Pawn Crossing the River

Shi Bingyun exclaimed, only half of what he said, and the rest was completely silent, even a bit narrow-minded.

Zhang Yuelu guessed that she was going to ask this, so he said calmly without any hesitation: "We are indeed closely related."

"We have a close relationship." Shi Bingyun clicked his tongue, "You are such a young girl, how come you don't look a little bit embarrassed? Normally, a little girl who experiences this kind of thing for the first time should have a slightly red face, look down at her shoes, and pinch them. Don’t you dare answer directly with your clothes on?”

Zhang Yuelu thought for a while and replied: "Because I am an alien?"

Shi Bingyun wanted to use this incident to tease this nephew, but he didn't expect that this nephew wouldn't give him any chance. He just felt bored and said: "You are indeed an anomaly. No normal person can do this before he is thirty years old." Third-grade Youyi Taoist priest, deputy hall master? In our generation, the position of Master Cihang is still somewhat suspenseful. With you, there is no more suspense. The girls who are your junior sisters may cry to death. "

Zhang Yuelu smiled without saying a word and walked to his seat.

As a third-grade Youyi Taoist priest, Zhang Yuelu, a promising young man, was placed very close to the second-grade Taiyi Taoist priest. Shi Bingyun happened to be relatively far behind among the second-grade Taiyi Taoist priests. Zhang Yuelu was not far away, so he simply changed seats with someone and sat next to Zhang Yuelu - who could refuse a small request from a beautiful female crown?

Shi Bingyun turned towards Zhang Yuelu: "What does that young man named Qi do? Where is he sitting?"

Zhang Yuelu answered truthfully: "He is studying in the upper palace of Wanxiang Taoist Palace and is the Taoist priest in charge of Ziweitang."

Shi Bingyun was a little surprised and said: "I thought it was a drama between a rich daughter and a poor boy, but I didn't expect that he was a well-matched young handsome man. This is boring. Li Changge and Yao Pei are just fourth-grade wine-provoking Taoist priests now. This young man is Qi Jiaozheng’s son?”

Zhang Yuelu shook his head and said: "It just happens that his surname is Qi and has nothing to do with the Qi family. He is from the lower palace of Wanxiang Dao Palace."

Shi Bingyun became interested again: "It's not unusual to be able to rise to a high position despite being born in the Wanxiang Taoist Palace, but it's very rare to do so at such a young age. His master has a strong background? Who is the Master of Shenzhi?"

Zhang Yuelu said: "It's not Master Shen Zhi, he's just a Taoist priest of the fourth level of sacrificial wine. He has been dead for many years."

Shi Bingyun was really surprised: "So, this young man has some abilities. I know Pei Xuanzhi. He has always set his sights higher than the top and cannot tolerate mediocrity in office. At such an age, he can stand in Ziweitang." To keep your feet firmly on the ground, even if you have support from noble people, you still have to be strong on your own.”

Zhang Yuelu's attitude toward Qi Xuansu in front of outsiders was quite subtle. When Qi Xuansu was still a low-grade Taoist priest, she had to take the initiative to praise Qi Xuansu and say nice things for him. Now that Qi Xuansu is a fourth-level wine-sacrifice Taoist, Zhang Yuelu no longer praises, but becomes humble and self-respecting. Therefore, Zhang Yuelu did not say anything more and just smiled and said nothing.

Shi Bingyun sighed: "In this way, I am worthy of you. After all, it is not good for a husband and wife to be too evenly matched, and it is easy to cause all kinds of troubles. If you want to find someone stronger than you, it is really difficult to find one. The only one It is somewhat possible that he is the younger ancestor of the Li family, but the relationship between the Zhang family and the Li family is here, so it is absolutely impossible. "

Zhang Yuelu sighed: "If my mother could have such thoughts as my uncle, I would be grateful to God."

"By the way, what did Senior Sister say?" Shi Bingyun didn't look like a real Taoist at all, but more like an ordinary nun who was naturally interested in things like getting married and having children.

Zhang Yuelu said: "Master met him once before. He didn't say anything. He just asked him to come back to Yujing after finishing his studies in the palace. She wanted to see him again."

Shi Bingyun clicked his tongue again: "This is the mother-in-law taking care of her son-in-law. Do you like it more and more the more you look at it? Or are you trying to beat the couple? But having said that, my senior sister has never experienced anything like this. What can she tell? Why don't you show me that your uncle has seen more men than you two combined."

Zhang Yuelu changed the topic: "Why did Uncle Master return to Yujing?"

The Imperial Palace has always been a very special palace. Because the Imperial Palace is the core of the imperial court and the residence of the emperor, for a long period of time, the Imperial Palace was just a decoration, somewhat similar to Qintian Prison, and even Not as good as Qin Tianjian. Because the imperial court has a special Qintian Supervisor to observe the astronomical phenomena, and the Imperial Palace is mainly responsible for praying, fasting, etc., so the Taoist sect usually sends some marginal and high-level figures to the Imperial Palace, such as Shi Bingyun.

However, in recent years, with the intensification of the struggle between the three Taoists, the imperial court seemed to be interested in intervening in Taoist affairs, and the status of the Imperial Palace Taoist Office suddenly became important. In the past, the Imperial Palace was controlled by Taiping Dao, which had the closest relationship with the royal family. However, in the past year, especially when the Heavenly Master and the Earth Master served as rotating masters, many people were deployed there, which was to mix sand.

Naturally, Taiping Dao also fought back. After the three parties compromised and pulled each other, the candidates for the real person in charge and the nine deputy palace owners have been decided. Unless there is another big case, there will not be any big changes in a short time. . Shi Bingyun ranks among the nine deputy palace masters, and ranks high, serving as the second deputy palace master.

That's why Zhang Yuelu wondered why Shi Bingyun appeared in Yujing. According to the rules, a real person of this level would not return to Yujing rashly without urgent matters, legitimate reasons, and without being summoned by Jinque.

Shi Bingyun said: "Of course it's official business, I'm here to see Pei Xuanzhi."

"Master Donghua?" Zhang Yuelu was startled.

Shi Bingyun said matter-of-factly: "The real person in charge of Ziweitang holds the power of personnel affairs. I still have many vacancies under my name. Who can I look for if I don't look for him?"

This is also reasonable. In the past, the Imperial Palace has not been taken seriously, and promotion has been difficult. Taoist priests with ambition and ability are unwilling to go to the Imperial Palace. Those who go there are only those who have no hope of promotion, or who are greedy for the prosperity of the Imperial Palace. People, this time the three Taoists are waging war in the Imperial Palace, many people have been cleared out, which will inevitably create vacancies.

Zhang Yuelu fell into deep thought.

At this time, the driver of the great master on duty had arrived in front of the Yuxu Palace.

The car that the great master on duty rides is called the "Seven-Fragrance Car". The Shimo has a poem that says: "Whenever Cao Rong encounters the road, the Seven-Fragrance Car rolls over." The Shi-Buddha also has a poem that says: "The Seven-Fragrance Car is sent by a Luo curtain." , the treasure fan welcomes the return to Jiuhua Tent." This carriage was popular in the Daqi Dynasty and was a luxurious carriage made of various fragrant woods.

The Dao Sect's Qixiang Cart has been modified. In addition to being larger in size, all unnecessary decorations have been removed. It is very simple and is pulled by four dragons and horses of different species. There are eight second-grade spiritual officials in front of them to open the way, and a group of counselors behind them. Real people accompany you.

When they arrived in front of the palace gate, the grand master on duty stepped out of the carriage. He was an old man with white hair and white beard. He had an immortal demeanor and was most in line with the world's imagination of a person among gods. He was not a national master, but a heavenly master.

In the forty-one years of Jiushi, in the first half of the year from the first day of the Lunar New Year to the 30th of June, the Heavenly Master acted as the Grand Master. In the second half of the year, from the first day of the seventh lunar month to the 30th of the Lunar New Year, the Earth Master acted as the Grand Master. In the next forty-two years, from the first day of the first lunar month to the first day of the seventh lunar month, the National Preceptor became the rotating Grand Immortal and exercised great authority to teach. It is now the Ghost Festival on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month. Naturally, the Celestial Master will take over from the Imperial Master as the rotating Great Master to preside over the Ghost Festival celebrations.

The crowd in the square separated a road to welcome the great master on duty and a group of masters who entered the temple.

Everyone in the hall also stood up.

Zhang Yuelu raised his eyes and saw the old man from his grandfather's generation walking out the door. On his left were Master Cihang and Master Donghua, and on his right were Master Qingwei and Master Pingzhang.

This is also a very interesting point. The Taoist sect has a big master and three deputy masters. When standing, the position of the master should be highlighted. The deputy masters line up on both sides of the big master. There will inevitably be asymmetry. Generally speaking, they will be filled by the relatives of the Grand Master, that is, to the left of the Grand Master, there are two deputy masters, the Great Master, and to the right, there are the Grand Master Taoist couple and another deputy master, the Great Master. The Taoist monk must be next to the right hand of the great master. As for who is next to the left hand of the great master, it generally depends on the origin of the great master. For example, if the great master comes from Zhengyi, the Tianshi will stand next to the great master. 's left hand side.

The rotation of the great masters has the same meaning. The three highest ranking masters follow, leaving one spot vacant. Because the Celestial Master has never married a wife, the master in charge of the Wanxiang Dao Palace fills the position.

The Taoist sect does not like the ceremony of kneeling and worshiping, so everyone just stood up and saluted, and there was no scene of people kneeling in darkness.

The Heavenly Master walked straight to the main seat of Yuxu Palace, but when he passed in front of Zhang Yuelu, his steps paused slightly. Zhang Yuelu felt that this uncle seemed to have glanced at her, and it seemed that it was her misunderstanding that actually made her have A moment of trance. By the time she came to her senses, the Heavenly Master had already gone far.

Cihang, who was one position behind Tianshi on his left, did not pay attention to his beloved disciple. After all, the master and disciple had just separated for less than half an hour. Instead, he took a deep look at his junior sister Shi Bingyun.

Shi Bingyun's eyes wandered, not looking at his senior sister.

Master Donghua also saw Shi Bingyun. They were all of the same age and they knew each other naturally. He could probably guess the purpose of Shi Bingyun's visit without saying a word.

Then there are guests from all walks of life, including people from Confucianism, Buddhism, and people from the imperial court.

When the Confucian priest passed by Zhang Yuelu, he glanced at Zhang Yuelu. Although he did not have an attack, he did not hide the disgust in his eyes. The dignified Grand Master of the Confucian sect is naturally not a person without a city who shows his thoughts on his face, but he does so deliberately to express his attitude.

Zhang Yuelu didn't care about this, he was just thinking about the Imperial Palace.

After the Heavenly Master and all the guests were seated, the Heavenly Master looked around, waved his sleeves, and saw a slightly illusory figure of the Heavenly Master flying out of the hall, boarded the thirty-three-story lantern tower, and lit the golden lantern. lamp.