Chapter Fourteen: Wind and Dust

  February spring breeze is most fragrant, scattered rain colors reflect flowing clouds and mist.

  It was indeed a bright and beautiful season, the scenery along the way was really lovely, but Zhao Zhuang's mood was not good at all. Even after leaving Bianliang, crossing the Yellow River, and entering Hedong territory, he still had grievances in his heart.

  Zhao Kuangyin was not being straightforward, using his return to secular life as a threat, forcing himself to go to Luzhou.

  What can you do? He is the emperor after all. The imperial edict is sacred and inviolable. When under the eaves of the Song Dynasty, who dares not to bow their head?

  Zhao Kuangyin thought that being stuck in secular life was equivalent to pinching his own seven inches? Humph, if the restrictive effect of the Qing rules and laws were really so great, then there wouldn't have been so many drunken monks throughout history.

  But for a long-term plan, for future happiness and especially marriage life to be bright and open, it is still necessary to get married.

  As for the matter of Changde Prefecture...

  Halfway escape is not allowed, Zhao Kuangyin let Chu Zhaofu bring a team of imperial guards to disguise and follow as his partner. Beautifully named as escort, in fact, what role everyone plays is tacitly understood.

  Zhao Cong thought to himself, with his own skills, it wouldn't be difficult to shake off the tail and escape. For now, it's still a situation of ten countries divided, but in a few years, the Great Song will unify the world, and under the heavens, all will be the king's land, where can he hide then?

  Liao State? Tubo or Western Regions?

  Zhao Zhuang shook his head and still found it more comfortable to live in the Central Plains. He endured, went to Luoyang for a trip, even though it was a dragon's lair.

  Danger is predictable, but knowing that there are tigers in the mountains and deliberately heading towards them, challenging difficulties and seeking survival in danger, this is the necessary path to success for those who dare to take risks.

  At least, don't be a deserter.

  After rushing for more than ten days, they arrived near Luzhou. Chu Zhao Fu and others dispersed and entered the city of Luzhou in disguise. As for Zhao Zheng, he played his true role, claiming to be on a mission from Qin Shi, the concubine of Wei Wang Fu Yanqing.

  Qin was the birth mother of Qi Guo's master, Fu Li. Her mother-in-law had passed away, and as a daughter, she should have gone to pay her respects, but unfortunately, she fell ill and could only send her daughter in her place, which led to the current situation.

  After recovering from his illness, Qin himself copied 49 copies of the "往生咒" and offered them to the Buddha at Baiyun Temple for several days. Then, he had a young monk named Xie send them to Luzhou Pujisi Temple, where they were burned in front of the spirit tablet of the late Madame Qin, as an expression of his nostalgia and filial piety.

  The name "Dingliyuan" is now somewhat sensitive, so I'll just call myself a little monk from the White Cloud Temple. As for my Dharma name - it's still Jiesu!

  Now everything is ready, the Buddhist scriptures are available, and the letter from the king of Wei's concubine is also available, it can be said that everything is ready.

  From the queen's attitude, it seems that Fu Yanqing is willing to be loyal to Zhao Kuangyin. After all, the overall situation has been settled, and his daughter is the wife of the current emperor's younger brother, and the Fu family is still a royal relative.

  As for Zuo Li, he was his most beloved youngest daughter, and naturally did not want her to be trapped in Lu Zhou, manipulated and coerced by others.

  Perhaps Xue Yanqing himself had some difficulties, so he had to cooperate with Zhao's family behavior. Successfully diverting his own suspicion, letting the emperor feel at ease, successfully rescuing his daughter, a perfect outcome. Or perhaps there was another plan, who knows?

  And all these beautiful wishes and subtle struggles are tied together in Zhao Zhuo's body.

  But damn it, there's a problem now. All I know is that the princess is in Puzi Temple, and nothing else, not even an action plan. How can we rescue her? The person in charge of the operation is Chu Zhao Fu, what am I supposed to do? Be a scout and bodyguard on the front line?

  According to Zhao Kuangyin's idea, he wants to be a scout himself and also play the role of an action organizer. Then give me command power! No wonder the Song Dynasty has a serious problem with redundant officials, the concept of checks and balances in Old Zhao's family is deeply rooted!

  It's tough, I hope Chu Zhao Fu can be more clever and cooperate with me like on the night of the military coup. Otherwise, I won't forgive myself, little monk doesn't want to die young.

  Let's go into town!

  Everything is ready, are you going into the city like this? Zhao Zhuang smiled and rolled on the ground several times, instantly covering himself in dust, transforming the handsome little monk into a disheveled mess.

  He then took out a pair of tattered straw shoes from his luggage, put them on his feet, with the big toe exposed and one side of the sole almost worn through. As for the nearly new boots, he took them off and threw them directly into the woods by the roadside before limping and hobbling towards Luchow.

  Coming from Bianliang for a thousand miles, how can you travel without being dusty and tired? If you want to pretend, you have to start with the details. Maybe the other party won't care about these things at all, but you must be careful and cautious, and cannot reveal any flaws.

  From a distance, you could see that the city gate was being checked very strictly, as if they were worried that spies from Bianliang would sneak in. However, Chu Zhaofu and those imperial guards had no problem sneaking in after slightly disguising themselves. On the other hand, some merchants and ordinary citizens were having a hard time, with the soldiers at the gate taking advantage of them to extort money, and even physically harassing women, making for a truly unbearable scene.

  Zhao Cong didn't rush into the city, as the Bianliang accent would directly reveal his hometown. After crossing thousands of years, being able to speak good Northern Song Dynasty Mandarin is already a rare treasure, and wanting to have both northern and southern accents is simply a fool's dream.

  So in order to enter the city safely, he had to wait for an opportunity. Zhao Zhuang waited quietly beside the official road outside the city gate until a horse carriage appeared.

  The city defender, Rui Ba, had just wiped the oil off a woman's buttocks and didn't seem very satisfied. He turned around to see the dirty little monk, Hua, and his eyebrows furrowed in an instant. Mechanically, he asked: "Where did this little monk come from? Is he here to beg for alms?"

  "The little monk comes from Bianliang and is heading to Pujisi Temple in this city!" Zhao Zhuang spoke in standard Bianliang Mandarin, very clearly.

  " Bianliang?" As soon as he heard the place name, Lai Ba immediately became vigilant and loudly asked: "You came from Bianliang? What brings you to Luzhou after traveling such a long distance? What goods do you have in your luggage? Take them out for inspection!"

  "No way, you can't touch the monk's luggage!" Zhao Zhen hugged his luggage tightly to his chest like a frightened little bird.

  "Hey, little monk, you're quite arrogant, aren't you? No inspection, no entry into the city... Those from Bianliang, whether entering or not, must be inspected!" Lai Ba was very loud.

  "How bold!" Zhao Zhuang shouted loudly, his voice was loud, but his expression and eyes revealed the essence of being strong outside and weak inside.

  Lai Ba and others laughed and said: "What's so bold about it? What's so special about Little Monk?"

  "If you dare to move the luggage, it's looking for death!" Zhao Zhuang tried to calm down and said loudly: "Inside are the scriptures and offerings copied by Princess Wei for Madame..."

  "Who is the King of Wei? " Lai Ba and others were stunned for a moment, then smiled and said: "Who is the King of Wei? Who is the queen? In Luzhou, we only recognize our own governor."

  It's not entirely the soldiers' fault, it's just that during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, the regime changed frequently. Often even the emperor was unclear who he was, let alone the numerous princes everywhere.

  Zhao Zhuang explained: "The mother of the King of Wei's consort has passed away, and is currently holding a funeral at Pujisi Temple in this city. The filial son is actually Qin Dajye from this city, don't you recognize him?"

  "What's with the surname Wei and Qin, who knows those stray cats and dogs, from Bianliang, catch them first." Lai Ba had just shouted out when he suddenly felt a sharp pain on his cheek, a stout man standing beside him, holding a horse whip.

  "Who are you? How dare you hit me?"

  "Don't you know Qin Dàyé?" The fat man angrily said: "Who is this stray cat and dog? How dare they be disrespectful to King Wei and the Queen? Have they eaten bear heart and leopard gall?!"

  One angry roar and Lai Ba was stunned.

  That fat man walked straight up to Zhao Zhuang and asked: "Little monk, did you come from Bianliang? Was it Princess Wei who sent you?"

  "Yes!" Zhao Zhuang's heart was delighted, but he remained calm and composed.

  "Come with me!"

  "Can't go! People from Bianliang can't leave!" Recalling the strict orders of Zhu Qiu, Lai Ba summoned up his courage and loudly stopped them.

  The whip struck his face again, a searing pain, and the fat man bellowed: "Get out of my way, dare to block my path, looking for death!"

  "Little monk, follow grandpa!"

  Zhao Zhuang smiled secretly in his heart and pretended to ask innocently: "May I ask your honorable surname and great name?"

  "Qin Dakang, I am the one you are looking for!" Zhao Zhuang had been waiting for him, the uncle of the Lord of Fuli County.

  "Nobody is allowed to leave!" After being whipped twice, two more blood marks appeared on his face. Lai Ba, the soldier, was also getting angry.

  "Grandpa is going to leave?"

  Qin Dakang was arrogant and Rui Ba also drew his sword, the city gate was immediately tense.

  Zhao Cong was covered in black lines all over his head, originally thinking that Qin Da Kang in Luoyang at least had some reputation, but unexpectedly not even a few thugs were intimidated, alas!

  Just then, the sound of horseshoes echoed, and a young noble in brocade clothes shouted from afar: "Halt!"

  "Your Highness!" The guards saluted as soon as they saw him.

  Qin Dakang burst out laughing and said with a hint of flattery: "Young Master Li, you've finally arrived!"

  "What happened?"

  Lai Ba just wanted to distinguish, Qin Da Kang rushed to say: "The king of Wei Wang sent someone to give something to the master of Fu Li, but was blocked by this guy!"

  "Is it you?" The young noble understood the situation and turned around to ask Zhao Zhuang: "Did you come under the orders of the princess?"

  "Yes!"

  Lai Ba said with a sinister tone: "Young Master, be careful, he might be an imposter."

  "Bring it down with you, there is a handwritten letter from Princess Wei, and the county master will know whether it's true or false once he sees it!"

  The young noble's expression changed, and he nodded: "Alright, follow me!"

  Zhao Zhuang asked in puzzlement: "May I ask who you are?"

  "Commander of the Zhao-Yi Army... Li Shoujie, the Grand Imperial City Guard of the Great Song!"

  Ah! Zhao Zhuang's heart let out a cry of surprise. How was it him? This is terrible! When he lifted his head again,

  Li Shoujie has ridden his horse away.

  Qin Dakang first gave Lai Ba a disdainful glance, then said to Zhao Zheng: "Follow me!"

  The son of the Jiedushi, can't afford to offend! Seeing everyone leave, the wronged Lai Ba also hastily departed. This matter must be reported to Quan Qiu as soon as possible.