Troubled times: Start practicing spiritual practice by taking care of your sister-in-law.

Royal palace, back garden.

It is midsummer in July, and the lotus flowers in the artificial lake are in full bloom, which is a beautiful sight.

Inside the pavilion built in the middle of the lake.

"Sister Liu, please stand back. Don't stand on the sides. That's too much. An Niang, please sit down and hold Chen Zhong. Otherwise, you will block the sisters behind you."

"Zhiqing, Zhining, hold the child tightly and be careful not to let him fall into the lake."

"Sister Yunxi, please move a little to the left. Your head is blocking it. Yes, that's it."

Outside the pavilion, Wu Mi was wearing a dark green 翟衣 with a phoenix painted on it. The collar was red with golden cloud and dragon patterns woven on it. He wore a nine-dragon and four-phoenix crown on his head. He looked dignified and majestic. He was directing the concubines in the harem to stand or sit according to their status, time of entry, height, and other requirements.

Next to Wu Mi sat an elderly man in his seventies wearing a grey robe and with grey hair. He was a famous court painter of the previous dynasty named Xu Daozi, who was once bestowed the title of "Painting Saint" by the Emperor of the Song Dynasty. When troubled times came, he resigned from his official position, returned home, and lived in seclusion in the mountains, from then on fading from the eyes of the world.

He appeared in the capital some time ago. After Wu Mi learned the news, he sent someone to invite him into the palace and paint a family portrait.

"Mr. Xu, how are you now?" Wu Mi said.

Xu Daozi bowed to Wu Mi, then pointed at Yuzhu and Nalan Yiren and said, "Empress, the difference in skin color between these two ladies is too obvious. They should not be placed next to each other."

Wu Mi took a look and said, "Ruyan, how about you and Yiren switch places?"

Yue Ruyan had no problem with that. She held Chen Xi and switched positions with Nalan Yiren.

"Mr. Xu, what about now?"

"can."

Xu Daozi held the paintbrush horizontally, measured the angle, and nodded.

Wu Mi smiled and turned to Jia Yin, who was waiting by the lake not far away, and said, "Eunuch Jia, has His Majesty not arrived yet?"

"I'll go and take a look." Jia Yin responded, bowed his body, held a whisk in his hand, and went to the imperial study.

As a result, after taking two steps, he saw Chen Mo walking towards him quickly.

"Your Majesty, please come quickly. You are the only one missing."

"Father, come quickly."

"Your Majesty." Xu Daozi stood up and bowed to Chen Mo.

"No need to be polite." Chen Mo raised his hand and said with a smile, "Mr. Xu, I have long heard of your great name."

"Your Majesty, you are joking. I have long heard that Your Majesty is young and handsome. The people also say that Your Majesty is wise and brave, has outstanding achievements, and is kind and virtuous. It is my honor to meet you today." Xu Daozi said respectfully.

Chen Mo smiled and said, "Mr. Xu, since you have returned to the capital, you should serve as a palace attendant and serve as a doctor of internal teaching. Since the previous dynasty bestowed upon you the title of 'Painting Saint', I will bestow upon you the title of 'Painting Immortal'."

"Your Majesty, this..." Xu Daozi looked at Wu Mi in embarrassment.

Wu Mi stepped forward and took Chen Mo's arm, laughing softly, "Your Majesty, Mr. Xu is in the capital this time to visit his friends. He does not plan to stay for long. I have also promised him that after he finishes painting the family portrait for us, I will let my family build a large house for him in Jiangdong for him to enjoy his old age."

"That's such a pity." Hearing this, Chen Mo sighed.

Since the queen has already agreed, he will not force her to do anything. He said, "Then forget about entering the palace to offer sacrifices."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Xu Daozi expressed his gratitude.

Chen Mo came and sat in the middle of the pavilion, holding the four-and-a-half-year-old Prince Chen Jia. Wu Mi sat on his right, and Han Anniang sat on his left holding Chen Zhong.

Next to Wu Mi were Xia Zhiqing and Xia Zhining.

Next to Han Anniang are Xiaolu and Song Min.

They were all in the first row, sitting on chairs.

In the second row, behind Chen Mo, to the right, was Xiao Yunxi holding her daughter Chen Shu, to the left was Liang Ji holding Chen Qin, next to Liang Ji was Chu Ran holding Chen Le'an, next to Xiao Yunxi was Yue Ruyan holding Chen Xi, they were also sitting. Then came Nangong Ru, Liang Xue, Ning Wan, Chu Juan, Xiao Ya, Nalan Yiren, Yang Qingqing, etc., standing on both sides according to their height.

The third row included Lin Xuelan, Yuzhu, Xingyao, Zhao Yuxu, Zhihua, Xu Ying, Madam Gan, Madam Xiao, and Wanyan Ya. They were standing on small stools.

The whole family occupied the entire space of the pavilion.

Outside the pavilion, on the covered bridge connecting the pavilions, Xu Daozi had already set up his drawing table, holding the paintbrush, and preparing to start writing.

Chen Jia looked around, then turned around and glanced at Yang Qingqing, and said, "Empress Zhao, where is Dabai?"

"He was taking a nap in my palace at noon. What's wrong with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?" Yang Qingqing asked puzzledly.

"Father, Mother, can we ask Dabai to come over and draw the family portrait together?" Chen Jia begged.

Dabai, Yang Qingqing's pet white tiger.

"Jiaer, no, it will scare your concubines." Wu Mi said.

"Oh." Chen Jia was a little disappointed.

The girls laughed out loud, but quickly put away their smiles and acted serious to avoid being painted ugly.

Just when Xu Daozi was building up his emotions and preparing to start painting.

Wu Mi suddenly said, "Sisters, smile. This painting needs to be passed down. It may even be printed in history books. If it is not painted well, not only will there be no chance to redo it, but it will also cause criticism from future generations."

As soon as these words were spoken, Yue Ruyan, Nalan Yiren and others, who had originally had stern faces, immediately put on sweet smiles.

The other girls also posed carefully.

After confirming that everything was correct, Xu Daozi started writing on the paper.

The sun is shining and the breeze is blowing gently.

Xu Daozi was worthy of being called the Saint of Painting. The ladies did not need to pose motionless until the painting was finished.

After Xu Daozi finished forming the shape, the women could move a bit, but the movements could not be too big, such as leaving the pavilion or something. At most, when their hands got tired, they could put them down to rest for a while, and then continue to raise them.

But there are too many characters after all.

Even though Xu Daozi had superb painting skills, he couldn't finish the painting in a short time.

The girls and Chen Mo were fine, they could just bear with it.

But some children couldn't stand it anymore. The youngest ones, Chen Xi, Chen Nianmo and Chen Shu, started crying.

Maybe she was hungry. But they would not breastfeed in public.

So he asked Xu Daozi to stop and continue painting after he had dealt with the children's affairs.

I kept painting on and off like this for about an hour and a half to finish this family portrait.

A skilled painter always adds the finishing touch at the very end.

As the eyes were painted, the person on the paper seemed to come alive, with expressions and look very lifelike.

When Chen Mo and the others gathered around to admire it, they all praised it.

After the family portrait was finished, time seemed to have accelerated and in the blink of an eye it was September.

The summer of the third year of Zhenghe passed just like this.

But for Nalan Yiren, these two months were extremely torturous.

Since August, Si Song had been fainting every few days. Sometimes, even if Nalan Yiren tried to prolong his life, he would not wake up for three or four days.

The deathly aura from Si Song was getting thicker and thicker, with more air coming in than out.

The most crucial thing is that the more times Si Song faints, the greater the price Nalan Yiren will have to pay to forcibly prolong his life, that is, the more blood she will pay.

Not only that, during this period, in order to prevent the transformation of Taogui Gu from stopping, she and Chen Mo also did not stop their dual cultivation.

Bleeding is done every few days, and sexual intercourse is frequent.

Chen Mo was worried that Si Song would collapse before she was fully recovered.

Chen Mo mentioned this to Nalan Yiren and wanted to stop.

But Nalan Yiren refused. From the look she gave Chen Mo at that time, she knew that if Chen Mo really insisted on stopping, and if Si Song left before the Taoji Gu transformed, Nalan Yiren would definitely hate him.

In this regard, Chen Mo could only agree reluctantly, and asked Wu Mi to prepare a bowl of tonic every day, and let Nalan Yiren take it after the dual cultivation was completed.

It was early October.

The Taotie Gu still failed to transform successfully.

But Chen Mo, the time has come for a breakthrough.

【Kung Fu: Zi Yang Hua Yuan Gong (Perfection 299999.9/300000).】

The next second, a sudden change occurred.

On the bed, a bright purple glow, more dazzling than the sun, enveloped the two people hugging each other.

In Chen Mo's dantian, the huge purple sun suspended above the sea of ​​spiritual liquid seemed to have completely turned into substance. The purple light was dazzling, and finally, like a huge meteor, it fell into the sea of ​​spiritual liquid.

The sea water began to boil and evaporate.

Chen Mo's body was also gradually heating up, and then the temperature spread to Nalan Yiren.

But Chen Mo's heart was very calm. Not only that, he was also in a happy and active state.

He felt his consciousness leaving his body.

No, it’s more like a soul than consciousness.

His soul left his body and floated in the air. He saw himself hugging Nalan Yiren on the bed and clearly saw Nalan Yiren's white jade legs locking his waist and back.

On the other hand, there was no reaction on the face of the "original body".

"Yiren." He tried to call Nalan Yiren, but the latter seemed not to hear him. She hugged his "original body" neck tightly, with an intoxicated look on her face.

He tried to touch Naranyiren, but as he was in spirit, his hand passed right through her.

He couldn't touch the entity.

He flew straight through the wall, left the observatory where Nalan Yiren lived, and continued to fly upwards.

It flew hundreds of feet high in an instant.

At first he felt very relaxed, but the higher he flew, the heavier his breathing became.

Although he was a soul, he could feel his heartbeat getting slower and slower.

He even had a feeling that if he flew any higher, his heart would stop.

You will die.

He was so scared that he flew down quickly, went to the back garden, and shuttled around his harem.

He could pass through all solid objects, but at the same time, he could not move them in the slightest, not even a speck of dust.

He came to the Weiyang Palace.

Wu Mi is teaching Chen Jia his homework.

Chen Mo called the two again. He could hear his own voice, but Wu Mi and Chen Jia could not.

“Is this the soul wandering in the Heaven Realm?”

The previous dynasty had produced many first-grade celestial beings. Chen Mo had naturally read the notes left by the celestial beings in the previous dynasty's royal family. The predecessors said that the celestial beings could have wandering souls. When a person was sleeping at home, his soul could leave the body and see places hundreds of feet away, but others could not detect him. Of course, he could not hurt others either.

The notes also said that soul wandering is limited by distance and time.

The letters he was reading were left by Emperor Taizu of the Song Dynasty.

The opponent's soul wandering time is a quarter of an hour and the distance is one mile.

Here, Emperor Taizu of the Song Dynasty made a mark on the note, indicating that these were the maximum time and maximum distance he had ever tried.

If the distance is exceeded, the soul will become weaker and weaker, and the time of soul wandering will be shortened accordingly.

If you don't return to your original form at this time, you may die.

Emperor Taizu of Song might or might not die if he used this method, but he did not try.

(End of this chapter)