Chapter 194

Soon, Si Qingguo returned to the small building with a gold dangling hairpin. She knelt in front of the couch and whispered, "This is the hairpin Empress Zhaocheng often wore, which Princess Yuzhen kept by her side to remember her... It's been a long time, is it okay?"

Qian Chen held the Sword of Sentience with his backhand and slowly drew the blade. He loosened the hemp rope covering the seven Profound Heaven Star Stones, held the sword tip level, and a cold light flashed across the blade, saying, "I am using the Big Dipper Pivot Guidance Method. Ordinary restrictions absolutely cannot block the guidance and calculation assisted by the power of the Big Dipper stars."

Ning Qingchen suddenly realized, "In this way, even if we can't calculate the whereabouts of Empress Zhaocheng's remains, it can still explain some things!"

Qian Chen lifted the long sword levelly, suspending it above the gold hairpin. The starlight on the Profound Heaven Star Stones floated, condensing seven star lights in turn, swimming on the blade, outlining the shape of a ladle.

"Big Dipper Pivot, return life and note death. Where the Heavenly Gang points, day and night constantly revolve!" Qian Chen stepped on the Yu steps, stamping a compass symbolizing the starry sky on the ground with his footprints, then threw the Sword of Sentience, letting it float with starlight, suspended in the compass.

The Sword of Sentience floated in the small building, like the needle of a compass, trembling slightly under the guidance of the Big Dipper.

It faintly pointed in one direction...

It was precisely beneath their feet... Chang'an.

At this moment, a trace of black qi suddenly obscured the starlight, and the starlight on the blade of the Sword of Sentience was suddenly cut off. With a clatter, it drew an arc and dived into the scabbard at Qian Chen's waist.

Qian Chen slowly wrapped it with a hemp rope and asked in a low voice, "Who was the last person to search for Empress Zhaocheng's remains for the Emperor?"

Si Qingguo recalled for a moment and said, "It seems to be a palace sorcerer named Luo Gongyuan or something!"

Qian Chen lowered his eyebrows slightly: "Although I have the help of the Profound Heaven Star Stones, I am not good at the art of divination after all, and I may not be as good as this Luo Gongyuan... But the things he couldn't calculate have clues here with me, which is truly strange. Moreover, Empress Zhaocheng died in Luoyang, but her remains came to Chang'an, which itself is tricky!"

Ning Qingchen was the first to react and whispered, "Yan Yan Shixiong means, Empress Zhaocheng's remains have been utilized by someone?"

Qian Chen nodded slowly and said, "Using the Big Dipper Pivot Guidance Method, I could only find Chang'an with the help of the power of the stars, and then it was obscured by a stream of black qi! Presumably, when Luo Gongyuan was divining to find the corpse, these remains were suppressed even more tightly. It was only recently that someone took them out of the restricted area, allowing me to catch a glimpse of the heavenly secret."

Si Qingguo cried out, "Oh! My chest seems to have loosened up quite a bit."

"It shows that part of the karma has been repaid..." Qian Chen pondered for a moment and said, "The method of searching for people through objects has reached its limit at this step. If you want to break the restrictions and truly find Empress Zhaocheng's remains, with my means, I can only use the method of sacrificing to the Bright God. Summon at least one hundred thousand people to sacrifice at Empress Zhaocheng's temple."

"I will refine this power of faith into Heavenly Gold Talisman Ink, let Sima Zhiwei, the contemporary Zhang Tian Shi, write the decree, and confer a divine title upon Empress Zhaocheng. With the help of the power of conferring gods, I should be able to find Empress Zhaocheng's soul!"

Si Qingguo suddenly realized, "Yan Yan Shixiong wants to draw a divine register? This is a good way, but I can draw the divine register myself, why bother this Sima Zhiwei. And who is Sima Zhiwei? The contemporary Zhang Tian Shi has actually been passed down to the Sima family, so unreliable?"

Si Qingguo looked disgusted, seemingly looking down on her own family.

At this time, one could see the status of the Sima family and the Tao Zhang Tian Shi in her heart. In the eyes of Sima Shiliu, the Sima family was far from worthy of this Zhang Tian Shi position.

"A grand-nephew of yours of unknown generation? He should be a descendant of another branch of your Sima family, Sima Kui!"

"Then he is really somewhat close to me..." Sima Shiliu said, not caring at all: "My mother is from this branch. Although it is a royal clan, the relationship with the imperial family is relatively distant."

"These can be discussed later. Mobilizing one hundred thousand people to sacrifice at Empress Zhaocheng's temple is not something we can do. If you want such a large scale, unless you persuade the Emperor." Qian Chen pondered.

"That's not difficult." Si Qingguo said without thinking: "Today is the Qianqiu Festival. I just need to cry and complain during the festival, telling the Emperor that today is his birthday, but also the day his mother suffered, feeling very nostalgic for his mother, and asking to fast in the temple tomorrow on his behalf to sacrifice to his mother. As long as he is not a beast, he will be moved!"

"Only you can say this!" Ning Qingchen nodded slightly and said, "In terms of reason, no one can find any fault with such great filial piety."

Si Qingguo took out several signs from her sleeves, all of which were tokens for entering and leaving the palace, and handed them to Seeing Yan Shu and the others one by one, saying, "I asked the Emperor for the tokens to enter tonight's Qianqiu grand banquet, and I also showed him the Yuzhen Immortal poem you wrote, Yan Yan Shixiong. The Emperor was very interested, and he might even want to see you, Yan Yan Shixiong!"

Qian Chen's expression was strange, and he said, "It's not that he might, he will definitely see me!"

"Li Bi will definitely advise the Emperor today. He will hide it from others, but he will not hide it from the Son of Heaven. And the Emperor is not a puppet Son of Heaven, kept in the dark about everything. It is just that his eyes and ears are too clear, which is why he fell for other people's blindfolds. As for tonight's events, I'm afraid the Emperor knows more than half of it. Given his character, how could he not take a look at Li Taibai, who has mixed into his sister's side, is on good terms with Sima Chengzhen, has caused many major events in Chang'an, and is known as the Green Lotus Sword Immortal?"

"Is Yan Yan Shixiong deliberately trying to get close to the Emperor?" Ning Qingchen asked.

Qian Chen nodded slightly: "If I were Miaokong, I would definitely mix into the Emperor's side. Because no matter how complicated the Great Supreme Supreme Tian Mo's conspiracy is, it will eventually fall upon the Emperor. Only by being by the Emperor's side can one hide oneself while not missing any opportunity. So, on one hand, it is to see the people around the Emperor and find clues about Miaokong..."

"On the other hand... if you don't go to the Emperor's side to take a look, you won't be able to see the current situation clearly. Now that we see it clearly from below, we still have to go up to take a look to see the overall situation."

"But Yan Yan Shixiong, you have done many major things since coming to Chang'an, so conspicuous, it will definitely arouse Miaokong's suspicion!" Ning Qingchen said solemnly.

"As long as I catch his horse's feet before he confirms who I am. Now Miaokong can afford to wait, but we can't, so only we can move first. If he wants to test me, that would be best!" Qian Chen said confidently: "Isn't it just comparing acting skills? In this exchange, I won't let anyone else!"

After discussing a few more sentences, Qian Chen stood up and said, "General, you come with me to Pingkang Ward. Junior Sister, don't follow, okay?"

Ning Qingchen was stunned and asked, "Why?"

Qian Chen and Seeing Yan Shu looked at each other and laughed, saying, "It's not convenient for you to follow!"

There is a Pingkang Ward in Chang'an, a place where courtesans live, where chivalrous youths of the capital gather... People of the time called this ward a place of romance!

The two men swaggered out of the small building, called Cen Can, who was wandering in a quiet place in the temple and was a bit restrained, and headed toward Pingkang Ward. This ward is adjacent to the East Market and is a bustling ward. Several people were dressed as scholars, galloping on horseback toward Pingkang Ward, and passersby all showed knowing smiles when they saw them.

Officials from various prefectures of the Great Tang who came to the capital for official business stayed in places called Jinzou Courtyards. There were twenty-five Jinzou Courtyards in Chongren Ward, the most among all wards, and there were fifteen in Pingkang Ward, second only to it.

Therefore, scholars, candidates, officials, officials entering the capital, and even prime ministers and nobles came and went endlessly, making it the most prosperous place in the capital.

"There is a night curfew in Chang'an, and at night, one can only walk within the ward, so the East and West Markets are the busiest during the day, and Pingkang Ward is the busiest at night!" Cen Can said with great interest. In the vermilion buildings on both sides of the street, young ladies greeted, "Cen Canjun Cen, aren't you coming up?"

Cen Can covered his face with his sleeves and shouted, "You recognized the wrong person!"

"Haha..." There was a burst of giggling from the buildings on both sides.

Qian Chen said strangely, "Brother Cen, what are you shy about? Look at the scholars and officials coming and going, aren't they all open and aboveboard?"

Cen Can whispered, "What we are doing now is the righteous business of saving Chang'an, it's not good to reply!"

"Brother Cen is quite famous here, isn't he?" Qian Chen smiled.

Cen Can did not think it was a shame, but rather an honor: "Because I can write poetry, here, everyone can talk, and there are many who know books and language. They classify people, weigh characters, and respond in order, which is truly incomparable. Not just anyone can make a name for themselves. Of course... with Brother Taibai's poetry, you should be able to make a name for yourself in the North Ward!"

"Cen Canjun Cen!" A passing low-ranking official greeted: "You haven't come much lately! Shall we have a drink tomorrow?"

"Next time, next time for sure!" Cen Can shirked.

They entered Pingkang Ward from the North Gate. To the south is the Qu River, where many pavilions and water-side structures are built by the river, and corridors spanning the river connect the pavilions and buildings. Qian Chen and the others walked across the bridge and could see from afar the buildings on that side draped in red and hung with colors, with courtesans and pedestrians coming and going endlessly. The three curves of the East Return of Pingkang Ward are all continuous buildings like this.

Among them, the South Curve and the Middle Curve are the most prosperous. And the curve leaning against the ward wall is all low-rise buildings!

The women of those two curves applied top-quality rouge to entertain the officials coming and going. And this curve can only use rough rouge, standing in the narrow curved alleys, and those coming and going are all ordinary people. It is quite despised by the two curves.

They walked along the cross street and passed through the South Curve. The courtesans were all greeting from the buildings. Although it was not yet night, today is the Qianqiu Festival, there is no night curfew, and many high-ranking officials are going to the palace for a banquet at night, so many people came to play during the day, which was very lively.

"Brother Taibai, do you know where one should parade in the streets after passing the imperial examination in Chang'an?" Cen Can seemed to recall something and pointed to the cross street under his feet: "It's here. Whenever someone passes the examination, they parade here. At that time, the pavilions on the side were full of people, and the successful candidates paraded in the street, with cheers of congratulations on both sides."

"I also wrote a poem 'After Passing the Examination' here!" Cen Can said proudly.

"The spring breeze is proud, the horse's hooves are fast, in one day I see all the flowers of Chang'an." Qian Chen smiled: "I know what flowers you are looking at!"

When they reached the Middle Ward, the buildings here were spacious and quiet, often with three or four halls, and various flowers were planted in the front and back, with strange stones and pots in the left and right of the buildings. One could see small halls with hanging curtains, and courtesans leaning against the windows, either playing the pipa or playing the qin in a low voice.

The green gauze curtains of the building windows were blown by the wind. Qian Chen looked up and saw the green gauze fluttering, with some young girls practicing dancing among the green gauze, and others shaking their heads and reading poetry.

Cen Can pointed to a piece of eaves after passing this Middle Curve and said: "That is where the high-ranking officials, Jinzou Courtyards, and various temples of Pingkang Ward are located. Dragons and snakes are mixed. In the past, Prime Minister Li Linfu lived here, and the abandoned barbarian courtyard over there is it!" He pointed to a group of buildings deep in a courtyard, remote and quiet.

Qian Chen climbed onto the overpass and saw a semi-moon-shaped refined house decorated gorgeously and exquisitely, and said: "Is that the Yanyue Hall?"

Cen Can nodded, and Qian Chen sighed: "Sure enough, dragons and snakes are mixed. The people of all kinds in this Pingkang Ward are the most complicated. If I were a demonic path, I would also hide here. As the Supreme Supreme Tian Mo Prime Minister, Li Linfu set up his residence here, but he could easily mobilize the demonic path cultivators under his command to act."

Several people got off the overpass. Cen Can was quick-eyed and grabbed a person passing by and asked: "Brother Jiling, where is Minister He holding the banquet?"

The scholar he grabbed had a sword at his waist. Seeing Yan Shu took a special look at the long sword at his waist, which made Qian Chen somewhat interested. There are not many sword techniques that Seeing Yan Shu can look up to!

The scholar also subconsciously glanced at the Sword of Sentience at Qian Chen's waist, his eyes lit up, and he answered casually: "At Bodhi Temple!"

Seeing Yan Shu was somewhat surprised and said: "Can one hold a banquet and summon courtesans in a temple?"

Qian Chen pulled his sleeve and whispered: "The Great Tang is different. Temples do not forbid these, and temples often lend out venues for people to hold banquets." Seeing Yan Shu nodded: "The monks here are much more pleasing to the eye than those of ours. If it were possible to be so enlightened at the White Horse Temple of the Northern Wei, how good it would be if my Core Formation banquet were held there!"

"Yan Yan Shixiong, you are going to slap the monk's face!" Qian Chen lowered his voice.