A leisurely life in the world of cultivation

Chapter 132 The wind stopped, the rain ceased, and the Heavenly Demons invaded.

The streetlights in Shunshan Mansion are bright.

The environment was nice, and there were no aunties dancing in the square.

Li Weizhou, dressed in all black, was waiting downstairs at Building 5 on a motorcycle.

Thankfully, he wasn't blond, and he wasn't riding a will-o'-the-wisp.

No one could tell that just a few days ago he had almost single-handedly destroyed a country.

Less than five minutes later, Xiao Rui, also dressed in dark clothes, rushed downstairs. Her hair had grown quite a bit and was starting to look like it was hanging down to her shoulders.

The two smiled at each other without saying anything. Xiao Rui took the helmet from Li Weizhou and put it on. Li Weizhou started the motorcycle and drove forward a bit. He waved towards the balcony on the fifteenth floor and received a somewhat excited response. Then, with two beeps, the motorcycle drove off.

……

Li Weizhou's hometown is called Beijing County, which was named after salt wells during the Eastern Han Dynasty.

It may have been prosperous in the past, but now it is the poorest county under the jurisdiction of the mountain city.

This area is located on the southern slope of the eastern section of the Daba Mountains, with mountains accounting for more than 90% of the county's total area.

Many mountain roads are carved out of steep mountains, and you can often see towering mountain walls on one side and bottomless valleys on the other.

If she didn't absolutely trust Li Weizhou, Xiao Rui would never have dared to ride a motorcycle on such a road, especially at night.

At this moment, she was alright; while clinging tightly to her boyfriend's waist, she still dared to open her eyes wide and glance at the dark, gloomy cliff below the roadside...

The last time I accompanied my boyfriend back to visit our parents' graves, it was during the day, and it didn't feel this cool.

Sensing her boldness, Li Weizhou smiled and stepped on the gas.

……

Is it a feeling of trepidation to be near one's hometown?

Not really.

Many people who live away from home miss their hometown, but what they miss is not actually their hometown, but their childhood.

When you actually return to your hometown, what you get is a sense of unfamiliarity and alienation.

Li Weizhou was alright; after briefly savoring the feeling, he put it out of his mind.

Soon the motorcycle arrived in Beijing County, then turned onto a mountain road and entered a village.

The old house looked like it was built during the Qing Dynasty. Under the dim light bulb, the dusty old mud and cobwebs, and the messy wires immediately brought back the original feeling for Li Weizhou.

A number of villagers were smoking and chatting on the dam in front of Li Weizhou's uncle's house, and they obviously didn't recognize him anymore.

Not to mention Xiao Rui, whose temperament is distinctly different from that of the village.

"Third brother...?"

A woman in her thirties came out of the house upon hearing the news. After looking Li Weizhou up and down for a moment, she exclaimed in disbelief.

Li Weizhou nodded and called out, "It's me, eldest sister."

Don't let the woman's worn-out face, etched with the marks of hardship and poverty, fool you. In her childhood, she was a formidable figure, a powerful figure who once haunted Li Weizhou's dreams, especially after she watched "Princess Pearl" and became Rong Momo's apprentice…

Without saying much, he led Xiao Rui into the main room. Under the dim light, they saw two thin coffins with the bodies of two elderly people inside.

Speechless for a moment.

I still feel a bit down.

Li Weizhou actually hoped that both elderly people could have a happy old age.

Two thousand yuan a month is actually enough to live quite well in the countryside.

He won't ignore someone if they get sick.

But he never expected that his uncle would save up the money to buy a speeding car for senior citizens...

I'm speechless.

Xiao Rui didn't dare to look too much. Her gaze fell on the older sister from before, a woman who walked up to her and whispered a few words, and a man.

All three were dressed in mourning clothes.

Presumably, they must be Li Weizhou's older and younger cousins.

When the three of them saw Xiao Rui looking over, they hurriedly offered a forced smile.

After a short while, the man walked over, looked at Xiao Rui again, and said to Li Weizhou who was standing there, "Third Brother, what happened to you?"

Li Weizhou did not respond.

The man wasn't embarrassed. He muttered to himself, "Third brother, why don't you change into some mourning clothes too? No matter what, Mom and Dad raised you. If it weren't for them, you wouldn't have..."

"Speak the key."

Li Weizhou said calmly.

The volume wasn't loud, but the sound seemed to give people a headache.

The man panicked and said, "Look how well you've made it... Your uncle and the others are gone, and those bastards only side with the rich, they won't pay a single penny. As for the funeral expenses... you know, my eldest sister, second sister, and I aren't very capable, we don't have any money... Mom and Dad suffered their whole lives, we want them to have a dignified final journey..."

As she spoke, she began to cry.

Li Weizhou asked, "How much do you want?"

The man hurriedly said, "It's 200,000 in total. We siblings will split it equally, each of us contributing 50,000. Is that alright? We're men of principle, and we won't take a single penny more than you owe."

Li Weizhou smiled and turned to Xiao Rui, saying, "Boss, did you bring any money? Consider it a loan. I'll pay you back when I get back from making money in Shanbei."

hiss!
The three siblings standing nearby all gasped in shock!
My own cousin has actually ended up in Shanbei?
Although Beijing is poor, they are still connected to the internet. They have all seen that after people go to northern Shan State to commit fraud, the first thing they do is to take money from their own families!
The three of them had originally planned to add each other on WeChat and keep in touch as relatives, but now they've all lost interest.

Then Xiao Rui said, "Can I add you on WeChat and transfer the money?"

Li Weizhou looked at his three cousins.

The three of them dared not add each other on WeChat. They had already heard that as soon as someone added them, their money would be transferred out immediately, and even turning off their phones wouldn't help.

Seeing the three men shaking their heads like quails, Li Weizhou sighed and said, "Boss, lend me whatever money you have."

Xiao Rui took out two thousand yuan in cash, and Li Weizhou handed it to the older sister before asking, "Do you have any jobs? I can help you arrange some so you can earn some money."

The older woman gripped her lower back with one hand and waved the other like a fan, repeatedly saying, "No, no, no, we have money, you don't need to worry about us, you can worry about yourself... We don't have money to help you."

Li Weizhou then glanced at his second sister and cousin in turn, and they both shook their heads, looking at him as if he were a plague.

Li Weizhou smiled and tactfully said, "Then I'll be going."

After saying that, he turned around and bowed to the two coffins. After taking one last look, Xiao Rui also bowed, and then the two left.

Instead of leaving immediately, Li Weizhou drove his motorcycle along a large river all the way to the bottom, until he arrived at a low hill.

Li Weizhou hugged Xiao Rui's waist, and with a light leap, they climbed to the top of the mountain amidst Xiao Rui's exclamation.

Under the moonlight, the two solitary earthen mounds stood side by side, which made them seem less lonely.

The characters on the rough wooden tablet were already faded and illegible.

Li Weizhou casually pulled out some newly sprouted weeds, with Xiao Rui helping him.

After tidying up, he gazed at the two graves, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

When I was a child, if I was hungry or bullied, I would always like to come here and have a good cry.

But later, when she got older, she stopped crying because she realized it didn't help...

Xiao Rui observed her boyfriend for a moment and asked, "I heard that there is a custom of repairing graves in my hometown. Should I... hire someone to tidy them up?"

Li Weizhou shook his head and said, "So many years have passed, let's not disturb their peace."

After thinking it over, Xiao Rui made up her mind to contract the entire mountain. She didn't need to build a large-scale tomb, but she couldn't just leave two mounds of earth amidst the overgrown weeds and dead trees.

Add some soil every year, otherwise the coffin will eventually be exposed.

These things need not be known to Li Weizhou, lest they cause him distress.

She then asked, "Do we need to make arrangements for them to collect live pigs?"

She had a very bad impression of Li Weizhou and his two cousins.

Li Weizhou nodded and said, "If I lower myself to their level, wouldn't I just become like them? I made this arrangement not for them, but to have a clear conscience. After all, my uncle raised me, and those were difficult times for him too."

He paused, then added, "However, they themselves may not be able to endure such hardship."

It sounds like a paradox: if you're so poor, why not make money when you have the chance?
However, reality is often just that magical.

No one is there to support my lofty ambitions, and I myself am not up to the task...

If they had been even a little more diligent, their house wouldn't have gotten that dirty.

However, this job will always be reserved for them.

For my uncle's sake, I certainly can't let them die in poverty.

But this cause and effect ends here.

Looking at the sky, Li Weizhou clapped his hands and said, "Let's go, I'll take you home. I need to go back and oversee things for a while. Once I'm done with this, I'll come back and spend a few days with you. You can decide where you want to travel."

Xiao Rui smiled brightly and asked, "Really?"

"real."

Li Weizhou smiled and hugged her, then jumped down the mountain... He rode his bike and took his girlfriend home.

……

Outside the capital city of Shenjing in the Great Qian Dynasty.

Longjiangguan Wharf.

It was late afternoon, and the huge dock was teeming with people.

After bypassing the cargo checkpoint, the passenger ship skillfully docked at the passenger terminal, and Li Weizhou happily led his family off the ship.

The capital city's gateway, the heart of the empire, a scene of prosperity and splendor that truly captivated Xi Mei and even Zhou Yue Niang.

The little monkey, dressed like a little girl in an embroidered thin jacket, followed closely behind Li Weizhou and Ximei.

His eyes lit up when he learned that this was the capital city of Dadu.

"what?"

As soon as Situ Qingyue disembarked, she saw a group of people not far from the border and exclaimed in surprise.

Li Weizhou keenly followed her gaze and saw an old man in a green robe, accompanied by an old man in an official robe and two young men, all looking in this direction.

Situ Qingyue glanced at him, a smile playing on her lips, and said, "Didn't you want to pay your respects to my father and give him a big gift? Let's go, this is it."

Li Weizhou felt a chill run down his spine and muttered, "Won't the old man feel embarrassed in this kind of situation?"

Zhou Yueniang smiled and gently nudged him, saying, "Go on over there."

Li Weizhou was naturally unafraid and followed Situ Qingyue over.

Compared to Zhou Zhixian and Zhou Yueniang, this father and daughter from a high-end family are much more sophisticated.

Situ Qingyue had a powerful aura, but she also respected her father, greeting him with a Confucian bow: "May my father be well."

The old man in the green robe nodded slightly and replied, "Good." He then casually asked, "Was your official duties outside the capital this time peaceful?"

Situ Qingyue said, "Everything is going smoothly." She remained calm and composed.

None of the surrounding officials and scholars dared to speak up, after all, Situ Qingyue was not only the daughter of a great Confucian scholar, but also the Chief Justice of the Imperial Execution Department with blood on her hands.

Not long ago, he even killed the notorious leader of the Demonic Sect, and for a time he was the most powerful man in the world.

Li Weizhou, with his thick skin, stepped forward and bowed deeply, saying, "Your son-in-law Li Weizhou greets your father-in-law."

"Pfft!"

Situ Qingyue's father, Situ Haoran, remained calm, but Situ Qingyue couldn't help but laugh out loud.

This person, though simple-minded, is also incredibly audacious.

Situ Haoran remained expressionless and did not make things difficult for Li Weizhou. He simply looked at his young lady with a deep gaze.

He felt both pride and respect for his daughter, who was even more extraordinary than him, but also a sense of helplessness.

But he believed she would always have her reasons.

As expected, Situ Qingyue nodded and told the truth: "Father, I have found the one I have longed for for many years and opened the Hidden Divine Palace. Li Lang is the Daoist partner I have chosen and met. In three years, we will ascend to the Spirit Realm together to pursue the Great Dao of Immortality. Father, you don't need to worry about my important life event anymore."

……

Those stunned by the conversation between the two were not only Situ Haoran and his group, but also Li Silang (Li Changning) who rushed over from not far away, Princess Yi'an (Zhao Yuanzhi), and Zhang Wanyi.

The reactions of the last three were even greater than those of the first three.

Thunder is rolling!

transfixed!

Only Situ Haoran, perhaps because of his good name, truly cultivated a noble and righteous spirit.

After giving Li Weizhou a thorough once-over, he simply nodded and replied, "Okay."

Li Weizhou straightened up, his smile not overly obsequious, and said neither servilely nor arrogantly, "I have just arrived in the capital today and have been in a hurry, so I have not yet settled down. After I return home and visit my uncle, I will go to your residence tomorrow to pay my respects to my father-in-law."

Situ Qingyue thought the matter could end there, but the old man beside Situ Haoran looked at Li Weizhou with an unfriendly expression and asked, "Are you a warrior or a scholar?"

Li Weizhou thought for a moment and replied, "He is proficient in both literary and martial arts."

Snickers erupted from the surrounding crowd.

Everyone was already envious of this country boy who had gotten lucky and won the favor of the goddess of the capital. Now that they heard him talking so arrogantly, they naturally didn't want to miss the opportunity to laugh at him.

The old man frowned and said, "Forget about martial arts, who is your teacher when it comes to literature?"

Li Weizhou said, "My father is Li Deyi."

"..."

Jiang Feng seemed to fall silent at this moment.

Li Weizhou smiled and said, "My father passed away early, but he taught me four words when I was learning my first lessons. I have never forgotten even a fraction of them, which is why I have always called myself a scholar."

Which four characters?

There's always a comedian appearing out of nowhere to provide a straight man.

Li Weizhou had a stern expression and stood ramrod straight. His appearance was already top-notch, and his white robes fluttered in the river breeze, adding to his elegant and refined air.

Among the travelers around the dock, a clear voice rang out, seemingly drowning out all the noise of the world: "From the very beginning of my studies, my father repeatedly admonished me: We scholars should never stray from the classics and teachings of the sages. However, before we sit down to study diligently, we should first clarify our own aspirations."

Never imitate the vulgar people of the world, who are content to be nest-nesters and whose actions are solely for the sake of making a living!
I asked: "Then what is the purpose of reading the books of sages and worthies?"

The father replied: "We should establish a moral compass for Heaven and Earth, secure a destiny for the people, continue the lost learning of the sages, and usher in an era of peace for all generations!"

The sound is like a loud bell!

A vivid and expressive performance!

Most importantly, the emotions must be passionate and abundant!

In addition, the stone mirror within the sea of ​​consciousness emitted a faint halo of light...

At that moment, countless scholars dressed in blue robes and wearing square headscarves froze, their minds reeling.

From that moment on, Li Deyi's name became famous throughout the capital!

He was promoted to a Great Confucian Scholar in a single day!
The true Confucian scholar Situ Haoran was also quite shocked, but he was still able to keep his composure. He only looked at this "son-in-law" who had fallen from the sky with a sharp glint in his eyes.

The elderly man in official robes beside him softened his tone, but his words remained sharp as he asked, "These four magnificent words are indeed unprecedented. But I wonder what achievements you and your son have made?"

Li Weizhou's smile turned somewhat cold, because he really hadn't accomplished anything.

Just then, the little monkey that had been hiding behind Ximei suddenly ran out and rushed straight towards Zhao Yuanzhi next to Li Changning, making "woo-woo-ah-ah" noises.

"Your Highness Prince Zheng!!"

When Zhao Yuanzhi recognized the child running towards her, her eyes nearly popped out of their sockets, and she screamed in surprise!

Zhang Wanyi was stunned for a moment, then instantly drew her sword to protect her left and right, forcefully forcing back the people around her.

This sudden turn of events finally caused Situ Haoran, who had maintained his composure, to change his expression abruptly. The elderly man in official robes beside him was also greatly distraught, taking several steps forward before being forced back by Zhang Wanyi's sword: "Lord Shangguan, please have some self-respect!"

Situ Qingyue frowned slightly. She had never been to the Eastern Palace, and rarely even entered the Imperial Palace, but she knew that the Crown Prince was still able to maintain his position in the Eastern Palace because his only son, Prince Zheng, was one of the most important bargaining chips.

Therefore, it is extremely well protected and has almost never been seen in public.

However, Zhao Yuanzhi and Zhang Wanyi were invited to attend palace banquets because of their family backgrounds.

Since they've made up their minds, there's little chance of anything going wrong.

Unexpectedly, it turned out to be the person they had saved yesterday.

Li Changning hurried over, suppressing his inner turmoil, and said to Situ Qingyue, "Master, more than a month ago, on the first night of the Lunar New Year, Prince Zheng suddenly disappeared from the Eastern Palace, along with six palace maids and twelve Eastern Palace guards. Four people from the Eastern Palace's Imperial Household Department also went missing. For the past month, countless people have searched the capital, but to no avail. I wonder how His Highness Prince Zheng ended up here?" He glanced at his third brother.

Li Weizhou snorted, but didn't look at him. Instead, he looked at the previously aggressive old man and said, "Although I am just a commoner, I know the heart of a benevolent person. On the banks of the Deshui River in Jizhou Prefecture, I saw an extremely vicious person poisoning children with cruel methods of mutilation and mutilation. I fought him for three hundred rounds and finally saved the child. At that time, I didn't know that this child's identity was so precious. But my late father once taught me: 'Do not do evil because it is small, and do not neglect good because it is small.' May I ask, sir, is this a meritorious act?"

He didn't take the old man seriously at all, but instead thought to himself with glee: The Lotus Gang is going to be in big trouble.

Old Guan: "..."

Situ Qingyue patted Li Weizhou's arm and said, "This is my father's old friend, Minister of Rites Shangguan Chen. I have other important matters to attend to, I'll come find you after I'm done."

After saying this, he bowed slightly to his father, Situ Haoran, and then ordered all the dock officials, forest officials, and soldiers to escort King Zheng back to the palace.

The little monkey got anxious and kept pointing at Li Weizhou, Ximei, and their group, wanting to take them with it.

Situ Qingyue smiled and said, "Don't worry, there will be plenty of opportunities to meet again in the future."

Soon, a force of hundreds or even thousands of people was assembled, and military officials from the capital also rushed over to join them. The group headed ahead of the imperial city in a grand procession.

Li Weizhou also bid farewell to his new father-in-law: "Father-in-law, I will visit you again after Yue'er finishes her work."

After saying this, he led his men to meet up with the brothers Li Changping and Li Chang'an, who were waiting behind him.

To everyone's astonishment, this country boy, who had just become the center of attention, had just recognized his father-in-law and then immediately took the hand of a beautiful young woman...

What...what kind of monster is this?!

"Big brother, second brother, it's been a long time! Let's talk when we get home!"

After hugging his two older brothers, Li Weizhou and his party rode away on horseback or in carriages.

"Lord Yangzheng, what do you think of this matter..." Shangguan Chen frowned and looked at Situ Haoran with concern.

Situ Haoran shook his head slightly and said, "My daughter has been well-versed in the classics and history since childhood and has long held firm to her beliefs. How could anyone else sway her will? Even I could not, nor would I, do it."

Shangguan Chen said anxiously in a low voice, "His Highness the Prince of Wei has said several times that if the Minister of Works and the Minister of Justice are interested, he will treat her as a concubine. In the future..."

Situ Haoran looked deeply at his old friend and said, "Now that the King of Zheng has returned, having survived a great calamity, I observe that his aura is ineffably noble. Brother Zhenchuan, Brother Jingzhi resigned in anger because he was disgusted by their despicable actions. Today, he returns to his hometown, and at the moment of parting, he doesn't even want to say a word to you. Brother Zhenchuan, are you still so stubborn? How can demons and monsters, and their tricks, achieve the way of the king? Brother Zhenchuan, you should think carefully."

……

"Uncle! Aunt! We've come to see you!"

Yanfufang, Xixie Street.

Brothers Li Changping and Li Chang'an led Li Weizhou's entire family through the door with beaming smiles. As soon as they entered, Ximei jumped and cheered as she went inside.

Li Changping and Li Chang'an, the brothers, burst into laughter. "A reunion! How wonderful!"

Li Chang'an said to Li Weizhou, "Fourth Brother came back yesterday to deliver the news and even asked Father for leave. He was just waiting for you to come back today!"

Li Changping said, "We've been busy all day, buying groceries several times. Today's feast is even more lavish than the New Year."

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Delong, dressed in a formal manor house, came out of the second gate with his wives, including Cao, Luo, and Guo, all of whom looked at him with smiles on their faces.

Li Delong laughed heartily, "Xi Mei is here! Come quickly, come quickly, your uncle has missed you so much!"

Li Weizhou led Zhou Yueniang and Ximei forward to kneel and pay their respects. Feng Biwu, however, was not interested in this custom, and since she was only a worshipper in public, a simple bow was sufficient.

"Get up! Get up! Get up quickly!"

Li Delong and Cao Shi both called out to him repeatedly and went to help him up.

The group stood up and stood together. Li Delong's eyes were full of his nephews and nieces. He grabbed one in each hand, looked them over, and said happily, "It feels like we were still in Qingzhou City yesterday... Good, good! It's good to be home!"
Cao, holding Zhou Yueniang's hand, looked her up and down and praised Luo and Guo, "Look at your sister-in-law, she's getting more and more beautiful!"

Guo nodded repeatedly, saying, "Yes, yes, yes, much better than us two ugly monsters!"

Cao glared at her, then said to the embarrassed Zhou Yueniang and the chuckling Luo, "Let's ignore the ugly girl! Come inside!"

Li Changping said to Feng Biwu with a smile, "Feng Gongfeng, let's go inside together."

Li Chang'an originally wanted to see a joke. Everyone in Qingzhou City knew Biwu Jun's cold face. So many high-ranking officials and wealthy merchants, but he didn't even bother to talk to them. Zuixianglou was almost bankrupted.

Unexpectedly, Feng Biwu bowed slightly and followed Li Weizhou into the second gate with the rest of the group.

Li Changping and Li Chang'an exchanged glances, then both realized what was happening, and a murderous intent flashed in their eyes!

That bastard, he's inhuman!
Biwu-jun! This is Biwu-jun!!
Her cold and aloof beauty is unparalleled in the martial arts world!
In Qingzhou City, there are countless lowly people who would still eagerly send money to catch a glimpse of her aloof and beautiful demeanor, even if she wouldn't even lift an eyelid.

Now, I'm just following behind the third brother...

"Sigh, I should have thought of that! After all, even Shiro's master..."

Li Chang'an looked up and sighed deeply, his face filled with grief. He felt as if he were about to shatter...

Li Changping patted his brother on the shoulder and said, "Don't say anything. When we have another banquet at Yicui Tower, Sanlang will pay for the tea party."

Li Chang'an laughed heartily and said, "So that's why you've been counting down the days until Sanlang arrives. You're hoping he'll take you to Yicui Tower! Go by yourself!"

"Shh~~"

Li Changping quickly silenced his second brother, scolding him, "Keep your voice down... Ever since we entered the capital, all we've heard about is Master Yan of Yicui Tower. Which good young man wouldn't want to see her? But can just anyone get in? Isn't Third Brother the best at this? Besides, don't you want to go and see for yourself?"

As Li Chang'an walked inside, he chuckled and said, "I just don't want to."

He had already witnessed the splendor of the capital at another famous building, Hu Yu Lou!
……

"It took quite a while to get here."

In the main hall, Li Weizhou answered Li Delong's question with a smile, then looked around and said in confusion, "This is too crude? I gave my second brother a sum of gold and silver when we came to the capital, and he pocketed it and went to Pingkangfang?"

Li Chang'an laughed and scolded, "Nonsense! Do you think I'm like you? Father has pressed the button, don't touch it. He said that's the family's last resort money."

Li Weizhou shook his head in disapproval, saying, "Brother Shan and Second Brother Shan's two small families need to be divided into two small courtyards. This small two-courtyard house is only so big. How can they live comfortably? We need to buy more, otherwise there won't be enough room for them next time we come."

As he spoke, he took a cloth bundle from Feng Biwu's hand. When he opened it, the entire Li family was overjoyed!
Li Delong jumped up, exclaiming excitedly, "Good heavens! These are Widow Sun's bean curd buns?!"

Cao glanced over with a sinister look, but then quickly understood, after all, they were now two thousand miles apart.

Widow Sun's flirtatious nature wouldn't spread that far.

Then she became happy and said, "And there are also crispy sesame cakes from Blind Shi's family! It's really kind of you to bring them all this way!"

Mrs. Luo exclaimed with delight, "And there's also Old Liang's fried millet cake! Oh, I've been craving a bite of this for so many days... You even brought this; you're so thoughtful!"

Guo was the most moved, holding a small jar with tears streaming down her face, she said, "This is...this is the fermented bean paste my mother made?! This is the fermented bean paste my mother made!"

Xi Mei chuckled and said, "Second sister-in-law, this was my sister-in-law's idea, but I went to your house to get it." She then apologized to Luo Shi, "Eldest sister-in-law's family doesn't live in Qingzhou City, so I couldn't help you."

Although Luo was somewhat disappointed, how could she blame Ximei? She smiled and stroked Ximei's hair, then said to Zhou Yueniang, "It's really kind of you to think of everything so thoroughly."

Zhou Yueniang smiled faintly and said, "It's only right."

Li Changping and Li Chang'an were about to complain to their third brother when they saw their fourth brother, Li Changning, rushing over and saying to Li Weizhou, "Third brother, come with me to the palace immediately. Ximei will come with us. The emperor has summoned us!"

The Li family was shocked; those who hadn't gone to the dock were unaware of what had happened.

Li Changping and others were better off, but they had only heard that the children were found along the way, and did not expect that their status was so important.

Xi Mei looked at her brother nervously, and Li Weizhou pretended to be suspicious, saying, "Isn't that unnecessary? We just reunited with our family, and we really can't leave."

Li Changning: "..."

Li Chang'an laughed heartily. This third brother was just his type. He stepped forward and shoved Li Weizhou, laughing and scolding, "Go away!"

Li Weizhou laughed heartily and said to the speechless Li Delong and the others, "I'll be right back. Ximei, let's go, let's go eat at the big restaurant!"

Tsk tsk, this little monkey is indeed a member of the imperial family. He's so young, yet he's already so cunning. He managed to keep it a secret all the way until he saw Zhao Yuanzhi.

He didn't even trust Situ Qingyue, the Director of the Imperial Punishment Department...

It's amazing.

……

The majestic imperial city, the Zichen Palace.

Twenty-four massive vermilion pillars, each as thick as a person's embrace, support the hip-and-gable roof of the hall. Gilded bronze dragons are wrapped around the pillars, their heads holding pearls, and their whiskers tremble slightly in the breeze.

The floor inside the hall is paved with "golden bricks" fired in the Suzhou Imperial Kiln. The brick surfaces are polished like mirrors, reflecting the "Cloud Sea and Fairy Mountain Picture" painted between the beams: where auspicious clouds surge, cranes carry lingzhi mushrooms, and the brushstrokes are filled with gold powder, which shimmers and dances in the sunlight streaming through the windows.

In contrast, King Li Weizhou's lodging in Shan State was as shabby as a cave dwelling.

That's true. He built a house that's been around for 500 years, so he must know how to enjoy life better than him. He hasn't even been here for 50 days yet.

However, Li Weizhou wasn't envious of this place, because he was surprised to find that there wasn't even a trace of spiritual energy here...

Tsk tsk, I wonder if it's man-made or ordained by nature.

On a three-foot-high Sumeru pedestal in the hall sits a throne carved from sandalwood with dragons. The seat is inlaid with burl wood in the shape of waves and cliffs, and the backrest is carved with a nine-clawed golden dragon.

On either side of the throne stood gilded incense burners, each about ten feet tall, burning camphor from the South China Sea. Wisps of smoke rose from the openwork lotus patterns, gathering into a hazy cloud above the throne.

Li Weizhou secretly decided that he would go back and make a similar set of belongings to experience it for himself.

Seated on the throne was a man with graying hair and beard, dressed in an ochre-yellow round-necked robe. For some reason, I felt there was a sallow look on his face...

I wonder if it was damaged by inhaling smoke all day long.

A chair was placed to the side, where a beautiful woman in a long-sleeved ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) sat, adorned with a phoenix hairpin. She was the Empress, the Crown Prince's stepmother.

At this moment, he sat there with a blank expression, as if he were about to break...

The little monkey stood on the other side, and a middle-aged man in a crimson python robe and a young woman stood beside the little monkey. The man also looked somewhat pale, but his gaze, like the little monkey's, was very kind and even grateful as he looked at Li Weizhou.

The Grand Master was also present, his expression calm. He stood beside the little monkey, taking his pulse and occasionally asking him to open his mouth for a brief observation.

Seeing this, Li Weizhou understood. If nothing unexpected happened, the Crown Prince had turned misfortune into blessing, rising against the tide and securing his position.

Situ Qingyue stood calmly not far away, watching Li Weizhou with an indifferent expression...

After giving her a slight nod, Li Weizhou clenched his right fist, placed his left hand on top of it, put both hands in front of his chest, bowed thirty degrees, and said, "I am Li Weizhou, paying my respects to His Majesty the Emperor and His Majesty the Empress. I also pay my respects to His Highness the Crown Prince and the Grand Minister of Justice."

Many people have a misconception that common people have to kneel when they meet the emperor.

Actually, that's not the case. Even on the other side of the world, before the Zhu-Cheng school of Neo-Confucianism became popular, it didn't exist.

Moreover, before the high stools became popular in the Song Dynasty, kneeling and sitting meant the same thing and did not imply submission.

Later, the Yuan Dynasty began to strengthen its power, and after Zhu Yuanzhang came to power, he further strengthened it in order to consolidate imperial power.

Before this, officials and commoners would bow to the emperor, not kneel.

At least, when the officials of the Ministry of Rites explained the etiquette for meeting the emperor to Li Weizhou, kneeling was not required; a simple bow was sufficient.

Xi Mei followed suit, except that she switched the positions of her hands with her brother's.

Emperor Yongping's gaze swept over the two people in the hall, finally landing on Li Weizhou.

I, heh...

His voice was low and unpleasant as he asked, "So it was you who opened the Hidden God Palace?"

He scrutinized Li Weizhou repeatedly, but found nothing unusual about him.

Compared to him, she's only slightly younger...

Looking at this peaceful emperor who had hardly ever left the palace in his entire life, Li Weizhou was speechless.

Tsk, what a tyrant, a complete tyrant!

With such a brilliant talent at hand, to ask such trivial questions is like asking ghosts and gods instead of the common people.
Li Weizhou nodded and said, "Yes."

Based on this alone, he shouldn't kneel, and he won't kneel.

One can see the undisguised jealousy in Emperor Yongping's eyes, and his desire to take his place.

Unfortunately, it was ultimately just a pipe dream.

Even if he kills Li Weizhou, he still won't be able to open the Hidden God Palace!
A silence fell over the hall. The Grand Master of Ceremonies said calmly, "Your Majesty is the Emperor, and your destiny is ordained by Heaven. It cannot be forced."

Throughout history, apart from the Three Dynasties, no human emperor has ever been able to leap over the Dragon Gate, let alone ascend to the Spirit Realm.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Yongping smiled bitterly and said, "If I were not the emperor, it might actually be a fortunate thing."

Li Weizhou felt utter contempt for this kind of person who had no self-awareness; it was the perfect illustration of what it means to be arrogant.

Perhaps because there was no one to support him, Emperor Yongping must have felt a little down, as his loyal ministers were no longer around.

He regained some of his senses and looked at Li Weizhou listlessly, saying, "You saved the imperial grandson and performed a great service. Is there anything you would like to be rewarded for?"

Li Weizhou nodded and said, "Yes."

Everyone froze for a moment, except for Situ Qingyue, who lowered her eyes slightly with a smile on her lips.

She knew that her man truly looked down on the emperor.

Emperor Yongping chuckled and said, "Tell me, is it gold and silver treasures, or fame and rank?"

The Empress glanced at Li Weizhou with disdain, but her gaze still sharpened: What a handsome young man…

Li Weizhou said solemnly, "Your Majesty, I wish to open up the Dayuan Mountain and connect the plank road and mountain road from Qingzhou City in the north to Shuzhou."

Silence fell over the hall again. Crown Prince Zhao Zhaoyan asked, puzzled, "Minister Li, why are you doing this...?"

Li Weizhou couldn't say it was to enhance the family's reputation, since he probably wouldn't be able to take his uncle's family with him when he ascended to heaven, and his uncle's family might not even want to go up. So he planned to do something for the old man and erect a monument to the Li family as a moral and virtuous celestial being.

It wasn't appropriate to say it was for the flesh and blood of the ferocious and spiritual beasts in Dayuan Mountain, so he simply repeated what he had said to the Grand Master at the foot of Yuanjian Mountain, and finally said, "My father once taught me: 'The rise and fall of the nation is the responsibility of every citizen.' Even though I will ascend to the Spirit Realm in three years, I will not forget the virtues of the common people."

The Grand Master smiled and said with a sigh, "Perhaps this is the reason why you were able to open the Hidden God Palace."

The rise and fall of the nation is the responsibility of every citizen.

If this young man were willing to study and enter officialdom, he would likely become another great Confucian scholar.

The Grand Master said to the silent Emperor Yongping, "He said it, and he did it. He even went to the Spirit Circle to hunt spirit beasts, but was later chased by the Cat Venerable because he was worried that the spirit beasts would cause trouble."

Since the Grand Master has said so, it must be true.

Emperor Yongping looked at Li Weizhou with an extremely complicated expression, and slowly nodded, saying, "Alright, you can do it. Do you need money and grain, or do you need to conscript labor?"

Li Weizhou shook his head and said, "None of that is necessary. I have some business acumen and can earn some money. Moreover, the terrain of Dayuan Mountain is treacherous, and if so many people flood in at once, they won't be able to operate effectively. Therefore, there is no need for money or conscription."

Emperor Yongping asked curiously, "Then what do you need?"

Li Weizhou said, "I hope that after the plank road is opened, it can truly benefit the people and not be seized by the powerful and wealthy, blocking the north and south and making huge profits."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Yongping fell silent again. After a long while, he suddenly smiled and slowly said, "To establish a heart for Heaven and Earth, to establish a destiny for the people, to continue the lost learning of the past sages, and to usher in an era of peace for all generations. I know. I also had this ambition back then, but I never spoke it out... I am trapped by this dragon throne."

Li Weizhou, I admire and appreciate you. I grant your request. I hereby appoint you as the Earl of Qingzhou, entrusting you with the task of opening up the mountain and building the plank road. If the plank road is completed in three years, I grant your Li family the right to inherit this title in perpetuity, to safeguard the plank road for generations to come, and to share in the fate of the nation.

"Grand Master, what do you think?"

The Grand Master nodded and said, "Alright. The Eight Kings and Eight Clans must not interfere with the plank road."

Li Weizhou bowed deeply in gratitude, then said to the Crown Prince gently, "Minister Li, I also want to thank you."

Li Weizhou spoke first: "My purpose in coming to the capital this time is to ask the Crown Prince for an award."

Everyone was surprised, but the Crown Prince smiled and said, "My father's words are law, and he has already bestowed upon you the title of Earl of Qingzhou. I will not be stingy. I wonder what reward Minister Li would like?"

Li Weizhou said, “I was once plunged into darkness, and nearly died of cold and starvation with my younger sister. Fortunately, Heaven and Earth protected us, and I woke up in time at the last moment, and then went out to seek survival. It was Qi Qingwan, an official under Your Highness, who gave me a job to eat, which is why I am where I am today. Later, I was rescued by Feng Biwu, another official under Your Highness, and was able to survive under the control of the bandits in Shangqing Palace. These two people have done me a great favor. I should repay the kindness of a single meal with a spring of gratitude. Therefore, I would like to ask Your Highness to have mercy and release the two of them so that I can take them home.”

……

After leaving the imperial city, a light drizzle began to fall.

Li Weizhou flipped his hand and used a blue oil-paper umbrella to shield Situ Qingyue's head.

Situ Qingyue looked at the young man beside her with tender eyes and said, "You are a true man."

Li Weizhou smiled and said, "When will you be done with your work? I want to go home with you to visit my father-in-law. Look at the demeanor of our dad today, wow, amazing!"

Xi Mei covered her mouth and laughed.

Although the imperial city only appeared in plays, she wasn't afraid at all as long as her brother was there.

Situ Qingyue glanced at him sideways. It was hard to imagine that one person could have two such completely different faces, yet they both appeared so natural and comfortable.

She paused, smiled slightly, and said, "I will come to find you in a few days."

Li Weizhou replied gently, "Okay, I'll wait for you. Come back soon, I brought that thing with me, we'll use it together."

That thing is naturally a generator.

His rudimentary understanding of the lightning supernatural power was that he viewed the supernatural mark as a supercapacitor or electromagnetic energy storage device that could continuously absorb and store current.

When needed, it is released instantly.

Of course, it's definitely not that simple.

Because of their innate supernatural abilities, they can generate lightning on their own in the later stages of cultivation, and they can even classify lightning into different categories, such as Situ Qingyue's Gengjin Divine Lightning.

The specifics were too esoteric to understand, so Li Weizhou decided to proceed according to his own understanding, which was to first recharge his batteries.

The original plan was to try to capture and absorb the lightning, but wasn't that just courting death?
The average current of lightning is 30,000 amps. The rated current of a regular household socket is about 15 amps. 30,000 amps is several thousand times the household current. The destructive energy caused by a burst of 30,000 amps of instantaneous current is equivalent to the energy of 214 kilograms of TNT exploding. Who can withstand that?

That's why it's said that only those with very high cultivation levels can develop supernatural powers in the spirit world.

The generator that Li Weizhou obtained would perfectly solve this problem, and the two of them could even work together to build it...

It's sizzling!

It's sizzling!

What is good fortune?

That's what good fortune is!
That's more amazing than any serendipitous encounter!

Situ Qingyue was naturally pleased. After exchanging a glance, Situ Qingyue took the oil-paper umbrella, but then folded it up and disappeared into the distance.

At the gates of the imperial city, the wind stopped and the rain ceased.

Li Changning: "..."

Zhao Yuanzhi: "..."

Zhang Wanyi: "..."

When had I ever seen... no, ever imagined that a powerful figure in the Imperial Execution Bureau, a goddess revered and worshipped by countless people, would say such things to a man?

Has this world been invaded by demons?

Li Weizhou glanced at his younger brother, looking quite disgusted by his complicated expression.

However, he still had to be nice to his younger brother and sister-in-law, and said with a cheerful smile, "Yuanzhi, Wanyi, it's been more than a month since I last saw you. How have you been?"

The two bowed their heads in greeting and said, "Everything is fine, Third Brother, may you be well." They then greeted Ximei.

Li Weizhou chuckled and nodded. Seeing that Li Changning wanted to ask something, he warned, "Don't meddle in the affairs of adults. Just do your own thing."

He then said to Zhao Yuanzhi, "Yuanzhi, do you know where the Left and Right Palace Guards are located? I have a decree from the Crown Prince to pick someone up."

Zhao Yuanzhi quickly replied, "Third Brother, I know, come with me." She then said to Li Changning, "Go and see your master, he must be very busy since he just got back."

Li Weizhou was secretly pleased, but he hadn't settled Zhang Wanyi yet. These three were childhood sweethearts, always bickering.

As expected, Zhang Wanyi wasn't afraid at all. She looked at Li Weizhou and said, "Third Brother, we have a guest at home. It's Abbot Xuanku from Leiyin Temple. Abbot Xuanku is proficient in the Golden Bell Cover Technique. My father said that he also practices Leiyin Temple's supreme technique, the Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill. Would you like to go and meet him?"

Li Weizhou didn't really care about this cultivation technique anymore, but to save face for the little girl—someone who rarely spoke more than three words a day—he agreed with a smile, saying, "Okay, I'll go when I have time. Also, I need to trouble you with something. I want to buy a large house in a good location in the capital. Money is no problem. If any of you have time, please keep an eye out for it for me. And please take Ximei back first."

Zhang Wanyi was a woman of action, and said, "I'll go now." After saying that, she called Ximei and left together.

Zhao Yuanzhi: "..."

……

Zhao Yuanzhi, somewhat discouraged, led Li Weizhou toward the East Palace, but Li Weizhou did not offer her any comfort.

Those young children are having so much fun playing games together.

After passing through two palace gates, Zhao Yuanzhi pointed to a hall and said, "Third brother, this is the East Palace Left and Right Gatekeeper's Office, which is in charge of registering the finances and equipment of those entering and leaving the East Palace... Who are you looking for? I'll go and call them for you."

Li Weizhou smiled and was about to say his name when he saw a woman in a palace robe come out of the pavilion. She was carrying an account book and was flipping through it as she walked quickly. Her face was tired and she could not hide her anxiety.

He said softly, "No need, I've found her."

The voice, though soft, carried clearly. The woman in the palace robe, who was walking with her head down, suddenly stopped, looked up with a puzzled and bewildered expression, and gazed at him...

……

(End of this chapter)