I practiced magic in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 112 My Goddess Can't Be Someone Else's Dog

"Brother Zhongdao, you actually hid this from me. This is really not nice of you!"

"That's right, Brother Zhongdao, you are so mean. It's a rare opportunity for Miss Zhaoji to come to our Imperial Academy, and you actually want to keep her all to yourself? I can't agree to this no matter what!"

"Okay, okay, it is indeed my fault this time, but when you see Miss Zhaoji later, please restrain yourself and don't do anything reckless that would offend the beauty."

Wei Zhongdao had a smile on his face, not taking his cronies in front of him seriously at all, and obviously didn't think they could compete with him.

Just kidding. When it comes to talent and family background, who in the entire Imperial College can compete with me?
nonexistent!

I, Wei Zhongdao, am so confident!

A moment later, Wei Zhongdao went to the library with high spirits and asked to see Taichang Ma Ritian.

"I have seen Taichang."

Ma Riti looked at Wei Zhongdao's young and handsome face, as if he remembered his own past. When he was young, he was also so full of vigor and spirit.

Unfortunately, the past can only be recalled.

Ma Ridi nodded and smiled at Wei Zhongdao: "You are impatient, boy. Did you come to me this time to inquire about Zhao Ji's affairs?"

Wei Zhongdao was a young talent that even Cai Yong was very optimistic about. Ma Riti was certainly willing to give him a chance to perform well in front of Cai Yan and win her heart.

In Ma Riti's eyes, Wei Zhongdao was born into the Wei family of Hedong, and was a descendant of a famous family. He was also handsome and well-mannered. He was obviously well-educated and a good match for Cai Yan. He and Cai Yan were simply a perfect match made in heaven.

Wei Zhongdao was very happy to see that he had Ma Riti's support. He then looked around the library, trying to find the beautiful figure.

Ma Ritian smiled knowingly, and said in a teasing tone, "Don't look at her anymore. Zhaoji is reading in the attic. A rare ancient copy of the Book of Music was recently delivered to us. If you want to find her, just go to the second floor."

Wei Zhongdao felt a little embarrassed, but he couldn't resist the urge to see Cai Yan, so he bowed and apologized to Ma Riti, then took his men upstairs.

The second floor of the library is a place in the Imperial College dedicated to collecting rare ancient books. Ordinary people are not allowed to set foot in it.

The books kept in the library are not just ancient books. In fact, most of the books are on bamboo slips. Although paper had been invented and improved in the Eastern Han Dynasty, it was still very expensive. Most people would rather use the inconvenient bamboo slips as writing materials on weekdays.

At this time, Cai Yan was holding a bamboo slip, reading the records about Nuo dance, sacrificial music and other music and dance during the Shang Dynasty with great interest.

Both the Xia and Shang dynasties believed in ghosts and gods, and music and dance were originally established for the purpose of worshiping and pleasing ghosts and gods, so they often possessed incredible power.

After the Zhou Dynasty, people respected the Way of Heaven and began to vigorously crack down on beliefs in ghosts and gods. They strictly regulated etiquette, especially in sacrifices, and human sacrifice was strictly prohibited. However, music and dance were still preserved and continued to develop.

The earliest martial arts originated from sacrificial dances, and some Taoist techniques and sacred words were actually developed based on the music and dance of ancient times. It is rumored that the earliest music and dance were all knowledge and inheritance obtained from gods, which were used to develop human potential and obtain incredible magical powers.

After continuous development and improvement by various schools of thought, it developed into the three major practice systems of martial arts, Taoism and sacred words today.

The books in Cai Yan's hands were some rare folk copies collected by the Yuefu. Because the contents were written in ancient language, they had to be translated, so they were first sent to the Imperial College.

The Han Yuefu was an institution within the imperial court that specialized in the management of music, dance, singing and teaching. It was first established in the Qin Dynasty and formally established during the reign of Emperor Wu. Its responsibility was to collect folk songs or poems by literati to compose music for performance during court sacrifices or banquets.

Some powerful ancient music and dance secrets will also be recompiled and compiled into books to enrich the royal collection of books in the East Palace.

Cai Yan obviously enjoyed reading these ancient books with unique charm, while Yuan Ying and Huang Xin were simply accompanying her. Out of boredom, they had to find a book that recorded the customs and anecdotes of the pre-Qin period to pass the time.

"Souji."

Wei Zhongdao came in a hurry with interest, and at one glance, he fell on the quiet beauty who was reading at the desk, and could not take his eyes away.

"Hey, we're here too!"

Huang Xin put down the bamboo slips and put his hands on his hips angrily, feeling very dissatisfied that Wei Zhongdao ignored him.

Wei Zhongdao naturally recognized Yuan Ying and Huang Xin, and immediately bowed to them gracefully, smiling and apologizing: "Hello, both of you. I was indeed rude just now."

"Hehe, I'm in a good mood, so I won't bother with you about this matter today."

Wei Zhongdao felt very fortunate to see Huang Xin being so magnanimous.

But he soon stopped being happy.

It was seen that while the three girls were reading, the topics they talked about all revolved around Wang Jing. Even the talented woman Cai Yan, whom he had always been thinking about, did not even look at him at this moment. Instead, when they talked about Wang Jing, their brows were bright and their cheeks were faintly flushed. Something seemed wrong no matter how they looked at her.

My goddess can’t be someone else’s bootlicker!
Wei Zhongdao seemed to hear his own heart breaking.

Although he is only a few years old, he is actually a veteran in the world of romance and has played with at least eighty singing girls and dancers.

Therefore, Wei Zhongdao could see at a glance that Cai Yan obviously had a close relationship with another man.

But that man was not him, Wei Zhongdao!

No matter how elegant and graceful he was, Wei Zhongdao still couldn't stand the fact that someone else snatched his love away. He was indignant in his heart: "It was obviously me who fell in love with her first. Why did you, Wang Jing, take advantage of me? Is it because you are a high-ranking official?"

After hearing the three girls talking about their agreement with Wang Jing, he finally found an opportunity to refute with a sneer: "Is there anything lighter than air in this world? Although Marquis Qi has a prominent status, he should not be so boastful and say such ridiculous things."

Although Huang Xin and Yuan Ying themselves did not quite believe it, they would not allow anyone to slander their idol. They immediately glared at Wei Zhongdao fiercely and sneered fiercely: "Humph, just because you don't know, you don't allow others to know? Do you think you are the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, and you can speak the law and make it happen?"

Even Cai Yan, who originally had a good impression of Wei Zhongdao, showed some displeasure when she saw him slandering Wang Jing. She said with cold eyes, "Whether what Brother Yuanxu said is right or wrong, we may find out in the future. It's too early for you to draw conclusions now, isn't it?"

Seeing that Cai Yan was still helping Wang Jing, Wei Zhongdao was furious and said unwillingly, "Well, let's wait and see who is right and who is wrong in this matter."

Huang Xin was so angry that he made a face at Wei Zhongdao: "Lululu, just wait and see!"

Wei Zhongdao did not just sit there and wait, but found an excuse to leave and immediately spread the news throughout the Imperial College.

That’s right, he wanted to make this matter known to everyone so that everyone could witness it!
As long as Wang Jing cannot prove that there is something lighter than air, he will immediately take the opportunity to attack and refute Wang Jing thoroughly, so that Cai Yan can see clearly that he, Wei Zhongdao, is the only one in the world who is truly talented and a perfect match for her!
At two quarters past ten, the setting sun was still lingering and the sky was about to darken.

Wang Jing, along with more than a hundred Mohists including Lu Fang and Zhai Jie, finally arrived as promised.

Outside the Jinyang Gate in the south of the city, the traffic was already blocked by tens of thousands of students from the Imperial College, and many more idle people who heard the news and came to watch the fun were also rushing here desperately, wanting to join in the fun.

"I heard that Marquis Qi is going to attain enlightenment here today and ascend to heaven?"

"Hey, where did you hear this rumor? It's a bit outrageous, isn't it?"

"Ah? If it's not enlightenment, then what is it?"

"Of course I'm going to the sky. I've received reliable information that Marquis Qi has learned some magical skills from an immortal. Today, in front of the people of the entire city, I'm going to fly up into the sky!"

Rumors were passed around in the crowd, becoming distorted and increasingly outrageous.

Some said that he would ascend to heaven, others said that he had mastered some magical skill and would ride on clouds and fly across the sky.

As for the fact that Wang Jing originally wanted to prove that there is something lighter than air, few people mentioned it, which was really laughable.

"Marquis Qi has appeared!"

"Ah! It's really Qi Hou! I finally see the real person!"

A group of brave girls huddled together, and when they looked at Wang Jing, they couldn't help but reveal their affectionate eyes, with a hint of shyness and anticipation.

During the Qin and Han dynasties, ethics and morals were not as strict as those of the Ming and Qing dynasties. At that time, women could still go out on the streets, and even go on outings together, which was a common occurrence.

Wang Jing liked this atmosphere very much and was very happy to see it. Chinese civilization should be so vigorous. Unfortunately, after the Song Dynasty, Confucianism continued to deviate from its original purpose and tightened the shackles on human nature, so that the constraints of etiquette on human nature became heavier. At that time, both men and women would probably be psychologically imprisoned and shackled.

If that time really comes, we will not be able to see such a pleasant sight.

But now that Wang Jing has come to this world, he will naturally not let this tragedy happen again. He will change the predetermined trajectory of his fate.

"Marquis Qi is smiling at me!"

"You look so handsome and elegant when you smile. If we have a child in the future, if it's a son, I want him to be safe and sound, so I'll name him Wang Jing. If it's a daughter, I hope she'll be as white and beautiful as jade, so I'll name her Wang Yao."

"Haha, I think you're overthinking it. Marquis Qi is clearly smiling at me! Don't talk nonsense with your eyes open!"

A group of unmarried girls actually started fighting for Wang Jing. Among them were quite a few daughters of famous families. This shows how popular he is among women now.

It's no wonder. He is young, heroic, powerful, comes from a famous family, and is also a great hero who is feared by the world. Which woman in the world can refuse such a perfect son-in-law?
Seeing that Wang Jing was so popular among thousands of girls, the students of the Imperial Academy were unhappy.

"I heard that Marquis Qi wants to compete with the sky?"

"Haha, I guess he wants to imitate the wooden kite of the Mohists. Compared with the knowledge of the saints, this is just a strange trick. And with the help of external objects to fly into the sky, aren't you afraid of falling and dying?"

"Haha, that's right. Marquis Qi's move is really ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth. In the end, it will be a waste of money and will not benefit the country."

On the banks of the Luo River, a group of students from the Imperial College had begun to sneer at Wang Jing. Their words were filled with disdain and contempt, which fully reflected the attitude of the conservatives within the aristocratic family.

In their view, the Confucian teachings are the best in the world, and even dogs wouldn't even want to learn the teachings of other schools of thought!

Outside the Jinyang Gate, the Luo River gurgled. Cai Yan, Yuan Ying and Huang Xin came together and appeared in front of Wang Jing, waving to him enthusiastically.

Wei Zhongdao, who had not given up on Cai Yan, also followed her shamelessly.

At this moment, Wang Jing was still commanding the more than one hundred Mohist disciples he brought with him at a leisurely pace. These young Mohists each held a strangely shaped palace lantern in their hands.

The square palace lantern is wide at the top and narrow at the bottom, with a platform at the bottom fixed with bamboo strips, facing upwards towards the narrowed air inlet.

These strangely shaped lanterns are actually the famous Kongming lanterns that became famous in later generations.

The Kongming lantern was not actually invented by Zhuge Kongming, but it got its name because its shape resembles his turban.

Cai Yan looked at the strange lantern in Wang Jing's hand with curiosity, and asked with surprise, "Yuan Xu, why is this palace lantern so strange in shape?"

Wang Jing smiled and explained: "This is a prayer lantern. As long as the wick at the bottom is lit, it will rise into the air and float in the sky. As long as the fire is not extinguished, the lamp will not fall."

Cai Yan, Yuan Ying and Huang Xin's eyes suddenly widened, with all kinds of surprise and confusion on their lovely expressions: "Is it really so magical? It's incredible!"

They came from famous families and had seen some magical weapons that could fly and hide.

However, all of these magical instruments require a huge amount of mental energy or the essence of heaven and earth, and are made of extraordinary materials. Each one is a priceless treasure.

Being able to fly into the sky by lighting a candle completely overturned their understanding of "flying".

Wei Zhongdao, who was standing by, was also full of contempt when he heard this. He sneered and said, "It's ridiculous! It's ridiculous! I've lit a lamp before, so how could it float in the sky? Could it be that your lamp wick was made of some rare treasure? Otherwise, how could it fly into the sky and cross the sea of ​​clouds so easily?"

Wang Jing was provoked like this, but he remained calm. He glanced at Wei Zhong and asked, "Did you ask for my advice?"

However, facing Wang Jing, the most famous general of his time, Wei Zhongdao was defiant, raised his chin and said proudly: "I am Wei Zhongdao from the Wei family of Hedong."

"Oh, Wei Boju did mention you."

Wang Jing smiled coldly, his tone indifferent, his expression full of contempt and disdain.

The entire Hedong Wei family now has to follow the Northern Army to develop the wool textile industry in order to make money. Even the head of the family, Wei Ji, has to be respectful to me. Who do you think you are, Wei Zhongdao, and what qualifications do you have to treat me with disrespect?
Although Wang Jing didn't say so, his attitude was very obvious. He didn't take Wei Zhongdao seriously at all and only regarded him as a naughty child who was making trouble for no reason.

"Qi Hou, you!"

Wei Zhongdao was very unconvinced and wanted to speak again, but Wang Jing called over two sword guards who were accompanying him and drove him away on the spot: "Tell him to get out of here."

"Yes."

Two sword guards wearing cold iron armor and holding black iron swords stepped forward and held Wei Zhongdao up without saying a word. How could his skinny body withstand two fierce and vigorous soldiers?

The whole person's feet were off the ground and he was forcibly taken away on the spot.

Finally, Wang Jing felt that his ears were much quieter, and he smiled at Cai Yan and the others again: "Okay, let's get down to business."

As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Fang and Zhai Jie, along with a group of Mohist disciples, excitedly placed the prayer lanterns gently on the ground.

Then Wang Jing was seen with his palms facing the sky, his five fingers clenched, and fire ignited in his hands. In a blink of an eye, it turned into flying flames and instantly ignited the wick on the prayer lantern.

Orange-red flames burned under the gradually darkening sky, and the air around the lights continued to expand as it heated up.

Under the gazes of countless people, the prayer lanterns that had been motionless on the ground actually slowly flew up and floated into the sky, like bright stars.

"God bless you! It actually flew!"

Huang Xin was the first to scream in surprise. The other two girls also couldn't hide their astonishment. Their bright eyes seemed to ripple with shock and revealed an expression of inexplicable shock: "It can actually float in the air? It's just a candle, but it has such incredible power?"

To them, everything they saw before their eyes was too overwhelming.

No magical tools are needed, nor any mysterious skills or secret techniques are required. Just a candle can make a lantern made of bamboo paper fly into the sky. It's simply amazing!
It's like a miracle!
Not only were Cai Yan, Yuan Ying and Huang Xin excited, but even the students from the Imperial College and the residents of Luoyang who came to watch were shocked.

"The light! The real light is flying!"

"Hundreds of lamps, they can't all be magical instruments, right?"

"I heard that this lamp is made of bamboo and hemp paper, so it shouldn't be expensive, right? Oh, I don't know if Lord Qi will sell it or not."

As for some ignorant people, they were so scared that they knelt down and kowtowed on the spot, praying to the sky lanterns. In their opinion, anything that could fly in the sky was either a god or a miracle.

At this time, Wei Zhongdao, who was driven to the periphery of the crowd, was also dumbfounded, and kept muttering: "How can it really fly? How can it fly! This doesn't make sense!"

After he finished speaking, he vomited blood and fell to the ground, unconscious.

"Hey, are you okay?"

"Brother Zhongdao! You have to cheer up!"

A group of people hurried up to help, but more people still looked up at the sky, their eyes were stunned, and their hearts could not calm down for a long time. They were deeply shocked by what they saw.

Meanwhile, Cai Yan finally came to her senses and immediately asked Wang Jing, "Yuan Xu, can you tell me how this prayer lantern flew into the sky?"

As Cai Yan approached, Wang Jing could smell a faint fragrance wafting from his nose. He was immediately in a good mood and explained to her with a smile: "Since Zhaoji asked, I will tell you everything I know. In fact, the principle is very simple. I just used the natural phenomenon of thermal expansion and contraction. When the air is heated, it expands and its density decreases, so it can float up into the air, flying higher and higher until the lights go out, and then it will fall again due to the effect of gravity."

The phenomenon of thermal expansion and contraction is very common, and the principle is not complicated, so Wang Jing only gave a brief explanation and Cai Yan immediately understood the reason.

“I didn’t expect it to be so simple.”

Cai Yan still found it incredible in her heart, and became even more interested in Mohism. In the past, she really didn't know that some seemingly simple phenomena could be transformed into such magical knowledge after careful study.

Wang Jing made the prayer lantern, which seemed to open a door to a new world for her. At the same time, it was also telling everyone who came to watch today that in addition to martial arts, Taoism and sacred words, there is a fourth force in this world that can be mastered by humans, and its name is science!

(End of this chapter)