The old Taoist priest was led into the hall by Huang Xie. When Zhu Di saw the appearance of the old Taoist, with his white hair and childish face, and his immortal spirit, he believed him for a moment or two. He asked Huang Xie to give the old Taoist a seat.
The old Taoist priest did not refuse. After bowing and thanking the emperor, he sat down on the golden pier and looked at Zhu Di with bright eyes, as if the other man was not the murderous and domineering Emperor of the Ming Dynasty at all, but an ordinary man who was suffering from illness.
Like an old man.
Zhu Di was unhappy to be looked at by the old Taoist like this, but after thinking about it, he felt that this was how a master outside the world should behave, so he suppressed his temper and said politely: "Dare I ask how long the immortal will live?"
"The old Taoist was born in the first year of Jingding." The old Taoist said with infinite vicissitudes in his eyes: "I have been struggling in this world for two decades and forty years..."
Zhu Di's eyes widened and he said: "In the first year of Jingding, are you a native of the Southern Song Dynasty?"
"When the old Taoist was seven years old, Kublai Khan attacked Xiangfan. The old Taoist and his family hid in the mountains to avoid the chaos. Fortunately, they were taught three volumes of Taoist books by strangers. Unfortunately, they were dull in nature and practiced hard in Liangjiazi, but they still could not break away from the five elements and jump out of the three realms.
, will eventually turn into dust." The old Taoist priest shook his head and sighed, as if he was still dissatisfied that he could only live one or two hundred years.
"Oh..." Zhu Di has always believed in ghosts and gods, otherwise he would not have wasted money and people in Wudang Mountain to build a dojo for Emperor Zhenwu. This is directly related to the fact that he was incited to rebel by Yao Guangxiao's lies. Monk Daoyan has been making all kinds of prophecies.
The false promise made Zhu Di believe that he was destined to be his destiny, and finally decided to raise an army to rebel. In the Battle of Jingnan, Zhu Di took the lead in more than a hundred battles, but was unscathed. It was extremely incredible that he conquered the world with one government, which made Zhu Di even more embarrassed.
I firmly believe that ghosts and gods protect the body.
So when the old Taoist said that he was more than a hundred years old, Zhu Di did not question it much, but then asked: "I don't know what kind of Taoist practice he has?"
"Tuna, alchemy, Taoism." The old Taoist said slowly.
"Can you demonstrate something?" Zhu Di asked, staring closely at the old Taoist.
"Okay." The old Taoist nodded slightly and said, "The old Taoist will give the emperor a wonderful show." Under the gaze of the emperor and Huang Yan, he conjured a silver basin out of thin air, then held the silver plate in one hand and twisted a piece of paper in the other hand.
The talisman paper shook in the air, and after chanting a spell, the talisman paper turned into an orange fireball and flew into the basin. After a burst of fog, the silver basin was filled with a basin of clear water.
"Ouch! This is amazing!" Huang Yan was stunned and couldn't help shouting. Although Zhu Di didn't make a sound, the look of surprise on his face was no less than Huang Yan's.
"It's not over yet!" The old Taoist shouted loudly, and poured the water in the silver basin into the sky, and what fell were thousands of colorful petals!
Smelling the fragrant fragrance and looking at the dazzling sight in front of him, Zhu Di finally couldn't help but praise: "Good! The Taoist master is really good at Taoism!"
The old Taoist returned to his calm demeanor, holding a flower in his hand. When he opened his hand, the flower had turned into a Taoist talisman. The old Taoist slowly shook his head and said, "This is just a technique, not a method."
"In my opinion, it's already amazing!" Zhu Di had already believed the old Taoist by three or four points, and looked at the old Taoist with warm eyes: "I wonder if you can see a doctor?"
But the old Taoist shook his head and said: "I have never practiced medicine..."
Zhu Di's eyes dimmed with disappointment, but he heard the old Taoist change his subject: "Because those who practice Taoism are immune to all diseases, what is the use of learning medical skills?"
"Then...does the Taoist think that I can practice Taoism?" Zhu Di's tone also became cautious, fearing that he would be hit again.
"It's too late for the emperor's age..." The old Taoist looked Zhu Di up and down, his shining eyes seemed to be able to see through all of Zhu Di's internal organs: "Only by taking the Nine Turns Dragon and Tiger Pill can the emperor's dragon weight return to youth.
, in order to build the foundation for cultivation.”
"Nine-turn Dragon and Tiger Pill?" Zhu Di made the old Taoist confused. His heart was in a state of confusion when he said it, and he already believed it. He looked at the old Taoist eagerly and asked: "This pill can cure me."
Sickness?"
"Haha..." The old Taoist priest laughed enigmatically and said: "The emperor is joking. After taking this Nine-turn Dragon and Tiger Pill, you can be reborn, wash your muscles and marrow, and make the emperor's dragon weight return to its prime. What do you think?
Sickness, what does it matter?"
"Really?" Zhu Di coughed twice excitedly, then realized that he was a little out of sorts. He sat back on the soft couch and said, "Taoist Priest, where can I find this kind of elixir?"
"There is only one poor Taoist in the world who knows how to refine it." The old Taoist said slowly: "It only takes nine days for one turn and eighty days for nine turns. The refining time is a little longer."
"It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter!" Zhu Di waved his hand and immediately ordered Huang Yan: "Pack out the side hall for the Taoist priest to make elixirs. You are responsible for collecting whatever materials the Taoist priest needs! Even the dragon liver and phoenix marrow must be found for the Taoist priest.
have you understood?"
"Old slave, I obey." Huang Yan responded respectfully.
Zhu Di grasped the life-saving straw and felt much better. He chatted with Taoist Hu for a long time about the art of immortality. He heard that the Taoist's words were very clever. He also heard that the first golden elixir would be released in nine days. Zhu Di couldn't help but
Long Yan Dayue's trust in the old Taoist couldn't help but increase to seven or eight points.
The conversation was in full swing when the eunuch outside reported the matter and Zheng He asked to see him.
Zheng He was not on duty at this time, and he had something important to ask for. Zhu Di pressed the matter aside and ordered Huang Yan to take Lao Dao down and serve him well. Only then did he let Zheng He in.
When Huang Yan took the old man out, he met Zheng He and quickly bowed and saluted. Zheng He also nodded politely, which was regarded as a return gift. Looking at Zheng He's back as he entered, Huang Yan couldn't help but feel resentful secretly, no matter what he did,
Fawning, his status in the emperor's heart was never as high as that of Zheng He.
Huang Yan looked at Taoist Hu again, and his eyes suddenly became intense. He thought that if he could refine the elixir this time and cure the emperor's illness, Zheng and Ma Sanbao would have to step aside!
Taoist Hu still had an enigmatic smile on his face, and the old god was standing there...
Zheng He entered the bedroom and saw Zhu Di leaning on the back of his chair tiredly. The excitement just now had already exhausted the emperor's physical strength.
"Your Majesty," Zheng He said without any nonsense and bowed down to report: "I have come from Shandong to report that Wang Xian has left Jinan and is heading north. He should be arriving in Cangzhou soon."
"How dare he come?" Zhu Di frowned and repeated with cold eyes: "How dare he come..." After repeating this twice, he looked up at Zheng He and said, "What do you think?"
"In my humble opinion, we may have misunderstood Uncle Zhongyong. He did not stop after receiving the order and traveled to the capital day and night. This should be a sign of clear conscience." Zheng He said softly. He personally had a very good impression of Wang Xian.
Okay, I have always thought that Wang Xian would be the pillar of the Ming Dynasty in the next few decades. Even if I don’t have any personal relationship, I still want to exonerate Wang Xian.
"Hmph!" Zhu Di snorted coldly: "If he really has a clear conscience, why did he go to Qingzhou first, then to Jinan, and then to Beijing?"
"He went to Qingzhou to receive an order. As for passing by Jinan...his family is in Jinan, so it's human nature to pay him a visit, right?" Zheng He said softly.
"He is obviously plotting!" Zhu Di got angry. When he got angry, the pain like countless ants biting his joints came back, making Zhu Di's expression become ferocious, and his voice became even more gloomy and terrifying:
"Do you think everyone is as kind as you? I think he has arranged a backup plan so that he can go to Beijing with confidence!"
"Old minister is stupid," Zheng He asked slowly, "I wonder what kind of back-up plan he has arranged?"
"People from Beijing and Shandong have colluded with the prince a lot. He has many backup plans to prepare!" Zhu Di said intermittently with sweat rolling down his face in pain, and his eyes were filled with resentment: "Shu Zi
, he is no longer afraid of me! He wants to fight me!"
Zheng He didn’t know whether Zhu Di’s Zhu Di referred to Wang Xian or the prince, but no matter which one, it would be a huge disaster for the Ming Dynasty! He wanted to persuade the emperor again, but saw Zhu Di’s face covered with sweat.
He looked like he was in unbearable pain. He quickly stopped talking, helped Zhu Di to lie down on the bed, and called the imperial doctor to come in and give Zhu Di a good acupuncture and massage. The emperor finally felt relieved, but he drove everyone out and was alone.
Lying alone in the bedroom.
Zhu Di was lying on the dragon bed in pain, looking at the double-imaged tent ceiling. He wanted to raise his hands to rub his eyes, but he couldn't. In the end, he could only give up his efforts, looked up and sighed, and said sadly in his heart:
'Heroes are old and teach Shuzi to be arrogant...'
If we go back a few years ago, even this spring, when the Dragon Body was still in good health, Zhu Di would not take Wang Xian seriously at all.
The emperor, who was bedridden and groggy, had to painfully admit that as he grew older and weaker, the Ming Dynasty had already had forces that could challenge the imperial power!
Who are they? The prince, Wang Xian or the White Lotus Sect? One name after another swirled in Zhu Di's mind, and finally settled on Wang Xian.
After thinking about it, Zhu Di discovered to his horror that Wang Xian was a more formidable opponent than the White Lotus Sect and the Prince! Although the White Lotus Sect had many soldiers and powerful forces, its foundation was shallow and could only harm one side at best. The Prince had a deep foundation and could respond to everything he called, but with his help
No one is brave enough to commit regicide! Only Wang Xian, although he seems to be alone, can use the power of the White Lotus Sect and the prince for his own use at the same time. He is so ruthless that even the prince
Sun Du dared to kill him. If he was given an opportunity, he would really dare to put a knife on the emperor's neck!
Thinking of this, Zhu Di felt a chill on his neck. Now he completely woke up and began to carefully consider how to deal with the situation in front of him!
After tossing and turning until the fourth watch, Zhu Di slowly said: "Call Zheng He."
Zheng He was waiting outside the palace. After hearing the order, he hurried to the palace, knelt in front of the emperor's bed, and asked softly: "What is the emperor's order?"
"Go and take care of a few things." Zhu Di looked at Zheng He's aging face and hissed: "Immediately send someone to stop Wang Xian and let him return to Shandong."