Qin Shi Ambitious

Page 157

What private matters might the Right Protector of the Yin-Yang School have...?

Yan Fei remained silent.

The Moon Goddess also understood that the timing issue in Xinghun's words had given him a weakness in front of her intelligent sister, which was why she had just intervened to stop Xinghun from speaking further, but it was too late.

Although she had prepared a statement for this purpose, it remains to be seen whether her statement will be convincing to the Eastern Emperor.

Each sister harboring her own thoughts, they walked step by step onto the star path, toward the black-robed leader beneath the dazzling light...

"On this auspicious day and time, may the Emperor be filled with joy."

Donghuang's voice rose and fell in cadence as he read the Nine Songs, especially the chapter on "Donghuang Taiyi," his tone was always filled with a sense of piety.

As the leader of the Yin-Yang School, he rarely recited his own chapters, but today he only recited one sentence before stopping and watching the sun and moon walk to the front of the stage.

"The long sword is touching the jade ear, and the jade ring is ringing."

Yan Fei lowered her head and recited the next line with the same piety.

The Moon Goddess knew it was her turn. She regained her former emotions and added the third line: "Jade mat and jade ornaments, why not hold the fragrant herbs?"

As descendants of the same Ji clan within the Yin-Yang school, the three of them had recited the Nine Songs in this manner more than once.

In reality, there are only a few songs in the Nine Songs, and Donghuang likes to recite them. Over the past ten years, for the Sun and Moon Goddesses who have requested an audience frequently, they have heard the same songs countless times...

When each person finished reciting "Donghuang Taiyi" in one line, Yanfei's willingness to repent, or rather, her remorse and admission of wrongdoing, was conveyed to Xingchen, and the matter of betrayal no longer needed to be mentioned.

Such favoritism belongs only to the Ji clan.

"Your Majesty, I wish to continue seeking revenge against Yan Dan. I hope Your Majesty will allow me to do so."

Emboldened by the magnanimity shown to her, Yanfei seemed to take advantage of the situation and made further requests.

"Yes," Donghuang said, gazing intently at Yanfei's hand seals, granting her request.

'So he really is practicing the Yin-Yang Cleansing Technique.'

The Moon Goddess, who was listening in, felt something in her heart. Only by obtaining the orthodox circulating Five Virtues internal energy could she transform her Yin-Yang technique.

But on her way back to Xianyang, she was surprised to find that her good sister's Yin-Yang skills had also improved by leaps and bounds. Even though she was not as good as her, she was still clearly different.

Then the Moon Goddess couldn't help but remember Lu Wei's parting words of 'be careful'.

There are many demanding cultivation methods in Yin-Yang arts, and she quickly realized that Yan Fei might have practiced some forbidden techniques: such as washing away hatred...

With genuine hatred as the foundation of Yin-Yang arts, each act of revenge reduces the hatred by one point, allowing the Yin-Yang arts to advance to the next level.

This forbidden technique has strict requirements, and one can only cultivate hatred once in a lifetime. In most cases, it is quite useless, but it is indeed very suitable for her beloved older sister who was abandoned.

'That's all. Hatred is always finite; once it's used up, it's gone. How can it compare to my Five Elements cycle of mutual generation?'

The moon goddess's expression was very calm.

"Furthermore, I have been away from the Yin-Yang School for many years and have not accomplished anything." Yan Fei calmly added, "His Majesty the Eastern Emperor was once curious about a certain young man in Ji City and even sent the Moon Goddess to find out his name was Lu Wei."

"Lu Wei is currently the head of the Farmer's Hall. I am willing to investigate this person for Your Majesty the Eastern Emperor. I hope Your Majesty the Eastern Emperor will grant my request."

"!"

The moon goddess's lowered pupils suddenly contracted, but she remained motionless and did not utter a word.

"This matter has always been handled by the Moon Goddess." Donghuang glanced at the calm Moon Goddess, then quickly turned his gaze back to Dongjun.

Yan Fei raised her head and said solemnly, "The Moon Goddess has helped me a lot in Ji City and has made great contributions. I am willing to take on the task for her."

"In that case, Lady Moon Goddess can stay in Xianyang and rest more."

Faced with Yan Fei's reason, Donghuang Taiyi did not hesitate and decided:

"This matter..."

Chapter 176 The Flower of Sin

"The moon goddess has her own path, and you have yours."

"The sun cannot take away the moon, nor can the moon take away the sun; each should perform its own function in accordance with the laws governing the movement of the stars."

Donghuang raised his hand and retrieved the Azure Dragon Bronze Box entrusted to him by the Moon Goddess from afar:

"You must work together to unravel the secret of the Azure Dragon's Seven Mansions. As for the various schools of thought..." The Yin-Yang School leader simply twirled the bronze box in his hand before returning it to the Moon Goddess: "You each have your own duties."

"Yes"

The two women, Sun and Moon, understood Donghuang's meaning: the primary task of the Yin-Yang School was to decipher the secrets of the Azure Dragon's Seven Mansions, and as for the Mohist and Agricultural Schools among the Hundred Schools of Thought, each of them would be responsible for one.

After taking her leave and exiting the Eastern Emperor's secret chamber, Yanfei immediately sensed that her younger sister's aura had become somewhat unfamiliar.

"Lord Dongjun has just returned to the Yin-Yang School. He should stay in Xianyang more often and move around. The environment here is different from five years ago."

A step ahead of Yanfei, the Moon Goddess spoke solemnly, in the same tone she had used when speaking to Xinghun, carrying the air of a superior admonishing a subordinate as the Right Protector.

"The Moon Goddess has been away from Xianyang for quite some time. Why don't you come along for the trip to Xianyang?"

Yan Fei's deep pupils shimmered with a faint light, and she chuckled softly.

She ultimately kept some secrets.

...

After discussing with Zhou Wen, Lu Wei handled various complicated Gonggong Hall affairs in the main hall.

He planned to go to Sanghai City for an inspection after he finished this busy period.

At this moment, Uncle Qing suddenly walked in with an unfamiliar disciple.

Lu Qing rarely bothered the Hall Master at this time of day. Since he had come, it must be something important. Hall Master Lu put down his pen, looked at the unfamiliar disciple, and prepared to listen to the report.

The unfamiliar disciple was indeed dressed in peasant clothing, but the insignia on his clothing was not the Gonggong Hall symbol, but the Kuiwei Hall symbol, indicating that he was a disciple of the Kuiwei Hall.

The disciple trembled slightly, his expression a mixture of excitement and nervousness. The most striking thing about him was the bright red flower he was clutching in his hand.

'Poppy? No, it's the flower of sin!'

With his sharp eyes and familiarity with the internal affairs of Dazeshan, Lu Wei roughly understood what had happened, but he still looked at Lü Qing and waited for Lü Qing's report according to procedure.

"Master, this is a disciple of the Kuiwei Hall. He claims to have stolen the secret of the 'Seeing Flowers Through the Mist' technique from Master Tianmi of the Kuiwei Hall and wants to join my Gonggong Hall."

The art of seeing through the fog is Tian Mi's specialty, belonging to the category of illusion techniques.

When using it, the woman would exhale a burst of pink smoke from her mouth using the pipe in her hand. Once an enemy inhales it, the inhaler will inevitably become mentally confused, and those with shallow skills will immediately fall into hallucinations and be ambushed by the poison needle hidden in the head of the pipe by Tian Mi.

Tian Mi herself is weak, and even if she could see through the fog, she wouldn't be able to deal with a master. However, this woman is very good at using her body and seductive words to get along with everyone. If you underestimate her, she can still launch a sneak attack.

Illusion techniques are usually driven by herbs or the user's internal energy. Seeing flowers through the mist belongs to the former. The medicine it uses is the 'Flower of Sin' held in the hand of the Kuiwei Hall disciple standing to the side!

Also known as the "heartbreak grass," it was later used to make an evil concoction called "longevity ointment"...

"Reporting to Master Lu Wei, Tian Mi uses the fruit of this red flower to make a medicine called 'Flowering Tea Rose,' which can be added to the pipe to make one see flowers through the mist."

The disciple of Kuiwei Hall knelt down and presented a red flower with both hands, excitedly saying, "Tian Mi has planted a large area of ​​these flowers in Kuiwei Hall, strictly forbidding ordinary disciples from approaching. Only trusted confidants are allowed to pick them for medicinal purposes. I have been lying low for many years and finally managed to secretly pick one to present to Hall Master Lu Wei. I hope that Hall Master will accept me into Gonggong Hall."

To abandon the weakest Kuiwei Hall and join the strongest Gonggong Hall, one must always demonstrate value. The disciple kneeling and bowing before them probably had this in mind.

With a flick of his wrist, the Sinful Flower fell into Lu Wei's hand.

Holding it in my hand, the flower stem, which is very similar to the poppy, is smooth and silky, unlike the 'prickly' poppy.

"Has Tian Mi shared information about this flower?"

The hall master set him aside, calmly used his inner energy to lift the kneeling disciple, and asked.

"Such a precious medicine, Tian Mi kept it very well hidden. Apart from the area where she grows it herself, it was not mentioned outside of Kuiwei Hall."

The disciple answered cautiously.

"Yes, I understand." Lu Wei glanced at the Sin Flower. The flower itself was innocent, but when combined with the darkness in people's hearts, it would give birth to sin.

"Uncle Qing, take him downstairs and just follow the rules of Gonggong Hall."

"Yes, Master."

Within the Farmer's Clan, if a disciple wants to transfer to another sect, there's a set of standard rules as long as a sect is willing to accept them. The Farmer's Clan actually has many rules, but over the centuries, they've been simplified considerably, and now, with a more rugged style reminiscent of martial arts sects, they've become even more restrictive.

After the two left, Master Lu went to the wilderness, crushed the Sinful Flower with his internal energy, buried it in the soil, and then carefully washed his hands before going to the backyard.

These plants do have some medicinal value, but there are better and safer alternatives with similar medicinal effects from the Yijia Xiaoduanmu area, so they are not worth keeping.

Besides the Four Mountains Hall, the Kuiwei Hall also needs to speed up its planning. I need to find Chen Sheng and ask this black swordsman to cause trouble for Tian Mi.

...

In early summer, Lu Wei took Lü Qing with him on his inspection trip to Sanghai.

As the head of the Gonggong Hall, Lü Qing needed to conduct actual investigations of the various local branches before deciding on the distribution of supplies.

In the past, he could only act on the matter of resource allocation based on reports from his disciples, data lists, and the requests of local officials.

How to allocate the funds is entirely up to his personal judgment. If he is really unsure about something, he will write to the head of the branch office in another region for a decision.

In the early stages, with the local leaders being trusted confidants personally selected by Master Lu, there wouldn't be any major problems. However, once the area under his jurisdiction expands and the number of branches increases, it will be even more necessary to maintain the overall operation through a system.

After Lü Qing was asked by Lu Wei to provide a rough plan, he needed to refer to the actual situation in various places and, based on the old loose system, gradually improve it into a new system that would be more effective in order to regulate the operation of Gonggongtang.

In the future, it may be extended to all farm households.

In previous years, when Hall Master Lu Wei was away traveling, Lü Qing had to stay at the Gonggong Hall headquarters and didn't have the time. Now that Ashan is sharing the responsibilities, he can finally do this job seriously.

"The main responsibility of the Sanghai City branch is to liaise with the Confucian school. We don't own any land there, so we can only make a living by running shops and fishing at sea. It's not very important."

Based on the actual situation, Lü Qing made her own judgment.

From the perspective of current interests alone, the Confucianists who retreated to their small sage village to study rarely had direct contact with the agriculturalists.

Aside from exceptional talents like Li Shiqi, Confucian disciples aspired to serve as officials and spread Confucianism.

Forcing them to join an organization of farmers whose very name evokes images of hardship is likely to be seen as an insult.

After all, when Confucius's student Fan Chi asked Confucius for knowledge about farming, he was criticized as a "petty person." Confucianism, founded by Confucius, is a political science, and he hoped that his disciples would seek political status, not something as trivial as "farming."

Confucius may not have looked down on agronomy; he himself had worked as a warehouse keeper and herded cattle and sheep in his youth, but he would never have taught his disciples to study agronomy.

The ruler and the minister, the father and the son, each should adhere to their respective positions. Officials should not neglect agriculture, but if they personally engage in agricultural work, they will be criticized by Confucius.

As this attitude was passed down from generation to generation, it gradually became distorted in the eyes of some, or rather, most, scholars who read the classics, turning agricultural science into a lowly subject.

Lu Wei and Lü Qing themselves rarely went to the fields to farm, and the same was true for other people in the farming family who could come out into the world.