Chapter 666 Tao Qian of the South, Cui Hao of the North [Seeking monthly votes!]
Wei Shaoqi smiled but remained silent in response to Xue Zhongzhu's words.
The three of them walked out of the underground stone chamber.
The underground entrance is located at a rockery, where several women dressed in Wu and Yue attire stand guard.
However, right now, the women of Wu and Yue who were coming and going around were packing their things and preparing to leave.
The entire villa was in a state of quiet yet busy activity, with the women moving as lightly and silently as cats.
Du Shuqing, a man of few words, followed closely behind Wei Shaoqi, holding the "Peach Blossom Spring" painting.
Xue Zhongzhu walked in front, while Wei Shaoqi was slightly behind this domineering female ruler by half a step.
After the three of them emerged from their underground hideout...
The nominal mistress of Snowwood Manor, a young lady who still retained her charm and rarely left her home, followed silently not far behind them with two personal maids. She showed no dissatisfaction at being ignored.
The candle flame in the snow did not turn back, continuing its cold question:
"Reappearing in the light of day? Isn't this 'Peach Blossom Spring' painting by Tao Yuanming?"
Wei Shaoqi shook his head:
"Half yes, half no."
The candle in the snow is impatient:
"What do you mean? Don't try to play tricks on me or give me riddles. Explain yourself clearly."
Wei Shaoqi turned around, took the scroll from Du Shuqing's hand, and carefully stroked the scroll rod.
He held the painting in both hands, straightening his back as he walked forward.
"The paintings in the scroll were done by Mr. Wu, and the two bronze shafts of the scroll were made by Tao Yuanming himself."
"The original scroll was a manuscript called 'The Peach Blossom Spring,' but it has long been lost..."
A candle in the snow mocks:
"What is it made of? I don't know where it was stolen from my sect."
Wei Shaoqi smiled, neither confirming nor denying.
Snow Candle said irritably:
"Over the centuries, much of our sect's knowledge has flowed down the mountain, and much of our secret Qi cultivation knowledge has been leaked from the depths of the Queen's Palace."
"I never expected that I would catch him red-handed today. Although this thief has already turned into a handful of dust, Tao Yuanming, a legendary swordsman of the esteemed 'Humble Scholar,' actually did such a thing."
She turned her head and looked at Wei Shaoqi and Du Shuqing, asking:
"So, he found the Peach Blossom Spring before he died? In the Yunmeng Marsh?"
Wei Shaoqi nodded slightly:
"Yes, otherwise how could he have written 'The Peach Blossom Spring' in his later years after resigning from his official post?"
A candle in the snow chuckles softly:
“Mr. Wei, aren’t you and Li Zhengyan planning a rebellion? Why have you repeatedly used this map to search for Peach Blossom Spring? It seems there’s something important inside.”
Wei Shaoqi seemed not to hear him and continued speaking to himself:
"As far as I know, the original copy of 'The Peach Blossom Spring' was in the hands of the Liu Song imperial family of the Southern Dynasties. During the Yuanjia era, after a great battle and a humiliating defeat, it was taken as a spoil of war by the elite cavalry of the Northern Wei and returned north. After many twists and turns, it ended up in the hands of Emperor Taiwu of the Northern Wei."
"Emperor Taiwu of Northern Wei, this Xianbei emperor surnamed Tuoba, was indeed intelligent, decisive, and quite martial. However, this item left by Tao Yuanming was actually made specifically for the Liu Song dynasty of the Southern Dynasties. Not to mention Emperor Taiwu of Northern Wei, most of the northern barbarians at that time did not know how to use it and were unaware of its mysteries."
"In fact, once this 'Peach Blossom Spring' crosses the Yangtze River and leaves the southern region, it becomes no different from waste paper and loses its function."
At this point, his face showed emotion:
"But that's the strange thing about fate."
"At that time, in the Northern Wei court, there happened to be a scholar surnamed Cui, a Han Chinese from the north, who noticed this object.
"This man is named Cui Hao. He comes from the prominent Cui clan of Qinghe in the north. He was a child prodigy with exceptional wisdom and resourcefulness. He served three dynasties of the Northern Wei Dynasty and was the most important strategist of Emperor Taiwu of the Northern Wei Dynasty, who trusted him implicitly."
"History records say that this child was beautiful and fair-skinned, like a beautiful woman, yet he was also very talented and knowledgeable, and had a deep understanding of both heaven and man."
"He was also well-versed in classics and history, metaphysics and yin-yang, and the teachings of various schools of thought; he was truly an extraordinary person..."
Wei Shaoqi spoke with great relish, while Xue Zhongzhu maintained a cold expression.
She listened for a while and felt a headache coming on. She usually hated reading history and disliked those pretentious, pedantic scholars who flaunted their knowledge and spouted classical phrases.
If only my second junior sister were here, she could handle any topic and even make sure the conversation is easy to understand... Xue Zhongzhu suddenly thought.
However, if she didn't say anything at this moment, wouldn't it make the dignified Queen of Yunmeng seem like a fool?
The candle in the snow coldly interrupted, grabbing a word and asking:
"The Cui family of Qinghe? Isn't that one of the Five Clans and Seven Noble Families, the most prominent and influential family among them?"
Wei Shaoqi paused slightly, then nodded:
"That's right. Cui Hao is the ancestor of the Qinghe Cui clan, which is now the leader of the five surnames and seven clans. Moreover, he is one of the most proud ancestral tablets in the ancestral hall of the Qinghe Cui clan. There is a reason why Cui women are considered the most noble among the women of the five surnames in the eyes of the common people."
"Hmm." Xue Zhongzhu said calmly, "Continue."
Wei Shaoqi nodded halfway, then took out a white handkerchief, coughed violently, covered his mouth for a moment, and then spoke:
"Cui Hao noticed the 'Peach Blossom Spring' and obtained it from Emperor Taiwu. The orthodox historical materials, including the daily records of the emperors of the Northern Wei Dynasty, were brought here, and the 'Peach Blossom Spring' was never mentioned again afterward."
"According to later official historical records, Emperor Taiwu of the Northern Wei Dynasty, under the strong advice of Cui Hao, who revered Confucianism and disliked Buddhism, launched a large-scale campaign to abolish Buddhism and destroy temples in the north. In the end, only 320 Buddhist temples remained in the entire Northern Dynasty for a short period of time, and these temples were required to display Jataka tales praising and promoting the miracles caused by the Buddha to the Northern Wei Tuoba imperial family..."
Xuezhongzhu glanced sideways and saw Wei Shaoqi pause for a moment after saying this.
"What exactly do you mean? Explain yourself," she urged, frowning.
Wei Shaoqi gently stroked the scroll of "Peach Blossom Spring":
"And so, Tao Yuanming's 'Peach Blossom Spring' was no more. No, it was still there, only half of it remained, these two blood bronze shafts."
"Gone? Did Cui Hao destroy it? Did a fire burn it down to just the shaft?"
Wei Shaoqi slowly shook his head, his eyes filled with reminiscence:
Mr. Wu said that the entire "Peach Blossom Spring" consists of 320 characters.
"I don't care how many words there are..." Xue Zhongzhu started to say subconsciously, but stopped halfway through his sentence: "Three hundred and twenty?"
She asked, "Is it related to the remaining 320 Buddhist temples?"
Wei Shaoqi said with a sigh:
"What a Cui Hao! He disassembled the 'Peach Blossom Spring' scroll, which Tao Yuanming painstakingly crafted for the Liu Song dynasty of the Southern Dynasties, into 320 characters and put them into 320 Buddhist temples."
"Originally limited to use within the Southern Dynasties, this item, amidst the incense smoke swirling in hundreds of Buddhist temples in the North, became the cornerstone for the Northern Wei Dynasty to suppress the dragon energy that governs the nation's destiny."
"Including the Six Garrisons Rebellion, which the Tuoba clan ruthlessly suppressed with the sharpness of their swords at the end of the Northern Wei Dynasty, and the eleven years that followed, the Wei Dynasty lingered on for a living."
"Cui Hao's actions extended the life of the Northern Wei Dynasty by at least eighty years."
"No wonder the Cui family of Qinghe enjoyed the highest honors during the Northern Wei Dynasty, firmly establishing themselves as a top-tier aristocratic family in the north, laying the foundation for their status as the leading family among the five surnames and seven prominent clans, and their ancestral blessings continue to this day."
"The current pseudo-Zhou court, the Imperial Observatory and the Four Imperial Guards are playing the same games that Cui Hao has already played."
The candle silently moves forward in the snow.
"Cough cough cough..."
Wei Shaoqi coughed violently for a moment, covered his mouth with a handkerchief, but a smile played on his lips:
"Tao Yuanming and Cui Hao were representatives of scholars from the Southern and Northern Dynasties, respectively. It's a pity that although they lived in the same era, they were separated by the war between the North and the South and never met. As for their debate on 'The Peach Blossom Spring,' I still feel it's not quite enough, but it's still groundbreaking..."
"Your Majesty, your Yunmeng Sword Marsh has always been far removed from the martial world, living in seclusion like a hermit. It is the number one sword sect in the world, and has specially created the position of Hidden Lord to match the lineage of the sword wielder. It should follow the most original and authentic school of sword wielder and sword protector."
What is your opinion on the new school of swordsmen jointly created by these two scholars from the North and South?
The person in the snow ahead couldn't make out her exact expression, but her tone was somewhat indifferent:
"I only have three words to say."
Which three words?
"I do not accept apprentices."
Wei Shaoqi: ...
Du Shuqing: ...
Wei Shaoqi paused, his gaze falling on Xue Zhongzhu's hand, which was tightly gripping the hilt of the snow-white sword at his waist.
This slender hand would grip the sword hilt tightly for a moment, then suddenly relax, and between the gripping and relaxing, the back of the hand turned pale from blood loss.
Wei Shaoqi chuckled to himself.
This Great Queen is too arrogant, but if she weren't arrogant, she wouldn't be able to become the chief Great Queen of Yunmeng Sword Marsh, and she wouldn't be able to intimidate and suppress the somewhat carefree Jianghu of Tiannan.
Moreover, she is so young yet already possesses the cultivation level of the upper grade of Purple Qi. After the Sword Challenge in Peach Valley two years ago, she is now the universally recognized leader of swordsmanship. She has every right to be proud!
Du Shuqing, who had always been taciturn, suddenly asked:
"Mr. Wei, since the original manuscript of 'The Peach Blossom Spring' with 320 characters has been broken up and lost, what about the manuscript of 'The Peach Blossom Spring' now in the collection of the Yuan family of Jingzhao, apart from the two missing bronze scrolls, which has been supplemented with new scrolls? Who wrote it?"
Upon hearing this, Wei Shaoqi gave a meaningful look and glanced at the observant Du Shuqing:
"What do you think? How many people did it pass through?"
Du Shuqing nodded: "Understood."
Xuezhongzhu looked uninterested, and with a flick of his Wu-style robe sleeves:
"Let's not praise the dead anymore. You are both scholars, so you appreciate each other. However, my second junior sister said something good: we should value the present and belittle the past. This is the way to progress. I'll pass it on to Mr. Wei."
The tall, blonde oriental woman suddenly changed the subject:
"By the way, that Mr. Wu you mentioned sounds pretty impressive. He should still be alive, right?"
Wei Shaoqi nodded: "In my opinion, Mr. Wu is no less than Tao and Cui of the Northern and Southern Dynasties."
As he spoke, he lowered his head and gently stroked the blood-red bronze scroll that had been restored to the "Peach Blossom Spring" painting.
"Oh? Is that so?" Xue Zhongzhu's lips curled into a mocking smile. "Then why didn't he come over himself? Why did he hand over this 'Peach Blossom Spring' painting to a sickly person like you?"
Wei Shaoqi asked with curiosity, "Who said Mr. Wu didn't come?"
Xuezhongzhu raised his chin and shouted, "Where is everyone?"
Before she could react, Wei Shaoqi casually flipped open the scroll of "Peach Blossom Spring," pointed with his index finger to a little old man on the paper, "with yellow hair and children all enjoying themselves," and asked in confusion:
"Isn't Mr. Wu right here?"
Xuezhongzhu turned his head to take a look.
Where Wei Shaoqi had originally stood, there was now a contented old man with squinty eyes, standing with his hands behind his back and hunched over.
Wei Shaoqi disappeared without a trace, and Du Shuqing turned her gaze away with a look of pity.
"The Great Queen is looking for an old Taoist priest?" the old man asked with a smile.
Xuezhongzhu was suddenly startled. The snow-white sword energy overflowed the long corridor. The old man and the painting did not move, while Du Shuqing took several steps back.
Realizing what had happened, the sword energy receded, and the blonde bearded woman harshly cursed:
"Wei Shaoqi, are you out of your mind? So this tuberculosis is your own doing!"
...
Evening, dusk.
Snowwood Manor.
The women of Yunmeng Yue, along with honored guests such as Wei Shaoqi and Du Shuqing, have all moved away.
But the mountain villa remained as peaceful and serene as ever, with the sounds of evening drums and morning bells.
A tall, blonde oriental woman returned, and she entered the manor with a chilling aura, respectfully greeted by the young widow, Madam Yuki, and a group of maids.
A moment later, Xue Zhongzhu's figure appeared in front of the lush grass beside a pond halfway up the mountain.
Her gaze swept over the bushes in front of her.
There was a little girl with her hair in topknots, sitting on the ground and dozing off, clutching a small floral bundle.
I got quite a few red welts on my neck from mosquito bites. The mosquitoes in the wild are still quite vicious in spring and summer. Unfortunately, I encountered an even more vicious one.
Li Shu would occasionally raise her hand to scratch her itch, her little head drooping down like a full ear of rice in an autumn field.
She didn't know if it was something that happened during the day that made her feel bad, or if she was amused by her little junior apprentice playing hide-and-seek with her.
Xue Zhongzhu's expression was very unfriendly. He raised his foot to kick... but then gently touched Li Shu.
"I told you to evacuate with the junior sisters, what are you doing hiding here all by yourself?" she asked in a cold voice, lowering her tone.
"Ugh... Waaah, Master Axe, Master Axe, you're back... You don't know, my eldest uncle pretended to move, putting on an act with everyone in the manor, trying to trick me into leaving, but he insisted I couldn't take Big White. Hehe, Little Shu isn't falling for that. Why can't I take Big White? My eldest uncle is really trying to fool a three-year-old. He just wants to sneak a bite behind our backs and Junior Uncle's back..."
Li Shu's little face was all dazed, her missing front tooth made her speech slurred, and she giggled as she hugged Xue Zhongzhu's leg.
Candle in the Snow: ?
She took a deep breath and shook her legs a few times, but she couldn't shake off this little leech.
"You...you..."
Xuezhongzhu looked impatient.
"Master Fu... Master Fu... I knew you wouldn't abandon Xiao Shu..."
Upon hearing this, her expression gradually softened, and she looked down at the little girl with pigtails clinging to her leg.
The eldest queen slowly squatted down, pried open her slender arms, picked her up, placed her in her arms, and turned to leave.
Li Shu nestled against "Master Axe" for a while, as was her habit, and muttered something strange in her half-asleep state:
"Huh? Why has the Master's Axe gotten bigger and softer...?"
Xuezhongzhu struggled to suppress the urge to hit someone.
"Hmm... Master Axe, don't forget about Big White..."
Li Shu rubbed her eyes with one hand and pointed to the pool with the other.
Even the candle in the snow didn't turn back.
The insect girl swooped down from the clouds and snatched away a white sturgeon that was circling in the water.
Li Shu was finally satisfied, but after resting her head lazily on Xue Zhongzhu's shoulder for a while, she started to wriggle her hips and act coquettishly:
"Master Fu, when do you think Junior Uncle will be back? Big White can't wait any longer. Look how anxious it was this afternoon, pacing around in circles..."
Xuezhongzhu's lips twitched slightly.
"Strange, why is Master Fu wearing Master Uncle's clothes... mmm..."
Xue Zhongzhu's expression was indifferent as he raised his hand to cover the toothless, irritating little mouth.
"Wait a minute! Where...where's my axe?"
"Oh."
Li Shu: ……
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(PS: I haven't slept! It's mid-month, please give me some more monthly votes! ~or2)
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(End of this chapter)
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