Chapter 564: Rejecting the Emperor and the Banquet
The Bianhe River is surging and flowing endlessly.
Chu Feng was silent for a long time as he looked at the various boats passing by on the river.
Taoist Cuixuan had already said goodbye and left without making any demands. However, his intention was clearly expressed, and the entire Taoist sect placed their treasure on King Duan Zhao Ji, hoping that he would not cause trouble.
However, there was one thing that puzzled him, and he hadn't even figured it out yet.
I learned from the old Taoist mouth that the Ninth Prince Zhao Yi and the Thirteenth Prince Zhao Si were both involved in Buddhism, so they should be the candidates supported by the other party.
However, it was completely different from what he knew. I remember that in the Li Mansion that day, the real old monk Wu took the initiative to propose to Li Gefei that Li Qingzhao marry into Prince Duan's Mansion. From this, it can be seen that the other party should be more optimistic about Zhao Ji. How did he get there?
Cuixuan Taoist here, has become a supporter of the other two?
"Could it be that Mayfly Temple and Buddhism are not the same? However, the other party clearly lives in Kaibao Temple, and his status is not low..."
The more I think about it, the more it becomes unfathomable and confusing.
"Buddhism and Taoism are fighting each other. There is also the Mayfly Temple and the mysterious Holy Lord behind it. What purpose does it have in the overall situation of the world?" After a pause, Chu Feng suddenly smiled strangely and murmured to himself.
road,
"Perhaps, it's not a bad thing."
…
The red sun sets in the west, and it's almost evening.
Chu Feng said goodbye to the Lu brothers and sisters, separated from Yun Huan'er, and then returned to the mansion.
However, before entering the palace gate, I suddenly saw a pair of strange people approaching in the distance. From the looks of their clothes, they should obviously come from the palace.
"So fast?"
Chu Feng frowned. During the day, Master Cuixuan had warned him, but he didn't expect that within a day, someone from the palace would come over.
"May I ask, are you Master Chu of Chu Feng?"
"It's Chu."
"Then you are the Master Feiyun who made the Flying Immortal Picture in Yunhuan Pavilion?"
"It's also Chu."
Looking at the palace servant dressed as a chamberlain in front of him, Chu Feng did not deny it and nodded again.
"That's great." After hearing this, the waiter suddenly looked overjoyed, and then said seriously,
"The officials have issued an oral decree, announcing that the real person will come to the palace to have an audience."
"Now?"
Chu Feng looked at the sky and saw that it was getting late and it would be dark soon.
"Now is the time, please."
The chamberlain urged again, but his heart twitched secretly. This was an official summons. Why did this person's expression and tone seem to be somewhat reluctant?
"Haha." Chu Feng sneered slightly and refused directly,
"I'm sorry, Chu is tired today. Let's go another day."
Just saying something casually, just like calling a servant, obviously does not value yourself that much. If you agree, wouldn't you be looking down on yourself?
"You...you are bold, how dare you..."
The chamberlain was stunned at first, and then became furious. It was too arrogant for a Taoist priest of unknown origin to defy the official summons.
However, before he could speak again, Tieshan's huge figure like an iron tower suddenly came forward, with a pair of copper bell-like eyes that were full of cold light and full of icy coldness.
The waiter felt an inexplicable fear in his heart and asked tremblingly:
"You...what are you going to do?"
"You go back and tell the officials that the opportunity has not come yet and it is inconvenient for Chu to meet him."
Chu Feng replied calmly, and then walked straight into the house. Tieshan then snorted, pulled up the carriage, and followed suit.
The waiter was a little confused. He had never expected this situation, and he didn't know how to deal with it. If he went back in such a dejected manner, wouldn't it look like he was incompetent and couldn't even handle such a small thing?
…
Night falls, in Prince Duan's Mansion.
Zhao Ji sat in the study, listening to the information sent back by his men, and couldn't help but reveal a strange smile in his eyes.
"What's the situation in the palace now? Did the chamberlain report everything about it?"
"My lord, I don't know. The official has actually been in a coma. Even the Master Feiyun who was summoned today gave the order in a hurry when he woke up, and then fell asleep again."
"That's it." Zhao Ji's eyes flickered, and he didn't know what he thought of, and suddenly asked again,
"Say, how about I go to the Chu Mansion in person tonight and pay a visit to Master Chu?"
"Absolutely not." The servant hurriedly tried to dissuade him.
"This is a critical period. Your Majesty, it is best not to take any extraordinary actions to avoid attracting criticism. Even the last time we went to Yunhuan Pavilion, it was already extremely dangerous."
"What's more, we don't know that person's thoughts, so there is no need to take such a risk. He flatly refused the official summons today. I think he will definitely be at the forefront of the storm in the next few days, and every move will attract the attention of countless people.
, never get close."
"It's a pity, it's a pity." Zhao Ji sighed, paused, and then asked again,
"How about my royal brothers and my younger brothers? Is there anything strange about them?"
"His Royal Highness King Jian came to the palace in person today. He first came to check on the official's condition, and then went to see the concubine... As for King Shen and the other royal highnesses, they didn't do much."
"Haha, it seems that Brother Thirteen is becoming more and more unable to bear it. Unfortunately, the concubine's temperament has always been gentle, so I'm afraid she won't be of much help." Zhao Ji looked calm, obviously not worried about this,
"Where is the Queen Mother? How about the things I asked you to prepare?"
"Don't worry, Your Majesty, everything is ready."
"Very good. I will send it to Bao Ci Palace in person tomorrow. I think the empress will definitely be satisfied."
…
A Taoist priest of unknown origin created a mysterious and extraordinary "Picture of Flying Immortals" in a brothel, which naturally attracted too many people's attention.
At a certain level, certain secrets cannot be hidden. What's more, instead of hiding it, the person involved deliberately revealed it. Therefore, all the information about this real Feiyun was investigated in a very short period of time.
Clearly.
No one thought that this so-called Master Feiyun turned out to be just a scholar who had just entered Beijing and planned to take the provincial examination next year. However, for some unknown reason, he suddenly became a Taoist priest.
The reason is unknown, and the more we investigate, the more difficult it becomes to understand. However, these are no longer important now. Just today, the other party flatly refused the official summons.
This is interesting. This situation spread out as quickly as possible, and almost everyone among the upper-class people in Bianjing knew about it.
"Is he...is he crazy?" Xiaohuan exclaimed in disbelief in the front yard of Li's house after receiving the news from his servant.
Without daring to hesitate, he immediately ran towards the back house.
However, after the girl listened to her story, she was not too worried. Instead, she looked slightly surprised, and her watery eyes revealed an unabashed splendor.
"I didn't expect that he still has such character."
"Girl, aren't you worried about his safety?" Xiaohuan asked with some confusion.
"Why are you worried? Do you think there is any danger in his being like a god who can fly into the sky and escape from the earth?"
"Ah...yes, how could I forget this?"
Xiaohuan was stunned for a moment, then realized what he was doing and smiled unnaturally.
"He's back already?"
"I'll go back home in the evening." Xiaohuan nodded, paused, and suddenly tried with some uncertainty,
"Why did the girl ask this? Could it be that she was planning to..."
"is it not OK?"
"Of course not." Xiaohuan still couldn't understand what his girl was thinking. She was afraid that she wanted to visit next door, so she immediately stopped her.
"You haven't left the cabinet yet, so you must not act like this. If it spreads, what's the point?"
"It's so close. As long as you don't tell, no one will know."
"How come there is no one? There are so many maids and women in the house next door. Who can guarantee that they will not be seen?" Xiaohuan pulled the other person's arm and shook it, pleading,
"Girl, please be calm. If I let the master know about it, don't peel off my skin. Besides, your body is not well yet, so for the time being, you should focus on your cultivation."
"Haha, I'm just teasing you. I didn't really mean to go there, but I scared you like this." Li Qingzhao suddenly smiled, and his beautiful face bloomed like a flower.
"Girl, you...you actually lied to me." Xiaohuan immediately stopped complying. He suddenly raised his palm and began to use his usual tricks to take revenge.
Probably knowing the power of this move, Li Qingzhao dodged and begged for mercy in time. Xiaohuan just pretended, and naturally took the opportunity to stop, paused, and suddenly asked again,
"Girl, do you like Mr. Chu?"
Hearing this, Li Qingzhao was suddenly stunned. In fact, she had never thought about it like this. It had not even been a month since the two met, and they had only met formally a few times. It was really not a big deal.
Familiar with.
However, I don’t know since when, I have had the shadow of the other person in my heart. Day, night, leisure, busy, too many times, I always think of the other person unconsciously.
"Maybe, I'm not sure."
She didn't hide anything about her personal maid, she just said it outright.
"But what should I do with the master? He can't agree to it."
Xiaohuan couldn't help but shook his head secretly when he thought of Chu Feng's identity.
It was okay to be a poor candidate in the past. If I can go to high school next year, it is not without hope. However, now that I have given up the imperial examination and become a Taoist monk, it is absolutely impossible.
"Let nature take its course." Li Qingzhao sighed, but did not want to think about it any more. Maybe it was just his own wishful thinking, and others might not agree.
"Is daddy back?"
"Just returned home."
"That's it." Li Qingzhao thought for a while and suddenly said,
"Young Master Chu has saved my life and I must repay it. You go to find dad immediately and inform him of his return."
Xiaohuan sighed inwardly. It seemed that her girl still hadn't given up on wanting to see him, but had chosen a roundabout way. However, this was good, at least the master would have an explanation.
"Okay then, I'll go right away."
After saying that, he turned around and left the room.
In the Chu Mansion, it was as quiet as ever.
"I think the information has been spread and started to ferment, right? But I wonder how the princes, especially Zhao Ji, will react when they hear the news?" Chu Feng stood alone in front of the window, looking at the gradually darkening sky.
Tianse, murmured to himself.
Now that he has been paid attention to by the Taoist sect, he should deal with it, otherwise, he will become passive in the future, which is not the result he wants.
In the evening, he refused the official's summons. Firstly, the command-like attitude of the other party was indeed not respectful, which made him unhappy. Secondly, it was also an opportunity to express his position.
In this way, both the Dao Sect and the weird Ephemera Temple will be temporarily relaxed. Of course, it is only temporary. It is a critical period for the change of power, and no one will be too distracted.
However, once the dust settles, all eyes will turn towards him again. At that time, I am afraid that I will no longer be able to escape and must face this head-on.
"Unfortunately, we still don't know who will win, and it's not up to you to decide how things will turn out."
Chu Feng was talking to himself speciously, but no one knew what he was thinking.
"Da da da……"
But at this moment, the sound of light footsteps came, interrupting his contemplation. Without looking back, he could tell that the person who came was none other than Xiaocui.
"Sir, the housekeeper from the Li Mansion next door is here in person."
"oh?"
Chu Feng looked slightly surprised. Why did the Li family send someone here at this time? Without thinking much, he followed Xiao Cui and walked straight to the front yard.
As soon as he entered the living room, he immediately saw the person coming. He was an older man. His demeanor and temperament were quite similar to Butler Zheng in the mansion.
"I've met Mr. Chu."
"You're here so late, but you have something important to do?" Chu Feng sat down in the middle and asked.
"Indeed, it is true, but there is no urgent matter." The housekeeper of the Li Mansion nodded, then took out a white post from his arms and handed it over respectfully.
"It's like this. My master was very happy when he heard that Young Master Chu had returned to the mansion, so he prepared a dinner in the mansion and wanted to invite the Young Master to come and have a chat."
"I see."
Chu Feng took the invitation and looked at his name on the red sticker, and suddenly realized.
I saved Li Qingzhao's life that day, and then left in a hurry without much communication. Given the other person's character, the life-saving grace cannot be ignored, and he must be repaid. It is also appropriate to treat him to a meal and express his gratitude.
Chu Feng fumbled for the invitation, but did not agree immediately. On the contrary, he was thinking about another thing.
What he did in the evening, he must have known about it as Li Gefei. To put it bluntly, what he did was to contradict the king, and to be honest, it was considered treason.
That is to say, he has the status of a Taoist priest and is a monk, so he will not attract too much attention from the royal family. Even so, both the royal family and scholars will probably choose to avoid suspicion.
As a member of the Ministry of Etiquette, Li Gefei not only did not do this, but still chose to treat himself to a banquet, which was a bit thought-provoking.
You must know that the situation of the other party in the court at this time is not good, especially if he has offended the prime minister of the dynasty, he is extremely unpopular. If you choose to get close to yourself now, are you not afraid that the other party will use excuses to attack?
"Okay, you go back first. Chu will tidy up and he will arrive later."
"In this way, I will retire first."
Naturally, the butler would not object. He bowed respectfully again, turned around and left.
Looking at the other party's disappearing back, Chu Feng was silent for a while, as if something suddenly occurred to him, he couldn't help but smile to himself, and then told Xiao Cui:
"Ask Butler Zheng to prepare a gift, I will take it away later."
After saying that, he left alone and headed straight back to the bedroom.