Chapter 291: Asking Who is the Guest in the World with a Laugh·Twenty-Two
Qin Mengyao quickly adapted to the life of morning bells and evening drums. She had a very high level of comprehension and made rapid progress, gradually surpassing her peers.
In the twenty-fifth year of Hongwu, the crown prince died, and the emperor appointed the grandson of the emperor. However, the emperor was deeply worried about the power of the kings. In order to ensure the long-term stability of the Ming Dynasty, he specially summoned the Wudang master to the palace to calculate the fate of the country.
Qin Mengyao saw the Taoist priest put on a solemn Taoist robe that he had never worn before, black and white, and suddenly emerged from the dust, as if he had left the world and traveled to Hunyuan.
She suddenly realized that the day when the Taoist priest would never come back had finally come.
*
Chun Yangzi was summoned to the palace, and Wudang's status rose greatly. It was already overshadowing Cihang Jingzhai and Jingnian Zen in conveying the will of heaven and supporting the country.
Both the black and white worlds felt that the undercurrents in the martial arts world were surging, and the storm was about to come. All parties were closely watching Chun Yangzi's every move during his visit to the palace.
Over the past few hundred years, although the two holy places have experienced several ups and downs, they have always been synonymous with the divine right of kings, and emperors of all dynasties have attached great importance to the people they choose. And now Zhu Yuanzhang chose to consult Chun Yangzi on the matter of selecting a successor, which is quite meaningful.
Cihang Jingzhai and Jingnian Zen, which were closely related to this matter, seemed to have acquiesced to the emperor's behavior and did not come forward to fight for it, which was puzzling.
In this whole situation, only Xiao Hao was sober. He knew what he would face after accepting the call.
He had promised Cihang Jingzhai not to enter the palace, and he had delayed it for so many years. He had done his best to tell Yan Jing'an to beware of Yingyuan.
His action was to tell Cihang Jingzhai that their agreement had come to an end. Zhu Yuanzhang was urging them and they could not delay it any longer.
In fact, Yan Jing'an was already grateful to Xiao Hao for being able to refuse Zhu Yuanzhang for so many years.
You have to know that behind the instigation of Zhu Yuanzhang, there is also the magic sect of Shan Yuru. If Xiao Hao had not refused to show up, the power struggle in the deep palace would have collapsed long ago.
Cihang Jingzhai will not take action this time, but Jingnian Zen will definitely react this time.
And there is the magic sect...
Xiao Hao, wearing a dark suit, with cold eyes and a graceful demeanor like a crane, walked through the towering palace under the guidance of the palace people.
From the moment he stepped into the palace, he had to be extremely alert in every step.
He was ready to push all the arrangements to the top with the help of Zhu Yuanzhang, and success or failure would depend on this move.
There was no way out for this plan, and he would completely anger Zhu Yuanzhang.
However, after being enraged, whether he could successfully activate those buried chess pieces would depend on the will of heaven.
Zhu Yuanzhang was no longer young, but from his tall and majestic figure, one could still vaguely see the high-spirited look when he fought to regain the country with blood and iron.
Xiao Hao bowed respectfully and said, "I am a poor and pure man, and I am honored to meet your Majesty."
Zhu Yuanzhang had invited him so many times in these years, and each time he was politely rejected. Even if this outsider was really capable of omnipotence, the emperor's face could not be easily offended. Therefore, when he saw Xiao Hao, although there was a smile on his face, he could not see it in his eyes.
"It is said that the Taoist priest is a true immortal. I see today that he is indeed extraordinary." Zhu Yuanzhang turned around, but did not let Xiao Hao stand up. "The Taoist priest can now figure out what I am thinking?"
Xiao Hao remained calm and said lightly, "I dare not speak nonsense."
Zhu Yuanzhang smiled slightly and said, "Could it be that the rumors among the people exaggerate the supernatural power? The Taoist priest can't even see through my little mind?"
Xiao Hao lowered his eyebrows and shook his head and said, "Your Majesty's answer can be understood but cannot be told. Heaven knows, earth knows, you know and I know, and it cannot be told to others."
Zhu Yuanzhang was testing him.
What the emperor was thinking was naturally to kill him.
If he said it directly, the emperor would not joke, and if he got it right, he would die; if he deliberately gave a wrong answer, it would be deceiving the emperor.
This not only shows whether he is really extraordinary, but also whether he will deliberately say what Zhu Yuanzhang wants to hear in order to save his life. What
Zhu Yuanzhang wants to know is the real future, not the empty talk of flatterers.
Asking for destiny is a dangerous act, not only for the masters, but also for the emperor and the country.
Zhu Yuanzhang laughed loudly, helped Xiao Hao up and said, "It seems that being greedy and afraid of death is human nature. Even a Taoist master like you cannot escape the contradiction between life and death."
Xiao Hao's face was slightly cold, but his eyes were clear and he said, "It's not that I am greedy and afraid of death. The contradiction is not in my heart, but in your Majesty's heart."
Zhu Yuanzhang turned his head and his eyes darkened a little, "Oh?"
"Your Majesty wants to hear the first answer, so you won't hear the second answer; Your Majesty summoned me here for the second answer. Your Majesty might as well think about which one is more important first, and then ask me for the answer."
Zhu Yuanzhang laughed again, but his face became even uglier, "Sharp tongue."
Xiao Hao looked at his nose and his heart, pretending to hear nothing.
"Okay, I'll let you off the hook and listen to your second answer."
Xiao Hao didn't move, but looked around at the attendants and kept silent.
Zhu Yuanzhang snorted coldly and said, "They are all my personal guards. They won't leak a single word of what you said to me today. You can rest assured, Taoist priest."
Xiao Hao shook his head again: "The future is like a mirror, water and moon. It's trustworthy today, but it's hard to say in the future. What's more, the will of heaven is unpredictable. The more people know, the more deviations there will be."
Zhu Yuanzhang frowned and pondered.
Xiao Hao knew that Zhu Yuanzhang would never dare to be alone with him, so he would definitely let a trusted master protect him closely; but after Zhu Yuanzhang heard what he was going to say, he would definitely silence everyone who had heard it, even those he trusted.
So it would be better to let Zhu Yuanzhang directly think that they might betray him in the future. At the same time, once he said this, the seeds would be planted in the hearts of the people present, and they would not be able to be loyal to Zhu Yuanzhang in the future.
Zhu Yuanzhang weighed the pros and cons for a moment, and finally dismissed everyone, leaving only Xiao Hao here.
Xiao Hao sincerely praised: "Your Majesty is very courageous."
He is a master of the Grand Master level who is well-known outside. Zhu Yuanzhang dared to be alone with him, even if he was holding the idea that if Xiao Hao in the palace did something bad to him, he would not be able to retreat unscathed, which was enough courage.
"Speak."
Xiao Hao smiled faintly and asked: "Your Majesty, do you want to hear good words or bad words?"
"What about good words, what about bad words?"
Xiao Hao said: "Good words may sound nice, but Your Majesty will certainly not want to be deceived; honest words may be unpleasant to the ear, but you can avoid the stigma and misfortune."
Zhu Yuanzhang narrowed his eyes. When Xiao Hao asked him to send everyone away, he vaguely guessed that the future might not be so smooth.
He said firmly: "Speak."
Xiao Hao then bowed deeply: "Your Majesty, please make the Prince of Yan the crown prince."
Zhu Yuanzhang was furious at first, but then he held back, forced a few laughs, turned his back for a long time, and then said in a deep voice: "Is this what the Taoist priest means by 'avoiding misfortune'?"
Xiao Hao said: "The prince wins people over with his virtue, but unfortunately he has little luck in his life; the crown prince is kind and filial, and Your Majesty wants to arrange a benevolent monarch after the iron hoof, which is understandable." Zhu Yuanzhang
heard that every word he said hit what he was thinking, so he held back his anger and said calmly: "Speak next "
Your Majesty, you want to hear good words. Then I have to tell you that in the future, the crown prince will not be able to compete with the King of Yan. At that time, he will have no choice but to lead his army to seize the throne and burn the people to ashes."
Zhu Yuanzhang digested what he heard and made sufficient psychological preparations before continuing, "What about the loyal words?"
Xiao Hao was silent for a while, then looked up at Zhu Yuanzhang: "Your Majesty knows the loyal words. Once they are exposed, they will really be 'named in history'." [Note]
Zhu Yuanzhang was shocked and suddenly furious.
This pure man really knows everything!
No matter what, this person cannot leave the palace alive!
He took a few deep breaths and was about to speak when Xiao Hao spoke before him, "Your Majesty has less than six years left to live. As for the Ming Dynasty, it has been in power for more than 270 years for 12 generations. The universe cannot be reversed. Even if Your Majesty makes careful plans, you cannot escape the fate of war. Your Majesty can decide whether to avoid disasters and go with the flow to ensure peace and prosperity for the country and the people, or to change your fate and sacrifice for generations to come!"
"Six years...?!" Zhu Yuanzhang's whole body trembled, and it took him a long time to calm down. He looked at Xiao Hao coldly and said, "I fell into your trap!"
Xiao Hao did not comment.
Chun Yangzi did not attack the emperor when he was alone. He must have said something that the emperor did not want to hear, so he was silenced.
In order not to take the blame, Zhu Yuanzhang could not only not kill him, but also escort him back.
It's not that he couldn't harm himself and blame Chun Yangzi, but he had no doubt that if he did, Chun Yangzi would kill him immediately and then issue a "will" for him.
Xiao Hao looked at the gate with a calm look: "Your Majesty, you don't have to worry too much. When I told you these things, I knew exactly what I should do."
"The existence of poverty itself is very easy to be exploited by those with ulterior motives. For those of us who practice Taoism, practicing Taoism is a way to improve ourselves, but making the country peaceful and prosperous is the real way to benefit all people and stabilize the country. It is easy to conquer a country, but it is difficult to maintain it. What is coming will always come. I just hope that when that day comes, there will be no need to see wars and people fleeing."
He looked at Zhu Yuanzhang seriously and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, do you want to prolong your reign for three hundred years, or die in the second generation?"
Zhu Yuanzhang was silent for a long time, stood with his hands behind his back and said, "I have heard what the Taoist said. But outside the domain, What should we do?"
Xiao Hao consoled him, "There are ways to solve the grudges in the martial arts world, and I have made arrangements. However, I am afraid that I will have to clear up some variables for Your Majesty, and I hope Your Majesty will not stand in the way."
Zhu Yuanzhang was quite tired, so he sighed and ordered, "Escort Master Chunyang back to Wudang, and there must be no mistakes!"
Xiao Hao listened to the system prompts and did not feel comfortable at all, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty."
He walked out of the palace gate, and two long rows of guards lined up outside to greet him.
The sky was bright and the sun was shining. "Once the Taoist priest takes this step, there is no turning back. Tell me, why are you willing to give up your own immortal path and fulfill the overall situation?"
Zhu Yuanzhang's voice came from behind him.
Xiao Hao was silent for a moment and said, "Peace in the universe, and the world is united."
He followed the escort team and strode away without looking back.
After leaving the palace gate, there was the real battlefield.
A mistake was caused by him and lasted for more than seven hundred years. Now it is his turn to end everything and take back the honors that should not have been received.
There are many more people on his target list, familiar and unfamiliar.
Le Jin, Le Wu, Shan Yuru, Nian Liandan, Shuiyue Dazong...
A mental force like a mountain pressing down on the top of the head fell down, Xiao Hao paused, and the footprints left a deep pit on the stone floor.
Zhu Yuanzhang's guards were just a facade, and the emperor only used the hands of the underworld to keep the secrets from ever seeing the light of day.
This encirclement and suppression is inevitable.
It is about to break out.
Author's comments: Note: "Leaving the world and traveling to Hunyuan" is from Cao Cao's "The Mulberry Tree on the Road".
In addition, in "The Rain", Zhu Yunwen is the illegitimate son of Zhu Yuanzhang and Madam Gong, who is the wife of Prince Yiwen... and also the daughter of Shan Yuru.