Chapter 497 Avoiding the Moon and Reaching for the Stars (1st update)
"I heard that Mr. Lingtai Lang went to Dragon City the day before yesterday?"
"Eunuch Hu's news is quite good."
"Two days ago, our family wanted to invite Mr. Lingtai Lang to come to Tingzhuxuan for dinner. We sent several people, but no one saw Mr. Lingtai Lang. It made our family anxious. In the end, we listened to Rong Zhennv Shi from the Supervisory Yuan.
I sent word that Lord Lingtai Lang is not in Xunyang City."
"Thank you for your trouble, father-in-law."
"There is nothing to worry about. This is a matter of duty. We are all from Luoyang. We are inspecting and working for His Majesty together. Of course, we must go back together when we come together. We can't drag anyone down."
Inside the Zhuxuan, Lin Cheng, who was the special envoy to Luoyang this time, and Hu Fu were sitting at a dining table, chatting face to face.
The table was full of delicious food and wine, but no one moved their chopsticks.
"My father-in-law is right."
Lin Cheng smiled and nodded, with a look of approval on his face.
Khufu touched his beard, looked at the face of the fat young man in front of him, changed the topic and asked:
"Why did Lord Lingtailang go to Longcheng this time?"
"Nothing, just out of curiosity."
"Curious?" Khu Fu frowned: "Master Lingtai Lang, please don't forget why we came to Jiangzhou. Your Majesty's mission is not to wander around."
"I know."
Lin Cheng sighed:
"I am just curious about Ouyang Changshi. I have admired the name of Lianghan for a long time. The Broken Wing Canal in Longcheng also has a high reputation among the political officials...
"Ouyang Changshi is the official in charge of the construction of the Donglin Giant Buddha. I should go and learn more about it. It is considered within my responsibilities."
"oh."
Khufu's brows relaxed a little and his tone was calm:
"Master Lingtai Lang should be more careful. From this look, it seems that our family is careless."
"No matter where you are, I don't dare to take it seriously."
Lin Cheng immediately waved his hand:
"Eunuch Hu is sitting in Xunyang, and he is also working hard for the imperial court, and he is loyal to His Majesty. There is no distinction between high and low. Even if there is one, the top ones work hard for people, the middle ones work hard for wisdom, and the low ones work hard for bodies. Eunuch Hu is also the top one.
"
"Master Lingtai Lang is really good at talking."
Khufu said something cheerful and his expression softened a little.
He picked up a pair of chopsticks neatly placed on the table and took a bite of the food.
The bearded eunuch chewed on his cheeks while picking up a pot of sake, leaning forward and pouring a glass for Lin Cheng:
"Okay. Then Lord Lingtai Lang took a walk around Longcheng. What do you think?"
“It’s well-deserved.”
Lin Cheng's face was filled with emotion, and he raised his wine glass, sniffing the wine on the edge of the glass habitually, and said seriously:
"A simple folded wing canal directly replaced the Dickong Gate and solved the flood in the most dangerous place in the south of the Yangtze River once and for all.
"Furthermore, I have an overview of this situation from the top of Dagushan Mountain. I actually vaguely relied on the majestic Dagushan Mountain to control the water. There is a backing behind, a green dragon on the left, a white tiger on the right, a small mountain in front, and a small mountain in the middle.
The Feng Shui treasure land pattern of Dragon City.”
The Xiaguan Lingtai Lang nodded with conviction in his eyes:
"An ancient book says that the backing of the mountain is stable, the dragon and the tiger complement and protect each other, the spacious hall increases the momentum, and the water city gathers and generates strong external energy, so it is auspicious.
"This folded-wing canal is an ingenious workmanship that revitalizes the poor mountains and rivers of Jilong City in one move."
Khufu's upper body couldn't help but lean back slightly:
"I didn't expect Master Ling Tailang to know Feng Shui?"
Lin Cheng looked modest and waved his hand:
"Excuse me, I know a little about the sun, moon, and stars. I know a little bit about Feng Shui survey. The teacher taught me a little bit."
"Lord Lingtai Lang doesn't seem to know anything about it."
Khufu waved his hand.
Lin Cheng smiled and said nothing.
Khufu touched his chin, thought for a moment, then quietly moved his head closer and said:
"Then, do you Yin-Yang family qi practitioners know how to tell fortunes through facial expressions? How about telling fortunes for our family?"
Lin Cheng couldn't help but raise his eyebrows:
"Some branches of the Northern and Southern Taoist sects are better at this kind of fortune-telling and fortune-telling techniques. Our Yin-Yang family is better at measuring Yin-Yang and stargazing, but...
"My master, I know a little bit about observing the stars and predicting good or bad luck.
"It's a pity that this technique is difficult to learn. The method of refining qi to deduce blessings and misfortunes is a mysterious and mysterious technique that is difficult for ordinary people to grasp. I am also stupid. I don't know this technique and cannot tell Eunuch Hu's fortune.
"However, Eunuch Hu's nose is plump and straight, his heaven is full, and his complexion is moist. It's a good sign at first glance. Eunuch Hu is precious in life."
"Where, where."
Khufu waved his hands, but when he was praised, he raised his chin slightly, and his face still looked a little happy.
"Master Ru, is that Deputy Superintendent Zhao, right?"
Khufu looked very interested.
"Deputy Superintendent Zhao is highly respected in Sitian Prison and is highly regarded by His Majesty. Our family has long admired his name and respects him very much.
"When I return to Luoyang this time, if I have the chance, Sir Lingtai Lang must introduce me to our family and see if I can deduce the bad luck for this little guy in our family."
The bearded eunuch rubbed his hands and said.
Lin Cheng looked at Khufu's unceremonious and eager expression, twitched the corner of his mouth slightly, nodded and said:
"Although the teacher is very busy,... Eunuch Hu is not an outsider. He is favored by His Majesty. Helping Eunuch solve his problems is just helping His Majesty. It's easy to say, easy to say."
"Okay, it's settled."
Khufu grinned and took a long sip of wine. At the same time, his eyes turned up slightly and he looked at Lin Cheng's sincere smile.
He spoke again:
"Speaking of which, I called Mr. Lingtai Lang over for dinner this time because I have something to discuss."
"Eunuch Hu, please speak."
"Then let's not go around in circles. We have been here in Longcheng for so many days. It's almost winter. If we don't go to Luodu, it will snow. We can't see the snow scene in Xunyang, haha."
Khufu made a joke and asked casually:
"So, have you finished writing the memorials delivered by Lord Lingtai Lang during this trip? It has taken so long to read everything that needs to be seen. We have almost done the inspection, and it is time to return to Beijing to resume our duties."
As he spoke, he took out a blue silk-covered memorial from his sleeve, placed it on the table, tapped the cover with his fingers, and suggested sincerely:
"If Mr. Lin Lingtai has finished writing, we can communicate now and submit the letter together tomorrow."
Lin Cheng stopped using his chopsticks, glanced at the smiling Khu Fu, and then continued to pick up the food.
He shook his head and looked apologetic:
"It's almost time. I've been busy the past few days and haven't had time to sit down and sort it out. I'll be rushing over the next few days. When I finish writing the memorial, I will notify Eunuch Hu. Please be patient."
Khufu calmed down his expression slightly and put away the memorial.
"Lord Lingtai Lang, you mean that you haven't started writing yet?"
Lin Cheng smiled sheepishly:
"It's just a matter of these two days. Eunuch Hu, please wait a moment. We don't need to be in a hurry."
Khufu raised his head and drank the wine in the wine glass, wiped his mouth, picked up the wine pot again, filled up another glass, looked at the trickle of water from the spout, and said calmly:
"Then Master Lingtailang is indeed a little slow."
Lin Cheng immediately saw the bearded eunuch in front of him and asked him curiously:
"Didn't we inspect the Xunyang Grottoes with its twin peaks seven or eight times in the past few days? Ouyang Changshi still accompanied us throughout the process to explain.
"And every time afterward, Ouyang Changshi seems to have sent all the budget ledgers and detailed bills to us, with all official seals and procedures in place.
"This is a bit strange. What is Master Lingtailang still hesitating about? What are you worried about? Is there anything wrong with Ouyang Changshi?"
Khufu tapped his feet with his index finger and said with a familiar smile:
"Is it really true? Haha, anyway, there are no outsiders here. Lord Lingtailang can talk about it. Otherwise, Lord Lingtailang saw the problem and wrote it in the memorial, but our family stupidly continued to write the letter and said that there was no problem. It would be too much.
I have failed in my duty, although compared to you young people who are quick-thinking, our family is indeed a bit stupid... Haha, Lord Lingtailang, please stop teasing our family and tell me quickly."
Lin Cheng shook his head:
"Currently, it seems that Ouyang Changshi is honest and honest, does everything he does, strictly abides by procedures, and there is nothing wrong with the accounts."
"That's good."
Khufu nodded with a smile, thought for a while, and continued to ask:
"Then the 20,000 yuan of powder money donated by His Majesty to the Donglin Giant Buddha is fine, right? There is no corruption by a villain, right?"
Lin Cheng still shook his head: "No, His Majesty's money has been put to good use."
"good."
Khufu seemed to be relieved, and then showed a puzzled expression:
"That's strange. Lord Lingtailang, this is..."
Lin Cheng was quiet for a while and nodded slightly:
"It seems that there is no problem at the moment. Well, I am just a little slow in my work. Don't worry, Eunuch Hu. I will start writing as soon as I get back. It will probably take two or three days to finish. Please be patient. I will notify you when I finish writing.
."
The fat young man smiled, showing some bright white teeth:
"Eunuch Hu is right. It would be more appropriate for us to exchange opinions a little and then submit a letter together."
He immediately raised his glass:
"Come, have a drink, I'll give Eunuch Hu a drink."
Khufu looked at Lin Cheng, who was sincere and respectful in front of him, and after three breaths of silence, he raised his wine glass and touched it gently:
"Okay. Lord Lingtailang, you must hurry up."
"It's natural."
Lin Cheng only took a few bites of the food in front of him, and after a while, he stood up and left, saying that he was too drunk.
Khufu sent Lin Cheng to the gate.
Before leaving, Khufu suddenly shouted:
"Lord Lingtai Lang."
Lin Cheng, who took over the reins of his beloved horse, turned back curiously: "What's the matter, Eunuch Hu?"
"Although Ouyang Changshi is the official in charge, King Xunyang is the supervisor of the Donglin Giant Buddha. You should know the relationship between authority and delegation, right?"
"Of course I know." Lin Cheng looked confused: "Why did Eunuch Hu mention this? Uh, what do you mean..."
The two looked at each other for a while, then Khufu laughed, clapped his hands, interrupted Lin Cheng and said:
"Haha, our family is saying that we can visit King Xunyang together tomorrow. It is considered as a courtesy. And for the inspection, we have to go to the superintendent to go through the process, right? Let's see if the prince has any constructive suggestions.
."
"Okay, Eunuch Hu is still Zhou Quan."
Lin Cheng got on his horse, raised his whip and left.
"Father, see you tomorrow."
Khufu watched Lin Cheng off with a smile.
I saw the back of his horse disappearing around the corner of the street.
He immediately turned around and walked quickly back to the house.
"Here comes someone."
Khufu summoned a personal guard.
Immediately afterwards, he quickly returned to the study, took out a familiar waist knife, and handed it to the guard behind him who held his fist respectfully.
"Go, take it to a private residence called Jingyiting in Xiushuifang, and tell Uncle Shun to bring a message for our family..."
Khufu lowered his voice and gave instructions slowly.
"yes."
Not long after, the personal guard clasped his fists heavily.
As he walked into the dark night outside the door, he couldn't help but take another look at the bearded eunuch's face.
He squinted his eyes slightly, feeling a little solemn.
…
Lin Cheng returned to the house where he settled.
The house is close to the Supervisory Yuan.
As he rode past the Overwatch Council, he turned his head and glanced at the brightly lit courtyard, where the figures of female officers were faintly walking around.
I don’t know what the female historian is busy with.
Lin Cheng looked calm and returned to the house.
Go into a study and sit down.
He took out paper, ink, pen and inkstone, as well as a blank memorial.
Place it on the table.
There was only an oil lamp in the room by the desk.
Lin Cheng leaned loosely on the soft chair.
He liked the position of the desk in front of him very much.
Facing an open window.
You can see the autumn night studded with scattered stars outside.
In fact, Lin Cheng had rearranged the furniture in the bedrooms and other rooms, including this study room.
Even the position of a pen holder on the desk must be strictly in accordance with the requirements and placed in the upper left corner a few centimeters from the upper edge... otherwise it will block his field of vision.
He likes this order.
The world outside the den and bedroom was difficult to follow and allowed his obsessive-compulsive disorder to run its course.
However, the study room and other places at home must be arranged according to Lin Cheng's principles of comfort and intuition.
Just like the extremely comfortable stars in the sky overhead, each one has its own position and trajectory.
The autumn wind blew through the window.
He blew the blank memorial origami page in front of him loudly.
A solitary lamp was also swaying.
The wick of the lamp swayed for half an hour, and the memorial on the table was empty for half an hour.
This Xia Guan Lingtai Lang has yet to write.
He stared directly at the sparse starry sky outside the window.
A bright moon was slowly covered by a dark cloud that came from nowhere, and the whole world became dim for a moment.
"Avoid the moon and reach for the stars...Avoid the moon and reach for the stars..."
Lin Cheng murmured to himself.
"The teacher watched the stars that night, deduced the bad luck, and said that during my trip, if I encountered the moon, I would be in trouble, and if I encountered the stars, I would be blessed.
"Blessings and misfortunes depend on each other. We should seek good fortune and avoid misfortune. Therefore, it is said to avoid the moon and reach for the stars, which is good luck."
He tapped his fingers on the table.
"Is it such a coincidence?"
Sit for a long time.
Suddenly a gust of autumn wind blew into the house, and a lone lamp on the table suddenly went out.
The study fell into darkness.
Disappearing at the same time as the lights, there was also the figure of the fat young man at the table...
Late at night, five o'clock in the morning.
An autumn moon hangs high on the peaks of the twin peaks ten miles outside the west city.
A tributary of the Xunyang River divides the two peaks into North Peak and South Peak, facing each other across the bank.
The Xunyang Grottoes, which are currently under construction in Jiangzhou Hall, are located by the water at the foot of Beifeng.
At this moment, at the top of Nanfeng, a figure of a fat young man slowly walked out.
Lin Cheng stared at the majestic Buddha in the Xunyang Grottoes on the other side for a while, then slowly moved his gaze downwards, looking down at the line of water dividing the South Peak from the North Peak.
He couldn't take his eyes off him.
The Xunshui River, which was artificially opened up to cure seasonal flooding in Xunyang City, is not a straight line, but has a long and narrow arc.
The light of the autumn moon overhead spreads on the water, making the water look like a dazzling quarter moon.
"Pillow on the moon feng shui... the moon..."
Lin Cheng shook his head.
At a certain moment, fish belly white appeared in the eastern sky.
He looked back at the top of the mountain and looked eastward at a certain neighborhood in Xunyang City that became lively at dawn.