Li Zhi had been staying in the palace for more than half a month. Apart from going to greet Li Shimin and Changsun Wugao every day, he stayed in his "Lizheng Palace".
However, Li Zhi's palace life is not boring now. At least there is an eldest grandson Pingting accompanying him.
Since the last "assassination" incident, Changsun Pingting has not only played the role of "maid" and "book boy", but has also become Li Zhi's daily sparring partner.
Life in Li Zhi's place was comfortable, but Li Shimin was extremely busy here. How could he, who had always been so strong-willed, tolerate someone making trouble under his nose?
However, neither his "Li Jing Sect" nor the men sent by Zhang Anan could find any new clues. It seemed that apart from the dead young eunuch and the four assassins, there were really no other accomplices.
Already.
"Your Majesty, this old slave is incompetent. We have carefully searched the area within a hundred miles of Chang'an City several times, but we still have no clue."
"Moreover, there is no shortage of bows and arrows registered in the East Palace. As for the Wei Palace, the old slave can basically judge that it is impossible to intervene in this matter, so..."
After more than half a month of investigation, no clues were found about the case. Instead, the two initial suspects were eliminated. This result made Zhang Anan very depressed.
Isn't Li Shimin troubled by this?
As the person with the highest status in the Tang Dynasty, he controlled more power, so he had more access to or knowledge of external forces.
If there was really a struggle for the throne among the sons, although Li Shimin was heartbroken, he could basically control it.
Now, the results compiled from all aspects made him feel a little powerless, and even a little afraid. He seemed to smell a hint of conspiracy.
"Forget it, we haven't found out for so long, so there's no need to waste any more time. If King Jin goes out of the palace again in the future, he must be secretly protected by at least two innate masters."
Li Shimin was also a little helpless. If it was really those hidden sects who did it, he might not be able to stop it. Should he let the great master of "Martial Arts and Gods" protect the pheasant slave?
The more Li Shimin thought about this matter, the more annoyed he became, so he simply took advantage of the early weather and left the palace incognito, with only Zhang Anan accompanying him.
"Your Majesty, where are we going?"
After leaving Zhuque Gate, we headed south, passed "Kaihuafang" and then turned east. We saw that we had passed "Dongshi" again. If we went further, we would have to go out of "Chunming Gate" to the outskirts of the city. Zhang An couldn't bear it.
asked.
"I feel a little upset, and I want to find out a hexagram from the 'Qingyang Temple'."
Hearing what Li Shimin said, Zhang Ananda understood that he was going to the master who lived in the "Qingyang Temple" to solve his problems.
"Qingyang Temple" is located ten miles east of Chang'an City. It is a very inconspicuous small Taoist temple. Few people come here on weekdays. It was already past noon when Li Shimin and his wife arrived.
The two of them had just dismounted, and the originally closed courtyard door of "Qingyang Temple" opened with a creak, and a handsome Taoist boy in blue clothes and blue hat walked out.
"Blessings are immeasurable, the Heavenly Lord. My master has said that there are distinguished guests coming to my door. I have specially appointed Xiao Dao to wait for you here. I think it is you two who are waiting for me——"
The Taoist boy beat his head, chanted Dharma chants, and stared at the outsiders intently.
"Haha, Taoist Yuan is really a master from this world. He even asked the little fairy boy to report it and said that Li Er of the Tang Dynasty came to pay a visit——"
In front of these real masters, Li Shimin would never put up any airs, not to mention that the man living inside had given him some guidance back then.
"Master once said that when distinguished guests arrive, just invite them in directly. There is no need to tell you. You two, please come with me."
The Taoist boy in green led the way, and Li Shimin and Zhang Anan followed one after the other. Two war horses were tied to the stakes outside the gate.
"Qingyang Temple" is not very big, with only two floors of courtyards at the front and back.
Qiannankunbei, after passing the mountain gate, in the center is the "Sanqing Hall", which worships the Taoist Sanqing Tianzun.
There are also auxiliary halls, guest halls, dining halls, etc. on the left and right. The backyard is where the Taoist priests in the temple live and practice. Generally, outsiders will not let them pass.
"Fu Sheng Boundless Heavenly Lord, it's been a long time since I've seen Master Li——"
In front of the "Sanqing Hall", a Taoist priest with white beard and hair was waiting there with a whisk in his hand. When he saw Li Shimin's appearance clearly, he couldn't help but frown.
"Haha, it's been a long time since we last saw Master Yuan. It's been fifteen or six years since we last met, right? Not long ago, I heard that Master Yuan Yuan had arrived in Chang'an. The people should have come to visit as soon as possible, but unfortunately they were busy with worldly affairs, so it was postponed until today."
Without waiting for the old Taoist priest to come over, Li Shimin took two steps closer and bowed respectfully to him.
"Your Majesty, you can't be like this. Back then you were a hidden dragon in the abyss, but now you are the supreme emperor of the Tang Dynasty and the emperor of the world. How dare you accept this gift!"
Although the old Taoist priest said this, he stood there without moving.
This old Taoist priest was none other than Yuan Tiangang, the most famous physiognomist in the Tang Dynasty. His fame was not inferior to that of Sun Simiao.
"Since we are here, the people of the world should first offer incense to Sanqing Tianzun——"
"Sanqing Hall", as the name suggests, is dedicated to the Taoist Three Pure Heavens, namely the Yuqing Yuanshi Heavenly Lord, the Shangqing Lingbao Heavenly Lord, and the Taiqing Daode Heavenly Lord.
Accompanied by Yuan Tiangang, Li Shimin respectfully offered three sticks of incense to the Sanqing Tianzun. He was especially in awe of the Taiqing Daode Tianzun.
According to legend, Taiqing's Moral Heavenly Lord is the Taishang Laojun whom everyone is familiar with in the world, and Li Tang has always claimed to be a descendant of Laozi Li Er, and Li Er is one of Taishang Laojun's clones.
In this way, this aloof Taiqing moral deity can be regarded as the ancestor of Li Shimin.
"Why did your Majesty come to Pindao's 'Qingyang Temple'?"
After paying homage, Yuan Tiangang invited Li Shimin to the living room nearby. The little Taoist boy came over to offer tea, while Zhang Anan stood guard outside the door.
Li Shimin was not in a hurry to tell the purpose of his trip. He had a complicated mood that could not be explained clearly in a few sentences.
"This... oh, I made your Majesty laugh. More than ten years ago, I was still able to figure out your Majesty's destiny. But when I saw your Majesty again, I found that your Majesty's destiny has changed drastically."
"The dragon energy above your Majesty's head has actually increased by three feet. Even the Golden Dragon of National Fortune of the Tang Dynasty has become much stronger. This is incredible. I can no longer see through your Majesty..."
Yuan Tiangang was a little disappointed. As a physiognomist, especially someone like him who had learned the "Qi Reading Technique", he could not see through a mortal for the first time.
Li Shimin was startled after hearing this. In his eyes, Yuan Tiangang could be regarded as a semi-immortal being. He was right in everything he said. But today he said these words, and should he be talking about himself?
"Why did Mr. Yuan say this? The people of the world are just ordinary people. Even if you are a human emperor, your life span is only more than a hundred years."
"If the people of the world were allowed to choose again, maybe they would not take this path now. Instead, it would be better to follow the real person and practice immortality and Taoism so that they can be free for the rest of their lives."
I don't know if he was sincere or fake, but when Li Shimin said this, he looked at Yuan Tiangang sincerely, and the corners of his eyes were actually wet.
"Haha, why do you have to act like a child? Everyone has their own path to go. Your Majesty became the Lord of the Tang Dynasty and the emperor of the world. This is God's will, how can it be violated by human power?"
"Although I can no longer see through His Majesty's destiny, compared with the past, it is much nobler. Maybe... Haha, I have said enough today, and the secret must not be leaked - "
The afternoon sun shines dappledly through the thick ginkgo tree in the courtyard into the living room, shining right on Li Shimin's face.
"Zhenren Yuan, Shimin really wants to ask Zhenren for advice on something here..."
In front of Yuan Tiangang, Li Shimin seemed to have completely removed his guard and explained in detail what had happened over the years, especially the things that troubled him.
While Li Shimin was talking, Yuan Tiangang listened attentively, and from time to time he gently swung the whisk in his hand twice, actually keeping the temperature of the tea in Li Shimin's cup.
"Blessed Boundless Heavenly Lord, thank you for your trust. This tea is the 'Meng Ding' treasured by Pindao. Your Majesty can take a sip."
Yuan Tiangang was not in a hurry to answer Li Shimin's doubts, but picked up the teacup on the table.
"Good tea, just such a small sip, Shimin seems to feel that his state of mind is a little loose. Could it be that it is really fairy tea?"
Li Shimin was also an elegant man. He had a rich collection of tea in the palace, and there were certainly a lot of good teas, but they were far from as refreshing and fragrant as the cup of "Mengding" in front of him.
"Haha, fairy tea? How can I have such a chance? But this tea is also an extraordinary species. By chance, I got a few pieces by chance. Today, the real dragon is here to show off its treasure!"
Yuan Tiangang didn't look like he was talking politely. He was sipping "Mengding" tea in small sips, closing his eyes and meditating from time to time.
Li Shimin was influenced by him and followed his example. It seemed that his body and mind were completely relaxed, and there was no longer any boredom in his chest.
"What I just heard from His Majesty is nothing more than some royal stories, but mixed with some people behind the scenes who are disrupting the situation."
"The rise of the Tang Dynasty is irreversible. No matter how big the setbacks are, it will only add some hardships to the Tang Dynasty. Your Majesty does not need to worry too much."
"It's just that after hearing what His Majesty said so much, Pindao carefully recalled the meaning. It seems that it is more or less related to His Highness King Jin, right?"
Although Li Shimin tried his best to remove Li Zhi's "unusualness" from his expression, Yuan Tiangang still heard the clues.
"Haha, that is the ninth son of Shimin. His name is Li Zhi, and his nickname is Pheasant Nu. Unfortunately, he was born with a body of "Heaven's leakage", which makes him incompetent in writing and martial arts."
"When Shimin came here this time, in addition to asking for some enlightenment from Master Yuan, the most important thing is to invite him to take charge of the 'Taishi Bureau' and set a certain Feng Shui for the Tang Dynasty."
Li Shimin didn't want to say more about Li Zhi. After drinking "Mengding" tea, the depression in his chest disappeared, and then Li Shimin revealed the true purpose of his trip.
Although he had never seen Yuan Tiangang take action, Li Shimin concluded based on intuition alone that this man must also be a master, whose level was at least far above his own.
Although the Tang Dynasty was powerful, if one met a true master, the competition would still be for the top combat power. But now in Chang'an City, there is only one "martial arts master" named Li Jing.
"This... well, since His Majesty's destiny has changed, and the national destiny of the Tang Dynasty has become inexplicably stronger, I will simply return to the mortal world and train my body and mind."
Originally, Li Shimin didn't have high hopes, he just didn't want to miss this master. Unexpectedly, he just invited him, and the other party agreed directly.
"The people of the world thank the real person. If a real person enters the Tang Dynasty, he will be able to ensure that the Tang Dynasty will have good weather and the country will be peaceful and the people will be safe -"
Li Shimin hurriedly stood up from the futon, bowed to Yuan Tiangang again, and bowed respectfully.
Since ancient times, one has to have an attitude towards asking for talents. Even Li Shimin felt that he was neglecting him. What a great sage this Taoist Yuan was!
"Haha, Your Majesty, you don't have to be like this. Your Majesty's safety is related to the well-being of tens of millions of people in the Tang Dynasty. There is a long way to go, and it is a kind of worldly experience for a poor man to be able to do his best."
Yuan Tiangang finally returned the favor, opening up an unprecedented friendship between monarch and minister.
…
East Palace, Prince's Mansion.
"Prince, I heard that there was a flood in Henan Province. A memorial requesting for relief has been sent to the Li Zheng Palace. I wonder if His Highness is interested in competing for it?"
The person speaking was none other than Wei Ting, one of the right-hand men of Prince Li Chengqian. There was something going on in the family a few days ago, so he took leave of absence and went back to his hometown to pay homage to his ancestors, only to miss a good show.
No, he came to the East Palace as soon as he came back and gave Li Chengqian a suggestion.
What sounds nice is that he was given the job of "disaster relief", but in fact he wanted to profit from it. This kind of good opportunity to make "national wealth", an old family man like Wei Ting naturally didn't want to miss it.
"I have also heard about this matter. My father intends to let my fourth brother take over this matter. Isn't it a bit petty for me to argue with him again?"
In fact, during the discussion, Li Chengqian also fought for Wei Zheng. At any rate, Wei Zheng is now Li Chengqian's teacher and has taken a post in the East Palace.
If he can get Wei Zheng a "disaster relief" job, there is no need to worry based on his ability. The most important thing is that he can get the job done, which is due to the recommendation of His Highness the Crown Prince.
At the same time, this smelly and hard stone can be temporarily moved away from Chang'an City, so that at least it will not have to face his boring face for a few months.
Unexpectedly, the people of Wei King Li Tai had already taken the lead.
"Your Highness, the matter has not been finalized yet, so there is still a chance to fight for everything."
"Did you know that His Majesty has just left the city, and looking at the direction, he should be heading to the Qingyang Temple in the east of the city. Why doesn't Your Highness also go there in disguise?"
"In court we are kings and ministers, in the country we are father and son. If His Royal Highness the Crown Prince can go to the Qingyang Temple, maybe His Majesty will be able to change his mind?"
Wei Ting changed his usual attitude of cherishing words like gold and actually gave Li Chengqian a long speech.
"Oh, why is Dr. Wei so sure that just by going to Qingyang Temple alone, my father will be able to change the Holy Will?"
Wei Ting's words aroused Li Chengqian's interest after all, or in other words, he originally intended to compete here.
"Does His Highness Li Chunfeng from the Taishi Bureau know? This person owes a favor to a certain family. If His Highness gets up and goes to Qingyang Temple now, he will immediately ask Li Chunfeng to go with him."
"Li Chunfeng is the apprentice of Yuan Tiangang at Qingyang Temple. With this relationship, he goes there to say a few good words for His Highness, especially through the words of 'divination'. Wei believes that he will succeed immediately."
Seeing that Wei Ting's words were clear and logical, Li Chengqian was finally tempted.
"Well, Doctor Wei, let's go look for Li Chunfeng, and then we will rush to Qingyang Temple."
Li Chengqian is not a person who is procrastinating. Once he has decided, he will leave immediately.
"Your Highness, why don't you wait for Commander Hegan Chengji to come back, so that I can accompany you there?"
Before leaving the house, a confidant beside Li Chengqian persuaded him.
"Haha, no need. Do you think Gu is a pheasant slave? Besides, didn't Gu already bring four guards?"
Li Chengqian didn't take it seriously and said, from the East Palace to the "Qingyang Temple" in the east of the city, it is only a dozen miles at most. In broad daylight, is there still a strongman in the capital?
Five people and five fast horses went there in the same disguise, and left Chang'an City by the same "Chunming Gate".
Li Chengqian and his party had just left Chang'an City, and at the corner not far from "Chunming Gate", a man walked out.
This person was none other than Wei Ting, the imperial censor who had just spoken in the East Palace.
At this time, Wei Ting no longer had the shrewdness and wisdom he had just now, and his eyes revealed more lust and evil.
Looking around and seeing no one paying attention, he reached out and gently touched his face...