The carriage traveled all the way to the palace.
Emperor Jianyuan helped Li Chang'an down.
He waved for the civil and military officials behind him to disperse, leaving only Lin Youchu carrying the little girl and following Luo Yang and the others.
Su Xiao glared angrily at Luo Yang and the others.
Master already has his wife and her by his side, so why are there suddenly two more women appearing?
Su Xiao didn't know why she was angry, but she felt a sour feeling in her heart.
She always felt uncomfortable, especially when her master's wife went to the small room with her master.
She wanted to play too.
Luo Yang didn't care about the little brat's gaze. She was looking around the palace like a country bumpkin visiting the city, occasionally making tsk-tsk sounds.
Miao Qingqing, holding Lin Dongdong's hand, said to Li Qing beside her, "Wow! Blind man, look, it's the palace!"
Li Qing: ……
Just now in the carriage, Lin Dongdong and this older sister had a contest to see who could eat the most steamed buns.
Then, with a appetite of twenty steamed buns, Miao Qingqing successfully won over the witty and brave Lin Dongdong.
In the end, these two silly kids became good friends.
After all, people of the same kind can always find common ground.
The little girl stuck out her tongue, her head turning this way and that, occasionally pointing at things she had never seen before, and making an "oh" sound to her older sister.
It was as if they were asking what these strange things were.
“This is Huahua, this is a stone-carved dragon, and this is a palace eunuch.”
Cao Zhengchun, who was being pointed at: ...
Youchu explained to Xiaoya very seriously, her eyes full of tenderness.
After walking all the way to the Wuying Hall for a period of fasting, Emperor Jianyuan finally dismissed Lin Linfa and the others who had accompanied him for protection.
Cao Zhengchun was somewhat worried and stood guard at the door, ready to rush in and protect the emperor at any moment.
Seeing his expression, Lin Linfa reassured him, "Don't worry, that immortal disciple shouldn't do anything to His Majesty."
"His Majesty is already so courteous to scholars, what are you still worried about?"
"Besides, if someone really wants to do something, can you stop them? Even a clay Buddha was struck dead by lightning because of him, and the Confucian sages dared not appear in front of this immortal disciple."
"What can a grandmaster like you do?"
Upon hearing this, Cao Zhengchun relaxed and sighed.
"That's true. Even a thousand troops couldn't stop that sword strike just now."
Inside the Wuying Hall, a group of eunuchs were setting up a banquet.
Emperor Jianyuan gestured for Li Chang'an to take a seat: "This is my first time in the capital, my dear minister. I have arranged a family banquet with wine and food."
A noblewoman in palace attire emerged, carrying a pot of wine.
Zhou Chao, holding the noblewoman's hand, introduced her to Li Chang'an: "This is my Empress, surnamed Gongsun, given name Li, courtesy name Zhenhuan."
...
Li Chang'an fell silent.
Hello, Sister Li.
He stood up and bowed to the couple.
Gongsun Li couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh when she heard the title "Sister Li".
She sized up this handsome, dashing, and charming disciple of the immortal, and a spring breeze couldn't help but blow through her heart, making her heart flutter a little.
"This Empress greets the Immortal!"
After the ceremony, she prepared to take Lin Youchu and the others to the back hall for a meal.
Su Xiao looked at her master but did not move, and You Chu also stood still.
Li Chang'an nodded to them, signaling them to follow.
After they left, Emperor Jianyuan waved for the eunuchs to leave.
Zhou Chao poured himself a glass of wine, his whole body relaxed, and the smile on his face turned into a helpless expression.
"Imperial Immortal above, Emperor Zhou Chao of the Ming Dynasty offers you a toast."
After saying that, he drank it all in one gulp and slammed the cup down on the table.
Li Chang'an picked up his chopsticks, took a bite of food, and looked at Emperor Jianyuan's expression. He asked calmly, "Is something on your mind, Your Majesty?"
"It's just the two of us here, Your Majesty, so please speak frankly!"
Zhou Chao looked at him and said, "Immortal Li, do you intend to replace my Great Ming Dynasty?"
Li Chang'an replied calmly, "Why does Your Majesty say such a thing?"
"Imperial Master Li must also know that there is an imperial tutor in our Great Ming Dynasty named Mud Bodhisattva, who has an iron tongue and can predict the future.
"When Emperor Taizu raised his army, it was this imperial tutor who assisted him."
"After the death of Emperor Taizu, my grandfather personally led an expedition and was captured by the Liao people. The imperial tutor, Mud Bodhisattva, predicted that the fate of the Ming Dynasty was coming to an end, so he sacrificed himself to protect the fate of the country and prolong the life of the Ming Dynasty."
“A few days ago, he peered into the secrets of heaven and sensed the presence of the Immortal Master.”
"Then he told the Immortal Master's fortune."
At this point, Emperor Jianyuan became somewhat saddened.
"After the calculation was completed, the Imperial Tutor Mud Bodhisattva went blind. He hurriedly asked me to come over."
"He only uttered eight words before he was struck dead by lightning in the underground palace."
"The underground palace was dozens of meters deep, and bolts of lightning struck it, directly collapsing the palace."
Emperor Jianyuan picked up the wine pot and poured wine for Li Chang'an: "The last eight words he said were, 'Above the immortals, the ruler of heaven and earth.'"
"So I would like to ask, does the immortal want to replace the Ming Dynasty and establish his own dynasty?"
"If so, I am willing to abdicate the throne to Immortal Li, only asking that Immortal Li treat the people of the Ming Dynasty better and save my Han people from suffering."
Li Chang'an looked at the man before him, the most distinguished man in the world, his eyes calm as still water, without a ripple.
"Your Majesty is joking. If I wanted to overthrow the Ming Dynasty, why would I come to the capital?"
Emperor Jianyuan slowly exhaled and slumped into his chair: "That's true, I was too attached to appearances."
"Immortal, you are unaware of this. Although I am the Emperor of the Great Ming Dynasty, there are many things that I am willing to do but unable to do."
Zhou Chao poured himself a drink and drank it down one glass after another, then started to chat.
"This Ming Dynasty is not just my personal domain."
"When Emperor Taizu founded the country, he formed an alliance with Confucian sages and promised that the emperor and scholar-officials would jointly govern the country."
"This has led to the growing influence of Confucianism, making me, the emperor, just a puppet."
“Especially my father, who admired Confucianism, allowed them to seize power. Now, in the Ming Dynasty, many things are controlled by Confucianism.”
"I, the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, am merely a title. How many of the decisions I make can actually be implemented?"
As he spoke, Zhou Chao couldn't help but tear up.
"They even interfere with my marriage, and they also interfere with my not having children. They want to control everything except the lowest-ranking people."
"I am an emperor, but I am worse than a dog."
After saying that, he smashed the cup on the ground and looked at Li Chang'an with red eyes: "Immortal Lord, I heard from Zhongxian that you are a saint who serves the country and the people, and a great man who has the people of the world in his heart."
"I hope you can assist me in thoroughly eliminating these corrupt officials and allowing the Han people to stand up completely."
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