The Emperor of Yan was old, but not stupid. The amount of money on the list was clearly written, and the people of the Jin Wang faction donated the least. The most ridiculous one was Xiao Da, who only donated 500, and the Jin Wang was even more absurd, not giving a penny!
The Emperor of Yan flicked his sleeves and threw down all the memorials on the imperial desk. His chest was heaving with anger. He pointed at all the ministers and said, "You are all staring at me. I don't know what you are thinking. You are scheming and scheming all day long. Who is really thinking about the interests of Great Yan?!"
Everyone knelt down and begged for forgiveness, not even daring to raise their heads: "Your Majesty, please calm down—"
The Prince of Jin had never fallen so hard in the court before. He was half ashamed and half regretful. He wanted to make amends, so he knelt down and said, "Father, all the mistakes are my fault. Please don't get angry. It's all my fault. I took too long to collect the silver and failed to hand it in on time, which caused this misunderstanding."
Emperor Yan used to think that Prince Jin was polite and dignified, but his vision was narrow. Now he saw that it was not only narrow-minded, but also narrow-minded. He couldn't help but say in disappointment: "Are you deliberately unwilling to pay, or have you spent a long time to collect money? You know it in your heart. There is no need to use flowery words in front of me!"
When the King of Jin heard this, he felt as if he had been hit on the head with a stick, and his face turned half pale. "Your son deserves to die. I will immediately pay the silver after the court session. Please calm down, father. Please calm down, father."
Emperor Yan closed his eyes and looked away, but he didn't want to pay any more attention: "Prince, you have done a good job on this task. I used to think you were a jerk and a naughty boy, but now I see that you are steady and sensible. Don't let me down."
The prince cupped his hands and said without any emotion: "Thank you, father, for your praise."
The Emperor of Yan was in low spirits and had barely managed to muster the energy for the morning court today. When he saw that all the ministers had finished their reports, he stood up and left the court. He staggered a bit when he stood up, but fortunately he was supported by the old eunuch beside him: "Your Majesty, be careful!"
"No problem."
Emperor Yan staggered back to his bedroom, and fell into bed with the help of the palace maids. He sighed and groaned, feeling a splitting headache: "None of my sons are worry-free..."
The imperial physician wanted to step forward to give him acupuncture, but the Emperor of Yan grabbed his wrist. He looked furious and suspicious: "You give me acupuncture every day, every day, why is my illness not getting better, but getting worse day by day, are you trying to harm me?!"
This kind of blame cannot be taken. The imperial physician was so frightened that he knelt on the ground and kowtowed repeatedly, not even caring about knocking over the medicine box: "I dare not! I dare not! Your Majesty, it is really that evil spirits have entered your body, and ordinary medicine cannot help!"
Diseases that the Imperial Hospital could not cure were usually attributed to evil spirits and handed over to the Taoists and monks. Anyway, it is better to let my Taoist friends die than to let me die. The Emperor of Yan had a sudden serious illness, and he had nightmares every night, which made it difficult for him to sleep. He was already at the end of his rope, and no matter how he was treated, it was in vain.
Upon hearing this, Emperor Yan was startled and subconsciously let go of the doctor's hand, muttering to himself: "Evil spirit has entered the body? Evil spirit has entered the body..."
He said a little later: "Yes... I did... did dream about many old people recently... many old people..."
The old eunuch saw that Emperor Yan was talking to himself and seemed half crazy, so he stepped forward cautiously and called out to him, "Your Majesty?"
The Emperor of Yan suddenly came back to his senses, staring at him with a pair of red eyes, and roared, "Go and find me a capable person to drive out the evil spirits in the palace. Do you hear me?!"
The old eunuch knew the cold and bloodthirsty nature of the Emperor of Yan too well, so he turned around and did it immediately, his steps hurried. He wiped the sweat from his forehead, thinking that it was really like living with a tiger to serve the emperor.
When the news reached the General's Mansion, Chu Xinian was worrying about the pile of yellow paper in his hand, not knowing how to deliver it to the palace. When he heard the news, his eyes lit up and he suddenly had an idea.
He glanced at the inner room and saw Xie Jingyuan lazily lying on the bed, not knowing what he was doing. He walked over to Xie Jingyuan and sat down: "General, how about going out with me?"
When Xie Jingyuan heard him coming, he quickly put away the painting he had been looking at for a long time, put it back under his pillow, and pretended to be calm: "Go out? Where are you going?"
Chu Xinian didn't notice his little move and smiled: "Of course it's the outskirts of the city, to meet the scourge from last time."
Disaster
Xie Jingyuan thought for a long time before realizing who this evil was. Wasn't it the Taoist Xuan Yeping from last time? He sneered and glanced at Chu Xinian: "You want me to act like a charlatan with you again? No!"
Lose face!
Chu Xinian took out the things and clothes they used to disguise themselves last time from the cabinet, put them aside, and gently pushed Xie Jingyuan: "Everything is ready, why don't you give me a favor, General?"
Xie Jingyuan turned his back to him, still unwilling to go. Chu Xinian simply lay down with him, kissed Xie Jingyuan's earlobe, and felt hot: "Shall I change your clothes for you?"
Xie Jingyuan was kissed so hard that his whole body trembled and his breathing became disordered. Hearing this, he raised his eyebrows: "Change? How are you going to change?"
Chu Xinian didn't say anything, but with a flick of his slender fingertips, he untied his belt and took off all his clothes. But somehow, after stripping Xie Jingyuan naked, they kissed each other in a daze and rolled into the bed.
Xie Jingyuan was in a particularly high spirit. He clung to Chu Xinian, biting and kissing him on the lips, panting and groaning: "Chu Xinian... Chu Xinian..."
Chu Xinian kissed the scars on his face, stirring his lips and tongue, making a series of ambiguous sounds. He stretched out his long arm and took out a box of ointment from the bedside cabinet. His fingertips fumbled for a while, but suddenly he laughed softly, causing his chest to shake: "I forgot, I used it up a long time ago..."
Xie Jingyuan's narrow eyes were full of confusion and passion. Hearing this, he glanced at Chu Xinian lightly, then slowly pulled the other's hand to his lips, licked it lightly with the tip of his red tongue, and took all of his fingers into his mouth.
Chu Xinian's breath caught when he saw this, and his eyes suddenly became dark. He let Xie Jingyuan do what he wanted, and after a long while he said in a hoarse voice: "It's OK..."
Xie Jingyuan spit out his fingertips, and seeing Chu Xinian staring at him in a daze, he suddenly smiled triumphantly, hugged his neck and kissed him directly. He rubbed his right cheek slowly, and said in a hoarse and lazy voice: "Chu Xinian..."
Anyone who can hold back is not a man.
Chu Xinian naturally couldn't help himself. He lifted the quilt, directly covering their bodies, and buried his head in the action.
Xie Jingyuan frowned, looking like he was in pain, and it took him a long while to relax. He asked Chu Xinian with a smug look on his face, "Aren't you going to find that troublemaker? Why aren't you going?"
Chu Xinian kissed his lips: "No hurry, we can go in the evening."
It's a dark and windy day, perfect for doing business.
Although Xuan Yeping was just a Taoist priest, he, like ordinary people, had practiced meditation for many years, intending to enter the immortal world and obtain the art of longevity. Unfortunately, for many years, he had no way to find a way.
He sat outside the courtyard that King Jin had given him to meditate and practice, sighing in his heart. Last time in the woods outside the city, he should have shamelessly followed the immortal. Now he was an idler in King Jin's mansion, which was really boring.
However, whether the heavens heard his sigh, there was a rustling sound on the outer wall of the courtyard. Xuan Yeping looked over subconsciously, and saw a man in black wearing a bamboo hat and holding a sword standing quietly on the wall. He stood up immediately in fear: "You—"
"Who are you… "
Xuan Yeping suddenly remembered that the other person was the disciple following behind the immortal. He became so excited that he stuttered and couldn't even speak.
The man in black ignored him, threw a brocade bag at his feet, then turned around and jumped off the wall. His figure disappeared into the darkness and no trace was left.
Xuan Yeping picked up the brocade bag, opened it, and saw a note inside with a line of words written on it: When the time comes to transform into a dragon, see you at the entrance of Zhuque Street.
Chu Xinian originally wanted to meet at the outskirts of the city, but unfortunately, because of something that happened, it was too late and the city gates were already locked. They could get out, but they were afraid that Xuan Yeping couldn't get out.
There is a teahouse on Zhuque Street. After closing at night, it becomes deserted. A white-bearded Taoist priest sits quietly under the shed, wearing a fluttering Taoist robe, looking aloof from the world.
Xie Jingyuan returned to the teahouse from the Prince of Jin's mansion and saw Chu Xinian sitting there calmly. He sat opposite him without hesitation. But for some reason, he frowned and adjusted his posture unnaturally, saying with a half-smile, "Are you addicted to playing the role of a cunning old Taoist priest? You stay up late at night and meet a beautiful woman, but you meet an old man."
Chu Xinian slowly changed the side of the whisk in his hand, raised his eyes to look at Xie Jingyuan, and smiled in an unclear way: "If I really want to meet a beautiful woman at night, why would I bring the general with me?"
Xie Jingyuan could pierce them through with one sword.
Xie Jingyuan snorted: "It's good that you know."
Before he sat down for a moment, he saw a figure hurriedly running from the other side of the street. He raised his chin slightly and gestured to Chu Xinian, "Here, the trouble you are looking for is here."
When Xuan Yeping saw that it was the immortal from that day who was looking for him, he immediately ran out of the Prince of Jin's mansion and almost died. Xie Jingyuan was afraid that someone was following him, so he flew onto the roof and stood on the ridge to watch.
"Master! Master!"
Xuan Yeping spotted Chu Xinian at a glance, and stepped forward to salute with a look of surprise and respect: "I am Xuan Yeping, honored to meet you, Immortal Master. I wonder what important matter has the Immortal Master summoned you for so late at night?"
Chu Xinian gave him a false hand and said, "Master Xuan, please don't be polite. I came to you today because I have something to tell you."
Seeing his solemn expression, Xuan Yeping's heart skipped a beat: "Master, please speak."
Chu Xinian pretended to count with his fingers and said, "I observed the sky at night and found that the Ziwei star is weak recently. The dragon energy in the palace is greatly weakened. I am afraid that the world will change its master."
The world has changed hands? Doesn't that mean the Emperor of Yan has passed away?!
Xuan Yeping was shocked when he heard this, and he almost didn't react for a moment. Before he could ask anything, he heard Chu Xinian say, "But I have carefully calculated that this is actually an opportunity for you to rise to the top. I am afraid that you will miss it, so I came to tell you."
When Xuan Yeping heard the words "straight up to the sky", he immediately forgot about Emperor Yan and knelt in front of Chu Xinian, pleading excitedly: "Please teach me, Immortal. To be honest, I was enlightened by the Immortal that day and went to Tianfeng Mountain to wait for the nobleman. I ended up being a disciple of King Jin by mistake. It's a pity that I have no place to display my talents and my ambitions are hard to realize!"
"You were unable to realize your ambitions before because the time was not right. Now the time has come, and the road to success is just around the corner."
Chu Xinian reached out his hand to help him up, and pointed in the direction of the Taiji Hall: "The palace has been filled with evil spirits recently. There are evil spirits causing trouble. Your Majesty has been bedridden and has not recovered for a long time. That is why I do not want to interfere in the affairs of the mortal world. I would like to ask you to enter the palace to catch the evil spirit and prevent the world from being in chaos."
Xuan Yeping was stunned: "Catch a monster? This, this, this... I am stupid and don't know how to catch a monster!"
Chu Xinian signaled him not to worry, took out a stack of yellow paper that he had prepared long ago from his sleeve and handed it to him, then took off the gourd from his waist and said, "This yellow talisman is extraordinary. You can stick it in the emperor's bedroom, recite the scriptures a few times, and then sprinkle the water in the gourd on the yellow paper, and the demons and evil spirits will naturally show up."
Xuan Yeping couldn't help but widen his eyes, and tremblingly took the yellow talisman and the gourd: "This... this... Thank you for the magic weapon, but how can I enter the palace?"
Chu Xinian thought that he was borrowing the name of King Jin. He pointed to the full moon in the sky and said mysteriously: "The person who can bring you into the palace is far away in the sky, but he is right in front of you."
"Far away, yet so close...?"
Upon hearing this, Xuan Yeping lowered his head and muttered to himself, falling into deep thought.
Seeing this, Chu Xinian calmly gave Xie Jingyuan a look, signaling him to come down, and turned around and left with Xie Jingyuan. Their figures disappeared at the street corner, leaving only the clear light on the ground.
Xuan Yeping lived up to Chu Xinian's expectations and finally understood what he meant. He held the yellow talisman and the gourd in his arms like treasures, looked around, and when he saw that no one had noticed, he immediately ran back to the Prince of Jin's mansion.
Early the next morning, the guards posted an imperial edict outside the palace gate, saying that there was an evil spirit causing trouble in the palace, and seeking capable people to come and exorcise the evil spirit. Anyone who succeeded would be rewarded with ten thousand taels of gold and be granted a seventh-rank official position in the Bureau of Astronomy.
The imperial edict was posted like a huge rock falling into water, causing countless splashes. The people gathered outside the city wall, pointing and talking at the imperial edict, marveling at it.
"Oh, if only I could catch monsters, it would take me many years to get a seventh-rank official position."
"Come on, you'll never make it in your life. You can't even read a single word."
Although the temptation on the imperial edict was great, no one dared to take it. Even a fool knew that if you didn't have real ability, you would definitely lose your head. Just as everyone was talking about it, an old Taoist priest suddenly squeezed in, tore off the imperial edict, put it in his sleeve, and turned around and left.
The people were surprised and pointed at his back and said, "Hey, there really is someone who dares to reveal this imperial edict."
The soldier at the gate noticed something was wrong and led his men over, only to see that the notice board was bare. He couldn't help but frown and asked, "Where is the imperial edict? Who uncovered it?"
Someone pointed in the direction of the Prince of Jin's Mansion and said, "It was just torn off by an old Taoist priest and went to the west."
The soldier's face changed when he heard this, and he immediately led his men to chase after him.
The person who took down the imperial edict was Xuan Yeping. He took down the imperial edict and went directly to the study to ask for an audience with the King of Jin, explaining his purpose and claiming that he could enter the palace to catch monsters and exorcise evil spirits for the Emperor of Yan, and asked the King of Jin for permission.
"What, you want to enter the palace?!"
Upon hearing this, King Jin stood up from his chair with a look of doubt and uncertainty, frowning: "Master, you should know that this matter is very serious. If we make a mistake, we will lose our head."
Xuan Yeping's speech was as eloquent as a lotus, and he also had the treasure given by Chu Xinian, so he spoke with full confidence: "I have long seen that the evil spirit in the palace is rising to the sky. If it is not subdued, I am afraid it will harm the emperor's dragon body. This time, I took down the imperial edict, firstly to help your majesty solve the problem, and secondly to repay the kindness of His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin."
Looking at it from another angle, if Xuan Yeping can really cure Emperor Yan's illness, Prince Jin, as the person who recommended him, will naturally also have made a great contribution. It is a win-win situation no matter how you look at it.
Prince Jin still hesitated: "Are you sure, Taoist priest?"
Xuan Yeping closed his eyes and stroked his beard: "I will not gamble with my life. Please take me to the palace, Prince Jin. The longer we delay, the more likely it is that the evil spirit will be unable to be suppressed."
King Jin thought for a moment and said, "Master, please wait a moment. I will go and discuss this with Jiao Ping. We must come up with a foolproof plan."
When Xuan Yeping heard that it was Chu Jiaoping, he remembered that he had called him a charlatan last time. He sneered in his heart and said to King Jin with a worried look on his face: "Your Highness's future is limitless, but you must not be led by the nose. If everything needs his permission, who is the master and who is the servant?"
When the King of Jin heard this, he paused. He was actually shaken by what he said. He stood there with a changing expression, and no one knew what he was thinking.
Xuan Yeping deliberately sighed and said, "Well, if your highness wants to go, go ahead. I will wait for good news here."
Anyway, he has already revealed the imperial edict. Even if Prince Jin does not bring him into the palace, the imperial guards will naturally take him away when they arrive.
King Jin frowned and said, "No need. Well, since the Taoist priest said so, I will take the risk and bring him into the palace to have a look. If the Taoist priest really has the magical power to cure my father's life, I will definitely make you prosperous in the future!"
Xuan Yeping was delighted when he heard this, but his face remained calm. He closed his eyes and chanted his name: "I am not here for gold or silver, nor for power. I only want to repay your kindness."
In this way, Xuan Yeping was brought into the palace by Prince Jin.
The Emperor of Yan was so ill that he couldn't even get out of bed, and the strong smell of medicine filled the palace. The monks chanted scriptures, burned incense and pasted talismans, and the fragrant mist filled the air, which looked very strange from a distance.
The Emperor of Yan had not slept for many days, and with the surrounding smoke, he was inevitably in a trance and saw things he didn't want to see. The old eunuch quietly stepped forward and whispered in his ear: "Your Majesty, His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin brought a Taoist priest and said he could exorcise the evil spirits for you. He is now waiting outside. Should we summon them in?"
Upon hearing this, Emperor Yan slowly opened his eyes, forced himself to cheer up, and said in a hoarse voice: "Since they are brought by the Prince of Jin, let them in..."