The twenty-first day of the first month of the twenty-fourth year of Tianxing.
Today is the day when Gu Xu enters the palace to meet the saint and receive a knighthood.
Before dawn, he put on Qiyao clothes and a black gauze hat, took a carriage sent by the palace, set off from the Yamen of the Exorcism Department Headquarters, and drove towards the solemn and magnificent Zichen Palace.
At this time, Luojing City has not yet awakened from its sleep, and the streets and alleys are sparsely populated and silent.
The sky was a deep indigo blue, with only the eastern skyline slightly white and scattered with a few stars. There was a light mist in the air.
About half an hour later, the carriage stopped in front of Yingtian Gate, the gate of Zichen Palace.
Gu Xu got off the carriage and saw five city gates of different sizes in Yingtianmen at a glance.
The middle gate is the tallest, and usually only the emperor's car is used; the left and right side gates are only for the emperor's relatives and officials of fourth rank and above; sixth-rank officials like Gu Xu can only enter through the extremely inconspicuous low Yemen on the far right. royal palace.
"If I remember correctly, the top three cultivators in the 'Luoshui Conference' can leave the palace through the middle door," Gu Xu thought silently in his mind, "I don't know if I will be able to experience this once in my lifetime." Mid-gate feel.”
According to the rules, riding in cars, riding horses, or flying with swords is not allowed within the imperial city.
Gu Xu could only walk all the way among the red walls and gold tiles under the leadership of a young eunuch in green robes to show respect for the emperor.
Soon, they passed through two more palace gates and saw the tallest and majestic building in Zichen Palace - Fengtian Palace.
It has a load-bearing eaves on the roof of the verandah hall, and a three-story white marble platform underneath. It has eleven bays and five bays in depth, all of the highest shape. There are many metal statues of immortals and animals on the roof ridge.
In front of the temple is a wide square that can accommodate tens of thousands of people to worship and celebrate.
The popular name "Jinluan Palace" refers to it.
Of course, the "Fengtian Hall" is generally only used to hold major ceremonies, such as the emperor's enthronement, the emperor's wedding, the appointment of a queen, and the ordering of generals to go to war.
Gu Xu's knighthood ceremony was not worthy of using the "Fengtian Hall" and could only be held in the smaller "Guangzheng Hall" behind the Fengtian Hall.
At this time, Gu Xu finally saw a familiar face.
The person who came had a white face and no beard, and was wearing a dark blue brocade robe.
It was Cao Tong, the eunuch Bingbi, the eunuch who was responsible for the ceremony.
"Mr. Gu, please come with me!" He said to Gu Xu with a smile on his face.
Gu Xu nodded, followed Cao Tong up the white marble stairs, crossed the threshold, and walked into the gate of "Guangzheng Palace".
The palace is resplendent with carved beams and painted pillars.
There is a dome-shaped caisson on the top of the head, carved with complex and meticulous dragon patterns, and supported by fine brackets.
On the ground are expensive "gold bricks", as bright as a mirror and as flat as a stone.
On both sides are tall columns with exquisite dragon patterns painted on their surfaces.
Next to each pillar stood a guard holding a spear and wearing light armor. They all looked straight and looked stern.
On the nine steps directly in front is the carved gold lacquered throne of Emperor Tianxing.
But now the throne is empty.
If nothing unexpected happened, Emperor Tianxing stayed in the inner court as usual, practicing in seclusion and ignoring government affairs.
The knighting ceremony for a small person like Gu Xu was obviously not enough for Emperor Tianxing to interrupt his cultivation plan, break through and host it himself.
"Mr. Gu, please wait here for a moment," eunuch Cao Tong said again, "Her Royal Highness Princess Zhaoning will be here soon."
After finishing speaking, Cao Tong left Guangzheng Hall through the side door.
There was silence in the hall.
Only Gu Xu and a group of silent, sculpture-like soldiers were left.
Such an environment can undoubtedly easily bring psychological pressure to people. When ordinary people see such a formation, they would probably tremble and surrender to the majesty of the Heavenly Family.
However, Gu Xu is someone who has faced the "fierce god" after all.
Even if the eyes of the soldiers around him were as cold as sword rays, he could still maintain a calm mind.
However, at this moment, something unexpected happened.
The golden dragon carved on the caisson and painted on the pillar suddenly seemed to have vitality, and they all turned their attention to Gu Xu.
A strong pressure came towards Gu Xu.
His body seemed to be subject to more than ten times the gravity in an instant, pulling his spine downward; at the same time, it was also trying to invade his mind and consume his willpower.
This feeling is very similar to the "Celestial Dragon Domain" used by Xiao Shangzhen, but it is even stronger.
It seems that only kneeling on the ground and bowing in worship can relieve this terrible pressure.
"Is this a threat given to me by Emperor Da Qi?" Gu Xu secretly guessed.
The pressure did not make him daunted or surrendered.
Even, in the depths of his conscious world, there was a faint chuckle of indifference.
Gu Xu remembered what Luo Sishou said - "Even if you see the emperor himself, practitioners do not need to kneel down to salute."
Perhaps Luo Sishou had anticipated what was happening now?
Of course, being in the palace, Gu Xu could not use the "Seven Burning Heaven Styles" to break this pressure.
He must rely on his own true energy and spiritual strength to fight head-on.
Fortunately, in the process of solving the "heart poison" for businessman Yang Changfu recently, his mental strength has been greatly improved under the temper of negative emotions.
In addition, he also comprehended the "Star Wall" spell, which allowed him to construct a vast starry sky and defend his conscious world from the invasion of external pressure.
After a quarter of an hour, the pressure dissipated.
Gu Xu still stood there, calm and composed.
At this time, he heard a eunuch prolonging his voice and shouting: "Princess Zhaoning has arrived——"
Immediately afterwards, a graceful woman, accompanied by several guards, strode into the Guangzheng Hall and stopped next to the steps in front of the throne.
Gu Xu had heard many rumors about this princess.
He knew that her beauty was unparalleled in the capital, that she had no talent for cultivation but was well-read in Taoist scriptures all over the world, and that she had been using neat methods to keep the secular affairs of the Qi Dynasty in order in recent years.
But it wasn't until today that he saw the true face of this "most beautiful woman in Luo Jing" for the first time.
Her long hair was as black as ink, tied into a high bun with gold hairpins; her skin was as white and translucent as gelatin.
She was wearing a black robe embroidered with gold patterns. Although it was not a slim fit, it still could not hide her curvy figure.
Gu Xu had heard the officials at the Exorcism Division headquarters whisper on more than one occasion that Princess Zhaoning "had the world in mind" and was truly a hero among women - when she saw her today, it was indeed true.
Before this, the most beautiful woman Gu Xu had ever seen was Lu Shiyao, who was known as "the most beautiful woman in Qingzhou" on the mural of Lu's old house.
Perhaps in terms of facial features alone, Princess Zhaoning is slightly inferior to Lu Shiyao, but her royal status and dignified and luxurious temperament give her a different kind of charm.
She was seen holding a golden book and reading the text in front of Gu Xu:
"The noble rank is held high in order to wait for the good and the mediocre. Those who are capable can get it, and it is suitable for them. Gu Xu, the head of the exorcism department, has nine levels of learning and seven talents. His planning is deep, and he can avert disaster. A sign of righteousness and bravery is so different from thunder... He can be granted the title of Prince of Jinyang, and be given an iron certificate of elixirs, a hundred stones of rice, and a hundred bolts of silk."
"Jin Yangzi..." Gu Xu silently recited his new title.
Ever since the Lu family in Qingzhou committed "treason" and was executed by the Nine Tribes, Emperor Tianxing no longer granted fiefs to his ministers. Therefore, Gu Xu's title is just a title, and it does not mean that he has anything to do with Jinyang County, which is hundreds of miles away.
Gu Xu first bowed his hands in the direction of the throne and thanked the emperor for his kindness.
Then, he took over the gold book, seal and certificate from Princess Zhaoning; at the same time, he silently calculated in his heart how many taels of silver he could get by selling all the rice and silk he got today.
"Keep up the good work!" A faint smile appeared on Princess Zhaoning's face.
Gu Xu suddenly felt that Princess Zhaoning's features looked familiar, as if she had seen her somewhere before.
"Perhaps it's because she looks similar to her younger brother, the fourth prince Xiao Shangzhen?" He secretly guessed in his mind.
…………
A few minutes later, Gu Xu, led by the young eunuch in green robe, left Zichen Palace along the original road.
At this time the sun has climbed into the sky.
Under the sunlight, the golden glazed tiles in the palace shone brightly, making it difficult to open your eyes.
As for Princess Zhaoning, she walked side by side with Cao Tong, the eunuch Bingbi, and walked in the opposite direction.
"I really didn't expect that this young newly promoted noble could stand for a full quarter of an hour under the pressure of 'Tianlong Caojing'," the eunuch Cao Tong said softly as he walked, "Your Highness, Princess, are you still here?" Remember the last young man with such potential?"
Princess Zhaoning thought for a while and replied: "Zhao Yan from Youzhou. She was fifteen years old at that time.
"It's just that she fainted at the last moment. So compared to Gu Xu, her potential is still slightly inferior."
…………
Gu Xu took a carriage and returned to the exorcism department.
At this time, the officials, big and small, had already begun their busy work - copying books, refining elixirs, keeping accounts... More monks were rushing outside the capital.
After all, it is almost impossible for ghosts to exist within the scope of the "Tianlong Formation" in Luojing City.
If they want to do the ghost-killing mission and get merit, they can only go outside the city.
As for the source of the "heart poison" in businessman Yang Changfu, the Exorcism Department also sent people to investigate. It's just that the mastermind behind the scenes is too hidden and has used spells to disrupt the secrets of heaven, so there is no result yet.
Gu Xu met Shi Xiaohan in the Yamen public kitchen.
At this moment, she was sitting at the dining table with a chicken leg stuffed in her mouth and a chicken wing in her hand. Her mouth was oily and her clothes were stained with oil.
Gu Xu ordered a bowl of fried noodles and a portion of almond tofu, and sat down across from her.
After seeing Gu Xu, Shi Xiaohan immediately put the chicken wings back into the bowl, ate the chicken wings three times or two, raised his head and asked, "Gu Xu, did the knighting ceremony go well?"
Gu Xu nodded, and with a thought in his mind, he took out his golden book from "Xianyun Residence", waved it in front of her, and said in a joking tone: "It went well. From today on, I am Da Qi." I am the legitimate Viscount of the dynasty. Miss Shi, you have to call me 'Master Gu'."
Shi Xiaohan burst out laughing.
"Master Gu... this title sounds really like an old man," she commented, then changed the subject and asked Gu Xu, "By the way, Gu Xu, did you see His Majesty the Emperor when you went to the palace today? ?”
"No," Gu Xu shook his head, "His Majesty has been practicing in seclusion recently. Perhaps, in the eyes of a 'True King' realm powerhouse like him, the attraction of the Great Avenue of Heaven and Earth is obviously far greater than that of a small person like me. Viscount."
"When my father went to Beijing to report on his duties a year ago, he did not see His Majesty," Shi Xiaohan said. "So, since Your Majesty has not left seclusion, who will preside over your knighting ceremony today?"
"It's Her Royal Highness Princess Zhaoning."
"Princess Zhaoning? Is she as fierce as the rumors say?"
"Hmm... not bad."
"Does she like to use her talents to bully others?"
"That's not true. We haven't said a few words to each other."
"Did she make things difficult for you?"
Gu Xu smiled bitterly again and shook his head.
He remembered that Shi Xiaohan had never liked the princess who was in charge of the government.
Whenever she mentioned Princess Zhaoning, she would frown, with displeasure written all over her face.
But to this day, Gu Xu still can't figure out what kind of contradiction exists between these two people who have never met before.
Could it be that there was a quarrel in a dream?
Shi Xiaohan was silent for a few seconds before a smile appeared on his face again.
"No matter what, Master Gu," she said, emphasizing the word "Master", "from today on, we are of equal rank."
"My father is also a viscount. Of course, his title is inherited from his ancestors, and your title is earned by yourself. In comparison, you are more powerful!"
Gu Xu smiled modestly and said that he did not dare to compare with Shi Qianhu.
"To celebrate this great event, let's have a drink!" Shi Xiaohan suggested, imitating the heroic tone of the heroes, while holding up a large bowl filled with rice in front of him.
"Cheers!" Gu Xu smiled, picked up the almond tofu in front of him, and touched Shi Xiaohan's rice bowl lightly.
Then Shi Xiaohan picked up the chopsticks and ate the rice in the bowl cleanly.
Gu Xu picked up a small spoon and slowly tasted the almond tofu, only to find it tasted very sweet.
After the meal, he returned to the "Qingxiang Pavilion", closed the door, took the elixir, and continued to practice.
On this day, he climbed dozens of steps on "Homesickness Ridge" again.
…………
The twenty-second day of the first month of the twenty-fourth year of Tianxing.
This day was the day agreed by Gu Xu, Shangguan Jin and Chu Fengge to enter the "Reviewing Pot" to participate in actual combat training.
Early in the morning, Gu Xu heard two major pieces of news from the officials at the Exorcism Department Headquarters——
The first news is that Chu Fengge is out of isolation.
The second news is that Chu Fengge has broken through.
ps: I have finally officially resigned. I will resume writing 4,000+ words per day this month. After I adjust to a better physical condition, I will strive to write 6,000+ words per day. I will make up for the extra updates I owe. Ask for a monthly pass at the beginning of the month!
…………
Note:
(1) The text of the book refers to "The System of Feng Li Guo Zhe Beiping County Prince" and "The System of Granting Wang Haoshuo Fang Jiedu Envoy".
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