Twilight War

Chaprer55 magpies have nests

The magpie has a nest, and the dove lives in it.The son of Yugui, a hundred liang of royalties.

——"National Wind·Zhaonan·Magpie's Nest"

01

Chang'an is unknown.

Zichen sat crookedly on the window rail of the Taoist temple, with one bare leg hanging casually.

He was holding a dagger in his hand, and was sharpening the Phoenix wood in his hand.

The dagger is called Hanguang, and it is as thin as a shadow.In contrast, the Phoenix wood in the hand is more rough and simple.

He was a lot taller than when he first went to Westland, and he wore a loose unlined garment that was as slender as willow sticks.

If young people don't look at it, they will not be the same in a blink of an eye.

"I'm going to see Emperor Changgeng in a while, the young master won't sleep for a while?" Chu Wu asked him.

"If you can't sleep anyway, it's better not to sleep." Zichen said, and a piece of wood flower was cut off from his hand and fell to the ground.

Chu Wu sat cross-legged on the moisture-proof wooden board in front of the window, and the shadow of the dragon's claw locust tree in the night fell on his hard black iron armor.

He is like a huge cast bronze beast guarding Zichen's window.

"It's good to lie down for a while anyway." Chu Wu persuaded in a muffled voice.

"No, I have to wait here for something." Zichen said.

"What are you waiting for? Go in and wait."

"I can get some incense here later." Zichen lowered his head and said while peeling the Phoenix wood.

"The incense here is very deserted." Chu Wu said sullenly.

"That's natural. These old Taoists have no intention of asking for incense money. Most of the Taoist temples are built on the top of the mountain, and this one in Chang'an Square has wronged them." Zichen said.

"I see that there are quite a few temples in Chang'an City, and the incense is also very prosperous." Chu Wu said.

"That's natural, Buddhism and Taoism are different after all." Zichen said, he passed the poinciana wood with his fingers, and the poinciana wood had been polished by him to be as smooth as water, without any thorns.

"What's the difference? Aren't they all about praying for gods and chanting sutras?" Chu Wu asked, the wind blew past the dragon's claw locust tree in the courtyard, and the mottled shadow swayed slightly on his hard armor.

The boards are cold, and the shadows of the trees are whirling.

"It's not the same. The Tao seeks the immortal way, and the Buddha seeks the Buddha's way. How can it be the same." Zichen said.

"Immortal Dao, Buddha Dao, what's the difference?"

"All the monks in the world who recite Buddhas are Sakyamuni Buddha, and at most they can only recite the Venerable Guanyin. But those Taoists can recite many immortals. All the gods are available for worship. The Shangqing School compiled a "" "True Spirit Rank and Karma Map" ranks the gods, big and small, by seven ranks. But Shi Dao and Lingbao sect don't recognize it. Other Taoist temples worship whatever gods they want."

"Even the Taoist classics are compiled with three caves, four supplements and twelve categories. There are millions of Taoist collections, which are complicated and redundant."

"So what's the matter, it's just that there are more gods enshrined and more books read." Chu Wu asked.

"Of course it's different. The Buddha crosses all living beings, and the Tao cultivates one's own body." Zichen paused as he cut his hands from the poinciana tree, "Those monks can't wait to preach to the people, but if you stop the Taoist priest on the mountain again, the Taoist priest can't wait to say goodbye to you directly. Disturb my practice of alchemy."

"It doesn't matter what those Taoist priests worship, because they will eventually become gods themselves." Zichen shook the sawdust on his body, "The monk worships Sakyamuni, who has saved the world. Taoists also worship gods, but after all Worship is only the way of heaven that can become a fairy and ascend, so it doesn't matter which god you worship."

"So these Taoist priests are much more selfish than monks," Chu Wu said.

"It's not selfish or not, it's just a different path. Don't care about sentient beings, just cultivating yourself is a little more detached."

"Then why are they asking for incense money?"

"Because they are not immortals yet, if they are not immortals, they have to eat five grains and collect incense money." Zichen said: "Today's Orthodox Sect disdains to accept offerings from ordinary people, and they can't ask for incense from emperors."

"Tianshiguan can be regarded as the longest-sleeved dancer among these Taoist sects. They can see all directions and listen to all directions. Every generation of celestial masters went to Chang'an to receive the title of Doctor Guanglu when they took office. Starting from Zhang Daoling and Zhang Tianshi, The dynasties have changed a lot, but the Longhu Zhang family is very stable."

"In the past, whenever the dynasties changed and a new king was about to rise, the Dragon and Tiger Zhang family would rush over and present the alchemy book, saying that the emperor's fate had already been calculated, so he came here to welcome him."

"Back in the 24 kingdoms, the Dragon and Tiger Zhang family was almost exhausted. But in a few decades, the 24 countries rose and fell, and hundreds of emperors rose and fell. The Dragon and Tiger Zhang family can't wait for an emperor to issue a pill, and so on. In the end, when the overall situation is settled, I dare to admit my credit."

"But in the end, Taoism still lost at present. First, the monks in the Chen Temple made great contributions to protecting Emperor Cangwu, and then Emperor Cangwu rebuilt the Temple after ascending the throne. Now in the Chen Dynasty, Taoism is far inferior to Buddhism."

The Drum Tower in Chang'an City rang.

The sky is still not clear, and everything is illuminated with a blue-black outline.

The sporadic open flames in the [-] squares illuminate the blue-black sky.

The ant-like servants in the neighborhood are persistent and show the way for the officials who are rushing to the court.

Zichen looked up at the scattered and chaotic torches outside the square like sparks from a pipe, and then continued to lower his head and idly carve the Phoenix wood in his hand.

The piece of Phoenix wood has a general shape, it looks like a simple hairpin.

And he was carving the head of the hairpin meticulously.

"How come this cultivator looks like those bureaucrats who climb the dragon and attach the phoenix." Chu Wu snorted lightly, stuffed under the heavy bronze mask.

"It's not just people who cultivate immortals. Donghuang has exterminated Buddha four times in the past few hundred years. If it was a monk who refused to meet the Sacred Heart, he would have been exterminated already." Zichen was dressed in a water-colored swallow suit. Falling in the dark blue of the dawn.

The dagger, as thin as a shadow, picked up a piece of sawdust and landed at the boy's feet.

"Those who seek the way of immortality, those who seek the way of Buddhism, after all, all seek the mercy of the emperor. It turns out that the Buddha and the Taoist are nothing more than vagrants in the world." Zichen chuckled lightly.

For life, for death, for the power of this world.

For becoming a Buddha, for flying immortals, and for gaining success in this world.

For a hundred years, Donghuang has piled up a pile of rotten threads with dust and nodules.

Zichen looked towards the sky, and a Niwa bird slowly flew down.

"The thing I'm waiting for has arrived, change clothes."

The boy stood up, his white clothes falling down.

Chu Wu was still sitting on the wooden plank in front of the window, a layer of cold dew had formed on the wooden plank, even the black armor on his body was covered with water.

"Tao seeks the way of immortality, Buddha seeks the way of Buddha, what kind of Tao does the Huangxuan family seek?" Chu Wu asked with his back to Zichen, his figure was like a huge bronze beast.

"Pray for mercy." The young man stepped barefoot on the cold floor of the Taoist temple...

At the end of the night, the spark-like fire sticks in the [-] squares were extinguished scatteredly.

02

"Xuanhuangxuan Young Master Huangxuan Jin!"

Sunlight falls on the sundial.

The majestic Jinluan Palace seems to be toppled under the sky.

The chief supervisor's shrill summons tore through Chang'an, where the sky was low and the clouds were dark.

The boy in white walked up the steps slowly from the side of the [-]-meter-long Danxi.

The armored Xuan Ge army lined up beside the road, impressing thousands of miles away.

And the young man walked past those officials in scarlet clothes and fish bags, like clouds passing by.

It is reminiscent of the romantic boy who was favored by Emperor Qingming 800 years ago and was allowed to wear moon-white brocade at the Dangui Banquet.

If you don't marry a prince, you don't marry a king, but marry Huang Xuanlang of the capital.

"Jiangnan Huangxuan pays homage to the saint."

Zichen slowly raised his hand and saluted.

The boy's eyebrows and eyes are like distant mountains.

"Okay, it's good to be here." Emperor Chang Geng's voice was a little old, and his voice was very soft, as if he didn't even bother to speak more.

Zichen raised his eyes slightly, looking at the emperor on the steps.

After the Twelve Crowns, Emperor Chang Geng's pupils were a little cloudy, his eyes were half-closed, and he no longer had the owl-like gaze he had when he first saw this emperor.

"I heard that there is something about being a prisoner yesterday, Li Aiqing, tell me about it." Emperor Changgeng didn't look at Zichen again, as if Zichen's appearance was not important.

This up is no different from the past.

Li Xiangfu hurried out, holding a jade wat.

"Your Majesty, it's not a big deal. It's just that yesterday, when the supervisor was rushing to make the bronze tripod, he accidentally went into the water. Fortunately, the second prince who went to check the progress was alert and found the fire in time, and it was put out immediately."

"Second prince? Did he personally send the prisoner to visit?" Emperor Changgeng asked.

"Yes, the second prince has a lot to do with these bronze tripods."

Emperor Chang Geng sneered, "Northern Sacrifice is none of his business, tell him to worry less, don't do such useless things all day long."

The aging emperor flicked his sleeves, and the black and red uniforms flickered in dark lines in the dim light of the hall.

The main hall was still illuminated by candle lamps, and Zichen, who was used to the incandescent lamps in Xilu, felt that the darkness in the entire hall would be suppressed.

Even the light has a metallic texture, like rusted brass.

The huge and gorgeous lotus caisson in the sky above is like a goddess in a mural in this metallic light.

The lotus hates fire, and all evils suppress it.

The aging emperor seemed to have forgotten about Zichen, and turned to ask about Li Xiangfu's transfer of criminals to Juyongguan.

The young man in white stood among the officials in scarlet robes, and the candlelight in the hall fell.

The hall has remained unchanged for 800 years.

Lotus caisson, golden lacquer steps.

In a trance, it seems that those officials in scarlet clothes and fish bags have not changed in 800 years.

The dust that fell over the past 800 years has accumulated in this magnificent palace.

But he was the only one who could smell the rotten smell in the air.

After an unknown amount of time, the emperor waved his hand slowly, "Back off..."

All the officials knelt down and retreated.

Zichen still stood where he was, and the supervisor with a whisk in his hand walked over, bowed beside Zichen and said, "The sage asks the young master to wait for him in the study."

03

The chief supervisor cited in front of Zichen was called Shen An, who was the favorite of Emperor Changgeng.

Zichen followed behind Shen An. Although Shen An was already in a high position, he still kept his eyebrows in a respectful manner.

"Young Master Jin has been quite comfortable in Chang'an these days." Shen An asked with a smile on his face, the smile did not show any flattery, but seemed to be a bit concerned.

"Not bad." Zichen said.

"It's good to be comfortable, the saint has been thinking about Young Master Jin all the time these days." Shen An bowed his back, and the whisk was hanging down from the crook of his arms.

"I'm sorry to trouble you, the sage," Zichen said.

"Back off!"

A supervisor shouted from a distance, and Zichen raised his head to look at the man in a sedan chair not far away.

"Coincidentally, it's the second prince." Shen An said with a smile on his face.

"Who? Why didn't you retreat." The second prince on the sedan chair asked.

"I'm at the lower Huangxuan Jin, and I pay homage to Your Highness." Zichen raised his hand and bowed.

The second prince snorted coldly, "Who am I? I'm just a traitorous dog who came back to gnaw bones after licking Xilu."

Zichen didn't speak, just looked at the second prince.

"Since you know who I am, you still don't kneel down to salute." The second prince raised his head slightly, looking down at the frail young man in white.

"In terms of etiquette, it should be the salute of you and me. I have already saluted, and I hope His Highness will return the salute." Zichen looked up at the second prince.

The second prince's body couldn't help but feel cold, the young man's gaze was very calm, but it made him feel that there was a huge coercion in that gaze.

Not even being watched by his father.

He heard that those people called this boy the Divine Phoenix Bird of Donghuang.

Pick up its feathers five times, and return in glory.

He couldn't help but clenched the armrest of the sedan chair, "Why, how can my majestic prince salute to a traitor like you."

The two confronted each other between the palace roads.

One is dressed in white, and the other is dressed in red and black Qiluo brocade.

"Your Highness, you can think about it. After all, I am the head of the Huangxuan family, but Your Highness may not be the future emperor." Zichen raised his head and said with a chuckle.

The sky in Chang'an City is changing.

The second prince gritted his teeth almost to the point of crushing them, and finally bowed and saluted, "Greetings to the young master of the Huangxuan family."

The sedan chair turned sideways, and Zichen walked past the sedan chair.

04

Chang'an, Xiangzi Temple.

Si Tianming stood in front of Longzhuhuai.

"Young Master, did Young Master Jin look for Emperor Changgeng?" Da'an asked standing next to Si Tianming.

"Yes." Si Tianming nodded.

Da'an frowned, obviously worried about Zichen.

"Emperor Chang Geng, he...he is not a good thing."

"What?" Si Tianming turned around and asked with a light smile.

"The Huangxuan family worked hard for him, but he wanted to kill Young Master Jin, isn't that bad enough?" Da'an frowned.

"Da'an, this world is not something that storytellers talk about." Si Tianming said.

"What do you mean?"

"You, I'm afraid you've listened too much to the storyteller's story. Loyalty, righteousness, and courage are good, and lackeys are bad. But there are so many things in this world where good and evil cannot be separated." Si Tianming looked up. The light from the sky penetrates through the gaps in the dragon's claw locust tree.

"You say Jiangnan Huangxuan is loyal and brave, but how does Emperor Changgeng know if Young Master Jin is harboring evil intentions and secretly colluding with Xilu?"

"Emperors, generals and ministers are nothing more than strategists and campers after all."

"Then how can Young Master Jin convince Emperor Changgeng to trust him?" Da'an asked.

"Trust in this world has a price." Si Tianming said.

"What price? Did you marry Princess Yingluo?" Da'an asked.

"You really dare to say it." Si Tianming turned his head and said with a chuckle, flipping the string of copper coins in his hand while talking, "Marrying a princess is something that many people can't ask for."

Zi Chenhou had been in the study for almost an hour, but Emperor Chang Geng was late coming.

He looked at the delicate astronomical clock in the corner.

The gilded and lacquered bronze bird on the astronomical clock raises its wings and opens its beak as the pointer rotates.

He knew that Emperor Chang Geng wanted to make him feel better.

It was past noon, but still no one brought the food.

He ate little in the morning and was already hungry when he went to court.Now I can only lean on the back of the chair and play with the fan in my hand.

I was used to being hungry in the temple before, so I didn't think it was a big deal.

I thought I would have to wait for a long time, but suddenly I heard a sound outside.

The maids in silk clothes led a row of little maids holding food boxes over.

"The maidservant is Youhu, the maidservant next to Princess Yingluo. I pay my respects to Young Master Jin." The girl's voice was charming, and Zichen remembered seeing this girl beside Princess Yingluo at the Fifth Prince's birthday banquet.

"Linglong Crystal Dumplings, all of them have good shrimp inside."

"Osmanthus almond cake, the osmanthus was picked in early spring this year."

"This bean sprout meat is also a painstaking effort, young master, try it."

"..."

Seven or eight dishes were taken out of the food box and placed on the nanmu table in front of Zichen. Hujiao smiled and handed the ivory chopsticks to Zichen.

Zichen was stunned for a moment, then he lowered his head and chuckled and took the ivory chopsticks.

As soon as Emperor Changgeng arrived at the study, he saw Zichen eating bean sprouts meat slowly.

This dish is made by chopping off the ends of mung bean sprouts, stuffing ham into the bean sprouts with hollow silver needles, and then boiling them in water.

Emperor Changgeng looked at the seven or eight dishes in the study, shook his head, and looked at Youhu who was kneeling beside Zichen, "Did Yingluo send it here?"

"Yes."

Emperor Chang Geng sighed, "I can't control her anymore."

Zichen thoughtfully ate another Linglong crystal dumpling. The shrimp meat in the dumpling was very firm and tender, and then he put down the ivory chopsticks.

"How's the food?" Emperor Chang Geng asked, unlike the somewhat vicious emperor in court, he was now more like a loving elder.

"Very good." Zichen said.

"As long as Young Master Jin likes it, our princess personally chooses each of these dishes." Youhu said quickly: "Young Master has used it up, then we will order it."

The wandering maid retreated.

Silk garments skim over the high threshold.

The girl didn't come over, but she just flew over like a light butterfly. In the study of Zichen Palace, one is her beloved boy, and the other is her father.

So they are like loving elders and respectful sons-in-law.

But as the maids left, the butterfly flew away.

So only the aging emperor of the Dachen Dynasty and the young master of Jiangnan Huangxuan were left in the study room in the palace.

The two faced each other across the air.