Liao Ran was shocked. He never expected that the Marquis of Stability would one day grace Huguo Temple with his presence. He hurriedly Chong Changgeng gestured, "Doesn't the Marquis of Stability feel that stepping on a bit of incense is bad luck? Today he entered the tiger's den. When he returns, will he use the mugwort leaves to wash off a layer of his skin? "
Changgeng ignored him. An uncomfortable expression flashed across his face.
He was not prepared to face Gu Yun's condemnation.
Speaking of which, by a freak combination of factors, the two of them actually thought that they had lost their morals after drinking and molested each other. Each of them had their own guilty conscience.
Liao Ran looked at Changgeng strangely. In order to suppress Wu 'er Gu these years, Changgeng's ability to calm his mind and cultivate his Qi had reached the pinnacle. He could face the wall and meditate for two to three days without moving. Even a' senior monk 'like Liao Ran had to concede defeat.
Sometimes, when someone who was full of anxiety saw his eyes, they would involuntarily calm down along with him. The handsome young master dressed in white sat on the poor monk's old praying mat, holding a cloud in his hand. He originally had a tranquil and profound aura about him. Unexpectedly, the three words' Marquis of Stability 'shattered a pool of ripples.
Chang Geng seemed to fidget a little and raised his hand inexplicably. He didn't know what he wanted to touch, but when he raised his hand halfway, he realized that Yu Ran was staring at him intently. He forced himself to suppress his emotions and put his hand on the teacup. He lowered his head and took a sip of water to hide it.
Even Master Liao Ran, who was used to pretending to be mysterious, was puzzled. He thought, "What's wrong? Is Marquis here to collect a debt?"
Gu Yun quickly came in. The corners of his eyes hung a trace of disdain, as if he wished he could tiptoe in. He looked at Liao Ran with disdain and greeted with a fake smile, "I haven't seen you for a few years. Reverend has become much fairer."
Master Liao Ran had the demeanor of not arguing with him. He put his palms together and stood up to greet him. He gestured, "Amitabha. This monk's heart is as clear as a mirror.
It turned out that he could quote the classics even without bathing!
Gu Yun seemed to smell something rotten again. She couldn't stay in this place any longer. She turned to Changgeng and said, "You've disturbed the master's cultivation for a few days. It's time to go home."
Changgeng's mind, which had finally calmed down, was once again provoked by the word "go home". He knew that even if he stayed under the Bodhi tree, he would not be able to recite "Lust is emptiness". He had no choice but to put away his uneasiness and obediently stood up.
Gu Yun choked on the smoke of sandalwood in Huguo Temple and coughed twice. She quickly retreated outside the meditation room and waited. Bored to death, she watched Changgeng bid farewell to Liao Ran.
In fact, when relatives and friends were used to seeing each other, it was difficult to notice whether the other person was beautiful or ugly. Gu Yun had always known that Changgeng resembled his Bei Man mother more. Now that she looked at him carefully, she realized that it was not entirely true. His facial features were handsome and upright. For a moment, she couldn't tell who he resembled. She only felt that he was like black jade and had a different kind of pleasing to the eye.
Gu Yun was stunned. She remembered that there were all kinds of people in the pugilistic world. Especially after the opening of sea transportation, Daliang's folk customs were generally open, especially in the coastal areas of the East China Sea. It was said that men were also very popular. Changgeng was a white dragon. Could there be someone who was blind enough to provoke him?
Was that why he was so angry that day?
"That's right," Gu Yun had a hole in her mind and let her imagination run wild. "If I took a bite out of Shen Jiping, he definitely wouldn't take it to heart. With such a poor face, he wouldn't think in that direction at all. If I took a bite out of him, I would be the one at a disadvantage."
The more he thought about it, the more he felt that it made sense. The more he thought about it, the more embarrassed he felt. He quickly pondered for a while and simply decided to play dumb. Then, as if nothing had happened, he said to Changgeng who was walking over, "Why did you take so long? Is the cabbage and tofu in Huguo Temple so delicious?"
Changgeng saw his calm expression and his heart calmed down a little. He replied, "Buddhist Sound Vegetarian dishes can calm the mind."
"You should be dressed in fresh clothes at such a young age. You don't plan to become a monk, so what's the point of calming the mind?" Gu Yun walked side by side with him. She habitually wanted to reach out and put her hand on his shoulder. Just as she raised her hand, she was afraid that Changgeng would think too much, so she silently withdrew her hand and put it behind her back.
Changgeng said calmly, "I've thought about it."
He once thought that if he cut off his worldly ties and entered Buddhism, perhaps his wild thoughts would be dissolved by the boundless Buddhism.
"What?" Gu Yun's footsteps paused. At first, she didn't react. She was stunned for a moment before she said in disbelief, "… You said to become a monk?"
Changgeng rarely saw the astonishment on her face. He smiled and said, "I just thought about it. I didn't dare to really do it."
Gu Yun thought, "Nonsense, if you dare, I'll break your legs."
However, Changgeng was no longer the little foster son who was sheltered by him in the Marquis fu. After he was crowned, he inherited the title of Junwang. Even now, he still called him 'foster father'. That was out of affection and not in name. In the end, it was inconvenient for Gu Yun to treat him as a real son and teach him a lesson, so she didn't say those words.
His face sank slightly and he asked, "Why?"
Changgeng politely greeted the young novice monk who was walking towards him. He replied unhurriedly, "When I was young, I grew up looking at the inescapable calligraphy in my foster father's room. Later, I followed my master to travel all over the mountains and rivers. I know that the world is difficult and dangerous, but I stopped after tasting it. How can I dare to retreat? I was born in this world. Although my natural aptitude is limited and I may not be able to make great contributions like the sages of the past, I can't let down the world and myself … "
… and you.
Changgeng swallowed the last two words in his throat and didn't say them out.
Back then, Xiu Niang dragged him behind the horse but failed to drag him to death. Wu 'er's bone haunted him but still couldn't drive him crazy. Changgeng sometimes felt that only by braving the wind and waves and continuously going against the current to a place where he could look up to himself could he be worthy of thinking about his foster father a little in his dreams at night.
Gu Yun's expression softened a little, but she still asked in a bad mood, "Then why do you always go to the monks?"
Changgeng casually prevaricated, "I go to Master Liao Ran to drink tea. Sometimes, when my heart is too hot, I can't sleep well. Didn't Miss Chen prescribe me a dose of Anshensan? I put it in my pouch, but I suddenly couldn't find it these two days. "
Gu Yun was speechless.
Changgeng said, "I don't know where it fell."
Gu Yun's face turned green. Someone really touched the pot that didn't boil.
Marshal Gu was silent for a while under the torment of his conscience. He still took out the small leather sachet and handed it to Changgeng without saying a word, "Here."
Changgeng, "…"
This shock came unexpectedly. Changgeng, who was caught in a trap of his own making, almost bit his own tongue. Yanbei Of Gojoseon, who had the demeanor of a master who had "traveled the mountains and rivers", suddenly had a layer of white sweat on his palms. He stuttered, "Why, why is it at foster father's place?"
Marshal Gu maintained his well-tempered face and said without batting an eyelid, "I don't know why it fell on my bed. Maybe I drank too much that day and accidentally pulled you down."
Changgeng looked at him in fear.
Gu Yun shamelessly pretended to be innocent and said, "What happened?"
Changgeng shook his head and sighed in relief. He knew that this matter was over. In the future, they could be together as intimately as before. However, at the same time, he couldn't help but feel secretly disappointed.
Gu Yun saw his strange expression and thought that Changgeng still minded. He asked in a fawning manner, "I forgot to tell you two days ago. His Majesty wants you to enter the court to listen to politics. What kind of task do you want to take? I'll think of something for you. "
Changgeng quickly collected his thoughts and said seriously, "The Six Ministries have their own areas of influence. It's not convenient for me to go in and stir things up. These years, I've been neither successful in literature nor martial arts. I'm also used to being idle. If His Majesty really wants me to listen, I'll just listen. Either he wants me to follow the Supreme Court's Lord Jiang to investigate cases."
Gu Yun didn't know if this answer was what Changgeng was thinking, but it was definitely what His Majesty wanted to hear. He felt a bit of heartache. He didn't want to send Changgeng to the Emperor Long An to be mistreated.
However, that was impossible. His surname was Li. Even if he became an idle prince in the future, he couldn't hide in Marquis Ding fu for the rest of his life.
"If you want to go to the Supreme Court, you can wait for a while. Don't go for now," Gu Yun said, "Recently, His Majesty wants to investigate the Violet Gold Black Market. The Lord Jiang's side is in a terrible fix. It's already chaotic enough. Don't get involved. Don't drag Linyuan Pavilion into it."
Changgeng made an "oh" sound. He wasn't surprised by this news, "So soon? His Majesty really can't wait. Two days ago, I was wondering when His Majesty was going to reactivate the Gold Melting Order. "
Gu Yun asked, "How did you know?"
"I guessed," Changgeng took an oil-paper umbrella from the door of a monk's residence. The umbrella was small, so Changgeng kept pushing the umbrella towards Gu Yun. Soon, his exposed shoulders were covered with a thin layer of snow. He didn't brush it off and continued walking at a steady pace. He even seemed to be enjoying it, "Actually, it can't be considered a guess. Adoptive Father thought that His Majesty, the previous Emperor, and even the Martial Emperor — — although they each had their own wisdom and martial prowess, they were all the same when it came to Violet Gold. They saw it as a big problem."
Gu Yun had always regarded him as a junior. This was the first time he was walking side by side with him. When he heard his thoughts, he felt that it was quite refreshing. He didn't interrupt and just listened.
"When I was young in Yanhui Town, I saw with my own eyes that the imperial court wasted money and manpower for Violet Gold. All these years, I've been thinking, why must they strictly control it? If everyone can buy and sell Violet Gold as they wish like buying food and tearing cloth, won't there be no black market? "
Gu Yun, "Like those bandits in Nanjiang."
"That's right," Changgeng continued, "This is just the black market, the bandits, and a few small mountains in Nanjiang. What if it expands to the entire Daliang? What if everyone has a 'knife' in their hands? It's impossible for the imperial court to take care of everyone's interests. When the time comes, it will inevitably be suppressed and the imperial court will be controlled by the 'biggest knife'. In this way, everyone will want to hold this Dragon-Slaying Knife. They will fight and annex each other lawlessly, just like raising poisonous insects. When the King of Poisonous Insects emerges, whose country will belong to? "
Gu Yun frowned, "Changgeng, I'll just listen to these words. Don't mention it to others. Then, according to you, is it imperative to restart the Gold-Melting Order?" "Not necessarily.
"That's not the case either. In fact, the best thing to do is to continue the strict control that the late Emperor had over the Purple Gold. After stabilizing the situation, we have to solve the most urgent problem of silver first. Ever since the Cultivation Puppet was implemented, a lot of the grain produced every year has rotted in the granaries. The price of rice is getting cheaper and cheaper, so those who store grain have changed to storing gold and silver. There's only a little bit of gold and silver left in the granaries, so naturally, the national treasury can't be filled up. It's impossible for silver to appear out of thin air. Increasing the number of coins now seems like distant water can't quench the immediate thirst, so we can only rely on the foreigners.
"With money, it's equivalent to a house having a beam and a person having a backbone. When the time comes, we can simmer it slowly and adjust the internal affairs bit by bit. Although the problems are still there, the situation won't be aggravated. The country can be prosperous for a hundred years and the safety of the people can be guaranteed. After one or two generations of stability, we may find a way out." Changgeng said and sighed slightly, "Unfortunately, the two rebellions in the past few years were related to the black market. It's not surprising that the Emperor overreacted. So, I've always suspected that the incidents in the East Sea and Nanjiang were not accidental. I'm investigating with the power of the Linyuan Pavilion. I've just vaguely found a clue, but they're too cunning. Father, you must be careful."
Gu Yun listened for a long time and didn't say anything for a long time. It was hard to tell whether he was happy or angry. Changgeng didn't disturb him and slowly accompanied him out of Huguo Temple. The evening drum sounded in the temple and lingered in the mountains. It was silent far and near. The mountain snow rustled silently.
Old General Zhong Chan had the ability to stabilize the country, but he couldn't teach a minister to govern the country. For the first time, Gu Yun felt a strong sense of regret. He thought to himself, "Why does he have to be surnamed Li?"
If his surname wasn't Li, it would be easy for him to take the imperial examination and become an official. Perhaps he would already have a meteoric rise and become a famous minister in the future. He wouldn't just say a few words to himself in this shabby temple, claiming that he only wanted to be an idle prince who was a vase ornament.
… It was all fate.
Changgeng said, "The weather is bad. Father's clothes are thin. Don't ride a horse when you go back. Take my carriage."
Gu Yun was in a daze. When he heard his voice, he suddenly tilted his head and unexpectedly met Changgeng's gaze. Gu Yun's heart suddenly thumped. He had never noticed the way Changgeng looked at him before. His gaze was so focused that it slightly reflected a bit of light from the snow, as if he wanted to put him in his eyes.
Changgeng was startled at first, then quickly shifted his gaze away. He lowered his head and shook his sleeves in an attempt to cover it up. His sleeves were already wet and stuck to his hands. Gu Yun then realized that half of Changgeng's shoulder was covered with a layer of cold water vapor from the snow. However, not only did he not say a word, he even accompanied him for a slow stroll.
Gu Yun reached out and touched it. It was cold to the touch. "You …"
When he raised his hand, Changgeng immediately tensed up slightly. Although it was only for a moment, it didn't escape Gu Yun's eyes.
In private, Gu Yun was a little careless. He rarely paid attention to minor details. However, the awkwardness after drinking that day was still there, so he couldn't help but be a little sensitive.
"Was it an illusion?" Gu Yun thought in bewilderment as he sat in the carriage.
In the carriage, the servant set up the heater. Gu Yun leaned on the side and closed his eyes to rest. When he was half asleep and half awake, he suddenly felt someone approaching. He didn't open his eyes. Then, he felt Changgeng put a roll of thin blanket on him. It was as light as a feather, as if he was afraid of waking him up. Shen Yi had always thrown things directly on him. Even the most considerate bodyguards didn't have such a gentle and protective action.
Gu Yun's sleepiness disappeared in an instant. He struggled to close his eyes and continued to pretend. He didn't dare to move. His neck was stiff, and he felt a pair of eyes staring at him.
There probably wasn't anything in the world that could be hidden seamlessly. It was just that there was a lack of meticulous observation.
The strings in Gu Yun's heart quietly tightened. Then, he couldn't help but secretly observe Changgeng. After a few days, not only did he not dispel his inexplicable doubts, but he also felt more and more frightened.
In addition, he still had to think about the Gold Melting Order and the Emperor's hand in attacking the Violet Gold black market. At the same time, he also had to take a roundabout way to fish out the Lingshu Temple's number one weapon, Duke Feng Han. He was simply mentally and physically exhausted.
On the 23rd of the first month, Gu Yun sent off Shen Yi, who was about to head to the southwest, in the suburbs of the capital.
On the 25th of the first month, the Emperor went to the Imperial Garden. For some reason, the dragon carriage broke down halfway. An inner attendant inadvertently said something that reminded the Emperor of how Duke Feng Han had knelt on the ground to adjust the steam dragon carriage for him. The anger in his heart dissipated by more than half. After asking around, he heard that the old man was all alone. During the few days he was in prison, other than the Lingshu Temple students who came to visit him, there wasn't even a family member who sent him food. The Emperor happened to be in a good mood. After hearing this, he felt a little pity for the old man. He sighed and ordered people to release Zhang Fenghan. He only fined him half a year's salary as a small punishment and let the matter pass.
After these two matters were resolved, Gu Yun felt that he couldn't stay in the capital for another day. He immediately wrote a memorial and asked him to return to Loulan.
It was indeed time for him to leave. The Emperor didn't have any objections and approved it that day.
The day before Gu Yun was ready to leave, it was already late at night. Gu Yun had just finished drinking his medicine and laid down. Although Changgeng had given him a round of acupuncture, it was only to relieve the pain and not to cure it. Just as he was tossing and turning in bed, someone suddenly came from the palace and summoned the Marquis of Stability to enter the palace to see the Emperor.
It was unknown whether it was the effect of the medicine or something else, but Gu Yun's eyelids suddenly twitched.
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