Chapter 4 Finally Entering the Third Class

After Zhao Mu said goodbye to Hua Xinzi, he first went to judge Liang Xingnan and applied to be transferred to guard the warehouse and no longer be responsible for training the prisoners' families.

     Liang Xingnan also wanted to persuade: "Brother Zhao, although our officials in the Jiaofang Department are looked down upon by outsiders, we can still make connections by greeting people at the front. If we are lucky, we can also be transferred to other yamen, but if you go to guard the warehouse …"

     "Sir Judge, you must have heard about me. I'm afraid I won't be able to leave the Jiaofang Department in this life, so it's better to find some leisurely errands to avoid worrying about the front."

     "Hey, that's up to you."

     Liang Xingnan sighed.

     He also knew a little bit about what happened back then.

     Zhao Mu offended Liang Xiaozhong, the imperial censor, and it was almost impossible to get ahead in this life.

     Unless Liang Xiaozhong falls one day.

     "It's such a pity that a good Jinshi should waste his whole life in this Jiaofangsi."

     Liang Xingnan shook his head.

     From that day on, Zhao Mu worked as an unnoticed warehouse manager behind the Jiaofang Division.

     With his official position, he actually doesn't have to do anything to guard the warehouse. All matters are handled by the junior officials below.

     So he has it every day, and he can spend a lot of time practicing.

     Half a year passed so quietly.

     Hua Xinzi was very obedient and did not take out all three masterpieces at once.

     Just singing "Magpie Bridge Immortal" made her so red that she became a gold medalist and had a lot of followers.

     She also spent money to buy a lot of poems, which were not top-notch in literary talent, but still pretty good, to maintain her title of gold medal oiran.

     In the past six months, every cultural gathering she held attracted countless literati, powerful and wealthy businessmen to join her.

     There were even many wealthy families from out of town who came to the capital specifically to attend her cultural gathering, which was extremely popular.

     In half a year, Zhao Mu finally got started in martial arts training.

     He could clearly feel that his body was getting stronger, and his whole body was full of strength when he clenched his fists.

     There was even more Qi in the dantian faintly bulging, as if something was trying to break out of its shell.

     That is when the martial arts true energy is condensing. Once the true energy is successfully condensed and can circulate in the meridians, he will break through to the third level of martial arts.

     …

     The gold medal courtiers all have their own independent courtyards.

     After lunch that day, Zhao Mu took a walk in Jiaofangsi and wandered past Hua Xinzi's courtyard.

     I saw that the huge courtyard was filled with literati, wealthy businessmen and dignitaries, and it was obvious that another cultural gathering was being held.

     Zhao Mu had nothing to do, so he went in and found a corner to sit down.

     After a while, Hua Xinzi, dressed in an elegant long dress, appeared on the stage amid the graceful music of the dance class.

     Compared with half a year ago, Hua Xinzi is more radiant now.

     She sat quietly behind the guzheng, and her music made many fans cheer.

     The literati did not hesitate to praise him, and the powerful and wealthy businessmen were even more generous, spending money like water and money.

     "Flower Lady!"

     Suddenly, a white-faced middle-aged man spoke: "Your invitation said that there will be another masterpiece for everyone to taste at today's literary conference. If you don't hurry up and show it, I can't wait for it."

     This man's name is Wang Daoquan. He is not only the minister of the Ministry of official affairs, but also the nephew of Grandmaster Wang, the prime minister of the left.

     Today, the emperor ignores the affairs of the government, and most of the government affairs are handled by Grandmaster Wang, the left prime minister. For many years, the left prime minister has been so powerful that he can even be said to have ruled the sky with one hand.

     Wang Daoquan was the nephew of the left prime minister. As soon as he spoke, a group of people naturally echoed his words.

     "Yes, Lady Feihua, hurry up and take out your masterpiece so that I can see it."

     "Okay, then I'll show my shame."

     Hua Xinzi's slender fingers were gently placed on the strings.

     "This piece is called "Feng Qiu Huang", please appreciate it."

     She plucked with her fingers, and the beautiful music like fairy music slowly spread out.

     "Phoenix Seeking the Phoenix" is a famous song from Zhao Mu's previous life in the Han Dynasty. It depicts a story between Sima Xiangru and Zhuo Wenjun.

     With the sound of the piano, everyone seemed to see an elegant and famous man pursuing a peerless beauty.

     They seemed to be immersed in the scene and fell into a wonderful fantasy for a while.

     So much so that the courtyard, which was noisy just now, is now quiet and peaceful, with only the faint sound of the piano echoing between heaven and earth.

     "It's truly a unique piece of music."

     Liang Xingnan walked into the courtyard and sat next to Zhao Mu.

     "The song "Magpie Bridge Immortal" was played half a year ago, and now there is another song "Phoenix Seeking the Phoenix." After today, Hua Xinzi's position as the gold medal oiran is completely stable."

     "Such a big money tree, and there are so many powerful people among her followers. It seems that in the future in this Jiaofang Division, even I will have to give her some face."

     Liang Xingnan clicked his tongue and praised: "But I am really curious. Where do you think she got such two masterpieces?"

     Zhao Mu pretended to be stupid: "Who knows, maybe she did it herself?"

     "Do you believe this yourself?"

     Liang Xingnan curled his lips: "Whether it's "Magpie Bridge Immortal" or "Feng Qiaohuang", the person who can write such a masterpiece must be a great writer in the literary world."

     "It seems that there is an expert behind Hua Xinzi, but I don't know who he is? If I am lucky enough to meet him, I would like to seek advice from him."

     "Haha, actually I also want to meet that expert." Zhao Mu smiled.

     After a while, Hua Xinzi's performance ended.

     Immediately, there were a lot of admirers in the courtyard. The knowledgeable literati all turned red with excitement and praised "Feng Qiu Huang" to the sky.

     "The people who came today are of high status. Why don't you, Brother Zhao, go make some friends?" Liang Xingnan asked.

     "Forget it, I still like to go back to sleep."

     "You, why are you so idle at such a young age? That's all, I can't let go of such a good opportunity. Brother Zhao, let's have a drink later."

     Liang Xingnan arranged his clothes, with a bright flattery on his face, and walked straight towards Wang Daoquan.

     "Everyone knows, sir."

     A maid approached with a snack and said, "This is a snack that my wife has made for you. Please taste it."

     Zhao Mu picked up a piece and put it in his mouth: "Well, it tastes good. I didn't expect Lady Feihua to have such skills. Does she have anything else to say?"

     "My wife said, please don't leave after the cultural gathering. She has prepared the best Chunjiang wine and will drink it with you tonight."

     "Haha, go back and tell your wife that I have settled the money and goods with her. If there is anything I want in the future, I can come and trade. As for the rest... no need."

     Zhao Mu chuckled, turned around and left.

     The maid was full of doubts.

     Since she served Hua Xinzi, this was the first time she saw Hua Xinzi being so interested in someone.

     Not only do you make snacks by yourself, but you also have to host a banquet and entertain yourself?

     You know, Hua Xinzi never stays alone in a room with a man. Even the high-rollers in the courtyard who spend a lot of money are not treated like this.

     What is so special about this Zhao Douzhi that he can actually make the flying lady, who is surrounded by stars, lower her body like this?

     Ignore the maid's doubts.

     After Zhao Mu left, he did not go back to the warehouse immediately. Instead, he went to the bookstore to buy a large number of books.

     These include Taoist, Buddhist, Confucian, Mohist, Yin-Yang, medical and other classics, which can be said to be all-encompassing.

     Although his practice in the past six months has been slow, he realized one thing.

     That is, whether you are practicing martial arts or cultivating immortals, when you truly cultivate to a high level, what you compete with is your ideological realm and state of mind.

     Only those who have a sufficient understanding of heaven and earth, all things, and human hearts can become truly powerful.

     So he decided that starting from today, he would make time to read every day, understand the thoughts and realms of the sages and saints, and lay a solid foundation for his future.

     In this way, Zhao Mu started again, as if he was living in seclusion and practicing hard.

     One and a half years passed quickly again.

     This year, Zhao Mu was twenty-four years old, and it had been two full years since he traveled through time.

     And his cultivation finally succeeded in breaking through to the third level, and the true energy like spring water condensed in his body, flowing continuously at all times.

     It took two years to reach the third level. Compared with other warriors, this cultivation speed is very slow.

     But again, Zhao Mu was not anxious at all.

     He has plenty of time.

     In addition to internal skills, Zhao Mu has also become very proficient in the various boxing techniques, palm techniques, sword techniques, light kung fu, etc. taught by Hua Xinzi.

     Even after reading a lot of books and combining various classics, Zhao Mu had a deeper understanding of many techniques than Hua Xinzi.

     After all, this body is just a poor physique, not stupid, in fact, it is quite smart. Otherwise, how could the predecessor pass the imperial examination?

     In the past two years, Jiaofangsi has been as lively and noisy as ever.

     The veteran courtesan tried his best to get the high-rollers to redeem her body and go to the deep mansion to become a concubine who was targeted by the wife of the wife.

     The new courtesans are eager to replace the old people, take the chief position, and strive for a future with no worries about food and clothing;

     The officials of the Jiaofang Division also had no time to spare.

     They had long been fed up with being called "Old Madams" by officials from other yamen, so they all tried their best to make connections and wanted to leave the Jiaofang Division and work in other yamen.

     Oirans strive for beauty, and officials cling to powerful people.

     A small Jiaofangsi is like a microcosm of the world, allowing people to see the world at a glance.