Now I really have to marry the princess.

Yang Zhengdao and his two companions reined in their horses in front of Louguantai Mountain and slowly climbed the stone steps to the top of the platform.

The stone tablets standing on both sides, ancient trees and green bamboos, fully demonstrate the profound cultural heritage of Louguantai.

Louguantai, also known as the Sutra-Speaking Platform, is said to be where Laozi lectured on the five thousand words of the Tao Te Ching, thus becoming the ancestral home of Taoism.

The Tang dynasty revered Laozi as their holy ancestor, and during the Wude era, the Zongsheng Palace was built here, hence it was also called Zongsheng Temple.

The Taoist temple is also located on the northern foot of Zhongnan Mountain, only fifteen or sixteen miles away from Yang Zhengdao's ten acres of Yongye fields. It echoes Xianyou Temple from afar, and seems to be vying for fortune.

Upon arriving at the mountain gate, a young Taoist boy stood holding a whisk.

"Young Master Yang, Master Yuan is already waiting for you at the Laozi Temple."

Yang Zhengdao was slightly taken aback, but then he guessed that Yuan Tiangang must have predicted his arrival today and made arrangements in advance.

He composed himself and returned the greeting with clasped hands: "Thank you for leading the way, fairy boy."

Upon entering the Taoist temple, Yang Zhengdao immediately sensed that the landscape planning and architectural design were quite sophisticated.

It used to take the time it takes to burn an incense stick to walk from the foot of the mountain to reach the mountain gate. After passing through an open space, there were steps that seemed to stretch endlessly.

This is similar to the design philosophy of imperial palaces throughout history, which uses the grandeur of the environment and the depth of vision to make people feel their own insignificance.

In this way, a sense of awe will naturally arise in one's heart.

It took another incense stick's time to walk before we arrived at the Laozi Temple.

At this moment, the temple doors were wide open, and sunlight streamed in, creating a clear distinction between light and shadow inside. The statues in the shadows stood solemn and dignified, while the incense burners in the sunlight emitted wisps of smoke.

On the futon where light and shadow meet, a Taoist priest with gray hair and beard sits cross-legged, meditating with his eyes closed.

It was Yuan Tiangang, whom Yang Zhengdao had met in Gaoling County.

Sunlight pierced through the smoke and fell directly on him, making his whole body glow with a purple aura.

The application of lighting and shadow effects is something that many directors in later generations could not match.

College students, of course, don't buy into that.

"Hey, Master Yuan, move your prayer mat forward a bit, the sun's almost setting!"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Tiangang subconsciously looked up at the sky, then immediately realized that it was Yang Zhengdao's teasing remark.

Being exposed so directly made it difficult for him to maintain his dignified and otherworldly demeanor.

He sighed and got up, deciding to stop pretending.

"You are a grandson of the former emperor, yet you do such despicable things as burning a zither and boiling a crane."

Yang Zhengdao laughed upon hearing this. He preferred Taoist priests to monks.

At least, they will be more honest.

Yuan Tiangang led Yang Zhengdao to sit down on one side of the main hall.

Yang Zhengdao didn't expect that it would be brewing tea, but rather steeping it.

Yuan Tiangang pushed the teacup in front of Yang Zhengdao, a smug smile on his face: "Young friend Yang, after you've had your tea, let's talk business."

Yang Zhengdao took the teacup, took a small sip, and found it to be neither too hot nor too cold—the temperature was just right!

He was immediately filled with suspicion.

He would believe that Yuan Tiangang could accurately predict the date of his arrival; but he absolutely did not believe that Yuan Tiangang could even predict the exact time of his arrival.

Upon seeing Yang Zhengdao's expression, Yuan Tiangang burst into laughter.

"In that case, I have finally won a round. Young friend Yang, would you like to know why this tea is neither hot nor cold?"

Yang Zhengdao was indeed curious, so he smiled and said, "Tell me, last time it was about feeling bones, what do you want to do this time?"

Yuan Tiangang tapped his teacup.

Yang Zhengdao understood: "A new tea will be launched after Qingming Festival. At that time, it will be renamed 'Mystery in a Cup'. Have your nephew talk to the Crown Prince about this. It shouldn't be difficult."

In fact, even if Yuan Tiangang hadn't made such a request, Yang Zhengdao's new tea plan for Li Chengqian already contained this idea.

After all, packaging, hype, and storytelling are all for the sake of sales. In the debate between Buddhism and Taoism, it is natural to try to please both sides and make money is the priority.

Yuan Tiangang pondered for a moment, quite satisfied, and then instructed the young Taoist servant who was brewing tea to lift the blue felt mat spread on the tea table.

Yang Zhengdao looked under the table and saw that there were three small stoves under the tea table, boiling three pots of water.

What a cunning little devil!

By simply setting a time interval between boiling the three kettles of water and repeating this cycle, you can always ensure that one kettle of water is at the perfect temperature.

Yang Zhengdao was truly impressed now.

He gave Yuan Tiangang a thumbs up, and then asked about the important matter.

"Master Yuan, please tell me why you tricked me into coming to Louguantai."

"Young friend Yang, go to the apricot grove at the rear and you will know."

Yang Zhengdao looked at Yuan Tiangang and, seeing that he had resumed his ethereal and otherworldly demeanor, remarked, "Pretentious!"

He got up, walked around the statue, and nervously headed towards the back of the hall.

Because Yuan Tiangang wrote the character "武" (martial) on him, saying that he was the one who would break the deadlock.

This is truly unbelievable, just as unbelievable as his ability to travel to this world.

Passing through the rear hall, a wide-open view suddenly appeared before me, with an apricot grove stretching out in front of me.

Perhaps because the air is colder up in the mountains, the flowering season is delayed compared to the area down below.

At this time, the apricot blossoms are in full bloom.

The tree is full of blossoms, pale white and light pink, layer upon layer. A gentle breeze blows, and the falling petals are like rain, carrying a faint fragrance that is refreshing and invigorating.

Just then, a clear, cheerful laugh came from the woods.

Looking in the direction of the sound, one could see a little girl, about six or seven years old, standing on tiptoe and reaching out her small, lotus-root-like hands to touch the drooping flower branches.

She wore a light willow-colored ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), and her hair was styled in two small buns with freshly picked apricot blossoms adorning the sides.

Why is it a little kid?!

They're actually quite cute!

What's going on? Was this arranged by Yuan Tiangang? Or was it just a coincidence?

Filled with doubt, Yang Zhengdao walked into the woods.

As if sensing someone approaching, the little girl suddenly turned her head, revealing a delicately sculpted face and bright, sparkling peach blossom eyes.

The little girl was not afraid of strangers at all.

She tilted her head and asked in a childish voice, "Are you Yang Zhengdao?"

Yang Zhengdao was stunned! What was going on?!

The little girl giggled again, then winked mischievously.

"I guessed! That old Taoist priest told my father that he was going to see Yang Zhengdao today, and I saw you coming from that direction."

Oh, I see. I was quite startled.

Yang Zhengdao then squatted down and replied with a smile, "I am Yang Zhengdao!"

"Really? You're really Yang Zhengdao?"

Yang Zhengdao was dumbfounded again! What was going on?!

This time, the little girl became shy and then awkwardly kicked her toes.

"When my father took me to the palace to talk with the retired emperor, I saw the poems you wrote."

So that's how it is. This little girl must be the youngest daughter of some meritorious family.

Yang Zhengdao then asked with a smile, "Where are your parents?"

The little girl pointed to a row of incense rooms behind her, then leaned close to Yang Zhengdao's ear and whispered, "I sneaked out."

This……

Yang Zhengdao stood up, preparing to take the little girl back.

The little girl's small, white hands, like lotus roots, gripped one of Yang Zhengdao's fingers.

She tilted her little face up, pouted, and blinked her big eyes pleadingly, "Yang Zhengdao, could you write me a poem too?"

Well... okay!

They're so adorable! Yang Zhengdao couldn't resist!

"Come on! Come back to your parents' house with me, and I'll write it for you."

Just then, a voice called out from the direction of the incense room in the distance: "Ernan..."

Yang Zhengdao was struck dumb, staring blankly at the little girl who was tugging at one of his fingers.

"Is your surname Wu?"