The young eunuch who went in to report came out not long after and led Zhu Ping'an into the outer hall of the main hall to wait, saying that there was someone else inside who was seeing the emperor and they could only go in after that person came out.
Entering the outer hall, Zhu Pingan smelled a very strong smell of incense. If it was just based on the smell, Zhu Pingan would have thought he was in a famous ancient temple. Of course, if he looked down, he would know that he would not have such an illusion. That famous ancient temple would be so luxurious that it would be paved with gold bricks.
There are also statues of the Three Pure Ones of Taoism in the main hall, with incense burning constantly beneath them. In addition to the statues of the Three Pure Ones, there is another statue on the east side of the hall. A plaque indicates that this statue is of the Xiang-Yi Emperor. The statue of the Xiang-Yi Emperor is about one foot tall, slightly taller than a real person. He is dressed in a blue Bagua Taoist robe, with a thin face, but extremely majestic.
Well
The more I look at this Taoist statue, the more it looks like the Jiajing Emperor whom I took the opportunity to take a glimpse of during the last palace examination!
Haha, Emperor Jiajing is really interesting. He made a Taoist statue of himself when he was alive and conferred the title of Emperor Xiangyi on himself. He was really good at self-consolation!
Zhu Ping'an waited in the outer hall for less than three minutes before he saw a man walking out of the inner hall led by a young eunuch. The man walked out of the inner hall with a heroic and proud look, as if he could control the world.
"Brother Ouyang..."
Zhu Pingan saw the person coming out, smiled slightly, and bowed to the person. The person who came out was Ouyang Zishi whom Zhu Pingan had met in Yan's mansion. Looking at Ouyang Zishi's appearance, it seemed that he performed well in front of the emperor, at least he felt good about himself.
Hearing Zhu Ping'an's greeting, Ouyang Zishi glanced at Zhu Ping'an, nodded slightly, and then walked out of the hall with a heroic and high-spirited look.
"Master Zhu, right? Please follow me. The emperor wants to see you." Another young eunuch came out from the hall. He was dressed slightly more luxuriously and his palace clothes were brighter in color than the one who led him here. He walked up to Zhu Ping'an with a smile on his face and said.
"Thank you, eunuch." Zhu Ping'an bowed to express his gratitude.
"You are too polite, Lord Zhu." The young eunuch led Zhu Ping'an to the inner hall with a smile on his face.
Zhu Pingan followed the young eunuch into the inner hall. The inner hall smelled strongly of sandalwood and was very hot. Incense was burned everywhere, and candles were lit everywhere even during the day. The light in the hall was particularly bright, and there was a more than one-meter-high two-dragon playing with a pearl and eight-diagram alchemy furnace that was very conspicuous.
In front of the alchemy furnace of Two Dragons Playing with a Pearl, there is a gold and jade Bagua cushion. On the Bagua cushion, there sits a thin and handsome middle-aged man in a blue Bagua Taoist robe. He looks 80% like the Emperor Xiang Yi in the outer hall.
There is no doubt that this gentleman is Emperor Jiajing.
As soon as he entered the inner hall, the young eunuch knelt down, and Zhu Ping'an followed him and knelt down. Zhu Ping'an, who grew up under the red flag, was speechless about the feudal society where people knelt down at every turn, but he had to kneel down when the local customs were. He didn't want to stand out from the crowd and be burned for a living!
"Your humble servant, Zhu Ping'an, kowtows to the emperor. Long live the emperor."
Zhu Pingan knelt on the ground. Following the instructions of the young eunuch when he came, he kowtowed three times and bowed nine times to the Emperor Jiajing who was sitting cross-legged on the Bagua mat. His words were filled with the "excitement" of meeting the emperor, and his expression was also "excited".
Emperor Jiajing, who was sitting cross-legged on the Bagua mat, was very satisfied with Zhu Ping'an's excitement. Well, that's right, this is the emotion that a little guy should have when he meets the emperor for the first time. This kind of awe and excitement also made Emperor Jiajing very happy. What was the purpose of practicing Taoism and seeking immortality? Wasn't it just to maintain this kind of power that is admired by all living beings until the end of time!
Zhu Pingan knelt on the ground. After waiting for a long time, he heard no response. When he was almost impatient, he finally heard a rather majestic voice.
"My dear. Are you Zhu Ping'an?"
Jiajing sat on the Bagua mat, looked at Zhu Ping'an carefully, and asked softly with a magnetic voice.
"Your Majesty is wise. I am Zhu Ping'an." Zhu Ping'an knelt on the ground and replied quickly.
"Well. My dear, are you from Xiahe?" Jiajing asked again.
"Your Majesty is wise. I live in Xiahe Village." Zhu Ping'an answered while looking at the ground. He was still a little surprised by the question of Emperor Jiajing. He did not expect that Emperor Jiajing cared about him so much and knew his background so clearly.
"Xiahe... Zhu... Ping'an... My dear, what a good name."
After hearing Zhu Ping'an's answer, Emperor Jiajing had an expression of understanding on his face. He slowly repeated Zhu Ping'an's personal information, then nodded and praised Zhu Ping'an's name.
In fact, as early as in the morning, when Emperor Jiajing looked at the first 20 test papers and saw Zhu Ping'an's name, it was as if he had suddenly realized something! A flash of lightning tore through the dark curtain and saw through the world!
The dream that night has been deciphered by me!
Taizu stood on the river bank covered with duckweed, pointed under his feet, and then flew away.
Down to the river bank!
Have a safe trip down to the river!
Zhu Ping'an, my Zhu family is safe and sound! This is the important task that Taizu has given me!
As for the first place presented by the examiners, Ouyang Zishi, Yang means "illness"! How can my Zhu family's kingdom be in trouble! I, Jiajing, am not a foolish king, how can I let the kingdom that Taizu fought for with blood and sweat be in trouble!
Zhu Ping'an had no idea about Emperor Jiajing's psychological activities, nor could he have known. As for Emperor Jiajing's dream the night before, Zhu Ping'an knew nothing about it!
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Zhu Ping'an, who was kneeling on the ground, felt a little strange when he heard this.
This was the first time Zhu Ping'an heard someone say that his name was nice, and this person was the current emperor. This made Zhu Ping'an feel a little strange.
"Haha, please stand up, my dear."
After hearing what Zhu Ping'an said, Emperor Jiajing couldn't help but smile. This child is so sincere. If others heard the compliment, they would definitely not accept it and would feel guilty or something. But this child is so sincere and thanked me directly.
Uh, Jiajing thought too much.
In fact, this is just a habit. This is the difference between the personalities of modern people and ancient people. Ancient people tended to be more introverted, while modern people tended to be more extroverted. Zhu Pingan was also influenced by learning English. In English textbooks, most Westerners responded to compliments by saying thank you.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Zhu Ping'an knelt down to express his gratitude before standing up.
"My dear, your home is in Xiahe, and there are many mountains and rivers nearby. There are many tigers in the mountains, and there are often dragons in the deep valleys of the rivers. You live in the mountains and rivers, can you see dragons and tigers?" Emperor Jiajing got up from the Bagua mat, walked to another dragon chair and sat down, looking down at Zhu Ping'an and asked slowly.
Dragon Tiger
I have seen wild boars in the mountains, caught rabbits, and fish and shrimp in rivers and streams. As for dragons and tigers? Haha, if I saw a tiger, would I still have the chance to stand here?! Dragons? That's even more ridiculous. Where in the world can there be dragons
Having said that, I can't answer like this. It's too bland. This is an interview. If I want to get a good ranking, I can't answer like this.
Just have to leave a good impression.
Emperor Jiajing held a high position and was an obedient man who liked to hear nice things. Thinking of this, Zhu Ping'an's eyes turned and he had an answer.
"Your Majesty, I live in the mountains and I often see tigers, but today I am here to see your face for the first time."
Zhu Ping'an saluted respectfully, bravely glanced at Emperor Jiajing sitting high on the dragon throne, then lowered his head and answered very sincerely.
I live in the mountains and often see tigers, but today I meet the Emperor and finally see his majestic face!
What does it mean? That is to say, I live near high mountains and rivers, and tigers are common in the mountains, but today I came to pay homage to Your Majesty and had the honor of seeing His Majesty's face for the first time.
After hearing these words, a smile suddenly appeared on the face of Emperor Jiajing, who was sitting high on the dragon throne. He was extremely satisfied with Zhu Ping'an's answer.
Great sounds are silent, great elephants are invisible, and flattery is invisible!
Huang Jin, who was serving beside Emperor Jiajing, couldn't help but look at Zhu Ping'an twice more. This boy is extraordinary. (To be continued.)