The Song Dynasty was the king for thirteen years before he knew that he was Tianlong.

Chapter 183 Checking the roots
After finishing the meal, Ah Zhu smiled and said, "Your Highness, I will take Miss Mu for a walk and ask her to choose a courtyard she likes to live in."

Upon hearing this, Mu Wanqing's face suddenly turned red and she said, "I, I have some things left at the inn, I can just stay there..."

Ah Zhu smiled and said, "How can I go to the outside world? His Highness will not agree. I also want to talk to Sister Wan'er. There are many houses behind the mansion, and none of them are inhabited. Sister, come with me to have a look."

Zhao Ti nodded. Ah Zhu knew her own life experience and also knew that Mu Wanqing, Wang Yuyan, and Zhong Ling were her sisters. Zhao Ti had told her all this.

Ah Zhu also knew Ah Zi. She originally got the clues about her life experience from Kang Min. Later, she recognized Ruan Xingzhu and listened to Ruan Xingzhu's story about how her two daughters were sent away after they were born.

Although she did not experience all this at the moment, Zhao Ti had already told her about A Zi's existence, and she knew that she had a biological sister.

"You must repay me. You are not allowed to leave without my permission." Zhao Ti glanced at Mu Wanqing and smiled slightly.

"Your Highness, you..." Mu Wanqing lowered her head very low. According to her personality, now that she had found Zhao Ti and her veil had been taken off, she would naturally want to be with him. However, the palace was too deep and she always felt a little uneasy.

Zhao Ti went out and ran to the front hall. When he entered, he saw Cai You half-sitting on a chair, drinking tea carefully.

Seeing him coming, Cai You hurriedly stood up and saluted: "Your Highness, I am Cai You, and I am honored to meet your Highness."

Zhao Ti nodded and looked at Cai You. He was dressed neatly and elegantly, with a fair complexion and no beard. He did not look too similar to Cai Jing, and his stature was not as tall and strong as Cai Jing.

Cai You was just a young man at that time. He had no achievements and had never been an official. He played every day and had no intention of making progress.

Cai Jing had many sons, some of them were well-educated, while others were uneducated. Cai You belonged to the latter.

"Is there any progress on that matter?" Zhao Ti asked.

Cai You said yes, then took out a thin booklet from his bosom and handed it to him with both hands: "Your Highness, since the founding of the dynasty, the names, family backgrounds, and fathers of the top officials surnamed Jiao are all written on it. Please take a look at it, Your Highness."

Zhao Ti nodded and took the booklet: "Sit down and talk."

Cai Youlian said he didn't dare, and Zhao Ti pressed his hand down before carefully placing it on a corner of the chair.

Zhao Ti opened the thin book and saw that Cai Jing's handwriting was excellent. After all, he was ranked ninth in the first class. Later generations talked about the four calligraphers of the Song Dynasty, Su, Huang, Mi and Cai. There is a saying that this Cai is not Cai Xiang, but refers to Cai Jing. Because of Cai Jing's character, he died in the Northern Song Dynasty and the final verdict was made, so later generations replaced him with Cai Xiang.

This booklet was written in a very organized manner, dividing officials with the surname Jiao into different families and also including their relatives. All those who had any relationship with the court were listed in it.

Zhao Ti asked Cai Jing to investigate officials with the surname Jiao who were of the fifth rank and above. There were not many people with this surname to begin with, and those who could serve as officials in the court and reach the fifth rank were even rarer.

He suspected that the abbot of Daxiangguo Temple knew the Sweeping Monk and knew the Sweeping Monk's background.

However, being able to sit on the position of abbot of Daxiangguo Temple does not only require proficiency in Buddhism. Even if one is smooth in dealing with people, extremely tactful in entertaining and seeing off guests, and good at spending money, it is still far from enough.

At most, he could be a Buddhist official. Being the abbot of a Zen temple in Xiangguo Temple was already a great achievement, but it was impossible for him to be the abbot of the entire temple.

To be the abbot of Xiangguo Temple, one must have someone speaking for him and someone supporting him from behind to run the temple. However, after decades, it is difficult to verify who was the one secretly behind the scenes.

Moreover, Zhao Ti did not want to alarm the other party too much. After all, if there was really some unspeakable plan involved, it would be better to avoid alerting the enemy and unravel the mystery.

But generally speaking, since all the people in Xiangguo Temple are monks, such matters are probably not the work of my wife's father-in-law or teacher from outside, but mostly help from their own relationships.

Therefore, Zhao Ti wanted to find out the origins of this old monk Lingde. He also asked Zhou Tong, Shang Qi and others to count the masters with the surname Jiao in the martial arts world over the past hundred years. However, this should have little to do with Lingde, and the news has been sent back. In recent years, no top masters with the surname Jiao have appeared in the martial arts world.

Zhao Ti took the booklet and looked through them one by one, first eliminating those who came from poor families, were alone in the court, whose children did not continue their father's official career, or even whose official positions were not as high as their fathers.

Because he was able to reach the position of abbot of Daxiangguo Temple and has been maintaining this position secretly, he must have the support of his family. Otherwise, after working hard for him, if he retired or died of old age, Lingde might not be able to continue staying in this position.

It is very likely that he will be appointed as abbot somewhere else, such as a smaller temple like Qingliang Temple in Wutai Mountain, to vacate the position of Xiangguo Temple.

Zhao Ti flipped through the booklet and then started reading it again from the beginning. Among them, only three families met these conditions. The first one was Jiao Yu. Jiao Yu was a fifth-rank Zhongshi Doctor during the reign of Emperor Zhenzong. His descendants also served as officials. One of his grandsons became the fourth-rank Tianzhang Pavilion Shizhi during the reign of Emperor Renzong.

But it is still a bit low, and Jiao Yu comes from an ordinary scholarly family. His ancestors have never served in this dynasty and have no power, so this one is excluded.

The second one is Jiao Bowu, who had served as a general of the guards of the fourth rank and the right imperial guard. His second son had served as a fourth rank Tongyi doctor, but none of his descendants held an official position higher than the fourth rank. It would be difficult for him to continue to maintain his position as abbot of Xiangguo Temple.

This shouldn't matter.

As for the third one, Zhao Ti couldn't help but smile when he turned to that page.

This is a very big family, and he is even related to them. Not only has it prospered in the court for many years, it has also been closely related to the royal family of the Song Dynasty.

Jiao Jixun, the founding Grand Marshal of the Song Dynasty, was a man of the late Five Dynasties and early Song Dynasty. He served as the Jiedushi of Zhangde Army and the governor of Xijing.

As a young man, he was chivalrous and uneducated, but was favored by Shi Jingtang, who kept him under his command and used him. He made many military achievements and was promoted to the governor of Baoda Army. When Guo Wei went to Beijing to quell the rebellion, he and Murong Yanzhao became his subordinates.

Later, he followed Chai Rong in his campaigns, and followed Taizu in his campaigns. Taizu wanted to move the capital to Luoyang, and gave full authority to Jiao Jixun. In the sixth year of Kaibao, he was awarded the title of "Dai Yi, a meritorious official who has been loyal to the country."

His son Jiao Gui was the Yinqing Guanglu Doctor and the Deputy Chief of the Right Internal Affairs Office, and had close ties with the palace.

His grandson Jiao Shouji was a member of the Right Palace Guard and served as the emperor's envoy. He was in charge of military and political affairs and border affairs, and he traveled on horseback several times to receive the emperor's orders.

Another grandson, Jiao Shoujie, was appointed as the Eastern Shanggemen Envoy, and was also appointed as the Governor of Rongzhou and the Right Shenwu General.

But these are not the most important things. The most important thing is that the ancestors of the Jiao family supported Emperor Taizu, conquered the Qu Xia clan, and intermarried with the imperial family. They were always prosperous and well-known in the capital, with a high and prominent family background and a strong and prosperous life!
The Jiao family had been intermarried with the royal family since the time of Taizu. Not only were they closely related to Taizu's line, they were also closely related to Taizong's line. Moreover, the Jiao family had married daughters of royal family members many times, and the relationship between them and the royal family was very harmonious and close.

Zhao Ti looked at the booklet. The wife of his second uncle, King Zhao Hao of Chu, was surnamed Jiao. It turned out that she was the daughter of the Jiao family. The previous generation in the royal family, including Zhao Zhongwei, Zhao Zhongchi and others, also married daughters of the Jiao family.

This Jiao family... Zhao Ti looked ahead. Cai Jing wrote that the first person the royal family married into the Jiao family was actually the fourth son of Emperor Taizu, Prince of Qin Zhao Defang.

Zhao Defang's wife was the granddaughter of Taiwei Jiao Jixun, but because of the relationship of seniority and to maintain the dignity of the royal family, she was promoted and the granddaughter was regarded as a daughter before she was married into the royal family.

Zhao Ti was silent for a moment. Cai You beside him did not dare to move at all, not even to drink the tea. His face was full of respect, and he sat there obediently. However, he was extremely happy in his heart. After he returned this time, he would have something to brag about to those yamen masters. He was actually given a seat and tea by the King of Yan, and stayed there for a long time.

Zhao Ti exhaled lightly. If the abbot of Daxiangguo Temple, Lingde, was born in the Jiao family, things would become a little confusing.

How could the Jiao family possibly produce a monk? With the Jiao family's background, almost no one would become a monk. This kind of family is not comparable to ordinary officials, and it is almost impossible for them to become monks.

And if it is really the Jiao family, I think no detailed information about Monk Lingde can be found by checking their family tree. The family is huge, and there is no way to trace the deaths of illness, fake deaths, real deaths, or false deaths over the past hundred years. Except for the surname that the old monk was unwilling to forget his roots and kept, everything else has long been lost in the dust of time.

But I have to take another look and trick Master Lingde. Although the old monk is cunning, he will inevitably reveal some flaws.

Thinking of this, he looked at Cai You and said, "Tell Cai Xueshi that he has taken this matter into consideration."

Cai You hurriedly stood up and saluted: "I know, may your majesty live a thousand years. I will take my leave now."

Zhao Ti nodded, watched Cai Youxing rush out, and thought for a while. By this time the sun was setting and dusk had arrived.

He stood up and walked to the back. When he was near the study, he saw Ah Zhu and Mu Wanqing looking at the flowers beside the small flower bed. The mallows were growing well, the flowers were gorgeous and the fragrance was faint.

He walked over with his hands behind his back and asked, "Are you settled?"

Ah Zhu said, "It's settled, but Miss Mu said she likes quietness, so she picked a remote courtyard."

Zhao Ti said, "There aren't many people living in the house at the back, so why choose a corner?"

Mu Wanqing said, "I... am used to living in the mountains. I like silence. The quieter the better."

Zhao Ti smiled and said, "You didn't feel the inn was noisy before? Do you want a secluded place now?"

Mu Wanqing thought to herself, isn’t it all for the sake of finding you? Even if I have to live on the street, I can still grit my teeth and persevere.

She couldn't help but look up at Zhao Ti. Seeing that Zhao Ti's eyes were bright, as if he could see what she was thinking, her heart skipped a beat.

"Inn, that inn's business is not good and there are not many people..." she said hurriedly.

Zhao Ti smiled and said, "Take me to see which courtyard it is. I will recognize the gate."

Mu Wanqing blushed when she heard that. Ah Zhu said sweetly, "Your Highness, I will lead the way."

Zhao Zhaoti nodded and walked all the way to the backyard. Although it was summer, with warm breezes and fragrant flowers and plants, it was extremely cold here.

The palace is huge, with dozens of courtyards of different sizes in the backyard. In addition to the courtyards, there is also a long room for laundry and miscellaneous tasks, as well as several independent east kitchens where snacks are baked on weekdays.

But at this moment, there was no one to be seen. Originally, there were only five or six maids taking care of the large place. Ruyi was Zhao Ti's personal servant and did not live in the back house. Even after Youcao came, it was useless and not even a ripple was made. It still looked cold and deserted.

Zhao Ti didn't come here often. He took a look and said, "It seems a little deserted..."

Ah Zhu said, "It will be more lively when Miss Wang comes back."

Zhao Ti thought of Wang Yuyan, but he was not a lively person, so he shook his head and said, "I wonder how the fight is going at Mantuo Villa, and whether it has ended."

Ah Zhu smiled and said, "It's been a few days, I'm afraid the two seniors have already finished and parted ways."

Zhao Ti said: "It's fine if it's over, as long as the two of us don't check the accounts together..."

Ah Zhu naturally knew what she meant and couldn't help laughing. When Mu Wanqing asked her about it, she simply told her what happened in Jiangnan before. Mu Wanqing thought to herself, His Highness is indeed a liar, but why is she not angry at all?

At this time, along the white stone path, we walked to a courtyard in the west. It was not far from the palace wall. There were green trees and no houses. The courtyard was designed to be quiet and surrounded by clumps of flowers and plants. Zhao Ti looked around and said, "It is really peaceful here. I didn't pay much attention to it before. It can be called a small paradise in the palace."

Then two little maids came out and bowed to Zhao Ti. It was obvious that they had just finished cleaning.

Zhao Ti said to Mu Wanqing: "If there is anything in the future, just leave it to them."

Then he thought about it again and said, "I'll hire a few more people in a few days. Ah Zhu, you and Zheng Fu will go and do it, in case something really happens and we don't have enough people."

Mu Wanqing said: "I don't need anyone to serve me, I can do everything myself."

Zhao Ti glanced at her and smiled, then walked into the yard, took a quick look inside, and then entered the main room.

The main room was a series of suites, with a flower hall and a study, and the innermost was the bedroom. He walked over and Ah Zhu said, "I'll go make a pot of tea."

As she said this, she left, leaving Zhao Ti and Mu Wanqing alone in the room.

Zhao Ti walked to the bedside, took a look and nodded, "It's fairly clean."

Mu Wanqing saw that there were two pillows placed on the bedside. She turned around shyly and was about to go out. Zhao Ti raised his arm and grabbed her wrist, smiling and said, "Where do you want to go?"

Mu Wanqing shuddered and stammered, "I, I'll go check out the furnishings outside."

Zhao Ti said, "We have already checked it, let's take another look here and change it if there is anything wrong."

Mu Wanqing lowered her head and said, "No need to change, anywhere...anywhere is fine."

Zhao Ti smiled and said, "That's all, just live comfortably and stop thinking about running away. I know you're shy, but this place is like your home, so why should you be embarrassed in your own home?"

Mu Wanqing defended herself, "I didn't, Your Highness is overthinking it."

Zhao Ti smiled and said, "Really?"

Mu Wanqing hummed, then raised her head to look at Zhao Ti, her eyes slightly hazy: "No, I want to be with Zhao Lang. If Zhao Lang doesn't abandon me, I won't run away. If Zhao Lang doesn't want me, I will leave again."

Zhao Ti smelled the faint fragrance and his heart was slightly moved. He could not help but hold her in his arms. She felt so soft that she was boneless. He lowered his head and gently touched her forehead.

Mu Wanqing felt as if struck by lightning, her eyes were slightly drunk and she felt as if her body was about to melt. She stood on tiptoe to look at Zhao Ti.

Zhao Ti could not help but lower his head again. Mu Wanqing's delicate body trembled, and her whole body suddenly tensed up. She made two soft "woohoo" sounds and hugged Zhao Ti tightly.

After a while, there was a knock on the door. Zhao Ti gently let her go. Seeing her flushed face and sparkling eyes, he said in an almost inaudible voice, "I, I... Sister Azhu is back."

Zhao Ti said, "Let's go have some tea and talk. I'll take you out for a walk in the city tomorrow."

After saying that, he went outside. Ah Zhu cooked three bowls of xiaolongtuan. Then the three of them talked about some interesting stories, and then Zhao Ti went back to the study room in front.

The next morning after dinner, Zhao Ti called Jiumozhi over. Jiumozhi chanted the Buddha's name and said, "What can I do for you, Mr. Zhao?"

Zhao Ti said: "Let's go to Daxiangguo Temple again."

Jiumozhi was stunned: "Still going to see Master Lingde?"

Zhao Ti nodded: "This time, just like last time, follow my lead."

Jiumozhi's mouth twitched: "Donor Zhao, the one-year agreement between me and you is about to end..."

Zhao Ti waved his hand and said, "No problem, you can renew the contract."

Jiumozhi was stunned and said, "Renew... renew what agreement?"

Zhao Ti said, "I have all the martial arts from Langhuan Jade Cave and Huanshi Water Pavilion here, what do you think, monk?"

Upon hearing this, Jiumozhi remained silent and recited the Heart Sutra of Prajna Paramita.

Zhao Ti smiled and said, "I have a copy of the Sunflower Manual here, which is considered to be the best martial art in the world. I think the monk has a connection with this skill."

"Donor Zhao..." Jiumozhi immediately broke his power and stopped reciting the Heart Sutra: "Donor, what is the meaning of this power?"

Zhao Ti smiled slightly and said: "I have been in the mansion for some time, and I know the origin and limitations of this skill. I can now practice this skill without any consequences. What do you think?

Jiumozhi closed his eyes and whispered: "Namo Mahavairocana Buddha..."

Zhao Ti said: "I will not force you, but the monk has an amazing talent for martial arts, and now he can practice this skill. Since he was born from this skill, he should be completed by this skill. If he does not learn it, it is not in line with his mind and Buddhism."

Jiumozhi's eyelids twitched, but he just chanted the Buddha's name.

Zhao Ti shook his head: "Since the monk has no intention, just pretend that I didn't say anything. Go to the palace tomorrow and find a few people with some talent and pass it down."

When Jiumozhi heard this, he immediately said anxiously: "Donor, the Dharma is not easily passed on, and the merit is not easily granted. How can it be done casually..."

Zhao Ti looked at him with a half-smile, Jiumozhi whispered: "Donor, I...I have to go back to Tubo to take a look, go back to Dalun Temple to take a look, otherwise they will think that I have been away for a long time and I am in trouble. My disciple may also be squeezed and oppressed..."

Zhao Ti nodded. Tubo is now a weak country. In fact, it is divided into several major parts. Since the collapse of the Tubo Dynasty in the late Tang Dynasty, it has retreated to some places in the south. The royal family that continues now is in name only, with internal power struggles, aristocrats fighting each other, multiple forces acting independently, and tribal alliances attacking each other.

Among them, King Guanghu, King Mujian, and King Gesar of Lingguo were relatively powerful forces and did not obey the orders of the dynasty which was in name only.

But even this court in name only still had fierce internal strife. Although outside forces could not control it, they still exploited the people below.

Therefore, although Jiumozhi was the dynasty's guardian mage, his position was not stable. If he left for too long, it would inevitably be taken away by someone with ulterior motives. There were many Buddhist sects in Tubo. Once he lost power, his entire sect would suffer, and his disciples would all be implicated and suffer.

Zhao Ti said: "This is also for consideration. It would not be a bad idea for the monk to go back when the time comes."

Jiumozhi nodded hurriedly: "That's good, that's good. If Mr. Zhao thinks it's okay, then keep the skills for me, and don't pass them on lightly."

Zhao Ti smiled, then asked Tong Guan to prepare the car, called Mu Wanqing and Azhu, and went out of the house to Xiangguo Temple.

In the carriage, he looked at Mu Wanqing and said thoughtfully, "When we get to the temple, if we talk about the Great Wisdom Sutra, there is no need to hide it. We can also talk about the Kufan Temple."

Mu Wanqing didn't know what his intention was, so she said, "I understand."

After a while, we arrived at Xiangguo Temple on Dongmen Street. It is open five days a month and is very lively. We first wandered around, listened to books and had snacks at Dingjiasu Teahouse at noon, and then went back into the temple in the afternoon and went straight to the abbot's courtyard at the back.

Mu Wanqing had never seen the interior of a Buddhist temple in the Central Plains. She was just strolling around and buying some things. She couldn't help but be surprised at this moment. She didn't expect this place to be so magnificent, luxurious and extravagant. The Kufan Temple was simply incomparable.

At this time, the little monk from last time was seen greeting guests in front of the courtyard. When he saw Zhao Ti, he stepped forward and bowed to him.

Zhao Ti said, "Master Lingde is here."

The young monk said, "Your Highness, the abbot is drinking tea in his room and has told him not to see anyone, but Your Highness is not among them. I will lead the way."

Zhao Ti laughed and said, "Why are you still so arrogant? You haven't seen anyone yet. Even if Su Xueshi and others come, you won't see them either?"

The young monk said, "The abbot has been in a bad mood for a long time. He has been practicing Buddhism diligently, not paying attention to external affairs, not talking or laughing, and not eating at noon. Sometimes he doesn't even eat at night. As for whether Su Xueshi and others came to see him, I don't know."

Zhao Ti said, "Could it be that I'm in a bad mood after I came back last time? I'm actually in a bad mood now."

The young monk thought for a moment and said, "Your Highness is right. I remember it really started from that time.

Zhao Ti smiled and said, "I'll go take a look at him."

When they arrived not far from the meditation room, the young monk ran in first to report, and Zhao Ti followed him in. He saw that the old monk Lingde was sitting in a chair with his eyes closed, twisting the string of red sandalwood Buddhist beads that were as patinaed as big black pills and chanting scriptures.

He heard the sound but did not stand up and turned a deaf ear to it.

Zhao Ti walked straight to the front and sat down, then waved his hand: "Everyone, please sit down. You're welcome."

Several people looked at each other. Ah Zhu smiled and pulled Mu Wanqing to sit aside. Mu Wanqing saw a painting on the wall in front of her. It showed a guardian deity who looked like a human but was not human listening to the Buddha's lecture. She was stunned.

Zhao Tichu said to the young monk: "Tea, serve tea, good tea."

The young monk responded, "Yes, Your Highness," and ran out of the hall.

Upon hearing this, the old monk Lingde's face twitched, and he could no longer hold back, and opened his eyes and said, "Donor Zhao, this is my abbot's meditation room, how can Donor Zhao give orders?"

Zhao Ti said: "Oh? I was absorbed in listening to the master chanting, and it was inconvenient to disturb him, so I had to give the order myself and ensure that he had enough food and clothing."

The old monk was angry and asked, "Donor Zhao, do you know that I am reciting the sutra? Since you are a Buddhist, do you know what sutra I am reciting?"

Zhao Ti smiled and said, "Master, you are still testing me. It's just the Great Wisdom Sutra. I'm not saying that everyone here can understand it, but everyone knows a little bit."

Monk Lingde was immediately shocked and asked, "How could Mr. Zhao know this sutra? Why do you say that everyone knows something about it?"

(End of this chapter)