No one knows what Yang Fei said to the emperor in the Qianqing Palace that day, only that the emperor said this sentence when he came out of the Qianqing Palace after seeing Yang Fei: "Everything in the world is bad in the mouths of those scholars." Then he issued a decree to remove Yang Fei from his post as the secretary of the Ministry of Rites and fine him for one year, but at the same time, he was dismissed from his post and took care of things, and still retained his status as a scholar of Dongge University.

In the afternoon of the same day, Emperor Chongde went to the Fengxian Hall to offer incense to the ancestors, and then went to the side hall of the Fengxian Palace, where the tablet of the Empress Dowager Liu, the biological mother of the Chongde Emperor, was enshrined.

When Emperor Chongde was four years old, Empress Dowager Liu, who was still a lady at that time, had already died. Regarding the death of Empress Dowager Liu, it is actually very unusual. According to the general version, Empress Dowager Liu died of a violent illness. However, there is also a theory that at that time, Lady Liu was actually forced to commit suicide because she accidentally angered Emperor Taishun, who was still the crown prince at the time. It was only at that time that the position of the crown prince of Emperor Taishun was unstable, and he was afraid that the news of forcing the concubine to die would spread and shake his position, so he said to the outside world that she died of illness.

Because of this, after her death, Lady Liu was only hastily buried in Xishan as a palace maid. It was not until Emperor Chongde ascended the throne that he was posthumously named the Empress Dowager of Xiaochun and moved to the imperial mausoleum.

When Liu died, Emperor Chongde was still young, and he didn't have much memory of his mother. But perhaps because of this, in the heart of Emperor Chongde, who lost his mother since he was a child, Liu's image has become more and more tall and glorious. Especially in recent years, the state affairs are changing, as the emperor of his body is naturally very stressed, in this case, whenever the emperor has something, he will come to the Fengxian Palace, enter the side hall dedicated to his mother Liu, drive everyone out, close the door and cry silently.

Before the Chinese New Year, a painter from the Hanlin Academy finally completed the portrait of the Empress Dowager Liu, which is said to be exquisite and lifelike. However, Emperor Chongde has not yet seen this portrait for the last time. However, this painter has also painted several portraits of the Empress Dowager Liu before, and others say that the painting is similar and the painting is good-looking, but after Emperor Chongde personally saw it, he always said: "No, the Empress Dowager Liu is not like this." "Although the emperor himself does not remember what his mother was like at all.

Early the next morning, Emperor Chongde went to the Wuying Hall of the Outer Dynasty to see the new portrait of the Empress Dowager Liu.

Entering the Wenhua Palace, there were already a few low-level officials in green official uniforms waiting there. After seeing the emperor and paying his respects, Emperor Chongde said: "Don't be polite, where is the portrait of the Queen Mother?" ”

A painter led the emperor to a wall, pulled back the curtain that hung on the wall, and a portrait hung there.

In the portrait, a woman is sitting there, dignified and kind. The portrait was so realistic that it looked like a real person, as if every hair and every accessory could swing in the wind. What's even better is that the eyes of the Empress Dowager Liu in the painting seem to be able to turn, no matter which angle you look at, she is smiling and looking at you with loving eyes.

Emperor Chongde stood in front of the portrait, staring at the portrait, not saying a word, but two lines of tears rolled down his face. After another moment, Emperor Chongde lowered his head and sighed. Cao Huachun, who was following him, hurriedly handed over a handkerchief.

Emperor Chongde took the handkerchief, wiped his tears, and asked, "Cao Banban, you have also met the Queen Mother before." You say it's a good painting this time? ”

This question actually shows the emperor's attitude towards this painting. Prior to this, the painters had spent five paintings, but every time the emperor looked at it, he shook his head directly and said, "It's not like that." Then he turned his head and asked Cao Huachun and said, "Cao Banban, do you say that this portrait of the Queen Mother?" Of course, Cao Huachun shook his head and said, "No, not at all." ”

"Your Majesty," Cao Huachun hurriedly knelt down and said, "Like, really like!" When the slave saw this painting, she only felt as if the mother was about to come back to life and was about to walk down from the painting. ”

Emperor Chongde nodded and said, "I feel like it too!" Although I was only five years old, the Queen Mother died. I don't remember exactly what the Queen Mother looked like. But the Queen Mother's gaze has never forgotten, that's it, that's it! At that time, the Queen Mother held me and looked at me with such eyes, and I remember that I often dreamed of it when I dreamed. ”

Speaking of this, Emperor Chongde couldn't help but shed tears again.

Cao Huachun hurriedly wiped his eyes with the ginger hidden in his sleeve, and cried alongside him.

Emperor Chongde stared at the portrait for a while before turning his head and saying, "Zhang Aiqing, this painting is not the same as you used to be." ”

An official in a green robe hurriedly knelt down and said, "Tell the emperor that this painting was not painted by Wei Chen, but by Wei Chen's friend Huang Yuanli." ”

Emperor Chongde nodded and said: "No wonder, well, where is this Huang Yuanli from, his painting method is ingenious, I have seen a lot of famous paintings from ancient times and today, but I have never seen such a painting method, but it can be regarded as a family of its own." ”

The official surnamed Zhang hurriedly replied: "Your Majesty, this person is not my Dazhao people, but a Taixi person. His way of painting is Tessie's way of painting. ”

Emperor Chongde nodded, he knew that when his grandfather, Emperor Shenzong, there were Taixi people who came straight from overseas to meet Emperor Shenzong. Because he was good at the astronomical calendar, he was able to help Xu Zixuan, a cabinet scholar, correct the calendar, and was allowed to live in Beijing. Since then, these Taisi have been living in Jingshi. Emperor Chongde also knew that they were actually a group of Tessie monks who practiced a religion called "Catholicism". In fact, this religion had already been introduced to China in the Tang Dynasty, and it was called Jingjiao at that time. Emperor Chongde knew that some of his ministers were now practicing this kind of Catholicism. Emperor Chongde himself took the time to read some of the scriptures of this religion, and they all seemed to be persuading people to do good. In addition, they also worship God, and although they refer to Him as "God", the clergy generally believe that their "God" is the "God" mentioned in the Chinese "Three Tombs and Five Classics". Therefore, they are not even willing to be called Taixi monks, but prefer to call themselves Taixi Confucian students, and even wear Confucian clothes.

In the past, Emperor Chongde felt that although these Taixi people were harmless and admired the Great Dao, their understanding of the Great Dao was still mostly chiseled. However, at this time, after looking at the Empress Dowager Liu's portrait painted by the Taixi painter, he felt that these Taixi people still had some merit.

So Emperor Chongde asked: "Then Huang Yuanli has never seen Empress Dowager Li, how can he paint so likely?" ”

The official surnamed Zhang hurriedly kowtowed and apologized: "Weichen is guilty!" On that day, the portrait of the Queen Mother painted by Weichen was denied by the saint, and Weichen returned home, pondering and thinking, not knowing how to paint. It happened that Huang Yuanli came to visit. He saw that Weichen's sad face was seen in the color, so he asked Weichen what was the matter. We're going to tell you. He was also moved by the pure filial piety of the saint, so he asked Weichen to show him all the paintings he had painted before. Weichen originally knew that the Queen Mother's face was not like a painting, and it should not be shown to outsiders. It's just that Wechen knows that he is a square person, and he won't have any bad thoughts when he sees it, and he thinks that he is proficient in painting, maybe he can point out something to make Wechen paint better. He let him read all the waste manuscripts one by one. Later, a few days later, he came to Weichen again. Tell Wechen that after he returned, he was deeply moved by His Majesty's pure filial piety, so he prayed to God for God's guidance. In a trance, I saw a pair of eyes. Then he hurriedly drew this and showed it to Weichen. Originally, according to his intentions, Wei Chen planned to draw a new one, but his eyes followed the painting on his painting. But I don't want Weichen's skills to be too bad, no matter what, I can't even draw this eye. I had no choice but to bring this painting and present it to Your Majesty. ”

Emperor Chongde listened, thought for a while, and then said: "You really didn't think about this matter, but you are also worried about the king's affairs, and I won't pursue you this time." This painting is good, you can add text. ”

The official surnamed Zhang hurriedly kowtowed to thank him. Emperor Chongde waited for him to thank him, and then said: "Your friend's painting skills are indeed extraordinary, and you can also let him come to Wuying Hall to make offerings." Well, Cao Banban, you can help arrange it. ”

After saying this, Emperor Chongde drove to the Qianqing Palace, and he still had a lot of twists and turns to deal with. As he walked back, he thought that the weather had not been good all these years, and that although he had prayed to Heaven many times, nothing had come of it. And the gods of Buddhism, Taoism, he also sent people to pray for blessings, but there was no fulfillment. Now, the Catholic God seems to have some miracles.

In fact, if this portrait of Empress Dowager Liu was seen by Wang Mang, who had crossed over, he would definitely feel that the expressions and eyes of the characters on this painting resembled Raphael's "Madonna in the Chair". And if Xuan Yi saw this painting, his idea must be that the "God" is trying to reach out to the imperial court, hoping to spread his religion with the help of the dragon energy of the imperial court. Moreover, he must also realize that this self-proclaimed "God" in the "Three Tombs and Five Classics", who tried to devour the authority of the Heavenly Emperor, infiltrated his power into the palace, and such a move would definitely cause a backlash from the Heavenly Court. No matter how the situation develops, this rebound will not be a good thing for the imperial court. Of course, Xuan Yi, who already regarded Heavenly Court as his first enemy, would also realize that Catholicism, as the enemy of the enemy, might be a force that could be exploited.

……

Above the Nine Heavens, in the invisible, unknowable underworld, the Emperor of Heaven was playing against a middle-aged immortal surrounded by a nine-colored divine light.

"Your Majesty, you see that the power of that alien god has penetrated deep into the palace." The fairy picked up a white chess piece in his hand and slowly lowered it on the chessboard. The piece was deeply embedded in the black shape.

"I see." The Emperor of Heaven picked up a black chess piece, but he didn't drop it, just looked at the chessboard and groaned.

"Taiyi, what do you think I should do?" The Heavenly Emperor asked again.

It turned out that the immortal was the famous Taiyi Tianzun, and now when he heard the Heavenly Emperor's question, he said, "Didn't Your Majesty expect this?" Why are you hesitating now? ”

When the Emperor heard this, he smiled slightly and said, "What you said is true." Then the chess pieces in his hand fell, but it was a step to calm the gods......