After lunch, Xiao Tuyu was in a good mood, and took Luo Yuanxuan, Dou Ji, Xiao Jian, and Hua Yun to the White Upper Courtyard to see the Canaan snow leopard. In addition to admiring the miracle of creation, the emperor was very fond of the innocent and calm unique temperament of Rongdanu.

Xiao Tuyou also deliberately stopped by to see Bishop Shu Yan who was hiding in the White Upper Courtyard for retreat.

Since Bishop Shuyan was bitten by a big cat in the White Upper Palace, his will was extremely depressed, and he even sought death several times, and then slowly turned around, but he still couldn't avoid people, and just hid in the White Upper Courtyard to retreat. Although it is the late autumn season, there is no cold and withered atmosphere outside the ashram, but all kinds of leaves, autumn flowers, and fruits set off each other, which looks both elegant and vibrant.

Knowing that Bishop Shu Yan had an excellent face and did not want to see outsiders as a disabled person, he specially instructed that except for Hua Yun's attendants, everyone else should stay outside and not be allowed to accompany him.

Bishop Shuyan knew that the emperor suddenly got into trouble today and came to see the Canaanite snow leopard, but he never expected the emperor to come to see him, so he did not freshen up and prepare in advance.

When he saw Bishop Shuyan's bleak and decadent description, he was very sorry and said, "Shuyan, you are something I know, how did you abandon yourself like this? ”

Bishop Shu Yan just wept. He was very familiar with the emperor, so he was not very pretentious.

Tu Tu inspected Bishop Shu Yan's hand that was bitten by a big cat, and then carefully examined Bishop Shu Yan's emaciated face, and said, "Shu Yan, you are a person with a fairy appearance. I know you've lost an arm and feel like you're disabled and not perfect anymore. This must have hit you hard, right? ”

Bishop Shu Yan was still weeping, choked up and said, "Your Majesty, and, still, in fact, ,......"

Tuyu patted Bishop Shuyan on the shoulder and said, "I know, I know, I know. Shu Yan, you don't have to say it. I know your suffering. The festival of your heart is not only because of your appearance, but also because of the throne of the Pope, isn't it? ”

Bishop Shu Yan shook and did not answer. "You are the Holy Metropolitan Bishop, the youngest and highest-ranking bishop, so you are the most promising and most likely bishop to take over as the Pope, but you were bitten by the White Sect's Holy Spirit Canaan Snow Leopard in the White Palace. Do you think that your prestige will plummet, that you will be rejected by the congregation, and that there is no hope of taking over as pope? ”

Bishop Shuyan sighed, nodded heavily, and said, "Your Majesty knows Shuyan well, and knows Shuyan ...... well."

Xiao Tuyu said: "Hmph." Shuyan, don't let me underestimate you! ”

Bishop Shuyan's eyes widened in surprise. How could the emperor, who had always been gentle and gentle, suddenly change his tone so harshly.

Xiao Tuyu let go of the hand holding Bishop Shuyan, walked straight to his seat and sat down, and said, "What are you doing with this?!" I tell you the truth, although you are a Holy Metropolitan Bishop, you are too impetuous and sophisticated, and although you think very highly of yourself, your cleverness is petty, and your ambition is written on your beautiful skin. You are still able to wander among the princes and ministers of the Holy Capital. Emperor Xian and I are willing to use your strengths. But if you want to rely on this to get the position of pope, you are far from it. I'll tell you the truth, whether it's prestige, deeds, or means, you can only be regarded as a second-rate bishop. I had planned that as you grew older and more experienced, you would gradually get rid of those bad habits, but you were so obsessed with profit that you wanted to take the Canaanite snow leopard for yourself. That's it, you've lost an arm, and you've fallen so depressed! You're hiding here and feeling sorry for yourself, are your arms growing?! The Pope's throne came to you on its own?! ”

The Emperor's tone was so stern that Bishop Shuyan was already stunned. Even Hua Yun, who was guarding the side, was very shocked, and the emperor's attitude changed sharply. Hua Yun was worried that the emperor was too excited, so he quietly handed over a cup of hot tea.

Xiao Tuyou took the tea, glanced at Hua Yun, and nodded lightly to Hua Yun to show that he had understood Hua Yun's meaning and let Hua Yun not worry. The emperor's action made Hua Yun feel very warm, and there was a sense of closeness between the emperor and himself.

Xiao Tuyou breathed a sigh of relief, and then said, "Shuyan, I ask you a word today. You tell me the truth. Do you still want to be the Pope?! ”

Bishop Shu Yan had a very embarrassed look on his face. Hua Yun could see that the ambition in Bishop Shuyan's heart had not been completely extinguished.

"If you give up your ambition to be the Pope, then I won't say anything. I will send you to the county of Huanshui, where the climate is mild, the products are abundant, and your disciple Xiao Ke is the king of the county there, so you can go there to retreat and retire. We don't have any too deep fate in this life! Just when I was blind, I was wrong at the beginning! ”

Bishop Shu Yan immediately left two lines of tears, and in despair fell to his knees in a manner similar to that resembling a paralyzed sitting, whimpering and sobbing in a low voice.

He waited for a while and said, "However, if you still have the ambition to become the Pope, you can tell me plainly today." I'll do it for you! ”

Bishop Shuyan froze for a moment.

Tu Yu said: "You say! ”

Bishop Shuyan knelt down upright, like a courtier in the officialdom, bowed down in a proper manner, and said: "Your Majesty, how can Shuyan be virtuous, and His Majesty is so loved and respected. The minister is dull, but if the minister can get the position of the Pope, he is willing to use the power of the White Sect to help His Majesty. ”

This is a very abnormal situation, and it is a statement that seriously violates the teachings of the White Religion. The White Religion has been established for thousands of years, and its status is incomparable and prosperous, and it has always coexisted almost equally with the imperial court politics. According to the Baijiao catechical tradition, even clergy at the level of vicarage, when they see the emperor, do not call themselves "ministers", but only call themselves by the name of the church; When he reaches the rank of bishop, he no longer bows down, but only worships. As for the Pope, he bowed only slightly.

Hua Yun was very familiar with the three religions and nine streams, and he knew all kinds of etiquette and rituals by heart, so he was naturally surprised to see Bishop Shuyan's abnormal behavior. But what surprised Hua Yun even more was the emperor's clever methods of rubbing people's hearts and subduing others, which made him very impressed.

He adjusted his sitting posture and sat upright on the seat, holding the sides of the seat with his hands relaxed, with a kind expression. Hua Yun felt that the emperor at this moment, just like the Pope, exuded a divine light all over his body.

Xiao Tuyou said: "Shuyan, I don't need you to help me first." Because, now, I can't trust you! But, at the root, I believe in you, and I believe in your potential. However, you still have to sharpen and sharpen it a lot. Otherwise, not to mention helping me, you are competing for the position of Pope, and you are far from being hot. You know that the White Sect has its own rules, and even the emperor cannot interfere in the election of the Pope. ”

Bishop Shu Yan seemed to have regained his former vigor and said, "Your Majesty, the matter is man-made. The White Sect was independent of the imperial court, and the Pope was almost equal to the Emperor, which in itself was wrong. If His Majesty does not give up, the ministers are willing to do their best to carry out the reform of the White Religion and straighten out the relationship between the White Religion and the imperial court, and between the Pope and the monarch. The minister doesn't want to promise anything now, but only asks His Majesty to give the minister a few years. If the minister can't do it, let alone the arm, please take this head with Your Majesty. ”

Hua Yun felt that Bishop Shuyan did not look like a white clergyman at all, but like an out-and-out court official. In Hua Yun's heart, the elegant, handsome and virtuous Bishop of Shuyan in the past has disappeared forever.

Tuyou smiled and said, "Shu Yan, what do I want your beautiful head to do?" I'm telling you, this thing you're going to do is a big thing, a big thing. It is necessary to take a long-term view, and there is no urgency at present. It must not be forced. This is a fundamental plan that involves the will of the people and the conditions of the world, and we must not act recklessly. Your heart is good, I can totally understand that. Your purpose is also good, and I fully support you in doing it. But things have to be done one step at a time. Raising seedlings will only do bad things. The top priority is not education reform. If you want to carry out the reform of religious affairs, you must wait until you become the pope before you have the opportunity to do it, otherwise you will be constrained everywhere. The most urgent thing at the moment is to restore your high status and prestige in the White Sect, and then you can talk about competing for the position of Pope. Don't you say, Shuyan? ”

Bishop Shuyan's face flew with brilliance, and his eyes were also rejuvenated, and he kowtowed his hand and said, "Your Majesty is heroic and invincible, and the ministers are not convinced." I would like to ask Your Majesty to give a lecture. ”

Tuyou smiled and said, "Holy Capital, you can't stay any longer. You've been depressed for the past few months, and there are a lot of rumors. I'll tell you the truth, your depression in the past few months has exhausted all the prestige you have accumulated over the decades. It is no good to stay in the holy capital any longer. ”

Bishop Shuyan's head spun sharply, calculating where the emperor wanted him to go.

"If you want to become the Pope, you still have to go to the core area of the White Sect. ”

Bishop Shu Yan said: "White Palace?!" "Shu Yan thought, could it be that the emperor wants to make himself an apostle, or just a cardinal?

"Bai Shanggong, although his status is noble, he is on the top of the snow-capped mountain, and he actually has no actual power. I think you should go to Canaan and be a Bishop of Canaan. This has two major benefits. On the one hand, there is a county where the religious affairs and congregational people are in their hands, which is a real power, and it is much easier to do things. On the other hand, the White Palace is in Canaan, and you are close to the White Palace, and you can slowly do the work of the Bishops of the White Palace, which is what you are best at. You say, is that good? ”

Bishop Shu Yan was very satisfied, and kowtowed: "Your Majesty Shengming." The minister will do his best to manage Canaan's religious affairs well and live up to His Majesty's trust. ”

"Canaan's teachings? Shuyan, is it true that you are just a county bishop? ”

Bishop Shu Yan did not understand the emperor's meaning at all. Bishop Canaan, regardless of Canaan's religious affairs, is he still in charge of Canaanite affairs?

"Canaan is the location of the White Sect, almost everyone believes in the White Sect, and it is just a matter of ruling the arch, what is there to manage the affairs of the Church?!" I asked you to go to Canaan in the hope that you would use the special position of the White Religion in Canaan to play a role in all aspects of Canaan. For example, evaluate and supervise the new policy of county kings and county guards. You, understood, Shuyan? ”

Bishop Shu Yan was instantly enlightened, his eyes flashed with a smile of satisfaction and surprise, and he saluted again in a dashing manner, and said, "The minister understands." Your Majesty, please rest assured. ”

He knew that Bishop Shu Yan did understand.

Hua Yun also understood that Bishop Shuyan really understood. Hua Yun understood that the emperor's move had achieved at least three goals: first, to completely subdue Bishop Shuyan; The second is to pre-empt a candidate for the future Pope, and once this candidate is elected Pope, he will be completely subordinate to himself and will devote himself to completely domesticating the White Religion under the control of the imperial court; The third is to use the power of the White Sect to strictly control the prince of Canaan, as well as the Canaan county Shourongzhu.

Xiao Tuyou smiled, raised his hand, and made a gesture to ask Bishop Shuyan to get up, but did not really make a move, but said softly: "Get up, Shuyan." You are the Holy Metropolitan Bishop, and you kneel like this, like a courtier, as if you are unorthodox. ”

Bishop Shuyan slowly got up and said respectfully: "Your Majesty, under the whole world, it is not the king's land. The ministers, first of all, are the courtiers of His Majesty, and then the bishops of the White Sect. The righteousness of the monarch and the minister is the first article in the Baijiao doctrine that should be clear, and before, the Baijiao was secretive and vague, which was too unruly. Not to mention the bishop, even the Pope, he can't step into the righteousness of the monarch and the minister. ”

Tuyu smiled, patted Bishop Shuyan on the shoulder, did not speak, got up, and left.