The autumn wind caused the yellowish leaves to roll about in the courtyard. Li Qingshan raised his gaze from the fallen leaves and gazed at the walls of the imperial palace nearby. He squinted his eyes slightly and took out a white handkerchief to cover his mouth. He coughed gently before carefully folding the handkerchief and hiding it in his sleeve.
He was the Nation Master of the Tang Empire with a high status. He was famous for being a prankster in Chang 'an. However, with the increase of wrinkles, he looked older and quieter.
Thinking of the old people who had passed away in the past year, Li Qingshan's eyes showed a trace of worry. Although it was natural for people to grow old and die, he still felt a little sad that so many old friends had passed away in such a short time. As the abbey dean of the Southern School Temple of Haotian Taoism, he could not help but worry whether this represented some kind of God's will.
In the palace, the Emperor seemed healthy, but in reality, his body was deteriorating with each passing year. Xu Shi had aged even more in the last two years. If the people of his generation were still alive, then they would all be old. How could they not worry about the future of the Great Tang?
If the Headmaster was always there, the Tang Empire would not have any problems. Even if there were some problems, they would just be some ripples in the pond. However, the Headmaster would leave one day.
A yellow oil paper umbrella was quietly placed on the shiny black wooden floor.
He Mingchi knelt behind Li Qingshan and did not see the worried look on his teacher's face. He whispered, "The God-stunning Array is related to the safety of the Tang Empire. The array eye has always been kept by the Southern School Temple. Uncle Master Yan Se passed it to Ning Que, but Senior Brother Ning Que has been missing for a long time. We should take it back and return it to His Majesty to avoid suspicion. It seems inappropriate to keep it in the Academy."
Li Qingshan shook his head and said, "Since Senior Brother passed it to Ning Que, the Academy can temporarily keep it. Remember, although we are from Taoism, we must understand the true meaning of the Academy to the Tang Empire."
He Mingchi agreed.
Li Qingshan turned around and looked at the chessboard in front of him. He reached out and gently picked up a black chess piece in the middle of the chessboard. He said, "Compared to the Lanke Temple, my chess skills are extremely ordinary, or even terrible. However, I am confident that I can compete with the monks in the Lanke Temple in terms of understanding the Way of Heaven from the chessboard. One night, I once saw a horse carriage blocking the road on the chessboard. I did not know what it was, but now that I know that night was the beginning of Ning Que's enlightenment, I can vaguely understand something. It's fine if he dies, but if he doesn't, it will really be trouble for the Tang Empire."
He Mingchi understood what his teacher meant. If Ning Que and the daughter of Yama were dead, then the world would continue to move forward peacefully. If Ning Que and the daughter of Yama were still alive, then what would the Academy's attitude be? What should the Great Tang do? Would he become the enemy of the entire world?
Li Qingshan stared at the chessboard silently for a very long time.
The fallen leaves in the courtyard were still rolling, making a rustling sound.
"If I am still alive when His Majesty leaves, I will stand by Her Highness and support Prince Li Huiyuan to inherit the throne. If I die, I hope you can lead the Southern Gate Temple to do the same."
Li Qingshan suddenly said.
He Mingchi was shocked and suddenly looked up at his teacher.
Who would inherit the throne of the Tang Empire was a matter that no one dared to openly discuss in the past few years. However, as the coughing in the imperial study became deeper and more uncomfortable, there was finally such a discussion in Chang 'an.
However, when it came from Li Qingshan's mouth, it was completely different from the discussion in the teahouse or on the street. Because in his opinion, His Majesty would not be able to hold on for too long even if he could.
What shocked He Mingchi even more was the teacher's choice. Everyone in the Tang Empire knew that the Empress and the Nation Master were very close. If so, why did he choose to support Li Yu and her brother?
He Mingchi immediately thought of the letter that Ning Que sent back to Chang 'an from Qinghe Prefecture last summer. At that time, Li Qingshan asked him to give the letter directly to Her Highness, so he became more and more confused.
"Teacher … why?" He looked at Li Qingshan and asked in a daze.
Li Qingshan looked at the black chess piece that he had placed in the corner of the chessboard. He was silent for a long time again until the rustling sound in the courtyard was crushed by the autumn wind. Then he said in a low voice, "Because the Empress is the Saintess of the Devil's Doctrine."
The Empress of the Tang Empire was the Saintess of the Devil's Doctrine? He Mingchi was so shocked by this that he fell on the cattail hassock. He looked at Li Qingshan with an expression of disbelief.
Li Qingshan laughed at himself sadly and said, "Many years ago, I promised His Majesty that I would keep this secret until the grave. However, it is too unfair to the Tangs who do not know this secret."
He looked at his most loyal disciple and said, "Don't doubt the truth of this matter. Even the Headmaster of the Academy could not cure His Majesty's old illness because of the Empress's methods."
He Mingchi was so shocked that he trembled slightly and did not dare to answer.
"Of course, these are all in the past. They were all things that happened before they fell in love with each other. So I have always regretted that they had to pay such a high price to understand each other's feelings."
Li Qingshan said slowly, "I believe that the Empress would not betray His Majesty. So does the Academy. That is why she has always been the Empress. However, what about after His Majesty's death? Li Yu and Huiyuan are not her biological children. Her son is still young. Do we really need a Saintess of the Devil's Doctrine to lead the Tang Empire forward? "
…
…
Apart from life and death, there were also old age and illness. For the officials of the imperial court, old age and illness were the best reason for them to retire, although it was often not the real reason.
In the early spring of the 17th year of Tianqi era, Zeng Jing, the Grand Secretary of the Imperial Library, suddenly resigned due to illness. It had been less than a month since Wang Shichen, the Empress lost another arm.
Since then, Zeng Jing the Grand Secretary and his wife did not come out of the mansion. It was said that the Grand Secretary and his wife spent all day in the backyard of the mansion growing flowers and weeding for fun. Their days were very leisurely.
Zeng Jing the Grand Secretary put down the flower hoe in his hand and felt a little hot. Just as he opened his clothes a little, he was hit by the slightly cold autumn wind and could not help coughing.
Mrs. Zeng hurriedly helped him to sit down in the pavilion and served him hot tea. Zeng Jing looked at his wife's haggard face and could not help but sigh. He wanted to say something to comfort her, but did not know where to start.
There were not many people in the autumn pavilion in the Tranquil Garden. The couple was drinking tea and resting in the pavilion. They sat opposite each other in silence. Mrs. Zeng suddenly burst into tears and said with a trembling voice, "How could the child in my belly be the daughter of Yama?"
Hearing this, the wrinkles on Zeng Jing's face seemed to deepen and he remained silent.
They were Sangsang's biological parents, so the Academy did not hide the truth about the destruction of the Lanke Temple.
In fact, the rumor that Sangsang was the daughter of Yama had long spread outside of the Tang Empire. Even in Chang 'an, there were people secretly discussing it. Zeng Jing's resignation as the Grand Secretary of the Imperial Library was naturally related to this matter, but no one dared to mention it yet.
Mrs. Zeng wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes and calmed herself down. She looked at him and said, "That person is still in the front hall. Do you really not want to see him?"
Zeng Jing thought for a moment and said with a serious expression, "Since he came from Qinghe Prefecture to Chang 'an, he will not be satisfied until he sees me. Alright, I will go and see him. I want to see what dirty thoughts they have."
…
…
The middle-aged scholar who was drinking tea and waiting in the front hall of the Scholar's Mansion was Cui Xiu. He was a powerful figure in the Cui Family of Qinghe Prefecture and had a complicated relationship with Zeng Jing.
Zeng Jing looked at the scholar and thought of what happened in the past. He could not help but frown and said, "The Cui Family has always been unwilling to enter Chang 'an. Brother Ming Mei, why did you come all the way here?"
Cui Xiu raised his eyebrows and said unhappily, "We haven't seen each other for so many years. Are you not even willing to call me brother-in-law?"
Zeng Jing said, "Your sister and I separated 16 years ago. I really don't know how to call you brother-in-law."
Cui Xiu restrained his anger and said indifferently, "Since you asked me why I am here, I will tell you. My sister has not remarried since she returned to Qinghe Prefecture and has always missed you. The Old Master wants to ask for your opinion."
Zeng Jing frowned even more and said, "What do you mean?"
Cui Xiu said, "The Cui Family is willing to let bygones be bygones and send my sister back to reunite with you."
Zeng Jing said angrily, "When I entered the Imperial Rankings, your Cui family instigated the censor to kidnap me to marry. I admit that I coveted the reputation of the Qinghe Family, and I did want to grow old with your sister. However, I didn't know that Miss Cui was so arrogant and ruthless. It was my fault that I took a concubine, but she tried to murder my poor daughter. How could I tolerate that? Bygones are bygones and there is no possibility of reuniting them! "
Cui Xiu was an important figure in the Qinghe Prefecture. Even if he came to Chang 'an, he was still a bigwig in the Prime Minister's Mansion. He had never been humiliated like this before. He rebuked angrily, "My sister knew that your daughter with that lowly servant was evil, so she wanted to kill her. You don't care about her friendship and speak like this! Don't think that you can hide everything forever. Yes, the news that your daughter is the Daughter of Yama is still sealed, but the West-Hill has sent news that the Divine Hall is ready to remove her title. Do you understand what this means? "
Zeng Jing's face was as cold as frost. When he was about to hit the table, his wife rushed out from behind the curtain and scolded with tears in her eyes, "The Cui Family is full of evil!"
Cui Xiu did not want to argue with this woman. He stood up and casually bowed to her. He said coldly, "Judging from the situation in the court, Prince Huiyuan will ascend the throne. It does not matter whether you are there or not. This is the last chance that the Old Master is giving you. Since you do not want to cherish it, don't blame the Cui Family for being merciless in the future."
Zeng Jing said coldly, "I used to be the Grand Secretary of the Imperial Library. My position in the imperial court was only below that of the Prime Minister. Considering the Old Master's temperament, if it weren't for me, he wouldn't have lowered himself to allow your sister to return home. Do the families from Qinghe County think that I don't even understand this? "
Cui Xiu sneered and said, "That's all right. I just want to remind you that when the West-Hill Divine Palace announces to the world, millions of Haotian believers in the world will know that your daughter is the Daughter of Yama. By then, let's see if your Grand Secretary Mansion can still have a moment of peace. Let's see how many people in Chang 'an will come to burn your house!"
Zeng Jing squinted his eyes and said, "Are you threatening me?"
Cui Xiu said, "What if I am?"
Zeng Jing said angrily, "The families from Qinghe County are indeed lawless. How dare you threaten an imperial court official in Chang 'an. Do you really think that the law of the Tang Empire does not exist?"
Cui Xiu sneered and said, "The law of the Tang Empire? There are some things in the world that the law of the Tang Empire cannot control. "
At this moment, a voice came from outside the hall.
"Can the Academy do what the law of the Tang Empire cannot control?"
…
…
(As I was writing, the power went out again. Luckily, I had already finished writing this chapter, so I tried to update it with high tech, but it didn't work, so I could only go on QQ and ask someone to help me talk in the book review section. I caught Butterfly Blue King who was also staying up all night writing or playing games. I didn't even have time to post the karaoke. Thank you so much, that was too close, I almost thought I wouldn't be able to update anymore. Luckily there was a power call, I learned my lesson, I'd better get a 3G phone! By the way, is this my retribution for not wishing you a happy holiday yesterday? There's still one more chapter, but I'm going to lie down for a while. The third chapter should be out very late. Everyone can sleep first and read it tomorrow after waking up.) (To be continued.) If you like this work, please come to Qidian.Com to vote for me. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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