You rascal, stop right there!

Chapter 183: Big Win, Great Changes in the Imperial City

A gentle breeze blows through the ripples on the water.

Ling Shumo looked at the person next to him, whose body was stiff due to fear of water, and sighed softly.

"There are not many painting and calligraphy boats in Daying nowadays. Apart from the royal boats, only some merchant ships can be converted into painting boats. Building ships for civilians, except for fishing boats, usually costs a lot of money. You..."

Any transaction involving shipbuilding and calligraphy and painting requires strict approval from the government, which is not easy.

Even his younger brother Zihuan was originally a paper and bookseller, and only with government approval could he establish the Miaoxin Painting Boat business.

However, the Miaoxin Painting Boat, which is less than 20 meters long, is already the most famous in Daying.

The blind painter around him was in an awkward position, and coupled with his fear of water, it would probably be difficult for him to do it.

Despite this, Ling Shumo still smiled and put his hand on the other's wrist: "Just try it according to your own ideas, I will never interfere."

The hairband of the person next to me was fluttering in the wind!

The sunlight outside the window quietly shines through the gap onto his face, as if he is thinking.

With such a serious look, even a blind person would have to admit that his expression is fascinating and touching.

Ling Shumo's eyes lit up involuntarily, and he coughed twice after realizing something.

Bai Wan smiled helplessly: "However, now is not the right time. I'm just thinking about it first. Other things are more important right now..."

He fumbled with the package on the coffee table and looked at it for a moment. The remaining pictures on the package were mixed with years of thoughts.

I didn't expect it to be in perfect condition, without any signs of having been opened.

Zi Chen took it for me so anxiously just now, and I thought he would open it and take a look.

Bai Wan waited for a while, then smiled and withdrew her hand. She couldn't see the object in her hand, so she was a little hesitant.

"I hope it won't be of any use later!"

……

Big win.

Beijing.

After getting off the dock, Ling Shumo negotiated with the guards with his pass in hand. However, Bai Wanyi stood outside the city gate, startled by the footsteps around him.

It turned out that in the few days since they left, the capital had been filled with countless Taoists, all holding whisks and looking down on others.

Although it has long been known that Emperor Jiaxing was increasingly inclined towards Taoism, his behavior was still jaw-dropping.

But I would have thought that now, all the major places where talented people gather, art academies and studios have become so drastically changed.

Everyone abandoned other subjects and began to paint images of gods. Even the people selling landscape and beauty paintings disappeared on the streets.

Although Bai Wan couldn't see, he could guess roughly what was going on from what others said.

He couldn't help but smile bitterly: "Dayingjingcheng should be a big Taoist temple now, and everyone is happy to paint the statues of gods."

It's not that I look down on paintings of gods. Works that blend Buddhism, Taoism and other elements have existed since ancient times.

However, the upper-level influence led all painters to paint statues of gods, which suppressed the flourishing of all flowers and was really a retrograde move.

After a long while, only Bai Wan could be heard speaking softly: "Have you noticed that there are fewer sounds?"

"what?"

Shi Yaotong couldn't help but listen attentively.

Bai Wan nodded slightly: "There are no hawking sounds, no acrobats shouting, and even no begging sounds."

The current Emperor Jiaxing has gone crazy and is building a Taoist temple. All the common people who can work are taken away from scholars, farmers, merchants and workers to build the temple, and the outside world is not peaceful.

Countless common people regard being a Taoist as a way to bring honor to their family. Even if one pretends to be a Taoist and wears Taoist robes, people will look at them more.

Taoists ate without paying, and even visited brothels in groups. It was common for them to take things for free and beat up ordinary people.

Ling Shumo looked at the scene in front of him and frowned slightly: "Abai, can you live in the Shangshu Mansion first when you return to the capital?"

The person next to me smiled strangely and came forward: "You are so anxious to let me live with you, can't bear it?"

Cough——

"You..." Ling Shumo felt his face getting hot, frowned and whispered, "Can you be serious?"

"Are you sure you are more serious than me? That day... um..." The person on the other side spoke lazily, and the meaning seemed ambiguous.

He knew that the other person was also trying to protect him, but he just liked the sound of making this person embarrassed.

This irresistible joke...

The person on the other side felt choked and felt so guilty that he couldn't say a word.

Haha!

After laughing, Bai Wan said sarcastically, "I know you want to protect me. But there's really no need..."

He knew very well that the only way to deal with this situation was to change the emperor or dynasty, and he couldn't kill them so easily...

Capture him and send him to a Taoist temple, or whatever, don’t even think about it!

The so-called persuasion and petition only treat the symptoms but not the root cause. Loyal officials and upright officials will only bring disaster upon themselves.

Ling Shumo, who was standing next to him, had a slightly dark look on his face. He seemed to understand the meaning of the words of the person next to him, but at this moment, his eyes were fixed on his heart.

"You..."

Several people stood at the city gate and clearly found that the city defense had become more stringent, and the passes for people coming and going were also checked very carefully.

At this time, A Yan came with a woman, looking exhausted.

As soon as he saw someone, he leaned close to their ear and whispered something in a low voice.

Suddenly, Ling Shumo's face turned pale, and something uncontrollable stopped at his lips.

Then, this person lost his former elegance and gentleness, and said in a somewhat shocked and sad tone: "Take good care of yourself. I need to go to the palace immediately."

The back figures were in a hurry, as if in panic.

Bai Wan suddenly felt a little dazed. Such Ling Shu was extremely rare, and she was afraid that something big had happened.

He quickly pulled Ah Yan who was about to move forward and asked carefully: "Ah Yan, what happened now?"

Ah Yan turned his head and said, "The one-year non-aggression agreement between Xuanli and Daying is almost over. Three days ago, Xuanli's army led 120,000 troops to invade the border..."

Bai Wan was immediately frightened.

I thought Zichen would be impeached by Li Li for murder, but I didn't expect to encounter such a big event.

After he calmed down, he asked again: "Which direction is the attack from?"

"Now the three cities of Zhengzhou, Yanzhou, and Huzhou have been occupied. His Majesty is seeking peace, and you are needed to go and negotiate..."

"Ask for peace?!"

The heart of the white pea is as cold as a cold blade.

It was clearly Xuanli who had been provocative and shameless and had invaded the border over the past year.

We should fight a war! How can we ask for peace?

Baiyun City is under the jurisdiction of Zhengzhou City, and is right on the border of Xuanli and Daying!

Ah Yan sighed, "Some time ago, the Queen Mother restored Prime Minister Li Simeng to his position. Prime Minister Li said that the national treasury is now empty and war is a waste of money and manpower. For the sake of the people, he advocates peace!"

Bai Wan was stunned and was shocked.

What worried him even more was that Old Man Bai was in Baiyun City at the moment, and Fatty Wang and a bunch of his brothers were still there.

Zichen is so constrained now, I am afraid he can't easily convince that tyrant. What should I do?

Emperor Jiaxing was obsessed with Taoism and lustful towards women.

Li Xiang restored the throne and disregarded human lives!

Do they really think that praying to God and making concessions can stop the fighting?

absurd!

I have long felt that this tyrant is too unkind. It would be better to kill him and replace him with someone else to be the emperor...