At this time, Shi Huoguang happened to come to the backyard and saw Zhao Shu standing in the courtyard, deep in thought and silent.
"That's right."
Generally speaking, retreat practice cannot be released at any time. Zhao Shu has not yet broken through the illusion, so he should continue to work hard.
"What happened?" Zhao Shu stopped talking when he saw the stone's fire.
"I was thinking, since it's rare that you come back safely and have made great achievements, why not invite the monks from the Huaiying Hall in the capital to celebrate." Shi Huoguang said.
Zhao Shu smiled faintly: "Old Shi, who asked you to say this?"
Shi Huoguang lowered his head with a look of shame on his face, and Zhao Shu continued: "If I'm not wrong, some dignitary asked me to do something. Seeing that I was staying behind closed doors, he came to find you. He knows our friendship well.
I'm afraid they can only be those from the Huaiying Hall."
Zhao Shu's reputation is now booming, and there are countless people who want to follow him. On the way back to the court, the governors of various counties and counties sent gifts to please him. Zhao Shu tried his best to politely decline, but he couldn't stop them from giving gifts to other monks who were traveling with him. So he returned to the court.
After Dongshengdu, the incident was rumored to be that Zhao Shu sent people to collect property along the way and extort bribes.
Nowadays, outside the Hou Mansion, servants from various noble families are watching day and night. Any guest who is allowed to enter the Hou Mansion is regarded as someone who can be clinging to and making friends with. Shi Huoguang is not good at dealing with people, so he is persuaded to come to the house.
, which is also reasonable.
"It's Xin Shunying..." Shi Huoguang hesitated: "She seems to have something to ask you for help."
"I am Mrs. Luo now." Zhao Shu shook his head gently: "But Senior Sister Xin still likes to play tricks. Her car is outside the gate of the Marquis Mansion right now, waiting for you to persuade me."
With Zhao Shu's current cultivation level, he knows everything inside and outside the Hou Mansion. This is not only a subtle reaction, but it also tests the determination of the mind.
"You'd better meet me." Shi Huoguang said.
Zhao Shu couldn't help but ask: "What benefits did she give you?"
Shi Huoguang quickly waved his hands to deny: "Really not! I just, I just can't bear to see you with a sad face. I don't know how to persuade you. Maybe meeting with my former classmates can make me feel better."
"Xiang is born from the heart. I have been facing difficulties in my cultivation recently, and external forces are not enough to explain my feelings." Zhao Shu walked slowly out of the backyard with his hands behind his hands. When he saw Shi Huoguang, who was walking beside him, lowered his head and thought hard, Zhao Shu had no choice but to give in: "
Okay, let’s meet.”
After changing clothes, Zhao Shu went to the living room and saw Xin Shunying. Luo Xixian did not come. Normally, she was a married woman and should not visit her at will.
"Senior Brother Zhao, it's rare to see you..." Xin Shunying was about to stand up and say hello, intending to talk like a fellow student in the library, but when she saw Zhao Miao's hair on the temples was slightly white and he was thin, she couldn't help but lose countenance: "Senior Brother Zhao, how could you become like this?
?”
"I was seriously injured at Jianjia Pass, doesn't Senior Xin know?" Zhao Shu sat down casually, with no hint of intimacy on his face.
Xin Shunying was naturally well prepared before coming to visit. He had long heard about the evil god coming to Jianjia Pass, so his face turned worried: "I have indeed heard about it, but I never imagined that such a situation would happen."
Zhao Shu turned a blind eye to her attitude: "What is the important thing for Senior Sister Xin to come here?"
"We can't talk about important matters." Xin Shunying immediately put on a smile and said: "We heard that you, Junior Brother Zhao, have made such great achievements in Jianjia Pass, and we all hope to have a good get-together with you. My colleagues in the hall should move around more.
Whenever Junior Brother Zhao is free, why not go to the suburbs and hold a gathering together?"
Zhao Shu looked cold and sat there without replying. The hall fell into silence. In order to relieve the embarrassment, Xin Shunying added: "Xin Shunying, you are not an ordinary student now. Every word and deed is a model for future students. Other juniors
The students in Guan Shi admire you very much. If they can see your grace and get a few words of advice from you, I think it will be of great benefit to their future cultivation."
Zhao Ming still didn't answer, so Xin Shunying had to ask: "Junior Zhao, please tell me something, you can't let senior sit alone, right?"
"Senior Sister Xin's eloquence is still the same." Zhao Shu said expressionlessly: "First, he started with Mr. Shi, making it impossible for me to avoid it; then he took out the postgraduate students from Guanshe, and made me shoulder a responsibility out of thin air. He can control people's hearts, come to think of it.
He is the director of the fortune telling division."
Xin Shunying pursed her lips slightly. The reason why she spoke like this was that she had determined that Zhao Shu was not a stone-hearted person. Therefore, old relationships and senior responsibilities were exactly the clever means to trip up Zhao Shu in the past.
But she didn't expect that in just a short period of time, Zhao Shui's temperament would change so much, and he would reveal other people's intentions without any regard for feelings.
"These are not Senior Sister Xin's real intentions." Zhao Miao closed his eyes and rested: "You came to visit in person, presumably because you have something to ask for. Let me guess, Grand Sima hopes to be appointed to Jianjia Pass, but he is suffering from the fact that there is no suitable person to ask for help from the country.
The Lord advises, right?"
Xin Shunying secretly marveled, looked around, and saw no one else, so she had to say: "Xiaojun Zhao knows things like a god, I am indeed here for this matter. Jiangjia Pass is an important border defense town, and it should be entrusted to people who are well versed in military affairs, not incompetent people."
You are a greedy person. Grand Sima learned that Junior Brother Zhao has managed things in a very orderly manner at Jianjia Pass, and he appreciates you very much, and does not want all this hard work to go to waste."
Zhao Shu opened her eyes and looked at Xin Shunying, her eyes as sharp as a sword, which made her feel a sting.
"It's really a good plan." Zhao Shu smiled: "How can a great Sima with a false title be compared to sitting in command of one side and holding a large number of troops? In addition, the Jiuli Kingdom has been newly defeated, the war has eased, and there is no need to face the pressure of a large army. Moreover, there is exchange of trade on the border, and
It’s a way to make money and make profits, Da Sima is so scheming!”
"Xuedi Zhao is serious." Xin Shunying had to say: "A place like Jiangjia Pass involves the survival of the country and has heavy responsibilities on your shoulders. How can you be negligent and indulgent? Great Sima governs the army and uses troops without looking at others. General Wei is the best example. If
How could a great Sima, such as Gao Pinggong, be fatuous and incompetent, and cultivate a general like General Wei who is rigorous in running the army and prudent in doing things?"
Zhao Shu knew very well that if Grand Sima Luo Yi could really take control of Jianjia Pass, the result would indeed be much better than Gao Pinggong.
"Did Senior Sister Xin make a mistake?" Zhao Shu looked tired: "It seems that I have returned to the court in triumph, but in fact I am not reused, otherwise I wouldn't be idle at home every day."
"Junior Zhao is really good at joking." Xin Shunying said: "I don't know how many nobles and servants are waiting outside the gate of the Hou Mansion, just asking to come in and say a word. Is this considered not being reused? Moreover, Junior Zhao claims to be unemployed, but he is
Having a clear grasp of the situation in the imperial court, is this the state of knowing the world without leaving home?"
"No need to compliment." Zhao Mi said honestly: "I can't decide who should sit in Jianjia Pass. You expect me to give advice to the king, but I haven't been summoned. Even if I have thousands of words, I can't explain it.
.”
"Junior Brother Zhao can submit a memorial." Xin Shunying said: "And Junior Brother Zhao already knows that Duke Gao Ping died suddenly a few days ago, and the leader of the country will definitely appoint another general to guard the country. Junior Brother Zhao knows better than others who is suitable to take on this responsibility, even if
If we don’t submit a letter, the king will also summon Brother Zhao to ask about the matter."
"So what if I give advice to the lord of the country?" Zhao Shu didn't care: "The lord of the country has many ideas. If he wants to appoint anyone, how can he only listen to what I say?"
Xin Shunying covered her mouth and said with a smile: "In today's situation, there are thousands of words from others, but how can one word compare to that of Senior Brother Zhao? Senior Brother Zhao really underestimates himself."
Zhao Shu raised his eyes and asked, "Since Senior Sister Xin says I'm heavy, how can you pry my mouth open?"
Xin Shunying was already prepared. She took out a scroll from her sleeve: "This is the "Yanxing Palace Chapter" passed down by our family. It describes how to deduce the changes in the star flow and the arrival and departure of the stars in the sky. In those days, if the official of the Tianxia Dynasty praised Ruo
It is necessary to set up a wide mandala, and also to ask the fortune teller about the energy of heaven and earth, and to avoid good and bad luck, so as to ensure that the rituals are effective and flawless."
When Zhao Shu heard this, he was really moved, but he didn't make any move. He just said: "I'm going to give you a gift based on my family education. Sister Xin, your request is very big."
"If it were anyone else, I would definitely not offer this thing." Xin Shunying said with a smile: "No one in a million can master such profound and profound knowledge, so it would be a waste to give it to such mediocre people. But.
It is only appropriate to give it to Junior Brother Zhao. We are both inheritors of the Tianxia Dynasty's magic. This can be regarded as a confirmation of mutual support between fellow disciples. How can it be compared with the interests of the philistines?"
Of course Zhao Shui would not believe these words, but he did not expect that Xin Shunying would be willing to pay such a price for Da Sima to be appointed as Jianjia Pass. Instead, he felt that it was not worth it for Xin Shunying.
How can the perfect knowledge accumulated by generations of fortune-telling masters be obtained by a secular official position? Moreover, Zhao Shui had no intention of asking for bribes. He originally planned to open his mouth to politely refuse. But this Senior Sister Xin happened to
With a deep understanding of human nature, Zhao Shu was immediately unable to avoid him.
"Should I want this magic formula?" Zhao Shu secretly asked Lingxiao.
"There is no question of whether you should or should not, only whether you want to or not." Lingxiao said, "You don't have to ask me about everything. You should think about what will happen if you take this magic formula, and whether you can control your mind if you don't take it."
"I just think that Xin Shunying doesn't have to be like this." Zhao Shu said: "Since Gao Pinggong died, the leader of the country appointed a new guard, but he didn't want Chongxuan Hall to interfere. There are not many people who are really worthy of the big post. Grand Sima Luo Yi
It's one of them.
Moreover, I am from the Huaiying Hall. If I recommend the Great Sima to be appointed as a foreign minister, the ruler will inevitably think that we are colluding in secret. Such suggestions will only arouse suspicion, but the matter will not be accomplished."
"You don't have to tell me these words." Lingxiao had no intention of doing so.
Zhao Shu pondered for a moment, then took the initiative to reach out and retrieve the scroll. He unfolded it casually and took a few glances. It is difficult to fully describe the subtleties in it.
"How is it? Does this gift satisfy Junior Brother Zhao?" Xin Shunying asked with a smile.
"I can't guarantee that things will come true." Zhao Shu's expression was cold, showing no emotion or anger: "Even if I lift the Great Sima to heaven, if the king insists on using the clan's children, I can't change it."
"Junior Brother Zhao is joking." Xin Shunying bowed slightly, then looked around casually, and found that there were not many decorations in the living room, and asked: "Junior Brother Zhao is now a prince, and his home is quite simple. I haven't even seen a few people since I entered the house.
Servant."
"Those who cultivate immortality and Taoism should have the thought of cherishing life and raising things, and it is not appropriate to keep slaves." Zhao Shu said: "I am alone and have no relatives, so why should I raise a bunch of slaves to show my appearance?"
Xin Shunying sighed silently. It is really sad that Zhao Shu, who was once cheerful and intelligent, has now become so withdrawn and indifferent.
"No matter what, we will still gather our fellow students to hold an elegant gathering to celebrate." Xin Shunying asked: "I wonder if Junior Brother Zhao can spare the time to come here recently?"
"My injury has not healed, so it is inconvenient for me to travel." Zhao Shu simply refused: "Instead of wasting their time on socializing, those juniors in the palace should study the art seriously and practice hard to avoid going to the battlefield in the future, like me.
Tragic situation.”
Xin Shunying was speechless and was about to stand up to leave, but Zhao Shui said one more thing: "Also, don't bother Mr. Shi anymore. I can only tolerate this kind of behavior once. If you do it again, don't blame me for turning against you."
"I didn't think about it enough." Xin Shunying felt that although Zhao Shui's description seemed a little haggard, his awe-inspiring aura could only be tempered in cruel battlefields, and he was somewhat similar to Da Sima.
After Xin Shunying left, Shi Huoguang said with an embarrassed look: "You are not well yet, I shouldn't cause trouble for you."
"It's because I'm bothering you that I came to visit you. It has nothing to do with Mr. Shi." Zhao Shu thought for a moment: "Old Shi, why not go back to Huaiying Hall."
"But Jindingsi..."
Zhao Shu shook his head: "Now that the war is over, Jinding Company's business is not as busy as before. I will write to Marquis Anyang to explain."
Shi Huoguang looked at Zhao Shu, worried: "Is something big going to happen to Dongsheng?"
Just because Shi Huoguang was not good at socializing with others did not mean that he knew nothing about worldly affairs. Zhao Shu had to say clearly: "I have a premonition that a chaos in the court is coming. Sister Xin came here this time and asked me to give advice to the king and recommend the Great Sima to serve as Jianjia."
I'm afraid it's just to avoid disaster. There is no need for Mr. Shi to be affected. He can be at peace when he returns to Huaiying Hall."
"What about you?" Shi Huoguang held Zhao Shu's arm.
"I am at the center of the turmoil. Wherever I go, I will bring chaos." Zhao Shu now also has self-awareness: "Old Shi, there is no need to worry. I deliberately refused Senior Sister Xin's invitation because I didn't want to implicate the Huaiying Hall. Today
Today, only by separating myself from the Huaiying Hall can I protect everyone."
Zhao Shu knew very well that Liang Tao was letting him go, but he would continue to help him arrange the rituals. And as the rituals were gradually completed, Liang Tao's plot surfaced, and the battle between the various parties in Huaxu was about to become fierce.
A discerning person like Da Sima has already noticed the clues, so he chose to stay away from Dongsheng Capital and lead troops to guard outside, which is a smart move.
Shi Huoguang was stunned when he heard this and said dejectedly: "It seems that I shouldn't have agreed to Xin Shunying in the first place."
Zhao Shu smiled and said: "After this incident, Mr. Shi should understand that if anyone comes to you in the future and hopes to use this to gain access to me, you must not agree."
"I don't worry about leaving you alone in Dongshengdu." Shi Huoguang said.
Zhao Shu could only say: "I don't have to worry about anything on my own."
Shi Huoguang had no choice but to nod in agreement: "By the way, I planned to use your spiritual iron to refine a few magic weapons. I haven't finished the other ones yet, but I made a shrunken earth talisman.