Chapter 115: Flower Calyx Shining
The impact of this incident was immediate.
The way people in the Cangyunzhou Guild Hall viewed Tao Tie was completely different from the past few days.
Especially after hearing that Tao Tie had returned, Shen Qiong came specially to watch the fun, and Liu Yuling couldn't hold her back.
"Please forgive me, Brother Tao. Qiong'er was just a little naughty."
Yuan Luyao followed the two women to Tao Tie's yard, and the first thing he did was to apologize.
Tao Tie smiled faintly: "It's okay, just a small matter."
Yuan Luyao smiled awkwardly.
How could he not know that Tao Tie would see through his little thoughts at a glance?
But he also wanted to watch the fun, so like Liu Yuling, he pretended to hold Shen Qiong back, but in fact he had already arrived at the courtyard where Tao Tie was temporarily staying.
"Come in and sit down."
Tao Tie greeted them and went straight to the main room without waiting for a response from the three of them.
The maid saw that the boy had a good eye and immediately went to prepare tea and cakes.
Soon, four cups of fragrant tea were brewed and several plates of pastries were brought up and placed one by one.
Yingying bowed and the maid left the room with the empty tray.
Tao Tie picked up the teacup, sniffed the aroma, took a small sip, and savored the flavor.
The tea tastes very smooth, light, sweet and refreshing.
I picked up another piece of crystal cake and put it into my mouth. It was cool and refreshing, soft and chewy, and tasted sweet.
The mood becomes more cheerful as the sweet taste is taken in.
After sensing the progress of the Yin God "Taiyi Great Emperor" transforming into a Yang God with a pure Yang body, the level of Tiangang Method [Mastering the Five Thunders], and the level of Taotie Visualization Method, Tao Tie decided that from now on, he would no longer practice fasting to maintain his health.
It is not necessarily a good thing for a person to just eat mist and dew while living in this world and has not yet become an immortal.
It is very likely that people forget that he is a person first and a practitioner second.
Emotions will gradually fade in this kind of forgetfulness, and human nature will gradually become indifferent in this kind of forgetfulness.
Until the end, whether it is the supreme state of forgetting emotions, being heartless and asexual, or something in between, it is easy for people to lose themselves.
This was Tao Tie's feeling after eating a bowl of Jin Yu Man Tang Fried Rice cooked by Canglang River Old Turtle.
After digesting the past few days' experiences, today's stroll around the capital and the bustling teahouses prompted me to make this decision.
For some reason, Yuan Luyao, Liu Yuling and Shen Qiong thought Tao Tie sipping tea and eating cakes smelled delicious and they also felt like eating them.
"Drink tea and have some snacks."
Seeing this, Tao Tie gently handed over the teacup and showed a little warmth of hospitality.
The three of them looked at each other and saw intention in each other's eyes.
Shen Qiong was the first one who couldn't wait any longer. She picked up a piece of osmanthus cake, threw it into her mouth, and started to eat it with relish.
In comparison, Liu Yuling's eating manners were much more elegant and ladylike.
She raised her left hand and covered her lips with her sleeve. She picked up the spoon with her right hand, scooped a piece of mochi, put it into her mouth, and chewed it carefully.
Seeing the two girls like this, Yuan Luyao had no choice but to join in.
Ok.
He told himself so in his heart.
For a moment, the main room was quite harmonious. The four of them were busy eating their favorite cakes, occasionally drinking a sip or two of tea.
After they had finished half a cup of tea and eaten four or five pieces of cakes, Yuan Luyao, Liu Yuling and Shen Qiong finally stopped.
The three of them couldn't help but look at each other again.
What's going on here?
They have been practicing fasting for a long time, so how come they suddenly can't control their appetite?
Tao Tie took the initiative to speak, and said calmly: "I have some insights in my practice, and decided not to force myself to fast anymore. I should eat and drink as I please. I was moved for a moment, and it affected you. So..."
After hesitating for a moment, Tao Tie stretched out his right hand with his five fingers spread out.
A crackling sound was then heard.
Tiny thunder leaped across the palm of the hand, appearing and disappearing between the five fingers.
The residue/impurities that were inevitably left in the bodies of the four people, including himself, from the tea and pastries they had previously consumed were refined through the air and turned into nothingness.
Yuan Luyao, Liu Yuling and Shen Qiong all shuddered.
Tao Tie's mysterious use of the "Mastery of the Five Thunders" eliminated more than just the dregs and impurities produced by the tea the three people had drunk and the cakes they had eaten.
It also includes the remnants they have accumulated in the past.
Once these residues were refined away, Yuan Luyao, Liu Yuling and Shen Qiong felt "relieved".
Purified from the inside out.
It's like a southerner who thinks he is very clean because he takes a bath every day, but goes to a bathhouse in Northeast China to scrub his body and get rid of all the dirt accumulated over the years.
Even clear up the gaps.
Shen Qiong was the first to notice that something was wrong. He glared at Tao Tie angrily, stomped his feet, and ran away angrily.
Liu Yuling, who was well-versed in worldly affairs, took a deep breath and suppressed her temper. She did not show the same energy she had on Jingling Mountain. She did not even look at Tao Tie, turned her face away, and walked away angrily.
Yuan Luyao looked strange, and he hesitated, "Fellow Daoist Tao, this..."
Looking at the backs of the two women again, Yuan Luyao didn't know what to say: "Then..."
"Ugh!"
Finally, Yuan Luyao sighed heavily and left with mixed feelings.
Tao Tie watched the three people leave with a smile on his face.
Want to see my joke?
Let me laugh at you first.
After sending Yuan Luyao, Liu Yuling and Shen Qiong away, Tao Tie stood up and walked into the clean room, closed his eyes, meditated, and practiced visualization.
Isn't it just accompanying the eldest princess to visit a brothel? What's the big deal?
Everything depends on practice, everything else is false.
Besides, after all, the princess is helping him, so what is there to be anxious about?
Just as Tao Tie was meditating and practicing, the impact of this incident further expanded and spread.
The mansion of the three princes.
In the study, the third prince was playing chess with his adviser Shi Guanzhong.
The two of them talked while making moves quickly.
Playing fast chess is a long-standing trend in China.
As they chatted, the Third Prince asked, "Mr. Shi, how many talented people are confirmed to come to Jinming Lake tomorrow night?"
According to convention, when princes compete for the throne, court officials can place their bets in support, but they cannot openly join the game.
Only common people can serve as advisors.
This is an unwritten rule, but no one dares to break it.
Shi Guanzhong is an extremely rare person who possesses the ability to make decisions and yet does not hold an official position. He is highly trusted by the Third Prince.
There are similar people around the Fourth Prince, the Fifth Prince, and the Seventh Prince, who are committed to competing for the throne.
Shi Guanzhong pounced and replied, "When it comes to fighting for the throne, people usually wait and see. How many people are willing to put their future on the line before the situation is clear? Let's not talk about the 21 people in the capital, they are all slippery. Most of the people from the states have not made clear statements. So I can't be sure how many people will come tomorrow night."
The Third Prince had a calm and composed expression, and his tone was calm as well: "Can't we find a way to confirm it?"
Shi Guanzhong nodded: "Of course, but the gain is not worth the loss."
"How to say it?"
The Third Prince immediately became interested, "Mr. Shi, please explain in detail." Shi Guanzhong waved his hand to disrupt the chess positions on the board and explained seriously:
"How much of a role can a few talented people play in the fight for the throne? Not much. The reason why His Majesty wants to test you by attracting talented people is simply to see if you can win people's hearts and how to win them. Your Highness's banquet at Jinming Lake is just the first step to win people's hearts. It doesn't necessarily require a lot of people to come and support you to be successful."
The Third Prince asked: "Mr. Shi, what does success mean?"
Shi Guanzhong replied: "No matter how many or how few people come, Your Highness can have fun with them, not letting them go back unhappy, nor letting them worry, this is success."
The third prince was thoughtful after hearing this.
Shi Guanzhong continued, "Winning people's hearts is not about a moment or a matter. Means are useful, but they are not the most important. The most important thing is four words."
The Third Prince sat upright and asked solemnly: "Which four words? Please teach me, Mr. Shi."
Shi Guanzhong straightened his clothes, put on his cap, and bowed solemnly with both hands: "We share the same ideals. Your Highness, please choose a good opportunity to express your aspirations to us. It is like planting a phoenix tree, and a phoenix will come."
When the third prince heard this, his eyes suddenly lit up.
"Phoenix?"
As he murmured these two words, a strange woman seemed to appear before the Third Prince's eyes.
The stone crown that bowed all the way did not see this scene.
The residence of the fifth prince.
The Fairy Sword Xiaofeng stood on the martial arts field, pointed her sword at the Fifth Prince who was wearing a full set of armor, and said coldly: "Li Jie, I warned you a long time ago not to have any ideas about my junior brother, why didn't you listen?"
The fifth prince, Li Jie, who looked more like a general than a prince, used a piece of silk to soak up grease and wiped the blade of the spear in his hand. He said without even looking up, "You are not my princess, why should I listen to you?"
"Oh! Princess?"
Dao Xiaofeng sneered, "I've said it before, I only like women, give up on me."
Li Jie raised his head and said seriously, "That's not what you said. What you said is that among all men, the only one who can move you is your teacher, the swordsman who has been tried by many monsters and demons in the mountains to assassinate him ever since you made him famous, but they have failed and died many times."
It turned out that Huang Junshi's name became more and more famous among people of higher status in the three southwestern states and even in the entire Dayong Dynasty because he secretly killed countless millions of big monsters and demons in the mountains.
This is a reputation earned through real unparalleled killing power and achievements.
It’s not because of the weird reputation of the weird disciple, Fairy Dao Xiaofeng.
"you……"
Dao Xiaofeng was choked by the irrelevant words of the Fifth Prince Li Jie.
Li Jie calmly faced Dao Xiaofeng's gradually angry gaze and said more seriously: "So, you still like men, but you haven't met the second man who can make you fall in love. I believe that I am that one."
"joke!"
For some reason, Dao Xiaofeng, who was undefeated in the love field and walked sideways among the flowers, was a little hesitant when facing Li Jie's calm and frank gaze. She was completely different from the carefree and unrestrained woman she was when facing those women who were fascinated by her.
He could have done a great disservice to Li Jie, but in the end he ended up with a cold snort.
"You're going to like me."
Li Jie said this firmly, as if expressing his determination, and as if making a prophecy.
Then he lowered his head and continued to oil the gun blade for maintenance.
Dao Xiaofeng was feeling complicated, and suddenly she remembered what Ma Weiwei said in her ear when she left this morning.
"Nihuang, I'm leaving. Take good care of yourself."
The farewell came so suddenly.
The most important thing is that this is the first woman who took the initiative to leave her.
The reason is very simple.
Ma Weiwei left a letter, in which she wrote down everything that had happened after she met Dao Xiaofeng, including her changes in her mind, her joy, confusion, worry, and fear.
The ending sentence was half a sentence longer than what Ma Weiwei had said to Dao Xiaofeng in the morning.
"Nihuang, I'm leaving. Take good care of yourself. One day, there will be a paulownia tree that you will be willing to fall on."
As we all know, the fifth prince Li Jie's nickname is Wutong.
Dao Xiaofeng woke up from his memories, cut off all distracting thoughts with his wise sword, and left coldly.
What is this?
I only like women!
female!
When leaving the Fifth Prince's residence, Dao Xiaofeng was roaring in his heart.
It's rare to lose composure, it's rare to lose your mind.
No matter what happens in the world, the sun will rise as usual the next day.
time flies.
It seemed like just a blink of an eye, the day was over and evening came.
Tao Tie, wearing his regular clothes from Liuxian County, arrived at Pingkangfang, where Hua'e Tower was located, before the arrival of the hour of You.
Before entering the town, someone accurately found Tao Tie in the crowd and took him to a carriage.
The eldest princess is still dressed as a dashing lady tonight.
What is a lady boss?
That is, wearing men's clothes but never hiding the fact that she is a woman.
"You're dressed too casually."
The princess looked Tao Tie up and down and did not hide her disdain. "He looks so rustic. Is that appropriate?"
Tao Tie replied calmly: "I came from a remote place, so I am a little rustic, but it doesn't matter."
"That makes sense."
The princess nodded, then called out to the outside, "Take him to change his clothes."
After she finished speaking, the princess glanced at the back door of the carriage.
Tao Tie did not object and got off the carriage and got on another one.
Rejecting the costumes offered by the two palace maids, Tao Tie put on a gorgeous dress that was obviously tailor-made according to his body size.
A man relies on his clothes and a horse relies on his saddle.
A moment ago, Tao Tie was wearing plain clothes, his temperament was calm and gentle, a little otherworldly, and he had a feeling of returning to nature.
That is what the eldest princess called "rustic".
After putting on gorgeous clothes, although she only had delicate facial features, she looked as radiant as a god, and there was a subtle sense of nobility emanating from her.
After getting off the carriage, he first attracted special looks from several palace maids and guards, and then the eldest princess also marveled at him for a while.
"It's much better now."
The princess sighed, waved her folding fan in her right hand, and pointed to the Hua'e Building, which was the largest and most magnificently decorated in Pingkangfang. "Today is a happy day, we should celebrate, enjoy the beauty and listen to the music."
After saying this, the eldest princess took the lead and with just a few simple steps, she walked out with a different momentum.
Make rapid progress and move forward with vigor and vitality.
It was as if he was not going to a brothel to listen to music, but to charge into the battlefield.
Tao Tie felt quite strange and suddenly seemed to be thinking about something. He looked up at the Hua'e Tower in the night, which was brightly lit, bustling with beautiful women and chirping with birds.
There is countless joy and endless desolation in this building.
Happiness belongs to the benefactor, but what about desolation?
Tao Tie understood that the eldest princess really did not come to the brothel to listen to music, but to cause trouble.
Tonight is bound to be extremely lively!
(End of this chapter)
