Inheriting a Taoist temple, the story begins with Wu Zetian offering incense.

Chapter 120 Li Qingzhao, the Osmanthus Fairy! [Seeking Monthly Tickets]

Just as Zhou Yi was about to offer a few words of explanation, he realized his phone was still connected to another call. He quickly said it was a wrong number, hung up, and stood up to extend his hand to the blind man:

"Give me the money, I'll go pay for the meal."

The blind man said irritably:

"Give me a damn thing! Go settle the score yourself! What terrible things did I do in my past life to have met you two? I'm so unlucky!"

Zhou Yi believes that the elderly should not be too emotional. It's just calling the police, is it really necessary to get so agitated?

No wonder he was so generous just now, bidding a hundred yuan right away. It was all an illusion. I wonder how many people this old man has fooled with this trick. I'll have to be careful next time.

He may have entered a hallucination the moment he put down the bowl, but he just didn't realize it.

Zhou Yi got up to pay the bill and asked the blind man:

Do you need me to take you home?

The blind man didn't say anything, but silently walked to the Wuling car.

After getting into the car, Zhou Yi asked:

"Could this be another hallucination?"

The blind man fastened his seatbelt and said irritably:

"People are most likely to enter a hallucination when they are satisfied. When you finished the last sip of soup, I pulled you into a hallucination. I wanted to test your skills, but you brat actually chose to call the police... However, external force is indeed the best way to break the formation. One phone call and all the plans are in vain."

Zhou Yi started the car and began to recount what Hu Lijun's family had experienced a few days prior:
"The only thing haunting their family is a simple evil spirit; I don't know why."

The blind man reached out his hand to him:

"Let me see that spirit-binding talisman. There aren't many evil cultivators in Yiyang City. Maybe it's someone from within the association. I can start working to rid the people of this scourge."

Zhou Yi took out a small bottle from his bag. Inside was a rolled-up spirit-binding talisman, the very one that had been used on the night Hu Lijun had his accident.

The blind man took it from Zhou Yi, casually touched his satchel, and reminded him:

"Call a tailor and have him make you a few cloth bags to shield the aura of magical artifacts. If these things are left exposed like this, your competitors can sense them from a great distance."

Zhou Yi has some questions:

“This was left to me by my grandfather. He carried it for many years, so how come it's still in good condition?”

"He did it on purpose, as if he was afraid that no one in the industry would cause trouble. He has been entrapment for decades, and many people in the industry hate him to death."

Why does it feel like Grandpa is public enemy number one?

Zhou Yi used to think that his grandfather was just a self-taught Taoist priest, but after getting involved in this field, he realized that his grandfather had some skill. But now... his grandfather is so awesome, but with so many enemies, won't he cause me trouble?
The blind man said:

"You are cultivating merit. The more merit you accumulate, the less likely anyone will dare to harm you. But don't act recklessly. Being cautious might make you miss some opportunities, but it will never prevent you from making mistakes."

Zhou Yi nodded, realizing the blind man couldn't see, and quickly added:
"Thank you for the reminder. When you're cleaning up those scoundrels in the Feng Shui Folk Customs Association in the future, you can ask me for help. I urgently need to accumulate merit."

"Okay... Stop the car, I'll get out and walk around."

The Book of Changes is somewhat strange:
"It's at least a kilometer from here to the project site. Are you sure you want to go?"

The blind man nodded:

"I'm just blind, not that my leg is broken. It's only a kilometer, I'll be there in the blink of an eye."

But you can't blink... Zhou Yi thought the old man was quite cute when he was being stubborn. He pulled over, let him get out of the car, and then turned around and went back to town, planning to buy two cups of milk tea to take with him.

I had some noodles with water at Hunyuan Palace for lunch, paired with milk tea – it was delicious!

After he left, the blind man sighed:

"Zhou Banxian, are you making this child cultivate merit because you're afraid I'll beat him to death? This child is not bad, much better than you, you dog... Bah, just mentioning your father makes me angry. If I get the chance, I'll definitely drag your grandson into the illusion and see if you, you dog, will show yourself!"

At the entrance of the milk tea shop, Zhou Yi took out his phone to scan the QR code to order when he suddenly saw a message from Wu Meiniang:
"Li Qingzhao arrived at Hunyuan Palace through the Wenxuanwang Hall and is currently drinking porridge."

Li Qingzhao?
Zhou Yi rubbed his eyes to make sure he wasn't seeing things, then quickly scanned the code and ordered three cups of classic hot milk tea... Since the talented woman was here, he had to let her experience the technology and ruthless skills of modern society.

In the blink of an eye, two celebrities from the cultural circle have arrived at the Hall of the King of Literature and Propaganda. It seems that the other halls need to work harder... But considering that the two people who came to the Hall of the King of Literature and Propaganda are both heavy drinkers, we'll have to keep a close eye on the cooking wine in the kitchen from now on. It is said that when heavy drinkers are craving something, they won't even let go of the cooking wine.

Besides drinking, Li Qingzhao also had a serious gambling addiction. We need to find a way to establish new customs in Hunyuan Palace, reject alcohol, gambling and drugs, and save the drunkards and gamblers in history.

While waiting for his milk tea, Zhou Yi went to the butcher shop next door and bought a few pounds of pork belly and a few pounds of ribs to make Dongpo pork and sweet and sour ribs to celebrate the addition of new worshippers to Hunyuan Palace.

As soon as Zhou Yi parked his car on the mountain, he saw Wu Meiniang leading a woman wearing a waist-length ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) out of a room.

Wu Zetian wore this outfit, and at the time it was thought to be too form-fitting, showcasing her figure perfectly. Unexpectedly, when Li Qingzhao wore it today, it exuded a more refined elegance.

The same clothes look different on different people. "Sister Zhao'er, this is the master of Hunyuan Palace, and also the Immortal Master Yiyuan who guides us on our path."

Li Qingzhao bowed to the Book of Changes:
"Li Qingzhao, a commoner from the Song Dynasty, pays her respects to the venerable master."

Zhou Yi handed over the milk tea he was holding:
"Try this. This milk tea was specially bought for you. This is the one for Meiniang. I specifically chose seven-tenths sugar."

After distributing the milk tea to the two of them, Zhou Yi carried the meat to the kitchen. He planned to soak the ribs first, then blanch the whole piece of pork belly in water and boil it. After boiling, he would cut it into pieces so that the Dongpo pork would not deform and each piece would be perfectly square and beautiful.

Just as Zhou Yi was about to wash the clay pot after cooking the meat, Wu Meiniang came over with a cup of milk tea.

“Master, after reading about her life, Sister Zhao’er no longer intends to marry Zhao Mingcheng.”

Zhou Yi didn't react for a moment:
"If you don't want to marry me, then don't. I'm not the civil affairs bureau, I don't care about these things."

Wu Zetian took a sip of her milk tea and continued:

“My sister Zhao’er wants to stay in Hunyuan Palace to cultivate immortality like me. She’s worried that you won’t agree, so she asked me to come and ask.”

Zhou Yi took the clay pot over and soaked it in water:
"Okay, you can take care of these things from now on, no need to tell me... By the way, who is the emperor on Li Qingzhao's side now? Is Zhao Xu dead?"

"Not yet, but Emperor Zhezong Zhao Xu only has about eight months left to live. If there is no interference, Zhao Ji will become emperor in eight months."

Eight months? We need to hurry. But we know nothing about Zhao Xu's illness. Historical records only say that his children died one after another, and he died of excessive grief. But they never mentioned the specifics of his illness.

Zhou Yi felt he needed to have a serious talk with Li Qingzhao. As the daughter of a junior official in the Ministry of Rites, she should know something about Zhao Xu's health. If he could get in touch with Zhao Xu, Zhou Yi would have a way to prolong the emperor's life.

If modern medicine fails, then metaphysics; if metaphysics fails, then pray directly in the Hall of Longevity… But all of this is predicated on being able to contact Zhao Xu. If Li Qingzhao cannot contact Zhao Xu, then all of this is in vain.

At this moment, Li Qingzhao was sitting at her desk studying the playing cards left there by Gongsun Da Niang when Zhou Yi walked in, quietly put away the gambling equipment, and started talking to her about serious matters:

"Can you get in touch with Zhao Xu in Tokyo?"

Li Qingzhao shook her head and answered truthfully:
"The woman's poem was well-received in Tokyo, and some people even came to propose marriage, but it is quite difficult for her to meet the Emperor."

Wu Zetian took out the token that Zhou Yi had given her from her bosom and placed it in front of Li Qingzhao:

"What if it's in the name of a divine messenger?"

Li Qingzhao touched the stainless steel token and thought that this might be a good solution:
"If he were to request an audience in the name of a divine messenger, the officials would certainly not dare to stop him... Is it true or false that this inscription says he will be punished by heaven and have no descendants?"

Wu Zetian, unsure whether it was true or not, smiled and said:

"If someone disrespects you, you can try taking this out."

Hunyuan Palace can communicate with the gods. If someone disrespects the people of Hunyuan Palace, the gods will most likely not stand idly by.

Zhou Yi brought Li Qingzhao a stainless steel token:

"If you agree, you will become a member of the Hunyuan Palace and travel among mortals in the Song Dynasty."

Li Qingzhao naturally agreed. She not only wanted to change her own fate, but also intended to change the fate of the Song Dynasty being invaded by the Jin army. This token was of utmost importance.

Zhou Yi continued:

"From now on, you will need to wear Taoist robes and follow Taoist etiquette. Meiniang's Taoist name is Peony Fairy, and Gongsun Da Niang's Taoist name is Pomegranate Fairy... As for your Taoist name, let's call you Osmanthus Fairy."

Many of Li Qingzhao's poems are related to chrysanthemums, so some people mistakenly believe that Li Qingzhao is the representative figure of chrysanthemums.

However, considering the content of the poems, it can be seen that the yellow flowers were merely a way for Li Qingzhao to express her sorrow in her later years, and she did not actually like the flowers.

It's like someone constantly comparing life to bitter melon. Is it because they actually like eating bitter melon?

Li Qingzhao mentioned many flowers throughout her life, but the most famous one is "Partridge Sky: Osmanthus". The line "It is naturally the first-class among flowers" not only elevates the osmanthus to the status of the number one flower, but also became a famous line praising women throughout the ages.

Now that Li Qingzhao is to become a female Daoist in the Hunyuan Palace, her Daoist name will naturally have to be this most resounding flower name.

Wu Zetian looked at the information on her phone and said:

"Sister Zhao'er calls herself Yi'an Jushi..."

Upon hearing the name Yi'an, Li Qingzhao immediately quoted a related allusion:
"In Tao Yuanming's 'Returning Home,' there are two lines: 'Leaning against the south window, I express my pride; I find peace in a humble dwelling.' My Taoist name should be derived from this, implying contentment with poverty amidst adversity. Now that I am no longer involved in factional strife or have any connection with the Zhao family, the name Yi'an is no longer relevant... I deeply appreciate the Taoist name of the Osmanthus Fairy; thank you, Immortal, for bestowing this name upon me!"

At the same time, during the Kaiyuan era of the Tang Dynasty.

Gongsun Da Niang arrived at the Jin Guang Gate of Chang'an by carriage. A continuous stream of merchants from the Western Regions entered Chang'an through this gate to trade in the West Market.

Standing on the carriage shaft, Granny Gongsun gazed into the distance, excitedly waving to the people in the distance:

"Brother Li Bai, over here, over here! Hahaha, all of us from the Yiyuan Temple have finally gathered in Chang'an! Hurry up and write me an introductory poem, I can't wait to uphold justice!"

(End of this chapter)