No one in the court dared to accept the task of constructing the sacrificial platform. Everyone was afraid that Zhou would punish them beforehand.
The literati in the court refused the task, and the generals one after another claimed that they were not capable of it, saying they couldn't count. They could only recruit talented people from outside to be in charge of this work.
Fe Zhong understood Zhou's heart, and he personally put up posters to find talents and virtues to construct the sacrificial platform for the Great Sum.
Whenever someone came to unveil the proclamation, he would ask a couple of questions.
"Are you aware of the matter the King mentioned about building the sacrificial platform?"
"I, the common people, know."
"What do you think about how long it will take to build?"
"Within three years, it will definitely be completed!"
Fe Zhong chuckled and said, "Next one."
The next person who unveiled the proclamation thought that it could be completed in two and a half years. His face was even colder as he said, "Next one."
During this period, Jiaziya had been staying with his sworn brother Song Yi's house. Upon hearing about King Zhou's plan to build a sacrificial platform for self-immolation, the unemployed and wandering Jiaziya came to take a look.
Jiaziya thought the specifications for the sacrificial platform were too extravagant and a waste of people's labor and wealth. Why bother building such a structure when you could simply light a fire by yourself during the winter to simulate self-immolation? There was no need to put in so much effort.
He also unveiled the proclamation and faced Fe Zhong's inquiry, pretending to be very reluctant to say, "Answering the words of the Prime Minister of the court, this platform is four zhang and nine chi high, and there will be the construction of jade towers and jade pavilions, blue railings and carved railings, which is indeed a massive project. According to the opinion of this old man, it will take"
He thought for a moment: "It will take thirty-five years to complete."
Fe Zhong was overjoyed and pounded on the table with enthusiasm: "Ha ha ha——! You are indeed a great sage of the world. Come, let's go see the King immediately!"
Jiaziya: "?????"
"Why do you think I am a great sage?"
Jiaziya was taken into the Longevity Palace haphazardly, and Zhou heard that someone had posted the proclamation and learned that it would take thirty-five years to complete. At once, he praised Jiaziya extensively, calling him a loyal subject of the Great Sum.
In his view, among the full court officials and military officers, only Fe Zhong was a loyal subject. Today he finally found a second one, that is you, Jiaziya!
To prevent the loyal subjects from feeling disheartened, he put on an act of respecting the wise and lowering himself to the humble. This "demeanor" had been unused for a long time.
We must know that King Zhou could sit and discuss with Yun Zhongzi. The original text says that the two of them "talked for a long time." This "long time" should be at least one hour, at least. Although King Zhou's charisma is not as high as the enchantress of the Great Zhou dynasty, Jiachang, it is not difficult for him to recruit Jiaziya, a seventy-year-old old man who has not mingled in official circles and has been exiled to society by Kunlun Mountain.
After a few sentences, Jiaziya developed some good feelings towards King Zhou, and finally happily accepted the appointment as a Lower Official. His superior was Bi Gan, who had nothing much to do in his daily life and was mainly responsible for overseeing the construction of the sacrificial platform, with a timeline of thirty-five years!
A team of knights in red war robes kicked up a trail of smoke and dust, hastily rushing towards the gates of Chaoge City.
The gate guard immediately led his men to meet them and raised a hand to the leading knight, signaling him to stop immediately, otherwise they would have to shoot arrows.
The leading knight was Deng Ai, who had prepared for this. He threw out a token with the word "Fe" on it, which scared the gate guard and caused him to quickly make way for Deng Ai.
Deng Ai finds Deng Chanyu's maid Hong Xiao and anxiously asks, "Where is Miss?"
"Miss left the house a few days ago and has not returned yet."
Deng Ai is very worried.
The maid pointed ahead and said, "Sue sister and Miss are inseparable, so she should know where Miss is."
"All right, take me to see this Miss Su quickly."
"On the left!"
"Still on the left! Pay attention to defense."
"Don't pout your buttocks, pull in your abdomen, use the strength from your waist and abdomen."
Inside the room, Dai Chi was practicing martial arts, and the paper-man teacher guiding her was Deng Chanyu.
Paper-man's ability has an upper limit. Fortunately, Deng Chanyu left a thought in Dai Chi's paper-man. Although there is no magic, it can show 30% of its martial arts skills.
Dai Chi was previously sickly and had poor martial arts skills. Now that her father is no longer a Marquis of Ji, he might have to flee the world at any time, so she needs to hurry up and make up for her weaknesses.
"A-Yu, it's so hard." She rubbed her slim waist and complained to the paper-man: "Must I practice one move after another repeatedly?"
The paper-man Deng Chanyu rolled her eyes: "Everyone practices this way. It's necessary to form a physical memory."
Dai Chi knew that she wasn't actually here, so she relaxed and raised one index finger, pretending to be very playful and said, "Can I draw a highlight for you?"
The paper-man was startled: "Highlight? What are martial arts highlights for! Shut up and train!"
Dai Chi couldn't find a shortcut, so she had to pick up her sword and practice every move and technique diligently.
Dì Tīng acted like a normal little dog, running around her. Occasionally, when Dai Chi was tired, she would touch the dog's head, and the little guy would happily bark twice.
Suddenly, Dai Chi felt a burst of inspiration.
She imitated the manner of the immortals and finger-counted in calculation.
Her fingers were squeezed so painfully that she didn't get any results.
Seriously, she's not even as good as Deng Chanyu, who has been practicing Daoism for a year.
Her divination is from Pingxin Grandmother, who was originally the Great Shaman Dihu of the Wu clan. Throughout the clan, Dihu was famous for his stable character and was regarded as the earth ancestor shaman. He was humble and polite with a peaceful mind, but humility can also be a flaw in those who are not naturally humbled.
Pingxin Grandmother's divination skills were ordinary to begin with, and by the time they reached Dai Chi, they were nothing to speak of.
Did she learn it? She did. Did she learn it well? It's hard to say.
"What happened? Is it A-Yu who caused it? What's going on?" She was still pondering when the gate of the courtyard was violently knocked by a group of red-clothed soldiers. From the second-floor window, Dai Chi looked out and saw that a group of red-clothed soldiers were anxiously pacing around outside.
Deng Ai sensed something and looked up to see a face of extraordinary beauty appear in the room that seemed to belong to Miss Deng Chanyu.
It's unusual for such a beautiful woman to be inside Miss Deng Chanyu's room.
Maid Hong Xiao also rode a horse, but her speed was slightly slower than Deng Ai.
She arrived at this moment and called out, "Sister Su! They are subordinates of our miss."
Dai Chi quickly controlled the paper person to open the door and invite them into the house.
"No, no, I have urgent matters. Very urgent. Where is our miss?" Deng Ai asked anxiously.
The [Six Realms Cycle Sutras] requires emotions such as sorrow, sadness, and distress. Transforming these emotions within oneself into kindling can allow one's cultivation to progress by leaps and bounds.
Negative emotions in the heart are cleared at any time and place, and since Dai Chi is not afraid of death, what's the big deal? Going to hell is like going home, helping to boil two bowls of soup, what's there to be afraid of?
As a woman who was originally beautiful and elegant, now with all her heart-knots resolved, Dai Chi felt very confident.
"I am a friend of Chanyu's, and she has gone out on important business and may not be back for a while. General, what is your request? Perhaps I can help."
Deng Ai wanted to say something like, "What are you even doing here?" But in the face of Dai Chi's unparalleled beauty, he dared not be abrupt.
Deng Ai lowered his head, his words filled with grief: "Miss Su, my lord is suffering from a serious illness and may not survive. My lady wishes to invite you back to take charge of affairs!"
