Lingjuguan is located on a peak in the southeast outside the city of Jundu, although it is a little far away, but the scenery along the way is good, as the carriage travels farther and farther, the surrounding environment is becoming more and more quiet, the towering trees stand on both sides of the road leading to Lingjuguan, the sunlight passes through the fine gaps between the green leaves, sprinkles a spot of light, the shadow is sufficient, the cicadas on the trees are flickering near and far, occasionally there are a few gentle birdsongs, and the sound of the murmuring of the stream can be faintly heard in the distance. Ling Xiao thought that only Yanlingzhan and a few family members would go with her, but she never thought that the carriage was followed by well-trained guards, and they were moving forward in a mighty manner, while the pilgrims who also went to incense had to avoid it.

"It's just incense, such a group of people really disturbs the people." In the past few months, it is not difficult for her to see that Yunhou Mansion is low-key and never gives people a handle, and she never likes to act in a high-profile manner, so she said.

"As a princess, Nan'er should go out like this, and the journey is not safe, and her father is worried about her safety. Second, the incense this time is different from usual, much more important than usual, and there is no room for mistakes. Yan Lingzhan said to her.

"Could it be that there are still mountain bandits and robbers on this road?" Ling Xiao asked. Ling Xiao thought that the Central Plains had been prosperous for hundreds of years, could it be that there was still a mountain bandit who was forced to be helpless because of lack of food and clothing.

"Near Jundu, the mountain bandits and robbers are not enough, but the secret calculations between the gate valves are far more terrible than the mountain bandits, I shouldn't have told Yu'er this, but this is also the helplessness of being in the emperor's noble family." Yan Lingzhan said.

The battle between the gate valves and the struggle within the clan is inevitable in every dynasty and generation, which is also the common point reflected in the history books. It's like when she used to be in the business world, she needed to take every step of the way, and if she made a slight mistake, she would never recover. But the battle between the temple people is far more bitter and fierce than the battle of the merchants, here is full of calculations, every step is a conspiracy, everyone has a trick. There is no family fight in Yunhou Mansion, which is quite peaceful, and she has lived a stable and peaceful life in the past few months.

"I understand if you don't say it. Is there still less such meaningless fighting in the past dynasties?" Ling Xiao said.

"How did you know this?" Yan Lingzhan was very surprised.

"In the past few months, I have nothing to do in the house, so I have read a lot of history books and have some understanding." Ling Xiao could only explain it this way. In fact, Ling Xiao's historiography since she was a child was not in vain, half of the family business was in the antique business, and at that time she not only had to learn Chinese history, but also need to be proficient in the historical development of other countries. If you want to master antiques, history is the foundation.

"Don't read these books in the future, it will only increase your troubles, my father named you a worry, I hope you can stay away from your worries, which is what I hope." Yan Lingzhan said softly. Ling Xiao let out a "hmm", which was in response to him. After that, he looked out through the carriage window at the quiet scenery outside.

When they arrived, there was already a row of young Taoist priests wearing light gray Taoist robes and a dark gray Taoist robe, and the white-haired old Taoist was waiting here. It seems that there was some preparation in advance and dismissed the other pilgrims, otherwise it would not be so quiet, I heard that this is the peak of incense on weekdays. Ling Xiao and Yanling Zhan approached, and the old Taoist saluted them: "Sixth prince, princess Liwu, the need for incense has been prepared, and Uncle Shi has been waiting in it for a long time, please." Then he made a gesture of please.

"There is a long way to go." Yan Lingzhan said respectfully, and walked in with Ling Xiao, followed by the Yuanqu Dao Chief. Ling Xiao couldn't help but think, he was so old, so wouldn't the senior uncle in his mouth be over a hundred years old.

The layout of the view is ingenious, two finely carved, the incense tripod with complicated pictures and texts is full of incense candles lit by Mars, the cigarette smoke is swirling, the green trees are surrounded on all sides, Ling Xiao walks on the floor that is tightly connected with stone slabs, feels the green smoke that floats freely, there is really a sense of transcendence outside the world, this is the state of the unity of heaven and man.

Ling Xiao walked into the main hall, except for a few middle-aged Taoist priests wearing Taoist robes of the same color as Yuanqu Dao Chang, he saw a young man wearing a white dark coat and a light blue tulle deep coat outside, with flowing forehead hair.

Yan Lingzhan walked over and saluted: "Big brother, I haven't seen you for three years, don't come unharmed." This is Yanling Chu, the half-brother of Yanling Zhan, who joined Taoism at the age of fourteen, and now it has been sixteen years. He is very different from Yanling Last, but he is somewhat similar to Yanling Last, but there is only one point, if Yanling Last gives people the feeling of indifference and refinement, then Yanling Chu is gentle and handsome, indifferent and frank, not contaminated with the world, but there is a bit of fairy wind bones.

"It's fine. Have you and Yu'er had a smooth journey?" Yan Lingchu asked.

"It's all right." Yan Lingzhan replied.

"Then let's start the worship ceremony." Yanling Chu said to the Yuanqu Dao Commander on the side.

Ling Xiao walked to a statue, and then a little Taoist priest carefully brought a basin of water to clean his hands, and when his hands entered the water, Ling Xiao suddenly felt coolness spread from his hands to his nerves. After cleaning his hands, one person handed over the three incense sticks that had been lit, a total of nine statues in the hall, one statue worshiped three incense sticks, and worshiped them in turn, and then the Yuanqu Dao Chang took a little incense ash from the incense burner in front of the nine statues in turn, mixed it together, wrapped it in paper, recited a few words silently, and then respectfully handed it to Ling Xiao: "Princess Liwu, you can take this." Ling Xiao didn't understand what this meant, but he still kept it carefully as he said. Ling Xiao believes in atheism, but he can't break the rules of this time and space, the so-called following the customs. In the present, Taoism is also the best choice for self-cultivation, and there is no harm.

An altar was placed in the center of the hall, and after she collected the incense ashes, she was introduced to the altar by a small Taoist priest and knelt on the group in front of the altar. A group of Taoist priests stood on both sides of the altar with a whisk in their hands, and the Taoist chief of Yuanqu stood between the altar and her, facing the altar, and bowed three times with incense sticks in his hand, carefully inserted it into the incense burner on the altar, and asked Ling Xiao to close his eyes, and then what Ling Xiao did is unknown, but there was a burst of scriptures that she didn't understand, and it wasn't until a long time later that the curtain came down, and the sound of reciting scriptures disappeared.

"Princess Liwu, the ceremony has been completed, you can get up." Yuanqu Dao Leader said to Ling Xiao.

Ling Xiao slowly opened her eyes, and Qi'er helped her up, at this time her legs were a little numb, and Yan Lingzhan also walked over.

Daoist Yuanqu walked in front of Yanling Chu: "Senior uncle, the ceremony has been completed, if there is nothing else, the disciple will go first." Yan Lingchu nodded and motioned for him to leave first. The head of Yuanqu Dao is the master of Yiguan, and he is older than Yanling Chu, and he doesn't know much, so he actually calls Yanling Chu his uncle, which shocks Ling Xiao. "The sixth prince, Her Royal Highness the princess, Pingdao will be the first to be accompanied." Yuanqu Daoist came over and said to Ling Xiao and Yan Lingzhan. "Dao Chief, please." After Yanlingzhan finished speaking, a group of people left the main hall one after another, leaving only two little Taoist priests here.

"Time flies so fast, in a blink of an eye, Yu'er is already in time." Yan Lingchu said.

Yan Lingzhan replied: "Time is like this, and it has been almost sixteen years since the eldest brother left Jundu. ”

"It's still early, it's not too late for you and Yu'er to go to my place for a cup of tea and leave early." Yan Lingchu invited.

Yan Lingzhan smiled and said, "It's so good, it's rare for our brothers to meet, and I just want to go to my eldest brother's place to ask for a cup of tea." ”

Ling Xiao followed Yanling Zhan through a stone road shrouded in greenery and came to Yanling Chu's residence. It is located on a gentle slope, based on solid wooden planks, on which a well-built wooden house stands, and the edge of the wooden board is equipped with a square table and a bamboo soft mat, between which is a wide area for martial arts. The wooden house is surrounded on three sides by tall trees, lush green leaves, cicadas, birdsong, and shadows under the trees. Behind the house is a cliff, shrouded in clouds and mist, like a fairyland on earth. The house is open and bright, the furnishings are simple and elegant, and there are all kinds of piano, chess, pen, ink, paper and inkstone. Smoke rises from the incense burner, and the breeze blows gently and dissipates into the air. Through the four beautifully carved wooden windows, the green mountains and white clouds outside the cliff can be seen. Smooth wooden planks extend from the back door and hang over the cliff, on which a delicate tea set made of agarwood and a few bamboo mats are placed. And they were going to sit on the cliff.

"Yu'er, you sit here." When Ling Xiao was about to sit on the side, Yan Ling Zhan pointed to the position in front of the door and said to her, and Yan Ling Zhan sat on the side of the wooden plank, sitting opposite Yan Ling Chu, and the scene in front of Ling Xiao was green mountains and white clouds. Ling Xiao knew that Yan Lingzhan was worried that she would be afraid to sit there, so he didn't allow her to sit in that position, after all, there was an abyss below, and a thick sea of clouds shrouded it, and it was impossible to peek into its depth.

"The scenery here is really pleasant, and the scenery is much more pleasant than those of us all day long." Yanlingzhan said with emotion.

"This is the beauty of the Tao, the unity of heaven and man, in order to experience the chic and comfortable of the world, comfortable and beautiful, which is far more happy than the battle of the temples and rivers and lakes." Yan Lingchu replied while skillfully boiling tea and moistening tea utensils.

"If everybody is like Big Brother, it's going to be a lot boring. The view is great, but it's not something that everyone yearns for. Yan Lingzhan looked at the scenery in the distance.

"Everyone's life is different, and everyone has their own aspirations. As the Taoists often say, 'The laity are clear, but I am faint; The laity observe, and I am alone. It is like the sea, and it is endless', this is the attitude of our cultivators towards the world. Yan Ling Chu said these words that Ling Xiao didn't quite understand, holding a teaspoon in his hand, gently putting the turquoise tea leaves into the boiling water, and controlling the heat in the furnace.

Yan Lingzhan said with a smile: "The eldest brother's understanding of the human world is really beyond the reach of ordinary people. ”

After a long time, Yanling Chu asked: "I haven't seen you for a few years, but my father is in good health." ”

"My father's health is still fine, but he is too tired of state affairs." Yan Lingzhan replied.

Yan Lingchu nodded and put the brewed tea into the cup.

"Yu'er has changed a lot, and she is no longer the naughty and lively little girl she was back then." Yan Lingchu said.

After all, the North Vietnamese country is no better than his own family, and if he is wronged, he can only confide in Zhong Liling alone. When he returned to China, he encountered rain on the way, suffered from a cold wind, and suffered a high fever and amnesia, which led to a great change in his temperament. Yan Lingzhan explained.

"But it's also a blessing in disguise, and now it seems that Yuan'er is physically and mentally complete." Yan Lingchu said this, but Ling Xiao didn't understand what he meant, but he didn't ask.

Yan Lingzhan picked up the teacup and tasted it, and then said, "Peace and quiet is the best result." ”

Tea was drunk one by one, time passed slowly, and Yanling Zhan and Yanling Chu talked calmly for a long time. Here, like a fairyland on earth, Ling Xiao seems to have a kind of detachment, feeling the infinity brought by nature's magic and appreciating the beautiful scenery that has never been seen before. It was just facing due east, and it was not difficult for her to imagine how amazing the sun must have been at dawn when it first rose.

No matter how good the tea is, there is a time when it is exhausted, and most of the time has passed, after Ling Xiao and Yanling Zhan said goodbye to Yanling Chu, they got on the carriage back to Jundu, and a group of people left this pleasant place as mightily as when they came.

When he returned to the capital, it was still early, and Yanlingzhan took Ling Xiao to the famous restaurant in Jundu, where the dishes of this restaurant were as good as those made in the imperial dining room, and the wine was even more famous, and it became a frequent gathering place for dignitaries.

"Childe, please, the dishes have already been prepared according to your orders." Seeing them come in, Xiao Er immediately came to greet them, which Yanling Zhan had prepared before.

Ling Xiao followed Yanlingzhan into the independent private room on the second floor, the interior of the room is elegantly furnished, with various calligraphy and paintings hanging on the wall, potted plants, jade, etc. On the side of the street, there is a light gauze curtain, and about one meter in front of the curtain is a carved railing, standing here, you can see the street people coming and going, endlessly. "This is where the four brothers and the fifth brother and the three of us often get together, I wonder if Yu'er likes it?" Yan Lingzhan asked.

"It's a very good environment." Ling Xiao replied.

"It's good if you like it, if you're hungry, let's try the dishes of this Baiwei Building." Yanlingzhan motioned for Ling Xiao to sit down.

"Why is it called Baiwei Building?" Ling Xiao asked after sitting down.

"Different people eat different tastes, hence the name Baiwei Building. Taste this. As she spoke, she brought her unknown dish to Ling Xiao's bowl. The entrance of this dish is very refreshing, moderately salty, full of charm, a kind of lotus leaf fragrance echoes in the mouth for a long time, Ling Xiao feels that it is really comparable to the imperial dining room.

"It's delicious." Ling Xiao said.

"Try this again." Yan Lingzhan said that he brought her another dish, this dish was different from the previous one, with the slight bitterness of chrysanthemums in the mouth, and then suddenly burst out with the sweetness of sweet pear, and the aftertaste was endless.

"It's a really good dish, but I don't know how it's made." Ling Xiao said.

"If Yu'er is interested in this 'Yulu Bingqing', I will ask Xiao Ye to call the cook." Xiao Ye is a close confidant of Yanling Zhan, and as he spoke, he instructed Xiao Ye outside the door to invite the cook, and he continued to carry all kinds of dishes for Ling Xiao, after Ling Xiao tasted them one by one, she felt that these dishes were really distinctive, but what impressed her the most was the dish with the sweetness of Sydney.

Soon the cook arrived, Ling Xiao pointed to the dish and asked the cook how it was made, he said: "This is not difficult, take the chrysanthemum that has not rained in autumn, dry it in a cool place and seal it in the jade jar for later use, and when the pear is ripe in summer, pick and peel it, cut it into pieces, soak it in ice stored in the ice cellar in winter for half an hour, soak the chrysanthemum petals in the morning dew on the spring magnolia petals for two days, mash it to take its juice, simmer until it boils, and then add a little wheat flour to collect the juice." The juice is served in a plantain leaf dish and cooled in an ice cellar, then poured over the pear. "The ** in autumn, the ice in winter, the dew in spring, the pear in summer, it takes a year to prepare a dish.

After enjoying all kinds of dishes, the sky had darkened, and Yan Lingzhan sent Ling Xiao to the Hou Mansion.

At night, when it was not dark, a maid walked into the house, at this time Ling Xiao was practicing calligraphy, and the maids in the house, including Qi'er, were retreated by her, so the house seemed extraordinarily quiet, which is also a habit of hers, and she didn't like to have idle people when doing things, and more than a dozen maids nested in the room, which really looked annoying.

"Madame asked the slave maid to come and invite the princess to her place, and there was something to discuss." The maid saluted and said.

Ling Xiao raised his head and glanced at her, this maid was very unfamiliar, she had never seen it before. Recently, the house has been busy, and the He family has been working hard for this banquet day by day, and Ling Xiao thought that it was normal for one or two new maids to enter the house, so he left Taoxi Pavilion with the maids after answering the sentence.

When Ling Xiao was heading towards the He family's courtyard, the maidservant said, "Madame is not in the courtyard, please come with the princess." ”

In the twilight, there was no yarn lamp, Ling Xiao followed her figure, walking slowly, although the sky was not dark, but everything was already blurred, and it was very inconvenient to move.

"Why don't you light a lamp?" Ling Xiao asked.

"It was the slave's dereliction of duty that she forgot to light the lamp, and asked the princess to forgive her sins." The maid confessed her mistake. Ling Xiao understood that she didn't understand the rules as a newcomer, and it was inevitable that there would be mistakes in doing things, so she didn't say anything.

Ling Xiao walked with the maidservant for a while, and found that this seemed to be the way to the dining room, and she thought that the He family must still be busy with the dishes on the banquet tomorrow. These days, Zhong Liyi and Zhong Limu have been concerned about the affairs of the imperial court, and the mansion is all taken care of by the He family and the housekeeper, getting up early and going to bed late every day.

Along the way, Ling Xiao was taken to the courtyard behind the dining room, which was very close to the back door of the Hou Mansion, and the dishes and rice grains needed by the Hou Mansion on weekdays were transported from this back door, and there was no one at this time.

"Please wait here for the princess, and the lady will be there later." After saying that, he left.

Ling Xiao was wondering why He Shi wanted to meet her here, when suddenly she felt a pain in her neck, an arm strangled her neck, and something covered her mouth and nose, so that she could not shout, she felt a bad smell enter her nose, and then her eyes went black and she lost consciousness.