Chapter 740

Toot——!

At the third quarter of the Yin hour, a low horn sounded from the corner tower of the Forbidden City.

The Zhu Que Gate opened wide with the sound of gear winches.

Five hundred mysterious-armored Golden Guards holding vermilion lacquer boards studded with copper nails, inscribed with "Silence" and "Avoid," lined up on both sides of the imperial road, followed by ritual officials of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices holding nine-stream mysterious banners.

The statue of the Erlang Zhenjun of Fire and Water of the Flint Wheel was over a zhang and two feet tall, making the surrounding crowd look exceptionally small, carried on a black iron palanquin by three hundred and twenty strong men from the army, moving forward slowly.

This was the National Sacrifice Hall, the ritual music was solemn, and the full court officials, regardless of size, had all arrived, but not a single person dared to make any noise, just walking along with the procession.

By the beginning of the Chen hour, the Jingyang Bell rang inside the palace.

Emperor Xiao Qixuan, wearing the twelve-chapter imperial crown and robes, boarded the palanquin, followed by Mystic Sect leaders like Celestial Master Zhang of Long Hu Mountain and Qiu Changchun of Zhongnan, all with solemn expressions.

Below the Dan steps of the Altar of Land and Grain, the Commandant's Office fire-gun squad formed a human wall with their flintlock gun butts on the ground, the gun barrels shimmering with cold blue in the morning light.

As the statue was slowly moved into the hall by the strong men, the Minister of Works chanted the "Kaogong Ji · Yuren Chapter" loudly, and twelve white-haired Taizhu of the Imperial Clan Court shook the "Mountain and River Banners" covered with copper bells.

Following that was the complex consecration ceremony.

Several Mystic Sect leaders presided over it simultaneously; it was a grand event unseen in a hundred years, and only when the Great Xuan Dynasty was founded had there been such a scene.

However, Emperor Xiao Qixuan always had a gloomy face.

Falling short of success, making a concession, in the end, it was somewhat unpleasant.

Just at this moment, a commotion suddenly arose outside the hall, as four giant oxen dyed black were driven to the front of the steps, with copper plates identifying "Shuntian Prefecture Official Pasture" tied to their ears.

The Junior Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices pierced the ox necks with a jade dagger, and the ox blood flowed into the bronze dew-collecting plate; every link strictly conformed to ancient rituals.

The court officials guarding outside the temple had different expressions when they saw this situation.

If before, they had some doubts about the Emperor making such a big fanfare to build a statue, now the appearance of the Mystic Sect leaders had made them completely understand the importance of this object.

Of course, they didn't know the inside story of these things.

Most people were still considering how to stand at the forefront of this change...

……

Inside and outside the Nine Gates, in the streets and alleys, it was also bustling and noisy.

Zhu Que Street was surging with people; along the two sides of the imperial road cleared by the Golden Guards, thick walls of people were piled up, all standing on tiptoe and poking their heads to look in the direction of the palace gate.

The tea houses and wine shops were packed full at the windows facing the street, and even daring children were lying by the window lattices, their small heads huddled together.

In the crowd, the peddlers were even more agile like swimming fish, weaving through the gaps in the crowd and shouting: "Protective peach talismans—get some of the Erlang Zhenjun's blessings!"

"Mint water, sour plum soup, refreshing and thirst-quenching!"

The sound of the peddler's copper bells mixed with the crying of small children in women's arms and the rough discussions of men, buzzing into a piece of noise.

The air was permeated with the wheat fragrance of baked cakes and steamed buns, the oily smoke of freshly fried fruit, mixed with the sweat of the crowd, turning into a strange smell.

Besides this, folk music bands in the streets and alleys were also helping to liven things up; the blowing and beating bands played gongs, drums, and cymbals in unison, carrying the high-pitched joy unique to the north.

Several juggling troupes temporarily circled out an open space, the jumping and leaping of the lion dance drew bursts of applause, and there were also restless children imitating the appearance, twisting around with floral cloth strips, drilling in and out of the crowd...

……

"Wangjiang Tower" in the South City is the tallest wine tower in the south of the city.

From the elegant pavilion on the fourth floor, looking out the window, one could see the sails on the Tonghui River, and could also hear the drum music coming from the distant imperial city.

The smell of wine permeated the air, and the table was already in a mess with cups and plates.

Kuai Dayou was picking his teeth, Fatty Lin's round face was piled with smiles, and he diligently poured wine for Luo Mingzi, "Daoist, drink this cup, don't think about those annoying things."

And opposite them, the young scholar Kong Shangzhao lowered his head, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing the edge of the coarse porcelain wine cup.

Seeing that the timing was about right, Kuai Dayou gave a wink, and Fatty Lin coughed lightly, saying earnestly to Luo Mingzi: "Daoist Luo, we are going to the south this time to seek the legendary 'Bohai Qiu Wood'; we really can't do it without Brother Shangzhao!"

"The ancient books and maps in his stomach are more complete than the ship materials in my Fatty Lin's warehouse! Look, can you accommodate us..."

The Commandant's Office was once again managed by the great eunuch Zhao Wujiu.

This was a ruthless person; they didn't dare to use the plans they had prepared before, and hearing that Luo Mingzi was recuperating at home and feeling annoyed, they invited him out to plead for mercy.

Luo Mingzi did not answer after hearing this, but continued to lean against the window, looking at the bustle of the wharf, and a short, mocking laugh came from his throat, as if mocking himself.

He didn't look back, his rough fingers pinching the wine cup, his knuckles turning white: "Young Master Lin, even you have come to fool this poor Daoist..."

As he spoke, he turned his head slowly, his face covered in blue stubble showing a few traces of fatigue, looking at Kong Shangzhao, and said calmly: "If you want to follow Brother Li and the others to roam the martial world, then go. This poor Daoist will not stop you."

Kong Shangzhao was overjoyed when he heard this, hurriedly stood up and bowed, his face full of shame: "The junior once promised the Daoist to join the Commandant's Office, but now I am breaking my promise..."

"No need to say more."

Luo Mingzi waved his hand to stop him, drank the wine in his cup in one gulp, then put the wine cup down heavily, and his eyes also became cold and hard.

"This battle stirred up in the capital..."

His voice lowered, carrying a trace of imperceptible loneliness, "The matter of the Qiankun Academy, even the Law Enforcement Hall and I have been pushed aside. The sect leaders of the various Mystic Sects entered the capital, and although they forced the Emperor to compromise, there will inevitably be more suppression of the Mystic Sect in the future."

"I heard that the Emperor has ordered Zhao Wujiu to be responsible for investigating the Building Wood matter. Right now, this poor Daoist is already ignored, and in the future, I estimate I can only obey orders."

"I, Luo Mingzi, am not a person who covets wealth and status, it's just that the Building Wood demon people have not yet been executed, the situation in the capital is complex, and I don't know if there is any hope in the future."

He exhaled, as if putting down a heavy burden:

"Go, you are intelligent and have already become a thorn in the side of some people in the Commandant's Office. Now that the situation in the capital is like this, I can't protect you either, so it's better to leave early."

Kong Shangzhao nodded violently, his eyes red, not knowing what to say.

Luo Mingzi not only helped him solve his troubles but also had the grace of knowing him.

He had been seen as a madman by his clan since he was young, but during these days, although tired, it was precisely because of Luo Mingzi's unconditional trust that he was able to display his talents.

But before he could speak, Luo Mingzi changed the subject, his expression becoming solemn: "However, if you follow the Twelve Yuan Chen to the south, you still have to help me do one thing on the way."

"Easy to say!"

"Don't say one thing, even a hundred things will do!"

Fatty Lin and Kuai Dayou were overjoyed, hurriedly patting their chests and agreeing.

Luo Mingzi nodded slightly, scanning the crowd, "The Japanese pirate trouble along the southern coast is very noisy, and many disciples of the Mystic Sect have been hired with heavy money to go overseas, resulting in internal emptiness, demons running rampant, and evil ways rising again."

"Especially recently, there is a 'Ghost Opera Troupe' that has committed several major cases in succession, and their methods are very evil! When they were in Sichuan and Shu, they had colluded with the 'Building Wood' demon people."

As he spoke, Luo Mingzi leaned forward, lowered his voice, and exhorted: "I will still ask Brother Li for help later to investigate this matter. Kong kid, your brain is active; follow Li Yan and the others to the south, and pay attention to helping me investigate whether this is a plan of the Building Wood demon people behind the scenes."

"I will still stay in the capital to avoid this matter being ignored."

Fatty Lin took the lead in patting his chest: "Master Luo, rest assured! I am familiar with the ways of the wharf! If there are really evil spirits making trouble, we will dig them out even if we have to dig three feet into the ground!"

Kuai Dayou nodded like a chicken pecking at rice: "Yes, yes! Whatever demon people, leave it to us!"

Although this Kuai Dayou is a powerful craftsman, he is still young, with the temperament of a youth, and had already had conflicts with the elders of the Craftsman School, so he had long wanted to leave the capital for a long journey.

But to go alone, he was unwilling to be lonely.

Being able to facilitate this matter, he was also happy in his heart.