There is a rectangular table, covered with gold embroidered cloth, and filled with palace dishes. Each dish is not large in quantity, served in small plates and small bowls, but there are many, at least more than twenty dishes.
The luminous cups of grape wine and chopsticks are inlaid with gold. The Taoist still gave it to Sanhua Empress to taste first.
"I wonder when the immortal master came down from the mountain?"
"I am going down the mountain at the end of the summer of the first year of Mingde." The Taoist replied respectfully, paused, and then said,
"I'm just a Taoist, so I don't deserve the title of Immortal Master. What's more, Your Majesty is the emperor of the ages, and I don't deserve the word Immortal Master in His Majesty's mouth. It's an honor for Your Majesty to be called Sir according to the customs of this dynasty." .”
"Okay! I'll call you sir!" The old emperor seemed very happy to receive Fulongguan's praise, and then asked: "Sir, do you want to travel around the world and visit the great mountains and rivers of Great Yan?"
"Absolutely." The Taoist replied while picking up food for the cat. I could feel the gaze from the general opposite.
"Sir, you are so carefree!"
"It's just leisure."
"I have been busy with military affairs for most of my life. At this age, I really envy you sir." The old emperor sighed with emotion.
"It's funny to say that this world is my world, but speaking of it, I've probably not seen as much of the world as my husband has seen in the few years he has been gone."
"I dare not say that." The Taoist replied,
"I am just a Taoist. A Taoist sees the world the way a Taoist sees the world, and your Majesty sees the world the same way. How can it be the same?"
"Hahaha! Wonderful words, sir!"
"Don't dare, don't dare..."
"I heard that my husband once practiced cultivation on Yunding Mountain, and one night was a year. It was really the work of an immortal."
"Just a coincidence."
"oh?"
"Yunding Mountain is full of aura and contains the wonders of our predecessors. When I came down here, I felt the aura and felt the spirit in heaven and earth, and it was only then that I experienced the wonders of a night and a year." Song You lowered his head and said,
"In this matter, the right time, right place, and people are indispensable, and I am only a small part of it."
"Fellow Taoist is too modest," said the National Master.
"I have long heard that there are gods on Yunding Mountain, but I sent people to look for them several times, but they couldn't find them, so I thought it was just a rumor. It turns out, haha, Yunding Mountain is also waiting for gods like me."
"Don't dare, don't dare..."
"I also heard that there is a place in the north of Yuezhou that is full of green tung trees. Each one is an ancient tree, towering into the clouds. Someone once saw a phoenix there, standing on the green tung tree to comb its feathers. I wonder if you know this? ?”
"I have only been down the mountain for a few years, and have only traveled through the five states. I have not been to Yuezhou, so I don't know about it."
"Is there no record of Fulong Temple?"
"Your Majesty, you don't know. Although I, Fulong Guan, have traveled around the world for generations, I have never left behind what I saw and heard while traveling around the world."
"Oh? Why is this?"
“So that every generation sees the world as it sees it.”
"Wonderful!" The emperor couldn't help but clapped his hands and laughed, and then he felt a little regretful: "I also sent people to search for it in the north of Yuezhou, and I did see the towering Qingtong that has been around for thousands of years, but I didn't see the phoenix, and I don't know. Is it because I have no connection with him or is this rumor just a rumor spread by the world, and I thought I could find the answer from sir."
"I disappoint His Majesty."
"I heard rumors that if you drink the phoenix essence and blood, you will live forever. Is it true or not?"
"How can immortality be so easy to ask for?"
"That's probably false."
"..." Only then did Song You have time to taste the food. Most of these dishes have cumbersome craftsmanship. Except for the palaces that need cumbersome work to show their status, there is little soil suitable for them and they are almost impossible to see outside.
Song You couldn't even name them. Some of them can be tasted when you put them in your mouth and you can taste the general craftsmanship and ingredients used, while others can't even taste what they are or how they are made.
Nothing tastes bad, everything is delicious. No matter how bad it is, it can still be called good.
The word "light". There are only a few that are particularly stunning. After all, the emperor is old and has a light taste. These dishes must pay attention to the style, and some also pay attention to the auspicious metaphysics. The names are nice, and they are not just pursuing taste.
After the meal, the emperor did not ask about any political affairs. He only talked about immortality, ghosts and gods, and the wonders of the world.
That's fine, at least it's good for Song You. Song You was not a good minister or sage, and he was not familiar with government affairs. It was difficult for him to give good answers when asked. On the contrary, such a chat-like conversation made him feel relaxed.
He didn't talk about the previous affairs of the Taiwei Mansion. According to the principle of ordinary people's dialogue, a Taoist should take care of the emperor's face. Even if he is hypocritical, he must first apologize, and then the emperor will stand up and say it doesn't matter.
Or the emperor would show his magnanimity, express concern about the offense the Taoist suffered in Changjing, and express his shame for not being strict with his subordinates. The Taoist would then pretend to be frightened and expose the matter.
But neither side did so. Not even a word was mentioned. As for the Imperial Preceptor and General Chen, the Imperial Preceptor occasionally echoed a few words, while General Chen Ziyi remained silent most of the time, more like a backdrop. He would only glance at Song You when he heard something interesting.
Until the night gradually deepened, the stars outside the palace were already full.
"It's late at night." Song You stood up and said goodbye.
"It's time for me to say goodbye to His Majesty."
"Sir, are you leaving now?"
"It is late."
"Well, I had a great night chatting with you. It was a great pleasure. In recent years, all the fatigue from government affairs seems to have disappeared. Since your husband is in a hurry to go back, I won't stay any longer." The emperor said and looked again. Master Yan and Chen Ziyi,
"I will send you sir out of the palace, but the Imperial Advisor and General Chen must stay. When I come back, we can hold candlelight talks until the third watch."
"I have a merciless request."
"Sir, just say it!"
"There are some dishes in your Majesty's banquet that I really like, and I would like to take some back with you."
"Why not?" The emperor agreed smoothly: "It's just that the food on the table has cooled down, and it's been prepared in the imperial kitchen. Please stay a while, sir, and I'll ask someone to heat it up. I'll prepare a car to deliver it later." Sir’s residence.”
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Song You saluted quickly. Soon after. Lights were lit everywhere in the palace, like fluorescent lights, illuminating the carvings on the white marble railings and floor tiles.
The old emperor and the young Taoist walked side by side, walking slowly. The calico cat did not know the rules and ran around with small steps, looking left and right, looking for mice in the palace.
Behind him were many eunuchs and maids, carrying food boxes, following at a distance without saying a word. Some people often raised their eyes, glanced at the Taoist and his cat in front of them, and then quickly looked away.
"Can I leave my name in history?"
"Your Majesty is joking, which emperor doesn't leave his name in history?"
"The current territory of Dayan far exceeds that of previous dynasties. The population of the people is also the highest in the past dynasties. The people's livelihood is prosperous and is also the best in the past dynasties. The people of no other dynasty have lived as well as this dynasty." The emperor waved his sleeves with a few words. He was drunk and asked the Taoist,
"Congratulations come from all directions, and all nations come to pay homage. Sir, do you think that in the future, descendants will call me the emperor for eternity?"
"I don't know about future generations." The Taoist's answer was as calm as ever.
"Don't you know, sir?"
"The merits and demerits will be judged by future generations."
"That's well said, sir!" the emperor smiled,
"But right now I have three worries and doubts, and I want to ask Sir for help!"
"I am young, have little knowledge, and do not understand government affairs and military matters. I am afraid that I will mislead Your Majesty."
"Sir, what you said is wrong." The emperor said as he walked.
"I have been on the throne for decades, and I don’t know how many voices I hear every day. Some are right, some are wrong, some are good, some are bad. If it is a big event, and there are all kinds of voices, how can I not So easily misunderstood?”
"Your Majesty is wise."
"What's more, regarding matters concerning the people, you can ask either the scholar-bureaucrats or the peddlers and soldiers. Of course, you can also ask the immortal masters. As for how to adopt it, I have my own thoughts." The emperor said, the smell of alcohol had dissipated from his body.
"Please sir, just say it without any burden."
"Your Majesty, please speak." Song You felt that what he said was reasonable. If the emperor in front of him believed whatever others said, how could he have the prosperous age he is today?
No matter what he said, it was just adding another voice in his ears. At most, this voice is louder.
And he also wanted to hear what the emperor was worried about and what he wanted to talk to him about.
"One of my worries is that the population of Dayan is increasing rapidly."
"Um."
"In other dynasties, I think it's a good thing. If it's another emperor sitting in my position, I'm afraid I think it's a good thing too. Even the important ministers in the court, many of them are proud of it and often go out. I brag about this in front of the envoys of the state." The emperor said, looking at Song You.
"But sir, you must know that too many people are a disaster. If things continue like this, the world may be in chaos."
"yes."
"My ancestor saved Dayan's life decades ago. I wonder if you have any good ideas for immortality right now?"
"It's a coincidence." Song You thought for a while before saying.
"What a trick?"
"In the second year after I went down the mountain, I went to Anqing in Xuzhou. There was a great demon in Anqing who had practiced Taoism for nearly a thousand years. Because of his many good deeds, he was regarded as the Yanxian by the local people. Does your majesty know about it?"
"But that Yan Xian who stole grain from official warehouses to help the people in the year of severe drought?" The emperor said it without thinking.
Song You didn't know whether he knew about this because he was interested in the immortality of gods and ghosts, or whether he knew about it because he knew everything about the world. In short, he praised him after hearing this: "Your Majesty is really a wise king."
"I wonder what that person has to do with this matter?"
"When I came to Anqing, Yan Xian knew about it and invited me to be a guest, and also talked with me about the way to become a god." Song You said,
"I also thought about what your Majesty is worried about at the moment. I thought that An Qingyanxian was born with the ability to fly across the ocean and was knowledgeable. He also wanted to benefit all people and achieve the status of a god. So I asked Anqingyanxian to go overseas to search for him. Improved seeds may be able to solve Dayan's urgent needs, and the merits will be immeasurable."
"Oh!?" The emperor was immediately shocked and asked: "Sir, do you know that there are high-quality seeds overseas?"
"Just a guess."
"If we can find a better rice variety with a higher yield per acre than that of Oriental rice and solve this crisis, I will thank you sir on behalf of the people of the world!" The emperor said and was about to salute.
"Your Majesty must not give such a great gift. It is too early at this time, and I don't know if Yanxian can be found." Song You said,
"Besides, if I find it, it will be Yanxian's descendants who have traveled across the sea to search for it. Even if I want to thank you, I shouldn't thank you. You should thank Yanxian Anqing."
"Sir and Yan Xian both deserve thanks."
"If you find it, please ask your Majesty to promote it as soon as possible to solve this urgent problem." Song You paused.
"I have made an agreement with Yanxian that he will work for the benefit of the people, and I will protect his merits. If your majesty really wants to thank you, please ask your majesty to reward Anqing Yanxian. Although the merits of this matter are immeasurable, it was all done by Yanxian. It must not be divided by others.”
"I will obey!"
"If I don't find it, I'll know it first, and there's no other way. I hope Your Majesty won't blame you."
"Sir, if you have a good heart, you are doing great good!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
"It is a good thing to invite you to the palace to talk about the results. It is also a good thing to see you off. In just a short moment, I have relieved a lot of sorrow in my heart. From now on, I will have a good sleep for a while." The emperor said,
"But I still have two major doubts in my mind."
"Your Majesty, please speak."
"The first is a serious problem in the north," the emperor said.
"After years of fighting, the Saibei people no longer dare to invade, and the Western Regions have become more stable. However, the chaos in the Northeast and Northwest is not a problem of one generation, but a serious problem for every Central Plains dynasty for thousands of years. Naturally, everything is peaceful in the prosperous times. , once the Central Plains declines, they will surely sweep southward, endanger the imperial court, plunder the people, and bring chaos to the common people. If we talk about repelling them, many dynasties have done it during their heyday, but they can only control it for a while, a few years or more. It can’t last long.”
"Your Majesty, you want to fight?"
"Of course!" The emperor was not wearing the dragon robes he wore when he opened his dynasty, only ordinary clothes. He was walking casually in the palace late at night, chatting with Taoists. He just opened his mouth and talked about the lives and deaths of tens of millions of people. It is more about the fate of millions of people in this land for generations to come.
Perhaps this opening is a pearl in history.
"At this time of uprightness and prosperity, there are both national advisers and good generals. I want to send troops to conquer the northern part of the Great Wall first, and then the western regions. I only hope that in my lifetime, I can help thousands of people in the future to eliminate the great troubles in the north!" The old emperor's voice was sonorous. powerful.
The Taoist couldn't help but narrow his eyes after hearing this. What the emperor said was an exaggeration, but even if it only preserved the peace of the north for a hundred years, it would still be regarded as an extraordinary achievement.
"..." What the Taoist saw in his eyes at this time seemed to be no longer a palace in the middle of the night, but a turning point in history.
I just sighed, how virtuous and capable I am.
