The palace walls with red walls and yellow tiles extend out, the imperial palaces are lined up one after another, red clouds are floating in the sky, and in this "rosy cloud", the returning birds land on the eaves, touching the hanging wind chimes.
The flags were fluttering, and within the sight of the palace guards standing on duty, the eunuch who announced the decree took small steps out of the Hanyuan Hall, stood on the side of the gate hall, and stretched his neck to shout loudly outside.
"Please invite the demon spirit from Qixia Mountain to show the real person—"
On the square paved with white rocks, Lu Liangsheng patted the anxious old donkey to stop it from running around, turned around and told Lu Pan, Lao Sun and others to wait here, then, dressed in a green shirt and white robe, bathed in the afterglow of the setting sun, he walked up the stone steps step by step. The Sui soldiers standing on both sides knew who the other party was, but were surprised at his age, and couldn't help but glance at the walking scholar.
When they arrived at the palace gate, two eunuchs who were waiting came up to search them, and then they heard the emperor's voice from inside.
"Don't be rude!"
They quickly bowed and stepped aside. This was their duty. Lu Liangsheng smiled and nodded at the two of them, lifted the hem of his robe, and stepped into the hall.
It was so quiet in the Hanyuan Hall that one could hear people breathing. Among the civil and military officials standing on both sides, many people cast their eyes on the scholar in the middle who was walking into the hall. Most of them had only heard of his name, and some even just knew him. Upon seeing him, they found that he was in his twenties, wearing a blue shirt and white robe, and looked too young.
Lu Liangsheng could naturally sense the gazes coming from both sides. He had seen all kinds of scenes, so he walked neither hurriedly nor slowly with a calm face to the seven or eight steps below the imperial steps and stopped. He looked up at the emperor sitting on the Dragon Court above, spread his sleeves and clasped his hands.
"Lu Liangsheng from Qixia Mountain greets the Emperor of Sui!"
"Sir, there is no need to bow. I have already told you that you are not allowed to call yourself a subject when you enter the palace. You will be granted a high seat when you enter the palace." Yang Jian raised his hand, and a guard came with a large chair and placed it at the lower right side of the Dragon Court.
"Mr. Lu, please!"
The emperor stretched out his hands and made a gesture of invitation. The scholar standing in the courtyard bowed, glanced at the big chair, turned around and stood on the other side of Yang Su.
This made all the ministers look at each other in surprise, while some stroked their beards and nodded, showing great appreciation.
On the Dragon Court, Yang Jian frowned slightly: "Sir, what are you doing?"
"His Majesty!"
Lu Liangsheng, who was standing in front of the generals, cupped his hands and said, "I not only practice Taoism, but also Confucianism. Your Majesty is a wise and enlightened monarch. How can I sit with Your Majesty in the palace?"
Lu Liangsheng's 'ladder' made Yang Jian feel comfortable. However, he was born in Prajna Temple and was raised by nuns. In addition, the queen admired Buddhism and knew the monks' doctrine of worshipping Sakyamuni instead of kneeling to the king. At the beginning, he did not think much of it. But now that he is the emperor, he has a different view.
"Haha, I forgot that you are also a scholar who has read the classics of saints."
With a hearty laugh, they no longer bothered about whether to sit or not. Yang Jian stepped down from the dragon throne, and the eunuchs at the imperial steps waved to the side knowingly. Four guards came over with imperial plates and lined up in a row. The plates were covered with yellow silk, so nothing could be seen on them, but one of the pieces showed a square outline, which was probably a jade seal or something like that.
The eunuch in front of the hall stepped forward cautiously, held up the gift with both hands, and removed the yellow silk to reveal a hair crown and a neatly folded black, purple and gold-edged robe at the back.
“… a Tongtian crown, a black silk robe with gilded water patterns, and a pair of purple gold auspicious cloud shoes.”
The registration continued until the last item was accepted. The eunuch took out a mahogany copper box from under the yellow silk and turned around with a hunched body. Yang Jian came down from the court and reached out to touch the wooden box. "Mr. Lu, this is what I want to entrust to you."
The wooden box slowly opened, and the emperor took out a jade seal made of emerald green. On the top was a jade carving of a unicorn with its head held high and hooves raised, and on one side there was a coiled jade toad. It was exquisite and rigorous, and the carving must have been done by the palace's master seal engraver.
“… I often see you carrying a big toad, accompanied by a unicorn, so I had someone carve it.” Yang Jian took the jade seal, turned it over to reveal the bottom, on which were engraved the words ‘Sui State Master Seal’. He solemnly held the seal in his hand and handed it over: “Mr. Lu, the well-being of the people of the Great Sui Dynasty is entrusted to you!”
Looking at the jade seal handed to him, Lu Liangsheng took a deep breath, took a half step back, bowed, and took it with both hands. His fingertips touched the seal, and a warm feeling flowed through his palm to his whole body and merged into his sea of spiritual consciousness. He seemed to feel countless voices buzzing and speaking in the darkness, and then it became silent again after a moment.
Are these voices the demands of the people of the nine provinces in the world
"Mr. Lu?"
When Yang Jian's voice reached his ears, Lu Liangsheng, who was holding the jade seal, suddenly came to his senses. He then realized that all the civil and military officials in the hall were looking at him.
After looking at the jade seal, Lu Liangsheng smiled and said to them, "Your Majesty has entrusted me with a great responsibility. I was a little out of control just now, and I am sorry to have embarrassed your Majesty and the other civil and military officials."
"Hahaha-"
Yang Jian also laughed. The imperial seal and robes had been handed over to Mr. Lu, and he walked up to the Dragon Court in a happy mood.
"By the way, I have decided to allocate a palace in the imperial city for you to use as a place to pray and perform rituals..."
"His Majesty!"
Below, Lu Liangsheng put away the jade seal, bowed and spoke, "There is no need to move the palace. I am used to being free and unrestrained, and I feel a little restrained in the imperial city. I think the Lotus Pond in the southeast of Chang'an is good, and it is close to Mount Li in the northeast. It is better for the state teacher to be stationed there."
The civil and military officials around had no objection. The Hibiscus Pond was originally a gap in the southeast corner of Chang'an City. It was usually a place for the children of the city to go for an outing. Compared to living in the imperial city, they would go there if they wanted to.
Then they bowed one by one and said, "I second the motion."
"Well, that place is close to Mount Li. I think it will be of great benefit to your cultivation, so I won't force you."
Yang Jian tapped his fingertips and looked at the figures bowing their heads. He knew what these court officials meant. It was indeed inappropriate for a young man to live in the palace, so he nodded and settled the matter.
After he finished speaking, the court meeting was considered over. He stood up and waved to the group of civil and military officials, "Come on, follow me and the Imperial Master to look at the Lotus Pond. Tell us what you want to build. We'll have to go to the Heavenly Court some other day and hold a grand ceremony."
"yes!"
All the civil and military officials said goodbye in unison. Min Changwen followed the crowd, looked back at the scholar walking with the emperor and the Duke of Yue, chuckled twice, shook his head, and left with his colleagues.
Lu Liangsheng said goodbye to Yang Jian temporarily as it was impossible for him to ride in the imperial chariot. After leaving Hanyuan Hall, he asked a Taoist to lead the old donkey, and took Lu Pan and eight others to go ahead, while he himself went with Duke Yue.
"Daoyou, please!"
"Duke Yue, please!"
The two of them boarded the mansion's carriage and followed the ministers to the Hibiscus Pond in the southeast.
Bang bang bang~~
The carriage rolled through the long street. One or two carriages came out of Danfeng Gate, passed Yongxingfang and Dongshi. There was a carriage behind with its curtain lowered. Yang Su withdrew his gaze from the street scene, poured some wine, and handed it to Lu Liangsheng who was sitting opposite him.
"Friend Lu, do you know why His Majesty wants all the civil and military officials to accompany him?"
"I don't know? Please help me, Duke Yue."
"Your Majesty called all the ministers together in the hope that you can show some ability later to silence those who have objections."
Perhaps thinking of the scholar's past experience, Yang Su suddenly chuckled, put down his wine glass, and explained: "Don't misunderstand, Taoist friend, it's not a magic trick."
After hearing the old man's words, Lu Liangsheng understood what he meant. In fact, he didn't take what happened in the past that seriously anymore. After thinking about it, he roughly knew what to do.
From his sleeve, a thin scale slipped into his palm, and then he clenched it and transmitted his magic power.
The carriage rattled forward. Lu Liangsheng took back the fine scale and from time to time looked at the corner of the curtain that was blown by the wind. In the rosy glow outside the gap, people were passing by. He never thought that his wish from many years ago would be realized here.
"I remember the first time I saw such a bustling street scene in a big city was when I was in Tianzhi. At that time, I wanted to do something and live up to the teachings of my mentor."
"Hehe." Yang Su chuckled and brushed his long white beard. He looked at the young man looking at the street scene, and a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.
"They are all Chinese, and it's the same here."