Xian'er smiled sweetly and said, "Does the Marquis like it?"
Qi Ning frowned and said: "Xian'er, this... this is a rare treasure. You... how can you give it to me?" He pretended to take it off and said, "It's too precious, I can't accept it."
He naturally knew that the preciousness of these black python scales could no longer be measured by money, nor could such treasured armor be bought with money.
Xian'er's pretty face with a sweet smile immediately calmed down and grabbed Qining's arm to prevent him from losing his armor. Her pure and beautiful eyes stared into Qining's eyes, but her voice seemed to be choked: "Master Hou, you … Do you think it’s Xian’er’s treasure, or is this black python scale precious?”
Qi Ning immediately said: "The black python scale is naturally extremely precious, but in my eyes, it is far from being as good as Xian'er."
Xian'er said: "Xian'er has already given herself to the Marquis. If Xian'er is more valuable than the black python scale, then what does it mean if the black python scale is given to the Marquis? Everything that Xian'er has belongs to the Marquis. This black python scale belongs to Xian'er, so now it is given to the Marquis, is there anything wrong with it?"
Qi Ning was stunned and sighed: "Xian'er, do you know that just this piece of armor can make countless people lose their lives for it."
"So from now on, the Marquis wears it close to his body and doesn't let anyone know about it." Xian'er smiled beautifully: "The Marquis often goes out. If someone wants to do harm to the Marquis, this black python scale can at least play some role."
"Xian'er, where did you get this black python scale?" Qi Ning was really confused. This black python scale is extremely precious. Even the royal treasury may not have such a treasure. Zhuo Xian'er is just a piece of fish on the Qinhuai River. A singer, how could she possess such a precious thing.
Xian'er's beautiful eyes flashed, she bit her lip, and then said: "Master Hou, don't you mean what you say?"
Qi Ning was stunned, and then thought that he had just promised Xian'er not to ask about the origin of the black python scale. Although he was full of doubts in his heart, he could not go back on his word after all, not to mention that it was impossible for Xian'er to give this precious armor to him. If there is any malice, he smiled and said: "I'll keep my word, I won't ask."
At this moment, he heard the sound of suona coming from outside. Qining felt a little strange. He put on his clothes, walked to the cabin and opened the window. On the road beside the river, a team was slowly passing by.
Qining has excellent eyesight, and the boat is docked not far from the shore. He can see the scene on the road very clearly. He only sees a dozen boys and girls with pigtails at the front, carrying flower baskets in their hands, walking out After a while, a petal will be thrown out. Behind the boys and girls, four big men in red are carrying a mahogany throne. The throne is surrounded by light and beautifully decorated. On the throne, an old man wearing Bagua Taoist robes The Taoist priest is sitting cross-legged on it, holding a fly whisk in his hand. He has a long flowing beard and white hair. He looks to be at least sixty or seventy years old.
On both sides of the mahogany throne, there were four Taoist priests in blue robes guarding each side, followed by thirty or forty Taoist priests in gray robes.
Qi Ning frowned slightly, wondering where these Taoist priests came from and why they were so arrogant in the capital. He couldn't help but ask Xian'er beside him: "Xian'er, is there a Taoist temple nearby?"
Xian'er said: "There seems to be a Zhenyuan Temple just a few miles east of Wende Bridge. They said it was a Taoist temple, but Xian'er has never been there."
"Zhen Yuan Guan?"
"Zhenyuan Temple is the largest Taoist temple in the capital, but it is not very popular." Xian'er explained: "I heard them say before that the founding emperor of Chu State was seriously injured and almost... almost lost his life. It was a few monks. He helped heal the injury. Emperor Taizu was grateful and began to believe in Buddhism. When Emperor Taizong was the emperor, he even decreed that the Daguangming Temple in Zijing Mountain became a royal temple. Since then, Chu State has always worshiped Buddhism and suppressed Taoism. Buddhism The incense is prosperous, but the Taoism seems to be getting worse day by day."
"I see." Qi Ning nodded slightly. He naturally knew the status of Daguangming Temple in Chu State.
Xian'er said: "I heard that the incense in Zhenyuan Temple was good in the early years, but in the past ten years, the incense has become weaker and weaker. Not many people went to offer incense, and the court did not ask. No matter how many times there were, there were several people in Zhenyuan Temple. There were hundreds of Taoist priests, but now there seem to be only twenty or thirty, and it’s getting more and more deserted.”
"Are these Taoist priests from Zhenyuan Temple?" Qi Ning looked at the team passing by the shore and asked softly.
Xian'er shook his head and said: "Xian'er doesn't know either. Yesterday, a group of Taoist priests passed by the shore, but it was not as grand as today, but the style of the Taoist robes is not much different."
Qi Ning suddenly thought of something, frowned, and said with a smile: "It should be a Taoist priest who came from Longhu Mountain."
"Longhu Mountain?"
"The emperor is getting married soon. Before the wedding, he has to go to the imperial mausoleum to offer sacrifices. The monks and Taoists are all indispensable." Qi Ning turned around with a smile. Xian'er closed the window. Qin Ning went over and sat down and said, "I heard that from One or two hundred Taoist priests will come from Longhu Mountain, and these Taoist priests will participate in the sacrifices to the imperial tomb." He smiled faintly and said, "But the pomp of these Taoist priests is really quite big, too ostentatious."
Xian'er sat down next to Qi Ning and said with a smile: "The incense in Daguangming Temple is flourishing. Even we common people know that Buddhism is prosperous and Taoism is declining day by day. These Taoist priests are afraid of feeling uncomfortable, so they came to the capital this time. It was intentional to make a show, just to let the common people see it."
Qining laughed and said: "Ignore them. Xian'er, come here today. You haven't played the piano yet. Let's play a piece of music."
Xian'er smiled sweetly and said, "What music do you want to hear, Mr. Hou?"
"I love listening to all the songs Xian'er plays." Qining said, "Just play it."
Xian'er sat down next to the guzheng and tuned the strings. Without hesitation, she touched the bamboo shoots with her fingers, and a beautiful melody immediately sounded in the cabin. Compared with the tunes Xian'er had played before, this piece of music seemed ethereal and beautiful. , fresh and smooth, and seemed to reflect that Xianer was in a good mood right now.
Qi Ning squinted his eyes slightly, savoring Xian'er's piano skills, but suddenly thought in his heart that with Xian'er's attainments in piano skills, if he gave the Ksitigarbha music score to Xian'er to watch, he might really be able to glean insights from it. Something strange happened.
It's just that Xian'er gave him a black python scale today. Although Qining was moved, it also gave rise to a trace of doubt in his heart.
Black python scales are absolutely extraordinary. Logically speaking, given Zhuo Xian'er's identity and environment, it is impossible to possess such a treasure. A person who shouldn't have such a treasure has it. There is something fishy about it. Qi Although Ning had already said that he would not ask Xian'er about the origin of the black python scale, he still had doubts about the origin of Xian'er's obtaining the black python scale.
With such doubts, even though I was grateful to Xian'er, I couldn't get the Ksitigarbha music score.
The Ksitigarbha music score was a serious matter, so Qining had to be cautious.
It was just one song, Qi Ning clapped his hands and said with a smile: "Xian'er's piano skills are superb. There is a saying that the lingering sound of the piano will not stop lingering for three days. I think Xian'er's piano music will linger for more than three years."
Xian'er said shyly: "Master Hou is making fun of Xian'er again."
Qi Ning moved over and sat down next to the guzheng. He looked at the guzheng carefully and asked, "Xian'er, besides this guzheng, do you know other instruments?"
Xian'er said: "Master Hou, Xian'er has little talent and knowledge, and he doesn't know much. However, there are many types of guqin. If you play the same piece of music on another guqin, a real master will be able to hear the difference."
"Ah?" Qi Ning sat upright: "You still said that?"
"The old saying that the Marquis just said has a great origin." Xian'er said: "The lingering sound lingers around the beam for three days. In fact, the word "Rao Liang" is one of the four famous qin."
"Rao Liang? Famous Qin?" Qi Ning was startled, he really didn't know anything about it.
Xian'er explained: "The so-called four famous harps are Haozhong, Raoliang, Luqi and Jiaowei."
Qi Ning thought that among the four famous harps, "Jiaowei" seemed to have been somewhat heard of, but this was the first time he had heard of the other three harps, and asked: "What's the significance of this harp?"
"The four famous harps each have their own merits, and their rhythms are also different." Xian'er is obviously an expert in harp music, and her voice is soft: "For example, the sound of a bell is loud and clear, just like the sound of a bell stimulating, and the sound of a trumpet. There are tragic songs, generous songs or solemn and solemn rhythms played by bells, and there is no harp in the world that can compare with them."
"Then what does Lu Qi say?"
"Lv Qi...!"
Qi Ning chuckled. His knowledge of the qin was extremely limited. Hearing Xian'er mention it at this time, he was really interested and said with a smile: "Then Yaoliang Guqin is naturally suitable for the ethereal and elegant rhythm?"
Xian'er smiled softly and said: "What Mr. Hou said is absolutely true, winding the beam is better than fresh and pure music."
"Xian'er is indeed knowledgeable and talented." Qi Ning said with a smile: "If you don't tell me, I know nothing about these. That's right, Xian'er, are these four famous harps the most famous in the world?"
Xian'er shook his head and said: "Of course not. The reason why these four qins are called the Four Famous Qins is because so many people know them, and in the passed down qin test, these four qins are highly praised." After a pause. After a pause, he said: "There are still some legendary guqins that few people know about, and they are rarely mentioned in many qin examinations. Some even only exist in legends. It is difficult to know whether they exist in the world. Fake."
"Is there such a powerful guqin?"
Xian'er said with a smile: "The Marquis naturally knows that there are many masters in this world who are hiding from the world. Although they are full of talents, no one knows their names, or even their existence. The same is true for this Guqin, although there is no It’s famous, but it doesn’t necessarily exist.”
"Does Xian'er know if this kind of guqin still exists in this world?"
Xian'er pondered for a moment and then said: "Xian'er has also heard legends that among the four famous guqins, there are at least two rare guqins in the world, one with birdsong and one with phoenix!"
"Birds singing?" Qi Ning asked curiously: "Phoenix?"
"The singing of birds plays with hundreds of birds, and the phoenix plays with the blue waves!" Xian'er's eyebrows showed a trace of solemnity: "The legendary singing of birds and the phoenix are both divine objects that fell from the nine heavens to the mortal world."