Chapter 207 Don’t ask the common people, ask ghosts and gods
Soon, it was time to meet the saint.
Xu Qing was picked up by two Taoist boys sent by Chaotian Temple in advance and sent to Zichen Hall in Xiyuan. He put down all his valuables such as the Qiankun Bag in advance and gave them to his father-in-law for safekeeping.
It can be said that except for the Jieyuan waist badge that proves his identity, he is really alone.
After being "purified" in the Zichen Hall, the Taoist led the way to the Yannian Gate. After being searched by the guards, they entered the palace gate. The murals on the palace wall next to it were pictures of nine dragons pulling a chariot and the Emperor of Heaven making a patrol.
Carved dragons and painted buildings are nothing more than that.
Ordinary people would naturally be shocked by the magnificence of the Emperor's Imperial Residence.
Xu Qing felt nothing at all.
In the previous life, let alone the mural of Kowloon pulling a cart, it was easy to just use a drone to create a void projection of a flying dragon in the sky.
In front of you is a huge courtyard, with sika deer and cranes strolling leisurely.
The wonderland imagined by ordinary people is nothing more than this.
Continuing forward, there is a cobblestone-paved path. At the intersection, there is a Tai Chi pattern composed of cobblestones. The arrangement is mysterious and has an indescribable Taoist charm.
There are three forked roads in front of you, one leads to the flower garden, one leads to the medicine garden, and a path in the middle leads to the Longevity Palace, the residence of the old emperor.
After another interrogation by the guards, Xu Qing entered the front hall and waited.
There are portraits of the Taoist ancestors of the Sanqing Dynasty hanging in the hall, and there is an altar for worship below. Opposite the altar is a three-legged bronze incense burner. The Taoist patterns on it are profound and complex, and the sandalwood incense bursts, making Xu Qing's soul almost fall into confusion.
He knows that this place is the most heavily guarded place in the world, and it is also the place where the soul is suppressed the most. There is no soul running, and the blood and energy flow slowly like lead and mercury, and the still water runs deep.
He scanned the hall with his peripheral vision and saw no dragon chair, only a round white jade couch with Bagua purple gold bricks carefully refined by Taoists inlaid underneath.
Gu Laodao of Fang Xiandao once said that this Bagua Purple Gold Brick has the effect of warding off evil spirits and concentrating the mind. Even with his cultivation level, he can only refine a few bricks 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 was not just a typical poor student.
With so many fancy treasures, I wonder if the spiritual soul practice has reached the level of manifestation.
It's impossible for anyone to have such poor qualifications.
This is like spending hundreds of millions of krypton gold in a game, only to end up not only not reaching the full level, but also being several levels away from reaching the full level.
No, really not...
His eyes fell on the calligraphy and painting on the east wall again. This was the calligraphy of Emperor Wanshou.
"I have three treasures, which I hold on to and protect; the first is compassion, the second is frugality, and the third is not daring to be the first in the world."
This is what the Tao Te Ching says.
Xu Qing didn't have any evaluation in his heart. It didn't matter what he said. The key was to see what he did.
Entering the main hall and looking at everything was just a matter of a moment for Xu Qing.
He then waited calmly.
Not long after, a eunuch came out and said, "Xu Jieyuan is from Nanzhili, right? Come with our family to see the saint."
Under the guidance of the eunuch, Xu Qing walked through the corridor of the hall and arrived at the back hall where the old emperor practiced daily. The hall was covered by heavy gauze curtains.
"Your Majesty, that Xu Qing is here." The eunuch who led the way whispered.
In the palace of this dynasty, the eunuchs call the emperor long live the emperor and the prince, and the prince calls the prince a young man and a thousand years old. As for the title Long Live Lord, there is no such thing.
As for the subjects who respect him in private, they are called "Taoist priests". If they don't respect him, they are free to express themselves.
On the other hand, this is not a formal court meeting. Before the old emperor appears, there is naturally no exclusive sound of emperor's rituals and music, but a long and sweet sound of jade chimes.
Seeing that Xu Qing was in a daze, the eunuch reminded: "Your Majesty has agreed to see you, why don't you do it quickly?"
Xu Qing immediately performed the ritual honestly.
Not long after, the thick curtain opened several layers, vaguely revealing the figure of the old emperor inside, wearing the emperor's regular clothes, and guarded by a Taoist priest wearing a black robe next to him.
Judging from his age, he looks like the master of Chaotian Guanzhu.
But now Xu Qing did not deliberately release his soul or focus on testing anything, but followed the etiquette of a courtier.
Once it comes, make peace with it.
The lucky little dragon has no warning of danger.
He was still very at ease in his heart.
"Ping Shen." The old emperor's voice seemed far away, as if it came from the nine heavens, and was unpredictable.
Xu Qing immediately stood up and was meticulous in etiquette.
"I heard that you are not yet eighteen years old this year?"
"Reporting to your majesty, we have to celebrate the New Year and will not turn eighteen until the fifteenth day of the first lunar month." Xu Qing replied.
The year has turned, and he doesn't have much time left before the end of the bronze mirror's evaluation life.
His time is very tight, but he has already made a preset in his heart, so as long as he tries his best to face it, he has nothing to regret.
If that day comes soon and there is no solution, Xu Qing can only take away those people who he feels are a threat to his death one by one.
"Being less than eighteen years old, you are a martial arts master, and your soul has been cultivated to the realm of possession. Do you have any unique secrets of cultivation?"
Facing the old emperor's question, Xu Qing couldn't help but have a ridiculous idea in his heart, "Don't ask the people, ask the ghosts and gods."
Sure enough, it has to be you.
As soon as these words came out, it showed that the old emperor had a clear grasp of his information.
"A saint does nothing, teaches without teaching, and achieves success without living. This is the secret of my practice."
"Inaction? You have done so many great things, why do you say inaction?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, do nothing and do everything."
"Since it is a teaching without words, and success is not lived, if I want you to hand over the wealth and property in your hands, will you be willing?"
"The whole world is not the king's land, and the shores of the land are not the king's ministers. These things do not belong to me, but are managed by me on behalf of your majesty. If your majesty wants to be managed by someone else, I should obey the order." Xu Qing responded frankly. The emperor is upright in person and upright in words...
clang!
The old emperor rang the jade chime again, and the curtains were completely opened, revealing the emperor's true face. Xu Qing lowered his head and lowered his eyes, not trying to look at the old emperor.
"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 food I give to your majesty every year, let the newcomers pay according to this amount every year... But I have something I don't know whether to say or not. ." Xu Qing stopped talking.
The old emperor: "In front of me, there is no need to avoid anything. If you have something to say, speak out. No matter what you say, I will forgive you."
Xu Qing knew that it was enough to listen to these words. All the death-free gold medals issued by the Emperor of Yu Dynasty became life-saving talismans. Just like that, can he still trust the old emperor?
He said sternly: "If your Majesty continues to hand it over to me, the amount I will hand over next year will be twice as much as this year."
"Seriously?"
"There is no joke in front of the king, and the minister dare not deceive the king."
"I heard that you brought a Taoist priest from Fang Xiandao to the capital this time. Can he make elixirs?"
"Yes, but in my opinion, Gu Daozhang's alchemy level is not as good as Zhang Zhenren of Longhu Mountain, nor as good as Abbot Xiongchan of the Great Zen Temple... I invite Daozhang Gu to come to the capital to take advantage of the power of the Ministry of Works. , improve the firearms of this dynasty and the tools and mechanisms needed for many workshops..."
Xu Qing then started talking, talking about the power of firearms, improving textile tools, etc... and so on, involving military and people's livelihood.
He also specifically mentioned how important these things can be in the military and people's livelihood.
He saw a historian recording daily notes nearby.
Although this duel was of a personal nature, it was essentially a solemn duel between the monarch and his ministers.
Even if dynasties change, there is a high chance that it will be passed on to future generations and be seen by future generations of rulers.
Xu Qing also made a point of speaking very straightforwardly and concisely.
Whether the emperor can listen or not is his business.
Whether Xu Qing talks about it or not is his own business.
Moreover, expressing his attitude and position will also help him establish his character.
The emperor asked about ghosts and gods, and Xu Qing talked about the common people in the world.
This can't find any fault with Xu Qing.
"Okay, you can talk to the chief minister about these things. I leave the world's major affairs to the chief minister, and to you ministers, just to ask you to be so attentive. Xu Qing, you are very good, I like you. ”
"Your Majesty's grace is so great that I am terrified."
"Okay, step back."
Xu Qing thanked him according to the procedure, and with the eunuch leading the way, he left Xiyuan and headed for Feng Mansion without looking back.
I am a fisherman and a fisherman.
Even though there was no danger warning for the luck dragon, it still felt uncomfortable to be in front of the emperor.
"When will I be able to swallow a golden elixir? My fate is up to me." Xu Qing saw the majesty of the emperor, and then looked at his short life span in the bronze mirror.
For a moment, I felt a little confused, but then I cheered up again.
One day, he will not be afraid of the floating clouds covering his eyes, just because he is at the top.
…
…
"Gongming, how did you feel about meeting your Majesty?" When Feng Xifeng saw his son-in-law coming back, he couldn't help but wonder how his son-in-law responded to the emperor today.
Xu Qing smiled slightly: "I am not meeting your Majesty today, but Cui Jigui."
Feng Xifeng was well-read and knew immediately that what his son-in-law was talking about was an allusion to the popular saying "The Man Who Catches a Knife on the Bedside".
The original text is that Emperor Wu of Wei was about to receive the Xiongnu envoys. He thought that his appearance was not enough to deter distant countries, so he asked Cui Jigui to receive them on his behalf. He himself held a sword and stood beside Cui Jigui's couch as an attendant. After the reception, Wei Wu ordered spies to ask the Hun envoy: "How is King Wei?" The Hun envoy replied: "The King of Wei is elegant and noble, and his appearance is elegant, but the man sitting next to the couch holding the sword is the real hero."< br>
Although Xu Qing saw through the joint, he didn't show it at all when he met the old emperor.
It wasn't until I met my old father-in-law that I told the truth. Feng Xifeng: "Your Majesty, what do you mean?"
Xu Qing sighed: "The so-called country is the name of the country, not the actual country. The so-called majesty is the name of the majesty, not the actual king. I believe that your majesty has a strong heart for immortality. Sir, please do not touch it in this matter. Bad luck.”
He could somewhat guess the emperor's intentions.
Immortality is its true nature.
Therefore, the person who plays the role of emperor is the master of Taoism, Chaotian Guanzhu.
He met Xu Qing as he was.
Xu Qing returned to the emperor with his true self.
The emperor asked about immortality, and Xu Qing replied with the world. This is the achievement of immortality and the real immortality.
He reminded the emperor what true immortality meant.
The emperor's intention was obviously non-committal.
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Without an emperor, there would be no country.
The emperor is also named Prime Minister.
Xu Qing's filter on the old emperor was shattered on the floor. He is a short-lived genius cultivator, but he is not that persistent in seeking immortality. You are a cultivator with garbage spiritual roots. No, you have an old guy who can't tell whether you have spiritual roots, but you still dream of immortality?
Who will finish this great disaster?
Naturally, I couldn't talk to my old father-in-law about these things in my heart.
…
…
In the Longevity Palace.
The black-robed Taoist priest was the emperor, and he had also changed into the emperor's attire. In front of him was the frightened Master Chaotian, who had changed into Taoist priest attire.
"Master, what do you think of Xu Qing?" the old emperor asked.
"Your Majesty, Xu Qing has the art of immortality and the secret of elixir refining, but he has not handed it over. Please punish Xu Qing for deceiving the emperor."
"Oh, I heard that Xu Qing and the Imperial Preceptor are related, and the crime of deceiving the emperor can be implicated. Do I want to punish the Imperial Preceptor as well?"
"Chen..."
The old emperor smiled and said: "What crime does Xu Qing have? What he says and does is all for the sake of my world. He is a true gentleman and Confucian. I said that I just like him like this. What a pity. I’m old, so there are some things I don’t have time to do as he says.”
When he was young, he didn't want to revive Dayu.
Only when you reach this age do you understand that any immortal achievements are not worth mentioning in the face of aging.
He's alive, so it all makes sense.
When he dies, all this will disappear.
After all, Xu Qing is a young man, and he has a long time to come, so he can pretend to be the best in the world.
However, he was getting poor at the end of the day, and he could only pretend to be himself.
However, governing the world well is also a way to extend his life. The goals of both parties are temporarily the same.
"Your Majesty is extremely generous..." the leader of Chaotian Temple praised.
The old emperor waved his hand and said to the eunuch beside him: "Chen Zhong, if the matter that Xu Qing and I discussed today is spread, there is no need to pursue it."
"Your Majesty, this is not good." Eunuch Chen Zhong looked shocked.
He was a figure who rose to power in the palace, so why didn't he understand what the old emperor meant.
This is the old emperor using his reputation as a stepping stone for Xu Qing. This is to help Xu Qing become a saint in this world.
Xu Qing was so virtuous that he actually asked the old emperor to make such a big sacrifice for him.
It's incredible.
"Tao, it can be said, but it is not the eternal way; name, it can be named, but it is not the eternal name..." The old emperor said in a leisurely tone, sitting on the bright yellow futon, the curtains gradually closed, as if like the portrait of the Sanqing Taoist ancestor in the front hall, he had wandered into Taixu. .
The leader of Chaotian Temple slowly exited the hall with gentle steps.
His evaluation of Xu Qing was higher than before.
This kid came to Beijing to take the exam, and the most difficult exam passed by him in the blink of an eye.
With the passing of the exam today, at least until His Majesty changes his mind, no one can touch Xu Qing in the capital.
But thinking about it carefully, Xu Qing had no tricks at all today, only sincerity.
Because what Xu Qing said and did can be said to be the unity of knowledge and action.
If the old emperor wants to take away Xu Qing's wealth and industry, Chaotian Guanzhu believes that Xu Qing will definitely hand it over without hesitation. The problem is that there's no way this is going to happen.
Because who else could be better at making money than Xu Qing?
Even if Xu Qing hands him over, he will have to get him back soon.
When the time comes, won’t the emperor’s face be lost?
In the presence of the civil and military nobles of the dynasty and many insects, Xu Qing was the most handsome one in the eyes of the old emperor, even if he looked ordinary.
What happened today, if it were any young man with blood, would probably be wronged by Yan Zhijian, saying that he should not ask the people but the ghosts and gods.
This is exactly what Xu Qing said, but every word 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, not to mention the great rule of the world, at least the country will not be in decline.
This is simply unspeakable loyalty.
How could a rebellious traitor have such loyal advice to His Majesty?
And the way of answering is also very acceptable. It is not the kind of person who asks for a royal stick or makes a direct remonstrance.
"Jian is in the emperor's heart, no one can compare with it." Master Chaotian asked himself. He had followed the emperor for many years, and he had never grasped the emperor's thoughts as thoroughly as Xu Qing.
Because Xu Qing uses the "Tao" of sincerity.
…
…
Yanyue Hall.
Since the emperor did not intend to conceal Xu Qing's performance today, the chief assistant was naturally the first to receive the news.
Of course, the first assistant was extremely curious about the duel between Xu Qing and the emperor.
He immediately flipped through the records.
After reading it, Shoufu was stunned and speechless.
He asked himself that he knew the emperor well enough, and when he saw Xu Qing's wonderful answers, he felt like "I am old."
"This memorial has the true feelings and principles of being an example of a teacher and expressing feelings. It's sincere, it's sincere..." The first assistant was filled with emotion.
He even had an idea in his mind.
What a blessing it is to have Xu Qing in the world.
If your Majesty, after ten thousand years, Xu Qing is in charge of the world, then...
There was an idea bouncing around in the chief assistant's heart.
He couldn't help but think of a top-secret record in the palace that he had obtained not long ago.
"The late emperor often played among the people, and a commoner's daughter benefited from his kindness and gave birth to a son. However, he disappeared and was suspected to have been adopted by the Xu family in Jiangning..."
That was a few decades ago, and naturally he was not the same age as Xu Qing, but he was the same age as Xu Qing's biological father.
The reason why the Xu family was destroyed.
The chief assistant was not sure who was responsible for the Xu family's extermination, and he was not sure whether the news was true or false.
But a devilish thought came into his mind.
"The Jade Prince is not like a human king. If your Majesty lasts ten thousand years, the chief minister's plan for the world today will be in vain." He remembered what his confidant Cheng Guang had said to him in private.
The demonic thoughts in the chief assistant's heart became more and more intense.
However, he still suppressed his demonic thoughts.
"Xu Qing, if he concentrates on his practice, he can be regarded as the reincarnation of the Chongyang Master. But his ambition is sincere. Although he has returned to Zengzi, why should he be more sincere?" The first assistant made a judgment.
From every aspect he looked at now, Xu Qing met the standards of the ancient holy king and saint.
Duke Zhou was afraid of the day of rumors, but Wang Mang was humble and did not usurp the time.
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 reform and offended many people, in addition to the people's support, he also gradually won the hearts of many wealthy gentry.
Although it sounds ridiculous, it is also true.
The chief assistant is very clear that Xu Qing is now surrounded by a force. Although this force is temporarily loose, it is becoming closer and more cohesive.
Because no one did better than Xu Qing in distributing the benefits of the reform.
More and more people are being attracted by Xu Qing.
…
…
"If heaven does not give birth to Xu Zi, eternity will be like a long night!"
The capital city resumed its operations, and Yan Shan patted the case and said to all the members.
He is going to charge into the battle for his seat and capture the position of public opinion!
(End of chapter)