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墨書 Inktalez
Chen Shuo Zhen had genuinely studied the classics of Taoism and its teachings. After arriving in Chang'an, she spent her days by Wu Mei's side, inevitably missing her homeland. Whenever this feeling arose, she would visit Taiyi Palace to soothe her homesickness.
Taiyi Palace is located south of Chang'an, near the foot of Zhongnan Mountain. The surroundings of the palace are lush with towering cypress trees, and the courtyard is filled with tall phoenix trees that reach for the sky, creating a cool and tranquil atmosphere—truly an excellent place to escape the summer heat.
The historically renowned Emperor Wu of Han, who expanded territories and subdued the Xiongnu, once visited Taiyi Palace with his officials, riding in a grand dragon carriage to pray for blessings for the people and auspiciousness for the nation. Thus, Taiyi Palace became a favored destination for many scholars and poets.
There is a poem that praises it: "Taiyi is close to the heavenly capital, with mountains stretching to the sea's edge. White clouds merge in view, while azure skies seem endless. Peaks change in the division of lands, and valleys differ in shade and light. If one wishes to find lodging here, they must ask the woodcutter across the water."
Princess Jinyang was currently busy with affairs. Although she had resolved Yan Lide's hold over Cui Dunli, being newly appointed meant she still had to familiarize herself with the duties of the Ministry of War. The wedding date was approaching day by day, and progress on the Taiyi Mountain secret realm project needed to be expedited; she felt utterly overwhelmed.
However, when Chen Shuo Zhen invited her, she inexplicably nodded in agreement and arrived as promised. Under Chen Shuo Zhen's guidance, the two began to leisurely explore Taiyi Palace.
Chen Shuo Zhen held a somewhat special status; therefore, a servant stayed close by her side. She was quite composed as she led Princess Jinyang ahead, explaining the architecture and scenery of Taiyi Palace.
Her figure resembled a ripe gourd after rain—slender waist and curvy hips, captivating enough to draw anyone's gaze. Particularly striking was her rounded and firm backside, reminiscent of a mature peach; each step swayed enticingly, mesmerizing those who looked.
She spoke with great interest but noticed that Princess Jinyang did not respond for a long time. Turning around, she found Princess Jinyang's eyes fixated on her lower half. Suddenly feeling both embarrassed and angry, she also felt an unexpected sweetness in her heart.
Having grown up in solitude with only her sister for company, she had tasted life's hardships and dared to fight back. Although Tang Feng's atmosphere was open-minded and women's status had improved relatively speaking, it was still rare for women in feudal society to challenge societal norms.
Perhaps because of this background, she exuded a strong aura of heroism—a quality Princess Jinyang had never seen in any other woman.
She appeared as a warrior out of place in this old yet thriving world. This uniqueness resonated with Princess Jinyang, making her feel a kinship since Princess Jinyang herself was not entirely of this world.
Princess Jinyang was no longer an inexperienced novice; now enjoying the pleasures of life as a noblewoman, he was quite experienced in matters between men and women. However, he found it impossible to resist someone like Chen Shuo Zhen.
He felt an irresistible allure emanating from Chen Shuo Zhen that tempted him to get closer to her—to understand her deeply and learn everything about her.
When Princess Jinyang sensed Chen Shuo Zhen's shy yet slightly annoyed gaze upon him, his face flushed instantly. He smiled awkwardly and turned his attention to the scenery outside.
To ease the awkwardness, Princess Jinyang quickly changed the subject: "I heard that Miss Shuo Zhen is originally from Qingxi as an Immortal Mistress; may I ask how you came to know Martial Talent?"
One of the purposes for the Xu Zhen's visit today was to inquire about Wu Mei. Before entering the Ganyesi Temple, Wu Mei was indeed a weak and easily bullied woman. However, ever since her second entry into the palace, she seemed to have transformed completely; even someone as cunning and ruthless as Consort Xiao was no match for her.
Others might not foresee this, but the Xu Zhen was well aware of how remarkable Wu Mei would become in the future. She hoped to obtain from Chen Shuo Zhen the answer that would explain Wu Mei's transformation.
Upon hearing the Xu Zhen ask about Wu Mei, Chen Shuo Zhen felt a pang of bitterness in her heart. Although she shared a sisterly bond with Wu Mei, she had secretly developed feelings for the Xu Zhen. The man she admired was inquiring about another woman, who also possessed an enchanting beauty and figure, which inevitably caused Chen Shuo Zhen to feel displeased.
However, she quickly glanced at the Xu Zhen and saw a pure desire for answers in her eyes, not the gaze of someone with ill intentions. Thus, she began to recount her experiences with Wu Mei.
She was a woman who dared to fight back, relying on her own strength to change her circumstances and live a more outstanding life. It could be said that she was Wu Mei's mentor!
Little did she know that in the near future, she would rise in rebellion in Muxzhou because of the Xu Zhen and declare herself the Wen Jia Emperor. This act would show Wu Mei that a woman's ambitions could be vast and that it was not merely a fantasy for a woman to become an emperor!
In Chinese history, countless women participated in uprisings, but very few became leaders. Among those who did lead and claimed the title of emperor, only Chen Shuo Zhen stood alone!
At this moment, she naturally had no idea that she would embark on this path or that everything she would do in the future would be for this man before her. For now, she simply admired the Xu Zhen and wished to understand her deeply, just as the Xu Zhen sought to learn about her.
This was not her first time wanting to understand someone. Her master taught three great principles: Heaven, Earth, and Humanity; what she practiced was the way of humanity.
She excelled at uncovering the deepest secrets of people's hearts and had always succeeded in doing so. Yet before the Xu Zhen, her knowledge of these principles proved ineffective because no matter how much she tried to guess, she still could not see through the Xu Zhen.
Their conversation gradually shifted from discussing Wu Mei to each other; however, they both tacitly chose to gloss over their own secrets.
Seeing that the Xu Zhen remained inscrutable, Chen Shuo Zhen felt unsatisfied and proposed, "I have heard that General Xu is a master of Zoroastrianism with extraordinary skills. I once got lost in the mountains and received guidance from an Earth Immortal, learning two spells. Since you saved my life back then, it must be fate. Our meeting today is rare; why don't we make a wager?"
The Xu Zhen was taken aback by this suggestion. Having experienced Qingxiazi's abilities firsthand and knowing that local illusions in Central Plains were also mysterious and powerful, he became extremely curious about Chen Shuo Zhen. Hearing that they were going to compete with illusions piqued his interest even more, and he readily agreed.
"That sounds excellent!"
Illusions were fundamental for the Xu Zhen's self-defense. Ever since his name as Divine Child spread, he had been carrying numerous illusionary artifacts for precautionary measures. He believed Chen Shuo Zhen did likewise; neither knew much about each other's backgrounds, making it an ideal opportunity to explore through illusions.
Many Servants heard that Chen Shuo Zhen, the Immortal Mistress, was going to compare spells with the Xu Zhen's national master, and they were immediately filled with excitement. Such an opportunity was truly hard to come by!
In Taiyi Palace, there were many cultivators, including wandering Taoists. When the Servants cheered, the Taoists turned their heads in curiosity. They had already been paying attention to the two remarkable figures, Xu Zhen and Chen Shuo Zhen. Upon hearing about the duel, they quickly gathered, surrounding the courtyard behind the Dao Hall until it was packed.
Not only that, but scholars enjoying the scenery in Taiyi Palace, as well as many celebrities and noblewomen from Chang'an who had come to escape the summer heat, also rushed over upon hearing the news.
Xu Zhen and Chen Shuo Zhen initially intended to use Illusion for mutual practice, but they did not expect to be surrounded by so many people, which ignited their competitive spirit.
"I wonder what topic you would like to choose, Miss?"
Chen Shuo Zhen pondered for a moment before lightly smiling and saying, "What I practice is a branch of Daoism, specializing in transportation techniques. Allow me to demonstrate first; it can be considered as throwing out a brick to attract jade..."
The transportation technique mentioned by Chen Shuo Zhen was indeed the Five Ghosts Transport Technique. According to folklore, this technique allows five little ghosts to take people's belongings without opening doors or breaking boxes—it's a relatively common trick among Taoists.
Seeing this, Xu Zhen felt somewhat disappointed. However, after watching Chen Shuo Zhen's performance, she was deeply impressed.
"National Master, please feel free to choose an onlooker; I will give it a try."
Upon hearing this, Xu Zhen was astonished. In Illusion, what is most valuable is the freedom of topic selection and on-the-spot performance. Due to limited preparation time, if the opponent chooses a topic and you have nothing prepared in advance, you cannot complete it. However, Chen Shuo Zhen allowing Xu Zhen to select an onlooker showed a strong sense of confidence.
Hearing that she would cooperate with Chen Xian Gu in performing magic, onlookers surged forward, hoping for this rare opportunity. However, Xu Zhen was wary of having one of Chen Shuo Zhen's accomplices among them. Thus, she narrowed her eyes slightly and chose a rather inconspicuous middle-aged noblewoman from the back of the crowd.
Although the noblewoman had slight wrinkles at the corners of her eyes, her demeanor was extremely graceful as she approached slowly, refreshing those around her.
Chen Shuo Zhen smiled and nodded at the noblewoman as a greeting; she returned a slight bow as acknowledgment. Chen Shuo Zhen then circled around the noblewoman three times before stepping back ten feet away. After pondering for a moment, she instructed one of the Taoists in Taiyi Palace to bring her a Lacquer Tray.
She pulled out a Red Silk from her sleeve and covered the empty Lacquer Tray in full view of everyone. Then she handed the Lacquer Tray to a female Servant beside her and no longer touched it.
The crowd fell silent and dared not make a sound. They could only hear faint incantations drifting into their ears like delicate threads. However, Chen Shuo Zhen remained silent throughout it all, which truly amazed everyone.
Startled in her heart, she noticed that the noblewoman's hairpin and tassel began to tremble slightly, producing a crisp jingling sound as if an invisible hand was playing with them. Not only that, but the noblewoman suddenly let out a cry of surprise, revealing a black handprint on the back of her skirt!
Chen Shuo Zhen shook his head helplessly with a bitter smile. The onlookers were both astonished and amused, realizing that this transportation technique of the Five Ghosts was mixed with a Little Lecher!
Everyone was afraid of disrupting the spell and scaring away the little ghost, so they dared not speak loudly. However, the hissing sound of drawn breaths could still be heard. Chen Shuo Zhen snorted coldly, seemingly trying to drive away the little ghost, and only then did the noblewoman's hairpin and tassel stop trembling.
Chen Shuo Zhen signaled to the Maid with his eyes. The Maid walked to the center of the courtyard, held up a Lacquer Tray, and slowly lifted the Red Silk. To everyone's surprise, there was a Sachet embroidered with a White Lotus in the Lacquer Tray!
"Wow!"
The crowd was immediately stunned by this miraculous scene. The elegant noblewoman gasped again and reached to touch herself, only to find that her personal Sachet had indeed vanished without a trace!
This reaction drew even more gasps from the onlookers. Chen Shuo Zhen smiled slightly and handed the Sachet to the noblewoman, loudly asking, "Is this Sachet your personal item, madam?"
The noblewoman suppressed her astonishment and nodded heavily. Thunderous applause and cheers erupted from the crowd!
Chen Shuo Zhen raised his head slightly, casting a provocative glance at Xu Zhen, who was lost in thought and momentarily did not respond.
He could see the intricacies involved; however, the handprint on the noblewoman's back was quite remarkable. With modern magician techniques and props, achieving such an effect might not be too difficult, but in the Tang Dynasty, it was indeed considered an extraordinary feat.
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