Pawn Crossing the River

Qi Xuansu had to be polite and modest, and at the same time, he was thinking, is the appearance of the King of Qi here a pure coincidence? Or is there another deeper meaning?

Just as there are people like Pei Shenfu in Quanzhen Dao, not all people in the court support the Emperor Jiushi. What is the attitude of the King of Qi? It is still worth pondering. They certainly will not oppose the Emperor Jiushi openly, but once the emperor's policy encounters a major setback, these potential opposition voices will make sense. As the saying goes, take one step and look three steps ahead. Some things need to be ambushed in advance.

However, people like the King of Qi will definitely not reveal a single word, and he will not leave any handles. This is a bit like Qi Xuansu meeting Zhang Taixu, getting to know each other first, not talking about specific things, paving the way for the future. When it comes to cooperation in the future, it will not be too abrupt.

Qi Xuansu believes that there will be that day. In fact, no matter who becomes the chief, he must solve this problem of the court. The ambition of the Emperor Jiushi is too big. Doesn't the Li family know? The Li family certainly knows, but now there is pressure from the Zhengyi Dao and the Quanzhen Dao, so let's put it aside for the time being. The dispute between the first and second Taoist priests is unavoidable.

Whether it is the King of Qi, Zhang Taixu, or the King of Jin, they can be either the help or the obstacle of the emperor, depending on how the situation develops. They came to see Qi Xuansu, and they also set up an ambush in advance.

After the greetings, the King of Qi said goodbye: "Master Taiwei, we have a long time to come, haha."

Qi Xuansu finally said only four words: "There is a long time to come."

The King of Qi turned and left.

Qi Xuansu suddenly remembered a joke from the past. It was when he went to the Western Regions with Zhang Yuelu, and he had dinner with Cao Liyou and Shangguan Dun. Cao Liyou asked him if he liked to eat vegetarian food because there was a "su" character in his name. Qi Xuansu joked that since there was a "xuan" character in his name, should he be given a big house in Xuandu? His surname is Qi, should he be made the King of Qi?

The joke seemed to be yesterday. The house in Xuandu was not difficult, and the King of Qi also saw it.

Then Qi Xuansu brought Xiao Yin back to Taiqing Palace. Old Master Pei was ready and could leave. It is worth mentioning that Pei Shenfu would also accompany his father to Yujing. It seems that she has thought it through. Since the general trend cannot be reversed, she will go with the flow.

Coming down from Jinao Peak, she got on the flying boat.

Officially embarked on the return journey.

After the flying boat set off, Qi Xuansu contacted Donghua Zhenren and gave a general introduction to the situation.

Donghua Zhenren already knew some situations, such as the fight between the earth master and the emperor, and some situations, Donghua Zhenren did not know, such as the attitude of old master Pei.

Because he was his father, Donghua Zhenren was very concerned and asked many questions, even in detail.

Qi Xuansu tactfully conveyed the general meaning of some of Mr. Pei's words. After listening, Donghua Zhenren was silent for a moment and said, "Okay, I know."

After the incident in Wanghai Tower, Taiping Dao did not want to make a fuss anymore, so the journey was safe and sound. Qi Xuansu returned to Yujing smoothly.

It was a big show. Master Donghua and Master Cihang came together to welcome Master Pei. The Su family went smoothly and basically didn't spend much effort. After the Tianshi talked with the emperor, he asked Zhang Yuelu to be responsible for sending people to Yujing, and the Tianshi went directly to Qizhou. So Master Cihang's parents came to Yujing one step ahead.

Later, Master Donghua held a family dinner, including Master Pei, Pei Shenfu, Pei Xiaolou, Lei Xiaohuan, Pei Xiaoyun, Yao Pei, Qi Xuansu was not the only outsider, and Xiao Yin and Gong Jiaojun also participated.

Zhang Yuelu didn't come, she went to Master Cihang.

The guests have arrived in Yujing one after another, so Pei Xiaolou and Lei Xiaohuan can attend the family dinner in Yujing. This is also the norm for Taoist couples or Taoist partners, who often travel from all over the world. Pei Xiaolou is now in Nanyang, and Lei Xiaohuan is in Jiangnan. It is also through this opportunity that they can get together for a few days. Of course, Pei Xiaolou is also very free in Nanyang alone and doesn't miss home.

Seeing his most promising eldest son, Mr. Pei was still a little touched and said a lot, but he only talked about family affairs, not state affairs, so the atmosphere at the table was quite harmonious.

Donghua Zhenren specifically mentioned the matter of Guanhai Tower: "I want to apologize to Tianyuan first. It was my inconsiderateness that put Tianyuan in danger. I also want to praise Tianyuan because Tianyuan handled it very well. If it wasn't Tianyuan, I would really be worried about handing it over to someone else."

Qi Xuansu and Donghua Zhenren are half-way master and apprentice. Their feelings cannot be compared with those of normal master and apprentice. This requires some special means to deepen this feeling. Such a semi-public and semi-private matter is very appropriate.

Mr. Pei also praised a few words, and did not completely give face.

Pei Shenfu did not say much, but just drank alone.

Xiao Yin was similar to her, and did not speak, but just ate alone.

The family banquet was uneventful, and the next step was the formal ceremony.

Tianshi would not attend, so Zhang Jucheng would congratulate him on his behalf. Dishi would not attend either, so Yao Yi would congratulate him on his behalf.

The two of them were not opposed, but before the election, the three masters would tacitly avoid suspicion and would not come to Yujing. At least they would wait until the list of the Grand Master Election Committee came out before they came to Yujing.

This means that Qi Xuansu will finally meet Yao Yi, the candidate for the Earth Master. From Qi Niang's perspective, Qi Xuansu can still call Yao Yi "big brother". Of course, he can't compare to Li Changge, who can call the National Master "big brother".

Qi Xuansu had a very obvious feeling that with the upcoming election, those guys who had been hiding under the water and refused to show up easily before had to show up: Emperor Jiushi, Earth Master, Zhang Taixu, King Qi, Yao Yi, etc.

It can be predicted that as the election committee is released, more old guys will appear.

This shows one thing, the situation is getting more and more tense.

The parties may not have the determination to start a war, but they are ready to go to war.

After the election results come out, whether the peace between Yujing and Taoism can be guaranteed will test Donghua Zhenren and Qingwei Zhenren. It is a test of their wisdom, as well as their means, pattern, capacity, determination, etc.

Since the Heavenly Master and Earth Master are not coming, the person who presides over the ceremony can only be Jiang Da Zhenren, the fourth great Zhenren.

It just so happens that the end of the Dazun area is almost over, and it is time to return to the court.

The observation group of the West Daomen has changed from a military observation staff to a foreign affairs staff, represented by Tan Taiying, and followed to attend the ceremony to express congratulations.

As for the Holy Court Observation Group, it will not participate. Because the two real people said that they would only invite relatives and friends, and would not hold a grand ceremony, and the Taoist sect would not allow the Holy Court to participate on the eve of the election. The Holy Court Observation Group will go to Nalanda Temple through the Dazun area, visit the three great masters of Buddhism, and then go to Xiposuozhou from the Buddhist-controlled area to complete this sinister observation trip.

On the first day of the twelfth lunar month of the 46th year of Jiushi, the Great Master Jiang officially signed a ceasefire agreement with the Buddhist representative Wushi Fawang, recovered the entire territory of Dazun including Dazun Temple, and returned to the court in victory.

This ceasefire agreement is of far-reaching significance. It not only means that the Taoist sect has completed the punishment of Buddhism and avenged Chen Zhengxian's arrow, but also effectively deterred all forces.

From the war in the Western Regions to the war in Fenglinzhou, and then to this Dazun conflict, Shamanism, Tianmen, and Buddhism were slapped in turn by the Taoist sect, interspersed with the episode of eliminating local separatist forces such as Chen Shuhua, and even the Taoist sect was supporting the Western Taoist sect in a battle with Steam Gospel behind the scenes.

Regardless of how the Dao Sect fights internally, it is always at the peak of martial virtue and cannot be provoked by others.

Judging from the external war record alone, the Dao Sect is still in its heyday.

As for the Dao Sect, major cases have broken out one after another, the finances are becoming increasingly tight, traitors and spies are appearing frequently, the internal struggles among the three sects have intensified, and the political ecology has further deteriorated. It is really not optimistic. All contradictions are focused on this election of the Grand Master.

For the Buddhist sect, the signing of this armistice agreement means that the radical faction headed by the Peacock King has suffered a major setback and has reached the point of shaking the foundation. The pro-Dao faction headed by the Unconscious Dharma King has begun to rise. As long as this trend is maintained, the border can be guaranteed to be peaceful for quite some time in the future.

It’s not that the Dao Sect cannot win, but the finances of the Dao Sect need to take a breath.

Jinque held a grand welcome ceremony in Yujing.

Represented by Cihang Zhenren, the head of Tiangang Hall, a total of seven Canzhi Zhenren attended the welcome, including Qi Xuansu.

Great Master Jiang was also destined to be a busy man. He had just dealt with the Holy Court and the Buddhist sect, and had to come back to preside over the ceremony.

However, this time it was indeed not a big deal, because it was not a wedding, there were not so many complicated procedures, and it could even be said that there was only one link. The two parties really invited relatives and friends, but with their connections, the number of relatives and friends was a bit too much.

The ceremony was scheduled for the fifth day of the twelfth lunar month.

On the day of the ceremony, Qi Xuansu, Zhang Yuelu, and Xiao Yin's family of three naturally all attended the banquet.

Today, the family of three is a supporting role. In terms of seniority, they are the younger generation, not even the same generation. In terms of status, it is not their turn to preside over anything. There are all the great masters of Pingzhang, so they became pure guests and spectators.

After the guests sat down, Great Master Jiang appeared and said a few words at first, all of which were clichés.

Then Master Donghua and Master Cihang appeared together, but compared with the marriage of Qi Xuansu and Zhang Yuelu, the two were much more simple, and they didn't even change their clothes, and they were still dressed as usual.

According to the rules, a token of trust must be exchanged to form a Taoist couple. The two real people have great fortunes and naturally prepared it in advance.

As expected, the real person Donghua took out a jade pendant, which was given by Xuansheng in the past. It has the wonderful function of concentrating the mind and calming the heart, and is very precious.

Most of Xuansheng's personal relics fell into the hands of the Li family, but the ancestors of the Pei family were disciples of Xuansheng, so they also got a part.

Coincidentally, the token of the real person Cihang is a jade hairpin. Although it was not given by Xuansheng, it was given by Xuansheng's wife to Su Zushi of Cihang's lineage. This Su Zushi married Yan Zushi, a heavenly master of a different surname. The couple had a good relationship with Xuansheng and his wife and had many exchanges.

These two tokens must have a deep meaning. One was given by Xuansheng and the other was given by Xuansheng's wife. Doesn't this mean the Grand Master and the Grand Master's wife?