Inheriting a Taoist temple, the story begins with Wu Zetian offering incense.

Chapter 18: Does Lightning Strike consume merit points? [Seeking monthly votes]

Why does this merit system seem like credit card points, deducting from my account all the time?
Everything was fine when I exchanged for the Lightning Strike Technique, but when I found Granny Gongsun, I was short one coin. This design is too... Wait, could the deducted merits be related to the Lightning Strike Technique?
Zhou Yi used the lightning strike technique once when he was in Xiao Penglai. At the time, he felt that the effect was quite good and the shock was enough. Apart from being a little tired, there were no other negative effects.

In retrospect, it seems that the good deeds were used to offset the loss.

To catch the Leftovers Thief, my already meager merit points are becoming even more scarce... I need to quickly find a way to earn more merit points, otherwise the Lightning Strike spell will be useless.

The appearance of Gongsun Da Niang also made Zhou Yi discover another problem:
"Both Chen Tang and the Leftover Rice Thief have merit columns, but Wu Meiniang never has one. Could it be because she is an emperor and cannot be measured by simple merit?"

Unfortunately, Hunyuan Palace only has one emperor now, so it's impossible to make a horizontal comparison.

If another emperor comes along, then we'll have something to refer to.

Closing the notebook, Zhou Yi felt a little weak all over. After thinking for a moment, he went to the kitchen, took out a pack of shredded pancakes from the refrigerator, cracked two eggs, and chopped half a cabbage and half an onion to make a stir-fried shredded pancake as a snack.

When Gongsun Da Niang came out of the bathroom with her hair still wet, Zhou Yi had already cooked the stir-fried shredded pancakes and put them on a plate.

Smelling the fragrance, Granny Gongsun didn't even bother to dry her hair:

"I've been here for five days, and I'm finally able to have a hot meal... Daoist Master, what is this? It smells so fragrant and tempting, my mouth is watering."

Zhou Yi handed her a pair of chopsticks:
"This is stir-fried shredded pancakes; you should like it."

The two sat down to eat. While eating, Gongsun Da Niang complained that the food at the troupe was terrible and that they weren't even allowed to eat their fill twice a day. She said that Hunyuan Palace was much better, where she could eat as many meals as she wanted.

Zhou Yi was somewhat curious:

"You're only sixteen. Instead of finding a good family to marry into, why did you join a troupe of entertainers?"

A bitter look flashed in Gongsun Da Niang's eyes:
"Daoist Master, I am a courtesan."

What is a "musician's license"?

"It means being of low social status, unable to participate in the imperial examinations, unable to marry normally, and destined to entertain others through singing and dancing for generations. They would be sold from one troupe to another, and their best fate would be to be bought by a wealthy merchant as a concubine when they grow old and lose their beauty..."

what?
Although Zhou Yi knew that there was a social class of lowly status in ancient times, he did not know that it would be this tragic.

I thought that Bai Juyi's "the eldest daughter marries a merchant" in "The Song of the Pipa" was a tragic ending, but I never expected it to be the highest level of treatment for someone of low social status.

While eating, Aunt Gongsun kept talking about things from the Tang Dynasty.

Zhou Yi thought that being a musician was bad enough, but he didn't expect that there was an even worse state of being a slave, who didn't even have the right to be registered and was completely the private property of the master.

This is completely unimaginable for Zhou Yi, who grew up under the red flag.

After finishing her late-night snack, Granny Gongsun was still muttering to herself:

“When I was staying in that room in Little Penglai, I kept hearing voices in my head saying something like, ‘You cannot return without Master Yiyuan’s permission…’ I didn’t want to go back; I just wanted to sleep there!”

After saying that, she obediently put the bowls and chopsticks into the sink, rolled up her sleeves, and began to wash them with dish soap.

Clearly, she has thoroughly figured out the kitchen in the past few days.

The Book of Changes asks:

"You don't want to go back?"

"I want to, but if I go back, I'll definitely be hung up and beaten by the troupe leader, and the county magistrate will also bring people to retaliate... Daoist, can you help me think of a way to avoid this trouble?"

Method?

As a 21st-century graduate from a top-tier university, I can't even find a job. What good solutions do I have?

Zhou Yi comforted him:
"Your sword dance is so famous, with countless fans, even the emperor is captivated by you, so that troupe leader certainly won't make things difficult for you."

Gongsun Da Niang remained unmoved, instead letting out a melancholy sigh:

"Perhaps in the future, there will be many people cheering for me, but what use will it be to me? They can change my fate with just a few words, but from beginning to end, not a single person has helped me get rid of my lowly status... The nobles and royalty look at me like they see a cat or dog that can bow, they find it interesting, but that's all."

The Book of Changes has never considered the issue from this perspective.

He had previously thought that being liked and admired by so many celebrities would make Gongsun Da Niang very happy and excited, but he never expected that this sixteen-year-old girl could say such insightful things.

We need to find a way to help her!

After washing the dishes, Zhou Yi said to Granny Gongsun:

"No one is staying in the room next to mine. Why don't you make do for the night? I'll think of a better solution for you tomorrow."

Gongsun Da Niang quickly shook her head:

“That’s His Majesty the Martial Emperor’s room. I dare not stay there.”

"Why?" "I'm afraid Lai Junchen will skin me alive!"

Zhouyi: "..."

By now, during the prosperous Kaiyuan era, Lai Junchen's bones must have long since decomposed into fertilizer.

However, it must be said that the Empress's cruel system of officials was indeed terrifying. A person who had been dead for decades could still become a nightmare for young girls.

The underworld needs talents like Lai Junchen!

Zhou Yi rummaged through the storeroom and found a folding bed, then took out a set of bedding from the cabinet. He made a bed for Granny Gongsun in another small room and also prepared floral water and mosquito coils.

"Go to sleep early, we can discuss your matter tomorrow."

"Thank you, Taoist Priest!"

After Gongsun Da Niang went to her small room to rest, Zhou Yi also returned to his own room. However, instead of sleeping, he sat in front of the computer and diligently searched for information online.

There is actually a way to help Granny Gongsun: just take a lighter home, and you can avoid a beating.

But doing so is pointless and doesn't earn you any merit.

Zhou Yi planned to help Granny Gongsun while also earning some merit for himself, so that he could use lightning to protect himself in case of danger.

To accumulate merit, one must change the fate of others, just like Li Mingda.

Gongsun Da Niang can use the gods as a shield, but she will inevitably be exposed in the long run. It's better to take the higher-ups' route.

If we could speak directly with Li Longji, we would have succeeded halfway.

However, it was clearly not an easy task for a dancer from Yancheng to get close to Li Longji, who was far away in Chang'an. She would need to come up with a plausible reason.

Zhou Yi pondered for a moment, then sighed:

"If only it were Wu Zetian. That empress loved all sorts of wonders and auspicious omens. If she brought something from modern society, she would definitely get an audience with the emperor."

Wait... an auspicious omen?
Zhou Yi searched online for auspicious omens during the Kaiyuan era and discovered that Li Longji had copied almost all of his grandmother Wu Zetian's bad habits.

They constantly create miracles and auspicious omens to enhance their own image.

In the early years of the Kaiyuan era, he built a series of Kaiyuan Temples, as well as Buddhist pagodas and the like. The Duobao Pagoda Stele, which Zhou Yi used as a reference for practicing calligraphy, was an auspicious omen created by Li Longji for himself.

With a goal in mind, the rest is easy.

Zhou Yi plans to go to town early tomorrow morning to buy some modern items, and then make up a story for Granny Gongsun about being taken in by the gods. Once he gets there, he will show it off briefly, and the magistrate of Yancheng County will report it as an auspicious omen.

The new emperor has just ascended the throne and lacks something like this to consolidate his position. Once he succeeds, the county magistrate will soon be promoted to governor.

As for Gongsun Da Niang, being a special envoy of the gods, she will also be escorted to Chang'an... Hmm, let's do it this way!
The next morning, Zhou Yi lit the incense in the God of Wealth Temple, instructed Aunt Gongsun to replace it, and then rode his motorcycle down the mountain straight to the town.

He bought a rechargeable handheld searchlight, a laser spotlight, and two pairs of binoculars from a toy store.

Finally, they went to Sun Erfa's hardware store, bought a piece of stainless steel that could be used as a mirror, and asked Sun Erfa to laser-etch the words "Kaiyuan" on it.

Li Longji changed his reign title at the end of the year, but the name "Kaiyuan" should have already been in his mind long before.

As long as Lady Gongsun reveals these two words in Chang'an, even if Li Longji has a thousand disbeliefs, he will treat her with courtesy and treasure the stainless steel plate as a divine oracle.

He thought laser etching was quite fun, so he asked Sun Erfa to make a few more tokens.

After finishing all the shopping, Zhou Yi returned to Hunyuan Palace and saw Gongsun Da Niang standing on a peach tree picking fruit.

He showed the things he had bought to Granny Gongsun and then made up a set of words on the spot... Actually, he didn't need to make them up; Granny Gongsun only needed to tell the story once, and it would be fantastic enough.

Gongsun Da Niang asked timidly:

"Master, after I return, will the troupe leader and the county magistrate really not cause trouble?"

To cure her heartache, Zhou Yi said:

“Since you’re from the City God Temple, let the City God handle this matter… Come on, I’ll take you to see the City God’s direct superior and pray to him. I guarantee everything will be fine.”

Lady Gongsun was overjoyed:

"Really? Then which deity should I worship?"

"The Great Emperor of the Eastern Peak!"

--------

Here's the first update of the day! Please vote, add to your favorites, and keep reading! I'm asking for all your support, brothers!
(End of this chapter)