My older brother is Gao Huan.

Chapter 60 The Center of the World, Luoyang! (Please read on! Please read on!)
Gao Yu did not get too close, but kept a certain distance from the convoy.

Even during breaks and meals, the group kept their distance from each other.

This was Gao Huan's idea. The princess was of noble status, so it was better for them to keep their distance. Besides, those guards were all arrogant and haughty, so it was better to avoid conflict with them.

but……

During breaks, maids would bring exquisite pastries, and during meals, they would bring fine wine and good meat.

This must be Zheng Dache's intention.

Gao Yu naturally accepted all the offers and shared the fine wine and meat with everyone.

Liu Gui jokingly said with an ambiguous expression, "I never thought I would benefit from Erlang's presence and get to taste the Princess's usual food."

Gao Huan, however, was extremely cautious and gestured, "This is the Princess Consort, be careful what you say."

As Liu Taozhi ate her meat, she glanced coldly at the guards of the caravan not far away, as if they were a group of dead men. "The way this princess looks at my husband is unusual. If this were Huai Shuo, we would kill these people and kidnap the princess to be my husband's bed warmer. Only a woman from a high-ranking family is worthy of warming my husband's bed."

Liu Yi and the others grinned, "They're about the same age, and both have the physique of a princess, so they wouldn't be bad for warming my husband's bed."

"These guards are all just for show."

"If my lord hadn't stopped me, I could have killed them all with a single strike!"

Gao Yu had treated them with immense kindness, and the guards mocked Gao Yu during the day, which they considered a capital offense.

As long as Gao Yu gives the order, they dare to draw their swords and kill these ignorant fools on the spot.

They had all followed Gao Yu into battle; who among them hadn't taken lives?
Naturally, they wouldn't take this group seriously.

Not to mention that with Gao Yu's bravery, he could take care of all the guards in this caravan by himself.

"Shut up and stop talking nonsense."

Gao Yu glared at them irritably, "Just pretend we never saved the Princess. The Princess can mention the life-saving grace, but we absolutely cannot!"

Liu Gui was secretly surprised.

After spending these days together, he felt that Gao Yu was becoming more and more like Gao Huan in his way of dealing with people.

………………

It's not far from Luoyang to begin with.

Two days later.

The group finally arrived outside Luoyang City!

Gao Yu and his companions rode their horses to the top of Mount Beiman, where they stood overlooking the entire city of Luoyang!
Everyone was astonished, and Gao Yu was also incredibly surprised, muttering, "How magnificent, how majestic!"

"Luoyang truly deserves to be called the center of the world!"

It was an extremely magnificent and fortified city. From a distance, the city walls were very high, and there was a wide moat outside. It seemed impossible to break in from the outside unless the city ran out of water and food.

Gao Yu also saw...

The city has countless tall pavilions and towers, some even higher than the city walls, appearing to pierce the clouds from afar. It's no wonder that the people of Luoyang know how to enjoy life.

The garrison commander's residence in Huai Shuo was just a four-story pavilion; it wasn't even in the same league.

No wonder the guards were so proud when they heard that they came from Huai Shuo.

Gao Yu immediately rode up to the caravan, dismounted, and bowed.

"Luoyang is just ahead. I suppose there won't be any more bandits here who dare to ram the Princess's carriage. We have official business to attend to, so we'll take our leave now."

Zheng Dache lifted the curtain, and the maid helped her lift the veil.

"You should come into the city with me to avoid being harassed at the city gate."

"Then thank you, Your Highness."

Gao Yu turned back and led Gao Huan and the others to catch up with the convoy.

The group entered Luoyang through Xuanyang Gate from Jingming Temple outside the city. When they entered the city, the guards did not stop the convoy, but they did stop Gao Yu and his group.

Gao Yu explained that he had entered the city with the princess.

They were still stopped, and it was only after Zheng Dache's maid came that the guards allowed them to pass.

Gao Yu was very puzzled, "Just because we're wearing Hu clothing, we're being treated differently?"

Liu Gui explained with a smile, "It's not just your hairstyle and Hu clothing, but also your accent. Although you speak Han language, it's not the standard Luoyang accent. Even if you wear Han clothing and tie your hair up like a Han person, they will still make things difficult for you as soon as you open your mouth."

Ok.

In Luoyang, only the powerful are considered powerful; that's their opinion.

Gao Yu and his group are just a bunch of stinking outsiders begging for food in Luoyang.

Enter the city.

The caravan stopped, and a maid led Gao Yu and the others to Zheng Da's carriage and lifted the veil.

Zheng Dache asked, "What are your plans next?" "Your Highness, we will first find a place to stay, and then deliver the official documents."

Luoyang originally intended to provide accommodation for these messengers, but... that's a thing of the past. Because high-ranking officials and nobles occupy land to build mansions and pavilions, and the imperial court doesn't care, these messengers have to find their own places to stay.

Zheng Dache immediately suggested, "I have an empty villa in Luoyang. Why don't you all go there to rest first? It will also make it easier for my husband to thank you for saving me and escorting me to Luoyang in the future."

Gao Huan spoke up, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness, but we are despicable and dare not act in this way."

Zheng Dache shook his head, glanced at Gao Yu, and laughed, "There's no need to be so calculating. Don't you even give me a chance to repay your kindness? My husband, the Prince of Guangping, is not such an ungrateful person."

"Then thank you, Your Highness. We will respectfully comply."

Zheng Dache summoned a maid and gave her a few instructions before returning to his carriage. The convoy continued on its way.

Entering through Xuanyang Gate, you will find yourself on Tongtuo Street, the main thoroughfare in the center of Luoyang.

Tongtuo Street was bustling with people and carriages, and the sounds of vendors hawking their wares filled the air, creating a vibrant and prosperous scene.

Everyone's face showed a peaceful and serene expression, something Gao Yu had never seen in Huai Shuo before, as if it were a different world.

Gao Yu couldn't help but feel ashamed.

When he first transmigrated here, he thought the Northern and Southern Dynasties were a chaotic era, but he never expected that the Northern Wei Dynasty could also have such a peaceful and prosperous time.

But then I thought, the people of Huai Shuo and other border towns don't have that kind of mood, and this prosperity has nothing to do with the six towns.

Luoyang may be beautiful, but it's just the calm before the storm.

Gao Yu sneered.

In Luoyang, the palaces are warm with songs and dances, while in the six towns, the north wind blows and frost and snow are cold.

Just wait and see.

The maid led Gao Yu and the others to a mansion. Although it was empty, it had everything that should be there, and there were maids and servants cleaning it every day.

Gao Huan and the others put their luggage away.

He said, "Second Brother, you ultimately offended the people in the central army when you were on the northern expedition against the Rouran. This time, instead of delivering the official document, I should go alone."

"You should also show your face less in Luoyang and try to avoid causing trouble. Luoyang is not like Huai Shuo. We are of lowly status and should be even more careful."

Gao Yu nodded; Gao Huan's concerns were not without merit.

Regardless of how it is ultimately handled.

However, since he has already formed a grudge with the central army, it's best to avoid them.

Gao Huan took out the official documents and left with two other attendants, while Gao Yu was left behind.

He stepped out of the room and went to the courtyard to take a look...

Zheng Dache called it a separate courtyard, but there was also a five-story pavilion built in this mansion.

Even though I was standing in the courtyard, all I could see were towering pavilions and pagodas reaching into the clouds.

A phrase involuntarily came to mind.

"In the northwest stands a tall building, reaching the floating clouds."

Only after witnessing it firsthand can one realize that... the poems and prose of the ancients were not all exaggerations, but rather quite realistic.

He also learned from the maid that the tallest pagoda in the southwest was Yongning Temple, which was built on the orders of Empress Dowager Hu.

"If I weren't ignorant of Buddhist scriptures, I would have definitely gone to the temple to wander around and then used that as an excuse to meet the Empress Dowager."

Gao Yu's only memory of Buddhism.

It is the verse by which the Sixth Patriarch Huineng surpassed Shenxiu, the chief disciple of the Fifth Patriarch Hongren.

Shenxiu did it.

The body is a Bodhi tree, the mind a bright mirror; constantly wipe it clean, lest it be covered with dust.

What Huineng did was...

Bodhi has no tree, nor is the bright mirror a stand; originally there is nothing, so where can dust alight?

Without comparison, there is no harm, so Shenxiu could only be the chief disciple, while Huineng was able to inherit the mantle of the Fifth Patriarch.

But at this point in time, if I were to write either of these two verses, I'd probably be considered a Buddhist master.
pity……

That's all the knowledge he has; if he tries to learn more, he'll definitely be exposed.

It's better to just admire the scenery from a distance.

P.S.: This week's results are crucial... Please read to the latest chapter and don't let the book sit unread.

I'll definitely be back with tons of new chapters once it's released!

(End of this chapter)