To watch externally.
The Liao Emperor Taizong led Marquis Lu and other key ministers, waiting at the gate for it to be opened.
When a group of officials first accompanied the Liao Emperor Taizong, they were full of enthusiasm.
After being shut out once, these people's emotions had changed somewhat.
Feeling that Chen Yun has a bit of a big ego.
Not showing up even when the emperor comes?
Even if you were ill last time.
It's not like you were bedridden with a serious illness.
What's wrong with seeing the emperor in person?
The Liao Emperor Taizong was insistent on coming again.
The group of key ministers dared not say much on the surface.
They could only vent their complaints in their hearts.
At this moment, the gate of Laojun Observatory opened with a "creeeeeak" sound.
Liu Haichan did not kneel and kowtow as he had the day before, instead, he bowed and said, "The humble one greets Your Majesty."
The Liao Emperor Taizong walked up and asked, "Gentleman, has Master Chen's body felt a bit better today?"
Liu Haichan laughed and said, "Master's health has greatly improved today."
Hm, at least you have some sense of propriety.
Marquis Lu and the other key ministers standing there nodded slightly, feeling that they would finally see people today.
The Liao Emperor Taizong's face lit up with delight and he pointed inside again, inquiring, "Can I see Master Chen?"
Liu Haichan's expression grew stern as he replied, "Your Majesty, I'm afraid that won't be possible either."
What?
The emperor has come a second time.
Still unable to see that Taoist?
Marquis Lu had a somewhat explosive temperament, and he asked somewhat unhappily, "Why can't we see him again today? Has something happened to him?"
The Liao Emperor Taizong furrowed his brow and said, "Marquis Lu, be careful with your words!"
Marquis Lu then relented, but his face still looked puffed up, as if he was a bit dissatisfied with the situation.
Do not say that Marquis Lu's appearance is like that.
The other seven or eight ministers, as well as a group of officials and guards, were all looking somewhat unhappy, thinking that Chen Yun was too proud.
The Liao Emperor Taizong seemed not at all angry, smiling and asking, "Why can't we pay a visit?"
Liu Haichan spoke according to what Chen Yun had taught, "Master and friend have agreed to go for a leisurely walk outside."
Marquis Lu was clearly skeptical and asked, "Where did you go for a leisurely walk?"
Liu Haichan said helplessly, "Master possesses great wisdom and his friends are all powerful individuals, some soaring in the heavens, others wandering atop towering mountains, or enjoying music, chess, and tranquility in celestial paradises. Their comings and goings are unpredictable; they leave no trace."
The Liao Emperor Taizong sighed and said, "It seems that my destiny with Master Chen is shallow; I have yet to meet him twice."
Marquis Lu's eyes flashed, "We have traveled a long way and are thirsty. May we go inside to sit and drink some tea?"
The remaining ministers secretly laughed among themselves, knowing that Marquis Lu wanted to enter the Laojun Temple and expose Chen Yun's lie of evading them.
Liu Haichan was at a loss for words for a moment.
After all, Chen Yun was sitting openly in the courtyard and hall of the house.
If they were allowed in, wouldn't it be immediately discovered that he was lying?
Fortunately, the Liao Emperor Taizong was more discerning and said, "Master Chen is not here, Your Majesty. I don't want to bother the master either. Let us go back first."
Liu Haichan couldn't help but feel relieved.
Marquis Lu was not to be deterred, "Ah, Your Majesty, we merely want to have a cup of tea here. Besides, Master Chen is out for a stroll. He might return later. We waiting in the temple for Master Chen to show our sincerity."
The Liao Emperor Taizong's heart stirred, thinking that Marquis Lu had a point.
He looked at Liu Haichan and asked, "Gentleman, can I bring the crowd inside to wait?"
Liu Haichan's expression had been extremely conflicted, but suddenly it smoothed out, and he smiled warmly, "Your Majesty's request, the humble one dare not refuse. Please come in."
After saying that, he opened the big gate.
The Liao Emperor Taizong, Marquis Lu, and a group of officials were allowed into the temple.
This action confused Marquis Lu and the other ministers greatly.
Logically speaking, if Chen Yun was truly just making excuses in the temple, he would not dare to let everyone in.
Now that Liu Haichan allows people in, does Master Chen really not exist?
Marquis Lu and several ministers exchanged skeptical glances, feeling they had to go inside to find out the truth.
Although the Liao Emperor Taizong respects Chen Yun, he also has this thought in mind.
Not to mention them, even Liu Haichan's mood became a bit nervous.
Because he knew that Chen Yun was indeed sitting in the courtyard inside.
As soon as everyone enters, they can see him sitting in the courtyard.
Everyone entered the Laojun Temple with different thoughts.
The next moment, Liu Haichan saw Chen Yun still sitting calmly in the courtyard.
His heart was racing so much that it felt as if it had leaped to his throat at the time!
The confusing thing was that the Liao Emperor Taizong, Marquis Lu, and others seemed to have completely ignored Chen Yun who was sitting, and continued chatting as if nothing was there.
Although Liu Haichan found it perplexing, he could guess that it must have been Master Chen using great magical powers to prevent the emperor and officials from seeing him.
Without thinking, he relaxed his mind and offered each of the Liao Emperor Taizong and Marquis Lu a cup of tea.
As an emperor, the Liao Emperor Taizong certainly would not eat anything outside, otherwise what if someone tried to poison him?
Such incidents have indeed occurred in ancient society.
For example, the Prince of Han Xian, Liu Can, who was only 14 years old, was poisoned by Wang Mang with chili sauce in his wine and died.
For instance, Emperor Yuan of the Jin Dynasty, Sima Zhong, was unable to govern the empire due to his low intelligence and became a target of power struggle among the royal relatives, and he was eventually poisoned and killed by Prince Sima Yu of Donghai.
Too many examples to count, such as Tang Zhongzong Li Xian, Han Xiaodai Liu Bian, and so on.
Therefore, the Liao Emperor Taizong entered the Laojun Temple and accepted Liu Haichan's offer of tea, but he did not take a sip at all.
Not only the Liao Emperor Taizong, but also Marquis Lu and the other ministers were cautious of their lives, and none of them drank a drop of the tea that Liu Haichan served.
The group of people sat quietly over there and chatted.
Liu Haichan stood to the side, with a peculiar look in his eyes and his ears perking up, continuing to listen as Chen Yun, who appeared "invisible" and "silent" in the eyes of the group, continued to explain the secret techniques.
They continued like this for about an hour.
Suddenly, Chen Yun slowly said, "Someone is looking for us outside. You can follow my previous words."
Liu Haichan nodded silently and looked outside.
At this moment, the voice of a young man came from the wide-open gate, "Is anyone here?"
The Liao Emperor Taizong, Marquis Lu, and the others all turned to look at the gate.
Liu Haichan replied, "Yes."
The next moment, Ye Lu Ruan, accompanied by Zhu Li Huan, Ci Xian the Monk, Li Ming, and a group of attendants, entered.
Upon entering, he immediately bowed and said, "Ye Lu Ruan greets Your Majesty."
The Liao Emperor Taizong, who was sitting, smiled warmly and said, "Nephew, you may rise. What business do you have at the Laojun Temple?"
Marquis Lu and the other ministers turned to look.
Ye Lu Ruan's purpose in coming, of course, was to invite Chen Yun to come out and assist him.
But he was not a fool; he could see that the Liao Emperor Taizong also had this purpose and knew that he could not speak openly about it, otherwise it would raise suspicion.
Ye Lu Ruan smiled and said, "To report to Your Majesty, nephew Ye Li Ran is fascinated by Master Chen's Taoist teachings and has come specially to become his disciple and practice the arts."
The Liao Emperor Taizong smiled slightly and said, "Nephew, you may be disappointed, Master Chen is out making friends and enjoying a leisurely walk. It's unclear when he will return."
As they were chatting, Liu Haichan tensed up again.
During this visit, the Liao Emperor Taizong did not bring any high-level cultivators with him.
Ye Lu Ruan was different, bringing three high-level cultivators with him: Zhu Li Huan, Ci Xian the Monk, and Li Ming.
Liu Haichan was truly afraid that these three cultivators might notice Chen Yun standing by.
Who would have thought that Zhu Li Huan, Ci Xian the Monk, and Li Ming, the three high-level cultivators, seemed to be completely unaware of Chen Yun standing right next to them, and were simply looking at Ye Lu Ruan and the Liao Emperor Taizong chatting calmly.
Liu Haichan felt somewhat unbelievable and couldn't help but glance at Chen Yun next to him, only to see Chen Yun smile slightly.
He immediately understood what was happening. It must be that Chen Yun's cultivation was too profound, even the three highly skilled cultivators, Zhu Li Huan, Ci Xian the Monk, and Li Ming, could not detect him.
Liu Haichan secretly felt alarmed and finally understood how incredible Chen Yun's cultivation was.
Ye Lu Ruan and the Liao Emperor Taizong chatted for a few sentences, and finally, he also stayed to wait for Chen Yun to return.
So, a current emperor of the Khitan, and another future true dragon of the Khitan, sat unhappily in the courtyard of the Laojun Temple, waiting.
Unlike the Liao Emperor Taizong, Ye Lu Ruan was not afraid to die, and he drank the tea that Liu Haichan served and accepted food without hesitation.
Both sides waited for half a day.
Ye Lu Ruan was fine after eating.
The Liao Emperor Taizong and other officials did not drink a drop of water, and after half a day, they were thirsty and hungry.
In the end, as the day was drawing to a close.
Marquis Lu couldn't bear it any longer and spoke up, "Your Majesty, Master Chen is unlikely to return today. Perhaps we should come back a few days later?"
The Liao Emperor Taizong helplessly sighed and said, "Alright."
Liu Haichan's ears perked up and he quickly said, "Your Majesty, if Master Chen returns, I will have someone go to the imperial city to report."
"Very good." The Liao Emperor Taizong was delighted and stood up, saying, "Master, I will come again a few days later. Does the temple have any books and writing implements? I wish to borrow paper and ink to write a letter to Master Chen, expressing my sincere intentions."
Liu Haichan promptly replied and went inside to retrieve the Four Treasures of the Study.
The Liao Emperor Taizong blew on the pen tip, spread out the silk writing paper, and wrote a letter that said: "De Guang has long admired your great reputation. I have visited you twice, only to return empty-handed. What a regrettable mood..."
After writing the letter, the Liao Emperor Taizong handed it to Liu Haichan to collect, then took his leave and went out.
After the Liao Emperor Taizong and his entourage left, Ye Lu Ruan also followed suit, leaving a letter expressing his sincerity.
In the end, a group of high-ranking officials and dignitaries left.
Liu Haichan closed the gate of the Laojun Temple and returned to the courtyard.
Liu Haichan respectfully looked at Chen Yun and asked, "Master, just now you said that a few days from now you would report to the emperor and accompany him to the mountain. Are you planning to leave and help him govern the country?"
Chen Yun had his hands clasped behind his back and said, "Hmm."
Liu Haichan was puzzled and said, "If Master has the intention to assist, why didn't you appear today?"
"Ha ha." Chen Yun laughed, "From ancient times, things that are easily obtained are not cherished by people. Practicing cultivation is the same. If you can become an immortal just like that, would you still value it?"
Liu Haichan suddenly recalled his years of seeking the Dao these past decades, and then remembered being granted the Grand Law by Chen Yun. He couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions welling up inside him.
Yes, Master is right.
Indeed, things that are easily obtained are not valued.
Liu Haichan dimly understood something and, from Master Chen's words, he gained some insights.
Liu Haichan bowed deeply to Chen Yun and said, "Teacher, your wisdom is profound. Through this, I have benefited greatly. May I ask, when the emperor comes again, will you test his sincerity once more?"
Chen Yun lightly nodded and said, "Of course, although it's said that one should not test a person more than three times, as a cultivator, I must ensure the sincerity of the important matter. I will naturally try to test him."
(End of this chapter)
