Although the Du family of Qiantang was a second-class noble family, Du Zigong was famous all over Jiangzuo. He was the most famous Taoist leader of Tianshi Dao in the Eastern Jin Dynasty. He had countless disciples, including the Wang family of Langya, the Xie family of Chenjun, the Kong family of Kuaiji, and the Yixing Zhou family. The top clans of the Qiantang clan all have their children working under him, so Du Zigong's influence in Qiantang is far greater than that of the Quan clan, the top clan in the county.
On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the door of Du's villa in the north of the city opened wide. The Tianshi Tao believers from nearby counties who had been waiting outside the gate for a long time entered the Tianshi Taoist temple in the villa one after another. Chen Caozhi brought Laifu and his son and others. Ran Sheng followed everyone into the dojo. He looked up and saw the majestic statue of Emperor Tianguan with a face as pale as gold and five long beards, sitting upright, making people awe-inspiring and afraid to make any noise.
The Heavenly Official Emperor is also known as the Blessing Heavenly Official, and also known as the Ziwei Emperor. "Tongjian of the Immortals of the Past Dynasties" also says that the Heavenly Official Emperor is Yao, who was formed by the breath of the Yuanshi Tianzun. At the same time, Shun and Yu were also formed, respectively. Officials and water officials.
Chen Caozhi simply listened to these myths and legends because his mother believed in them, and he did not dare to disobey his mother's wishes. According to some historical facts he knew in his previous life, Tianshi Dao was almost the culprit for the demise of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. In the late Eastern Jin Dynasty, The wealthy noble families monopolized power and annexed large amounts of land and labor, leading to a serious social crisis. Sun Tai, the Heavenly Master, and Sun En's uncles and nephews took the opportunity to gather people to cause trouble, especially Sun En, who destroyed You Lie and massacred local officials and nobles wherever he went. Looting property, burning down houses, and filling up wells, forcing the people to follow them and flee -
Chen Caozhi just learned today that Sun Tai was Du Zigong's disciple. Du Zigong was away in Qiantang and went to Jiankang to preside over Tianguan's birthday celebration. Sun Tai presided over the celebration here.
Sun Tai was in his twenties, wearing a Taoist robe and mango shoes, and wiping his forehead with yellow silk. His facial expression looked quite stern. He led the believers to pray to the heavenly official for blessings. He asked the believers to abstain from eating meat and vegetables from now on, and the ban would be lifted after seven days. Believers are asked to repent and think about their mistakes in front of the statue of Heavenly Official——
Chen Caozhi also stepped forward to pay homage to the Heavenly Official. When he stood up to leave, Sun Tai stopped him: "Are you Chen Caozhi from Chenjiawu?"
Chen Caozhi saluted and said, "Chen Caozhi has met Brother Tao."
Sun Tai looked at him a few times and asked, "What did you confess to Tianguan?"
Chen Caozhi said calmly: "According to the laws of Taoism, I can only repent to the Emperor of Heaven."
Sun Tai's expression changed slightly and he sneered: "Repent to Ge Hong too!"
Ge Hong is the founder of the Golden elixir sect of Taoism and is also a disciple of the Tianshi Tao. Although it is very different from the Tianshi Tao taught by Du Zigong, both Ge and Du are Taoist men whose character is valued by the world. Du Zigong has also heard that Chen Caozhi did not show any displeasure when he accepted Ge Hong as his disciple, but Sun Tai was indignant and believed that Chen Caozhi was betraying Du Taoist leader. Although Du Taoist leader did not expressly want to punish Chen Caozhi, But as Du Daoshou's able disciple, he should naturally serve his master, so when he saw Chen Caozhi, he opened his mouth to question him.
Chen Caozhi didn't want to offend Sun Tai now, so he said: "I only asked Master Ge for advice on Confucian classics. My metaphysical problems did not involve Taoist classics. Dr. Xu from Jingkou also believed in the Tao of Heavenly Masters, and I also worshiped him as my teacher to study Confucianism. Xuexuan, there is nothing wrong with this."
Sun Tai stared at Chen Caozhi, who looked at him calmly. For a long time, Sun Tai said: "At the beginning of April, Taoist leader Du will return from Jiankang. Then you can explain to Taoist Du how he joined another division. Wait. The Chief Tribunal."
Chen Caozhi responded and took Ran Sheng and Laifu and his son out of Du's villa, thinking: "I was in Wu County in April. Why did I come back to hear the verdict? How do you want to punish me? Expell me from Tianshi Dao?"
"I thought again: "It would be very bad if Jiang Zuo Tianshi Dao is mastered by Sun Tai, Sun En's uncle and nephew. Sun En should be a young child now, maybe he has not been born yet -"
Ding Chunqiu followed his father to attend the Tianguan's birthday celebration. He had seen Chen Caozhi a long time ago, and it was difficult to talk to him in the dojo. Then he chased him out and called out: "Zizhong - Zizhong -"
Chen Caozhi stopped and turned around to greet him and told him about his departure for Wu County on the sixth day of the next month.
Ding Chunqiu said: "Well, then you, monk, will meet me at Ding's villa and then set off together."
Ding Chunqiu also invited Chen Caozhi to go with him to the villa outside Dongmen now, and then return to Chenjiawu after lunch.
Chen Caozhi was about to visit his sister-in-law Ding Youwei, and immediately went with Ding Chunqiu happily.
Ding Chunqiu asked Chen Caozhi what he had just said to Sun Tai, and Sun Tai seemed to be quite unhappy.
Chen Caozhi smiled and said: "Sun Tai accused me of not taking Ge Hong as his teacher and asked me to wait for Du Taoist leader to come back and repent."
Ding Chunqiu laughed loudly: "Sun Tai was completely jealous. Zi Zhong must not have known something. Before Sun Tai followed Du Daoshou, he wanted to learn alchemy from Ge Hong as his teacher, but Ge Hong turned him away. He
You probably have a grudge against Ge Hong, but since you are favored by Ge Hong, he will naturally dislike you."
Chen Caozhi smiled and said: "I see, it seems that I am in quite a lot of trouble."
Ding Chunqiu said: "It doesn't matter. Du Dao leader has a clear mind and will not let him do anything wrong. Sun Tai is from the north and has no foundation in Qiantang."
Ding Yi also came over in an ox cart. When he saw Chen Caozhi, he nodded and said, "Does Caozhi want to see Youwei?"
Chen Caozhi saluted and said, "I'm getting ready to go."
Ding Yi said: "Youwei has been a little sick recently, you might as well go and visit her."
Ding Chunqiu said in surprise: "Is Third Sister sick? Why didn't I know?"
Ding Yi said: "I only found out yesterday that my maid Axiu said that Xiaowei had epigastric pain and no desire to eat. I have ordered people to go to the city to seek medical treatment."
Chen Caozhi frowned, worried about his sister-in-law, and said: "Ding Sheren, Cao Zhi has a request, and I hope Ding Sheren will fulfill it."
Ding Yi said: "Well, please tell me."
Chen Cao said: "Cao Zhi wants to bring Zong Zhi and Run'er to visit their mother. Please ask Ding Sheren to make it happen."
Ding Yi hesitated for a moment and said: "It is magnanimous for me to allow your uncle and nephew to visit the villa twice a year. If we visit frequently, wouldn't it be in vain? It's just that this time it is Xiaowei who is ill."
, let Zongzhi and Runer come and go back in three days."
Chen Caozhi thanked Ding Yi and felt a little sad in his heart. Zongzhi said that if Run'er wanted to visit his sick mother, he would need someone else's approval. Why? It's because of the disparity in status. The status of this noble family is really necessary.
Chen Caozhi immediately ordered Laifu to drive back to Chenjiawu and send Zongzhi and Run'er to Ding's villa early tomorrow morning. He also told Laifu not to treat Zongzhi with his mother for the time being. Run'er said that his sister-in-law Ding Youwei was ill.
Fu agreed and drove off.
Chen Caozhi followed Ding Yi, and Ding Chunqiu and his son came to Ding's villa. The doctor from the city had not arrived yet, so Ding Chunqiu accompanied Chen Caozhi to visit Ding Youwei first.
The small courtyard was deserted, the snow had been swept aside, and the old servant woman was fetching water and washing her clothes. Neither Axiu nor Yuyan could see her figure, so she must be in Ding Youwei's room.
When Chen Caozhi and Ding Chunqiu came upstairs, they met Yu Yan, who was preparing to go downstairs with her brows furrowed. When they saw Chen Caozhi, they were surprised and asked, "Why is Mr. Cao Zhi here?" He then raised his voice and said, "Madam.
