Good Fortune Comes One After Another

The King of Liang is dead, but Liang Garden in Suiyang City remains.

The great Confucian scholar Mei Cheng, whom the new emperor invited to Chang'an City, originated from Liangyuan. However, Mei Cheng unexpectedly passed away on the way, leaving the court without a great Confucian School scholar to restrain Shen Peigong and others.

Shen Peigong, Mei Cheng, and others are all things of the past, but the talents of Liangyuan remain.

Among the young close advisors of the new emperor was a man named Yang Deyi. Yang Deyi was skilled in raising and controlling dogs. He belonged to the younger generation of the Beast Taming Sect who had come to the court, and he also served as the dog supervisor in the palace.

Yang Deyi also had another identity: a native of Shu County.

During a sacrificial ceremony, the new emperor composed a poem titled "Heaven and Earth," which he kept on his mind and wanted someone to revise it.

After reciting several ancient poems and essays, he could only lament that these masters were too far removed from him, and it was unlikely that they could help an emperor with matters of poetry and essays.

One of the poems recited by the new emperor was called "Zixu Fu".

Perhaps it was because of the "Zixu" mentioned in Zhang Xuezhou's self-recommendation letter that the new emperor was extremely fond of "Zixu Fu".

As he recited the poem twice with emotion, Yang Deyi, the dog keeper, suddenly remembered that it sounded somewhat familiar. It seemed that this poem had been circulating in Shu County, and the author was his fellow Sima Xiangru, Sima Xiangru. As a result, he recommended it.

Yang Deyi was unaware of what happened next, but he received a reward of one thousand gold coins, while Sima Xiangru boarded a carriage to Chang'an City.

"Xiangru was truly a master of poetry and prose; every sentence of his 'Shanglin Fu' is a gem!"

Good advice to people is helpful, but whether they are willing to accept it is another matter entirely.

Sima Xiangru's "Shanglin Fu" followed the "Zixu Fu" which the new emperor favored, and further proposed the content of opposing extravagance and establishing the great unity of the Great Han Dynasty.

This kind of content used to be dry and boring, and it was a tired old topic that people had talked about over and over again.

Sima Xiangru's rhapsody contained the same content, but he cleverly constructed characters such as Zixu, Wuyou, and Wangshigong, almost forming a narrative. This was far more standard in format than Zhang Xuezhou's self-recommendation letter and also had a strong characteristic of rhapsody, which pleased the new emperor.

Especially since he currently wields the fake imperial sword, no one dares to object to him, but the new emperor still needs to get past the Empress Dowager.

Sima Xiangru's "Shanglin Fu" can be considered the best way for him to express his aspirations to the Empress Dowager. Whether it is his character or his ambitions, everything about him is reflected in "Shanglin Fu".

On the way back to Chang'an City, the new emperor's carriage was not filled with the beauty he had obtained from Princess Yangxin, but with Sima Xiangru his companion.

With repeated explanations, the new emperor gained a deeper understanding of the "Shanglin Fu" and became clearer about how to use the content of the text to deal with the Empress Dowager.

"Your Majesty... who is that?"

Sima Xiangru returned the greeting respectfully, when suddenly his ears twitched slightly, and his blind eyes quickly turned.

"Your Majesty, your subject Sima Tan has a report!"

Sima Xiangru a low voice, while Sima Tan commanded Yang Po to land near the vehicle.

He cupped his hands in greeting to Li Guang in front of him, then bowed his head downwards.

When the reprimanding voice came, Sima Tan was startled and a faint figure appeared, then he quickly reported it.

"It's been several years since I last saw Xiangru. His cultivation has greatly improved. Even the Grand Historian couldn't escape your perception," the new emperor laughed.

"I have been blind for several years recuperating from my injuries, and my strength has not improved much, but my perception of sound and the Yang Soul has slightly improved," Sima Xiangru replied. "The Grand Astrologer must have important business to attend to; I shall take my leave now!"

"There's no need to take your leave. You can listen from the carriage," the new emperor said, trying to persuade him to stay.

He gestured to Sima Tan, whose figure resembled a traditional Chinese ink painting.

The information Sima Tan needed to report wasn't particularly confidential. If the new emperor wasn't mistaken, he figured it was probably Dongfang Shuo's return, and Sima Tan was coming to let him know he was safe, then explaining the reason for Dongfang Shuo's disappearance, and finally, the punishment.

"I inquired with Dongfang Shuo, and he said he had heard of a remarkable person named Li Shaojun near Suiyang City, who was extremely skilled at treating difficult and complicated diseases, so he went there to seek his medical help," Sima Tan said. "This matter is completely consistent with what Rong Tianding told me, and I see no sign of him being perfunctory."

"Oh, has he found the good doctor to cure his illness?" the new emperor asked.

"Found it!"

Is he better now?

"It's not better yet!"

"Looks like we've found a quack!"

The new emperor sighed.

His success in all his endeavors owes much to Zhang Xuezhou's efforts.

If possible, the new emperor did indeed want to treat this minister's illness.

As long as he actually went to see a doctor, Zhang Xuezhou's absence from the Gaozu Temple ceremony is not a big deal.

Having moved beyond the main topic of the Crimson Sky Sword, the subsequent temple ceremony was merely a formality.

"But Dongfang Shuo obtained a cure from Li Shaojun," Sima Tan thought for a moment and continued, "Li Shaojun suggested he use the Life-Creating Pill for treatment, which could very well cure his brain ailment!"

"Have you found a cure?"

The new emperor was slightly taken aback, but then felt a satisfied joy.

If he can be cured, he will have another useful minister under his command, which is indeed a good thing.

The new emperor vaguely sensed that he was experiencing a series of auspicious events, and that the imperial arts he had cultivated were unknowingly playing a role in bringing him good fortune.

"Yes," Sima Tan said, "Dongfang Shuo is still searching for medicine!"

"The fact that a medicine is available is a good thing!"

The new emperor nodded.

If Zhang Xuezhou couldn't find this kind of elixir, he felt he would help in the future to help the other party recover from their injuries as soon as possible.

Sima Xiangru, who was in the new emperor's carriage, was moved by what he heard.

Having lived in Suiyang City for a long time, he had heard of Li Shaojun. He was said to be elusive and possess extraordinary abilities, causing headaches for many powerful cultivators who had been targeted by him. He didn't know if Li Shaojun could cure illnesses, but he was familiar with Zhang Xuezhou and knew that Zhang Xuezhou wouldn't seek medical help indiscriminately.

"If only this young master Li were in the court," Sima Xiangru lamented. "He is skilled in treating difficult and complicated diseases and can do things that physicians cannot!"

"Xiangru seems to know this Young Master Li?" the new emperor asked in surprise.

"I heard that he claims to be a descendant of the Daoist patriarch. Although he may be exaggerating, he must have some real skills to make such a claim," Sima Xiangru replied.

"The descendants of the Dao Ancestor are truly remarkable!"

The new emperor nodded.

The Empress Dowager in the palace then seized control of the orthodox Daoist doctrines.

Daoism is an extremely complex school of thought, which includes the Royal School, whose founder was the Yellow Emperor. The Royal School's teachings included secret texts such as the "Yellow Emperor's Yin Talisman Scripture," "Yellow Emperor's Inner Classic," "Yellow Emperor's Nine Cauldrons Pill Formula," "Yellow Emperor's Embryonic Breathing Secret," and "Yellow Emperor's Dragon Head Classic."

There was also a Daoist school that emerged from the common people and the countryside, with Lao Tzu and other Immortal Court beings as its founders.

These two major schools of thought interacted frequently over a thousand years ago, giving rise to numerous branches of Daoism, and also experiencing internal struggles after their disintegration.

If it involves descendants of the Daoist patriarch and the surname Li Shaojun, it is highly likely that it relates to Li Er, the founder of Daoism hundreds of years ago.

This was also an extraordinary Daoist master. At his peak, he was virtually unmatched and was recognized as the number one master during the period of contention among the Hundred Schools of Thought. This status remained unchallenged until the Emperor Qin Dynasty.

The new emperor was curious about such top-level masters, and equally curious about their possible descendants.

If such talents could be brought under the wing of the imperial court, it would undoubtedly be a great help.

He became more interested and even considered recruiting Li Shaojun.