Chapter 216 Entering the Palace
On the twenty-first day of the first month of the twenty-fourth year of Tianxing.
Today is the day when Gu Xu will enter the palace to meet the saint and receive a title.
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 majestic 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 Yingtianmen, the gate of Zichen Palace.
Gu Xu got off the carriage and saw at a glance the five city gates of different sizes at Yingtianmen.
The middle gate is the tallest, and usually only the emperor's car can pass through; 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 pass through the far right, which is very inconspicuous. Enter the palace through the low door.
"If I remember correctly, the top three practitioners in the 'Luoshui Conference' can leave the palace through the middle door," Gu Xu thought silently in his mind, "I don't know if in my lifetime, Can you experience the feeling of walking through the door?”
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 golden 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 Hall.
It has a load-bearing eaves on the roof of the verandah, 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 ridge.
In front of the temple is an open 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 Palace" 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 is not worthy of using the "Fengtian Hall" and can only be held in the smaller "Guangzheng Hall" behind the Fengtian Hall.
At this time, Gu Xu finally saw a familiar face.
The person came with a white face and no beard, 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 the "Guangzheng Palace".
The palace is resplendent with carved beams and painted pillars.
There is a dome-shaped caisson above 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.
Beside 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.
"Master Gu, please wait here for a moment," the eunuch Cao Tong said again, "Her Royal Highness Princess Zhaoning will be here soon."
After saying this, Cao Tong said I left Guangzheng Palace 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 are as cold as sword rays, he can 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 subjected to more than ten times the gravity in an instant, pulling his spine downward; at the same time, this terrible pressure was also trying to invade his mind and consume his willpower.
This feeling is very similar to the "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.
This pressure did not make him feel intimidated 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, this may also be a test? And Luo Sishou had expected it?
Of course, being in the palace, Gu Xu could not use the "Seven Burning Sky 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 star dome and defend his own conscious world from the invasion of external pressure.
A quarter of an hour later, 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——"
Soon after, a graceful woman accompanied by several guards He stepped down, strode into Guangzheng Hall, and stopped next to the stairs in front of the throne.
Gu Xu has 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 Taoism all over the world, and that she had been keeping the secular affairs of the Qi Dynasty in order with her neat methods 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 Exorcist 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.
I saw her holding a gold book and reading the book in front of Gu Xu:
"Hold high the rank of nobility, wait for the mediocre, and those who can get it will be suitable. Exorcise demons Gu Xu, the head of the department, has a comprehensive education and a talent for seven virtues. His deep planning can avert disaster, and when it comes to righteousness and bravery, he can be likened to lightning... He can be named the son of Jinyang, and given an iron certificate of alchemy and a meter of rice. One hundred stones, one hundred pieces of silk."
"Jin Yangzi..." Gu Xu thought about his new title in his mind.
Ever since the Qingzhou Lu family committed "treason" and was punished 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.
Later, he took over the gold book, seal and certificate from Princess Zhaoning; at the same time, he silently calculated in his heart how much money he could get by selling all the Lumi and silk he got today. How many taels of silver are you here for?
“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.
"Maybe 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?" Do you remember who the last young person with such potential was?"
Princess Zhaoning thought for a while and replied: "She was fifteen years old at that time. But 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 Yamen.
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 receive merit, they can only go outside the city walls.
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 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, gnawed the chicken legs 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", shook it in front of her, and said in a joking tone: "It went well. From today on, I He is the legitimate viscount of the Daqi Dynasty. Miss Shi, you want to call me 'Master Gu'."
Shi Xiaohan burst into laughter.
"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 strong person like him in the ‘True Monarch’ realm, the attraction of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth is far greater. Far more than this little Viscount like me."
"When my father went to Beijing to report on his duties a year ago, he did not see His Majesty," Shi Xiaohan said, "Then, His Majesty has not left seclusion, who is coming today. Who is presiding over your knighting ceremony?”
“Her Royal Highness Princess Zhaoning?” “Is she as fierce as the rumors say?”
"Hmm...it's okay."
"Does she like to bully others with her talent?"
"Not really. We haven't said a few words between us. "
"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 Princess Zhaoning is mentioned, she will frown, with a clearly unhappy look on 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 you had a quarrel in your dream?
Shi Xiaohan was silent for a few seconds before a smile appeared on his face again.
"No matter what, Sir Gu," she said, emphasizing the word "Master", "from today on, we are of the same family."
"My father is also a viscount. Of course. , His title was inherited from his ancestors, and your title was 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 tasted the almond tofu slowly. He thought it tasted very good.
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.
Today is the day Gu Xu, Shangguan Jin and Chu Fengge agreed to enter the "Warming 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 was that Chu Fengge was released from confinement.
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!
…………
Notes:
(1) The text of this volume refers to "The System of Feng Li Guo Zhe Beiping County Prince" and "The System of Granting Wang Haoshuo Fang Jiedushi".
(End of this chapter)