Chapter 192: Twelve Bronze Figures: Gathering in Jiangfu
The Palace of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
Ji Ruxue was sitting by the small lake with Heizi and Baizi.
Jiang Erlang walked in.
At a glance, he saw a bronze statue on the ground.
Obviously, the news that Jiang Yu'er wanted to gather twelve bronze men in Jiang Mansion for exchanges had reached Ji Ruxue's ears.
And Ji Ruxue obviously had no intention of hiding it any longer.
"Erlang is here." After Ji Ruxue saw Jiang Erlang, she pointed to the grass next to her: "Today I just want to sit on the ground."
Jiang Erlang walked over and sat down next to Ji Ruxue: "Miss Ji took out this bronze figure. Are you going to Jiang Mansion to participate in the exchange meeting?"
"Why, can't I go?" Ji Ruxue raised her slender eyebrows.
"Haha, Miss Ji has a bronze figure, so of course you can go." Jiang Erlang smiled.
Ji Ruxue did not discuss this matter anymore, but looked at the lake in front of her: "Erlang went to the palace yesterday to meet the Queen Mother, was it to facilitate this matter?"
"Well, yes." Jiang Erlang did not deny it.
"According to common sense, you belong to the Queen Mother, and Jiang Yu'er belongs to His Majesty, but why do I always feel that you and Jiang Yu'er are the same person?"
"!!!" Jiang Erlang.
Is this... going to be exposed?
Sure enough, after staying with Ji Ruxue for a long time, there are many things that cannot be hidden.
Just when Jiang Erlang was thinking about how to explain...
Ji Ruxue spoke again: "Haha, it's just a joke. Erlang is just a martial artist, and Jiang Yu'er is a Confucian and has the strengths of hundreds of schools of thought. How can he and Erlang be the same person?"
"Yes, Miss Ji is still smart." Jiang Erlang immediately responded.
"Actually, when we were in Huai'an County, I knew you had won the bronze medal." Ji Ruxue said again.
"I know." Jiang Erlang nodded: "Because, the bronze figure in Huai'an County was prepared for me by Miss Ji. Otherwise, how could I be allowed to go into the river?"
"When it comes to intelligence, Erlang is smarter." Ji Ruxue sighed: "However, there are two things that I haven't figured out yet."
"What's the matter?" Jiang Erlang asked.
"The first thing is, if Jiang Yu'er wants to gather the Twelve Bronze Men because he wants to open the Immortal Gate, then Erlang is just a martial artist at the first level, why does he want to open the Immortal Gate?"
"This..." Jiang Erlang thought for a moment and replied: "Everyone wants to become an immortal. Although I am just a martial artist, I still have the dream of becoming an immortal. Isn't it an exaggeration?"
He did not shirk that it was for Great Qin, because when he said this... it was estimated that only the Queen Mother would believe it, and Ji Ruxue would not believe it.
"Haha, that Erlang's dream is quite big." Ji Ruxue took a deep look at Jiang Erlang and continued: "Second question, Jiang Yu'er only got the bronze man two days ago, but...
I heard that when Jiang Yuer was in the Mo family, he once demonstrated the medical skills of the "Huangdi Wai Jing"."
After speaking, she paused and continued: "But, as far as I know, this medical skill has always been recorded in the Bronze Man. Why would he know it?"
"Because he has traveled to the fairy world?" Jiang Erlang tentatively replied.
"Erlang really believes that he has traveled to the fairy world?"
"Everyone says this, so there shouldn't be any lies, right?"
"Well, maybe I'm overthinking it." Ji Ruxue did not ask again, but suddenly looked at Jiang Erlang: "So, what secret technique is recorded in Erlang's bronze figurine?"
"!!!" Jiang Erlang.
"If it's not convenient for Erlang to say it, it doesn't matter, but I guess it can't be such a coincidence as the "Huangdi Wai Jing", right?" Ji Ruxue raised a smile at the corner of her mouth.
Jiang Erlang looked at Ji Ruxue's beautiful face and those dark eyes, and knew in his heart that he might not be able to keep his secret for too long.
Seeing that Jiang Erlang didn't speak, Ji Ruxue slowly stood up.
She walked closer to the lake, took off the shoes and socks on her legs, put a pair of jade feet into the near-winter lake water, and created circles of ripples.
Jiang Erlang could only walk over and sit next to her again.
Ji Ruxue turned her head and glanced at Jiang Erlang: "I ask you this, not because I want you to answer me, but to prepare you for how to respond when you go to Jiang Mansion."
"Thank you, Miss Ji, for reminding me." Jiang Erlang nodded.
Because, this is really a problem!
"So, is it really the Huangdi's Foreign Canon?" Ji Ruxue tilted her head.
"..." Jiang Erlang knew that it was impossible not to confess, so he sighed: "Well, Miss Ji guessed it right. I did tell him the "Huang Di Wai Jing" that Jiang Yu'er learned.
"
"What's the reason?"
"Jiang Yu'er wanted to gather hundreds of schools under Jixia, so he had to reveal something that would interest them. He came to ask me for advice, so I told him the Huangdi Wai Jing."
"Erlang's reason... although it is a bit far-fetched, it is still feasible." Ji Ruxue smiled, and then said: "Erlang came to me today because he has other things to do, right?"
"Yes, I'm here to deliver something." Jiang Erlang nodded.
"what?"
"a lamp."
After Jiang Erlang finished speaking, he took out the oil lamp he got from Yan Yu.
All twelve stars above have lit up.
Ji Ruxue looked at the oil lamp: "This Sky Star Lamp belongs to Yan Yu. Since you got this Sky Star Lamp, it should naturally be yours. Why should you give it to me?"
"Because, this is something from Guigu." Jiang Erlang said sincerely.
"Do you know what is contained in this sky star lantern?"
"The Luck of the Six Nations."
"So you already know." Ji Ruxue was a little surprised: "Now that you know, you should understand better how beneficial this thing is to you. You are just a martial artist. It is difficult to cultivate to the point of ascension.
Climb to the sky, but if you have this star lamp, it can save you a lot of time."
"I know, so I gave it to Miss Ji."
"..." Ji Ruxue.
"If Miss Ji doesn't want it, I'll throw it into the lake."
"Have you decided?"
"Decided."
"Okay, then you can throw it into the lake."
"OK."
Jiang Erlang directly threw the star lantern in his hand into the lake.
Ji Ruxue's eyes suddenly widened. Seeing that the Star Lantern was about to fall into the lake, she jumped up and stepped on the lake water to catch the Star Lantern again.
…
An oil lamp is in hand.
Ji Ruxue stood barefoot on the lake.
But his dark eyes were fixed on Jiang Erlang's face.
Jiang Erlang curled his lips, then turned around and left: "This is the betrothal gift."
Ji Ruxue said nothing.
Wait until Jiang Erlang leaves.
Only then did she return to the lake shore, and waved to Heizi: "Heizi, let's go back."
Heizi then ran over and helped Ji Ruxue wipe the lake water on her feet, and then put shoes and socks on Ji Ruxue's feet.
Ji Ruxue stood up and walked towards the inner room.
Kuroko and Baizi followed beside him.
The two looked at each other, but Heizi couldn't help but speak: "The master... really... accepted... the... second... second... man's... betrothal gift?"
"It's just a betrothal gift. Just accept it. It doesn't mean I have to marry." Ji Ruxue replied.
"..." Heizi and Baizi.
…
Five days later.
Buddhism has received a reply from Dalei Temple in the Western Regions.
Tathagata's reply was simple: let Samantabhadra decide.
Pu Xian has received the news in the past few days, and basically all the bronze holders are preparing to attend the meeting.
Of course he wouldn't object.
Therefore, Kong Xiang is ready to participate in Jiang Mansion's exchange meeting tomorrow.
At the same time, Li Qingbai also rushed back to the capital.
Li Qingbai returned to the capital and was personally received by Emperor Pingle. All civil and military officials praised the Xijing white man for his military exploits in the shallow rocks.
However, Li Qingbai said that the real contributor was Jiang Erlang of the Night Detective Division.
Of course, this is something everyone knows very well.
Moreover, Jiang Erlang has also received a reward.
…
The second day.
Noon.
Emperor Pingle came to the gate of Jiang Mansion under the protection of the imperial guards.
Jiang Yuer greeted him at the door.
The area was surrounded by people from the capital who came to watch the excitement. After all, the court had made a decree a few days ago.
Nowadays, it is no longer a secret that the secret arts of hundreds of schools are hidden among the Twelve Bronze Men. Emperor Pingle's visit to Jiang Mansion today also means that the Twelve Bronze Men Association has officially opened.
There were not too many people attending the meeting, but definitely a lot.
Emperor Pingle, Prime Minister Han Shen, Great Master Meng Xingchen, Samantabhadra from Buddhism, Jin Lingzi from Taoism, Jiang Chaoge and other representatives of various forces, as well as Liang Wan'er, Cai Wenji and others were among them.
As for other civil and military officials, they are not eligible to participate.
Jiang Mansion was a mansion given to Jiang Yu'er by Emperor Pingle himself, and the area was not too small, so the event did not feel crowded.
The maids and servants are busy.
The person responsible for arranging all parties' affairs is Cai Wenji.
She arranged the venue for the grand gathering into an inner gathering and an outer gathering.
There are only thirteen positions in the inner meeting, of which the top position is given to Emperor Pingle, and the other twelve positions are reserved for the holders of the Twelve Bronze Men.
The external meeting is mainly for preparations like this for Pu Xian and Han Shen.
Jiang Yu'er naturally had no objection to Cai Wenji's arrangement, but what surprised him, but was not surprising... was that Xiaobai was also among them.
This Bai Wuchang...is still here!
At this time, Bai Wuchang was sitting next to Jiang Chaoge, looking very interested.
"It's strange, don't you have a bronze medal? Why were you invited to participate?" Xiaobai looked at Jiang Chaoge next to him with a puzzled look on his face.
"You don't have one either?" Jiang Chaoge asked back.
"Although I don't have one, I am Bai Wuchang from the underworld."
"Then I am the Sun-Wandering God of the Underworld."
"……"noob.
Jiang Chaoge actually knew who was behind this incident when he saw Xiaobai appear: "Did your mother-in-law ask you to come here?"
"Of course." Xiaobai did not deny it.
"My mother-in-law is very concerned about the Twelve Bronze Men?"
"As long as it has something to do with my son-in-law Ying, my mother-in-law is very concerned about it," Xiaobai replied casually.
"Really?" Jiang Chaoge thought thoughtfully: "Why is this happening? Is it because Ying's son-in-law took away a page of the "Book of Life and Death" in the underworld?"
"Yes, he took away a page from the Book of Life and Death. Of course we have to find a way to get it back."
"Take it back again?" Jiang Chaoge blinked.
He felt that the matter should be more than that simple, but judging from Xiao Bai's words, it was probably impossible to know the real reason.
…
The time is coming.
Jiang Mansion held a banquet.
All kinds of delicacies from the mountains and seas, fine wines and delicacies were laid out in a courtyard.
As the banquet was served, maids and servants shuttled among them...
After three rounds of wine and half-full meal, the maids and servants served tea again, and then they all left.
Including the imperial guards who had been guarding Emperor Pingle, all withdrew.
At this point, there are only the "hosts and guests" in the inner and outer gatherings in the courtyard.
As everyone knows, the real highlight - the Twelve Bronze Players Meeting is about to begin!
…
Inner venue.
Emperor Pingle sat on the main seat.
Jiang Yu'er, Kong Xiang, Mo Su, Li Qingbai, Ji Ruxue and others were arranged around.
Outside venue.
Prime Minister Han Shen, Great Master Meng Xingchen, Xian Pu Bodhisattva, Jin Lingzi, Jiang Chaoge and Xiaobai sat quietly, lightly tasting tea.
Jiang Yu'er then looked at Emperor Pingle: "Your Majesty, please give me a title for this grand event."
"Haha, I am not the protagonist of this grand event." Emperor Pingle waved his hand and said, "I'd better ask Mr. Jiang to give some ideas for this grand gathering."
Jiang Yuer knew what Emperor Pingle meant, it was to give him a boost of status.
After thinking about it, he agreed.
Then he said: "In this case, Jiang will boldly host this meeting of the Twelve Bronze Men."
"Mr. Jiang's fame is well deserved." Everyone responded.
"Well, three hundred years ago, hundreds of schools gathered in Jixia, and later the First Emperor ascended to the throne. Now hundreds of schools gather in Jixia again, and Buddhism from the Western Regions joins them. This gathering should be even more worth looking forward to than three hundred years ago.
"
After saying that, Jiang Yuer continued: "What I mean is, since the Hundred Schools of Debate can better promote the strengths of each school, why can't we openly and honestly reveal all the secret skills in the bronze man in our hands?"
When everyone heard this, their eyes also exchanged some words.
Bai Mei was impatient and said directly: "I, Bai Mei, agree very much with what Mr. Jiang said. Therefore, on behalf of the Bai family, I would like to share the secret skills in the Bronze Man."
After speaking, he took out the bronze figure and placed it on the table.
When the others saw this, they all fell silent for a moment, and then, the bronze figures were displayed one by one.
"My Mo family also agrees."
"Buddhism agrees."
"Taoist agrees."
"The Yin Yang family agrees." Gargamel originally didn't want to take it out so quickly, but after seeing Meng Xingchen's eyes, he still said reluctantly.
"The Meng family agrees."
"Night Detective Jiang Erlang, I agree."
"..."
"Li Qingbai, I agree."
"Lina, I agree."
Soon, eleven bronze figures were placed.
Among them, Jiang Yuer is included.
Only one person did not have a bronze figure placed in front of his table.
It's Ji Ruxue.
As a result, everyone's eyes fell on Ji Ruxue.
Jiang Yu'er saw everyone's gaze and asked politely: "Miss Ji...but do you have any questions?"