Chapter 0007: Official of Shangyang Palace.
However, the words have already been spoken. Self-reflection is sufficient. Regretting further would only be a waste of energy. As for him at the moment, his situation remains completely passive. Despite having made some efforts, the final outcome can only be awaited. This feeling of being at the mercy of others is truly maddening.
Previously, when answering Up Guan Wan'er's inquiry, Li Tong emphasized the so-called "Holy Lord Wheel King". It was not just for promoting feudal superstition. He hoped to bind his own resurrection with the heavenly mandate of Wu Zetian, in order to obtain a more long-lasting guarantee.
Li Tong, the great demon king, is feeling quite helpless at the moment. Despite having lived for 1,300 years, he cannot help but feel amused and frustrated. He cannot deny the effectiveness of these petty tricks, but he cannot bring himself to believe in the power of strange gods and spirits. What worries him is that all these cunning schemes fall under the same category: the fear of defeat!
After realizing this, Li Tong noticed that there were such subtle tricks everywhere, whether it was the food or the utensils in front of him. The cold noodles were mixed with mugwort juice, and the food tray, which was made of gold and silver, clearly depicted a fierce image of a guardian deity. Even the chopsticks were made of peach wood!
Such office and residential environment is already second only to the specifications of the two imperial concubines, but this is not enough to indicate that Shangguan Wan'er is indispensable as the Empress Dowager's right-hand woman, because there are seven or eight female officials with similar treatment.
Empress Wu Zetian claimed the throne as a female ruler. In order to dominate the world, there was no basis for her in the traditional Confucian or Taoist ideological system. To persuade the public to recognize this unprecedented event, she had to turn to the Buddhist system. The Buddhist scripture "Mahaprajnaparamita Sutra" or "Mahaprajnaparamita Sutra: The Emperor's Precepts" mentions the birth of Maitreya, female rulers, the turning wheel king, and the rulers of Yanfodi Province in its commentary on ancient scriptures.
After realizing this, Li Tong couldn't help but sigh. The situation during this period of time was much more chaotic and complicated than he had imagined. As a sudden intruder, he was still very inadequate in terms of means and strategies if he wanted to be at ease and wander around.
Shangguan Wan'er walked up to the main hall and presented the scroll in her hand and the symbol she had obtained earlier for entering the forbidden palace. A female official came forward, took the symbol, verified it, and recorded the time of taking and returning it in a register. It is precisely because the management of the palace is so strict and orderly that there are so many female officials who are literate and knowledgeable in the palace.
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The Shangyang Palace is located on the high slope on the northwest bank of the Luoshui, with a larger architectural scale than the Chang'an Daming Palace. It is because it is located on the west side of the Taichu Palace in the Forbidden City, also known as the West Palace. Facing south, overlooking the Luoshui River and the Baifang below, the north side is adjacent to the royal garden Shendu Yuan. Although the scenery varies with the seasons, it is always breathtakingly beautiful.
However, this sense of crisis did not make Li Tong uneasy. Even if his cheap grandmother Wu Zetian really decided to kill him, there was no need to use the excuse of being disgusted with him, which was no different from pinching an ant to death.
In the bottom layer of the box, there were unexpectedly several sheets of talisman papers outlined with cinnabar, indicating that the palace maids who prepared these were carrying fervent thoughts of exorcism. They employed all possible means to deal with this evil spirit, fearing that they might not be able to eliminate it!
It took more than half a day to tidy up, during which Shangguan Wan'er also found time to quickly eat a few pieces of Qidun fruit cake. She has been busy running around the palace since the morning and has already missed the mealtime.
Of course, Li Tong also understands that his identity as the young Li Shouyi alone is far from enough to make Shangguan Wan'er show goodwill towards him. This time, the other party's reminder should still be out of respect for the former Crown Prince Li Xian.
However, beyond the annoyance, Shangguan Wan'er's kind intentions towards him can indeed be considered a joy. Even if it's just a small reminder, with careful consideration, one can benefit greatly. This woman who can accompany a powerful man for a long time is truly worthy of her reputation.
Start the imperial chariot, Wan'er went to Beiyuan in the morning and afternoon to inquire about the well-being of Prince Yong'an, and then returned to report.
Sitting upright in the main seat, the duty officer, Yu Zheng, is in his forties. He appears elegant and noble, and comes from a prestigious family. He is the wife of Pei Xingjian, a famous minister of the emperor. Her maiden name is Di Shi. It is precisely because of her extraordinary background, coupled with the Empress Dowager's trust, that Di Shi was able to become one of the leading female officials in the palace.
The room has already been rearranged. Some glaring dark objects have been put away, including the tricolored pottery figurines that Li Tong had previously collected and prepared to use as hidden weapons for self-defense.
What is Yan Sheng? This pronunciation is called Ya Sheng. In later generations, it was seen as a superstitious activity, but in the present, it is a harmful act that can cost lives. In the fifth crime of the Tang Code's Ten Evils, it includes the harm caused by Yan Sheng!
Speaking, Zedi then rolled up the file, picked up the pen, but paused briefly without making any annotations, and placed it in the colorful rattan box beside. At this time, there were many files inside, all of which were matters to be presented to the Empress Dowager for personal review in the near future.
After realizing this, Li Tong's forehead was covered in cold sweat for a moment. Previously, he only thought about using his rebirth to improve his situation, but he didn't consider the fear and resistance that ordinary people have towards this.
When one is weak and powerless, they can only rely on luck to survive. But as long as they are given a chance to control their own fate, they will fight bravely and never give up!
As a female official who has served in the imperial court for a long time, Shangguan Wan'er naturally has a designated office space here. It is a south-facing hall with three rooms, serving as both an office and a residence.
Upon entering the court, Shangguan Wan'er did not directly visit the Empress Dowager's residence in the Lichun Hall, but instead walked into the left wing of the Feiyan Courtyard. This is where the palace maids concentrate on their official duties, and is also jokingly referred to as the "Ministry of Internal Affairs" by the idle-tongued palace maids.
A pastry made from blended chestnut flour and Qidun fruit oil, with no peculiar smell or residue. It is filling, satisfying, and favored by busy female officials who work tirelessly day and night.
Such behavior is recorded in history as a curse, often accompanied by wrongful cases and storms, such as the witchcraft disaster during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han. During her domination of the imperial harem, Wu Zetian also experienced similar events, leading to the removal of Queen Wang and almost resulting in her own removal. In short, whoever is involved in such matters will suffer the consequences!
It seems that his late father, who was forced into the advantageous position, still possessed considerable personal charm. Despite having passed away for several years, he is still able to leave some legacy and benefit to the younger generation.
King Yong'an? I heard...
If it is only for the sake of survival, the poem "The Kindly Black Crow" is sufficient. Other embellishments are far beyond what Li Tong can handle now. If "The Kindly Black Crow" cannot ensure his safety, any further agitation would be superfluous.
When Shangguan Wan'er returned to Shangyang Palace, the sky had already completely darkened. However, for these court ladies who accompanied the empress, the distinction between day and night had no significance, as they worked or rested according to the empress's needs.
Upon seeing this scene, Shangguan Wan'er's eyes flickered, and she then lowered her head and took her leave. She had heard that Pei Xingjian had a disagreement with the then prime minister Pei Yan over the matter of abolishing the crown prince when he was alive, but at that time, the affairs of the state were complicated and chaotic, and the intricacies of human relationships were difficult to explain clearly.
In the morning, Qie Di did not have duty, but she had heard about some unusual events in the palace not long ago, so she couldn't help but be curious. However, as soon as she spoke, she noticed that several female officials in the hall were all looking at her. She closed her mouth and took the scroll to read. After a while, she looked up and asked, "Are you sure there are no omissions? Mr. Shangguan, you have worked hard. Please take a rest first."
The Guanfeng Hall is the main hall where the Empress Dowager holds court and meets with officials. However, except for morning court sessions, during summer days, the Empress Dowager resides in the Lichun Hall on the south side of her palace. The refreshing river breeze dispels the heat, and the scenery is also beautiful and picturesque.
What truly made Li Tong wary was that, as an outsider, he should not express his true intentions too strongly before fully immersing himself in this era.
In the hall, it is a bit quieter than during the day, but there are also five or six female officials busy at their desks. When they saw Shangguan Wan'er enter, they all smiled and nodded.
At this moment, he remembered the warning from Shangguan Wan'er before she left. Originally, he didn't quite understand it, but now he realized that it was truly a tale of survival in the unpredictable palace. In the future, even if he managed to survive, he would definitely have to endure a long period of seclusion in the palace, and he would need to be especially cautious about the details.
This Buddhist scripture commentary is currently being compiled in a tense manner and has not yet been officially published. However, some of its concepts have already been spread to create momentum. Li Tong intends to associate his own resurrection with it, hoping to integrate his personal safety into this system. In doing so, his life and death will also become part of Wu Zetian's destiny.
Shangguan Wan'er's reminder is nothing short of hinting to Li Tong that the water is too deep in this matter, far beyond what his current abilities can handle. The sense of existence is too strong, which will only make his situation more dangerous.
A so-called relationship may not necessarily be groundless. At least for Li Tong at the moment, if he can maintain a good interaction with Shangguan Wan'er, it would be beneficial and harmless to him.
Zedishi added this matter to the agenda, but did not indicate the urgency, showing cautiousness and a hint of sympathy towards the former Crown Prince Li Xian's family. It seems that the rumors outside the court are not groundless.
He certainly wouldn't resort to using malicious means to harm others, but he can't prevent those with ill intentions from using this to frame him. Transforming oneself into something mysterious or supernatural may bring short-term benefits, but it is still inappropriate in the long run. Unless he becomes as powerful as Wu Zetian, excessive mystification and transformation of oneself will inevitably become a vulnerability to be attacked by others!
Although the cuisine is very exquisite and rich, Li Tong still feels a little unhappy. Even if he has never seen the world, he knows that using Acorus calamus to wrap zongzi is strange in both technique and taste. Is this long and narrow fat leaf really useful? Besides appearing a bit playful, it is obviously meant to eliminate him as a poison or evil spirit!
Furthermore, Prince Wuzai of Yingchuan is still following the Empress Dowager's orders to continuously visit the homes of officials in both capitals, inviting talented women from prestigious families to serve in the palace and expanding the scale of female officials. Among them, there are those who rise to prominence later, so competition among the female officials is extremely fierce.
Returning to her own residence, Shangguan Wan'er ordered the palace maidservant to light the lamp. She carefully gathered and organized the various records of the female officials, and neatly transcribed them again in a clear and orderly manner. The handwriting was elegant and graceful, resembling floating white feathers. The empress dowager had a preference for this style of calligraphy, so it naturally became a necessary skill for the female officials to master.
Tang Sancai has a great reputation in later generations, mainly unearthed in Luoyang. This is because Sancai is usually used as burial objects, and the North Mang Mountain outside Luoyang City is recognized as having good Feng Shui, with graves piled on top of each other. Li Tong and his team were not working in the real North Mang area, and as a result of their carelessness, they were killed and buried in a hidden tomb here.
As for the current completely passive state, it is also a kind of tempering for him. If he can get through it, he will be able to reward himself with a strong inner strength. Just like Wu Zetian in the Gan Ye Temple in the old days, only relying on a seemingly broken and continued wild love affair, she was able to endure the extinction and bloom with brilliant light.
After finishing writing, Shangguan Wan'er read the paper from the beginning again to ensure that nothing was missed. Then she sealed the paper, held it in her hand, and left her room to the hall on the left side, which was the normal workplace for female officials presided over by a Yuzheng. However, the matters handled by Shangguan Wan'er required privacy, so she finished organizing them in her own room before submitting them to Yuzheng for review.
So although Sancai is precious, if every household uses it for daily utensils, then the whole family will truly be wealthy.
Unlike the desolation in the Forbidden City, the atmosphere in the Shangyang Palace is lively. Colorful lanterns hang up and down, and the light between the corridors and halls is abundant, almost indistinguishable from daytime. The palace attendants come and go frequently, wearing thin clothes and silk shoes, walking silently.
But this speculation cannot be substantiated. After all, everyone involved in the matter has already passed away. Perhaps Shedi is also the same, feeling pity but equally powerless. It starts small and ends small. What is meant to happen will always happen.