After a day and a night of heavy snow, it finally stopped. It was sunny after the snow. The sun hung in the sky, and it was bright red. Thousands of miles of mountains and rivers were all red, showing the vitality of the midwinter.
At this moment, under the clear and snowy sun, the people of Yujing City were also full of vitality. The shops that had been closed because of the heavy snow were now open for business. The millions of people in Yujing City were also bustling with activity. On this day, the famous Marquis Wu Wen's residence, which was powerful in the imperial court, started to get busy in the middle of the night.
In front of Marquis Wu Wen's Manor, a five-kilometer long street was filled with people. The accumulated snow had been swept away, and there were many large cauldrons burning on the ground. They were extremely dry and spotless. Then, a scarlet carpet was laid out.
The carpet was made of the hair of alpacas from the Western Region, and it was dyed with the blood of gorillas. The color would never fade, and it was truly "scarlet". A carpet that was ten miles long was enough to show the wealth of Marquis Wu Wen's residence.
Today was the day that Hong Xuanji was going to take in a concubine.
Although it was just a small concubine, with Marquis Wu Wen's power, status, and close relationship with the Emperor, this kind of extravagance was necessary.
Since morning, many officials had sent congratulatory gifts. Countless counts, Marquis, dukes, ministers, princes, princesses, princesses, and members of the royal family had come to congratulate him. Even the governors of various places had sent people to send congratulatory gifts.
In the Da Qian Province, there were 99 provinces and hundreds of provinces. There were crooks and honest people mixed together.
Outside the ten-mile long street, there was a large crowd and densely packed sedan chairs. It was actually more prosperous than the imperial examination in Yujing City.
With so many people, Marquis Wu Wen's residence originally couldn't accommodate all of them. However, ever since the sixtieth year of the Da Qian Dynasty, after Consort Yuan recognized him, Marquis Wu Wen's residence had been expanding, expanding, and expanding. The residence that originally occupied hundreds of acres had now expanded by several times. It was all land bestowed by the Emperor. It occupied an entire street that was close to ten miles long in the southeast of Jade Capital City. It was much more imposing than any of the residences of the princes.
Now, Marquis Wu Wen's residence was like a huge space. It could swallow as many people came to send gifts.
This also showed the authority of the Imperial Court of the Great Qian Dynasty.
In the 63rd year of the Da Qian Dynasty, Consort Yuan, who was in the palace, suddenly died. (Consort Yuan's sudden death was spread by the court. The truth was that she had been taken away by Hong Yi.) Some people thought that Marquis Wu Wen had lost power and wrote a memorial to impeach Hong Xuanji. They said that Marquis Wu Wen's residence was too big and went against etiquette.
In the end, Qian Emperor Yang Pan directly commented on the memorial, saying, "For the face of the court, the Grand Preceptor governs Yin and Yang and commands the officials. As long as his residence is not bigger than the palace, the bigger the better. Let the countries outside of the Da Qian Province see what it is like to be the head of the officials. "Then, he waved his brush and continuously bestowed a street of land to Marquis Wu Wen to expand his residence.
From then on, all the civil and military officials in the imperial court, as well as the governors of the ninety-nine prefectures and hundreds of provinces, all knew that Hong Xuanji's position in the imperial court was unshakable. As long as Qian Emperor Yang Pan was still on the throne, Hong Xuanji and the entire Hong Clan would be in no danger at all.
Although Hong Yi had a great reputation and was the son of the Saint, after the war in the Western Regions, he had resigned and lived in seclusion. He did not manage to establish himself in the court. Therefore, in the court, Hong Xuanji's power was the greatest. And among the common people, among the scholars, Hong Yi's Zhouyi Academy was the most famous.
Hong Yi and Hong Xuanji, father and son, one in the court, one in the common people, both occupied a dominant position.
Fortunately, the father and son were like fire and water, unable to tolerate each other. Otherwise, the power of the world would belong to the Hong Clan.
Of course, Hong Yi and Hong Xuanji being as incompatible as fire and water was something many forces wanted to see.
This was also one of the reasons why no forces attacked Hong Yi based on their status as father and son. Of course, Hong Yi's influence right now was like the son of a saint. Everything he said and did was the truth. Normal people really could not attack him. Even the scholars who had the right to attack him were convinced by the Book of Changes and studied it every day. They all wanted to find Hong Yi to discuss the Book of Changes and increase their cultivation.
The charm of the Book of Changes had truly begun to shine brightly and illuminate Tianzhou. Any kind of learning and learning, in front of the Book of Changes, began to surrender, or rather, become part of it.
"There sure are a lot of people today. Aiya! Duke of Li, Master Jing, you are here as well? "
Outside of Marquis Wu Wen's palace, a luxurious sedan was carried by eight people. Beside it, there were armored cavalrymen, warriors, and maids. They carried incense burners and all kinds of things. There were about 50 to 60 people in one team.
Based on the size of the patrolling guards, it was obvious that they were all Dukes.
Actually, even if they were here for a meal, they wouldn't need so many guards and servants to bring gifts. However, this was a necessary etiquette. Or else they would lose their status as Dukes. Etiquette and face are related to one's spiritual energy. This was a big deal.
Outside of the carpet, the sedan moved and a Duke got off. It was Duke Ling. The High Duke sighed as he looked at the many people who had come to congratulate him on the red carpet on the Ten Li Long Street.
Then, another team of the same size walked over from afar and stopped. A Duke walked out as well. It was Duke Li, Jing Changrong.
Duke Ling hurriedly greeted him.
"The Grandmaster is taking in a concubine. How can I not come? But looking at the situation today, I don't think the Marquis Wu Wen's palace can hold all these guests. The young masters of the governors, the aristocratic families, and the royal family will be busy enough. "The two Dukes greeted each other and started chatting.
"Isn't that so? The Marquis Wu Wen's residence has been greatly expanded in the past few years. This five-kilometer long street is almost entirely owned by the Grand Preceptor. I heard that Madam Zhao has long since arranged for a thousand rooms, over three hundred courtyards, and three thousand servants to serve the guests in order to deal with today's situation. I heard that yesterday, the congratulatory gifts sent by the governors from various regions have already piled up like a mountain, filling more than twenty rooms. " Duke Li said, "Among them are gold, jewels, corals, agates, jadeite, pearls, ginseng, and all kinds of precious herbs. I'm afraid they can't even fit in now."
"The governors of the other provinces are rich, and the feudal officials are only second to the Grandmaster. If they don't curry favor with him, how will they get a chance? But Sir Zhao is a smart person, to be able to handle such a big matter. If we have so many guests, I'm afraid we won't be able to take good care of them, "Duke Ling said. Duke Ling then asked tentatively, "By the way, Lord Duke Li, what gift did you bring this time? Can you let me take a look first? I can weigh it carefully, in case the gift is too unpresentable. I have to go back and send people to prepare it. After seeing the situation today, I finally understand what it means to have power over the entire court. "
"That's true. Marquis Wu Wen doesn't care about gifts, but Madam Zhao is a calculative person. If the gift is too small and she doesn't like it, it will be troublesome. But I brought a book today!" Duke Jing chuckled.
"A book? Then it must be a precious ancient book. But a duke like us can't give a gift without tens of thousands of gold. What kind of book can be worth so much? Could it be the Philosophers' Manuscript? "Duke Ling asked curiously.
"It can be considered the Philosophers' Manuscript! It's a Book of Changes personally written by the current Yi Zi, Hong Yi, "State Duke Jing suddenly said mysteriously.
"What?" Duke Ling was shocked. "A Book of Changes written by Hong Yi? This thing is really priceless! I heard that the nobles on Yun Meng's side are willing to exchange a few pastures and manors for this Philosophers' Manuscript. Hong Yi's cultivation is unfathomable. He has already comprehended the wonders of creation, and is no different from the Philosophers of the Middle Ages. Every word of his Book of Changes can be read in the mind, dispelling the demons in one's heart and allowing one to think quickly. I've been reading the Book of Changes for the past two years, wanting to study one word of Hong Yi. Unfortunately, I haven't succeeded. Where did you get Hong Yi's manuscript? Can I take a look? I'm willing to pay three thousand taels of gold for half a day! "
"Some time ago, the Empress Dowager sent a decree to the School of Changes, asking Hong Yi to write a Book of Changes and send it to the palace. Hong Yi rejected it. How can Duke Li have something that even the Empress Dowager can't get? But Hong Yi and Madam Zhao are like fire and water. It's not appropriate to send the Book of Changes to her doorstep on a day like this. "
At this moment, another voice was suddenly heard.
Another palanquin landed, and a middle-aged man in embroidered robes came out. His face was square and dignified, and his eyes occasionally flashed with lightning. He was actually an expert with an extremely profound cultivation, having reached the realm of "Void Lightning".
"So it's Duke Feng. Why have you come in person today?"
This middle-aged man was a member of the royal family, and the half-brother of Emperor Qian Pan.
"Madam Zhao likes money, right? If she doesn't like this Book of Changes manuscript, she can sell it. The Divine Wind Nation, Yun Meng Nation, and even the Western Region and all the aristocratic families in the world are fighting for it. This book can be kept in the family, and it can be used as a family heirloom. If the children of the family can study it often, the chances of them producing talents will be many times higher, "Duke Li said proudly.
"I don't believe that Duke Li has the original Book of Changes and Hong Yi's manuscript. How can you get something that even the Empress Dowager can't? " Suddenly, another sedan stopped in the distance, and a princess in a phoenix robe spoke from the sedan.
"It's Princess Yongchun." Duke Li hurriedly greeted her. "My son, Jing Yuxing, is good friends with Hong Yi. He once went to the School of Changes and begged for half a year before he obtained Hong Yi's handwritten manuscript. Today, Marquis Wu Wen is taking a concubine, so I have no choice but to bring this gift. "
"This gift is indeed inappropriate and too expensive. I'm willing to exchange it with ten pairs of white walls, one thousand bolts of Yuantu snow silk, and ten thousand taels of gold. How about it? "Duke Feng suddenly said.
"Duke Feng, ten pairs of white walls? One thousand bolts of snow silk? Ten thousand taels of gold for the Book of Changes manuscript? That's too cheap. I'm willing to pay ten times the price, as well as thirty innate martial arts slaves and guards, in exchange for the Book of Changes manuscript. How about it? "
At this moment, a fragrant wind blew, and suddenly, a purple sedan was carried over. There were a hundred maids beside it, and the extravagance was no less than that of a prince.
"So it's the Yuan family, Miss Yuan Ziyan?"
At this moment, Duke Feng, Princess Yongchun, Duke Li, and Duke Ling were all slightly shocked as they looked at the newcomer. The woman in the purple sedan was the eldest daughter of the Yuan family, Yuan Ziyan. Her status was already extraordinary, especially this Yuan Ziyan. She had long gathered some of the daughters of the Saint families to set up the "Ziyan Academy" in Yan Province, which specialized in women's studies. Although it was not mainstream among the Confucian sects, her poetry was well known, and she was a legendary woman.
The price they offered was ten times the original price. Thirty Martial Dao Innate Realm slaves were asking for a lot.
"What? Hong Yi's Book of Changes manuscript... is there such a treasure? I'll offer ten fortress ships and a hundred thousand taels of gold. "
"Duke Li, I'll offer ten manors in exchange! Give it to me... "
Just as these people were talking, the news of High Duke Li bringing the Book of Changes manuscript as a congratulatory gift spread like a plague. Many nobles gathered around to see what was going on.
At this moment, in a secret hall in the main residence of Marquis Wu Wen, Madam Zhao sat on a chair. Behind her stood two people, one dressed in a blood-red robe, and the other in a white robe. Both were shrouded in a haze, and they looked like humans, gods, demons, and demons at the same time. They exuded an incomparably powerful aura.
If one was a human immortal or an expert with five or six lightning tribulations, they would be able to tell that these two were extremely powerful immortals! One was the god of Essence Temple, and the other was the god of blood.
"Sister, our residence has received a lot of gifts this time! The gifts sent by governors from all over the country are shocking to me. I wonder if it's appropriate for you to accept gifts like this? "Madam Rong sat below Madam Zhao.
"It's not a big deal. Marquis's status is no longer the same as before. This time, I want to collect all the treasures in the world, and I even specially prepared a ceremonial officer. Whoever gives the most valuable gift will sing out loud so that everyone knows. "
Madam Zhao's expression did not change as she said coldly, "We don't have to meet those governors personally. When the various kings, marquises, dukes, imperial families, and aristocratic families arrive with gifts, we will just meet them briefly. Things are different now. Five years ago, when Princess Zhennan came, we had to welcome her with incense. Now, even the nobles, dukes, and officials have to give me face when they give gifts. "
At this moment, a few servant girls suddenly knelt at the door and said, "Madam, bad news. Prince Feng, Duke Li, and many aristocratic families who have come with gifts are arguing on the street!"
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