In official circles, Xiao Du was always as steady as a rock and had never been afraid of anyone in his life. Even for a long time in the early days, Xiao Du felt that although Yin Zhaoxian's prestige was growing, he often had to rely on the Censorate. He also used some of the Xiao family's policies to eliminate some dissidents. It was not until he realized that something was wrong and began to take the initiative to confront the Xiao family that he realized the pressure. He realized that the more readily he had used the Yin family in the past, the greater the pressure he had felt before.
During the period when Yin Zhaoxian was seriously ill, although many "anti-Yin factions" did not dare to act rashly, their confidence grew stronger as time went by. Many of them privately consulted the imperial physicians, and their predictions about Yin Zhaoxian's condition were very pessimistic.
But this world is not only populated by mortals, there are also immortals, demons, gods and Buddhas. Judging from the current situation, even if what is being spread are just rumors, the possibility that Yin Zhaoxian was treated by a master is really not small.
Xiao Du frowned and thought hard, which only made him feel worse. After a long time, he gave instructions to the old servant beside him.
"Continue to send people to gather information, and then prepare the carriage. I will go to the palace immediately. Also, continue to plan the young master's wedding, and let him pay more attention to it."
"yes!"
After the old servant left, Xiao Du went back to change into his official uniform, then got on the prepared carriage and headed straight to the palace. Although it was time for lunch, Xiao Du obviously had no appetite at this moment.
More than a quarter of an hour later in the imperial study, Emperor Hongwu had just finished lunch and began to review memorials again. In fact, he had been absent-minded since he had seen the day turn into night before, and it was not until he finished lunch that he really settled down to govern the country.
Just after reviewing two memorials, the eunuch Li Jingchun from outside came in to report.
"Your Majesty, the Imperial Censor requests an audience."
Yang Hao raised his head, frowned slightly, and thought to himself that Xiao Du had a keen sense of smell.
"Send him in."
"yes!"
Li Jingchun strolled to the outside of the imperial study and said to Xiao Du who was standing calmly outside.
"Sir Xiao, the emperor is sending you in."
Xiao Du bowed to the old eunuch, then walked into the imperial study first, while Li Jingchun followed slowly from behind, looking at Xiao Du with a meaningful look.
Xiao Du entered the imperial study and bowed to Emperor Hongwu.
"Your humble servant Xiao Du pays respect to Your Majesty!"
"Well, Lord Xiao, there's no need to be so polite. What brings you here?"
After saying this, Yang Hao returned his gaze to the memorial and carefully reviewed it with a pen.
Although Yang Hao had a bad impression of the Xiao family when he was still a prince, he had always had a good impression of the Xiao family after becoming emperor. To Yang, the Xiao family was relatively "dignified" and easy to use. So even if Yin Zhaoxian would recover, even if a purge was inevitable in the future, he was still willing to intervene to protect the Xiao family. But at the same time, in exchange, he would have to give up a large part of the power of the Censorate. Without this power, he believed that the Yin family would not kill the Xiao family.
Xiao Du put away the gift, looked in the direction of the window of the imperial study, and spoke carefully.
"Your Majesty, the sky just changed dramatically, from day to night. I also heard from the common people that a starry sky appeared, seemingly in the direction of the center of Rong'an Street. I am afraid that this is a sign, so I came to the palace to discuss it with Your Majesty. It would be best if you could ask the Grand Master Yan to come and discuss it with us."
Yang Hao raised his head and looked at Xiao Du. Although the old minister tried his best to remain calm, he could not hide a trace of sadness.
"Lord Yan is currently at Prime Minister Yin's residence, so it is inconvenient for him to come and discuss this matter."
When Xiao Du heard that Yan Chang was in Yin's house, he was shocked. The Taichang Envoy was not an imperial physician, and he had never heard that Yan Chang was very close to the Xiao family. The Sitianjian had been free from factional struggles for many years and did not have much power. It was unusual for it to suddenly go to Yin's house on a day like today.
"My dear Lord Xiao, I have good news to tell you. Today, the celestial phenomena suddenly changed. Under the care of the stars, Prime Minister Yin's condition has improved. The imperial physician has already reported this news, and the people from the Imperial Astronomical Bureau have also gone to Yin's mansion to learn about the stars."
"Is that so? Hehe, hehe... It is my great blessing that Prime Minister Yin can recover. I should come to congratulate Prime Minister Yin as soon as possible!"
The first half of Xiao Du's sentence was a little incoherent due to his shock, but he regained his composure in the latter part and sounded as if he was really happy to hear that Yin Zhaoxian's condition had improved.
"Is there anything else, Mr. Xiao?"
Xiao Du quickly replied.
"Since Your Majesty is already aware of the changes in the celestial phenomena and has sent the Imperial Astronomical Observatory to investigate, I have nothing else to do."
"Well, go down."
"yes!"
Xiao Du stepped back slowly, then walked out of the imperial study with heavy steps. Outside, without the warmth of the fireplace, the cold wind blew away the sweat and made him feel briefly cool. Judging from the emperor's calm reaction, the Yin family might really have someone helping them, and the emperor might even have known about this for a long time.
…
In the Tongtian River, an old turtle lay in the middle of the river, in a state of half asleep, half awake, and half practicing. In his mind, he was thinking about the meaning of "Xiao Yao You" that he had heard that year, and he was also thinking about some old things: thinking about the scholar named Xiao, who has continued for many generations and should still be powerful in Dazhen, but this old turtle was almost dragged down and collapsed on the road of cultivation. It is unlikely that he can completely let it go.
'Haha, forget it. The fortunes and misfortunes of others are determined by heaven. It has nothing to do with me, Old Turtle! I don't know why you are looking for me... If there is a chance, I would like to meet the descendants of the Xiao family and see what kind of face they have...'
The old turtle comforted himself in his heart, with the help of the artistic conception he saw when listening to "Xiao Yao You" that year, and some water creature methods taught by the God of Chunmujiang, the old turtle's practice is now on the right track both physically and mentally. Although the progress is not too fast, it is not wandering in the fog, but a smooth road with a view of the beautiful scenery of distant mountains.
Just when it was quiet, the old turtle suddenly had a strange feeling. He slowly opened his eyes, and the slightly dark and turbid scene in the center of the river came into his eyes, but there was nothing special. He turned his sight again, and then, suddenly he saw a figure standing next to him. After taking a closer look, the old turtle was horrified.
"Mr. Ji!? Old turtle Wu Chong, meet Mr. Ji!"
The old turtle at the bottom of the river quickly stood up, spitting bubbles and shaking the water, and bowed to one side, causing the muddy riverbed to muddy the water. But when he looked more closely, Ji Yuan's figure was no longer there, just like an illusion.
This, why is this
"When the mind is free, the spirit is also free. When the spirit moves, the travel is also free~"
Ji Yuan's faint voice actually rang in the old turtle's mind, which made him slightly stunned. He immediately realized that what had just happened was definitely not an illusion, but it might not be what he saw visually. Although he did not have Lu Shanjun's brilliant comprehension ability, he had practiced very solidly for hundreds of years and was definitely not an ordinary person. After hearing the voice in his mind, he immediately lay down at the bottom of the river again and calmed down.
One breath, two breaths, ten breaths, twenty breaths, after a while, that feeling of freedom arose again, but this time the feeling was stronger than when he was practicing alone just now, and it even made the old turtle Wu Chong feel as if he was floating in the air.
At this time, the old turtle found that he saw Ji Yuan again, still standing beside him, nodding slightly at him.
"Don't resist. I will take a wisp of your divine consciousness with me to travel together."
After hearing this sentence, the old turtle had a strange feeling. On the one hand, he could feel that he was still practicing, and on the other hand, it seemed as if he was slowly rising up and emerging from the water, following Mr. Ji on the waves. If he had had time to look down, he might have seen his own turtle body in the river, but it was too late now.
The chapter "Dream Travel" is essentially related to "Xiao Yao You". The fact that the old turtle is in the process of practicing makes it more convenient for Ji Yuan, so he doesn't have to spend more energy and can lead a wisp of his spiritual thoughts to travel together.
Even if he doesn't draw his sword or perform other magic in his dreams, the art of dreamwalking is still extremely mentally taxing. Except for trying to improve it and some relatively necessary moments, Ji Yuan won't use it casually just for fun. But at this moment, it can be regarded as another attempt, and it is also necessary in terms of the law of dreamwalking.
And this time, I don't know if it was because the old turtle was practicing "Xiao Yao You", but I was actually able to lead a wisp of his spiritual thought to travel with him. The only thing left was fate.
Ji Yuan asked the old turtle to come to Jingji Prefecture, perhaps with the intention of helping the Yin family break the impasse, but this factor was very small, at least it was not the main reason. More reasons were for the old turtle Wu Chong's practice. Ji Yuan never asked in detail what the Yin family's plans were, but he also knew that the Xiao family would most likely be defeated in this power struggle, and by then the Xiao family might no longer exist. Perhaps the current juncture is a chance for the old turtle to resolve the grudge with the Xiao family nearly two hundred years ago.
Regardless of whether this is the most appropriate time, after all, you never know when it may be gone in the future. Since fate has come along, just go with the flow. It can also be regarded as helping the old turtle to settle a fate or cause and effect.
Among all the sentient beings that Ji Yuan met, the old turtle Wu Chong left a deep impression on him. He was wholeheartedly devoted to the Tao, but he took many detours and his path of cultivation was difficult and bumpy. However, his heart for the Tao had never changed. He had a good heart and was willing to follow the right path no matter how difficult it was. That was why he was appreciated by Ji Yuan.
At this moment, the old turtle saw that he could not move his feet but could swim ashore with Ji Yuan, but it was fundamentally different from the demon soul leaving the body. He thought that his soul had left his body, so he asked carefully.
"Mr. Ji, am I traveling in spirit at this moment?"
The primordial spirit is a spiritual product born in the spirit center when the spirit, thoughts and ideas of a practitioner are condensed to a certain degree, and it is superior to the soul and body. It can reflect one's true nature and is higher than the soul and body. The stronger the mind, the stronger the primordial spirit. It is of great significance to practitioners, especially those who practice correctly.
It is not difficult to achieve the soul leaving the body, at least with the old turtle's practice, it can be done, and it can also comprehend the world from another level. However, the soul will be much more fragile without the protection of the body and soul. If a person with shallow practice rashly escapes the soul, a cold wind can hurt the soul. Therefore, the soul leaving the body is basically just a rhetoric. Even people with high practice will basically never let the soul leave the body for their entire life, and they will focus more on the practice of the body and soul.
Hearing the old turtle's slightly uneasy voice, Ji Yuan smiled.
"It is too dangerous for the soul to leave the body. How can I just play around? This is just a strand of your own divine thought that is connected to your consciousness. Don't worry. Even if it dissipates, it will only cause fatigue for a moment. It won't be a big deal."
"Thank you for clearing up my doubts, Mr. Ji. So, where are you going to take me this time?"
Ji Yuan took the old turtle onto the land and swam far forward, his eyes looking towards the outline of the capital city of Gyeonggi Province.
"Go meet the descendants of your old friend and see if they can still sleep well in these turbulent times."