Painter

Chapter 205 54: Temple Fair
Li Guanqi got a copy of "Looking for the Dragon Manual", looking through it in the small room, he only felt that the chess moves were not surprising, but there were many names of mountains, rivers, lakes and seas recorded in the manual, and there seemed to be other secrets behind it, but after reading it for a long time, he didn't see anything. See what clues.Li Guanqi simply put down the game record and meditated for several hours. That night, he went to the Guanxing Tower to assist Si Tianjian in calculating the calendar.

The worried young supervisor Liu Wenqian finally breathed a sigh of relief seeing Li Guanqi calm down.

On the seventh day before the beginning of spring, the carriage bells did not ring out in Guangzhaifang.Ya Qiantui waited and watched from the eaves for a whole day, but he didn't see the same kind who couldn't speak again.Li Chan has played chess for the past few days, and he also has some ideas, so he kept the habit of playing a game of chess every morning, but the opponents were replaced by Xu Da, Hong Yao and Mai Wang, and there was no pen. , One person and three monsters killed back and forth.

Seeing that the end of the new year was approaching, Li Chan's salary that had been accumulated for several months was finally paid out.As the captain of Qipin Yihui, his salary is quite considerable.Hong Yao took her red yaksha with her, and went to the Taicang Office of Si Nong Temple with a complaint, and brought back the fourteen guan of salary that had been accumulated for several months, four stones of Lumi, and some silver taels equivalent to employment.There are also monthly miscellaneous supplies of firewood, wine and meat, millet for horses, coriander, spring onions and other spices, which are full of two carts.

Tu Shanxi bought a live pig with the proceeds from Mojing, and Sao Qingniang prepared cured meat during the winter solstice, and the family's New Year's goods were immediately sufficient.

Although the results of the spring examination at Qianyuan Academy are still undecided, and the road ahead is still shrouded in mist, Li Chan's life in Yujing City has settled down.As soon as I settled down, I thought of my old friend who was thousands of miles away.Nie Kongkong went to Xishu, but his whereabouts are unknown, and he doesn't know how he is doing.And Xiao Lingsu was not surprised, he should still be retreating on Zhongyu Cliff.Now that she had settled down, Li Chan wrote a letter and entrusted the water station to deliver it, to report to her friend that she was safe.

A few days passed quickly, and the common people put all their energy into preparing new year's goods in this disaster year, and some even put up lanterns more than half a month in advance.In addition, it is to discuss the recent movements of the young elites and the return date of the emperor.There are rumors that when the sage passed by Xiangxiong, he was attacked and killed by the great sage of the demon clan, and was seriously injured. On the day before the beginning of spring, there was a panic.Just as Li Guanqi calculated, the day before the beginning of spring, the emperor returned to Beijing.The sage, with a golden saddle and a white horse, walked in the guard of honor, and entered Yujing City from the Mingde Gate in the south.

This year's first day is different from usual, the sage Zen Dushuo is offering sacrifices to the land, and the first thing he does when he returns to Beijing is to offer sacrifices to the sky.The place where the heaven is sacrificed is the daytime flying boat and night tour palace, which are known as the first wonders of the Dayong Kingdom.This rare double flying palace is about to leave the ground and fly into the sky.

On the day of saying goodbye to the old and welcoming the new, the weather was rare, the snow melted in the streets and alleys, and the sound of firecrackers sounded in the workshop.

Xu Da smelled the smell of gunpowder smoke everywhere, and asked, "Goddess, why don't we buy some firecrackers?"

Hong Yao pasted the peach talisman with the door god on the door, and hung a red-dyed reed rope beside it, "Don't you just listen to it, there is something good to buy."

Chi Yasha said sullenly: "Mr. Xue Shier, those firecrackers are used to drive away evil spirits."

Qing Yasha then said: "Aren't we just evil spirits, can't we drive ourselves away?"

"Harming people is called Xie Chong, we don't want to harm people." Xu Da widened his eyes, "Goddess, that door god is also used to ward off evil spirits, why did you post it?"

"This door god..." Hong Yao let go of the reed rope, her fingertips were dyed red, she wiped the dust off her hands, "Hey, just for good luck."

"Other people have posted it. If we don't post it, it will inevitably attract attention." Tu Shansi said and sniffed in the garden, and the western kitchen smelled meat.Just at this time, Dai Zhu's cry came, followed by Sao Qingniang's call: "It's time to eat!" All the monsters rushed into the door together.

Tables and chairs have been set up in the garden, and all the monsters have not touched any meat for a long time, drinking and eating meat for a while, smiling happily.Li Chan was toasted by the monsters in turn, and when she was slightly drunk, she heard loud shouts from outside.

First a shadow appeared in the northeast corner of the garden, and then gradually covered the entire garden.Li Chan looked up, and a huge palace rolled over the sky. The glazed tiles reflected the sky with a color like gold. Even from a long distance, one could see the light of the talismans on the palace wall.In the rumbling sound like wind and thunder, the sound of solemn ceremony and music was faintly mixed.Wow, the monsters pointed to the sky and exclaimed.

Amidst the noise, Hong Yao said: "The people in the General's Mansion next door said that the flying boat will stop at the Dongyue Temple in the east after flying around this day. There will be a temple fair at the Dongyue Temple until the third day of the first lunar month. Said it was fun."

Sao Qingniang glanced at Li Chan, and said softly: "Someone has already invited Shaolang, the descendant of the Bai family in Lingqiu, Xie Ningzhi, and the lecturer from Luming Academy."

Mai Wang poured a word of wine into the cup, and said with emotion: "The sage enshrines Zen, and the palace flies to the sky. Such a rare opportunity, if he can write a good work, it can be handed down to the world. The scholars in Yujing... If the old man can be born later In a hundred years, I will not miss this opportunity."

"The military master's words are wrong, this word is wrong, we are also full of talents, how is it worse than other places?" Xu Da shouted, and jumped to Li Chan's feet, "Ah Lang, why don't we go to the temple fair? "

Mr. Bi tasted the words of Mai Wangzhu's wine, "It's a rare festival, it's good to go out to get some fresh air."

Li Chan looked up at the Feidian slowly passing by, and said with a smile, "I'll go and see it in two days."

……

When the daytime flyover flew over Guangzhaifang, Li Chan celebrated with the little monsters for a while, and when all the monsters were full of wine and food, Li Chan drew a "Flying Palace Picture", which showed the daytime flyover The scene of Guangzhaifang is intriguing compared with the solemn ceremony and music in the sky and the celebration of the demons below.

Two days later, when Youshi was approaching, Li Chan went out with a group of monsters.

This trip was not small, Li Chan was waiting for a bookworm to look at the bamboo slips hanging from his waist, Mr. Bi was walking beside, Sao Qingniang was holding Xu Da, Hong Yao was carrying a hand stove containing Song Wuji, and Tu Shanxi was changing On the body of a man, leading the green and red Yaksha who turned into a human form, walking behind.The more powerful monsters in the family almost came out of the nest, leaving only Dai Zhu and Ya Qiantui two feather housekeepers.

Dongyue Temple is located in the east of Yujing City, and it is a place dedicated to the Lord Taishan.This time the sage's ceremony of enshrining Zen is a major national event, and it will take more than a year before and after. The official ceremony of offering sacrifices to heaven is scheduled for March this year, and they will go to Taishan to build an altar with earth, burn firewood and burn jade, and repay the merits of heaven.The sacrifice in the first month is only a small sacrifice.Although it is a small sacrifice, the enthusiasm of the people in Yujing is not small. After all, Mount Tai is 1000 or [-] miles away, but Dongyue Temple is close at hand.In the market outside the temple, vendors sell embroidery, porcelain and local products from Dayong states.The tricksters are playing all kinds of tricks. The Feijian Tiaowan and Guojianmen, which can only be seen in the Xuandu Fish and Dragon Association, can be seen in front of the temple here.

In the east of the temple, a variety of brocade barriers were opened, and in the cloud bridge and flying tower with different canine teeth, countless scholars looked down, expecting to see the mysterious appearance of those noble daughters.

On the height of one of the flying buildings, there is a plaque of "Tingxiang".Tingxiang Building is not only a place for refined scholars to brew tea and drink tea, but also a Zen hall. Today, it was reserved by people, and they sat on this high place to watch the grand event.There is no wall on the west side of the building, facing the north side, the carvings and paintings on the brackets and rafters hide hidden talismans, and the high wind howls between the cracks of the flying building, but when it comes here, the wind chimes and tassels hanging from the eaves can't even blow a bit.

The person sitting on the high seat in the stands, the noble person who booked the Tingxiang Tower today is the Princess Lingbi who once appeared in the Xinyuanya Concentration.Most of the guests in the seat are young handsome people who have been in the limelight recently.Everyone was talking about metaphysics, meditating, and talking about current affairs. Someone said: . "It's ridiculous that the monster race is thinking hard and trying to stop the holy car, but the mantis' arm is like a chariot."

"Now that the sage Zen has returned from Taodu Mountain, the world is at peace, and the disasters in various places will soon subside."

Lingbi Princess Li Wushang listened to everyone's discussion, and her eyes fell on Yuan Qixuan, only to see that the fake monk was looking sideways at the bottom of the flying tower.

Li Wushang was a little curious and asked: What are you looking at? "

"I saw a familiar face." Yuan Qixuan shook his head, "It was just a face-to-face meeting, but the impression was very deep. I haven't seen him for a long time, but I saw it again today."

Li Wushang followed Yuan Qixuan's gaze and looked at the streets and alleys below Feilou, and when he saw Li Chan in the crowd, he let out a little surprise.This voice attracted the attention of several people, Li Wushang smiled slightly, "So it was him."

Sun Hengnian, who once carved candles and struck bowls in Xinyuan, squinted his eyes and recognized the young man in the distance below, "Li Dan from the Qingling Mausoleum in Lizhou? He hasn't shown his face since Xinyuan passed away."

A person nearby who had never seen Li Chan said, "Is that the Li Dan that Xie Ningzhi gave poems to in Bishuixuan?"

"Oh, it's him? I heard some rumors in the market that he is respected as a 'painting fairy'."

"It's all three people become tigers." Someone chuckled, "Pan Gong is revered as the Immortal of Ink, and his skill in making ink is unparalleled in the world. Li Dan is said to be an Immortal in Painting, but he only relies on Xie Ningzhi's poem. Xie Ningzhi It is true that he is talented, who has seen the painting mentioned in his poem? His one-sided words alone cannot support the reputation of Li Dan. The only work that Li Dan has shown in front of people is his How many of you here have seen the picture of ghosts painted in Xin Garden, and it’s not a secret that he has some skills. Brother Hengnian, how is that painting?”

A painting by Li Dan and a poem by Bai Weizhi ridiculed many literati in Xin Yuan's elegant collection, including Sun Hengnian.Sun Hengnian smiled, thinking that Li Dan is a sensationalist.But he couldn't compare to Xie Ningzhi, if Xie Ningzhi praised people, if he belittled him, he would look like a petite, so he looked not far away, "At that time, I just glanced at it briefly and didn't take a closer look at it, but the painting is now in the collection of the Tang family. , Brother Qingchen should be the most qualified to judge how the painting is."

This was a very ingenious remark, the sentence "I have seen it hastily, but I haven't looked at it carefully", without any trace, the implication is that the painting is not eye-catching, and then threw the topic to Tang Qingchen.Behind the desk table not far away, Tang Qingchen was wearing an elegant green shirt, and was watched by everyone. He smiled, "This person is naturally capable, but some swords have gone too far. As for good or bad, I don't know." In terms of qualifications, after all, everyone has his own ambitions."

A line of sword swaying forward has already expressed Tang Qingchen's meaning.Someone answered: "If he is really capable, why did he become silent just after gaining some fame? If it wasn't for Princess Lingbi today, who would think of him?"

Tang Qingchen shook his head, "You can't say that. This person is quite low-key. I happened to meet him today. Why don't you invite him to sit down?" He said, looking at Princess Lingbi.

Sun Hengnian said with emotion: "Brother Qingchen is really kind."

Li Chan walked away from the Xinyuan Gathering, which made Princess Lingbi very unhappy, and also made Princess Lingbi's impression of him a lot.Coupled with what happened to Bishuixuan later, Princess Lingbi became a little more curious about Li Dan.This Li Dan is also handsome, especially those beautiful eyes.She smiled slightly, "Then tell him to come up." She turned her head and winked at the attendant.

Just as the attendant was about to leave, Tang Qingchen said "I'll come", and after he finished speaking, he wrote a letter and folded it into a paper crane.Going to the west side of the building again, I found Li Chan's figure among the ant-like heads, and threw out the paper crane.

……

Paper cranes pass over many eaves, and occasionally turn a corner between cloud bridges, like turning a canopy with the wind.

At the entrance of Shigu Alley, Hong Yao is holding a horn comb to bargain with the peddler.The paper crane brushed the black hair on her temples, flew towards Li Chan, passed by Sao Qingniang, and suddenly poked out a cat's paw.Paper cranes sway in the wind.The cat's paws brushed against the crane's wings, and then quickly swat a few times.The next moment, Xu Da jumped out of Sao Qingniang's arms, threw the paper crane to the ground, and let out a triumphant cry.

A few passersby cast curious glances, muttering that the white cat looks really spiritual.And Sao Qingniang leaned over to pick up the paper crane, and saw the words "Li Danqi" on the crane's wings, "Young man, I'm looking for you."

"Looking for me?" Li Chan took the paper crane, a little suspicious.

Mr. Bi looked back to where the paper crane came from, and looked up at Tingxiang Tower on a high place.After a while, he looked away.On the side, Li Chan has finished reading the letter.

"Someone invited you to an appointment?" Mr. Bi asked.

"It's Princess Lingbi." Li Chan also looked up, looked over several cloud bridges across the sky, saw several figures on the balcony, and said to himself: "I have offended her."

"A little friction, how can it be considered offending?" Mr. Bi said, "It's better for you to get along with your peers more, otherwise, even though you live in Yujing, you will always look like an outsider."

Li Chan looked at Hong Yao, Tu Shanxi and Qing Chi Yasha, shook his head and said, "It's rare to take everyone out together, how can we go to other people's appointments? We're not on the same road, so we don't have to force ourselves to join us." , folded a corner of the paper crane's wings, looked up at the height of Tingxiang Tower, and tossed it lightly.

"You..." Bi Jun shook his head with a smile.

……

Upstairs in Tingxiang Tower, a paper crane with broken wings flew to the table. Tang Qingchen picked up the paper crane, shook his head and said, "He won't come."

Others said: "I don't know how capable I am, but I'm not too airy. Princess Lingbi invites you, how many people in this city of Yujing would refuse? I'm afraid they know that they are not good enough, so they don't want to come up and make a fool of themselves."

Someone laughed and said: "This method is indeed clever. The more he plays tricks, the more curious he is."

Princess Lingbi on the seat frowned. Last time, it could be said that Li Dan caused her displeasure and was expelled from Xinyuan by her. This time she took the initiative to invite Li Dan, which was a step up for Li Dan. Unexpectedly, the other party flatly refused. hurt her face.Seeing the princess's expression, Yuan Qixuan asked, "Are you angry?"

"Why should I worry about him?" Princess Lingbi quickly stretched her brows, glanced outside the building, and said indifferently: "My Dayong country has tens of millions of people, and there are countless talented people. Not often. Since he refuses to come to the high place, let him stay in the low place."

　Recently, I have written less and lost my status. Xiaoge is working hard to get back the status and strive to increase the amount of updates as soon as possible.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)