperament, making people look up and worship her.
On the contrary, the woman in the black dress has a charming expression, peach blossom eyes, jade-like skin, and red lips: "It wasn't three years ago, but it may not be the case today."
"Sister, what do you want to bet on this time?"
"Bet on this!"
A wooden box flew out and landed at the feet of the woman in the white dress.
The woman in the white dress glanced at the wooden box, and a hint of surprise flashed in her bright eyes: ""Taiping of Peace"?"
"That's right!" The woman in the black skirt raised her lips slightly, showing her natural charm.
