Chapter 822: Incense in the Taoist Palace (Part 1)
In the afternoon of the same day, the King of Jin issued an order to establish the Department of Agriculture, and appointed Wen Ji, the Minister of Household Affairs of the Southern Tang Dynasty who had resigned and returned to the north, as the Minister of the Department of Agriculture. At the same time, he was given the title of Political Affairs Officer and succeeded Xue Changshou in the Counselor Hall.
This appointment really caused an uproar in the Chang'an government and the public. Many people knew that it would be the Hedong forces, either the Wang family or the Pei family, who would enter the cabinet. However, they did not expect that Wen Ji would eventually join the cabinet.
Many people involved had their own reactions. Du Lingqiu went to Xue Xun for a drink and talked about his sorrows. Xue Xun comforted him that the counselor's office was not a life-long system and there would be opportunities.
Wei Huan was completely silent and hid in the deep compound and never showed up again. No one knew what he was thinking, but everyone close to the Wei family knew that there was a split within the Wei family. The head of the family, Wei Huan, had a falling out with another important figure in the family, Wei Yingwu. No more contact.
At the same time, the relationship between Wang Hong and Wen Ji also fell out. After Wang Hong wrote back and scolded Wen Ji, he returned to Hedong angrily. No matter how angry he was, he did not dare to fall out with Guo Song, so he had to use his anger on Wen Ji. On Ji.
Although Pei Chen was also disappointed, his performance was much better than Wang Hong. He also replied to Wen Ji with a letter, but he did not fall out, but congratulated Wen Ji on his promotion, but the Pei family's gains also came with it. , Pei Chen was appointed as the counselor by Guo Song, and he was given the title of Wenxi County Duke. Pei Chen's son Pei Jin was granted the title of governor of Fang.
The first thing Wen Ji did when he moved into the Department of Agriculture was to prepare a wheat harvest plan. The wheat was ripe and wheat harvesting had begun in various places, and Guanzhong was no exception. According to custom, all officials and imperial students had to go to the fields to harvest wheat for three days. , the specific plan was formulated by the Agriculture Department. Everyone mainly participated in harvesting wheat in the official fields. The plan was made in detail. The officials were divided into 20 wheat harvesting groups and went to various counties in Chang'an to harvest wheat.
Guo Song was in the first group. He was the leader and led more than 30 officials to Xinfeng County to participate in the wheat harvest. Last year he took his son Guo Jincheng with him, and this year there is one more person, including his daughter Guo Weiwei. This was Xue Tao's suggestion. , Guo Song readily agreed.
Before dawn, a carriage parked in front of Xianghui Building. Guo Song had already climbed on his horse and was waiting at the side. Guo Jincheng got into the carriage first. Xue Tao put a straw hat on his daughter. Guo Weiwei was in high spirits. She was wearing a warrior uniform and a tie. Wearing a cloak, a wide-brimmed straw hat, and even a willow-leaf dagger on his waist, it looked like he was going to a martial arts competition, not like cutting wheat.
"Weier, you are not really going to cut the wheat, just cut it a few times. Be careful not to tan your skin. Remember to change the underwear your mother prepared for you every day. Also, you have to follow your father. Qian Don’t run around!”
"Mom, don't worry! It's not the first time I go out."
Guo Weiwei was a little impatient, "Then I'm leaving!"
"Go! Drink more water on the way."
Guo Weiwei also got into the carriage. She and her brother were each protected by a female guard with strong martial arts skills, so there would actually be no problem.
The two siblings waved goodbye to their mother, and the carriage started slowly and drove out of the palace along the palace road. Guo Song waved goodbye to his wife and led dozens of guards to follow the carriage, and the people, horses, and vehicles gradually disappeared.
Xue Tao returned to the building and met Zhang Minqiu. She looked up at the sky and said with a smile: "There's no need to be in such a hurry, let's take a rest first, and we will set off to Yuzhen Palace after dawn!"
...........
At dawn, thousands of wheat-cutting teams have already rushed from Chang'an to various places. Guo Song also took dozens of officials and their children to Xinfeng County. Generally, children are not required to participate in wheat-cutting, but many parents want to train their children. Xi Liang will bring his children with him. For the children, this can be regarded as a three-day social practice class.
At the same time, Xue Tao set off with his two sisters and Liu Caichun. Today they went to Yuzhen Palace to pray. This is also a tradition in various places. During the autumn harvest, people will go to temples and Taoist temples in various places to burn incense and pray for good weather next year.
On the surface, they went to Yuzhen Palace to pray for blessings, but in fact they had other purposes. Liu Caichun went to see his master Li Zhi, while Xue Tao wanted to meet Ying Caihe, the master of Yuzhen Palace, and she had to explain certain things to him face to face.
There is a large-scale Dharma assembly held in Yuzhen Palace today, and lay people from all over the country have come to participate. Residents living nearby also come to Yuzhen Palace to offer incense and pray for blessings.
However, Yuzhen Palace is a Taoist temple for female Taoists, so whether they are laypeople or pilgrims, they are basically women. There is not a man in sight. Men usually go to Xuandu to temple.
Xue Tao and his two carriages slowly stopped at the side entrance of Yuzhen Palace. The abbot, Master Lingbi, had been waiting here for a long time.
The princess!"
Xue Tao smiled slightly and said: "I sent a greeting card yesterday. The Lord of Guiguan Palace must have seen it!"
"I have seen Heavenly Master Qinglian. She is waiting for the princess in the monastery behind. Master Yunxiu is also there!"
Xue Tao nodded, turned around and said to the other three people: "You go ahead! Caichun is going to see the master, Minqiu and Youlan are going to burn incense, and I'm going to see their palace master."
Dugu Youlan hesitated and said: "Sister, let's go with you!"
Xue Tao shook his head, "No need, I just need Dao Ming and Dao Yue to accompany me. You don't have to worry."
At this time, Jingyu stepped forward and clasped his hands and said, "Master is waiting for your Majesty, please come with me!"
The four of them entered Yuzhen Palace and went separately. Xue Tao, protected by two female bodyguards, followed Jingyu towards the backyard.
The two female bodyguards who protect Xue Tao are actually female Taoist priests. One of them is Dao Ming and the other is Dao Yue. They are the granddaughters of Gongsun who took her with her when she became a monk. There are four of them in total. They are all extremely skilled in martial arts, but they have not been as good as outsiders since they were young.
Contact and social experience are just a blank sheet of paper. If you don’t understand anything, it’s difficult to survive outside.
Before Gongsun became immortal, she entrusted the four of them to Guo Song. Guo Song built a small Taoist temple for them so that the four of them could have a home and not have to worry about life and could continue to practice. But at the same time, the four of them were also responsible for protecting Guo Song.
Song's family members, Dao Qing and Dao Feng, followed Dugu Youlan and Zhang Minqiu, while Dao Ming and Dao Yue, who were the most skilled in martial arts, followed Xue Tao, inseparable.
In fact, Daoming and Daoyue also knew Jingyu who led the way, and they were even familiar with each other. They were both orphans who grew up together. They practiced martial arts together and lived together. They were once as close as sisters. Jingyu and Jingyue followed Ying Caihe, and
Several people followed Li Man and eventually died in Ganzhou.
But at this time they were very silent, as if they didn't know each other.
They arrived in front of an exquisite courtyard. Ying Caihe, holding a whisk in hand and wearing a white robe, had been waiting in front of the courtyard for a long time.
Ying Caihe didn't expect that the princess wanted to see her, and she was actually a little nervous. Although she was a murderous devil, the other party was the wife of His Highness Prince Jin, and she was someone she couldn't afford to offend, so she could only try to keep her attitude down.
He used a humble attitude to welcome the arrival of the princess.
Ying Caihe stepped forward and clasped his palms together and said: "Infinite Heavenly Lord, poor Taoist Qinglian, see you, Princess!"
Xue Tao looked Ying Caihe up and down and saw that although she was wearing a Taoist robe, she had a beautiful face and good facial expressions. She seemed to be only twenty years old. Her skin was crystal white and she was very tall. She was half a head taller than him. Although she was Wearing a large Taoist robe, Xue Tao could still feel the graceful curves of her figure.
Xue Tao nodded secretly, this woman is indeed a complete beauty, no wonder her husband wants to break the precept for her, Xue Tao smiled slightly and said: "I'm disturbing the Master of Qinglian Palace today."
"Where! The princess can come and make my palace shine. Please sit in the room!"
Xue Tao nodded and walked towards the yard. Dao Ming and Dao Yue followed her like shadows. Just when Jing Yu and others were about to stop them, Ying Caihe said: "Don't stop them!"
She smiled slightly and said: "Daoming, Daoyue, long time no see. Master's physical tomb is in Yuzhen Palace. I will keep vigil for Master here for the rest of my life. You can go and pay your respects later!"
She also said this to Xue Tao. Since the princess came to her, she must have known about her relationship with Prince Jin. She didn't know if the princess came to denounce her, but she wanted to express her position in advance.
Xue Tao's face was calm, but the hostility of Dao Ming and Dao Yue had softened a lot. They built tombs for their master in Taiyuan and Chang'an respectively, but they didn't know that the physical tomb of their master was in Yuzhen Palace and was guarded by their junior uncle for life.
After Ying Caihe finished speaking, he ignored them and bowed to Xue Tao: "Princess, please come in and sit down!"
The two of them walked into the Qingxiu Hall. The layout here was extremely simple, with a couch and a table, a Zhanlu sword hanging on the wall, and a thin-necked bottle with a whisk in it next to it.
"My dear, please take a seat!"
Xue Tao sat down on the couch, and Dao Ming and Dao Yue followed her like shadows. They were very vigilant. They knew that the martial arts skills of the young martial uncle were too high, even surpassing Li Man. If she wanted to hurt the princess, they were worried about themselves. Can't resist it.
Jingyu and the others served tea to them. Dao Yue wanted to test the poison, but Xue Tao waved his hand, indicating that he didn't need it, took the tea cup and took a sip.
This small detail made Ying Caihe admire her very much. Although the princess had no martial arts skills, her self-confidence as a superior person and her mother's demeanor were far beyond her ability. She suddenly felt ashamed of herself.
Xue Tao put down the tea cup and said with a smile: "The palace master looks very young!"
Ying Caihe leaned forward and said: "To make the princess laugh, Pindao is actually thirty-one years old. He just practiced special martial arts and was able to maintain his appearance. Like my master, he still looks like he is forty or fifty years old when he is over eighty years old. "
Xue Tao nodded. She believed in this kind of martial arts that can keep her appearance. Guo Yuniang is already twenty-five or sixteen years old, but she still looks like she is fourteen or fifteen years old. They both practice the same martial arts, and it seems that her husband is the same, but he doesn't seem to be staying. Color may be different between men and women.
"Palace Master Ying, I believe the Palace Master knows the purpose of my trip very well."