The morning light shone on the street, and merchants and pawns were walking among the carriages and horses. An old man carrying a stack of candied haws sat on the stone steps outside the tea shop and shouted at the top of his voice:
"Tanghulu——"
Ye Jingtang, with a sword hanging on his waist, led the black horse and stopped outside the tea shop. He turned his head and looked at the pile of red candied haws, and a few words suddenly appeared in his ears:
"Jingtang, do you want to eat?"
"Only children eat this kind of thing."
"You are only six years old. Do you think you are not a child if you don't wear crotchless pants?"
"Um."
"Huh! You guys don't have a wife. You are a child at the age of sixty. When you can get a wife back, you can pretend to be an adult...here..."
…
Time flies, and it has been twelve years.
I remember that I was sitting on the horse. The foster father in front of me was also holding the horse like this, with an identical knife hanging on his waist.
Now I can be considered an adult, but I have also walked in front of the horse. I occasionally recall the words I said in the past, and I can't help but feel a little regretful that things are different.
Ye Jingtang looked back at the empty horseback and secretly wondered when he would take Nuxia Luo back to Honghe Town to burn some paper money.
As I suppressed my thoughts along the street, a sound of wheels came from the street entrance. When I looked up, I saw a luxurious carriage approaching.
The black police officer quickly opened the way ahead, opened the car window, and revealed a heroic woman's face, staring at him from a distance. Next to her, there was a big white bird, tilting its head and leaning out from the corner of the window:
"Ji~"
Ye Jingtang came back to his senses, walked outside the carriage, raised his hand and saluted:
"Your Highness, I fought until midnight yesterday and got up late this morning..."
Night Terror Hall didn't get up late, but didn't sleep at all. After helping Luo Nuxia suppress the medicine, Luo Nuxia stopped moving immediately. He had to fetch water into the house and help Luo Nuxia take a bath.
Luo Nuxia was so embarrassed and angry that she was too lazy to move. She would hide here and there when her key parts were touched. Finally, she was carried back to the bed with a nice fragrance after washing. She had to wash the sheets and quilt cover again. She woke up before Yunli was finished, and her breakfast was covered with clouds.
Li helped with the cooking. He would definitely be late if he came here in the morning.
Fortunately, Dongfang Liren knew who Ye Jingtang was doing last night and did not blame Ye Jingtang for waiting for a long time.
Dongfang Liren sat upright in the carriage, with a strange look in his eyes, and thought for a while and said:
"We asked She Long and others to chase someone yesterday, but they lost him in the end and failed to catch the murderer. You and Niao Niao were left busy all day in vain..."
Ye Jingtang got on his horse like a guard and walked beside the car window:
"We captured a prisoner yesterday. Did we find out anything?"
"He's just a wanderer who takes money to do things. He doesn't know anything. The person who can invite Xu Bailin is definitely not a small force. There is definitely something behind this matter. I don't have a clue now."
Dongfang Liren said this and looked at the Night Terror Hall:
"Ye Shen arrested, is there any way you can continue to investigate?"
Although the Night Terror Hall cannot be called the "Magic Catcher", it does have a method - the Traveling Palm is Zhang Henggu's unique move of Nanshan Tie Gua. Since the murderer knows it, there is a high probability that Zhang Henggu himself knows some of the origins, so he asked directly
That’s it.
But this method is based on his powerful network of "hugging two thighs of black and white silk at the same time". If he says it, he will capsize on the spot.
Ye Jingtang thought about it for a while and just said: "I will find a way to let Honghua House investigate. Honghua House is a powerful force in the world and should have more connections."
Dongfang Liren nodded slightly, with approval in his eyes:
"I really didn't see it before. You are so good at doing things. You will continue to work hard in the future. I will give you clear rewards and punishments. As long as you have enough merit, there is nothing in the world that I cannot reward you..."
Speaking of this, Dongfang Liren remembered what Mrs. Wang said about Miss Ning'er being unable to bear it, and asked:
"The last time I entered the palace, I asked you to look for someone who caught your eye. Do you have a favorite? You are also a person of status now. You can't just leave all the washing and cooking to the person you like. I reward you with a few maids, just like yesterday.
The reward for doing something.”
When Ye Jingtang heard this, the only girl Yuhu he knew flashed through his mind, but he had no intention of messing with two maids:
"Your Majesty, don't be ridiculous. I am a Jianghu person. I am used to being free. If I really have two maids in my house, I have to worry twice."
"snort……"
…
While the two were chatting, the carriage drove through the bustling streets near Mingyu Tower and arrived at the Suzaku Gate in front of the imperial city.
Dongfang Liren is a prince. As the doting sister of the current empress, few people dare to say anything when entering the imperial city through the royal road. However, Dongfang Liren is not so arrogant because of his favor. He only walks in and out of courtiers.
city gate.
Ye Jingtang followed Dongfang Liren into the palace city and went directly to Yongle Palace, which he had never set foot in before.
Yongle Palace is the residence of the Emperor, and the density of people in the palace is much higher than in other places. You can meet several palace ladies going back and forth within a few steps, and you can still hear the sound of silk and bamboo deep in the palace.
Ye Jingtang knew that this place was the palace of the empress and it was not easy to look at it casually. After walking for a while, he asked:
"Your Highness, will you take me to see the saint?"
Dongfang Liren felt as if he were returning to his own home, strolling in the courtyard with a graceful manner, and led Ye Jingtang to the back of Changle Palace:
"At this time, the Holy One is in the imperial study room reviewing the papers and has no time to see you. Do you want to meet the Holy One?"
Ye Jingtang must be curious about the female emperor who ruled the entire Wei Dynasty, but he still knew that accompanying an emperor is like accompanying a tiger. The empress was a tigress, and she accidentally played herself as the 'Ye Guifei'. He could not help but feel aggrieved for half his life, shaking his head.
road:
"I am just a commoner and have no way to govern the country. How dare I disturb the emperor easily? Where are we going?"
"Go to the Holy Sage's palace."
"?"
Ye Jingtang blinked, feeling that Benben was not here to ask him to serve the empress, so he didn't say much.
The two walked forward for a long time, bypassing the verandah on the side of the main hall, and arrived at the lakeside behind Cheng'an Hall, where they retreated to the left and right attendants.
The lake is artificially dug and is circular in shape. It is surrounded by white jade guardrails and in the center is a waterside pavilion built on a stone platform. There are lotus leaf-like stones on the lake surface, arranged gracefully leading to the waterside pavilion. The scenery is extremely elegant.
It looks like an ink painting.
The waterside building seems to be not too old, but the white stone foundation underneath has turned yellow and has some signs of damage. It is unknown how many years it has gone through.
Ye Jingtang stopped by the lake, looked at it for a while, and asked:
"What is this place?"
Dongfangliren was like a tour guide, carefully introducing:
"Ming Longtan, it is said that more than a thousand years ago, the founding emperor of the Wu Dynasty ascended and rode a dragon on the platform. This pool is located in the middle of the imperial city. According to Xuanji, it is between the eyebrows of the 'Dragon Vein', which connects the four seas.
Feng shui gathers the destiny of a country. If he is not the destined emperor, he will not be able to control this precious land. If he lives here without authorization, he will be punished by heaven."
Ye Jingtang clasped his hands behind his back and nodded slightly:
"real or fake?"
Dongfang Liren blinked: "I have never believed in these claims about strange powers and chaotic gods, but the Dragon Screaming Picture is indeed an object of strange powers and chaotic gods. Master Xuanji said that this place is suitable for Taoist monks to practice cultivation, and I often stay here when I come to the capital.
The king also thinks that the feng shui of this place is good, and practicing the Dragon Crying Technique will get twice the result with half the effort. God’s punishment and the like have never come true.”
Ye Jingtang nodded thoughtfully: "Your Highness and Master Xuanji are both girls, so it will be fine if they go in. Has a man other than an emperor ever gone in?"
Dongfang Liren thought about it carefully: "This is the palace of emperors in the past. Most of the men who were able to live here but were not emperors in history were rebel leaders and traitors who revolted the country. Those who survived must have become emperors. I estimate that they are the true emperors."
This is where the legend comes from.”
Night Terror Hall understands the meaning - survivor bias.
Dongfang Liren tapped his toes, and after a few ups and downs on the blue waves, he arrived at the waterside pavilion in the center of the lake. He turned around and saw that Ye Jingtang was motionless, frowning and saying:
"Is it possible that you are still frightened by these rumors about ghosts and gods?"
It's not that Ye Jingtang is worried about divine punishment, but even if he is not superstitious, the Empress is not sure. What if he rushes in to this forbidden place that is 'not allowed to enter except by the destined emperor'? What should he do if he is jealous of the Empress?
Dongfang Liren could naturally see what Ye Jingtang was worried about and waved:
"No one sees it, just come here."
No one saw it?!
Ye Jingtang felt that compared to the Minglong Picture, the head was more important, and he raised his hand slightly:
"Your Highness, although I am a Jianghu person, I still understand what 'transgression' means. This place..."
Dongfang Liren was a little helpless: "I said it's okay if it's okay. I've already said hello to the Holy One."
"The Holy One agreed?"
"If you don't agree, I dare to take you here?"
Seeing this, Ye Jingtang breathed a sigh of relief, turned over the guardrail, and walked only a few steps to reach the outside of the waterside pavilion.
Step~
Stepping on the stone platform with both feet, far away from the lake shore, the world became quiet.
Ye Jingtang looked up at the sky, probably to determine if there was any strange phenomenon of the sky and earth changing color.
Dongfang Liren was a little funny when he saw this, turned around and walked into the waterside pavilion:
"come in."
The waterside pavilion is quite large, with an open room inside. There are oil bookshelves, weapon racks, and many calligraphy and paintings hanging around it. In the center are two futons, embroidered with dragon and phoenix patterns. It seems to be the exclusive place for the Empress and Prince Jing.
.
Dongfang Liren walked around the waterside pavilion, came to the bookshelf and disappeared for a moment. When he came out again, he had a box in his hand.
The box is made of sapphire and is about the size of a book. Judging from the size, it most likely contains a picture of a singing dragon.
Dongfang Liren took the jade box and walked to the center of the waterside pavilion and sat down on the futon:
"sit down."
Ye Jingtang came to the futon and took a look, picked up the little hen squatting on the dragon and phoenix futon, and sat down on the ground directly in front of Dongfang Liren.
Dongfang Liren felt that Ye Jingtang paid too much attention to etiquette, but he didn't say much and slid the jade box away.
Wow——
The golden paper suddenly came into view.
"This is the Jade Bone Diagram. You killed the Blood Bodhi and performed a great service last night. I can show you this thing, but you cannot take it away from this place. If you lose it, you will not be able to explain it to the future monarch."
Ye Jingtang sat upright and took the jade box, without touching it with his hands, and studied it carefully under the sunlight outside the water pavilion.
The size and shape of the gold paper are exactly the same as his dragon and elephant pictures. It feels like two pages torn from a book. The only difference is the content inside.
The picture of the Jade Bone Qilin, the picture is naturally a Qilin, a giant beast holding up the sky with a green body on its back and stepping on the earth with its feet, the texture is extremely delicate.
Ye Jingtang looked at it for a moment and knew it was the genuine article, which made him feel strange.
Although there are deviations in the process and results, now I can still say that I have achieved my plan when I first entered Beijing - to find a way to sneak into the palace and get the Singing Dragon Picture.
Secretly used the method of practicing the 'Dragon Elephant Diagram' to study the Jade Bone Diagram, and found that they have the same origin and the practice methods are exactly the same. It cannot even be said that they are two secret techniques, but the method of the Dragon Elephant Diagram, with several additions.
Path, the two can be combined into one, becoming a method with two effects...
Outside the water pavilion is a lake with clear water. In a large, empty and quiet room, men and women sit opposite each other, and they can only hear the chirping of birds and the chirping of cicadas:
"Got it——"
"It's weird..."
Ye Jingtang held the golden paper in both hands and observed carefully. The black robe made of water cloud brocade, coupled with the serious and thoughtful eyebrows and profile, placed in an environment like ink painting, actually gave off a different kind of out-of-the-world atmosphere.
spirit.
Dongfang Liren sat upright on the futon. His originally heroic eyes were somewhat softer. He didn't know what he was thinking. He just stared at the man's face, in a daze.
Ye Jingtang looked at it for a moment and put down the gold paper:
"This picture is indeed mysterious. It doesn't look like anything ordinary at all. I can only see a few hints of it."
Dongfang Liren nodded slightly: "You have a lot of talent, it shouldn't be difficult to understand. Just practice and try."
Ye Jingtang nodded slightly, closed his eyes and began to practice the Jade Bone Diagram.
But as soon as he closed his eyes, Dongfang Liren looked at the 'little fool' in his eyes, straightened his back and assumed the aura of a queen, and said seriously:
"This is not how you practice the Minglong Diagram. I will teach you to watch carefully and sit cross-legged, with your left leg outside and your right leg inside..."
Dongfang Liren lightly lifted the hem of his python robe, sat cross-legged, placed his hands on his lower abdomen, and raised the skirt of his clothes, causing the already proud fat-headed dragon to turn into a three-dimensional pattern.
The Night Terror Hall practice of the Singing Dragon Figure was completely based on feeling. I didn't pay attention to the posture. I followed the instructions immediately, sitting cross-legged, holding my left hand with my right hand, and closing my eyes.
Dongfang Liren closed his beautiful eyes and commanded unhurriedly:
"Imagine the picture you just saw, and follow your feelings... um... picture sense. Do you have it?"
"have."
"Okay, follow this king's breathing, keep it rhythmic, and enter the Taoist state of concentration... exhale... inhale..."