Chapter 5363 The Place of Love

Chapter 5363 The Place of Love

The "Guanlong Group," which created the Sui and Tang dynasties, was mainly composed of the Six Garrisons of Northern Wei. These Six Garrisons were made up of Xianbei nobles, Han powerful families, and other tribes. Therefore, even though they regarded Chinese culture as the orthodox tradition, they were different from the "Han-Hu divide" practiced by previous dynasties. In short, they could be roughly described as "enemies and allies."

Those who harm me are my enemies, and those who benefit me are my friends, rather than simply dividing people by ethnicity.

Therefore, the Sui and Tang dynasties were extremely lax in their vigilance against ethnic minorities, which resulted in most of the non-Han people who submitted or surrendered being treated well, and even entrusted with important responsibilities and held great power.

It is rare for people like Liu Ji to propose guarding against the surrender or submission of barbarians and foreign tribes.

However, Li Chengqian agreed with this.

"This advice is indeed a wise and prudent approach to governing the country. We should be wary of it when governing in the future. However, we cannot simply distinguish between friend and foe, or inside and outside, based on whether they are barbarians or foreigners. Instead, we should consider them in a specific and differentiated manner."

I agree in principle, but we cannot condemn all ethnic groups outright.

While Emperor Taizong's ethnic policies may have been seen as ambitious and eager for quick success, since the Tang emperor was revered as "Heavenly Khan" by various ethnic groups, he could not simply use a "Han-Hu" divide to equate and exclude other ethnic groups.

That would cause huge problems; things would fall apart...

*****
The rain was drizzling, the autumn wind was chilly, the temperature dropped suddenly, and wisps of white vapor could be seen with each breath.

Fang Jun rode in a carriage out of Chongren Ward and headed south along the main street between the East Market and Pingkang Ward. Along the way, he could see carriages loaded with goods traveling in the rain. These were all nobles and officials from all over the city returning home after purchasing goods from the East Market. The carriages and horses rumbled and came in an endless stream.

When the carriage reached the area between Xuanpingfang and Shengpingfang, it turned onto the street and headed east, entering Shengpingfang from the north side.

The northeast corner of Shengpingfang rises gradually, forming Leyouyuan with the plateau where Xinchangfang is located. Climbing up, one can overlook most of Chang'an City. Every summer, the scenery is superb, making it a summer resort for the royal family, nobles, and officials of Chang'an.

Fang Jun once wanted to emulate Qinglongfang and develop a luxury villa resort area here, which would be popular throughout the Tang Dynasty. However, unlike the desolate and remote Qinglongfang, Leyouyuan had been occupied by various families long ago, and many villas and mansions had been built here. If "compensation" was given, not only would there be no profit, but there was even a possibility of losing a lot of money...

When the carriage arrived outside Xuanqing Temple, Fang Jun jumped off the carriage, took the oil-paper umbrella from the guard, and stood there looking around. Looking north, most of Chang'an City was hidden in the wind and rain, its outline blurred and the palaces ethereal. Looking south, the mountains and rivers stretched far and wide, and the newly completed Big Wild Goose Pagoda of Da Ci'en Temple stood proudly and uniquely.

The imperial guards outside the mountain gate stepped forward, knelt on one knee, and saluted. Fang Jun smiled, waved his hand, and stepped into the temple.

Throughout the entire world, there are very few who can enter this place without prior notice...

Xuanqing Temple is built on Leyou Plain. It is not large in area, but it is very exquisite.

The autumn rain falls incessantly, like smoke and mist.

Fang Jun stepped into the temple with an umbrella. Rainwater trickled down the green-tiled eaves, gathering into a glistening curtain of water at the animal-head roof ornaments. The bluestone slabs paving the courtyard were soaked and shimmered with a dark hue. A few golden ginkgo leaves clung to the damp stone surface, like patterns painted with gold powder.

Vermilion-lacquered wooden pillars support the deep eaves, and the brackets are layered like clouds. Rain slants through the corridors, splashing fine water droplets on the bluestone slabs. In the bronze incense burner in front of the Sanqing Hall, yesterday's incense ash has been mixed with rainwater into a light ash paste, which slowly flows down the dragon patterns on the base of the burner.

Rainwater slid down from the roof ridge, gathered in strings along the grooves of the cylindrical tiles, and tinkled into the stone mortar under the eaves.

Everything before my eyes was shrouded in a misty vapor, like a painting rendered in light ink.

It has a strong Taoist charm of "tranquility and naturalness".

Several maids dressed in Taoist robes stepped forward and bowed respectfully, saying, "Greetings, Grand Commandant."

Fang Jun, dressed in casual clothes and holding an umbrella, gave a curt "hmm" and asked, "Where is His Highness?"

"His Highness is brewing tea in the elegant room in the backyard."

"Take me there."

"Here."

Several maids led Fang Jun around the Sanqing Hall to a refined room in the backyard, and then stepped back to the door.

Fang Jun handed over the umbrella, stepped onto the wet steps, and pushed open the door to enter.

The interior of the study was elegantly decorated, with a gleaming floor. Several bookshelves against the wall were filled with a dense collection of books. In the middle, a mat was laid out, and on the mat was a small table with various tea sets and tea canisters. Beside it was a small red clay stove, with flames licking the bottom of a kettle, and white steam bubbling from the spout, indicating that the water was boiling.

A cool, damp breeze blew in through an open window, dispersing the moisture.

Behind the desk, a slender and graceful figure was bending over, arranging tea leaves. Her long black hair was tied up and secured with a white jade hairpin, revealing her long, swan-like neck.

Hearing footsteps, he looked up.

Her eyebrows were like distant mountains, her eyes were like autumn water, her nose was delicate and straight, and her cherry lips were moist and red. Her beautiful face first showed a hint of surprise, and then bloomed like a flower.

"Brother-in-law?! When did you return to Beijing? You didn't even send someone to let me know!"

Princess Jinyang exclaimed in surprise and stood up to greet her.

Wearing a pure white Taoist robe, she was untouched by worldly dust. The robe was slightly oversized on her slender figure, but it only accentuated her delicate curves and willow-like waist, giving her an air of otherworldly elegance and ethereal grace.

Upon seeing the slender, white feet beneath the hem of his dress, stepping lightly on the floor, Fang Jun frowned.

"You're not even wearing socks, and the windows are open in the autumn wind and rain. It's damp and cold inside, and you're wearing so little... You're not a child anymore. You should learn to take care of yourself. You can't be someone who worries about you wherever you go, can you?"

As she spoke, she turned back to the maids outside the door, her anger barely concealed: "His Highness can't take care of himself, and you all just stand by and do nothing? If this happens again, you will not let him off easily!"

Outside the door, several maids stood with their heads down, trembling.

Princess Jinyang smiled sweetly and said softly, "Brother-in-law, why blame them? I've always dressed like this. Besides, don't you like me barefoot?"

The maids wished they could bury their heads in the mud right now...

Fang Jun was dumbfounded: "Your Highness, what makes you say that? When did I ever say such a thing? Your Highness cannot exonerate someone without cause!"

He is definitely not that kind of perverted person!
Although this girl's feet are indeed very pretty...

Princess Jinyang was very close to Fang Jun, and a faint, elegant fragrance lingered around her. She raised her head and said with a smile, "Although my brother-in-law didn't say it, his eyes don't lie."

Fang Jun was speechless.

He was a head taller than Princess Jinyang, and at this close distance, looking down at her, he could clearly see her slightly heaving chest pushing up her clothes...

"Ahem, you must never say such slanderous things again. Even if you do, I will not admit it!"

"Okay, you can just watch and not say anything, right? You can do whatever your brother-in-law wants."

Princess Jinyang smiled smugly, like a little fox. She took Fang Jun's hand and led him to sit down at the table. She said with great interest, "I just had spring water drawn from the spring. It's made with the autumn tea that Sister Gaoyang gave me. Brother-in-law is in for a treat."

Fang Jun had no choice but to sit down, take the teacup, and sip the tea, feeling slightly annoyed.

Originally, they came to advise Princess Jinyang to consider marriage this morning, but unexpectedly, this girl made the atmosphere increasingly ambiguous...

After putting down his teacup, Fang Jun felt he shouldn't chat idly, otherwise it would be inappropriate for Princess Jinyang to lead him around.

She tapped her fingers unconsciously on the table twice, her face stern and serious, her tone somewhat harsh: "What exactly are you thinking? You're not getting any younger, you'll eventually have to get married, have children, and start a new chapter in your life. You can't rely on your princess status to eat, drink, and enjoy life for the rest of your life, can you? You may be having a great time now, but you'll definitely regret it in a few years."

Princess Jinyang held the teacup in her two delicate hands, took a small sip, and squinted slightly to savor the aftertaste of the tea. Upon hearing this, she was very curious: "Will you regret it if you don't get married and have children?"

“That’s natural!” Fang Jun patiently instructed and guided: “Life is like a flowering tree. It should bud when it’s time to bud, bloom when it’s time to bloom, bear fruit when it’s time to bear fruit, and shed its leaves when it’s time to shed its leaves, accumulating energy for the coming year… Once you miss the opportunity, it withers away. At different stages of life, you should do the right things, otherwise you will miss the flowering season and be left with only regrets.”

"Oh?"

Princess Jinyang's eyes sparkled as she countered, "Then why doesn't my brother-in-law advise Sister Chang Le to get married?"

Fang Jun retorted, "Your sister Chang Le has already given birth to my child, how can she marry someone else?"

“Oh—” Princess Jinyang said “Oh,” drawing out the sound as her eyes flickered with a meaningful meaning.

Fang Junqi said angrily, "What nonsense are you thinking? It's impossible!"

Princess Jinyang said softly, "Nothing in this world is absolute, so what is impossible? Since having a child is enough to avoid marriage, why bother about whose child it is?"

"Ok?"

Fang Jun was taken aback and warned, "Don't you dare do anything reckless!"

What if she goes out and finds any man to "get pregnant but not marry"?

Although he didn't believe that Princess Jinyang could be so shameless and promiscuous, this girl's seemingly gentle personality concealed an unshakable stubbornness and an extremely firm will. If she really let her guard down, who knows what shocking things she might do...

Princess Jinyang blinked slightly, puzzled, then quickly realized what she meant. Two blushes rose on her pretty face, and she said in a coquettish voice, "What is my brother-in-law thinking!"

They actually mistook her for someone like Princess Fangling or Princess Baling?
Absolutely abominable!
Seeing Fang Jun's embarrassed expression, she said, "It's best if my brother-in-law doesn't interfere in my marriage. You know better than anyone that my heart belongs to, and I can never accept anyone else in this lifetime."

If you don't want me, I'll spend my whole life cultivating Taoism.

Fang Jun understood her feelings and sighed helplessly: "Why did it have to come to this? You're just having an inappropriate thought at such a young age. Perhaps there's more familial affection in this relationship? You should try to move on instead of trapping yourself in your own self-imposed limitations and remaining stuck in your ways."