Ten years have passed, and the years have passed by.
The baby boy who was born in Ashoka Temple in the past has grown into a young man with orchid and jade trees. He is well-read in poetry and books, familiar with the Five Classics, and his running calligraphy imitates Wang Xizhi's postscript. , no one dares to underestimate this young man. Tao Zhenbao and his wife cherished such an intelligent and diligent legitimate son.
Tao Hongjing's favorite thing was to run to his father's study and delve into those books of humanities, geographical records, and stories about ghosts and gods. His father ordered him to stop him several times, so he took advantage of his father to sneak in and read carefully while bypassing the servants while his father was discussing politics outside the house.
Seeing that there was no one around, he quickly entered the study and closed the door and windows tightly. He was pacing in front of the mahogany bookcase, glancing at the rows of books. Suddenly he stopped, and the words "The Legend of Immortals" came into view, attracting his attention.
He secretly thought, "This is wonderful." He gently took out the "Biography of Immortals" from it, climbed to the desk and sat down on the chair. As soon as he opened it, he was attracted by the images of gods drawn in the book. , Hun'er had already been hooked by the book, and he had no idea that the servant in the house had already rummaged through the mansion in order to find him.
Tao Hongjing turned over another chapter, dreaming about the scenes of the Heavenly Palace and Kunlun in the book, "The Queen Mother of the West..." He read out silently, and suddenly a faint sadness surged in his body, like longing, like remembrance, he didn't know Where did this emotion come from? The next second he covered his head in pain and trembled on the chair. He wailed, but it didn't attract anyone's attention. It turned out that everyone in the mansion was afraid that he would miss the curfew. At that time, everyone left the house to look for him.
After a while, he fell into a coma, and there was an overwhelming flood of ancient memories that were not part of his life in his consciousness, pieced together into incomplete fragments of the picture. Tao Hongjing's eyes were split, and he was in extreme pain, trying to capture this illusory scene. See the scene in front of you clearly in the dream.
The fog in the dream slowly opened up like a scroll, and here was a place surrounded by mountains, with green peaks, and the tops of the mountains reaching into the clouds, making it difficult to see clearly. Not far away, there is a woman in white clothes with flowing robes. She has a graceful figure, her eyebrows are full of grace and luxury, and she has a dignified look. She is sitting in front of a huge furnace, making secrets in her hands, her beautiful eyes closed tightly, The thick eyelashes made her skin as white as jade. Tao Hongjing originally thought that his mother was already the most beautiful in the world. Only those who have seen the person in front of her will know what it means to have a beautiful and transcendent face.
She seemed to feel someone was spying on her, so she opened her eyes, her eyes moved, and she said softly, "Get up!"
A ray of cyan light and shadow shot out from the continuously vibrating alchemy furnace, bursting out with a star-like green cloud. A five-toed dragon hung in the air, chasing the light, with a powerful sound that shook the sky, and a smile appeared on the woman's lips. The meaning shines like spring flowers, "Return!" There is another command, the wandering dragon is extremely spiritual, turns back and coils around the woman, this person and the dragon appear in the painting, like a fairyland.
When Tao Hongjing woke up, night had fallen, and there was no sight of the sacred mountain around him. He rubbed his sleepy eyes and sighed. If he could see her with his own eyes, she would be an unparalleled person.
From then on, the fairy mountain in his dream became a worry for him. He asked about the mountains all over the world. In the blink of an eye, five years passed by.
On this day, the fifteen-year-old young man secretly left home again to seek advice in the mountains. He leisurely took a personal servant with him on the road. Tao Hongjing rode his horse and stopped and stopped all the way to express his feelings about the mountains and rivers. He was so happy.
Passing by Maoshan on the way, I wrote an article "Looking for Mountains" on a whim: I am tired of the world and easy to resist, so I use the stick to find the mountains. I have followed the secluded mountains to reach the mountains, but I am actually poor and prepared for difficulties...
A group of people was lying in the grass tasting wine. Seeing Tao Hongjing's gentle face and excellent literary talent, he asked, "Where did you come from, little friend?"
Tao Hongjing saw that the Taoist was drunk, smelled of alcohol, looked slovenly, and was a little resistant. He wanted to turn around and leave, but suddenly he found that the Taoist had already walked around in front of him, leaving only an afterimage. Tao Hongjing and the book boy were shocked and hurriedly He bowed and said: "This immortal master, the junior Tao Hongjing, came from Jiankang City. He has admired the Qingzong on Maoshan Mountain for a long time and came here to pay a visit with the scholar."
When the old Taoist heard the words and looked carefully, he saw a faint green light in the young man's Dantian. The boy from the Tao family... Fifteen years ago, he had the impression that this old Taoist was none other than the Maoshan Taoist priest who congratulated Tao Hongjing on his birth, Sun Youyue. .
The two talked, and Sun Youyue learned about Tao Hongjing's thoughts, looking for the fairy mountain in his dream.
"In my Taoist sect, there are many classics and schools, including many celebrities from the Immortal Mountain. Are you willing to join my Taoist sect and practice Taoist techniques with me? Maybe what troubles you will be solved by fate." Sun Youyue looked at the young man.
Tao Hongjing pondered for a while, but still rejected Sun Youyue's kindness. Tao Zhenbao has always severely reprimanded his son for his idea of seeking mountains to seek knowledge. The ancestors of the Tao family have been officials for many generations. Unsurprisingly, Tao Hongjing naturally wanted to become an official and serve the country. Although he had the intention to study Taoism , but couldn't bear to go against the wishes of the elders.
Sun Youyue did not force it, "You are destined to my Taoist sect, little friend, we will meet each other. I have a copy of "Shangqing Zhimi Jue", so I will give it to you."
Tao Hongjing thanked him again and took the Taoist secret book. When he raised his eyes again, the Taoist had drifted away.
Tao Hongjing didn't know that this book was the foundation for the introductory practice of Qingzong Kung Fu on Maoshan Mountain. Although the book taught only the cultivation methods from Qi refining to foundation building, it was the most critical step for a mortal to become a monk. There are nine levels of cultivation during the Qi Refining Period. Each level is the process of the monk absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to temper his body and meridians. After nine times, his body will transform and enter the foundation building state.
That night, Tao Hongjing began to meditate according to the cultivation methods in the book. He stopped thinking, entered silence, contemplated, reflected, adjusted his breath, exhaled, and guided. After a series of actions, a faint wisp of spiritual energy emerged from his mind. The whole body's orifices entered the body, but strange things happened. According to the book, after the spiritual energy enters the body, it should run along the meridians of the whole body for three to five days. In this way, it can strengthen the foundation and strengthen the body, temper the meridians, and interact with the heaven and earth. Feel the wonder of Yin and Yang creation while breathing together. But now, as soon as the spiritual energy entered the body, it disappeared without a trace like a mud cow entering the sea. After struggling for most of the night, there was still no result. Seeing the fish-belly white color rising in the east, and thinking that there were countless lessons to be asked by the old master during the day, Tao Hongjing had no choice but to lie down and rest with a grimace.
"Am I a loser who can't practice Taoism at all?" Tao Hongjing laughed at himself.
More than a month later, another long night was coming to an end. Finally, as the morning light faded, a wisp of fresh air began to slowly circulate in his body. Tao Hongjing was pleasantly surprised, but the speed of his practice was really discouraging.
The sun is bright and the wind is gentle, the spring flowers are blooming, the clouds are closing and the rain is falling, and the boundless scenery is full of beauty.
On this day, Tao Hongjing was shaking his head in his study and silently reciting articles from the book, but there was a lively scene in the front yard hall where guests and guests were mingling.
It turned out that Tao Zhenbao had invited two or three of his colleagues to meet friends through literature. He was very interested and ordered a group of maids and servants to play in the backyard garden to play with the winding water cup and the flying flower order. This kind of elegant thing was Tao Hongjing's favorite thing. He couldn't wait to listen to Shu Yan, his personal servant, telling him about the poems in the garden, and thought about them secretly.
Among these colleagues, one was extremely distinguished and was regarded as a distinguished guest by Tao Baozhen.
"Can you see clearly who the superior person is?" Tao Hongjing asked Shuyan.
"I heard from the steward next to the master in the front yard that it was Situ Zuo Changshi, Wang Zhao, who was under the family of King Jian'an." Shu Yan was very proud of his ability to find out information, as if he was waiting for praise.
King Jian'an... this name was not unfamiliar to him. Liu Xiuren was the twelfth son of Emperor Wen. He was the younger brother whom the emperor relied on the most and trusted. He was a man who was able to stabilize the country with his literary skills and his military power. He was highly regarded in the court. Heavy. Situ Zuo Changshi was under his sect, so his status must be very prominent.
Tao Hongjing said that he wanted to take a look.
At this moment, the game in the back garden has passed two rounds, and the housekeeper has prepared the banquet, just waiting for Tao Zhenbao, the head of the family, to invite the guests to the table.
The dining hall of Tao Mansion is spacious and bright. After everyone was seated, Tao Zhenbao toasted to all the guests. With the help of Mr. Hao, all the delicacies served on the table were "from time to time". He was very particular about the ingredients and all were the freshest. Eat in season.
After three rounds of drinking, Wang Zhao and Tao Zhenbao were quite drunk. Wang Zhao was handsome and handsome. He was dressed in fine blue silk with bronzing embroidery of bamboo leaf patterns, which made him look much younger. The poetry and history scriptures talked about Taoism and Yili, but they all insisted on the meaning of the Qian hexagram. Wang Zhao drank the wine in the cup and said, "Brother Tao, the Qian hexagram clearly points to the sky. Great Qian Yuan, the beginning of all things." Tao Zhenbao Although he was drunk, he was not confused about academic matters. He patted Wang Zhao on the shoulder and said, "Brother Wang, your interpretation is one-sided. It clearly refers to the Ninth Five-Year Plan, which is exactly what scholars nowadays aspire to become officials. "
Everyone at the table listened attentively and watched the dialectical arguments come and go.
Tao Hongjing heard the two arguing and couldn't stay behind the curtain in the back hall any longer, so he went into the dining hall and bowed his hands, "Good morning, gentlemen. I have something to say, should I say it?"
Tao Zhenbao was afraid that his son would bump into the guests, so he was about to refuse, but Wang Zhao raised his hand to stop him and allowed Tao Hongjing to continue.
"The younger generation reads the Qian hexagram and combines it with the following text to know that all things in the world are born in accordance with nature, mutually reinforcing each other, and there are yin and yang in all things. This is nature. The so-called heaven moves vigorously, and a gentleman strives to constantly strengthen himself. Therefore, I think the profound meaning of the Qian hexagram is a metaphor. The human mind is independent, and it is natural to do things based on one’s true nature.”
Seeing Tao Hongjing, a young man who has accumulated stones and jade, and whose trees are like emeralds, he couldn't help but touch his hands and said, "Well said! You can have your own insights, which shows that you are a serious student."
Tao Hongjing also showed joy. Wang Zhao took the opportunity to ask him to teach his legitimate son Wang Hao to read. When his father nodded slightly, Tao Hongjing thanked him and agreed.
It seems that Wang Hao and Tao Hongjing are very close, and under Tao Hongjing's guidance, his studies have improved significantly. This made Wang Zhao appreciate Tao Hongjing even more, and he would bring Tao Hongjing with him when the mansion hosted banquets with officials or gatherings of elegant people.
On this day, Wang Hao asked Tao Hongjing to go to a banquet in Jian'an Prince's Mansion with him. Tao Hongjing met Jian'an King Liu Xiuren for the first time. However, there were many guests in the mansion, so he could only meet in front of King Jian'an and eat with Wang Hao. After a few glasses of wine, I felt a little too drunk. I walked out of the court and saw a woman watching fish in the pavilion in the middle of the lake in the back garden.
He took a closer look and saw that she was a beautiful young lady with exquisite pink and jade sculptures. She was holding a brocade bag in her hand. She had long hair shawl and was dressed in a light green dress. There was a gold ribbon in her hair. She looked charming. Beautiful and leisurely.
"Once this Miss Yujing is fed, I'm afraid she will have to come here to beg for food every day from now on." Tao Hongjing said jokingly. The girl seemed to be melancholy. She was startled by the sudden young man's voice. Her pretty face was slightly dizzy and she said: "you are not a fish, how to know the joy of fish?"
Tao Hongjing smiled, thinking that the female family member in the mansion was really a noble and precious person, so he stopped talking nonsense and watched the fish playing happily in the water.
But the girl turned her attention to Tao Hongjing and couldn't help but be speechless. Chen Ning was really unique and unique in appearance. She slightly lowered her eyes and asked softly, "Which family are you a son of?"
Tao Hongjing reported his family name, "I am Tao Hongjing, my father is Tao Zhenbao, the imperial censor of Nantai, is the lady a female member of the family?"
He was originally the son of the censor...
Princess Liu Zhen'er of Jian'an did not directly answer Tao Hongjing's question, but just replied softly, "My name is Zhen'er."
When we first met, the wind was clear and the clouds were blowing, and I had a startling glance. I don’t know who was surprised.
