Chapter 336: Immortals Planting Flowers in Zhongnan Mountain, Emperor Taizong Hiding Eagles in Ganlu Palace
Outside the city of Chang'an, in the middle section of the Qinling Mountains, deep in the Zhongnan Mountains.
A family lived in a hut with only a simple fence, hidden in the clouds and fog. Birds were circling above them and tigers were guarding them.
There are clusters of flowers blooming in the fence.
A woman in plain clothes and a straw hairpin, her black hair wrapped in a green cloth, has an ordinary appearance, but her skin is as white as ice and snow, and her temperament is fresh and refined, all natural.
She is watering a flower.
It turned out to be a stone flower.
Cha Cha came over with two little buns on her head, also wearing cloth clothes. The difference from before was that her skin had become darker, like a little black girl.
It doesn't look like green tea has become a spirit, but rather like coal has become a spirit.
Cha Cha pinched her waist and said angrily, "Master, it's fine if we leave Xuandu Temple, but why do we have to become so ugly?"
She was so scared that she didn't dare to wear a little white dress anymore.
Taizhen glanced at her, a barely perceptible smile appeared on the corner of her mouth, and she said lightly: "The flowers are about to bloom. Just in case, we need to hide for a while. During this period, we need to keep a low profile as much as possible."
Cha Cha looked at the stone flower and asked doubtfully, "Will this stone flower really bloom? I don't think it has changed at all compared to before!"
Taizhen smiled and said, "Soon."
She stretched lazily. Even though she was wearing a plain cloth skirt, her graceful curves were still hard to hide. It was a pity that this place was sparsely populated and no one could enjoy the view.
"Disciple, Master is hungry."
Cha Cha sighed like a little adult and said, "So what do you want to eat?"
"All right."
"Then I'll cook a bowl of noodles."
"No appetite."
“How about wontons?”
"I don't want to eat."
"What about steamed buns?"
“So-so.”
Cha Cha bared her teeth and said, "Master, what do you want to eat?"
Taizhen blinked and smiled, "All right."
Cha Cha: “…”
After a while, Cha Cha admitted defeat and said helplessly, "Okay, I know you want to eat Yu's Zongzi, Cherry Bi Luo, Liyu Bo, Steamed Deer Skin Cake with Grass, and Grilled Donkey Hair and Camel Hump. I'll go down the mountain and buy them for you, okay?"
Judging from the tone of her voice, someone who didn't know would think she was the elder in the family.
Taizhen smiled brightly, as if she had been waiting for these words.
She stretched out her jade finger and touched Chacha's brow.
"The Longmen Immortal Meeting is about to be held. There are Taoist priests everywhere in Chang'an City. Your master will seal your spiritual energy first, so that you will not be discovered and captured by the Taoist priests."
When Cha Cha heard this, she shrank her neck and said timidly, "How about... Master, just bear with it and eat the bread."
Taizhen smiled slightly and flicked her head lightly.
"Go early and come back early, Master will miss you."
The next moment, Cha Cha flew out of Zhongnan Mountain like a meteor, looking as if she had expected that she would have no desire to live again...
…
Li Daoxuan left Xuandu Temple and headed straight for Taiji Palace.
Since I haven’t met my senior sister, I’ll go meet the emperor of the Tang Dynasty, Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, who will be remembered forever in later generations.
This time, when he came to Chang'an, in addition to secretly investigating the Mara Sect, the Longmen Fairy Meeting and the deification of the Green-robed Lady were both inseparable from the core figure Li Shimin. In addition, the other party was very generous in rewarding him with the Qilin whisk and the Falling Moon Fairy robe, so Li Daoxuan still had a good impression of him.
The closer he got to the imperial city, the more he felt the condensation of dragon energy. Li Daoxuan even felt that the invisible real dragon transformed from the dragon energy was staring at him.
When the eunuch learned that it was the immortal from Mount Longhu who came to pay a visit, he immediately went to report it.
…
Taiji Palace, Ganlu Hall.
Li Shimin was sitting on the dragon throne, looking at the memorials with a frown on his face.
He seemed to have not rested well these days. He looked a little haggard and had dark circles under his eyes.
"Your Majesty, it's time for lunch. Please take care of yourself!"
The chief eunuch next to him advised.
Li Shimin continued to read the memorial and sighed, "Kyoto is suffering from a severe drought. The people can't even get enough water to drink every day. I am the emperor, but I can't relieve the people's worries. How can I have the heart to eat?"
The eunuch said, "Your Majesty, you have ordered water to be transferred from Huazhou, Tongzhou, Fangzhou, Danzhou and other places, and set up 17 water supply points in Chang'an, so that the people in the city can survive the drought. Moreover, you have set an example yourself. The concubines in the harem and even His Royal Highness the Crown Prince are not allowed to use more than one bucket of water a day!"
In his opinion, Your Majesty has done well enough, but it is God's will that there is a severe drought and no rain has come yet, which is beyond human control.
Li Shimin did not say anything. He waved his hand to signal him to leave and continued reading the memorials.
A moment later, a eunuch came over, carrying a small birdcage with a little kite in it.
This is a very rare bird, very pretty and cute.
"Your Majesty, the birthday gift you asked me to prepare for Princess Changle some time ago is now ready."
Li Shimin walked over to look at the harrier, nodded with satisfaction, and said, "Yes, Changle likes flowers and birds the most, she should like this gift."
At this moment, someone outside the door reported that Wei Zheng, the left chancellor, wanted to see him.
Li Shimin was startled and coughed, then quickly grabbed the little hawk into his sleeve, and then ordered the eunuch to hide the birdcage behind him.
In order to prevent the harrier from screaming, he even covered the bird's mouth.
Wei Zheng was once a former subordinate of Li Shimin's elder brother Li Jiancheng, and even suggested to Li Jiancheng that he should strike first and kill Li Shimin, but his suggestion was not adopted.
After Li Shimin ascended the throne, he found that Wei Zheng was extremely talented. What was even more rare was that Wei Zheng was proud, upright, and dared to speak out against the emperor. So he spared his life, entrusted him with important tasks, and now promoted him to the position of Shangshu Zuocheng.
Wei Zheng did not let Li Shimin down. He wrote many letters to the emperor to offer advice and pointed out the emperor's mistakes in court. He was not afraid of life and death, and his sharp words avoided many mistakes in decision-making. He was considered the most iron-willed person in the Tang Dynasty.
To the extent that Li Shimin was now a little afraid of him, fearing that Wei Zheng would come in and see him not doing his job but playing with birds, and then start nagging him endlessly.
A moment later, Wei Zheng entered the hall.
He was a man of noble bearing, with clear features and a sharp eye. He soon discovered that the emperor had a hawk hidden in his sleeve.
Wei Zheng smiled slightly and deliberately talked about many trivial things. By the time he left, two quarters of an hour had passed.
Li Shimin hurriedly took the harrier hawk out of his sleeve, only to find that the bird had been suffocated to death. His face darkened.
At this time, the eunuch who had sent Wei Zheng away came back and said with a bitter face: "Your Majesty, that Wei Zheng—— "
Li Shimin suddenly raised his eyes, his gaze as sharp as a knife.
The eunuch immediately knelt down, slapped himself, and said, "It was Lord Wei. When he left, he told me that as a king, your majesty should focus on government affairs and must not indulge in flying eagles and fighting birds... playing with things and losing your ambition!"
Li Shimin said calmly: "Did you tell him that this bird was just a birthday gift for Changle?"
"Yes, but Lord Wei said that there is a severe drought in Chang'an at the moment. Your Majesty is the father of the princess, but you are also the king of the people of Chang'an. Now that the people are in dire straits, Your Majesty should be the king first, and then the father."
Li Shimin was shocked. He pondered for a moment, then took a deep breath and said, "What Wei Zheng said is very inspiring. Pass the order down and reward Wei Zheng with 100 pieces of silk and 1,000 taels of silver."
"promise!"
Li Shimin sighed and looked at the body of the little harrier in his hand with a look of regret.
Just then, the eunuch came to report again.
"Your Majesty, Master Taichong from Longhu Mountain requests to see you!"
