Luoyang, the divine capital, was the most prosperous and flourishing city in the world.
Late spring is the most prosperous and lively time in Luoyang every year. There are already countless wealthy businessmen and sons of noble families in the city. There is also an endless stream of poets, famous officials and princes who come here to relax and have fun in the city.
Because the peonies in Luoyang City are in bloom.
Luoyang's peony is the best in the world. Every time it blooms, the whole city is covered with a sea of flowers. The city is bustling with cars and people rushing out to enjoy the flowers. The rich families hold banquets in the gardens, and scholars also gather in front of the flowers to drink wine and write poems. There are really flowers flying everywhere, and singing and dancing everywhere.
Zhao Dibing, Zhou Yi, and Ren Ya also made an appointment to go out and enjoy the flower market in Luoyang City. If the best flower market in Luoyang is to be found, it must be Shangyuan. As soon as the three of them reached the entrance of Shangyuan, they heard Zhao Dibing chanting loudly.
"Tomorrow I will visit Shangyuan Garden, and hurry to announce the arrival of spring. The flowers must bloom overnight, and not wait for the morning breeze to blow."
Zhou Yi frowned and said, "This poem doesn't look like it was written by Brother Zhao?"
"Hehe!" Ren Ya, who was standing next to him, quickly covered her mouth and laughed, "This was the oral instruction of the Empress back then, and it even led to a beautiful story about the peony flower?"
"Oh? Your Majesty will also come to visit the Luoyang Flower Market?" Zhou Yi asked.
Ren Ya shook her head and said, "I used to come here often! But I've been busy with state affairs these years, so I haven't seen the emperor!"
Emperor Zhao Bing was the first to step into the Upper Garden and said meaningfully, "Even if Your Majesty didn't come, the Upper Garden is definitely extraordinarily elegant today!"
The three of them walked into the Upper Garden. Soon after they entered the gate, they saw a large pond. There were three rock islands lined up in the pond. From the front, they looked like mountains, and from the side, they looked like peaks. It was very interesting. On the right was a large garden planted with Luoyang's famous flowers, peonies. At this midsummer time, the garden was full of flowers, and the scenery was breathtaking.
This Shangyuan is the royal garden, and ordinary people naturally have no chance to see it. Therefore, the garden is populated by dignitaries in Luoyang City. Ren Ya and Emperor Bing of Zhao are both hostages. Although Zhou Yi is a state guest of the Great Zhou, he has just arrived and is not considered a big shot in Luoyang City. He can only find a seat in the corner and sit down.
Zhou Yi looked at the situation in the garden and found that except for small figures like Zhou Yi and the other two who were isolated in a corner, most of the others were divided into two camps, sitting around the two of them in a clear order. Even someone like Zhou Yi who was not familiar with the situation in Luoyang could smell the discord in the atmosphere.
The two of them were both wearing jade crowns and gorgeous clothes, and they looked very noble. They were obviously people of high status and great power! One of them was the president of the Jialan Temple, Li Hao, the young master of the Li family, whom he had met in the Beifang residence that day!
Seeing Zhou Yi's expression, Emperor Zhao Bing lowered his voice and said, "These two are Li Hao, the young master of the Li Clan and the president of the Jialan Temple, and Wu Chongye, the son of Liang Wang Wu Sansi. They represent the forces of the Li Tang remnants and the Wu clan. The dignitaries in Luoyang City are divided into the camps of these two people, either black or white, nothing else! These two have always been at odds for the throne! Fortunately, Wu Zhao is suppressing them, so they haven't made any trouble yet!"
Zhou Yi frowned and said, "Li Hao has the support of the Li family on the NPC side, and there is a behemoth like the Jialan Temple among the players. What can Wu Chongye use to fight Li Hao?"
Zhao Dibing said: "He has the support of the monk king Fa Ming behind him, and the leader of the Stone-Breaking League among the players. Of course, the most important thing is the support of Wu Zhao herself. Now, he is better than Li Hao in the situation in Luoyang City! But if we compare his skills with Li Hao, I think he is far behind. Sooner or later, the Wu Zhou Dynasty will return to the hands of Li Tang!"
As the two were talking about this, Li Hao, who was sitting in the distance, suddenly saw Zhou Yi. His eyes lit up and he walked over quickly with a wine glass in hand.
"I never thought I could meet Brother Wang Zhe here. I saw you surpass all the other brothers in the Dao Sect Conference that day. I have admired you for a long time. I am so happy to see you today! Come! I will toast you a glass!"
Zhou Yi quickly stood up and said respectfully: "Thank you for the compliment. Brother Li is famous all over the world, and I have been admiring you for a long time!" After that, he picked up the wine glass and they both drank it all in one gulp.
Then Li Hao dismissed all the attendants around him and sat down next to Zhou Yi. Ren Ya was shocked and asked, "Prince, you?"
"No problem, no problem!" Li Hao sat cross-legged beside Zhou Yi and whispered, "I heard that His Majesty wants to use Brother Qianbei as the commander to fight against Khitan. It seems that at least on this matter, His Majesty and I have the same opinion!"
Ren Ya was greatly surprised, she never expected that even Li Hao knew Zhou Yi's real identity as someone who could drink a thousand cups without getting drunk. She opened her mouth to speak, but was held down by Emperor Bing of Zhao.
Zhou Yi asked curiously, "What's the matter?"
Li Hao poured himself a glass of wine and said meaningfully: "Brother Qianbei is a rare hero like the young marshals Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling back then!"
Zhou Yi was shocked. He never thought that Li Hao would think so highly of him. "Brother Li, I am flattered by your words! But this matter is very confidential. How did you know about it?"
"I have to survive in this chess game of Luoyang City. If I didn't have some tricks, how could I have lived to this day?" Li Hao said with a smile.
Zhou Yi nodded and thought to himself: The only people who knew about what happened that day were Wu Zhao herself, Shangguan Wan'er, the fat eunuch, himself, Senluo Yasha, Young Master Xiaoyan and Song Wen. He never expected that among these seven people there was Li Hao's spy. The president of the Jialan Temple is indeed a man with connections!
Li Hao continued, "I know Brother Qianbei is a famous lone ranger in the martial arts world. If my Jialan Temple is interested in recruiting him, what would Brother Qianbei think?"
Zhou Yi immediately shook his head and said, "I'm used to being free, so forget it! Thank you, President Li, for your appreciation!"
Li Hao looked regretful, sighed softly, and said: "I don't want to force you, but if Brother Qianbei changes his mind in the future, then the door of the Jialan Temple will be open to you at any time!"
Zhou Yi bowed and said solemnly: "Thank you very much!"
As he spoke, the faint sound of hoofbeats came from far away and then became clear in an instant.
Zhou Yi turned his head and looked. The person who came was like a deadly evil spirit from the underworld who had broken into the human world. His left hand was behind his back, and a heavy iron rod was about a foot long. He was burly and had a rough face. The hand hanging on his right side was twice as big as that of an ordinary person. His neck was as thick as an ox. He wore a gray monk's robe and his eyes were fierce.
This person was none other than the Little Buddha Xue Huaiyi who was seen at the World Taoist Conference that day!
Seeing Xue Huaiyi's bad face, Li Hao stepped forward and asked sternly: "Xue Huaiyi, what can I do for you?"
Xue Huaiyi smiled and said, "I saw Mr. Wang Zhe's martial arts at the Taoist conference that day. It was so amazing that I couldn't wait to learn from him. Today is a good opportunity. I hope you can teach me."
Li Hao's face darkened and he said, "Today is the Luoyang Flower Market. If we fight here, it will be a disgrace..."
"Okay!" Zhou Yi suddenly stood up, put a hand gently on Li Hao's shoulder, and said: "Don't worry, Prince. I just want to learn a few tricks from the famous Little Buddha in the capital!" (To be continued)