Chapter 489: Traveling to the West

The rising sun rises, the bright sunshine shines on the land of Sanqin.

It was the Mid-Autumn Festival that Chang'an also ushered in the first imperial examination since the Han Dynasty.

This day is destined to be recorded in history books. In the early morning, people who were shocked by the shouts of killing all night were so scared that they could not fall asleep carefully.

I saw that the blood stains on the long street had been washed away by the Yulin military water, but there was still a trace of clues in some hidden corners. Apart from that, nothing seemed to have happened. Just after the hour of Mao, the scholars who received a notice from the Ministry of Rites that the imperial examination would still be held normally flocked to the tribute court. Although it was not clear what happened last night, who would care?

The normal holding of the imperial examination is enough to explain everything.

The Dong family is still here and is still the real master of Chang'an City. Many scholars who passed by the gate of Liang's Mansion were careful.

Cao Pi Xun Shi, Xiahou Ba, and three people followed the crowd of scholars and walked towards the Gongyuan.

Along the way, the three of them were very silent. Everything that happened in Chang'an, even the changes in the war situation in Kanto, was clear in their hearts.

"Second Young Master, are we really going to participate in this imperial examination?"

Xiahou Ba followed Cao Pi. On the surface, Cao Pi was his book boy, but in fact, Xiahou Ba took on the responsibility of Cao Pi's bodyguard. The Gongyuan was on the other side of the Yinma River. The black-bottomed gold characters were shining in the sun and could be seen from a distance.

Cao Pi's heart was particularly bitter.

Xun Shi gave Xiahou Ba a blank look, "It's this time, do we have any choice? I can be sure that the identities of the three of us have been exposed. Although I don't know what King Liang was planning in his heart, as long as we make a move now, the heads will fall to the ground immediately."

"King Liang, King Liang... you're so cool."

Xiahou Ba was sarcastic, "Xun Shi, are you moved and want to join Dong Qi? Humph, your eyesight is getting really fast."

Xun Shi glanced at him and sneered.

"Only if you stay in the green mountains, there will be firewood. It doesn't matter who you want to surrender, what matters is how to live. Don't you have the courage? Then go and kill Dong Qi, why do you need to take the scientific test? If you want to be a hero, just go by yourself. Don't implicate me and the second son."

"Xun Shi, you..."

"Xiahou, don't talk!" The three of them had already walked on the bridge to the Gongyuan. Cao Pi suddenly whispered, "Xun Shi said it well. What we are asking for now is to be able to protect ourselves. It's better not to talk about the situation in Kanto... My father sent us here, and he had the idea of ​​preparing for the future. Once defeated, if your family wants to survive, it depends on your and my ability.

Xiahou, from now on, you and I will forget what our fathers have done.

We are now the Imperial College, the Imperial College who participated in the Chang'an imperial examination. If we can succeed..."

Cao Pi did not continue to say anything, but he believed that Xiahou Ba could understand. At this time, Xuchang was captured, and the news of Xiahou Yuan's death had not yet been spread to Chang'an. Oh, even if it was spread to Chang'an, it would not be spread until the imperial examination was over.

Cao Pi stepped down the bridge and saluted the soldiers guarding the gate to Gongyuan.

"Brother, ask...what happened last night?"

The soldier looked at Cao Pi coldly, "If you want to survive and seek fame, just focus on the science exam and don't ask random questions."

"Ah, boy is reckless, thank you for your reminder!"

Cao Pi retreated, walked with Xun Shi and others, and lowered his voice and said, "Let's go, Chang'an City will be named Dong from now on!"

Xun Shi Xiahou Ba looked at each other and nodded.

*******

Everything in Chang'an is the same.

Except for the strict guards of the Gongyuan and the addition of some patrol soldiers on the streets, nothing seemed to have happened.

The twelve doors are open, and the inspection is not too strict.

A carriage came from afar, and the person driving on the shaft was an old man about seventies and white with hair and beard. His bronze face was filled with the vicissitudes of time. However, his complexion did not seem to be very good. He put his hands next to his mouth from time to time and coughed gently.

"stop!"

A man from the door stopped the carriage, looked at the carriage with the curtains hanging down, and said in a deep voice: "Who is? Where are you going? Who is in the car?"

"Ah, Jun Ye!"

The old man got out of the car and a violent cough made the Men Bo frown repeatedly.

When the old man approached him, Men Bo's face suddenly changed, and he stretched his sword to his chest, "What are you doing, don't lean over."

He was afraid that the old man was sick.

Typhoid fever, tuberculosis and other problems are as terrible as AIDS and cancer in this era. The old man is very burly, but his complexion is really bad. In addition, his constant coughing makes Mr. Men really scared and unconsciously took care of him.

But at this moment, the old man flipped his wrist and a golden token appeared in his palm.

“You are…”

"I am the commander of the Inspectorate, and at the order of the prince, I will leave the city for business if I have any matters."

The Inspectorate, as Dong Ji gradually came to the stage, has become known to people. According to the Inspectorate's order, it is divided into many levels.

Among them, the upper third grade is marked with a three-color token of gold, silver and copper.

The bronze token is called Sima; the silver token is called the chief official; and the person holding the golden token has the most noble status, with a higher rank than the rank of the lieutenant, and can directly command troops and horses above the county. However, the lieutenant who is called the lieutenant to the outside world has been known to people.

A hundred households are like imperial envoys.

Uncle Men was startled and quickly put away his long sword and wanted to salute, but was pulled by the old man.

"It's very urgent, we need to leave the city immediately. Please don't make any noise... If the news leaks out and delays the matter, do you understand?"

"The villain understands, understands!"

The man of the Men agreed immediately and waved his hand to signal the soldiers to let go.

The old man got into the car and drove his horse out. After leaving the city, the carriage went onto the official road. The old man asked through the curtains: "Your Majesty, where are we going?"

"Teacher Tong, let's go west."

"clear!"

The old man was like a rein, shouting in his mouth. The carriage galloped on the official road and ran for more than an hour. The horse pulling the carriage was sweating and a little tired. Chang'an was already thrown far away. There was a small wood in front of him. The old man drove the carriage and turned in.

He lifted the curtain and walked out of the car.

His face was clear and beautiful, but there was a sense of nobility between his eyebrows... It was Liu Bian who had been buried in the sea of ​​fire.

The old man is Tong Yuan.

Tong Yuan helped Liu Bian get out of the car, then pulled out a person from the carriage, and angrily scolded: "Cast dog, come down!"

The man was tied with a rope and a piece of black cloth was stuffed into his mouth. Liu Bian had already changed into civilian clothes at this moment, frowned on the side, showing an unbearable look, and said softly: "Teacher Tong, don't do this... If it weren't for Yang Qian, how could you and me get out of the city?"

As he spoke, he stepped forward to loosen Yang Qian's tie and took off the black cloth from his mouth.

Tong Yuan said: "This eunuch colluded with Dong Zhe and plotted to murder the emperor. Are you still treating him like this? If it weren't for you, I would have to kill him."

Liu Bian smiled and stood up straight.

"Don't say it again, I believe that this matter has nothing to do with Dong Qing. Dong Qing... No, Brother Dong treats me like a brother. If it weren't for him, how could I ascend the throne again? If he wanted to harm me, it wouldn't take such a big trouble. In fact, this matter...ah, it's inevitable. Master Tong, if you are not in the position of Brother Dong and me, you can't feel the pressure in the middle, which is very painful.

Brother Dong said that after the end of the Kanto War, he will turn back to the Western Regions and never leave Hexi.

He was telling the truth...

But his willingness to do this does not mean that those who follow him will agree. As long as Brother Dong comes out of Chang'an, the fate of those people, even the fate of Brother Dong's family, will no longer be in his hands. I think Dong Ji will definitely not be willing.

Put my heart in mind, if I were my nephew, I wouldn't agree."

When Tong Yuan heard Liu Bian say this, he couldn't help but stomp his feet repeatedly, "Your Majesty, Dong Zhe has caused you to this point, are you still talking to him?"

Liu Bian whispered: "Master Tong, what I am talking about is the truth... and don't call me the emperor anymore. Since Tucheng imprisoned us, I am no longer the emperor. In fact, I am very grateful to Tucheng. He let me know that the so-called true emperor will be nothing in the end."

After saying that, Liu Bian turned around and looked at Yang Qian and said, "Yang Qian, you go."

"The emperor...master...can't let this eagle dog go. If he goes back and tells Dong Ji about your whereabouts, you and I will be in danger."

Liu Bian said, "If it weren't for Yang Qian, we wouldn't have discovered the secret passage in the Buddhist temple; if it weren't for Yang Qian, we wouldn't have left the city smoothly; if it weren't for Yang Qian, we might have returned to the palace. As a result... Master Tong, I believe that Yang Qian would never betray me."

Yang Qian raised his head, "Emperor..."

"Okay, I'll get up. Didn't I say that I'm no longer the emperor!"

Tong Yuan said: "Master, where are you going next?"

Liu Bian smiled, his smile was very bright, without any falsehood. "Actually, I don't like being the emperor. I've been intriguing all day long and worried. I'm either worried that this person wants to seize the throne or that person will harm me. Being the emperor is very boring... After becoming this emperor, Dong Qing and I gradually became distant, and Xiahou... also became a victim because of this battle for the throne.

Last night, I sat in the Buddhist temple and thought... If I were not the emperor, Xiahou would not die, and Dong Qing would not alienate me.

Teacher Tong, Dong Qing and I met in the second year of Zhongping for twenty years.

In my heart, Dong Qing is like my brother. I also believe that in Dong Qing's heart, I am like his brother. Since ancient times, father and son have become enemies and husband and wife have turned against each other. After the Luoyang War, Dong Qing and I became apart. At that time... I felt so sad.

Now, it's all over!"

Liu Bian said, spreading his arms and taking a deep breath of fresh air.

"When Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva practiced the deep Prajna Paramita, he saw that the five aggregates were empty and he could overcome all sufferings.

...Form is not different from emptiness. Emptiness is not different from form. Form is emptiness. Emptiness is form. Feeling, thinking, volition and consciousness. It is also like this... All dharmas are empty. They are neither born nor destroyed. They are neither dirty nor purified. They do not increase or decrease...

Teacher Child, all sufferings in the world come from human nature.

I want to go to India, learn the supreme Buddhist teachings, and contact the sufferings of the world... I only now realize that the Buddha of Tucheng is not a true Buddha!"

After Liu Bian finished speaking, he took a package from Tong Yuan and handed it to Yang Qian.

"Yang Qian, go back and give this to Dong Ji."
To be continued...