Today is the day when Zixiao Temple opens to accept pilgrims. Everyone is very nervous. After all, it is the first time and they are afraid of making mistakes. Everyone got up before dawn and started to prepare.
Clean and check for any omissions...
Chen Jingke was also a little uneasy. When he and Sun Simiao were doing Tai Chi together, they hit the wrong path several times because they were distracted.
Especially when Yang Tianlu came over to report: "Two real people, there are many people coming from outside, all of whom are family members of powerful people in the capital."
Chen Jingke's heart was beating wildly and he simply stopped and said, "Who are there?"
Yang Tianlu was also a little nervous and said: "Mrs. Xu Guogong (Gao Shilian), Mrs. Qi Guogong, Mrs. Wei Guogong (Fang Xuanling), Concubine of Ren Chengwang (Li Daozong)..."
He reported dozens of names at once, either from the clan or family members of the founding fathers of the country. There were even more people with slightly lower official positions. It was estimated that there were hundreds of people.
There are even more ordinary people, and everyone wants to be blessed by the King of Medicine and the Living God.
Chen Jingke was also a little surprised: "What are they trying to do? Master and I have no official positions. Is it worth it?"
Yang Tianlu smiled and did not answer. Power comes from the top. At a certain level, what everyone looks at is no longer the actual authority, but the influence on the emperor.
Sun Simiao was not affected at all. After finishing a set of Tai Chi, he said calmly: "Don't panic, everything remains as usual. No matter who comes, they are all pilgrims entering Zixiao Temple."
His words seemed to have some kind of magic power, which quickly calmed down Chen Jingke's nervous mood and said, "I'm telling you, just follow the drill yesterday. Don't be afraid."
Sun Simiao added: "There may be some chaos today. Let Gong Xun take precautions. You all should run around and take a look. If anything happens, you must deal with it in time."
"Here." Yang Tianlu responded before turning and leaving.
When he walked away, Sun Simiao said again: "You should go to the front more often today. If you encounter trouble, try to solve it if you can. If you can't, come to me."
Only then did Chen Jingke react belatedly and said, "Master, did you say that someone will cause trouble today?"
Sun Simiao said: "You must be on guard. But you don't need to worry. His Majesty will definitely take action on such a big matter, and those people will not dare to use despicable means."
Will Li Shimin take action?
It will.
Not long after, a group of 150 Imperial Guards appeared around Zixiao Temple, patrolling at various intersections and main streets. Even at the entrance of Zixiao Temple, two thousand soldiers came to stand guard.
Seeing this scene, the powerful family members were slightly surprised, and then they felt that they had come to the right place.
What is really surprising is that low-ranking officials and ordinary people even sent out the imperial army. Doesn’t the emperor pay too much attention to Zixiao Temple?
Others showed fear and then left helplessly.
Li Chengqian and Du He, dressed in casual clothes, stood in a corner and witnessed all this with their own eyes.
Li Chengqian said: "It seems that the appearance of the Forbidden Army has scared off many people with ulterior motives."
Du He nodded first, then shook his head and said: "The Forbidden Army scares away those who really want to cause trouble, and there are still many moths hiding among them."
Li Chengqian said: "Oh, what did you find?"
Du He said: "No, but every time there is such excitement, snakes, rats, insects and ants in the city will appear to look for food, and I think today will be no exception."
Li Chengqian knew what he was talking about and frowned: "Aren't these people afraid of the Forbidden Army?"
Du He said: "Then the Imperial Army must be able to catch them. You know, the county magistrate is not as good as the current one. These people are just afraid of being caught quickly."
Li Chengqian didn't believe what he said. How could those ruffians not be afraid of the imperial army but fear the police?
While they were talking, a group of police officers also appeared in the square, led by Bai Lifu, the chief arrester of Wannian County.
Du He said: "Look, someone who can cure them is here."
Li Chengqian stretched his head and looked around. He wanted to see what these detectives could do.
Bai Lifu's appearance caused many people hiding in the crowd of common people to change their expressions. They either shrank their heads and hid themselves in the crowd, or slipped away quietly.
But Bai Lifu seemed to be very familiar with them. His eyes scanned the crowd like a hawk and quickly locked onto the target.
He strode over, and the people around him moved out of the way like snakes and scorpions. A young man in his twenties or thirties realized something was wrong and wanted to slip away.
Bai Lifu shouted: "Chen Ergou, if you dare to run away today, I will give you a special cell in the prison in Wannian County."
Hearing this, Ergouzi's body stiffened and stopped. He was complaining in his heart, but he smiled and said: "Hey, isn't this a white arrest? Why did you, the old man, go to the street yourself?"
Bai Lifu squinted at him: "Why do you think I went to the street? I also wanted to sit in the yamen, drink tea and enjoy life, but you scum made me have to come out."
Er Gouzi's heart skipped a beat, knowing that he was really angry, so he quickly said: "Baitou Bai, where are you? I, Er Gouzi, have always been the most honest, and I would never dare to commit any crime in your place."
Bai Lifu sneered and said, "Really? Do you want to go to the Yamen with me and carefully check everything you have done recently, so as not to wrongly accuse you?"
Ergouzi's legs were weak and he said: "If you don't bother, it will be a waste. If you don't bother, it will be a waste..." Then he lowered his voice and said:
"I got an ancient object recently, but I don't know anything about it. They say you know the best about ancient objects, how about you give me a look?"
"Okay, I won't be on duty tomorrow. You can go to my house to find me." Bai Lifu let him go and then said:
"You kid have been asking about my affairs a lot in private. You even know my secrets. Tell me, are you trying to trick me?"
Only then did Ergouzi feel relieved, and he exclaimed: "Oh, my white catcher, even if you lend me ten courages, you won't dare to do it."
Then he changed the topic to what he was concerned about: "This Sun Simiao is just a doctor, how can he have such a big reputation? He is also the uncle of the Forbidden Army, and he is the boss of Bai Capt. You personally go out to suppress the situation? Even if he cures the empress, he will not do it.
As for that."
Bai Lifu laughed and said: "Just a doctor? Bah, you know nothing. Master Sun is a living god, and his status is respected in Taoism."
"Now that he has cured the empress, he can directly reach the sky. His disciple Chen Xiaozhen is also the empress' nephew and can freely enter and leave the palace... Do you think he is powerful?"
"Look at the door with your eyes wide open. Who are those people? There are so many family members of princes and nobles standing respectfully at the door waiting to open the door. Who am I, Bai Lifu?"
Chen Ergou took a breath. Although he lived in Chang'an City, due to his low status and the poor circulation of information in ancient times.
He only had a general idea of who the big shots were in the capital, and even if he had to identify them, he wouldn't be able to recognize a few of them.
Regarding Sun Simiao, he had never heard of this person before. It was only after the construction of Zixiao Temple that he got some specious information.
At this time, after Bai Lifu's introduction, he clearly recognized the identity of the other party. Thinking of what he had to do before, he suddenly broke out in a cold sweat.
I am just a second-rate scoundrel who usually does petty thefts and collects protection fees. If he dares to reach out to such a big shot, he is seeking death.
Bai Lifu sneered: "Are you afraid? Now you know that the money was not wasted, right?"
Ergouzi wiped his sweat, bowed solemnly to Bai Lifu, and said: "Thank you Bai Lifu for saving your life. If you can find me, Chen Ergou, in the future, just give me your orders."
Bai Lifu was very satisfied with his attitude and said: "You are a sensible boy. Go away and don't come here again."
"Whoever comes here to cause trouble will be killed directly. These are the original words above. Please pass this sentence on to your colleagues."
Chen Ergou was so frightened by these murderous words that he broke into a cold sweat and left as if running away.
He was not the only one. Soon, the gangsters and thieves hiding in the crowd were either picked out by the police and taken away, or they were scared away.
This scene happened to be seen by Cheng Hualiang, Qin Yandao, Yuchi Xunyu and others who came together.
The three of them lamented the emperor's importance to Zixiao Temple, but also felt a little disappointed.
Yuchi Xunyu said regretfully: "I still want to twist off a few heads, but it's a pity."
On the other side, Li Chengqian, who had witnessed all this with his own eyes, had a gloomy expression on the verge of tears. But he did not get angry, but said to Du He:
"Qingquan, please tell me the details of this when you get back."
Du He suddenly had the idea in his heart that a scholar would die for a confidant, and said respectfully: "Well, I know everything and tell you everything."
After a while, the door of Zixiao Temple opened with a creaking sound.
The time has finally arrived for the opening of Zixiao Temple.
