In the vast snowfield, Yang Fan and the others were walking towards the Dragon Gate.
It was the Spring Festival and the yamen was sealed. The officials were resting at home and most of the businesses had stopped doing business. People were visiting their relatives and friends. Therefore, even though the road leading to the Dragon Gate had always been desolate, there were still farmers, hunters, and people visiting their relatives and friends. Of course, there were also devout believers who went to the Dragon Gate to offer incense.
Among the few pedestrians, there was a group of people and horses that was particularly eye-catching. It was a few double-axle oil cleaners, all pulled by strong yellow horses. Most of the carriages were made of precious wood such as nanmu and red sandalwood. If someone who did not know wood could not see that the wood used in these carriages was expensive, they could see that these carriages were not used by ordinary people from the tiles on the crossbar of the rear end of the carriages, the hidden nails on the carriage, the hooks on the curtain, and the package on the shaft of the carriage. Moreover, there were dozens of black-robed guards around the carriages, which was enough to prove the noble status of the people in the carriages.
There was only one person sitting in the first carriage. The window was open and there was no wind at the moment. The sun was shining brightly and the snowfield was bright. The person in the carriage was sitting elegantly with a long neck, white teeth, and bright eyes. A golden buyao swayed gently on her head, exuding infinite charm. As the carriage passed, pedestrians could see the beauty in the carriage through the window. It was like a painting. This person was Princess Taiping.
There was also a person sitting in the second carriage, but this person was meditating. The carriage would bump from time to time in the snowfield, but his body was motionless. It was enough to show that his Zen skills were excellent. This person was a monk. Looking at his age, he was only about 30 years old. He was handsome and clear.
From his slightly sunken eye sockets, high nose bridge, and slightly blue eyes, he seemed to have the blood of the Hu people. This monk's Buddhist name was Hui Fan. He was originally born in a Hu merchant family in the Western Regions. His family was wealthy and because he loved Buddhism, he became a monk at a young age. The Shengshan Temple that he lived in was a family temple specially built for him. Therefore, although he was young, he was already the master of the temple.
Unlike Xue Huaiyi, the master of the White Horse Temple, Hui Fan was quite proficient in the Buddhist scriptures. In addition, he was born with a good appearance, so he was an influential figure among the eminent monks of Luoyang.
His two senior brothers, Hui Yan and Hui Ling, were eminent monks who had participated in the compilation of the Commentary on the Great Cloud Sutra. Although this Buddhist scripture annotation was a political propaganda material to promote Wu Zetian's ascension to the throne, except for Xue Huaiyi, the other nine were real Buddhist masters.
The 'Da Yun Jing Shu' was announced to the world, the ten eminent monks were awarded purple kasaya by the Emperor, Hui Fan also became famous because of his two older martial brothers. Now that Buddhism was suppressing Taoism, there were many believers in all walks of life. To be able to obtain the support of an eminent monk, one would unknowingly grasp a lot of power. Therefore, Monk Hui Fan also became a guest of Princess Taiping.
In the third carriage, there were three people. The three of them were not old, the oldest was only twenty-three or twenty-four years old, and the youngest was not even twenty years old, but they all had sword-like eyebrows, starry eyes, and faces like jade. They were all very graceful and beautiful young men.
These three people were originally the children of a declining family, but because of the protection of their ancestors, they inherited an idle position. Now, it was different. Now, they all held important positions in the important yamen, such as the Ministry of Appointments, the Ministry of Revenue, and the Ministry of Rites, because their brothers from the same family were Zhang Changzong and Zhang Yizhi.
These three people were Zhang Tongxiu, Zhang Changyi, and Zhang Changqi. They were all children of the Zhang family, and also the core members of the emerging Zhang party. At this moment, the three of them were in high spirits. They opened the curtains, looked at the scenery outside the window, pointed, and laughed wittily.
In the fourth carriage, there were also two young men dressed like scholars. They were about thirty years old, and they were very handsome. One of them was also surnamed Zhang, but he was not from the same family as the three Zhang brothers in the previous carriage. His name was Zhang Shuo, originally from Fanyang, and he lived in the east of the river. Now, he was the Crown Prince's school secretary and the Left Supplement.
Zhang Shuo was not like the three Zhang brothers, who relied on their own brothers to be the empress's gigolo, and used nepotism to get to the throne. He was a talented scholar with real ability and learning. In the fourth year of the imperial court, Wu Zetian tested the virtuous and virtuous, and she personally acted as the chief examiner. Zhang Shuo was rated as the first in the imperial court in the imperial court.
The person next to him was tall and elegant, and he was even more elegant than Zhang Shuo. He was Zhang Shuo's close friend, Gao Jian. Gao Jian was now the Minister of Rites of the Ministry of Rites, and he was also a successful rising official in the imperial court.
In the last carriage, there were also two people. These two people Yang Fan had seen in Chang 'an before. They were the sons of the Cui Clan of Boling, Cui Pi, and Cui Di. The two brothers were elegant and handsome, and they were not inferior to the three Zhang brothers.
First, there was a great purge in the imperial court because of the turmoil in the southern border. Then, because of the case of Lian Yao, a large number of officials in Luoyang were removed, and there were a number of vacancies. The Cui Clan naturally would not let go of such a good opportunity, so the Cui brothers came to the capital.
In fact, there was a place for the Cui Clan on the list of officials in the southern border. This was very normal. If there was no son of a noble clan on this list, then it would be suspicious.
Although Wu Zetian wanted to suppress the noble clans, she only wanted to use a soft knife to cut flesh to weaken them. She was not willing to openly break off relations with them. Although the empress was decisive, she was not willing to declare war on a colossus without leaving a way out, so she still had to give the noble clans some benefits, so that they would not starve to death and would not take risks out of desperation.
However, Cui Shi was not on that list, because he was not willing to go. He was a son of the Anpingfang of the Cui Clan of Boling. To be an official in the barbarian land and govern a group of savages? Cui Shi saw it as a dangerous path. His goal was the capital, the prosperous place, the capital of the Zhou Dynasty. So he brought his brother to the capital and successfully became a disciple of Princess Taiping. Through her recommendation, he became an official.
Of course, other than Cui Shi being talented and worth recruiting, Princess Taiping might have used Cui Shi to build a connection with the Cui Clan of Boling and establish a closer relationship. If such a noble clan could secretly provide support to her, it would obviously be very beneficial for her to recruit more talents.
Otherwise, with the advantage of being a princess of the Tang dynasty, it would be impossible for her to draw so many talents to her side. There would always be some people who did not believe in promises in the distant future, but valued the benefits in front of them more.
It was Cui Di's first time in Luoyang, and the first time he was invited by the princess to travel, so he was very excited. As a son of a noble clan, in the eyes of the proud Young Master Jiang, the Li Tang Royal Family was a nouveau riche, and the Wu Zhou Dynasty was a big joke. He looked down on them from head to toe and did not take them seriously.
However, Cui Di was different. He was still very flattered by Princess Taiping's invitation. He even fantasized that with his literary talent and appearance, he could get the favor of this beautiful princess of the Tang dynasty. Maybe he would have the opportunity to do something very charming and erotic with her.
Of course, it was not possible now. The beautiful princess was pregnant. Cui Di's thoughts had nothing to do with being a gigolo. He was confident that with his family background and talent, he could definitely achieve something in his official career. He coveted Taiping not because he wanted to serve a woman to get a position, but because she was a princess.
He didn't care about a noble woman. The Cui Clan's people were all rich and powerful. He had seen many noble women. He didn't care about beautiful women either. He had beautiful women by his side. No matter if they were noble, elegant, charming, pure, or flirtatious …
However, the combination of two completely harmless substances, noble and enchanting, for him, became a powerful aphrodisiac, making him exuberant.
Cui Shi was not as excited as Cui Di, nor did he have the same thoughts as him. When Cui Di once again mentioned Princess Taiping's beauty and elegance to him, faintly revealing a covetous look, Cui Shi lightly reminded him, "You seem to have forgotten about the matter between the princess and Yang Fan."
"Of course I haven't forgotten!"
Cui Di, who was in heat, was pricked by him. He immediately sneered disdainfully, "If the princess can like him, of course she can also like me! If the princess likes me, what does it have to do with him? You don't think that just because he is in charge of the Succession Hall, he has the right to order us around? "
Cui Shi frowned and unhappily said, "Could it be that you have forgotten our purpose in coming to Luoyang? How much hope the elders have for us? Why do you act as if you have never seen a woman before! "
"Of course I have seen women, but not one of them is a princess!"
Cui Di's young face was a little red because of excitement, "Big brother, did you notice that the men that the princess has invited, although they have different identities, are all outstanding and handsome. Hey! I think … the princess likes handsome men! "
He turned his eyes, lowered his voice, and said in an ambiguous tone, "Maybe they are the princess's guests! Our princess, I am afraid, does not only have Yang Fan as her lover! "
Cui Shi frowned and said, "Then why are you still enjoying it?"
Cui Di smiled and said, "I am not marrying her. What does it matter to me how many men she has? In a luxurious tent, in a gentle village, to be able to take off one's shoes with a beautiful and noble princess, go to Mount Wu together, have a night of ecstasy, don't you think this is the happiest thing in the world? "
"Enough!"
Cui Shi slapped the wall of the carriage, "If I had known this, I would have brought Ah Zhi or Ah Ye this time, instead of!"
Cui Di saw that his big brother was angry, so he bitterly shut his mouth.
The carriage suddenly stopped, and the driver's voice came from outside, "Your Highness, we have arrived at the foot of Dragon Gate Mountain. The road ahead is impassable, we have to walk up the mountain!"
"Oh?"
Princess Taiping, who was staring at the snowy field leisurely, woke up. She bent over and was about to lift the curtain to go out. The personal maid sitting on the side of the carriage hurriedly whispered, "Your Highness!"
Princess Taiping was reminded by her, and only then did she realize that she was a pregnant woman.
She said in annoyance, "I still have to pretend for a few months, so annoying!"
She sighed, stretched out a hand, and let the maid hold her. Then the maid opened the curtain of the sedan, and slowly walked out. Her footsteps were soft, as if she was afraid to step on ants …
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