Chapter 202: Farewell to the Old and Welcome to the New
For the people of Taoism, the New Year is not truly celebrated until after the Lantern Festival.
Starting from the 16th day of the first lunar month, Taoism officially entered a tense state before the war began.
Because of the Lantern Festival, the flying boat of Xiaolei Chi was delayed for one day, and it took off and returned to Yujing in the evening of the 16th day of the first lunar month.
Zhang Yuelu and Qi Xuansu were both on this flying boat.
For the two of them, the last time they took a flying boat from Yunjin Mountain was a bad memory, but they should not be too worried this time.
There were also several big figures of the Zhang family with them, including Zhang Wuliang and Zhang Jucheng.
Zhang Wuliang was the assistant of Taiping Money House. In a large-scale war, Taiping money was the top priority, so Zhang Wuliang had to return to Yujing.
As for Zhang Jucheng, it was to pave the way for him to start activities in advance when he was sent out. Many important relationships required him to come forward in person, such as meeting with Donghua Zhenren and Cihang Zhenren. In addition, he also had to meet with the Earth Master.
As for Li Changsheng and Li Minghuang, they went directly north to the Qizhou base camp.
After Jinque officially made the decision, the huge machine of Taoism started to work, and countless materials were transported from various places to Qizhou, and then from Qizhou to Fenglinzhou.
At this time, most of the high-level officials of Taiping Dao gathered in Qizhou and had already held the first pre-war meeting. As one of the seven assistants of Taiping Money House, Li Changsheng was mainly responsible for the allocation of Taiping money in the Qizhou base camp.
After the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first lunar month, the high-level Taoist priests of the other two sects, as well as the civil and military generals of the court, will also go to Qizhou one after another to hold the second pre-war meeting with Taiping Dao.
The internal of Taoism was full of confidence in this war, so there was a tense atmosphere mixed with excitement and a festive atmosphere that had not dissipated after the Lantern Festival.
In this atmosphere, Qi Xuansu and Zhang Yuelu returned to Yujing on the 17th day of the first lunar month.
After getting off the flying boat, everyone dispersed.
Zhang Jucheng had known Cihang Zhenren and Donghua Zhenren for a long time, so he didn't need anyone to introduce him. Moreover, they had already communicated before coming, so they just went to their door directly. But before that, Zhang Jucheng had to go to his residence in Xuandu first to prepare a little, and also to meet Zhang Yuyue's mother.
That's right, Zhang Yuelu's mother has been living in Yujing in recent years, and rarely returns to the Great Zhenren Mansion that makes her feel depressed. The superficial reason is that as the second deputy hall master of Huasheng Hall, she must stay in Yujing. The actual reason is that the relationship between the couple is already dead in name only, but they are just worried about the impact, and they haven't reached the point of tearing their faces. They also have a daughter, so they have never divorced, and simply live a long-term separation.
But then again, it is reasonable for the relationship between middle-aged couples to fade, but the real reason for the breakdown of their relationship is still related to Li Minghuang. After Zhang Yuyue was abandoned by Li Minghuang, the couple disagreed on how to deal with the matter.
Zhang Jucheng thought that not many people knew about this matter, and the key point was that Zhang Yuyue was still intact, so it was not good to make a big fuss and let everyone know about it. Not to mention the reputation of the Zhang family, the reputation of the daughter should always be taken into consideration, right? If it really spreads, it will be said that she was abandoned after having an affair, which is like yellow mud falling into the crotch, and it is difficult to defend. The daughter still has a long way to go, and you don’t want her to become the second Shi Bingyun, right? So the key at the moment is to seal it and suppress it. Since it is to be suppressed, then you can’t retaliate in a big way.
Zhang Yuyue’s mother believes that there is no impenetrable wall in the world, and it cannot be suppressed. The reputation of her daughter has been ruined in the hands of this dog man, and she must retaliate and make him pay the price.
Neither of the husband and wife can convince the other. Zhang Jucheng thinks that his wife is too impulsive and does not consider the consequences. Zhang Yuyue’s mother thinks that Zhang Jucheng is too weak. This is a fuse that ignites all the conflicts that have been accumulated for decades between the couple.
In the end, it cannot be said that Zhang Jucheng was wrong. Now outsiders say that Zhang Yuyue was hurt by love. It is common for young people to be depressed because of love. There is no rumor that she abandoned her husband after having an affair or got pregnant. Therefore, after seeing Li Minghuang, Zhang Jucheng did not want to mention the old things. It was not that he was afraid of Li Minghuang, a junior. In the final analysis, it was to preserve the reputation of his daughter. He was considered to bear humiliation. .br>
The daughter
also became the last link to maintain the relationship between husband and wife.
Zhang Wuliang went to the Duzhi Hall to handle some affairs. People in the Taoist sect called the Duzhi Hall the one who manages money, the Shibo Hall the one who makes money, and the Taiping Money House the one who saves money. The business dealings between the three are the closest.
Qi Xuansu and Zhang Yuelu also had to separate. Zhang Yuelu returned to Tiangang Hall, and Qi Xuansu returned to Ziwei Hall, and they each returned from leave.
After returning from leave, Qi Xuansu returned to the signing room and found that Ke Qingqing had arrived.
The two had not been apart for too long, and they had not yet felt unfamiliar enough, so Qi Xuansu just casually asked, "Are you here?"
"I arrived on the 15th day of the first lunar month, just as the Lantern Festival was celebrated in Yujing. The Earth Master presided over it personally, and it was even more grand than the one in Dijing." Ke Qingqing chattered, "Unfortunately, I had not completed my induction at that time, so I could not go to Zifu, and could only watch the lanterns in Taiqing City. I just completed my induction this morning. Master Lei looked scary, but he was very nice and kind. I heard that Master Lei was the sister-in-law of Master Zhangtang, is that true?"
Qi Xuansu said, "It's true. Master Lei was my former boss and took good care of me. When I'm not here, if you have any problems, you can ask Master Lei. Also, Yujing is a different place, be careful about what you say and do."
"Yes." Ke Qingqing said seriously.
She was deeply aware of this point. In the past, in the Imperial Palace, the number of real-level Taoist priests could be counted on two hands. But when she arrived at Ziweitang, she saw as many as thirteen real people in the past two days, including two Zhenzhi Zhenren who were on the same level as the master, not to mention other third-grade Youyi Taoist priests. As for the fourth-grade wine-sacrifice Taoist priests, they were even more numerous. Instead, she, the sixth-grade deacon, became an anomaly. However, many people knew that she was Qi Xuansu's secretary, so they were very polite to her and even took the initiative to make friends with her. At first, she was a little flattered, but later she understood that it was not because of her, but because of Qi Xuansu behind her that she was so polite.
Qi Xuansu did not forget to care about his subordinates: "Has the accommodation been arranged?"
"It will be temporarily arranged in Chunyangfang." Ke Qingqing replied.
Qi Xuansu said: "Zhongbafang, that's not bad."
Ke Qingqing asked: "Master...Deputy Hall Master, is there anything else you want to explain?"
Qi Xuansu sat behind the desk and said: "There is nothing to explain, everything is as usual. By the way, I may go to Fenglinzhou. Master Lei will not go. If you want to ask for leave, go to see Master Lei."
Ke Qingqing nodded in agreement, and couldn't help but sigh in her heart, otherwise Deputy Hall Master Qi would be promoted quickly, and he would have no time to spare. He had just returned from the Imperial Capital and was going to Fenglin Continent again.
In Tiangang Hall, Zhang Yuelu met the real person Cihang.
Master Cihang stepped back and said straight to the point: "I have met Yao Qi."
Zhang Yuelu was stunned for a moment, then he understood and asked, "So how was the conversation between Master and Qiniang?"
"Speaking of it, we are old acquaintances. We have known each other for a long time." Master Cihang did not answer directly. "In those years when Qiniang was a Taoist priest, she was always one step behind the rest of us. It was not because of her incompetence, but because of her relationship with the Taoist sect. If she didn't fit in, she wasn't qualified to be a Taoist priest, so one day, Qiniang left without saying goodbye. In name, she said she was going to become a wandering Taoist priest, but in fact, she was going to live in the world. After becoming famous, she first became the owner of Qibaofang, and now she is a high-ranking member of the Qingping Association. It is not an exaggeration to say that she is a giant in the world, but she has also been infected with many habits of the world, and her character has become even worse."
Zhang Yuelu already understood something when he heard this.
As expected, Master Cihang continued: "So our meeting this time was not pleasant. Qiniang was very resistant, but she was not opposed, just had objections. In the end, we could only make concessions, such as letting Qi Tianyuan leave the Qingping Association. Let things take their own course. I will no longer force him to quit, and Qiniang will no longer force him to stay. It all depends on his own wishes."
Zhang Yuelu said nothing.
Based on her settlement with Qi Xuansu, Qi Xuansu had always wanted to withdraw from the Qingping Society. To put it bluntly, he was afraid of being discovered. But now that he has confessed, not only does she know it, but Tianshi, Donghua Master, and Cihang Master also know it. It seems that they didn't do anything to him, and this guy can't help but become bolder again.
The key is that she is also involved with Ziguang Society
Relationship, Qi Xuansu always has a strange mentality of equality. If you have Ziguang Society, I will also have it. If you have Ziguang Society, then I will have Qingping Society. This is called equality. Otherwise, it is double standards. I want him to voluntarily withdraw from Qingping Society. I'm afraid it's not that simple.
Zhang Yuelu had no position to force Qi Xuansu. Although she did not join the Ziguang Society, she did receive favors from the Ziguang Society. We cannot just allow state officials to set fires but not allow people to light lamps.
In terms of depth of understanding of Qi Xuansu, I'm afraid no one can surpass Qiniang. Maybe Qiniang saw this clearly and dared to retreat like this.
Qi Xuansu walked out of the city carrying a jar of wine, a few cooked dishes, a small bundle of ordinary incense sticks, and a stack of paper money.
Outside the city, the wind and snow were still howling, and the ice was bone-chilling.
Qi Xuansu braved the wind and snow to go to the cemetery under the name of Requiem Si and found his master's grave.
The tombstone in front of the grave simply says "Qi Haoran's Tomb" without any inscription. The handwriting is beautiful and it is Qiniang's handwriting.
Qi Xuansu first placed the cooked food in front of the grave, then placed the jar of wine in the middle and lit the incense. The incense head flickered on and off. He did not speak for a long time.
At this moment, there was a sound of banging the smoke pot.
Qi Xuansu looked back in shock.
He saw Qiniang leaning on a tombstone and knocking off the ashes from the pot.
At this moment, Qi Xuansu suddenly felt the warmth of home.
My father was asleep and my mother was smoking tobacco out of boredom.
And he is a man who returns home on a snowy night.
"Qiniang." Qi Xuansu felt that he had a lot to say but didn't know where to start.
Qiniang casually put the cigarette stick on her waist and said, "If you encounter any danger when you go to Fenglinzhou this time, you can't expect me to fall from the sky. I only have one sentence, go well and come back well."