The Eastern Jin Dynasty called the forbidden province Taicheng, so it called the forbidden city Taicheng. Emperor Jin and Yuan, with the help of Wang Dao, established an ancestral temple in Jiankang, and called Dongfu Taicheng, which was extremely frugal. Emperors Yuan and Ming did not reform it. It was not expanded until the reign of Emperor Cheng of Xiankang. It had three layers of inner and outer palace walls. The palace's general institutions and garrisons were arranged within the outer palace wall. The second layer of palace walls housed the central government offices, with the imperial court and the Shangshu Province on the east side, and the palace walls on the west side. There are Zhongshu Province, Secret Pavilion (Royal Library) and Yongfu Province where the prince lives, etc.; the third palace wall is the real inner garden of the palace, with the court area in front, the Taiji Hall, the main building, and the Taiji Hall parallel to it. East hall, west hall; the back is the sleeping area, the front is the emperor's sleeping Qiandian, also known as Zhongzhai, and the back is the Xianyang hall where the back sleeping is. Each is a group of palace courtyards, with wing halls built on both sides, forming the Taiji Hall. The three similar halls are arranged side by side. The three halls of Tai Chi, Shi Qian, Xianyang and the south gate of Tai Chi Hall and the main gate of the palace together form the central axis of the whole palace. To the north of the sleeping area is the inner garden Hualin Garden——
Zhongshu Xisheng and Shangshu Secretary Pavilion were separated in the court hall. Chen Caozhi followed Shangshu Pushe Wang Biaozhi from Xisheng via a long corridor to the third palace gate. Zhang Ping, the minister, and Zhang Changzong met in front of the palace gate. Welcome, Zhang Ping is Zhang Mo's brother. Chen Caozhi and Gu Kaizhi once visited Zhang Mansion. Zhang Ping admired Chen Caozhi very much, and he bowed his hands to Wang Biaozhi and Chen Caozhi and said: "Wang Shangshu, Mr. Chen, please Go to the east hall of Tai Chi Hall and wait a moment, the emperor will arrive soon."
Shizhong was originally an official attached to the prime minister. Those with this position could enter and leave the palace and serve as the emperor's attendants. Since the Han Dynasty, their status has become increasingly noble. They often accompany the emperor and do not do any chores. They work with the regular attendants on horseback to prepare advisors to deal with the situation and fill in the gaps. Ranked in the third rank, he became an important official in the Qing Dynasty.
Chen Caozhi came to Taicheng for the first time, and he didn't know why Emperor Sima Pi was summoned. Even though he was calm, he still felt a little uneasy. However, the palace of the Eastern Jin Dynasty was really shabby, not as luxurious as the mansions of aristocratic families, and could not be given to people. With a sense of solemnity, the Tai Chi Hall in front of you is the most magnificent building in the Taicheng Palace. It was built in the first year of Yongchang, Emperor Yuan of Jin Dynasty. It was presided over by Guo Pu, who was the minister at the time. Guo Pu was good at Kanyu and chose the site for the construction. It is said that the Taiji Hall coincides with the image of the nine stars in Luoshu. Unexpectedly, within ten years, Su Jun rebelled and led his troops into Jiankang, burning Taiji City. The Taiji Hall and the east and west pavilions were reduced to ashes. After the rebellion was put down, the new palace was rebuilt on the original site. Taiji Hall and East Hall, Xi Province, have been in use for thirty years. The civil structure of the palace has become quite dilapidated, which shows the decline of the imperial family in the Eastern Jin Dynasty.
The attendants on duty led Zhang Ping, Wang Biaozhi and Chen Caozhi into the east hall of the Tai Chi Hall. The two people in the hall stood up and greeted Wang Biaozhi and Zhang Ping. One of them said to Chen Caozhi: "Cao Come, come and sit under me."
The person who spoke was Sima Yu, the king of Kuaiji, with clear eyebrows and clear eyes. The other person was Gao Song, the servant.
Sima Yu looked at Chen Caozhi and said with a smile: "I talked about you with the emperor yesterday. Even if the emperor wants to summon you, it is rare for the emperor to love you so much."
Wang Biao said: "The emperor is thirsty for talents, which is the blessing of the country."
Sima Yu smiled and asked: "Cao Zhi, did you benefit from hearing that the branch master invited you to talk about Buddhism yesterday?"
Chen Caozhi leaned forward and said: "Zhi Gong has a lot of spiritual principles. Cao Zhi benefited greatly from his teachings. Cao Zhi was lucky enough to meet Wang Youjun at Dong'an Temple and got his calligraphy guidance. I am very lucky!"
Sima Yu raised his eyebrows: "Have Master Yi returned to Beijing? Cao Zhi was really lucky. He was able to support the father-in-law in one day. Master Yi taught him——"
The eunuch on duty spread the word: "King Langya has arrived."
The servants of the minister shot Wang Biaozhi, and the attendants Zhang Ping and Gao Song quickly stood up. Chen Caozhi also stood in front of his seat, but Sima Yuan could not sit still.
Sima Yi, the king of Langya, was the younger brother of the current emperor Sima Pi. He was first granted the title of King of Donghai. After Sima Pi ascended the throne from King Langya, he renamed Sima Yi the king of Langya.
During the Eastern Jin Dynasty, King Langya was an extremely important prince. Emperor Sima Rui of the Jin Yuan Dynasty was the King of Langya before he crossed to the south. Therefore, once a prince was granted the title of King of Langya, he was obviously a candidate for heir apparent. The current emperor Sima Pi has no children. The Queen Mother Chu Suanzi issued an edict to change the title of King Sima Yi of the East China Sea to King Langya, and added the title of King of Langya. He also added a servant, a general of hussars, and three divisions of Kaifu Yitong. His status in the royal family was second only to that of King Sima Yu of Kuaiji.
Sima Yi, king of Langya, is twenty-one years old this year. He is fair and thin. He applies powder and incense. When he is in front of the palace, the fragrance has hit him first. He salutes Sima Yu and says: "Well, uncle, Emperor."
Sima Yu nodded and said: "Yanling, sit down."
Sima Yu was of high seniority and was the youngest son of Emperor Ming of Jin Dynasty. Emperor Cheng of Jin Dynasty, the father of Sima Pi and Sima Yi, even called Sima Yu his uncle.
Wang Biaozhi, Zhang Ping, Gao Song, and Chen Caozhi all bowed to Sima Yi, the king of Langya. Sima Yi returned the courtesy one by one without a trace of arrogance. He smiled at Chen Caozhi and said, "I heard that Chen Zizhong was chatting elegantly in the palace of our emperor's uncle. The episode was a blockbuster, but it’s a pity that Xiao Wang didn’t participate.”
Chen Caozhi said a few words of humility, and glanced at the middle-aged man following Sima Yi. He was wearing a Taoist crown and a plump cheeks. He was Lu Song, the great priest of Tianshi Tao!
Sima Yi introduced Lu Song to everyone with a very respectful tone, which made Chen Caozhi secretly alert. This Lu Song had a rift with him and now clings to King Langya, which is a disaster.
Lu Chang smiled and bowed to everyone one by one. He looked at Chen Caozhi as if he were meeting him for the first time. He smiled broadly and looked up at each other for a long time, seeming to have forgotten the quarrels they met on the road that day.
At this time, the chamberlain sent word that the emperor had arrived.
The young and energetic Emperor Sima Pi sat on the royal bed. After everyone had finished bowing, he said: "Chen Caozhi, I heard that you are a disciple of Ge Hong?"
Chen Cao said: "Yes, I have been taught by Master Ge, and I will never forget it."
Emperor Sima Pi said: "Ge Hong was refining alchemy in Luofu Mountain. I sent people twice to invite him to the capital, but he refused. If I had not respected him as a master of alchemy, I would have ordered Yu Yun, the governor of Guangzhou, to forcibly send him to the capital. Well, since you are Ge Hong’s disciple, you will refine the Three Immortals Pills for me.”
Chen Caozhi frowned slightly. It was ridiculous that Emperor Sima Pi summoned him in such a hurry just to ask him to make alchemy. He immediately said: "Your Majesty, I don't know how to make alchemy. I only studied Confucianism and metaphysics under Ge Shi, and it didn't involve anything." Jindan Avenue.”
Emperor Sima Pi was disappointed beyond words, and was no longer interested in Chen Caozhi. He shook his head and sighed, feeling helpless that he was an emperor but could not live forever.
Sima Yu and Wang Biaozhi looked at each other and shook their heads. Emperor Sima Pi believed in the words of the alchemist. In order to seek longevity, he had stopped eating grain bait and medicine recently, which meant that he did not eat anything and only took medicine. Sima Yu advised him a few times. Every time, they didn’t listen.
Gao Song, one of the servants, admonished: "Your Majesty, cut off the grain and feed the medicine. This is not something that a king of ten thousand chariots should do. Your Majesty, you are here to do this, in order to realize the eclipse of the sun and the moon."
Emperor Sima Pi couldn't hear it and yawned.
King Sima Yu of Kuaiji signaled Chen Cao's advice. Chen Cao was good at eloquence and was a disciple of Ge Hong. Maybe the emperor would listen to his good advice.
Chen Caozhi said casually: "Your Majesty, I once heard Master Ge say, 'Those who want to seek immortality should be based on loyalty, filial piety, obedience, and benevolence. If you do not practice virtue and only seek alchemy, you will not live forever.' Please think again."
"
Emperor Sima Yu was not very polite to Chen Caozhi, who was a disciple of Ge Hong but could not make elixirs. He waved his hand and said: "Since you don't know how to make elixirs, you don't know anything about the immortal way."
Langya King Sima Yi reported at this time: "Your Majesty, my brother recommends a Taoist Immortal Master——"
"Who?" Emperor Sima Pi perked up and looked at the Taoist with broad forehead and plump cheeks sitting behind Langya King Sima Yu.
Lu Song stood up and bowed his head and said: "My minister Fan Yang, Lu Song, is here to offer wine to the Heavenly Master of Xuzhou. I admire His Majesty's power and am willing to do my little service."
Chen Caozhi sneered in his heart: "The way of worshiping the Tianshi Tao is so grand and grand, just like the officials conferred by the imperial court." But looking at the other people in the hall, there is no difference. It is obvious that the Tianshi Tao is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, and this sacrificial wine is very powerful.
Prestige.
Emperor Sima Pi asked with great interest: "What magic does Lu Jijiu have?"
Emperor Sima Pi was most fond of mysterious alchemy and elixirs. Lu Song was obviously prepared for this. He glanced at the east hall and said solemnly: "Your Majesty, there are wandering souls wandering in the east hall. As soon as I came in, I felt a sinister atmosphere.
"
Emperor Sima Pi was shocked. It goes without saying that people who long for immortality are extremely reverent to ghosts and gods. Even King Sima Yu of Kuaiji and his servant Wang Biaozhi showed horror.
Lu Chang looked solemn, as if facing a formidable enemy, and asked solemnly: "Did anyone die while building this temple?"
Emperor Sima Pi shook his head, but asked Sima Yu, King of Kuaiji: "The emperor's uncle must know——"
Sima Yu frowned and said: "The Taiji Palace was burned down by the traitor Su Jun, and a palace maid was burned to death——"
Lu Chang held up his palm and said: "Yes, it is the ghost of a woman. However, Your Majesty is the Lord of Ten Thousand Vehicles and is protected by the gods. This female ghost is not evil, so it is no problem."
Lu Chang said it was okay, but Emperor Sima Pi was still frightened. This was the place where he often summoned his ministers. There was an invisible and intangible female ghost that often floated around. Although he was the emperor and protected by the gods, he was still afraid.
Ah, said: "Please give me some wine to drive away this ghost. I will give you a heavy reward."
Lu Chang said: "Your Majesty, I guarantee that this female ghost will never endanger Your Majesty. There are also good ghosts and evil ghosts. The soul of this palace maid lingers here just to miss the prosperity of the palace. There is no harm.
There is no need to get rid of them, there are many ghosts in the world, and only bad ghosts can harm people, and the rest will be fine."
The more Lu Chang said that female ghosts were harmless, the more Emperor Sima Pi had to ask Lu Da to offer wine to exorcise the ghosts, otherwise he would feel uneasy.
Chen Caozhi watched with cold eyes, seeing Lu La playing hard to get, and looking like a charlatan, and was extremely disgusted. However, everyone from the emperor Sima Pi to the king of Kuaiji, Sima Yu, the king of Langya, Sima Yi, Wang Biaozhi, and Zhang Ping, all
He seemed trusting. Only Gao Song, the attendant, frowned, obviously dissatisfied with Lu Chang's words and deeds in the east hall of the main hall.
Lu Chang made some pretense, and then agreed to exorcise the ghosts. He said that he had four disciples waiting outside the palace gate, holding corresponding tools to exorcise ghosts, and asked Your Majesty to announce them to the upper hall of the palace.
Emperor Sima Pi immediately ordered his servants to pass on Lu Jijiu and four of his disciples to go to the Tai Chi Hall.
