Chapter 108: Zhuang Zhou's Dream of the Butterfly
Autumn of the second year of Qi'an.
The imperial court changed the commercial tax, added regulations on maritime trade and commercial tax, and selected Quanzhou Prefecture as the first prefecture to lift the maritime ban. The feat of lifting the maritime ban in the Great Zhou Dynasty was set in stone.
The navy commander Gao Jin led his troops to garrison Quanzhou Prefecture, and the Prince's tutor Chen Yizhi was the governor of Quanzhou Prefecture, in charge of the lifting of the maritime ban in Quanzhou Prefecture.
As soon as the imperial edict was issued, all merchants of the Zhou Dynasty, big and small, responded. Business offices of the imperial court, various private chambers of commerce from all walks of life flocked to Quanzhou Prefecture.
At the same time, brand new ships were launched one after another, and the newly expanded harbor of Quanzhou Prefecture was filled with large ships. The shopkeepers who came from afar knew at a glance that the court must have been preparing to lift the maritime ban for a long time, and it was not a sudden decree.
Some of them are old, but not too old to walk, but they are unwilling to endure the hardships of traveling for business. They have handed over the caravan to their children and grandchildren so that they can live a comfortable retirement life. They are a group of old shopkeepers from Songjiang City. They are obviously more familiar with the Queen's style of doing things.
They grabbed Shopkeeper Han and asked, "Tell me the truth, did you already know that Quanzhou Prefecture was going to lift the maritime ban? Why didn't you tell us in advance, old man?"
Shopkeeper Han said with a smile, "What's the big deal? Your base is in Songjiang City, and your business mainly involves selling medicinal herbs and cloth, which has nothing to do with the maritime trade in the south."
"That's not the way to say it. Even if we don't do business, we could just buy a few shops on the docks and rent them out to collect rent. That would be a good thing."
"Forget it. The best shops at the Quanzhou docks are all owned by the imperial court. Merchants can rent them, but forget about buying or selling them."
"Tsk, why is it still the same as Dongshan Port?"
"That's nonsense! The dock was expanded at the expense of the imperial court, and the first batch of ships sailed here from our Songjiang City shipyard. They also belong to the imperial court. The imperial court paid for it, and they put in the effort. How could they let us take advantage of them?"
When Her Majesty was doing business in previous years, she was not the type to let herself suffer losses, let alone now?
Speaking of seagoing vessels, the ban on sea trade was only lifted this year. Presumably, many small and medium-sized merchants couldn't afford to buy seagoing vessels, so the imperial court issued a new policy. Small merchants who couldn't afford to buy ships could join a chamber of commerce and then, under the chamber's name, lease imperial seagoing vessels to conduct business. Upon their return, they would pay the imperial court a 20% profit as rent.
Who among the merchants who rushed to Quanzhou as soon as they learned of the lifting of the maritime ban knew that going to sea was lucrative? As long as the business went smoothly, a 20% profit was nothing.
After a burst of crackling firecrackers, the beating of gongs and drums took a break. The Governor of Quanzhou Prefecture stood on a large platform set up on the dock and loudly announced the court's national policy of opening up the sea. Before he finished speaking, small merchants had gathered in groups of three or four and ran to the government office with people they knew in their own chamber of commerce to rent ships.
Good things must be done early. There are only about twenty ships at the dock. If they are late, they will not get a share.
Cao Da, the head of the family, was originally an exiled military commander. He was tall and strong. Even now that he was old, he was still taller than his old acquaintances. After looking around, he said to the group of storekeepers Han and He, "Young guys are so nimble."
Shopkeeper He snorted, "When our Dongshan Port opened to the sea, I ran faster than them."
Cao Dada encouraged him: "How about we sign up and go to Nanyang?"
Nanyang, they haven’t been there yet.
Although these old guys have handed over their business to their children and grandchildren, they are still in good health. Besides, going out to sea by ship is easier than traveling for business. Why not give it a go?
Shopkeeper Han was the youngest of the group. Everyone stared at him, and he said, "Nanyang isn't far away. You can go there if you want."
After the lifting of the maritime ban, the navy divided into several teams to patrol the South China Sea, which is much safer than before.
"Then hurry up and let's go to the government office to register."
Shopkeeper Han grabbed Cao Dadui and said, "Don't fight with them. There's still room on my boat. Go buy the goods and send them aboard. We'll leave tomorrow."
"Hahaha, our own people are still the most reliable. Shopkeeper Han, thank you very much!"
Due to the lifting of the sea ban, the navy has expanded from 10,000 to 30,000 people, scattered in Dongshan Port, Dongliaocheng Port, and Quanzhou Prefecture Port.
According to the court's plan, once the treasury becomes richer, the navy will be expanded. The navy will be extended along the coastline of Huizhou Prefecture, Leizhou Prefecture, and Qiongzhou Prefecture all the way to the South China Sea, and the small islands in the sea will also be included in the territory of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
While Quanzhou Prefecture was busy preparing to lift the ban on maritime trade, a small naval team had already been stationed on an uninhabited island in the eastern part of the South China Sea for two days.
The stonemasons on board the ship hammered and pounded for a whole day before they carved a stone tablet. The leader, Captain Yuan, bare-chested, led a group of soldiers to erect the two-person-tall stone tablet.
"Master Zhang, is this stone hard? I hope the wind and sun won't blow away the words on the stele in a few years."
Stonemason Zhang said, "Don't worry. This stone is very hard, and the characters are carved deeply. My hands are numb from hammering out these hundred or so characters. Even if it's weathered by wind and sun, the characters will definitely be there for hundreds of years."
Captain Yuan checked the document given by the court word by word. The first paragraph on the stone tablet read: In the autumn of the second year of Qi'an, the navy of the Great Zhou Dynasty was stationed here. This island is the inherent territory of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Any invader will be punished no matter how far away he is.
The literate soldier saw the words on the stone tablet and couldn't help scratching his face: "Captain, are we really going to stay in this godforsaken place?"
"The court said that we can just erect a monument and circle the land. What's the point of setting up camp here?"
"I just don't understand. What's so good about occupying this wasteland?"
"Do you need to understand? If you understood, you would be a high-ranking official in the court. Don't talk nonsense, we will do whatever the higher-ups say."
"The monument is ready. Let's pack up and go to the next place."
The reason why Captain Yuan was able to become a Captain at such a young age was not only because of his own abilities, but also because he had a grandfather, Yuan Hong, who was the commander of the city defense army.
Although his grandfather had passed away, the affection he left behind remained. Before going to sea, Captain Yuan asked his familiar uncles and aunts, and those elders told him that the court valued the South China Sea. As long as the court wanted it, every island, reef, and piece of sea would be important.
The soldiers under Captain Yuan thought the same thing. They all said, what's the point of occupying these uncultivated islands? Although they had erected the monument according to the order from above, they didn't agree with it in their hearts.
There are many teams like Yuan Qianhu's, and they privately jokingly call this "expanding territory."
Little do people know that a monument casually erected today may become a loophole for seizing sea territory thousands of years later, which is truly a way to expand territory.
Half a month after the lifting of the maritime ban, ships began to go out to sea one after another. Although many people left Quanzhou Prefecture, it did not seem deserted, but instead became more lively.
In order to make a living, the people who were wandering and hiding on the sea came ashore by boat. They didn't know whether this was a strategy of the court to lure them or they really didn't want them to go out to sea to trade. When they first got off the boat, they were nervous and uneasy. When they saw their familiar families in front of the dock, smiles appeared on their faces, and they burst into tears while smiling.
For how many years have they lived like rats in the gutter? How many years have they not seen their family members in broad daylight?
Chen has been looking at these people and has felt a lot of emotion. He looked in the direction of the sea and thought of the Chen family members in Southeast Asia, who will be back soon.
Liu Zhong, who held the title of Imperial Commissioner, ignored all this and said, "Master Chen, don't forget about the tax payment."
The Queen Mother has said before that ordinary people go to sea just to have a meal, and they will come back when they come back, and they will not be punished.
It's different for big families like the Chen family. They made a lot of money from smuggling. If these big merchants want to come back, 40% of the money they bring back must be added to the national treasury as fines.
Chen kept sighing: "Master Liu, my family hasn't come back yet. How about you wait until they come back to discuss this matter?"
Liu Zhong smiled and said, "We are not deliberately trying to embarrass Master Chen. It is just that the law requires us to remind you."
The emperor and empress are still waiting for money to do big things. Since agricultural taxes cannot be changed, the only option is to change commercial taxes.
However, having said that, if the Chen family did not bring back their overseas property, the imperial court would not really send the navy to Southeast Asia to confiscate their property. This matter was still a voluntary one.
The Chen family is really willing!
In late autumn, when the leaves in the mountains outside Luoyang were turning red and yellow, a memorial from Quanzhou was urgently delivered to the cabinet, and then sent to the Qi'an Hall by a cabinet minister.
"Over two hundred ships of property, one hundred of which were for the imperial court. They didn't even stop on the way, but went straight north along the coast of Quanzhou Prefecture?"
Gu Youan smiled and handed the memorial to Zhou Qi: "The Chen family is very generous!"
Zhou Qi also laughed after reading the memorial and said, "Although our Great Zhou Dynasty's navy is powerful, the Chen family's willingness to submit to the court cannot be ignored."
"As the saying goes, fallen leaves return to their roots. The Chen family was able to make this decision. I guess it's because the head of the Chen family, Chen Yizhi's uncle, is seriously ill."
The Chen family has been going to Southeast Asia for several generations. It was Chen Yizhi's great-uncle who transformed the Chen family from ordinary people making a living on the sea into wealthy merchants.
The Chen family was built up by Mr. Chen, and he still has control over the family. If he wants to return home with the family property, it will be useless even if other family members object.
"Apart from Mr. Chen, the Chen family is probably also planning for Chen Yizhi's future. Queen, you are still calculating."
Gu Youan snorted with a smile: "No matter what the reason is, the national treasury is going to be richer."
The Chen family is just the beginning. Other overseas families who are still waiting and watching will see that the Chen family has settled down safely and want to return home and will naturally pay the fine tax.
"Although last year's war consumed a lot of money and food, the Great Zhou Dynasty has been relatively prosperous in the past two years. I arranged for people to conduct a secret inspection and found that the granaries in various places are about 70% to 80% full."
"We have food, and we also have the money from next year's maritime ban. We can start making arrangements to build official roads and dredge waterways."
Zhou Qi discussed with important officials of the court several times and finally made the decision to move the capital to Yanzhou. Before building the new capital, land and water transportation must be unobstructed.
Gu Youan was not surprised that Zhou Qi agreed to move the capital, but from the implication of his words, it seemed that he wanted her to arrange these things.
Gu Youan asked Ah Yue to find the map she had prepared. After she opened it and checked that it was correct, she placed the map on his desk and said, "You are the emperor, so don't try to push everything onto me. These tasks of the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue should be handled by you."
Zhou Qi put his arm around her waist and placed her on his lap. He asked with a smile, "Who in this court doesn't know that I obey the Empress? What's the difference between my orders and yours?"
Gu Youan turned around, Xiaoyue hurriedly lowered her head and stepped back. Seeing this, the palace maids and servants serving in the room all tactfully left.
Only the couple were in the hall, so Gu Youan pulled his collar impudently and glared at him: "Tell me, why are you being so sarcastic over and over again?"
"Do I have the right to lose my temper?"
"Zhou Qi!"
Zhou Qi suddenly showed an aggrieved look again, exactly the same as his son's aggrieved look. Gu Youan didn't know how to talk to him.
He was making a fuss, and she was also annoyed. She loosened his collar and gently pressed it to make it fit more snugly. As she thought about it, she slowly said, "We are husband and wife."
"The kind of couple that is so close yet so distant?"
"The kind of couple that shares joys and sorrows!"
Angered by his words again, Gu Youan's tone hardened, but when he saw his face calm down, he said in a gentle voice, "If you have any opinions about me, just tell me directly. If I can answer them, I will answer them."
"That's what you said."
"I said so."
Zhou Qi's lips curled up into a smile, his eyes slightly raised, his gaze gripping him: "What secret are you hiding from me? My father-in-law knows, my mother-in-law knows, that brat Yuan knows too, right? They all know, why are you hiding it from me?"
It turns out that it was because of this matter!
Gu Youan was silent.
He approached her gently, tightening his arm around her waist. The two of them were close to each other. He seemed to be tempting and curious: "I can even share power with you. You can trust me, I won't hurt you."
Gu Youan was now very calm and didn't buy it, so he pushed him away.
Zhou Qi let go of his hands and casually placed them on the chair. He leaned against the chair to keep a distance from her. His face turned cold and he just looked at her.
"Zhou Qi, tell me, is it Zhuang Zhou dreaming of a butterfly, or is it the butterfly dreaming of Zhuang Zhou?"
"Am I living in a dream right now, or have I just woken up from a fourteen-year dream?"
Zhou Qi was so familiar with everything about her that he could not be more familiar with it. Ever since he guessed that she was hiding a secret from him, he secretly checked again. He naturally knew that she had been living in a daze for the past fourteen years, and she suddenly woke up after the Gu family was exiled.
He said, "I thought you would say that God blessed you and told you to know everything when you woke up."
Since she had revealed the truth, Gu Youan did not hide it from him. She showed a puzzled expression: "I don't know either. How about going to Tianyi Temple and asking Taoist Master Li?"
Among the monks and Taoists she knew who practiced metaphysics, the Taoists at Tianyi Temple had some inexplicable abilities.
Zhou Qi sneered: "Do you think I haven't asked?"
"What does Taoist Master Li say?"
"Hehe, that old Taoist priest Li Tianshi said that the reincarnation of heaven and earth is determined by God, so don't be obsessed with it." Obviously Zhou Qi didn't listen to what Taoist priest Li said.
Gu Youan then asked again: "Are you still obsessed now?"
Zhou Qi was so angry that he laughed: "You haven't even explained your words clearly, and you're telling me not to be so persistent? Gu Youan, you're just trying to fool me."
Gu Youan sighed, "I don't know how to put it. Anyway, just treat it as a dream that seemed real but not real. Perhaps, only when we die, I will know whether it was Zhuang Zhou dreaming of a butterfly or the butterfly dreaming of Zhuang Zhou."
Zhou Qi was stunned for a moment, then suddenly reached out and pulled her, causing her to fall onto his chest. He pinched her chin and said, "We are a couple made in heaven. It couldn't be truer. I won't ask about those things anymore. Don't imitate those Taoist priests' nonsense. I'm tired of listening to them."
Gu Youan smiled and nodded: "Let's not talk about it anymore, let's just live our lives well."
Holding the person in his arms, Zhou Qi looked at him with a long gaze.
The Taoist priest Li Tianshi said that it was an accident that he and An An became husband and wife, and that one day when things get back on track, their fate as husband and wife may be broken.
From that day on, Zhou Qi was terrified that she would suddenly disappear from his side. The more he worried, the more he wanted to get to the bottom of it, but every time the words came to his lips, he was afraid to expose the hidden secrets.
After today, that layer of window paper is still there, and he doesn't want to ask anymore.
All the past is false, cherish the people in front of you.
Zhou Qi couldn't bear to leave his wife, so he showed no mercy to the Taoist priests in Tianyi Temple. The Queen immediately sent troops to surround Tianyi Temple and not allow them to leave.
In addition, Zhou Qi secretly sent people to Taoist temples across the Great Zhou Dynasty to capture all the Taoist priests with some skills and send them to Tianyi Temple.
He had a hunch that the Taoist priests in Tianyi Temple would be the biggest variable between him and his wife.
Zhou Qi did all these things without telling Gu Youan, who had no idea. Gu Youan only knew that since the day they became husband and wife, Zhou Qi had been clinging to her very tightly. Whenever he went to court, he would ask her to wait for him in the back hall, and he was unwilling to be separated from her for even a moment.
It is well known that she is a queen with great power, but she has been a little too powerful recently. The censors of the Censorate dare not say anything, and Gu Wen, her biological father, must persuade his daughter.
"Dad, you should go and persuade Zhou Qi."
"You and your wife were fine before, why did the emperor suddenly..."
Gu Youan sighed: "He's afraid that I'll turn into a butterfly and fly away."
What was that? Gu Wen suspected there was something wrong with his ears. What did it mean to turn into a butterfly and fly?
Gu Youan also thought that what she said was a bit ridiculous, but she felt very sad in her heart. For people like them, true love was hard to come by.
Gu Youan hinted about the previous life, and Gu Wen remained silent.
"An An, being able to be husband and wife is a fate cultivated over several lifetimes, you should cherish it."
Gu Youan understood what her father meant. She didn't know how to answer, so she just said she understood.
In the palace, there were no secrets for Zhou Qi, especially since Gu Youan didn't want to hide anything from him. Zhou Qi learned about the conversation between his father-in-law and An An from Sun Zhang and smiled.
It takes several lifetimes of fate to become husband and wife. Since An An has become his wife, she will definitely not disappear for no reason.
Who can tell the truth from the falsehood in this world? If I can't tell, then I won't say it.
After that day, Zhou Qi seemed to have reconciled with her and no longer pestered her every day.
A Yuan took advantage of his father's absence and ran to his mother that day. He wanted to go to the space.
Gu Youan refused: "Let's not talk about this anymore. Your father is afraid."
"Is Father also afraid of something?"
"If you take it to heart, you will naturally worry about gains and losses."
Over the past few days, Gu Youan's heart has also been filled with a lot of emotions. She held her son's hand and smiled, "In this world, most things are about deep feelings but shallow fate. The more you want, the less you can keep it. Perfection is already the ultimate happiness in the world."
"Mother used to think people were untrustworthy, but now, after going through so much, she feels that meeting a lovely and trustworthy person is a rare blessing."
Feelings have different levels, and love has different depths. Seeing him throw himself into it like this, she felt sorry for him.
A Yuan didn't quite understand what his mother meant: "Has our secret also been revealed to Father?"
"I think I know."
One night when he was not in the palace, she leaned against a soft pillow and read a book about the ranking of global ports. She fell asleep while reading, and the book was placed beside the pillow. When she got up in the morning, the book was placed on the table, and he did not ask her any more questions.
A Yuan leaned against his mother and said, "Last year, my father said that we should go back to Songjiang City this year. It's winter now, should we go?"
"If you want to go, go by yourself."
"You're not going? Father isn't going?"
"I don't know whether your father will go or not. I definitely can't go. Your father doesn't like me going to Songjiang City."
"Why?"
Gu Youan didn't say anything. She smiled and said, "You, while your father is still the emperor, go wherever you want to go. When you are in power in the future, you won't be able to leave even if you want to."
Yuan immediately asked, "Can I go out to sea if I want?"
"I certainly have no objection here. Why don't you ask your father?"
A Yuan went to ask his father, but Zhou Qi immediately refused: "It's dangerous overseas, you are not allowed to go."
"My mother said I could go." Yuan was dissatisfied.
"I won't allow you to. You're the only child your mother and I have. If the boat capsizes at sea, your life or death is uncertain. I'm worried."
There was no room for negotiation, so Yuan had no choice but to ask, "Can my mother and I go back to Songjiang City to spend the winter?"
"Your mother can't. You can leave anytime you want."
"Why can't mother?"
Zhou Qi didn't want to talk about this with his son, so he asked Sun Zhang to kick him out so as not to delay him from reviewing memorials.
A Yuan pestered his father for several days, but his father still did not agree to let his mother go to Songjiang City. He went back with his guards. He planned to stay in Songjiang City for a few more days and come back before the New Year.
A Yuan braved the wind and snow to return to Songjiang City. A few days after he returned, he found that Beishan was surrounded. From the foot of the mountain to the bottom of the mountain, all the roads were guarded. What were they doing?
A Yuan called Zhou Chen to ask, but Zhou Chen didn't know anything and just said that it was the people arranged by the emperor.
The external explanation was that the North Mountain of Songjiang City was the birthplace of the royal family and that no one other than the royal family was allowed to enter. A Yuan went to try it and it was obvious that this explanation was also false because even he, the crown prince, was not allowed to enter.
Who can enter? Only his father himself.
Before the New Year's Eve, A Yuan stayed in Songjiang City for three days and then returned to Luoyang. Before he could complain to his mother, his father called him over and assigned him a bunch of chores, including the year-end worship of heaven and earth, ancestor worship and other matters that required the royal family's involvement.
After the lifting of the maritime ban, small countries from Southeast Asia, as well as East Japan, Korea, and small countries to the northwest sent people to Luoyang to pay homage, and it was he, the crown prince, who came forward to receive them.
After finishing these things, it was already the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month. He went to Gu's house to visit his grandparents on behalf of his mother, and when he returned home, it was already the morning of New Year's Eve.
A Yuan returned to his palace, but before he could enter the Qi'an Hall, he was stopped by Sun Zhang at the door. Sun Zhang smiled and said, "Your Highness, the Emperor ordered yesterday that your luggage be moved to the Henian Hall. You will live there from now on."
Yuan was shocked: "What? Why didn't you tell me in advance?"
"The Emperor said that you are not young anymore. Living with them will undermine your dignity as a crown prince. From now on, you should live in the Henian Palace by yourself."
A Yuan was furious: "Father just wants to drive me away so he can live with mother."
The guards, palace maids, eunuchs, etc. outside the palace gate all lowered their heads and tried to suppress their laughter. There was no need for the prince to say this, as they, the servants, had already seen it.
It turned out that the Empress was speaking for the Crown Prince. For some reason this year, the relationship between the Emperor and the Empress had gotten better. The Empress doted on the Emperor, and when the Emperor said he wanted to move the Crown Prince out, the Empress did not say anything against it.
Sun Zhang smiled and advised, "You are already ten years old. The emperor asked you to move out for your own good. The emperor said that the Prince's Chamberlain's Mansion should be built and you should have your own team."
Other princes would be delighted to hear this, but Yuan became even angrier. He felt that his father was going to assign him many tasks.
A Yuan was not wrong about his father. In the third year of Qi'an, the official roads were repaired and the rivers were dredged, and the overall person in charge was the crown prince A Yuan.
A few years later, the Zhou Dynasty enjoyed peace and prosperity, and the emperor ordered the construction of a new capital, Yanzhou. Prince A Yuan was sent to Yanzhou as the chief steward.
A Yuan, who was already fifteen years old, kept pestering his mother and making a fuss. He didn't want to go to Yanzhou and asked his father to send someone else to go.
After ruling the country for many years, his imperial aura became increasingly compelling. Zhou Qi looked at his son and said, "Don't you think Luoyang is too crowded? Wouldn't it be a great idea to rebuild a capital in Yanzhou, all to your liking?"
A Yuan wouldn't be fooled. He affectionately took his mother's arm and glared at his father, "Tell me, do you want to throw the throne to me? Don't think I don't know that you ordered the Royal Guards to go to sea for training a month ago. Do you want to go to sea?"
"I am the emperor, you are the prince, it is not your turn to interfere in my affairs."
"Mother, look at Father."
Gu Youan's temperament became better after she turned thirty, like a precious lotus in its full glory. When she smiled, both the father and the son looked at her.
"Mother, please speak."
"Listen to your father."
Mother has become more and more inclined towards father in recent years. A Yuan snorted, stood up, glanced at the two of them, turned and left.
Zhou Qi was delighted and took a few steps to her side, complaining: "It's all because of your pampering. What other prince at this age still acts like a spoiled child with his mother?"
"Don't be so gullible, that's enough!"
Zhou Qi smiled, leaned close to her ear, and said, "We've worked hard these past few years, husband and wife. Once Yanjing is built, we'll hand over the world to Yuan."
"Are you really going out to sea?"
"Let's go and have a look. I see you're eager to go."
It was for A Yuan, the people of the Great Zhou Dynasty, and even more for future generations. Knowing that there were vast lands outside the Great Zhou Dynasty, they, as ancestors, should have considered their descendants more.
Privately, he also agreed with what those old Taoist priests said. Since he was the emperor of mankind, he should accumulate more merits in this position. God would see his merits and perhaps give him another life.
He had arranged for people to build a mausoleum for them on the North Mountain. After they passed away decades later, they would be buried on the North Mountain.
He wanted to stick with her, even if she died, he would go wherever she went, and no one could stop him.
She knew everything, yet she indulged him.
He gave her everything she wanted, and she would not be heartless.
Let him do whatever he wants.
Gu Youan couldn't help but tell her, "If you want to go out to sea, be fully prepared. I'm still young, and I don't want to die accidentally in the sea and spend the rest of my life with you."
"Don't worry, I can swim. Even if you fall into the sea, you can stand on my hair crown and your little butterfly will never get its wings wet."
Gu Youan laughed and patted him on the shoulder. How could this guy hold a grudge so much?
Zhou Qi also smiled. Looking at her made him feel happy.
A Yuan ran back, pushed his father aside and rushed into his mother's arms, but Zhou Qi pinched the back of his neck and threw him away.
"Mother! Mother! Save me!" A Yuan struggled with his arms.
Gu Youan watched the fight between father and son with a smile. She couldn't save them. They were her flesh and blood, so she could tear them apart herself.
That night, on a mountain north of Songjiang City, a group of Taoists at Tianyi Temple were observing the sky. They saw a faint curved line passing through the Milky Way and connecting the Ziwei Star.
There are fifty great ways, forty-nine of which are derived from heaven, and one is hidden by man.
The glimmer of hope belongs not only to the person in Luoyang Palace, but also to the people of the Great Zhou.
Many years ago, Taoist Tianyan sacrificed his entire life's cultivation to hold up this ray of hope, and his merits are immeasurable!
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