The first lunch at Shangshu Mansion was very harmonious. Miss Yu, who had been with him for several months, took the initiative to talk to the Taoist priest. The topic was all about swordsmanship, because what he taught seemed to be different from what Yu Xiaowei had learned. Sister Emei also taught She tried her sword skills, but she couldn't get the point every time. She felt that the sword skills were obscure and difficult to understand. This morning, the bad Taoist master's sword skills were simple and practical, and she was still immersed in the aftertaste even after eating.
The sisters of the Bi family watched the handsome man and beautiful woman talk more and more, but they felt uncomfortable. Their eyes seemed to be dimmed, and they themselves couldn't tell.
In the afternoon, the Bi sisters wanted to go out to relax, and Zhao Zhengli also wanted to do this, but was stopped by Yu Xiaowei, who told this "number one handsome man" who was the most popular among ladies and gentlemen, with the news that had spread all over the capital.
Zhao Zhengli was surprised. The rumors seemed to be exaggerated? According to the news coming out of Miaoyin Pavilion, he seemed to have concealed his departure. He also said that he was not used to it when he first came to the capital and wanted to rest in Miaoyin Pavilion for a few days? It was this news that made the Miaoyin Pavilion full of guests, rich ladies, and curious young men flocking to the Miaoyin Pavilion. It was usually very popular, but now it even broke through the threshold, and the money flowed into the Miaoyin Pavilion like flowing water.
Zhao Zhengli was speechless. No wonder five or six brothels paid him money last night to get him into a brothel. He sighed: "There are so many tricks in the capital!"
Zhang Ziya rolled his eyes and stroked his mustache; he lowered his ear and whispered: "Taoist Priest, how about I go to Miaoyin Pavilion to investigate the situation?"
Taoist Zhao glanced at him and thought that this guy was still in love with Ji Yanyu. He quickly understood the explanation: "Didn't Miaoyin Pavilion say that you are feeling unwell and rest for a few days? If Miaoyin Pavilion can't find anyone in a few days, Isn’t this just a self-defeating sign?” Then he chuckled and said, “So Ziya, I want to come forward to make a deal on behalf of the Taoist priest…”
The bad Taoist master immediately understood, and the two of them smiled sinisterly and praised: "Ziya is really a wise man, he is simply very smart!"
In the afternoon, Zhang Ziya went to Miaoyin Pavilion. Li Zhanyi exchanged words with Yu Xiaowei, and then went out in full gear. Only Miss Yu's family, sisters from Bi's family, and the newly promoted most beautiful man Zhao Zhengli were left in the house.
The sisters of the Bi family knew that Taoist Zhao would not be able to leave the Shangshu Mansion today, so the three of them went to hang out in the garden again.
Yu Xiaowei might be bored or obsessed with swordsmanship. She walked around the house and mustered up the courage to find the bad Taoist priest who was watching the scenery with the two sisters: "Hey! Can you teach me other swordsmanship?"
Taoist priest Zhao turned his head and looked at her. His fair and beautiful face was unnatural and nervous. Zhao Zhengli raised the corner of his mouth and showed a wicked smile: "I am a dirty and lustful bad Taoist priest. Are you not afraid of Miss Yu?"
These words really made the beauty startled, her eyes flashed with disappointment, and she glanced at the corner of her mouth: "If you don't teach me, I'll knock you down!"
Birou hurriedly reconciled and said: "Miss Yu doesn't suggest that my two sisters are shallow. You might as well try swordsmanship with my sister. Although they are not as advanced as they are, they have barely learned one and a half moves after following for several months. Let my sister demonstrate it to me." How about seeing it, miss?"
Yu Xiaowei rolled her eyes at Daozhang Zhao: "Oh, no one wants to learn his swordsmanship!"
After saying that, he turned around and left the garden with disdainful eyes. Taoist Zhao and the two sisters looked at each other and smiled bitterly.
The bad Taoist priest justified his mistake this time, so he attracted Yu Xiaowei to watch swordsmanship on the pretext of giving guidance on the swordsmanship of Birou Jade. The sisters started gesticulating in the garden, and the crisp fencing sound was heard in the garden. Within a moment, Taoist Zhao saw a pair of eyes above the attic from the corner of his eye. It was Yu Xiaowei who left, and she was cautiously learning from her master.
Thinking about it carefully, Miss Yu is also very boring. Apart from the maids and servants in the huge Shangshu Mansion, she is the only one. The few guests who come occasionally can't stay with her for a long time. She usually entertains herself, including music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry and songs. But it was far less interesting than dancing with swords and guns. She also longed to be in the world of martial arts. A few months ago, when she went south to Shu, part of her trip was to invite Shangshu Yu, which indirectly fulfilled her dream of being in the world of martial arts.
Yu Shangshu invited Sister Emei to be his guest, and most of them asked her to accompany Miss Yu and protect her. After all, he was busy with official duties and lacked family members.
Her two brothers were idle all day long and were well-known playboys in the capital. The home in Shangshu Mansion was like an inn, and they rarely came back once or twice a month. As for the mother of the three brothers and sisters, Zhao Zhengli and others did not see her in the government office. I've never heard it mentioned before, and it's hard to ask because of the inconvenience.
Zhang Ziya didn't come back until the evening. Everyone in the mansion rested and fell asleep. A few people lived in the garden attic of Shangshu Mansion. The night was very quiet. It turned cold in the north in August and September. The maids used charcoal fires to drive away the cold air in advance, so that people would not be cold when they fell asleep. If possible, three or five maids would be used to warm the bed and cover the feet. Shangshu Mansion also provides this service, but Yu Xiaowei has not arranged it for a few people because she has never enjoyed it and does not understand the magical effect of long-lasting heat preservation.
Zhang Ziya paced back and forth in the attic. Zhao Zhengli lit the oil lamp and pushed open the door. Only then did he confirm that Daoist Zhao's house was as cheap as a thief. When he entered the house, Zhao Zhengli gave him a blank look: "Change your habit of raiding the widow's village at night. No. I know I thought I was doing something shady with you!"
Zhang Ziya grinned, Zhao Zhengli knew that this guy had gained something before he said anything, and then he took out a wad of silver notes from his arms: "It's done, the Taoist priest will go to Miaoyin Pavilion to see Ji Yanyu in three days. "
Zhao Zhengli saw that something was wrong with his expression, so he clicked the banknotes: "Why so little? Is there any loose money?"
Zhang Ziya wiped his mouth guiltily: "Ziya has been running around for a day, so naturally he needs to eat and drink!"
Zhao Zhengli looked at him carefully and smelled a familiar smell. He held up the oil lamp and looked at him. Zhang Ziya stepped back unconsciously. The red lip marks on his forehead were not even wiped off. He couldn't bear the torture of his soul and confessed: "Oh, Taoist Priest." , Ziya just felt itchy and went to a brothel to eat meat, don’t worry, it’s all with my own money!”
Zhao Zhengli glanced at him and put down the lamp without saying anything. Then he took out half of the banknote and gave it to him: "Tomorrow, go and inquire about the location of the black market in Changle Hall. Remember not to inquire about any information about our business."
Zhang Ziya naturally understood his intentions, and finally started looking for the man who spent thousands of dollars to buy his head. Zhang Ziya happily accepted the banknotes. These were enough for him to eat meat in the brothel for a month. Of course, the consumption quality was mid-range and top-notch. He did not have the financial resources yet.
next day
On the first day of the ninth lunar month, when the sky was slightly bright, Yu Shangshu sent his maid to bring water and wait for Zhao Zhengli to change clothes. He dressed neatly and went to the lobby. Yu Bin was very satisfied to see the energetic young man, and then went out to sit on the two sedans that had been waiting for him for a long time. Yu Shangshu In front, Zhao Zheng stood behind him, rushing towards the palace in the intersection of moonlight and morning light.
Several people left the Shangshu Mansion and stepped onto the spacious imperial street. The undulating attics on both sides were built along the street. At the end was a majestic palace complex with cinnabar red walls, glazed yellow roofs, and the iconic imperial color. From a distance, it seemed as if they were bordering heaven and earth. .
After walking for half an hour, the sedan stopped at the Xuande Gate of the palace. The rest of the journey was on foot with hundreds of officials. Many courtiers were holding sacred tablets, wearing purple, scarlet, green and other court clothes, and hanging bags such as goldfish and silver turtles around their waists. , The black gauze swaying flexibly on the top of the head, and the sleeves of the spacious court dress swayed in the breeze, so impressive.
Yu Bin, Minister of the Ministry of War, was in the third rank. He was wearing a purple robe and a goldfish bag. He had an outstanding temperament. He got off the sedan chair and wore Zheng Wusha, telling Zhao Zhengli to wait outside the palace. He would enter the palace after hearing the order. Taoist priest Zhao nodded in response. After explaining the matter, Yu Shangshu followed many officials into the palace.
When the courtiers entered the palace early in the morning, they saw a handsome man standing at Xuande Gate. He was eight feet tall. Many officials came up to look up and look at him. Sometimes they smiled at him, but most of them just glanced at him and ignored him. The group entered the palace in whispers, until Zhao Zhengli and two guards were left at the door.
When the first ray of the sun rises, a bell rings in the palace, and then the voices of the ministers paying homage can be faintly heard: "Long live my emperor, long live, long live..."
Zhao Zhengli waited for about an hour, and then the eunuch's loud voice came from the palace: "Pass! The seventh Taoist from Qingcheng Mountain enters the palace!"
"Pass! The seventh Taoist from Qingcheng Mountain enters the palace!"
"Pass! The seventh Taoist from Qingcheng Mountain enters the palace!"
Hundreds of steps were repeated, all the way from the palace to outside Xuande Gate. Zhao Zhengli judged from the sound that it was probably a kilometer away.
He smoothed out his clothes, strode into Xuandemen, and stepped on the open imperial road. On both sides, there were soldiers at ten paces and one sentry at every hundred paces. All the honor guards wore scimitars on their waists and held spears in their hands, standing like sculptures. .
The road was very long. It was a lie that he was not nervous while striding alone. After all, there was the ruler of a dynasty and a group of important officials. Maybe the bureaucrat who invested a lot of money to get his head was among them. He climbed to the end. It took three minutes to walk up a flight of stairs. What came into view was the majestic palace, with three golden and towering giant characters "Daqing Palace" written on the plaque. Hundreds of officials stood on both sides of the palace, watching him quietly as he entered the palace.
All the officials were sizing him up, and he also glanced at their faces, smiling, disdainful, expressionless and with eyes lowered. All the officials had beards, both black and white, and the youngest was over forty. Those turbid old eyes gave Zhao Zhengli the first impression of "a bunch of old foxes!"
Thinking about it carefully, who can stand in this position and not be cunning? It is estimated that Yu Shangshu is also a naughty old minister, otherwise how could he be favored by the old emperor.
Zhao Zhengli turned his gaze to the dragon chair sitting above him. The emperor was very old, with white beard and white hair, and was wearing a dragon-like yellow robe. He was in great spirits. His aura of contempt for the world made Zhao Zhengli quickly look back. He was not surprised, because the emperor They are all blessed with dragon energy and protected by national luck. This is the "power of the dragon".
Zhao Zhengli knelt down and kowtowed respectfully: "Qingcheng Mountain Zhao Zhengli kowtows to Your Majesty!"
The old emperor raised his hand and said: "The seventh level of Qingcheng has a flat body!"
Zhao Zhengli stood up after hearing the sound: "Thank you, Your Majesty!"
The old emperor waved his hand and said: "The little Taoist priest, stand closer and let me have a look. There are rumors from outside that the little Taoist priest is handsome and handsome."
Zhao Zhengli walked a few steps forward to buy something. The old emperor was startled when he saw his appearance. Then he frowned and asked, "Is the little Taoist really from Shu?"
Before Zhao Zhengli could answer, an old man in purple robes next to him answered: "Your Majesty, the old Taoist has verified that he is indeed from Shu, and he is the seventh disciple of Li Tianren in Qingcheng when he emerged. Qingcheng Mountain Six Taoists can testify."
Zhao Zhengli looked towards him. He was an old Taoist priest wearing a purple robe, with a silver beard and white hair. He held a whisk in his arms, and even though he was talking to the emperor, he only slightly held his hands.
The old emperor then gave up asking: "Since Zhao Tianshi has verified it, I have no doubts anymore!"
Then he said to the eunuch next to Long Luan: "Cao Yan! Make a noise!"
"Your Majesty! I have something to say!"
An old man in a purple robe below suddenly spoke, and all the officials in the court looked at him. He was seventy or eighty years old, with sparse hair on his temples; he was holding a wat tablet and shaking slightly.
Suddenly interrupted, the old emperor wanted to get angry, but when he saw the spokesman, he changed his tone and said, "Master Qi, please speak!"
He cupped his hands and said: "I also felt like old friends with this little Taoist priest at first sight, and I felt like I had seen him before, so I thought it would be a good idea to find out the truth!"
Zhao Tianshi suddenly replied: "Grand Master, why don't you tell me how familiar you are? Lao Dao was surprised when we first met him, and later he investigated the matter specifically. There were Imperial Master Yuanyi and Mu Fuzi who were with Lao Dao at the time. Both of them can testify. The road is vast, and it takes twelve years. What’s so strange about the people who seem to have met each other?”
Another old man in purple robe helped: "Master Zhao, why are you panicking? Grand Master just assumed that both Buddhism and Taoism pay attention to cause and effect. It is impossible for two identical flowers to bloom for no reason in the world. Isn't it the same for people?"
Tianshi Zhao flicked his fly whisk and said in a sonorous voice: "May I ask Master Jing, is this little Taoist the same flower as you remember?"
The old man paused: "They are not the same person; they are also similar!"
Zhao Tianshi pressed and asked: "The world is so big, there must be a connection if we know each other? It is said that there is an old farmer picking manure outside the city who is almost acquainted with Master Jing. How can Master Jing determine that that person is not your twin brother?"
The officials in the DPRK laughed loudly.
Jing Daren's fingers trembled slightly: "You..."
Grand Master Qi said calmly: "Master Zhao protects the little Taoist Master in this way, is he hiding something?"
Zhao Tianshi cupped his hands and said to the old emperor who was watching the excitement on the dragon chair: "Old Taoists are people who cultivate their minds and ask questions. In addition to practicing Taoism, they also relieve His Majesty's worries. Now that we are all old, we naturally have to plan for the future of the Daqing Dynasty, and this Qingcheng Xiaodao has the ambition of being a heavenly master. He can reach the realm of a grandmaster at the age of fifteen. How many people can he find in the world? If he is cultivated, let alone a great master, he is still expected to conquer the gods on land. Only then can we guarantee the three hundredth anniversary of our country. I can't bear to have him become a victim for no reason."
Grand Master Qi was at a loss for words: "Isn't this Grand Master also for the foundation of the Qing Kingdom..."
The old emperor, who had been silently watching the game from the dragon chair, interrupted in a deep voice: "That's enough!"
"Cao Yan, make a noise!"
After receiving the old emperor's order, the eunuch took two steps forward and opened the imperial edict and spoke loudly: "I Shao Ying Jun ordered: Zhao Zhengli, the seventh Taoist of the Qingcheng sect of the Taoist Holy Mansion of Chengdu Prefecture, came down from the mountain to help the imperial court govern Shu, and he was specially granted the title of Holy Mansion. The seventh Taoist, Zhao Zhengli, was appointed as the Yellow Master under the Tianshi Mansion. He was given a green Taoist robe with silver threads, a sixth-grade residence, a hundred gold reward, and the sixth-grade treatment. All in all, he will be commended!"
