The Beacon of Kyushu

Chen Tuan smiled, "Your Majesty may have heard that I am a protective person. I have no children of my own, so I treat my disciples as my own children. Therefore, I have taught them a lot. However, 'no one is good for a thousand days, and no flower is red for a hundred days.' I think there are many disciples in my Yuntai Temple, and it is hard to say which one will cause trouble in the future. If they do something wrong one day and fall into your hands and lose their lives, I will have to send them off with my old age, which is really heartbreaking! Your Majesty, I am old, and I don't know when I will pass away. I hope you can show me some mercy and let me suffer less in my later years."

Zhao Guangyi said: "Grandfather, I have been a parent for so many years, and I understand your feelings best. But if you want me to issue an imperial decree that all disciples of Yuntai Temple cannot be killed, it is too much!"

Chen Tuan pondered for a moment, as if he had figured something out in his mind. "Your Majesty, I don't dare to expect you to pardon the death penalty for all the disciples of Yuntai Temple. I just want to ask for a death-free gold medal for my disciples. Only one is enough. If your Majesty agrees, I will thank you on behalf of my disciples!"

Hearing this, Zhao Guangyi hesitated for a long time before saying, "Grandfather, it was you who guided Taizu to join the Zhou Kingdom in the past, which led to the present Great Song Dynasty. I have also asked you for advice on health preservation and governance many times, which led to the splendid situation today. Although you have not served as an official in the court, you are the most meritorious official of our Great Song Dynasty. I really have no way to refuse your wish. Well, I will make an exception for you and give you a gold medal of immunity from death. But we have to make it clear in advance that the gold medal can only protect one person and can only be used once. I believe that you are highly respected and will not make it too difficult for me."

Chen Tuan quickly bowed his head to express his gratitude, and then said, "Sir, I have something else to do, so I will take my leave now."

Zhao Guangyi was a little reluctant and said, "Grandmaster, if you don't have any urgent business to return to Huashan, I hope you can stay in Tokyo for a few more days. What do you think?"

Chen Tuan bowed and said, "Sir, since you have repeatedly asked me to stay, I will stay for a few more days. Sir, please do not delay my disciple's mission. In my opinion, it is better to do it sooner rather than later. If it is delayed, changes will inevitably occur. Once complications arise, I don't know how many lives will be lost in the Song Dynasty and Quyue."

Zhao Guangyi thought for a moment and said, "What you said is right. I plan to send them out in five days. What do you think?"

Chen Tuan counted on his fingers and smiled, "Five days from now is an auspicious day. If we can set out in five days, this matter will be accomplished." After he finished speaking, he slowly stood up and bowed to Zhao Guangyi, saying, "Sir, you still have important things to do, so I will take my leave first. The three of us are staying at the Yuelai Inn on Bianhe Street. If you want to find us, just send someone there."

Zhao Guangyi shook his head and said, "Why don't you pick up your luggage and stay at Jintingguan Inn? There are all kinds of people there, and I'm afraid it will be unfair to you."

Just as Chen Tuan was about to reply, Wan Jianfeng smiled and said, "No need, no need. You said that there are all kinds of people there. If it weren't for the three of us dragons, wouldn't it have become a complete fish pond? Just because of what you said just now, we can't move!"

Zhao Guangyi's face darkened, then he smiled and said, "Okay, within three days, I will send Ji En to the store to deliver the imperial edict. When the time comes, you can directly take the imperial edict to Gao's house. There is no need to go to the palace to thank the emperor, so as not to miss the trip."

The three bowed and thanked, and under the guidance of Wang Jie'en, they slowly walked out of the study. Zhao Guangyi sat on a chair and watched the three people leave. At the same time, he went over all the important matters to be discussed today in his mind, and then left the room and went straight to the Chuigong Hall.

In the afternoon, the sky was gloomy and dark.

The gentle breeze, mixed with a little coolness, blew gently through the Nanqing Palace and blew on Zhao Defang's handsome face. He had just finished his afternoon nap and his eyes were still a little sleepy. He sat alone in the back garden, savoring a pool of fragrant tea in a white porcelain cup.

Suddenly, a little girl of about thirteen or fourteen came running towards Zhao Defang with a tambourine in her hand. As she ran, she hummed a new tune that sounded like the sound of a silver bell or the chirping of a nightingale.

Zhao Defang's thoughts were attracted by this little girl. He looked at her with gentle eyes and a very kind smile on his lips. "Anian, why didn't you learn singing with Sister Qingyu, but came here to play by yourself? You love to be lazy. This king doesn't like you anymore. I will ask someone to drive you out of the palace soon."

Ah Nian shook the drum in her hand and said with a smile: "Brother Zhao, besides my parents and sister, you are the best to Ah Nian in this world. How could you have the heart to chase me away just because I was lazy for a while? Besides, I didn't want to be lazy, but Sister Qingyu asked me to find Brother Zhao."

Zhao Defang pretended to be stern and said, "Ah Nian, I have told you many times not to call me brother, but to call me Your Highness. You have learned so many complicated music scores and you can remember them all. How can you not remember this rule?"

Ah Nian shook his head and said, "Brother Zhao, I have told you many times that my full name is Liu E, don't always call me by my nickname, but when have you ever heard it? Since you don't listen, why should I listen to you? It's just a name anyway, it doesn't matter what you call me?" Zhao Defang said helplessly, "Okay, okay, you are so eloquent at such a young age, I can't argue with you. But remember, if one day you leave Nanqing Palace, don't tell anyone that you know me, understand?"

Liu E tilted her head and thought for a long time before she said, "Brother Zhao, you are so good to me. Every time you go to Bianhe Street, you bring me fun things and often let the brothers and sisters in the palace take care of my daily life. Why should I leave here? Anian doesn't want to leave. I want to stay here forever, by Brother Zhao's side."

Zhao Defang was a little dazed when he heard this, and stared towards the northeast, feeling sad for no reason. Liu E didn't know what was wrong with Zhao Defang, and thought that he thought it was too expensive to support her, so she hurriedly said, "Brother Zhao, after a while, Sister Qingyu and I have learned the songs thoroughly, we can go out to sing for money. By then, I will definitely make a lot of money and bring it back to honor you."

"Money..." Zhao Defang didn't know why Liu E suddenly said that. He was stunned for a moment, then he stretched out his hand and scratched her nose, and said with a smile: "Anian, I dare not say that I am the richest man in the world, but at least there are very few people in Song Dynasty who are richer than me. Why do you need to sing to make money? Besides, that kind of dirty business that exposes your face is not what Anian should do. If you dare to do it, I will break your legs!"

Liu E smiled and said, "Brother Zhao, since you don't want me to sing for money, why do you force me to sing every day? Isn't this contradictory?"

Zhao Defang groaned for a moment, and then said in a very secretive manner: "Ah Nian, the reason why I want to do this is that I want to give you a very important task. As for what this task is, it is too early now, and you don't have to rush to know. Just remember, if you think that I am good to you, you should practice your voice more and learn a few more songs every day, so that you can do your best for me when I need you."

Liu E seemed to understand and said, "Brother Zhao, don't worry, I will definitely study hard. By the way, Sister Qingyu taught me to sing "Chu Hong Fu" these days. She said that this song is Brother Zhao's favorite. Can I sing it for you?"

A trace of fear flashed across Zhao Defang's eyes, but he still said, "Okay, this song was written by me personally. If you can't sing it well, be careful or I will punish you!"

Liu E nodded with a smile, shook the gong in her hand, and sang in a clear voice: "There is a wild goose in Chu, which has not singed for three years. There is a wild goose in Chu, which has not flown for three years. The world does not know it and calls it a swallow. When asked with a smile about its ambition, it flies into the sky..." Although her voice was still a bit childish, the agility and sonority in the song were well sung, and it had a unique charm to the ears.

Zhao Defang smiled and touched her head. He took out a white handkerchief embroidered with lilies from his bosom and gently wiped the sweat off her forehead. "Anian, you sing really beautifully, but you only need to sing this song for me. If there are outsiders present, you are not allowed to sing it no matter what. Do you understand?"

Liu E nodded obediently, took the handkerchief from Zhao Defang, and said with a smile: "Brother Zhao, although I don't understand why you always have so many inexplicable rules, as long as you tell me, I will definitely do it."

Zhao Defang said with satisfaction: "You are so obedient! I believe that you will do well in the future. When you help me realize my long-cherished wish, I will definitely not treat you unfairly."

Liu E smiled and begged, "Brother Zhao, I heard from Sister Qingyu that the Yunqingxiang Opera Troupe will be coming to Beijing in the next two days. I have never seen people outside the palace perform opera. Why don't we invite the troupe to perform in the palace for two days? This way I can take the opportunity to learn more."

Zhao Defang was slightly surprised and asked hurriedly, "I wonder if this Yun Qingxiang is the Yun Qingxiang that Guo Zaiwei founded in the late Tang Dynasty? I heard that the leader of Lingxiao Sect Feng Yichen, Li Cunxu's sister Li Jinghong, and the son-in-law of the Later Liang Dynasty Long Hentian, these big figures, all sang in this troupe when they were young to make a living. If it is really that Yun Qingxiang, not only will I pay a high price to invite them to sing in the hall, but I will also invite the emperor and the King of Wei to join in the fun!"

Seeing that Zhao Defang agreed to her request so easily, Liu E almost jumped up with excitement, "Great, great, Brother Zhao is so good to me! I will go and tell Sister Qingyu to keep an eye on the movements of the troupe. As soon as they come to Beijing, we will invite them immediately!"

Zhao Defang looked at the overjoyed Liu E and felt a sense of happiness in his heart. He hoped that he could live in such a warm and comfortable way for the rest of his life. However, the death of his father and his brother deeply engraved two scars on his pure heart that could never be erased.

(End of this chapter)