With magical powers, I can quietly meditate on sutras for hundreds of years and become an immortal.

Chapter 141 Another Lantern Festival

When Hong Xuanji was in a tangled and painful mood.

Walk up Xianming Mountain and arrive in front of Chuixiang Tower.

the sights seen.

It was the two thieves who were rumored by the outside world to fight until the sky was dark and the sun and the moon were dark.

At this time, they were under the command of an ordinary farmer wearing a straw hat.

In the scorching sun, we pull weeds and repel insects.

And under the old tree on the other side.

Li Zhen lay on a chair to enjoy the coolness, while Zi Ziran beside him gently fanned himself.

With a look of natural and unpretentious disgust.

Hong Xuanji moved to Li Zhen and cautiously said tentatively:

"Daozhang Li, I have been ordered by the imperial court to arrest the troublemakers."

"Please ask the Taoist Priest for your convenience."

Silence, speechlessness.

This is the main theme in front of Chuixiang Tower at this time.

Occasionally, one or two cicada cries sounded, which seemed feeble under the scorching sun.

But it also brought out Hong Xuanji's embarrassment at this moment.

After a long time, my forehead became hot and sweaty.

It was also at this time that Li Zhen's belated and somewhat surprised voice came:

"Thief?"

"Did Chief Hong Shan make a mistake? I don't dare to harbor criminals from the imperial court."

"But if you say that there are two ignorant people who made mistakes, but Pindao has also punished them with three months of hard work to serve as a warning."

"Uh"

Hong Xuanji wiped the sweat from his forehead and defended in a low voice:

"Taoist Priest, this is inconsistent with my laws of the Great Zhou Dynasty."

"Which law?"

Li Zhen straightened up and asked him curiously:

"We, Dazhou, still have laws that require you to be imprisoned just because you are jealous."

Hong Xuanji thought for a while and felt helpless:

"That's true."

"That's it."

Li Zhen spread his hands and lay back down again.

"But Taoist Priest, it's really hard for you to make this villain true."

Hong Xuanji had no choice but to tell the truth.

The people above want results and never care about the process.

If he can't get someone, he can't give a reasonable explanation.

Although the prince was young, he was also precocious.

Hong Xuanji didn't think Li Zhen could fool him with this reason.

Hearing this, Li Zhen didn't respond, just glanced at him.

I really want to say something to him:

Difficult to handle!

If it's difficult to handle, then don't do it.

But after thinking about it, I forgot about it and didn’t have any impulse.

After thinking for a moment, he gave him a reason to solve the problem:

"When you get back, tell me that the two people who caused the commotion have been captured by me."

"It just so happened that there was no one to take care of many things in my building, so I left them as handymen as punishment."

"Okay, let's just say it like this."

After speaking, Li Zhen waved his hand impatiently and dismissed Hong Xuanji.

After hearing these words, I knew that Grandmaster Li was willing to take responsibility for this matter.

As expected, Hong Xuanji didn't bother anymore and turned around to leave.

The pace is fast, as if there is some devouring beast here, and he is not willing to stay for a moment longer.

But in his ears, another faint words came from unknown time:

"By the way, Pindao owes you a favor for this matter."

"It just so happens that I can offset it with what your Confucian family owed me before. We will no longer owe each other."

Hong Xuanji:? ? ? ?

When did I owe you the old man a favor?

At first, I felt a little happy, and I had formed a good relationship with this great master of the world.

No one can say that one day in the future, he will be able to save lives.

But these words immediately froze him on the spot.

After savoring it carefully, I seemed to notice something was wrong.

"Not me, but Confucians like us?"

Hong Xuanji's brows were deeply tangled.

He glanced back at the already blurry Chuixiang Tower and left quickly.

He must seize the time to go back and check out the moved books.

Maybe the problem lies in this.

the other side.

Li Zhen didn't care that his casual move was canceled out like this.

Anyway, it is a costless investment.

He didn't care much whether it was successful or not.

But Bai Yuan, who came over with a smile as soon as he saw Hong Xuanji leaving, didn't have a good look on his face.

"My dear friend, are you okay?"

"Then I'll go down the mountain first?"

he asked tentatively.

"People are ugly, but they think they are beautiful!"

Li Zhen rolled his eyes inwardly and was too lazy to pay attention to him.

Turning his back, he dropped a sentence:

"Didn't you hear me? Just work here as a handyman for three months."

"When the time comes, go wherever you like. Anyway, don't stay here on Pindao."

"what!"

Bai Yuan had a sad face and wanted to cry but had no tears.

He looked at Zi Zi miserably, as if he wanted her to beg for mercy.

Naturally, she turned her face away and didn't look at him.

I had no choice but to walk to the fields dejectedly.

I have joined the ranks of those who are a little clumsy but still working silently.

It’s so hot today!

Bai Yuan seemed to miss the days when he wandered in the far north.

Jingming eighteen years.

The fifteenth day of the first lunar month is the Shangyuan Festival.

The capital was enveloped in a festive atmosphere.

The city that should have been covered in silver was overwhelmed by all kinds of gorgeous lanterns.

Although there are still wars happening in a corner of the south.

But for people in the capital, they have lived a peaceful and stable life for decades.

And under the influence of this peace, the prosperity of the capital was unprecedented.

Heavenly teachings and magical skills accumulated over more than 20 years.

It finally broke out at Jingming and reached its peak.

This year’s Lantern Festival is even more grand than in the past.

Various large lanterns danced over the capital, and countless fireworks were set off.

Every household took to the streets to participate in this rare annual event.

Li Zhen stood on the Chuixiang Tower and looked at the lights of thousands of houses.

There is some indescribable peace in my heart.

I silently hope that this scene will remain the same next year, every year.

If he could, he would stay like this until the end of time.

Instead of living in isolation, hiding in a deep mountain and old forest.

Be your own fairy.

That kind of life is too boring.

"Taoist Master, the time has come, we should set off."

Just as he was thinking about it, he naturally pushed the door open and called him softly.

Hearing this, Li Zhen put on a brand new crane cloak.

This is nature's New Year's gift to him, the only one in so many years.

Although he was no longer afraid of the cold and heat, he did not refuse.

After all, it is more or less her heart.

Turn around and go out.

A few days ago, Zhao Ping sent someone to invite Li Zhen to participate in this year's Shangyuan Lantern Festival.

It is said that he has no relatives in the world now.

Only Daozhang Li, who had been taking care of him since childhood, he always remembered.

The Taoist priest traveled all over the world for many years, and now he finally returned to Beijing.

Zhao Ping, as a junior, must do his best.

Just listen to what the emperor says.

Seriously, you lose.

Otherwise, why were they not invited in the past two years?

So Li Zhen thought about it and refused after a little hesitation.

He is willing to see the world full of fireworks and excitement.

But it doesn't mean that he is willing to personally participate in it.

It's more interesting to be a bystander from a distance.

The important thing is that in that kind of place, in addition to the presence of the emperor and the queen, there are also various civil and military ministers in the court.

By the time the banquet is in full swing, there will definitely be a lot of praise for Zhao Ping.

Li really couldn't imagine why he would attend such an occasion. What's more, if I go there, they won't be able to let go!

Therefore, Li Zhen felt that it was better not to be this annoying existence.

As for why he still went out after clearly rejecting the emperor.

That's not something Bai Yuan did.

I worked as a coolie in Chuixianglou for three months, until all the crops in the fields were harvested.

Li Zhen then released him and let him go free.

I thought that after this lesson, I would be honest for a while.

But I didn't expect that only a few months would pass.

Just made another big news.

This old boy is going to take a wife and have concubines!

Moreover, there were nine young and beautiful beauties at once.

It is true that old cows eat young grass and are full at once.

In order to be auspicious, the day was chosen on the Lantern Festival, which is today.

When the invitation was placed in front of Li Zhen.

To be honest, he was a little stunned.

He knew that this old boy's family was very rich, but he didn't expect that he would be so rich.

He was so rich that he bought a large house covering an area of ​​hundreds of acres in the capital without blinking an eye, and even married nine wives at once.

I don’t know how much wealth there is waiting for future generations to inherit.

It is estimated that he found these nine girls after a lot of selection.

Li Zhen was a little sour.

So he was going to eat at a big restaurant today.

Bai Yuan's wedding banquet had already been held during the day.

He has few acquaintances in the capital, only some connections left over from his father's business days.

So he didn't invite Li Zhen during the day, but held another family dinner in the evening.

When Li Zhen walked slowly to his mansion in the capital with Zi Zizi.

Then he saw Bai Yuan, dressed in a bright red groom's robe, standing outside the door with great joy.

Seeing Li Zhen coming, he waved his hand and shouted:

"Call your benefactor!"

Behind him, nine charming wives and concubines with different looks.

As if they were well rehearsed, they called out in unison:

"My benefactor~"

To be honest, Li Zhen turned around and wanted to leave on the spot.

You old white guy, you are showing off to Pindao how capable you are, right?

Chief Li Daozhang was not very angry and allowed him to follow him.

He threw a jade tablet with the spirit gathering array engraved on it into his arms.

He was right at first, this kid had some talent.

Although he was not doing his job properly, he still managed to join the spiritual practice.

As for his nine darling wives and concubines, Li Zhen did not leave behind, so he naturally gave them gifts one by one.

It can be regarded as the care of the elders for the younger generations.

After all, it was Li Zhen's first wedding in his life, so he should treat it as a souvenir.

From now on, things won't be so good.

Amid Bai Yuan's playful smile, Li Zhen was finally defeated.

He didn't stay in his luxurious manor for long. After sitting for a while, he returned to Chuixiang Tower.

But when he left, he gave Bai Yuan a look that was more leisurely and careful.

Then he drifted away.

And on this night.

Someone also knocked on Ma Qianli's door.

No one knows exactly what they said.

But after the Lantern Festival.

Ma Qianli no longer cares about court affairs and devotes himself to studying knowledge.

Unprecedented, I wrote a letter.

It says:

The turmoil in the southwest has persisted for a long time, leading to serious illness.

Although I am not talented, I am still willing to share your worries and put an end to this turmoil.

He does not seek honors and rewards, he only hopes that the world will be peaceful and that there will be no more weapons.

The emperor was delighted when he saw Hou Longyan.

An edict was immediately issued to appoint Ma Qianli as the governor of the southwest.

Coordinating all wars in the southwest can be done easily.

If you encounter any obstruction, kill first and then play.

In the eighteenth year of Jingming Dynasty, January 18th.

Only on the third day after the Lantern Festival.

Official Ma Qianli paid homage to the Southwest Governor and thanked him for his kindness in the palace.

Head to the southwest.

At that time, he was forty-nine years old.

In June of the same year, good news came frequently.

After arriving in the southwest, Ma Qianli sorted out the civil affairs and reorganized the army.

In May, he sent troops to defeat the three chieftains who had surrendered and revolted.

Behead three hundred people and return to their native land.

When the news came back to the capital, there was cheers and praise.

The majesty of a thousand-mile horse is clearly displayed in front of the world.

In Chuixiang Tower, Li Zhen put down the more detailed battle report sent by Bai Yuan.

The real war was far less smooth than what was reported outside.

The hot weather in the south brings diseases everywhere.

Even those with deep-rooted vested interests who are connected with chieftains and even Tubo people.

All these are the reasons for the corruption of the Southwest War.

If you want to clear this malignant sore, you must be ruthless and go under the knife.

And Ma Qianli became the flesh-cutting knife in the emperor's hand.

There may not be any rewards for doing well.

But if you don't do it well, you will definitely die.

"Oh, you said you crawled out of that fire pit."

"Why do you still want to jump in?"

Li Zhen shook his head and sighed.

For his choice, I feel a little unworthy.

But there’s not much to say.

He cannot decide the direction of life for others.

After all, this is Ma Qianli's own choice.

Li Zhen stood up and looked out the window at a touch of green in the mountains and fields.

This is his third year of experimenting with crop improvements.

These crops are also third generation.

After careful selection, there were some results.

But it's still far from what he wants.

This monk, Dashu Sheng, who returned to secular life, has been here for almost a year.

Within a year, he built a small wooden house next to Chuixiang Tower.

He also learned the art of farming with Lao Ma and successfully surpassed Li Zhen.

Become the second person here who knows how to farm.

He worked hard without complaint and did whatever he was told without questioning.

This attitude also eased Li Zhen's dissatisfaction with him a lot.

I thought that I would teach him how to practice in a few days.

Anyway, it’s not like him.

But the idle old horse looked older and older.

Especially after Ma Qianli left.

This farm boy who had always been strong all his life became a little taciturn.

In addition to checking out the crops in the fields every day.

Then he squatted alone and looked to the southwest in a daze.

People always say that when a son travels thousands of miles, his mother is worried.

But in fact, the same is true for old fathers, but they are not good at words.

Seeing Lao Ma's appearance, Li Zhen had nothing to do.

We can only wish Ma Qianli all the best with him.

We can pacify the southwest just like we pacified the northwest.

Time flies, and winter comes again.

No more good news about the Southwest War came.

Li Zhen waited for someone to return.

It was an afternoon with heavy snow.

Li Zhen was in front of the window on the second floor, making chrysanthemum tea and watching the snow scene.

Suddenly, a beautiful color filled his eyes.

"Mother-in-law, the fairy is back!"

She cheered with joy.

(End of this chapter)