Chapter 207: Don’t ask the common people, ask the ghosts and gods
Chapter 207: Don’t ask the common people, ask the ghosts and gods
Soon, the day for meeting the emperor arrived.
Xu Qing was picked up by two Taoist children sent by Chaotian Temple and sent to the Zichen Hall in Xiyuan. He put down his Qiankun bag and other valuables in advance and gave them to his father-in-law for safekeeping.
It can be said that apart from the Jieyuan badge that proves his identity, he is actually alone.
After being "purified" in the Purple Palace, led by a Taoist child, we arrived at the Yannian Gate. After being searched by the guards, we entered the palace gate. The mural on the palace wall next to it was a pattern of nine dragons pulling a chariot and the Emperor of Heaven on tour.
Carved dragons and painted beams are nothing more than this.
Ordinary people would naturally be shocked by the magnificence of the emperor's residence.
Xu Qing didn't feel anything at all.
In the past life, let alone the mural of nine dragons pulling a cart, it would be no problem to use a drone to create a virtual projection of a flying dragon in the sky.
In front of us is a huge courtyard, with sika deer and cranes strolling leisurely.
The fairyland imagined by ordinary people is just like this.
Continue walking forward and you will come to a cobblestone path. At the intersection, you will see a Tai Chi pattern made up of pebbles. The arrangement is mysterious and has an indescribable Taoist charm.
There are three forked roads in front of you, one leading to the flower garden, one leading to the medicine garden, and the path in the middle leads to the old emperor's residence - Wanshou Palace.
After being interrogated by the guards again, Xu Qing entered the front hall and waited.
Portraits of the Three Pure Ones were hung in the hall, with an altar for offerings below. Opposite the altar was a bronze incense burner with three legs. The Taoist patterns on it were deep and complex, and the scent of sandalwood almost made Xu Qing's soul fall into confusion.
He knew that this was the most heavily guarded place in the world, and also the place where the soul was most severely suppressed. Without the soul in motion, the blood and qi would flow slowly like lead and mercury, and still waters would run deep.
He glanced around the hall, but did not see any dragon throne, only a round white jade couch with Taoist purple gold bricks carefully crafted and inlaid underneath.
Taoist Master Gu of Fangxiandao once said that this Eight Trigrams Purple Gold Brick has the effect of warding off evil spirits and concentrating the mind. Even with his level of cultivation, he can only refine a few pieces a year, and the output is extremely low.
These purple gold bricks are obviously the royal family's savings.
In Xu Qing's view, the old emperor is just a typical poor student.
With so many fancy treasures, I wonder if his spiritual practice has reached the level of manifestation.
There couldn't really be anyone with such poor qualifications.
This is like spending hundreds of millions of dollars in a game, but not only did you not reach the maximum level, but you are still several levels away from the maximum level.
Not really, really not...
His eyes fell on the calligraphy and painting on the east wall. This was the calligraphy of Emperor Wanshou.
"I have three treasures, which I uphold and preserve: the first is kindness, the second is frugality, and the third is not daring to be the first in the world."
This is a quote from the Tao Te Ching.
Xu Qing didn't have any comments in his mind. It doesn't matter what a person says, the key is to see what he does.
For Xu Qing, entering the hall and taking in everything was just a matter of a moment.
He then waited calmly.
Soon, a eunuch came out and said, "Xu Jieyuan from Nanzhili, right? Come with us to see the emperor."
Led by the eunuch, Xu Qing walked through the corridors of the hall and arrived at the back hall where the old emperor practiced daily. The hall was covered with heavy veils.
"Your Majesty, Xu Qing is here." The eunuch who led the way said in a soft voice.
In the palace of this dynasty, eunuchs addressed the emperor as "Long Live the Emperor" or "Huangye" and the crown prince as "Xiaoye" or "Qiansui". As for the title of "Long Live Ye", there is no such thing.
As for the subjects in private, if they are respectful, they call him "Taoist Master". If they are disrespectful, they can do whatever they want.
On the other hand, this was not a formal court meeting, so before the old emperor came on stage, there was naturally no exclusive imperial music, but instead a long and pleasant sound of jade chimes.
The eunuch saw Xu Qing was stunned and reminded him, "His Majesty has agreed to see you, why don't you pay your respects quickly?"
Xu Qing then performed the ceremony obediently.
Soon, the thick curtains opened several layers, revealing the figure of the old emperor inside. He was wearing the emperor's regular clothes and was guarded by a Taoist priest in a black robe.
Judging from his age, he looks like the abbot of Chaotian Temple.
But Xu Qing did not deliberately release his soul or concentrate his gaze to test anything, but did everything according to the etiquette of a subject.
They come, the security.
The lucky little dragon had no warning of danger.
He still feels very at ease.
"Stand up." The old emperor's voice sounded far and near, as if it came from the sky, unfathomable.
Xu Qing immediately stood up and followed the etiquette meticulously.
"I heard that you are not yet eighteen years old?"
"Your Majesty, I won't be eighteen until the fifteenth day of the first lunar month after the New Year," Xu Qing replied.
As the year passed, he only had a short time left before the bronze mirror's lifespan came to an end.
His time was very tight, but he had already made up his mind, so as long as he tried his best to face it, there would be nothing to regret.
If that day approaches and there is still no solution, Xu Qing can only take away those people who he thinks are a threat to his affairs after his death one by one.
"Before you are eighteen, you are already a martial arts master, and your spirit has also been cultivated to the realm of possession. Do you have any unique secrets of cultivation?"
Facing the old emperor's questioning, Xu Qing couldn't help but have an absurd thought in his mind, "Don't ask about the common people, ask about ghosts and gods."
After all, it has to be you.
These words showed that the old emperor had a very clear grasp of his information.
"The sage does nothing, teaches without words, and does not dwell on his achievements. This is the secret of my practice."
"Inaction? You've done so many great things, how can you say you've done nothing?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, do nothing, and do everything."
"Since this is a silent teaching, and you should not take credit for your achievements, if I ask you to hand over your wealth and property, are you willing?"
"All under heaven belongs to the king, and all the people in the land are his subjects. These things are not originally mine, but I am managing them on behalf of Your Majesty. If Your Majesty wants to change someone else to manage them, I will obey your order." Xu Qing responded to the emperor frankly. His conduct and words were upright...
clang!
The old emperor struck the jade chime again, and the curtain was completely drawn back, revealing the emperor's true appearance. Xu Qing lowered his head and lowered his eyes, not trying to meet the old emperor's gaze.
"Then who do you think can manage these wealth and industries on your behalf?"
"I think it doesn't matter who it is. As long as Your Majesty stipulates that the money and grain I pay to Your Majesty every year, the newcomers will pay this amount every year... But I have something to say, I don't know whether I should say it or not." Xu Qing hesitated.
The old emperor said: "In front of me, there is no need to be shy, just speak your mind. No matter what you say, I will pardon you."
Xu Qing knew that this was just for show. The death-free gold medals issued by the Emperor of the Great Yu Dynasty had all become death warrants. Even so, could he still trust the old emperor?
He said sternly, "If Your Majesty continues to let me take care of it, the amount I will pay next year will be twice as much as this year."
"really?"
"There is no joking in front of the king, and the minister dare not deceive the king."
"I heard that you brought a Taoist priest from the Fangxian Dao to the capital this time. Can he make elixirs?"
"Yes, but in my opinion, Master Gu's alchemy skills are not as good as Zhang Zhenren of Longhu Mountain, nor as good as Abbot Xiongchan of Dachan Temple... I invited Master Gu to Beijing to use the power of the Ministry of Industry to improve the firearms of this dynasty and the tools and mechanisms needed by many workshops..."
Xu Qing then began to talk about the power of firearms, the improvement of textile tools, and other such topics involving military and civilian matters.
It was also specifically mentioned how important these things can play in military and people's livelihood.
He saw a historian recording the daily life nearby.
Although this dialogue was of a private nature, it was essentially a private conversation between the emperor and his subjects.
Even if dynasties change, there is a great chance that it can be passed down to later generations and be seen by future rulers.
Xu Qing also deliberately spoke very directly and briefly.
Whether the emperor listens or not is his business.
It’s Xu Qing’s business whether to say it or not.
Moreover, expressing his attitude and position will help him establish his personality.
The emperor asked about ghosts and gods, and Xu Qing talked about the people of the world.
There is nothing wrong with Xu Qing.
"Okay, you can talk to the Prime Minister about these things. I have entrusted the affairs of the country to the Prime Minister and to you, my ministers, because I want you to be so attentive. Xu Qing, you are very good, and I like you."
"Your Majesty's grace is so great that I am overwhelmed."
"Okay, step back."
Xu Qing thanked the emperor according to the procedure, and under the guidance of the eunuch, he left the West Garden and went to Feng Mansion without looking back.
I am a fisherman and a fisherman.
Even though the lucky little dragon had no danger warning, he still felt uncomfortable in front of the emperor.
"When can I swallow a golden pill? My life is in my own hands." Xu Qing saw the emperor's majesty and looked at his own short life in the bronze mirror.
For a moment, I felt a little disappointed, but then I cheered up again.
One day, he will not be afraid of the clouds blocking his view, because he is at the highest level.
...
...
"Gongming, how was it meeting His Majesty?" Feng Xifeng saw his son-in-law coming back and couldn't help but be curious about how his son-in-law had communicated with the emperor today.
Xu Qing smiled slightly: "The person I met today is not His Majesty, but Cui Jigui."
Feng Xifeng was well-informed and immediately realized that his son-in-law was talking about the allusion of "the writer at the bedside" in A New Account of Tales of the World.
The original text is that Emperor Wu of Wei was about to receive the Xiongnu envoys. He thought that he was ugly and not strong enough to intimidate the distant countries, so he asked Cui Jigui to receive the envoys on his behalf, and he himself stood beside Cui Jigui's couch holding a knife as an attendant. After the reception, Emperor Wu of Wei ordered the spy to ask the Xiongnu envoys: "What do you think of the King of Wei?" The Xiongnu envoys replied: "The King of Wei is elegant and noble, and has a graceful appearance, but the man holding a knife beside the couch is the real hero."
Although Xu Qing saw through the situation, he did not show it at all when he met the old emperor.
It was not until he met his father-in-law that he told the truth. Feng Xifeng: "What does your majesty mean?"
Xu Qing sighed, "The so-called Jiangshan is just a name for Jiangshan, not a real Jiangshan. The so-called Your Majesty is just a name for Your Majesty, not a real Your Majesty. I think Your Majesty is determined to live forever, so please don't mess with him in this matter."
He could guess the emperor's intention to some extent.
Longevity is its true nature.
Therefore, the person who played the emperor was the Taoist master Chaotian Temple.
He met Xu Qing in his true self.
Xu Qing returned to the emperor as his true self.
The emperor asked about immortality, and Xu Qing replied with the empire. This is an immortal achievement and the real immortality.
He reminded the emperor what true immortality was.
The emperor obviously did not want to make any comment.
Without an emperor, there would be no country.
The emperor is a prime minister in name.
Xu Qing's filter for the old emperor was shattered. He was a short-lived genius cultivator, but he was not so obsessed with seeking immortality. How could you, an old fellow with trash spiritual roots, no, it's hard to say whether you have spiritual roots, still dream of immortality?
If Dayu doesn’t finish this, who will?
Of course, I couldn't tell my father-in-law what was in my heart.
...
...
In the Wanshou Palace.
The Taoist priest in black robe was the emperor, who had also changed back into the emperor's attire. In front of him was the abbot of Chaotian Temple, who had changed back into Taoist attire and was extremely fearful and terrified.
"Imperial Master, what do you think of Xu Qing?" asked the old emperor.
"Your Majesty, Xu Qing has the secret of immortality and alchemy, but he has not handed it over. I ask that Xu Qing be punished for deceiving the king."
"Oh, I heard that Xu Qing and the Imperial Master are related. The crime of deceiving the emperor can be punished together. Do I want to punish the Imperial Master as well?"
"minister……"
The old emperor smiled and said, "What crime has Xu Qing committed? Everything he said and did was for my sake. He is a true gentleman and Confucian scholar. I have said that I like people like him. Unfortunately, I am old, so there are some things that I cannot do as he says in time."
When he was young, he always wanted to revive Dayu.
Only at this age do I realize that no matter how immortal an achievement is, it is nothing in the face of aging.
He's alive, and all this makes sense.
When he dies, all this will disappear.
Xu Qing is still a young man after all, and he has a long way to go. Only then can he have the whole world in his heart.
But he was at his wit's end and his heart was filled with only himself.
However, governing the world well is also a way to prolong his life, and the goals of both parties are temporarily the same.
"Your Majesty is extremely magnanimous..." the master of Chaotian Temple praised.
The old emperor waved his hand and said to the eunuch beside him: "Chen Zhong, if the matter between Xu Qing and I discussed today gets out, there is no need to investigate."
"Your Majesty, this is not a good idea." Eunuch Chen Zhong was shocked.
He was a figure who rose to power through palace struggles, so how could he not understand what the old emperor meant.
The old emperor is using his own reputation as a stepping stone for Xu Qing. He is trying to help Xu Qing become a saint in this world.
How could Xu Qing deserve such a great sacrifice from the old emperor?
Simply incredible.
“Tao can be spoken of, but it is not the constant Tao; name can be named, but it is not the constant name…” The old emperor spoke in a leisurely tone as he sat on a bright yellow cushion. The curtains gradually closed, and he seemed to be wandering in the void like the portraits of the Three Pure Ones in the front hall.
The abbot of Chaotian Temple tiptoed slowly and lightly out of the hall.
His evaluation of Xu Qing in his heart was higher than before.
This kid went to Beijing to take the imperial examination, and passed the most difficult part of the test in the blink of an eye.
With the passing of the examination today, no one in the capital can touch Xu Qing, at least until His Majesty changes his mind.
But when you think about it carefully, Xu Qing didn't have any tricks today, just one word: honesty.
Because what Xu Qing said and did can be described as unity of knowledge and action.
If the old emperor wanted to take away Xu Qing's wealth and property, Chaotian Temple Master believed that Xu Qing would definitely hand it over without hesitation. The problem was that this was impossible.
Because who else could make money better than Xu Qing?
Even if Xu Qing was handed over, he would have to be invited back soon.
By then, wouldn't it be the emperor's face that would be lost?
Among the civil and military nobles and many insects in the court, even though Xu Qing looked ordinary, he was the most handsome one in the eyes of the old emperor.
If anything like what happened today happened to any young man with blood in his veins, he would probably speak out against the emperor and say that he would rather ask the gods and ghosts than the people.
This was exactly what Xu Qing meant, but every word he said was filled with incomparable sincerity.
He didn't contradict the old emperor at all.
Moreover, as long as the king follows what Xu Qing said, even if the country is not peaceful, at least the country's decline will be stopped.
This is simply unspeakable loyalty.
How could a traitor give such honest advice to Your Majesty?
Moreover, the way of answering was also very acceptable. It was not like those people who sought fame by asking for a beating in court or making direct criticisms against the emperor.
"Jian is in the emperor's heart like no one else." The master of Chaotian Temple asked himself. He had followed the emperor for many years, but he had never understood the emperor's mind as thoroughly as Xu Qing.
Because Xu Qing used the "Tao" of utmost sincerity.
...
...
Yanyue Hall.
Since the emperor did not intend to conceal Xu Qing's memorial today, the prime minister would naturally be the first to receive the news.
Of course, the Prime Minister was extremely curious about the dialogue between Xu Qing and the Emperor.
He immediately looked through the records.
After reading it, the Prime Minister was stunned and speechless.
He asked himself if he knew the emperor well enough, and when he saw Xu Qing's brilliant answers, he felt a sense of "I am getting old".
"This memorial contains the true feelings and principles of "The Memorial to the Emperor on Leaving the Capital" and "The Memorial to the Emperor on Petitioning His Majesty". It is so true, so true..." the Prime Minister was deeply moved.
An idea even occurred to him.
What a blessing it is to have Xu Qing in the world.
If Your Majesty, after ten thousand years, it is Xu Qing who rules the world, then...
An idea was actually jumping up and down in the Prime Minister's mind.
He couldn't help but think of a top-secret record from the palace that he had obtained not long ago.
"The late emperor often enjoyed himself among the common people. A commoner girl received his favor and gave birth to a son. Later, he disappeared without a trace. It is suspected that the son was adopted by Xu Shi of Jiangning..."
That was something that happened decades ago, and his age naturally doesn't match Xu Qing's, but it does match Xu Qing's biological father.
The reason why the Xu family was exterminated.
The Prime Minister was not sure who was responsible for the extermination of the Xu family, and he was not sure whether the news was true or false.
But a devilish thought popped up in his mind.
"Your Majesty does not look like a monarch. If Your Majesty lives for a thousand years, the Prime Minister's plan for the world today will surely be in vain." He remembered the advice his confidant Cheng Guang had given him in private.
The evil thoughts in the Prime Minister's heart became stronger and stronger.
However, he still suppressed his evil thoughts.
"If Xu Qing concentrates on cultivation, he can be the reincarnation of Chongyang Zhenren. But the sincerity of his aspirations cannot be surpassed by Yan Hui and Zengzi," the Prime Minister made his judgment.
No matter how he looked at it now, Xu Qing met the standards of an ancient sage king or saint.
Zhou Gong was afraid of rumors, and Wang Mang remained courteous.
Even though Xu Qing is like this after all.
But now, it has indeed won the hearts of the people.
Although Xu Qing did a lot of reforms and offended many people, he not only won the hearts of the people, but also gradually won the hearts of many wealthy and powerful people.
Although it sounds ridiculous, it is true.
The Prime Minister was very clear that there was a force surrounding Xu Qing. Although this force was loose for the time being, it was becoming increasingly tight and cohesive.
Because when it comes to distributing the benefits of the reform, no one did a better job than Xu Qing.
More and more people are being won over by Xu Qing.
...
...
"If Xu Zi had not been born, the world would have been dark forever!"
At the Fushe Society in the capital, Yan Shan slammed the table and said to all the members.
He is going to charge into battle for his seat and seize the public opinion front!
(End of this chapter)