Ti passes unnoticed in the mountains, and life in the temple is indeed leisurely. At dawn, the mountain valleys are shrouded in thin mist, with kingfishers chirping. In the evening, she sits on the highest Star-Picking Tower with her little disciple, observing celestial phenona.
Although her current cultivation is vastly different from what it used to be, one must admit, after living this way for a long ti, An Ning truly found a long-lost feeling reminiscent of her days in the cultivation world.
Adding to that, her newly accepted little disciple is indeed clever and tactful enough. The master and disciple occasionally play chess, and from ti to ti, they go out for a stroll—no, to gather inspiration—so their days are not bad at all.
As for the crowd at the foot of the mountain who have long been eagerly waiting...
As a temple, apart from the Bamboo Garden where An Ning resides, Xuanzhen Temple does not avoid visitors. In fact, every seven days, a predestined person who draws the pear blossom lot gets the opportunity to enter the temple's painting hall for a viewing, with no ti limit for that day.
If there is a truly outstanding work that can move the True Person, one may even be allowed to take away a favorite painting from among them as an exchange.
The only requirent is that the painting must be created on the spot in the hall.
Once this rule was established, the temple's incense offerings flourished even more. Many who have dedicated themselves to this art are willing to give it a try.
As is well known, True Person Qinghui initially entered the Dao through her paintings. Her works contain Daoist essence, and people are not unaware of the effects her paintings can produce.
Ah, this... is a heaven-sent opportunity!
For a ti, throughout the capital and even in various regions, the veneration for calligraphy and painting grew increasingly fervent. This was especially true after the daughter of a deceased Attendant Minister of the Ministry of Rites, Third Miss Yang, obtained an opportunity to exchange paintings with the True Person through her work "Pear Blossoms Across the Shore."
Once the news spread, in less than a day, this Third Miss Yang, whose father passed away early and who had nearly faded from the circle of young maidens in recent years, instantly rose to fa, becoming a must-invite guest at major banquets.
This excitent reached its peak when the Duke of An repeatedly spent large sums of silver to purchase pear blossom lots from lucky individuals at high prices, all for the sake of getting his young master an opportunity to enter the painting hall.
The young master of the Duke of An, due to being born prematurely, had been frail and sickly since childhood. Even the imperial physicians asserted it would be extrely difficult for him to live past twenty. However, after several attempts, although he remains weak, his complexion has genuinely improved quite a bit.
Even the imperial physicians say that, barring any accidents, the possibility of him safely passing through this year is very high.
Once this news ca out, the queue of people beca even more frenzied.
As is well known, Xuanzhen Temple only distributes the lots at specific tis. As for whether the predestined individuals who obtain the flower lots sell them or do sothing else, the True Person does not interfere.
Not to ntion those among them who have their own desires.
For poor families, being able to gain an extra sum of inco is nothing short of a fortunate event.
In short, with multiple buffs stacked together, along with True Person Qinghui's peerless paintings, Xuanzhen Temple's reputation spread far and wide.
If there is one person who has been frustrated over the past few years, it would be Emperor Xuanwu in the imperial palace.
"This... could it truly be that I lack the innate talent?"
Once again, after paying another visit to the True Person on the mountain.
Looking at his eldest son before him, who in just a few short years, at rely twelve or thirteen years old, appeared increasingly handso and spiritually transparent, Emperor Xuanwu, now past thirty, was rarely experiencing so self-doubt.
Especially after witnessing with his own eyes how the other seed to leap down effortlessly from a peach tree several ters high.
His posture was as light and graceful as snow, relaxed and natural, as if an immortal from beyond the mortal world was stepping through the air towards him.
No, no, no. Recalling the True Person's words that day, Emperor Xuanwu, who prided himself on having decent aptitude and being sowhat wise and majestic, imdiately dismissed this speculation.
Indeed, it is not that my aptitude is lacking, but truly that worldly achievents, fa, and fortune cannot coexist with the immortal fate!
With a complex gaze, he looked at the son before him who was already showing so youthful vigor. If earlier he still harbored so suspicion about what that True Person Qinghui had said, then now...
He had also seen the sa swordsmanship, even secretly practiced it every day, but the result...
The result was that there was not the slightest bit of progress.
Forget achieving anything like what Rui'er has now, he didn't even have a single spark of the so-called most basic energy sense.
Such a huge gap—how could Emperor Xuanwu, who gradually held great power and whose word was nearly law in both the Front Court and Rear Palace, accept this with a calm heart?
Especially when another successful individual was right before his eyes, and it was his own son...
Even though the other claid it was rely the True Person's most superficial teachings...
Not far away, pretending not to see the fleeting complexity and unwillingness in his Imperial Father's eyes, Sima Rui, as usual, stepped forward with a face full of joy. In his hands, he held two immortal peaches, each as large as an adult's fist:
"Imperial Father, you've co at just the right ti. Co and taste this year's newly ripened fruit! It's sweet!"
As the saying goes, a mountain's fa lies not in its height, but in the presence of an immortal.
Perhaps due to having an accomplished exalted personage like True Person Qinghui, the plants and trees here are exceptionally pure, spiritual, and full of vitality. For example, the peach tree before them was several zhang tall.
The fruits it bore were even more extraordinary, with peach tips as red as rosy clouds, their sweet fragrance overflowing. At a single glance, one could tell they were fresh, sweet, and juicy inside.
Rui'er truly has a blessed fate!
Facing his son's increasingly sincere and pure smile, Emperor Xuanwu's expression finally softened slightly for a mont. Reaching out, he gently patted his son's shoulder and spoke with so warmth as they walked together:
"How has Rui'er's progress been these past few days?"
Half an hour later, after personally seeing off his old father, the nearly pure and innocent smile on Sima Rui's face slowly faded, replaced by a touch of complexity.
After a long while, he let out an almost imperceptible soft sigh:
"Imperial Father!"
However, clearly having anticipated this long ago, or perhaps already accustod to it, this emotion ca quickly and left just as fast. Glancing at his now empty hands, Sima Rui quickly flew back up the tree, plucked the largest, fullest, and most beautiful fruit he had spotted earlier, then turned his head to check the sky.
Judging by the ti, master should be done with her tasks by now!
"Sigh, the imperial family!"
Not far away, the system, bored and snooping around as usual, unsurprisingly witnessed this scene. It couldn't help but feel so emotion.
You know, a few years ago, when it first arrived, it still thought the current emperor was a pretty good ruler!
"He is still a good emperor now!"
The administration is clear and honest, and in recent years, the realm has been relatively peaceful and prosperous. Of course, part of that credit goes to her occasionally observing celestial phenona at night and accurately predicting natural disasters in ti.
But it cannot be denied that this one is indeed a capable ruler.
"As for other matters, after holding great power and having one's word be law for a long ti, one will inevitably develop so flaws."
Leaning against the couch, leisurely admiring the newly acquired painting in her hand, An Ning spoke rather indifferently.
Whatever flaws he has, he also has this dear, good eldest son standing in front to bear them!
Compared to an otherworldly exalted personage like her, who achieved the Dao on her own and is generally beyond reach, it is this "good eldest son" who, despite not having peerless innate talent, can still rely on her lingering favor to reach where he is today, who would be more likely to provoke jealousy, even wariness!
Tsk!
I wonder if this emperor regrets it now?
Lowering her head to take a bite of the peach flesh her little disciple had personally cut and handed to her, An Ning couldn't help but let out a soft ntal hum.
Finally, suddenly rembering sothing, she turned to look at the disciple obediently holding a jade plate beside her:
"By the way, in a few days, it will be A-Ling's coming-of-age ceremony. Would Rui'er like to accompany your master down the mountain for a trip?"
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