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

Chapter 19: It's over! Li Shimin wants the history book! [Seeking monthly votes]

The Great Emperor of the Eastern Peak is an important deity in Taoism, who governs the seventy-six departments of the Peak Prefecture, and is in charge of the numbers of nobility and lowliness, honor and disgrace, and the power over life and death in the human world; he rules over the Yin and Yang realms and governs the rise and fall of the world.

The City God's Office is one of the seventy-six offices under the jurisdiction of the Great Emperor of the Eastern Peak.

Hunyuan Palace is a Taoist temple that enshrines all the gods of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. Minor gods like the City God are not among those enshrined. Therefore, Zhou Yi took Gongsun Da Niang directly to the Dongyue Hall on the left side of the second main hall to complain to the City God's superior.

Of course, the so-called complaint was actually just to comfort Granny Gongsun and prevent her from feeling anxious, fearful, or insecure.

"Taoist Master, are we really going like this?"

Gongsun Da Niang heard that one needs to bathe and change clothes and fast for three days to worship the God of Mount Tai. How come one can worship at Hunyuan Palace so casually?

Zhou Yi pointed to the peaches the girl had just picked:
“It’s really not appropriate to go empty-handed. Take these peaches with you and let the Great Emperor of the Eastern Peak have a taste.”

The two arrived at the Dongyue Temple one after the other, placed peaches and lit incense and candles. With everything prepared, Granny Gongsun knelt on the prayer mat and recounted her ordeal in a long, drawn-out manner:
"I hope the Great Emperor of the Eastern Peak can protect me from being beaten and from the county magistrate's retaliation. I thank you in advance!"

After bowing and paying respects, Zhou Yi, who was standing before the statue of the deity, flicked his whisk and began to spout nonsense like a charlatan:
"The Great Emperor of the Eastern Peak has received your request and will handle this matter well."

After leaving the Dongyue Hall, Granny Gongsun asked Zhou Yi for a backpack, which contained a bottle of shampoo and a bottle of shower gel.

"Master, I'll bring money to pay you back next time I come."

The I Ching emphasizes accumulating merit; these material possessions are considered investments.
"Use it if you want, don't be shy. When you get there, describe what you see and hear. You can describe anything, like cell phones, computers, and motorcycles... The more detailed you are, the more authentic it will be."

"Rest assured, Daoist Master, I guarantee I will complete the mission!"

After lunch, Granny Gongsun slung her backpack over her shoulder and carried the gifts Zhou Yi had given her to the Xiaopenglai courtyard.

Zhou Yi said to the gate of Xiao Penglai:

"I agree that Lady Gongsun may freely travel to and from the Kaiyuan world of the Tang Dynasty."

To distinguish between the two Tang dynasties, the Book of Changes refers to the world where Wu Zetian lived as the Zhenguan world of the Tang Dynasty, while Gongsun Da Niang's world is the Kaiyuan world of the Tang Dynasty.

Both represent the pinnacle of feudal dynasties, yet there is still considerable room for improvement. Once you participate, the merits will surely follow.

Gongsun Da Niang smiled and waved to Zhou Yi:
"Master, I'll come back in five days. Remember to make me a spicy hot pot!"

After saying that, she stepped into the main hall of Xiaopenglai and disappeared into thin air in an instant.

After seeing off the female thief who had left over the leftovers, Zhou Yi went to the Temple of the God of Wealth to change the incense. Then he picked up the black notebook and flipped through it several times to make sure no new names appeared before he felt relieved.

For the next two days, Zhou Yi spent his days moving bricks and tending to the statue of Zhao Gongming, the God of Wealth, while at night he studied Taoist scriptures and occasionally looked at history books in search of opportunities to increase his merits.

Sun Chenglin made a phone call once, hoping that Zhouyi could hold a ritual at the opening ceremony that was both attractive and not too feudal and superstitious.

Sun Chenglin's previous experience of inviting the God of Wealth made him a die-hard fan of the I Ching. He hoped that the I Ching would become a hit at the opening ceremony, increase revenue, and complete the Hunyuan Palace as soon as possible.

Although Zhou Yi had followed his grandfather in performing rituals for opening ceremonies, it was basically just going through the motions; he never thought about how to attract people.

However, for the sake of the money, we should study it carefully.

Sun Chenglin is very lucky with money; he might as well make it.

The online shopping platform 【Ming Shu Deity Statue Customization】 also sent a message saying that there was a door-to-door exorcism service in a county near Yunwu Mountain, with a starting fee of 5,000 yuan, and asked if Zhou Yi was interested.

Zhou Yi didn't want to get too involved with this mysterious Uncle Ming, and besides, he needed to worship the God of Wealth, so he turned down the job.

In addition, he also took on several other jobs in the town, such as feng shui for ancestral graves, baby's first birthday celebration, and fortune telling based on birth charts. These jobs were mostly done at the end of the month, so he could still make sure to worship the God of Wealth statue.

To prevent forgetting, Zhou Yi placed a desk calendar on his desk and marked each business item.

Early in the morning, after Zhou Yi finished breakfast, he was about to go to the Temple of the God of Wealth to offer incense when he saw Wu Meiniang, dressed in a blue Taoist robe, carrying a cloth bag, walking over leisurely.

She was extremely beautiful and had a great figure, yet she wore a Taoist robe with a minimalist, aloof style, creating a strong sense of contrast.

Seeing Zhou Yi scrutinizing her, Wu Meiniang glanced down at her Taoist robe:

Are there any non-compliant aspects?

Zhou Yi shook his head: "There are no taboos here, nothing is legal or illegal... Did you give all those books to Li Shimin?"

Last time at the bookstore, Zhou Yi bought a lot of books, mostly on basic medicine, basic agriculture, alcohol distillation technology, and methods for making earthen blast furnaces, etc.

Without involving politics, we should strive to make the Tang Dynasty as strong as possible.

He also recommended Su Dingfang, a famous general who expanded the territory the most in Chinese history. He should not have been neglected for twenty years. While he is still in his prime, he should be allowed to gallop across the northwestern frontier and bring warmth and peace to the local ethnic groups.

During Emperor Taizong's reign, Su Dingfang did not achieve many victories. When the army went on expeditions, it was either Li Jing or Li Ji who led the troops. It was not until Emperor Gaozong's reign that this famous general experienced a second spring in his career.

He fought his way from the northwest to the northeast, and he ravaged the Korean Peninsula, which Li Shimin had failed to conquer. He also led his army to chase the once invincible Turks on the grasslands all the way to Central Asia, and even captured the Khan of the Western Turks alive.

Wu Zetian put down the cloth bag and took out a letter from it:

"His Majesty wrote a letter and ordered me to deliver it to you."

Zhou Yi inquired:
"What kind of content did you write?"

Wu Zetian said with a smile:

"Who would dare to read His Majesty's letter? I'll go brew some tea, then you may read it with peace of mind, Immortal Master."

After saying that, the female Taoist priest gracefully went to the kitchen.

As soon as Zhou Yi touched the envelope, the originally brand-new paper gradually turned yellow, and the yellow silk cloth folded inside also seemed to have been baptized by time, becoming dull and decayed.

Fortunately, the handwriting was legible, so the letter wasn't ruined for nothing.

Carefully unfold the silk cloth, and rows of vigorous and powerful calligraphy appear before your eyes.

To be fair, Old Li's calligraphy is really good. If he came to modern society, he would easily beat those ugly and amateurish calligraphers.

The letter was quite simple. It first thanked Li Mingda for saving his life, and then expressed his amazement at how useful modern medical equipment was, which had brought his blood pressure under control.

After these polite words, Li Shimin's curiosity was piqued:
[I am astonished that the immortal has lived in my generation. I wonder if the immortal could bestow upon me a history book, so that I may learn from history and be courageous in correcting my mistakes.]

Upon seeing this, Zhou Yi's lips twitched involuntarily.

Sure enough, seeing books about people's livelihood makes me want to read history, but if I actually handed a history book over, Old Li would definitely chop down the beautiful Wu Zetian the moment he saw her.

He was counting on this beautiful female Taoist priest to earn him merit; he couldn't do without her.

Zhou Yi intends to ignore this rule and focus on the "read but not reply" rule.

[Goguryeo has humiliated my Great Tang Dynasty; my hatred cannot be quelled until it is destroyed. Why does the Immortal Master forbid me from personally leading the expedition? Has something bad happened?]

Emperors ranked in the top tier of history are not easily fooled. Zhou Yi only advised him not to personally lead an expedition, but Li Shimin immediately thought of something bad.

That's a good reply. Goguryeo is just a tiny country. Sending a general to conquer it is enough. As for the emperor personally leading the expedition, does Goguryeo even deserve it?
The books bestowed by the Immortal Master are priceless treasures and will surely become the foundation of our Great Tang Dynasty. I have ordered Zhinu to study them diligently, and to write to the Immortal Master again to ask for guidance on anything he does not understand.

Zhinu was none other than Crown Prince Li Zhi. The fact that Li Shimin could come up with the idea of ​​having Li Zhi learn technical skills proves that Li Shimin was indeed very enlightened and not the kind of person who would just blindly study Confucian classics.

Of course, Li Zhi was not a pedantic person. This seemingly honest and simple young man married his stepmother and killed his uncle. Every step he took went in the opposite direction of what his elders hoped for, which can be described as extremely rebellious.

Then comes a lot of rambling and pointless talk, but the core point is just one:
"I want books, I want more books!"

Compared to equipment, Li Shimin hoped to send more books... Equipment may break down, but knowledge can be passed down forever.

Just as she finished reading, Wu Zetian brought in a bowl of freshly brewed tea:

"Please have some tea, Immortal Master."

Zhou Yi handed over the silk cloth:

"If Li Shimin wants a history book, aren't you afraid he'll chop you up with a knife?"

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The second update is here! Please vote, add to your favorites, and keep reading! I'm asking for all your support, brothers!
(End of this chapter)