novelAbuy Chapter 17 Where I think of you, and you think of me.
Chapter 17 Where I think of you, and you think of me.
Yang Zhengdao and his entourage left Longhua Temple and headed to Fayuan Temple in Fuping County.
Li Ke was truly surprised to find that among the four rubbings of the inscriptions his cousin had requested, there was one for him, and a smile involuntarily crept onto his lips.
Although I need to send a portion to Princess Chang Le on behalf of my cousin, my father also has a portion, so I think he shouldn't blame me.
But those 120,000 volumes of the Heart Sutra...
Li Ke pondered for half the night but could not find a solution, so he sought advice from Yang Zhengdao, who was riding side by side with him.
"I see that my cousin is very confident in copying the scriptures. Does he have any concerns about it?"
Yang Zhengdao certainly wouldn't be foolish enough to hire someone to copy the 120,000 volumes of scriptures he promised.
He relied on movable type printing technology, which he obtained from the system.
Seeing the puzzled look on Li Ke's face, Yang Zhengdao decided to keep him in suspense and brought up Mingyuan's explanation.
"The Dharma is neither taken without effort, nor given without effort."
Li Ke thought to himself, "Since you have such a brilliant plan, why should I trouble myself?"
My cousin has been quiet for a year, but now he's making a name for himself. Is it all because of Chang Le?
They were truly deeply in love and put in a lot of thought.
Li Ke chuckled and shook his head, urging his horse forward.
Yang Zhengdao, unaware of Li Ke's thoughts, looked at Li Ke, who had once again become a silent gourd, and sighed that the young man was quite boring once he lost his curiosity.
Of the three brothers, Li Chengqian, Li Ke, and Li Tai, the eldest was bound by his status as crown prince, the third was bound by his bloodline from the former Sui Dynasty, and perhaps only the youngest, Li Tai, had the most youthful spirit, which made him the most favored by Emperor Taizong (Li Er).
After sighing, Yang Zhengdao couldn't help but shake his head.
"Master, when can we eat meat?" Naza's voice suddenly rang out.
Yang Zhengdao turned around and saw that she was still pouting and sulking.
Not long after leaving Longhua Temple, the young girl shot an arrow and hit a pheasant, then returned excitedly with her prey.
Yang Zhengdao dared not eat this; he was cultivating himself under imperial decree.
Moreover, the eunuch was watching, so he could only reprimand Naza for killing.
There weren't many monks preaching on the grasslands in that era, so Naza naturally couldn't understand why she had to eat vegetarian food all day long.
As Yang Zhengdao was pondering how to explain to Nazha, he heard Aba say in a muffled voice, "Nazha is so stupid. Of course, it's because Adao has now turned into a sheep and can't eat meat anymore."
"Aba, shut up! You're not allowed to talk about your master like that."
Hearing Naza start arguing with Aba, Yang Zhengdao twitched the corners of his mouth, but could only let out a long sigh in the end.
He subconsciously looked towards the horizon, where a free-floating cloud was drifting.
The outline of Fayuan Temple, an ancient temple from the Northern Wei Dynasty, has already appeared on the horizon.
He has already traveled through ten of the fifteen counties in Yongzhou, and is about to return to Chang'an, a city that feels like a cage.
Abba is absolutely right!
He was just an ordinary college student, no different from Li Er, a man of great talent and ambition.
The identity of this remnant of the previous dynasty is truly fraught with difficulties.
Perhaps Shang Changle is the only key that can unlock the shackles that bind him.
Thinking of the small figure of Xuandu Temple, and the shy smile of Da'an Palace.
Yang Zhengdao let out a long breath.
He only hoped that after completing the mission to explore Yongzhou, the system would give him a surprise.
……
The inner garden of Taiji Palace, Chang Le Hall.
Li Lizhi was sitting in front of the embroidery frame, her silver needles moving up and down, and a pale pink begonia quietly bloomed on the plain silk.
Looking at the fully formed crabapple blossoms, she couldn't help but think of that day at Da'an Palace, of his melancholy gaze fixed on the horizon, of his handsome profile bathed in sunlight...
Li Lizhi quickly patted her flushed cheeks and sighed softly.
I wonder where that shameless guy is now.
A few days ago when I went to Da'an Palace, my grandfather was already able to get out of bed and move around.
I wonder when that shameless guy will be able to return to Chang'an.
Suddenly, hurried footsteps sounded outside the hall, accompanied by a young boy's clear voice: "A-Zhi! Is A-Zhi here?"
"Your Highness, the King of Yue."
As the maids bowed, a young man dressed in a purple robe and with a jade belt around his waist rushed in.
The visitor was none other than the Fourth Prince, Li Tai.
"Brother Qingque?" Li Lizhi put down her needlework and stood up in surprise. "What's the matter that you're in such a hurry?"
"Ah Zhi..." Li Tai stopped himself from saying what he was about to say, his eyes darting around before he continued, "I heard an interesting story from Uncle Yuanjia today!"
Upon hearing this, Li Lizhi's face immediately flushed red.
Could it be that Uncle Yuanjia has spread that embarrassing poem far and wide?
How could someone so shameless allow that gossipy Uncle Wang to deliver a message? He didn't even bother to seal the letter properly.
She even suspected that the shameless man had done it on purpose.
Feeling uneasy, she avoided Li Tai's gaze and feigned composure: "What interesting thing is it?"
Upon seeing Azhi's reaction, Li Tai knew that what Yuanjia's uncle said was true.
He wiped his sweat, his eyes sparkling as he leaned closer, lowering his voice: "Don't worry, Azhi, I will never tell anyone about you and Yang Zhengdao!"
"You?" Upon hearing this, Li Lizhi wished she could immediately hide back in her room. "Don't talk nonsense!"
Li Tai chuckled: "Good Ah Zhi, as long as you bring me a few more of Yang Zhengdao's poems and let my brother see them, I will never tell Mother about this matter."
After her initial embarrassment, Li Lizhi immediately saw through Li Tai's intentions and was certain that he didn't have the guts.
Moreover, her fourth brother was arrogant about his talent and loved literature, which is why he rushed over in such a hurry.
Having made up her mind, Li Lizhi remained calm and said, "Go ahead and tell them. As long as you're not afraid of being punished by the Empress Dowager to copy the Classic of Filial Piety, then go ahead and tell them."
When Li Tai saw that one plan had failed, he devised another.
"Good Ah Zhi, as long as you let your brother see, I, Qing Que, can also transform into a bluebird and deliver your message."
Upon hearing this, Li Lizhi instinctively replied, "Where are he and Prince Ke now? How do you know, and how are you going to find him?"
"Oh dear..." Li Tai exclaimed teasingly, "Looking for him?! Ah Zhi has finally spoken her mind!"
"Shut up!" Li Lizhi's face, which had been flushed, was suddenly stained with the most vibrant rouge.
"Alright, alright, Ah Zhi, don't be angry. I only heard from Uncle Yuanjia that Yang Zhengdao's quatrains are unparalleled in the world, and no one can surpass them. That's why I'm so eager to see them. Please show them to me."
Hearing such high praise for her shamelessness, Li Lizhi felt as if she had suddenly tasted honey, and a sweet smile unconsciously appeared on her lips.
When Li Tai saw Li Lizhi's infatuated expression, he knew that his wish was about to be fulfilled.
"Don't worry, Ah Zhi, I have my own way of finding Yang Zhengdao. Brother, I mean what I say. If you have any letters, just give them to me."
"I..." Li Lizhi hesitated.
She knew that if she sent Li Tai a letter, the shameless man would definitely write her another poem.
Well, I just wanted to see what his next poem would be, I'm definitely not concerned about that shameless bastard.
Li Lizhi quickly found an excuse for herself.
"You must keep your word!"
"Of course!" Li Tai rubbed his hands together excitedly.
Li Lizhi entered the inner room and soon brought out an exquisite little wooden box as if it were a precious treasure.