Mei Qing stared blankly at the towering piles of manuscripts before him.
Never in his wildest imagination did he expect that joining this mysterious inner group would mean becoming a mere copyist.
Even less expected was that his immediate superior would be this icy beauty, a female Taoist priestess.
The image of Bi Zhen surfaced in Mei Qing’s mind, along with various rumors he had heard about this female Taoist.
The current emperor was a devoted Taoist, bestowing official titles upon numerous Taoist masters and showering them with favor. The honor granted to the Zhang Celestial Masters across generations had reached an unprecedented level. Other prominent Taoists serving in the court, like Shao Yuanjie in previous years and the currently influential Dian Zhenren Tao Zhongwen, were prime examples.
Yet Bi Zhen stood out as an exception. First, she was a rare female among the honored Taoists, and furthermore, she was still very young. Second, the emperor’s favor toward her was extraordinary. It was said she frequently entered the inner palace, and whispers suggested she might even be the emperor’s favored partner in dual cultivation practices.
The temple where Bi Zhen resided was none other than the famous Dongyue Temple, officially known as Dongyue Rensheng Palace—commonly referred to as Dongyue Temple by the people. Originally built by Zhang Liuxian, the leader of the Yuan dynasty’s Xuanjiao sect, it was a major Taoist center during that time, second only to Chongzhen Wanshou Palace in the capital. Throughout the Ming dynasty, Dongyue Rensheng Palace underwent repeated expansions funded by the imperial treasury, with several emperors, empresses, and princesses personally donating from their private coffers. Thus, the temple bore a strong imperial hue. That Bi Zhen had been granted this prestigious temple as her abode clearly demonstrated her exceptional status in the eyes of the imperial court.
Previously, Mei Qing had only heard vague rumors about such royal secrets, which were always shrouded in mystery and difficult to verify—topics people both feared and loved to gossip about. Later, while working at the Experience Office, he encountered several incidents involving this woman, which indeed hinted at her extraordinary status. However, the records were often vague and deliberately ambiguous, suggesting there were sensitive issues involved. Had Mei Qing not possessed an exceptional memory and sharp observation skills, he might have overlooked them entirely. Yet he never imagined that Bi Zhen would also be a member of the inner group—and even more surprisingly, his direct superior. As for her true identity, Mei Qing could no longer guess.
Now, Bi Zhen sat directly across from him, her fair face glowing faintly like a celestial being, exuding an aura so pure that no impure thoughts could arise.
“Master Mei, the task assigned by our superiors is as follows. These manuscripts are mostly illegible and contain sensitive content, so we must rely on your exceptional abilities,” Bi Zhen’s voice was as melodious as celestial music, yet carried an unmistakable tone of authority.
Mei Qing frowned as he glanced at the disordered manuscripts before him. Indeed, the handwriting was chaotic and the pages were in complete disorder. It would probably take three to five years to sort through all of them.
No wonder Sixth Master had said that once this task was completed, he would reveal the truth. Perhaps in his mind, this was an impossible task destined never to be finished.
“Of course, I shall do my utmost,” Mei Qing replied, though he knew this task was daunting. Yet, deep down, he didn’t feel particularly troubled. If there was one thing he excelled at, it was deciphering handwriting. While Sixth Master might know of his expertise in identifying ancient artifacts, he likely had no idea of the full extent of Mei Qing’s skill.
The study of writing might seem simple, but few in the entire Ming Empire could rival Mei Qing’s proficiency. At the time, most scholars relied on dictionaries like Shuowen Jiezi and Erya. Being able to recognize various scripts—seal, clerical, cursive, and regular—was already considered highly skilled. However, the study of ancient inscriptions and oracle bone script remained largely uncharted territory, with no one capable of tracing their origins accurately.
Though Mei Qing himself couldn’t fully explain these ancient scripts, he was supremely confident in his abilities. Moreover, after several months at the Experience Office, he had developed a knack for handling documents, and his mental stamina was exceptional. Thus, faced with this pile of chaotic manuscripts, he felt no fear.
Bi Zhen, observing his confidence, seemed slightly surprised. She had expected anyone confronted with such a daunting task to feel at least some hesitation. Yet Mei Qing, after a brief moment of surprise upon seeing her, quickly regained his composure. His self-assured demeanor now stirred a flicker of anticipation within her.
“There’s no need to be so formal. The title ‘Zhenren’ is too much. Here, you may simply call me Bi Zhen. Since you seem unbothered, I won’t disturb you further. Please proceed at your leisure. If you need anything, just call one of the young Taoist disciples.” With that, Bi Zhen offered further instructions on organizing the documents and then took her leave.
Mei Qing nodded indifferently and followed her to the door to see her off. Just as she was about to leave, she turned back.
“Oh, Master Mei.”
“Hmm, what is it?” Mei Qing turned again, surprised.
Bi Zhen hesitated for a moment, her beautiful eyes flickering with emotion, then softly said, “Never mind.” With a gentle smile, she turned and walked away.
As Mei Qing watched her smile bloom like a thousand flowers in full bloom, a sudden surge of heat erupted from deep within him, rising like wildfire. Her graceful figure, hidden beneath the loose Taoist robes, seemed even more alluring. His eyes turned red, fixated on her every movement, and an overwhelming urge to rush forward seized him.
He took a step forward, but suddenly, the energy within his body surged. As it flowed, he became aware of his strange state. He inhaled deeply, gripping the doorframe, forcing himself to stop. His entire body burned as if on fire, his heart pounding wildly. Unable to bear it any longer, he stiffly turned back and staggered into the room, forcing himself to sit down.
Though Mei Qing had already cultivated a strong foundation in Taoist practice and possessed abundant energy, these lustful thoughts originated from within his mind, arising from his emotions. Even circulating his energy brought little relief. For other cultivators, such a situation would be recognized as a trial of the heart demon, enough to terrify anyone into near madness. Mei Qing, however, was unaware of the true nature of his condition. He simply thought he had indulged in improper thoughts and silently blamed himself, forcing his emotions down. He grabbed a manuscript at random, trying to focus on the text to suppress his turbulent emotions.
After reading a few lines, Mei Qing realized what it was—a series of cryptic verses, seemingly a cultivation technique. He didn’t rush to copy it but picked up another page and began reading again. The handwriting was irregular, and several characters were difficult to identify. He needed to examine more pages before he could form a clear understanding.
Once immersed in work, Mei Qing’s mind quickly focused, and the physical heat became less noticeable. Still, occasional waves of restlessness surged through him, which he could only endure. Sitting motionless, he read straight through the afternoon, finally reaching evening.
“Master Mei, your dedication is truly admirable,” a voice broke through. Mei Qing looked up to find Bi Zhen standing at the door, smiling.
Earlier, while engrossed in work, the discomfort had been less severe. But now, seeing Bi Zhen’s delicate face again, a fresh surge of heat and desire erupted within him, even stronger than before. If not for his previous experience, he might have lost control entirely. Even so, his hands gripped the desk tightly, his body trembling slightly as he forced himself to remain still.
Bi Zhen, however, remained oblivious, speaking softly about Mei Qing’s arrival in the afternoon and reminding him that from tomorrow, he would need to stay the entire day. Since the temple only provided vegetarian meals, if he found them unsuitable, he could bring his own food. Today, Wu Bing had brought him by carriage, but the distance from his home was considerable, so she advised him to bring a horse in the future. The temple had one available for his use.
She continued chatting for quite some time, her voice gentle and pleasant. Yet to Mei Qing, it felt like the most unbearable torment. Finally, when she paused, he quickly thanked her and hastily took his leave.
But as he stood up too quickly, his body stiffened. He straightened his posture, clenched his shoulders, and mechanically stepped forward like a stiff, shuffling corpse. Only after turning the corner did he finally exhale deeply, hurrying away with a hunched posture.
Watching his retreating figure, Bi Zhen no longer appeared as the cold, composed beauty she usually was. Instead, she was quietly laughing to herself, murmuring, “Didn’t expect him to be so restrained. Hmm, seems like he’s not a bad person after all. But since we made a bet, I can’t afford to lose. Let’s see how long he can hold out.”
Mei Qing rode home, enduring unbearable discomfort—not because he couldn’t ride, for though his horsemanship wasn’t exceptional, the distance wasn’t too great. But one mustn’t forget the torment he had suffered at the temple. As the old saying goes, if someone harbors improper thoughts, heaven punishes them by turning them into stone. Though Mei Qing hadn’t literally turned to stone, a certain part of his body had indeed felt petrified.
Thus, the jostling on horseback was pure agony, comparable even to the legendary torture of “riding the wooden donkey.”
Finally arriving home, Mei Qing hastily dismounted and rushed past the elderly Zhang at the gate, hurrying inside. Seeing Duoyun and Wu’er only intensified the fire within him. At dinner, he ate hastily, without his usual interest in evening strolls or poetry. He quickly dismissed Wu’er and pulled Duoyun toward their room.
At first, Duoyun was puzzled. As Mei Qing hurriedly pulled her to the bed, his face flushed and his breath warm, she wondered why her normally composed young master had suddenly become so urgent. Usually, she would have willingly complied, but today was an unfortunate time, and a shadow crossed her face, revealing her discomfort.
Though Mei Qing was eager, he wasn’t the kind of man who only thought of his own pleasure. Seeing Duoyun’s expression, he immediately slowed his actions, gently pulling her into his arms and whispering, “Duoyun, what’s wrong?”
Hearing his gentle tone, Duoyun felt even more sorrow. Though she tried to hold back, tears already welled in her eyes, ready to spill over.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage