Baiyun Temple is located about two miles outside the west gate of the capital. Qiu Chuji, the Taoist leader of the previous dynasty, once built the Changchun Palace here to lead Taoism in the world.

Later, his disciple Yin Zhiping established a Taoist temple on the east side of Changchun Palace and named it Baiyun Temple.

At the end of the Yuan Dynasty and the beginning of the Republic of China, Changchun Palace and other buildings were destroyed in the war during the change of dynasties. Only Baiyun Temple survived and was continuously repaired and expanded as a royal Taoist temple. It has now become the largest and most famous Taoist temple in the capital.

Since it is a royal Taoist temple, it naturally has a corresponding style. Ordinary people can only come in to burn incense during festivals and are not allowed to enter at other times.

Yesterday was the Winter Solstice Festival, the day when Baiyun Temple was open to the public. Zhao Shouzheng and his classmates had planned to come and burn incense yesterday, but were stopped by Zhao Shouzheng. Zhao Shouzheng told them that during festivals like this, Baiyun Temple was crowded with people.

It's really not worth it to get dishevelled and sweaty just to burn incense.

All the candidates were now people of status, so they naturally agreed with him and listened to their brother's words and came to burn incense today instead.

When they went out of the West Gate, crossed the moat, and arrived at Baiyun Temple, they saw that the huge square in front of the temple was covered with incense paper, firecrackers, and various tents that had not been dismantled in time, which were set up along both sides of the square and all the way to the moat.

It can be seen how lively it was here yesterday during the Winter Solstice Festival.

The candidates could not help but feel a little regretful, and they all said that they would definitely come to join in the fun when Baiyun Temple is open next time.

Zhao Shouzheng, who was usually very talkative, became unusually silent at this moment.

He stared at the outside of Baiyun Temple, at the magnificent Lingxing Gate with carved railings and jade bricks, four pillars and seven floors, and the four majestic characters "Dongtian Shengjing" on it, and he could not help himself for a long time.

"I heard that these four words were written by the late emperor?" All the candidates looked at Zhao Shouzheng, who regarded himself as an 'expert in Beijing'.

After a while, Zhao Shouzheng came back to his senses and nodded slowly, saying, "Yes, it was written by Emperor Shizong Su himself."

"The late emperor practiced Taoism, so it's not surprising that he wrote an inscription for Baiyun Temple." Tang Hezheng said with a smile: "But the emperor changes his ministers every time, and the Taoist priests are probably having a hard time now."

"Yuan Qing, be careful with your words." Shi Jinchen smiled bitterly and advised Tang Hezheng. This guy always speaks without restraint, and being with him always makes people nervous. "Besides, the court is investigating the alchemists, not the Taoist priests."

"They are all about the same." Tang Hezheng smiled. His father, Tang Shunzhi, was an outstanding disciple of Yangming Gong. Although he has passed away, the bigwigs in the court still recognize him as their junior brother. With this background, he is naturally more open than his cautious peers.

"Okay, let's go in." At this time, Zhao Shouzheng had completely calmed down and called his peers to enter the temple, saying, "This Baiyun Temple is the Taoist temple of Changchun Zhenren. It has always been the most effective. After you enter, please be careful with your words and actions and don't anger the immortal."

Tang Hezheng knew that the second half of the sentence was meant for him, so he could only nod obediently. He thought to himself that my brother has become more mature and steady after coming to Beijing. Could it be that Beijing has made him prosperous?

The candidates followed Zhao Shouzheng to the mountain gate, which was three rooms wide, with a single-eaved glazed tile hip roof, a white marble carved arch stone door, and an inscription "Baiyun Temple Built by Imperial Order" under the eaves. There were stone lions and steles on both sides of the gate, all of which demonstrated the grandeur of a royal Taoist temple.

Naturally, they were stopped by the Taoist priest.

Fang Wen stepped forward, took out a silver ingot from his sleeve, stuffed it into the sleeve of the receptionist, and whispered: "Master Hu, do you still remember me? I came here yesterday afternoon to serve as a front station."

"You..." The receptionist looked at Fang Wen for a long time, but he still couldn't remember seeing this person yesterday. But at least he remembered that the abbot had promised yesterday to let a group of candidates come in to burn incense today. He squeezed the silver ingot in his hand, gave Fang Wen a bright smile and said, "How could I not remember? I'm in this line of work, and I can't forget it once I meet someone."

"Master Hu, you are so kind..." Fang Wen was deeply moved. It was the first time in his life that someone could remember him so easily.

The receptionist shuddered, wondering if this man was sick. However, for the sake of the silver, he opened the gate and led the candidates into Baiyun Temple.

The curling incense and melodious bells in the Taoist temple calmed the restless hearts of the candidates. Led by the receptionist, they visited the Lingguan Hall, the Jade Emperor Hall, the Lao Lu Hall, the Qiuzu Hall, the Sanqing Pavilion and the Siyu Pavilion, as well as the Fengzhen Hall and the Ruxian Hall in the back.

All the seven halls in the middle road need to burn incense. Especially the Qiuzu Hall and the Ruxian Hall cannot be neglected. Not only must you worship, but you must also donate incense and paper money to ask the two immortals to bless you to pass the imperial examinations...

After burning incense in the seven halls in the middle, the receptionist led the candidates to the east halls for worship. However, Zhao Shouzheng took advantage of the fact that no one was paying attention and slipped into the backyard of the Taoist temple through the moon gate behind the Qiuzu Hall.

In the backyard, there is actually a large garden called "Little Penglai". In the garden, there are small bridges, corridors, pavilions, rockery, ice lake, white snow and red plums. Although it is the dead of winter, the garden still has the fairy-like charm.

Even if most people have come to Baiyun Temple to burn incense a few times, they may not know that this paradise is here.

Zhao Shouzheng had stumbled into this "Little Penglai" by chance. Today, as he revisited the old place along the corridor, he seemed to have returned to that spring, when peach blossoms were in full bloom, plum blossoms were fragrant, and beauties were wearing thin silk clothes for the first time...

~~

Meanwhile, after the candidates had finished worshipping the East Hall, the receptionist warmly invited them to worship at the West Hall. After all, it was the duty of every receptionist to get the pilgrims to pay as much as possible.

The candidates were overwhelmed, especially those who had been robbed and had relied on Zhao Shouzheng for support, now they were penniless.

When they wanted to see what their brother thought, they found that Zhao Shouzheng was missing...

"Where is my brother?"

"You went to the toilet?"

"No, I haven't seen you for a long time..."

When the candidates were about to look around, they suddenly heard a cannon shot outside the mountain gate.

The receptionist's face suddenly changed, and he stamped his feet and said, "Oh no! A distinguished person is coming to burn incense!"

"Hurry up and take them out through the east gate quietly, and don't offend the noble!" He ordered the Taoist boy who followed him, then left the group of candidates behind and ran away in a hurry.

"Please come in quickly, benefactors." The young Taoist priest was also anxious, and he urged the candidates repeatedly, "There are not many nobles who can set off cannons outside the gate of this temple. The Jinyiwei will come to search the temple in a moment. If we catch you, we will also be punished."

"Our brother hasn't come yet!" The candidates were panicked. No matter how arrogant they were in normal times, their true colors would be exposed when they met the royal family.

"I'll ask someone to look for him. He's alone and has a small presence, so it's no big deal even if he's discovered. He can always handle it..." The young Taoist priest used both persuasion and intimidation, and finally drove the candidates out of Baiyun Temple from the east gate.

ps. The sixth update, 3400 votes plus more, asking for monthly votes and recommendation votes~~