Chapter 104: Temple Envoy

Whether they were sincere words or not, it at least broke the tension. People who had been startled hurriedly wiped away their cold sweat.

The King has only been dead for half a month, and you are already in such a rush to hook up with a man? Even though Loulan has been known for its open customs since ancient times, you can't just play like this.

The civil and military officials present all expressed their approval.

Everyone said that if Young Master Xiang were to become the Royal Teacher, Loulan would have great prospects!

They also began to congratulate Liu Zheng; this Royal Teacher position was a high-ranking official post, and he would be the person closest to the King. Among scholars, who doesn't covet a bright future?

Hearing this, the mature and charming Reguli looked at Liu Zheng, her eyes rippling again, and she giggled, "Young Master Xiang, do you have any concerns?"

Liu Zheng's face flushed; how could he withstand such bold, alluring eyes? He hurriedly took a sip of wine, cupped his hands, and said with a wry smile, "In reply to the Queen, Xiang Zheng is only here to study; I will be leaving Loulan in a few days to go elsewhere and continue pursuing the Great Dao of my 'New Learning'!"

As he spoke, he puffed out his chest and held his head high, looking into the distance with a determined gaze.

Yet in his heart, he was already cursing with #%￥……%￥&. Please, stop looking at me with those eyes! Who knew that the more he acted like this, the more fervent Reguli's gaze became.

Reguli gave an 'ah' sound and said in a cheerful tone, "Once my son ascends the throne, I will be free too. I really want to travel the world as well!"

Shock!

Liu Zheng almost tripped and fell to the ground.

Can one be this overtly flirtatious?

People always say that Loulan beauties are unrestrained and clear about their loves and hates, especially after they haven't been brainwashed by a certain religion; this bold temperament, combined with their beautiful faces, is truly a bit hard to handle.

Others at the banquet, seeing this situation, either pretended to be drunk or pretended not to hear.

"Ahem..."

Even Halike couldn't help but cough dryly, looked at his mother speechlessly, and said, "Mother, Young Master Xiang is a rare talent of this generation with the world in his heart. That we have this affinity is already not easy to come by; why force it?"

These double-entendre words finally brought Reguli back from her drunken state, and she smiled apologetically, "Oh my, that's not what I meant! Since that's the case, fine, fine! But Young Master Xiang, you must finish writing the reading materials before you leave! No matter what, as long as Young Master Xiang is within the borders of Loulan, you shall enjoy the honor of the Royal Teacher, how about that?"

The crowd loudly seconded the motion.

Liu Zheng nodded with a wry smile.

Reguli gave him another coquettish look, as if she were only then leaving with great reluctance.

Liu Zheng had such a headache; he hurriedly began to discuss the work of writing the primer with Huang Yantai, who was beside him.

Fortunately, movable type printing in this era was already mature, so these tasks were naturally not things Liu Zheng needed to worry about. The top priority he had to consider now was still that slave trader, Mire...

It was just that he hadn't had a chance to speak throughout the entire evening banquet.

And he couldn't just bite the bullet and ask Reguli. This woman had too much charm, and her gaze was too scorching...

He did secretly ask Huang Yantai, but the old guy just shook his head, saying he didn't know. Liu Zheng thought that made sense; a matter involving such a slave trader probably wouldn't alarm a big shot of Huang Yantai's level.

The more he thought, the more anxious he became, and several times Liu Zheng signaled to Reheman.

By the time the banquet was coming to an end, Reheman, who was already reeking of alcohol, came over alone to sit by Liu Zheng's side and laughed boisterously: "Young Master is truly talented, shocking Loulan with a single battle. Changing the situation in Loulan with your own strength—I admire you, I admire you!"

He knew Liu Zheng didn't want to reveal his identity... This was normal; after all, the reputation of Young Master Liu of Yinzhou had already spread to many places. Loulan, separated from Yinzhou only by the Taklamakan Desert, had long since registered Liu Zheng and listed him as a competitive enemy. If Liu Zheng had come under his title of "Young Master of the Liu Family," he feared that even if this charming woman Reguli wanted to hook up with him, she would have ordered a blade to end this potential rival.

Who is willing to let a tiger return to the mountains?

Therefore, although Reheman was drunk, he was still relatively careful with his words.

Liu Zheng smiled and said, "Brother Re finally came over."

When Reheman heard this, he was left between laughter and tears: "Young Master, it is Reheman; my surname is not Re!"

Liu Zheng ignored that, looked around sneakily, and after confirming no one was paying attention to them, he asked in a low voice: "Brother Re, Liu Zheng wants to ask you about someone."

Reheman said: "Who?"

"Mire!"

Reheman thought for a moment, and his expression changed instantly: "Could it be that Persian merchant?"

"Persian?"

Liu Zheng was stunned again.

He really didn't know this; he only knew that this Mire was a slave trader.

Once he heard it was a slave trader, Reheman laughed: "Then that's him! Why, is he a friend of yours? But this matter is a bit difficult to handle..."

"What does Brother Re mean by that?"

Liu Zheng asked.

Reheman said: "Young Master might not know, but this Mire is no ordinary person. Among the slave traders who come to Loulan from Persia to trade, he is the one with the most power. Precisely because of this, the Seventh Prince and the Third Prince are both trying their best to win him over."

Liu Zheng exclaimed in surprise: "Isn't he one of the Third Prince's men?"

Reheman sneered: "That is the cunning nature of this grandson! He has always been thinking of playing both sides, and he was doing quite well for himself! If it were peaceful times, that would be fine, but once the King died, he still acted like that; how could the Seventh Prince not be anxious? He just found an excuse and had him arrested!"

Liu Zheng listened, dumbfounded.

He only felt that Reheman's words sounded like he was scolding him. In Liangzhou, wasn't he also thinking of playing both sides? However, Liu Zheng would absolutely not be as stupid as Mire; in times of turmoil, you either find a big tree to lean on, or you become strong enough to fear no challenge yourself!

Liu Zheng had long since prepared a retreat for himself.

Once the Emperor of the Longyang Dynasty died, he would launch an attack at the first opportunity to completely take Liangzhou, at least controlling one state, and then use the strategy of befriending distant states while attacking those nearby to achieve the hegemony of a king!

Of course...

His power was not enough yet; fortunately, the old Emperor hadn't died yet, otherwise, Liu Zheng would have had a headache.

Liu Zheng thought for a moment, felt relieved in his heart, and chuckled: "So actually, Mire's life is not in danger!"

Reheman slapped his thigh and laughed: "Right! The Seventh Prince just wants to force him to take a stand and support him."

Liu Zheng's eyes flickered: "How can we save him? This person must be brought over to our side!"

Reheman smiled wryly: "Why wouldn't His Highness think the same? But wanting to save Mire is harder than ascending to heaven. The ones holding him are the Temple Army. These are a group of unreasonable people..."

Liu Zheng fell into deep thought as he listened.

It seemed this was a dead end. But Liu Zheng felt that there was a faint thread he hadn't grasped!

What was it?

That thought seemed to have been lingering in his mind, but it flashed away, and he hadn't been able to catch it in time.

"Young Master, Young Master?"

Reheman watched Liu Zheng in this state and called out a few times.

"I've thought of it!"

Liu Zheng's eyes suddenly lit up; he slapped his forehead hard and chuckled, "I have a Method!"

……

The Temple.

In the Loulan Kingdom, this was a place comparable to the kingdom itself.

It represented supreme power.

The entire structure was white, standing in stark contrast to most of Loulan's yellow-earth buildings. At night, it appeared even more solemn and grave, terrifyingly quiet.

Just then, the sound of hoofbeats arose.

Hemuti came charging in, shouting angrily as he strode forward: "Is that the Method you thought up for me? Come out here!"

"Presumptuous!"

"How can you allow yourself to be so noisy in this place of quiet cultivation for the Temple?"

"Do not disturb the Temple Envoy's meditation!"

Several Preachers ran out and rebuked Hemuti angrily.

Hemuti gave a cold laugh: "Call Muzhade out for me! I followed his instructions to take down that slave trader! Yet today, I have lost all face? I want an explanation from him!"

A man in white slowly walked out, and the Preachers called out respectfully to the Temple Envoy. This person was the highest-ranking existence in the Loulan Kingdom's Temple, the Temple Envoy, Muzhade!

He walked out, a look of surprise flashing across his face: "Lost all face, you failed?"

Hemuti snorted coldly: "I really thought it was some brilliant plan, yet it was easily broken by someone!"

As he spoke, he recounted everything that had happened today.

Muzhade was startled: "This Xiang Zheng, who is he? A Longyan Scholar?"

He felt that all of this was too coincidental.

Could it be a great talent invited back from the Longyan Dynasty by the Third Prince?

It had to be said, the strategy of borrowing a knife to kill was broken by the opponent too cleverly. Without great talent, it would be absolutely impossible to achieve.

Hemuti looked impatient: "Enough nonsense, just tell me what we should do next! Hmph, don't think I don't know about the shady dealings you Temple people are involved in behind the scenes. Taking down Mire, wasn't it to plot for his slave-trading business? Because of this, the merchants in the city hate me to the bone, and the people are in a panic. You Temple people are making a fortune, but what about me?"

Muzhade was enraged: "Shut your mouth!"

Hemuti stared back coldly, showing no fear at all.

Though he was reckless, he was not stupid. Admittedly, the Temple Army was helping him, but were they not also using him? Using his status as the Seventh Prince to strike hard at competitors and eliminate dissent. They even made Hemuti promise that if he successfully ascended the throne, he would make the Temple the state religion of Loulan, further consolidating the status of this Temple Envoy and the Temple's rule over Loulan.

Moreover...

Hemuti knew something even more terrifying: this Temple itself came from the Persian Empire!

In reality, what the Temple was doing at this time was the expansion of the Persian Empire!

Both sides harbored ulterior motives and guarded against each other; Hemuti was already riding a tiger and could not get off, so naturally, he would not have a good attitude toward them.

Muzhade naturally knew this as well and smiled, comforting him: "Your Highness, rest assured, a mere Longyan Scholar cannot shake our one-hundred-thousand-strong Temple Army. Since the Seventh Prince is impatient, why don't we..."

A sharp glint flashed in his eyes.

Hemuti also said viciously: "Might as well go all the way!"

"Your Highness, rest assured, the great army will soon set out!"

……

Reheman looked blankly at Liu Zheng: "What Method?"

Liu Zheng stood up with a chuckle and said: "It is not the Seventh Prince who wants to deal with Mire, but the Temple!"

"What?"

Reheman looked greatly shocked.

Liu Zheng smiled: "Things are getting more and more interesting. Does Brother Re know where this Temple comes from?"

Reheman was stunned for a moment before he gasped: "Young Master means?"

Liu Zheng nodded: "That's right, it is Persia!"

When he first arrived in Loulan, Liu Zheng thought this Temple was the prototype of Islam. But looking at it now, this Temple was more like the style of Zoroastrianism.

Zoroastrianism was once the state religion of the Persian Empire. Also known as the religion of Zarathustra, in later generations, when Islam began to expand rapidly across the Arab lands, it even surpassed Christianity and Judaism, but it had no influence on the Persian Empire whatsoever.

This was precisely because the doctrine of Zoroastrianism was to fight, to fight, rather than to be tolerant.

Reheman's expression changed drastically: "Young Master means that this Temple has been harboring evil intentions toward our Loulan from the very beginning?"

Liu Zheng smiled.

Religious and faith-based aggression had existed since ancient times; this was nothing strange.

Of course, none of this was important!

What was important was that these two clues were both concentrated on one word.

Persia!

Liu Zheng did not believe this was a coincidence.

This Mire...

Had actually formed a feud with the Temple?

On the other hand, this also meant that he possessed the ability and means to confront the Temple!

Liu Zheng took a deep breath.

This person must be saved!

【Author's Note】

Thanks to brother CDY for the tip and suggestions, thank you, thank you for the support. Also thanks to the brothers who have tipped and supported me to update faster these past few days. Also, this book is being serialized; I write it as I post it. Let's not have any negative reviews like "don't post it if you haven't finished writing it," thank you, big brothers.