Before uncovering the red hijab embroidered with mandarin ducks playing in the water, Song Nanyan was not in a particularly ups and downs mood.

After all, he has taken in several concubines. This one is as beautiful as Lan Xiaojiabiyu, but that's all. Don't stop, Song Nanyan feels that he is an extremely kind and tolerant person compared to those noble officials who frequently beat and scold their wives and concubines.

If the person in front of him is gentle, caring, clever, and interesting, it's not like he can't pamper him for a few more years.

But when Song Nanyan lifted the hijab, he was stunned.

Even though he had seen strong wind and waves, he couldn't help but step back a few steps one after another, opening his mouth to shout.

The next moment, his voice seemed to be blocked by a stone, and it was futile, but he couldn't utter it at all.

Chang Ming waved his long sleeves, eliminating the illusion.

In Song Nanyan's eyes, the other party's original wedding dress also disappeared. The man was sapphire with a high bun and wide-sleeved robe, and he was as handsome as a fairy.

Most importantly, something familiar.

No, it looks familiar.

"Do you remember me?" the other person asked.

Song Nanyan is extremely gifted and has a photographic memory. Of course he won't forget, but he didn't dare to think about it.

How can a person who has been dead for many years appear alive in front of him?

"You..." Song Nanyan found that he could speak again. "You, are you a teacher?"

As soon as this guess came out, his expression became more and more bizarre.

Chang Ming nodded: "I thought I haven't seen you for many years, and you forgot about me."

"Aren't you already..." dead?

Song Nanyan still remembered that after he went to Liuyi Academy, he often wrote letters to Changming, telling him what he had seen and learned in the scriptures.

Chang Ming seldom replied, usually because he himself had doubts, and would ask Song Nanyan to convey to the scholar of the academy for advice, usually with only a few words, it would be good if he could reply one out of ten letters.

But then, the letter Song Nanyan received was suddenly interrupted.

He felt strange, but he left the house a long time ago, and there was no one close to him except Chang Ming. People went back to visit, and only after this visit did they know that Chang Ming had hung up his crown and left in the early morning. He had never even resigned from office.

At first, Song Nanyan sent people to inquire about it, but as the years passed, there was no news of his first teacher, and after more than ten years, Song Nanyan felt that the other party was probably dead, and that he had returned to his old place after he lost his power. , Vigorously set up a tomb for his teacher, erected a stone tablet, worshiped in a serious manner, and shed a few tears, remembering the friendship between the two masters and apprentices, expressing grief and filial piety.

Who knew that at this moment his master came in in the sedan chair that was supposed to be served by his new concubine, sat by the bedside of his bridal chamber, smiled at him and said, "Do you still remember me?"

Five thunders struck the top, and a Buddha was born.

Song Nanyan couldn't describe his mood at the moment.

"When did I tell you that I was dead?" Chang Ming raised his eyebrows.

"Can…"

In terms of the lifespan of an ordinary person, even if Chang Ming did not die at this time, he would at least be an octogenarian.

But not only is he not old-fashioned, but his facial expression is exactly the same as when he met him for the first time.

Song Nanyan also learned some Daoist cultivation skills from his teacher, but he was really not interested, he only learned superficially, and later he was given a Buddhist elixir by chance. It is said that monks can improve their cultivation greatly after taking it. Without cultivation, one can stay youthful and not look old. Therefore, ordinary people are already old at this age, but Song Nanyan is still around thirty. If there is no accident, even if he can't live up to the life span of a monk, he can live much longer than ordinary people.

In his decades of career as an official, he has already learned various tricks of intrigue, dark secrets, crossing rivers and demolishing bridges. Deep in his heart, he is still grateful to his mentor, perhaps because he left early and disappeared without a trace. The image of Changming in Song Nanyan's mind Quite tall, as straight as a mountain looking up and walking, but he never thought that he would see a living master in his lifetime, and it was in the bridal chamber.

In this way, his master should also be a monk?

If it is an ordinary person, how can it last for decades without looking old.

"You guessed right, I am indeed a monk." Chang Ming seemed to know what he was thinking.

After the shock, Song Nanyan was in a complicated mood: "It's been so many years, why have you never come to me? Is it possible that the disciple is so insignificant in your heart? I think back then, the disciple couldn't eat three meals a day and was in rags. Fortunately, he met the master. Fang Ru ascended to the sky in one step, and immediately gained the dignity of being a human being. I still remember how happy I was when you allowed me to study in the mansion..."

Chang Ming interrupted him: "Do you still remember why I named you unspeakable?"

Song Nanyan: ...

Chang Ming was pleased with his sudden silence.

"I have encountered some things in these years. I was trapped in a certain place. I just came out recently. I had to come to you first because I was looking for something. When the matter is over, it will not be too late for us to talk about the past."

Song Nanyan: "Master, please explain."

Chang Ming briefly talked about the existence of Jiuchongyuan, and the fact that monsters may have mixed into the human world, waiting for an opportunity to provoke, and then mentioned the sea and moonlight on Princess Zhaoyue's head.

"Princess Zhaoyue should stay in your emperor's harem for a long time. If there is something wrong with someone around her, it will easily bring trouble to the emperor. If you can't find out who is wrong for the time being, I can follow you into the palace to investigate. .”

It was difficult for Song Nanyan to accept so much news suddenly.

After all, this is a world where monks are respected. Although he holds power, he has to deal with monks from various sects from time to time. Especially for these people, he must be polite and not offend. The grand master came and knew Song Nanyan's identity, so he couldn't ignore his existence. This is a way of mutual fulfillment. Although monks are transcendent, they occasionally need secular power to make them look good. For example, Wanlian Buddha Land, which is revered as the state religion of You Country, has reached the point of being called a king and sanctified in You Country. And the rich and powerful themselves also need the protection of monks, just like Song Nanyan's prime minister's mansion, there are at least a dozen monks inside and out who are secretly protecting them day and night, to prevent night troubles.

But these monks have not been able to guard against the teacher's Li Daitao's stiffness.

It can be seen from this that either his people are too useless, or the teacher is too strong.

Song Nanyan didn't think there was something wrong with his picky eye, he was more inclined to the latter.

"Teacher, I have also heard about the troubles caused by monsters. In the last years of the previous dynasty, I was an official in the court. Although I didn't enter the center at that time, I also heard some secrets. It is said that the last emperor was possessed by demons. Confused by Ji, she ate something that shouldn't be eaten, and then she became confused and did many extraordinary things. After the founding of this dynasty, the first emperor also took strict precautions and tried his best to prevent the old things from happening again. Four, not to mention those guests who come and go frequently. If the people of Zhaoyue Kingdom are really so bold, I can only say that they are seeking their own death."

He regained his composure and gradually recovered from the shock of "my master didn't die and became a god".

"I haven't seen you for many years, but you are as handsome as ever. This disciple misses you day and night, so please stay with me for a few days to take a rest and let me do my filial piety."

Chang Ming had a half smile but not a smile: "You don't want to know where your new wife is?"

Song Nanyan choked, he really forgot about it.

"I'm sure you won't make things difficult for her."

Chang Ming: "She and the maid are both asleep under the bed, just wake them up later."

Song Nanyan took the opportunity to ask: "That person outside the door..."

Chang Ming smiled, "Are you interested?"

Song Nanyan smiled dryly: "If you are willing to make a connection, my wife's position can be her..."

"You can ask her yourself, I'm not a matchmaker."

Chang Ming felt that although his apprentice was doing well in the secular world, he had some problems with his vision of women, so he dared to seduce Xu Jingxian.

Don't look at Xu Jingxian being so obedient and obedient in front of him, it's because Chang Ming used his strength to make her speechless, and Xu Jingxian was not so easy to talk to at first, if you think she is easy to manipulate and easy to get along with because of this, then you are completely blind .

"Let's get down to business, there are many monsters with advanced cultivation, and they are connected with monks. Even the grand master can't easily detect it. I don't trust others, I only trust my own eyes. You have to find a chance to help me enter the palace. If not, I'll think of another way."

Chang Ming said indifferently, the meaning of conceit was in the words.

Song Nanyan didn't know what his master's cultivation level was and what honorable status he had in the past, he only listened to the other party's wishes, and he had the intention of breaking in if he didn't agree, so he hurriedly said: "You misunderstood, it's not that the disciple is unwilling to agree The situation in the palace is really complicated. The monks around the emperor were all arranged by the late emperor and the empress dowager, so no one else would be allowed to intervene. You also know that those masters have weird tempers, they will not fully obey my orders and let me send them around."

Chang Ming was thoughtful: "You are at odds with the Empress Dowager, the arrangement of the monks around the emperor is a way for you to wrestle secretly?"

Song Nanyan smiled wryly: "Teacher is still as sharp-tongued as ever! Yes, imperial power and ministerial power have been incompatible since ancient times. The queen mother was born in a high family and never looked down on me. It's just that I was appointed by the late emperor, and I can be regarded as a supporter in the court. There were so many people, she couldn't move me easily. But in front of those monks in the palace, the disciples couldn't fully grasp the initiative. The master who made friends with me was Han Ye, an elder of the East China Sea Sect. Find out, let him help to investigate in the palace, in his capacity, it is much more open and aboveboard."

Chang Ming: "Have you ever thought that those monks in the palace may also be infiltrated by demons, and once they have problems, it is harder to be discovered than ordinary people?"

Song Nanyan was startled: "This is impossible, right?"

Although he has been in the officialdom for many years, after all, he still has a lot of dealings with people. Even if he has seen the supernatural powers of monks, he has not had a deep understanding, which is even more unimaginable.

After all, monks and ordinary people are like two worlds.

Chang Ming said: "There are barriers set up by many masters outside the palace wall. It is not impossible for me to force it through, but it will disturb some people and it will be a little troublesome. Just try to bring me into the palace, and you don't need to do anything later. I'm worried."

Song Nanyan was really afraid that he would break into the imperial city by force if he didn't agree with each other. If there was a big trouble, he would not be able to get rid of the responsibility, so he might as well help the master find a way to bring him in honestly.

"Teacher, don't worry, I have a solution, but I may wrong you."

Chang Ming: "But it's okay to talk about it."

Song Nanyan coughed lightly: "There is a servant in my mansion who goes back and forth between the palace and this place all the year round to deliver news. If you are willing to be wronged, it will be easy."

Changming: …

The two were talking when there were hurried footsteps outside.

Xu Jingxian was missing, and the other party knocked on the door immediately.

"Master Xiang! Master Xiang!"

Song Nanyan frowned: "What's the matter?"

"The envoy from the palace said it was an urgent matter!"

Song Nanyan shuddered, and just about to speak, remembering that Chang Ming was still here, he couldn't help but look at him.

Chang Ming didn't intend to avoid it, he didn't move at all.

Song Nanyan had no choice but to let people in.

The housekeeper was full of anxiety, and was stunned when he entered.

On the wedding night in the bridal chamber, there is no beautiful lady, not to mention the groom's official attire, and there is an extra man beside him.

"What's the matter, tell me quickly!" Song Nanyan urged.

The servant who came in with the butler didn't think too much, and said quickly: "Master Xiang, something is wrong, His Majesty suddenly fell ill and fell asleep, and the imperial physicians have seen all of them and can't tell the name. He and several grand masters are here, and His Majesty did not wake up even though he tried his best, so the Empress Dowager specially asked the villain to invite you to enter the palace immediately to discuss!"

The Huanqiu Festival is celebrated by the whole country, and the imperial court rests for three days. The emperor held a grand ceremony to worship the ancestors yesterday. He was alive and kicking, and suddenly he said that he was sick?

Song Nanyan and the Empress Dowager Su said that they would not go together, and she would send someone over, which meant that the situation was very urgent and could not be dragged on any longer.

At this moment, the envoy from Zhaoyue Kingdom had just entered Beijing, the emperor had not yet summoned him, and in a few days it would be the first day of the new year, and the emperor had to personally go to the Eight Treasures Langhuan Pagoda to pray for blessings. At this time, he suddenly fell ill, which was no different from an earthquake.

For Song Nanyan, the emperor can't have an accident, and what is needed most now is stability.

In just a few breaths, he figured out the stakes, and immediately said: "I'll change clothes and enter the palace with you!"

Today he is taking a concubine, and he is still wearing joyful clothes, such clothes are obviously not allowed to enter the palace.

Chang Ming next to him suddenly coughed.

Song Nanyan: ...

He was silent for a moment: "You are ready too, come with me, I can't live without you by my side."

Song Nanyan's words were ambiguous and could easily be misunderstood.

But these days it is common for a nobleman to bring one or two confidantes with him, and the palace envoys are so worried that they have no time to think about it.

But the housekeeper had never seen Chang Ming before, and when he heard his master's words, he looked at this and that, he was in doubt, and countless terrifying imaginations emerged.

Changming was calm, let the housekeeper's eyeballs come out, and acted as if nothing had happened.

On the way to the palace, Song Nanyan did not forget to tell Chang Ming in the carriage.

"Teacher, the incident happened suddenly, and I don't know why. There are many strong fighters in the palace, and there are four Guangzong masters, not to mention high-ranking monks. At that time, the teacher will still follow me. Don't act rashly to avoid danger."

He only knew that Chang Ming was a monk, but he didn't know what the other party's cultivation was capable of. He was afraid that this teacher, whom he hadn't seen for many years, would die tragically in the court within a while of knowing each other.

According to Song Nanyan's cunning and cunning over the years, it was impossible for him to be so responsive to a person, but somehow, when the master and apprentice met each other again, he agreed to the request of the former teacher without thinking about it. Like what he did in the past, but the matter has come to this point, Song Nanyan can only bite the bullet and lead him into the palace.

Chang Ming lifted the curtain of the car and looked out.

In the evening, the sky is getting darker, without the setting sun of the past, and there is a black cloud on the top of the head, like a huge rock, and the wind and rain are about to come, which makes people feel heavy and uncomfortable.

Song Nanyan followed suit, "The weather seems to be bad today, but the clouds are too low, and they seem to be falling down at any time."

It is not a cloud, but a vision.

When demons attack and become powerful, they who do not belong to the human world will naturally leak their aura and change the sky.

This shows that there must be monsters lurking in Luodu, and their cultivation skills may not be low.

To build the Liuhe Candle Sky Formation, there must be soul-gathering beads as a support.

Seeing the blood sect in the bloodbath can certainly refine a soul-gathering bead, but the formation with the mountains, rivers and nine states as the fulcrum is not enough just to see the dead souls of the blood sect. Only the soul orb can be effective, supporting a corner of the formation.

And Luodu, a prosperous place with a huge population, is the soul-gathering container that the other party dreams of.

They don't even need to kill, as long as they create a large enough natural disaster, they can collect countless souls.

Luodu is located in the Central Plains, and the climate is superior. On weekdays, not to mention hail, even heavy rains are rare. Now that autumn is approaching, the sky is high and the air is crisp. Apart from being drier, the weather is smooth and peaceful.

Under normal circumstances, there will be no natural disasters at all.

But what if someone insists on creating an extraordinary situation?

"It's windy, Master Xiang put down the curtain!"

A gust of wind came in an instant, and the passers-by raised their sleeves to cover them, even the carriage shook slightly, and the horses neighed and groaned, restless.

The guard hurriedly reminded them outside.

Chang Ming lowered the car curtain, but Song Nanyan was blinded by the wind and sand, and was rubbing his head down, complaining.

"What's going on, there wouldn't be such a big wind and sand at this time in previous years!"

The carriage quickly drove into the imperial city.

Song Nanyan was bestowed the honor of entering the city without dismounting from his horse by the first emperor. The carriage drove straight in and carried the two of them to the steps of the main hall. Song Nanyan got off the carriage with Chang Ming. The two climbed up the steps and were led around the main hall to the emperor. The place of daily living.

The gate was heavily guarded, and there were two or three times more people than usual. Song Nanyan didn't have time to look around. He glanced quickly and whispered to Chang Ming, "I'm afraid the situation is not good."

Years of court career allowed him to judge many things from the number and faces of the guards at a glance.

Song Nanyan didn't need to say much about that face, even the gatekeeper could recognize it.

Chang Ming was stopped.

Song Nanyan was about to explain Chang Ming's identity to others, but he heard the anxious voice of the queen mother from inside.

"Isn't Prime Minister Song here? Please come in!"

The general naturally didn't dare to stop them, and the two were able to enter smoothly.

In front of the dragon couch, there are already many people around.

Empress Dowager, Imperial Physician, Monk.

These monks are all of extraordinary background, including the elders of the Donghai School that Song Nanyan mentioned before, and Ku He, the presiding officer of Qingyun Temple stationed in Luodu, and even the Queen Mother is polite and respectful.

Chang Ming stood behind Song Nanyan with his head down slightly, but he was not noticeable.

The servant quickly told Song Nanyan what happened in a low voice.

Early this morning, the palace servants went to ask His Majesty to get up, and found that His Majesty couldn't wake up no matter how much he shouted, his face was normal, his breathing was steady, and there was no sign the night before.

The queen mother came over to take a look, and hurriedly called the imperial physician, but the imperial physician tried everything they could, but they were helpless, so she panicked, and hurriedly called for several masters guarding the imperial city.

Zen Master Ku He and others saw that although the sects were different, everyone had a common judgment, that is, the emperor had left his soul.

It's just how to get back the emperor's soul, but everyone has a disagreement.

The disagreement is not small, and it has reached the point where a disagreement is imminent.