"Feixuan greets Master, Martial Uncle Xinchen, Great Master Liao Kong, and the four Senior Brothers." In a meditation room in the temple, a beautiful woman in white clasped her hands in front of her chest and greeted the two women and five monks who were sitting cross-legged on the prayer mats.
Needless to say, to be able to have this kind of temperament, to call herself Feixuan, and to be able to communicate with Buddhism, she must be the current successor of Kind Boathouse, Shi Feixuan, who was known as a fairy in the outside world. And to be able to be called Master by her, it could only be the previous successor of Kind Boathouse, the current Sect Master — Fan Qinghui!
As for the so-called Martial Uncle Xinchen, he was probably one of the previous disciples who was willing to shave his head and become a monk. He accompanied the Sect Master and acted as her bodyguard.
As for people like Liao Kong and the four monks of the unknown generation, they appeared here as allies and parties involved. The reason must be the Jade Annulus of He that fell from the sky when Great Hua was founded! Only such a terrible thing could alarm the Sect Master of Kind Boathouse and the Great Master of Jingnian Monastery.
"Feixuan, did you investigate clearly?" Fan Qinghui, who was also wearing a white gauze dress and had an otherworldly temperament, asked.
"After the ceremony that day, Feixuan asked the invited people about the appearance of the Jade Annulus of He they saw. It was exactly the same as the Jade Annulus of He that was lost in Jingnian Monastery. Coupled with the strange phenomenon that day, Feixuan believed that it was impossible to fake it. It must be the lost Jade Annulus of He," Shi Feixuan explained softly.
"What a thief!" A Senior Brother monk shouted angrily.
"Buchen," the young Liao Kong said indifferently.
"Amitabha," Buchen's expression shook and he chanted the name of Buddha.
"Senior Brother, what do you think we should do?" Fan Qinghui turned to look at Liao Kong and asked.
"Let's try peaceful means before resorting to force," Liao Kong said with a sigh.
"That's the only way," Fan Qinghui said with a sigh.
"Feixuan. You go and meet the Emperor of Great Hua, "Fan Qinghui turned to look at Shi Feixuan with a calm expression. Shi Feixuan said softly with an otherworldly temperament.
"Yes." Shi Feixuan bowed her head and performed a Buddhist salute. She then faintly replied, "Then this disciple will take her leave first."
After she finished speaking, Shi Feixuan once again bowed to the people sitting cross-legged in the meditation room. She then turned around and exited the meditation room, walking slowly toward the Chang 'an Imperial Palace.
Shi Feixuan's figure was graceful, and her temperament was refined. She attracted quite a few people's attention along the way. However, it was precisely because her temperament was too refined that ordinary people would instinctively feel ashamed of their inferiority when looking at her. Thus, they could not bear to disturb such a fairy that had descended into the world. Shi Feixuan arrived in front of the Imperial Palace in a very calm manner. She did not see the scene of a wicked young master teasing a beautiful woman that was commonly seen in the secular world.
"Stop, the Imperial Palace is an important place. Unauthorized personnel are not allowed to enter." The two silver-armored soldiers in front of the Imperial Palace's gate raised their spears and shouted.
This was Shi Feixuan. Her temperament was too unique, so the guards did not dare to be impudent. It would be strange if he didn't scold him and just walked away.
"I'll have to trouble these two big brother soldiers to pass on a message to the Emperor of Great Hua. Just say that Ci Hang Jing Zhai's Shi Feixuan requests an audience," Shi Feixuan said politely.
When the words' Ci Hang Jing Zhai 'came out, the expressions of the two soldiers guarding the gate changed. Although they were only ordinary people who knew how to fight, they still had some experience to be able to serve in the Imperial Palace. Even if they did not, their immediate superiors would tell them who they could provoke. What kind of people they could not provoke? Thus, they were very clear about the significance of Ci Hang Jing Zhai, a deadly place that was occasionally mentioned. Although they had often said behind their backs that this group of women would do whatever they wanted to do to them, they did not dare to be negligent. One of them hurriedly ran inside and reported to his superior officer.
The superior officer who received the report did not hesitate. He reported to his superior officer …
In this way, the news was passed from one level to the next. In the end, the news reached Sei Itō.
"You're saying that the people from Ci Hang Jing Zhai want to see me?" Sei Itō raised his eyebrows and asked the middle-aged man who was bowing in front of him.
"Yes, Your Majesty," the middle-aged man replied.
"Let them in," Sei Itō said with a chuckle.
"Yes." The middle-aged man replied and immediately turned around to leave the Imperial Study. He hurriedly walked outside to summon Shi Feixuan.
After about ten minutes, accompanied by the sound of heavy and light footsteps, Shi Feixuan, who was dressed in white like an immortal, walked into the Imperial Study under the lead of a palace maid.
"Ci Hang Jing Zhai's successor, Shi Feixuan, greets Your Majesty, the Emperor of the Great Hua Dynasty." Shi Feixuan bowed her head and greeted Sei Itō with Buddhist etiquette.
"What a pity. You're clearly a beautiful woman. Why did you have to cultivate Nirvana? What a pity, what a pity." Sei Itō, who was sizing up Shi Feixuan, shook his head and said with a regretful expression.
Shi Feixuan's expression did not change. She still looked at Sei Itō with an indifferent expression.
"Take a seat first." Sei Itō pointed at the square back chair that already existed at the side and said.
It was worth mentioning that during the Tang Dynasty, aside from the barbarians, there were basically no chairs even in the Great Clans and Great Clans. They all implemented the kneeling etiquette that was inherited from Japan and passed down to the present day. For people like Sei Itō who were used to sitting in chairs, this was truly somewhat unaccustomed. Therefore, on the second day after the founding of the country, he ordered the newly established Ministry of Works to rush out a pile of chairs for the palace to use.
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Shi Feixuan said politely. She immediately walked to the side of the chair and sat down.
At the same time, a palace maid carried a tray with a teacup on it and walked into the Imperial Study. She walked to Shi Feixuan's side and placed the teacup on the small table beside Shi Feixuan.
"Have a taste." Sei Itō still said as if he was the master of the house.
Shi Feixuan, who had a tranquil meditative mind, was not in a hurry. She very indifferently picked up the teacup and lightly took a sip.
"It's astringent but not bitter. It's fragrant but not melancholy. It's like life, endless aftertaste. Good tea! "Shi Feixuan exclaimed in admiration.
"Even an ordinary cup of tea can make Feixuan say such Zen words. Feixuan's Zen mind is truly deep." Sei Itō said noncommittally. Then, he picked up the teacup in front of him and lightly took a sip.
"It's not that Feixuan's Zen mind is deep. Rather, this tea is telling Feixuan about its life," Shi Feixuan said indifferently.
"Feixuan's words are becoming more and more unfathomable," Sei Itō said with a smile.
"Since Your Majesty doesn't like these things, then Feixuan will talk about proper business. I wonder if Your Majesty can take out the Jade Annulus of He Clan for Feixuan to take a look? "Shi Feixuan looked at Sei Itō with a burning gaze and said.
"Feixuan should understand that the Jade Annulus of He Clan is the great seal of a nation. How could it be a plaything that can be looked down upon?" Sei Itō said with dissatisfaction. Then, his expression changed. He looked at Shi Feixuan with a beaming smile and continued, "Of course, everything can be changed. If Feixuan is willing to pay a certain price, we can also take out the Jade Annulus of He Clan for Feixuan to take a look."
"What kind of price does Your Majesty want?" Shi Feixuan asked with a frown.
"It's very simple. You just need to kiss me once," Sei Itō said with a frivolous expression.
"Your Majesty, please conduct yourself with dignity," Shi Feixuan lowered her eyes and said softly.
"Since Feixuan is unwilling, we can only say sorry," Sei Itō said with a regretful sigh.
Soon after, Shi Feixuan asked again, "Then, where did Your Majesty obtain the Jade Annulus of He Clan?"
"It descended from the sky." Sei Itō replied with a smile. "On the day of Our Great China's Founding Ceremony, a golden dragon descended from the sky and presented it to Us, under the witness of more than one thousand people."
These words were meant to deceive outsiders. Zhen Ye, Ya Ye, and the others who understood Sei Itō very well knew that the golden dragon and the strange phenomenon were all illusions that Sei Itō had created using the Origin Energy of the world and the Dragon-Shaped Qigong. It was just that in the world of Great Tang, which had limited control over the Origin Energy of the world, no one could do what he did.
"Feixuan understands," Shi Feixuan softly said. Shi Feixuan then said, "Please forgive Feixuan's rudeness. I wonder if Your Majesty can explain Your Majesty's philosophy to Feixuan?"
Sei Itō raised his brows and asked, "What aspect are you referring to?"
"To the general public," Shi Feixuan said with a serious expression.
Tsk, what's wrong? You can't figure out the problem with the Jade Annulus of He Clan, so you want to see if I'm a wise ruler who conforms to your ideals? Sei Itō sneered inwardly. However, he didn't show it on his face and calmly said, "Right now, the people of the world are seeking peace. We will rule the world with great benevolence. We will repair the cities, restore the roads, encourage agriculture, promote trade, vigorously develop new technologies, open academies, and do our best to break the monopoly of the aristocratic clans on knowledge and culture. We will allow the common people to learn how to write and open their wisdom."
When she heard that Sei Itō wanted to open more academies to allow the common people to learn how to write, Shi Feixuan, who had always been calm, was shocked. Clearly, these words, which could be said to be shocking to the ordinary people of this era, had frightened her.
"Your Majesty, are you not afraid that the opening of the common people's wisdom will cause chaos?" Shi Feixuan asked.
Sei Itō looked back at Shi Feixuan and coldly said, "The way of the ruler should be both dignified and benevolent. His benevolence can enlighten all living things, his might and benevolence can intimidate the world. If there really are people who are greedy and not satisfied, the sharp blade in our hands won't be hung on the wall as a decoration."
"Feixuan agrees with encouraging agriculture, but promoting trade and vigorously developing new technologies, Feixuan does not dare to agree. Since ancient times, merchants have been crafty, and exotic lascivious techniques have been used by the common people. The combination of the two is precisely the inducement to confuse the common people and cause chaos in the world. "Shi Feixuan, who had been quietly looking at Sei Itō for a moment, spoke again.
It was very clear that Shi Feixuan's thinking was still limited by this era. Even if she had transcended the world in some aspects, she still had some misunderstandings about this idea from the later era.
"Then let me ask you, if there are no exotic lascivious techniques, how will the cities be built? How will the roads be repaired? How will the carriages, boats, clothing, and lodging be count on? Without merchants and trade, how will the common people's grain and vegetables, the cloth and satin they weave, the firewood they chop, the livestock they hunt, how will the goods produced from the difference between the north and the south be circulated? "Sei Itō asked with a sneer on his face.
"Feixuan's meaning is not to completely suppress trade and technology, but to disapprove of excessive encouragement," Shi Feixuan emphasized.
"That is precisely because you still haven't discovered their importance!" Sei Itō said with a certain tone.
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