(It¡¯s a new week, are you ready for the red tickets? Come on, heroes, fire at me.)
Chapter 264 The Ceremony
The old lame man glanced sideways at the proprietress, and after a moment of silence he said in a very light tone: "Actually, I envy you because you were able to follow the prince on his journey westward."
"envious?"
The landlady was stunned for a moment, then shook her head: "If you saw your friends leaving you every day, maybe you wouldn't envy me. I didn't even remember most of the hundreds of people who traveled westward. I don¡¯t know the names of more than 70 people. But at that time, they were my friends, friends to whom I could trust my back. The strangers became people who shared life and death, and those who were alive were better than those who were dead. It¡¯s just going to be more painful.¡±
She paused and said, "My man has never wanted to think about the past, and he doesn't allow me to think about it."
The old lame man didn¡¯t know what to say. After a moment of silence, he smiled and changed the topic: "Fang Jie is looking for you. Please follow the red sleeves move. Does he have any plans?"
"He intends to let me live"
The landlady smiled and said: "That little guy, I think he is very smart I have not been idle these days. I live in Prince Yi's mansion. In fact, I have been secretly investigating the prince's westward journey. I have always suspected that he went westward. It's not that simple. Because of Li Yuanshan's urgent report, the prince left Chang'an City in a hurry. After all these years, I can't help but think about what happened back then. Was it really the Meng Yuan people who planned to assassinate the emperor? "
"You haven't experienced that fighting, and we didn't notice anything strange at the time. But every time I think about it later, I feel something is wrong. The reaction of the Mengyuan people at that time seemed to be very intense, and they seemed to be even angrier than us. At that time, we thought it was Because they were so angry after their plot was discovered, they were just killing people. By the end of the killing, they were already red-eyed. We had the advantage, so we killed them very smoothly at the beginning. Later, Meng Yuan's masters continued to come, and our casualties became more and more. Bigger.¡±
¡°Later, I thought about it carefully and found a lot of doubts.¡±
The landlady said: "First, when I traveled west, none of the Mongolian practitioners I met at first were very strong. On the contrary, the people from the Buddhist sect who came later were very good at cultivation. Second, this matter is a military matter. People from the other side discovered it, but no one from the military was involved until the end. Thirdly, who benefited the most from the prince¡¯s journey to the west?¡±
The old cripple thought carefully and replied: "You mean, both Meng Yuan and the prince were deceived?"
The landlady nodded: "When Fang Jie told me that Prince Yi was going to rebel, I finally understood. Perhaps this matter was a scam from beginning to end. When the prince left Chang'an City, the one who benefited the most was Prince Yi. . If he is really rebellious, who is he most afraid of? Not His Majesty, but the prince! Only when the prince leaves Chang'an can he plan and prepare boldly Although I don't know why he has delayed it until today. I¡¯m sure that matter has nothing to do with Prince Yi.¡±
The old lame man was startled and asked: "Is that why Fang Jie asked you to follow the Red Sleeve Move?"
The landlady smiled: "He is afraid that I will go directly to Prince Yi."
She straightened the hair hanging down in front of her forehead: "That little guy knows my temper, so he begged me to come with you red sleeves recruits, and he also came up with a good reason. Thinking about it, I feel ridiculous."
"What reason?"
"He said that the stage for the Red Sleeve Moves is the biggest, and it is the place closest to the emperor when performing. And as Prince Yi, of course, he will not be far away from the Emperor. He said that if you want to do it, it is best to follow the Red Sleeve Moves, and the Red Sleeve Moves It¡¯s full of women, so it can hide your identity.¡±
The old cripple said: "That's right."
The landlady smiled and said: "You are really stupid. If Prince Yi really planned to rebel today, would he still be stupid enough to sit with the emperor? If he had to rebel today, then he would definitely not appear at the military dispatch ceremony. Fang "Xie said this just because he didn't want me to go through and die on my own."
The old cripple was stunned, then nodded.
"Why are you saying this to me?"
The old cripple asked.
The landlady smiled and said: "I'm telling you this because I want to tell you why I'm here. I also want you to know why I want to give you the last pot of pear blossom wine."
The old lame man¡¯s expression suddenly changed: ¡°What are you planning to do¡¡±
"yes!"
The landlady said seriously: "If Prince Yi really rebels, he will definitely stay in the palace to command the overall situation! And if he wants to kill the emperor, he will definitely send out all his masters. Now the defense in Prince Yi's palace must be at the lowest When , I will regret it later if I don¡¯t go. I want to ask him.Was it a trap set by Prince Chu to go west? I have to ask him for an explanation for the hundreds of lives lost in the northwest! "
As soon as she finished saying this, the figure of the landlady suddenly flew up and floated away from the carriage.
"Don't lose my pear blossom wine. If I can't die, I will come back to you to get it back!"
The old cripple watched the landlady leave, but couldn't stop her. Although his cultivation level is stronger than that of the landlady, if a ninth-grade master deliberately wants to leave, how can he easily stop him? Moreover, today is such an important day. If he leaves the Red Sleeve Moves, who knows if something unexpected will happen.
So he was in pain.
At this moment, the curtain of the car in front opened, and Aunt Xi waved to the old cripple. The old lame man flashed and was already on the carriage in front.
"Master Luo, go ahead."
Xi Huamei smiled and said: "You regretted it for more than ten years when you failed to follow the prince to the west. If you don't go to Prince Yi today to ask clearly, you will regret it for the rest of your life. The red sleeve trick has tied you up for more than ten years. You haven't been able to let go and do what you want. Today is the time to end this. You don't have to worry about the red sleeves."
The old lame man's nose felt sore and he handed the pot of pear blossom wine to Xi Huamei: "Give it to that brat Fang Jie. If Du Hongxian and I can't come back, let him slaughter the dog for Su!"
Xi Huamei took the wine bottle and nodded slowly.
The old lame man suddenly burst into laughter, stretched out his figure and flew out like an eagle. The laughter floated in the sky, especially distant. At this moment, he was like a giant freed from the shackles, so bold and free. Xi Huamei looked at the gradually disappearing figure, a trace of guilt flashed in his eyes.
"I should have let you go a long time ago. I was just worried that you would die Mr. Luo, take care!"
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The emperor's guard of honor has been prepared long ago, and a large group of people is waiting in front of the main hall of Tai Chi Palace. The huge imperial chariot was pulled by eighteen horses and was three meters high. Surrounding the imperial chariot were five hundred imperial soldiers standing solemnly. The imperial chariot was very large, with guards standing at the four corners, eight in total. Although these eight people were wearing flying fish robes from the Ouchi Guards Department, they were not from the Ouchi Guards Department at all.
In front of the imperial army were the flying fish robe and golden melon warriors who opened the way. Behind them were a large number of eunuchs and maids. At the end were one hundred and eight majestic knights.
All civil and military officials were waiting at the entrance of Tai Chi Palace, separated into two rows. The adults who were left behind by the emperor last night looked at each other with particularly ugly expressions. Perhaps they already have a premonition that their lives are coming to an end. But at this moment, they can only let fate pull them forward.
The emperor changed into a ceremonious court dress. Just putting on this dress was a very cumbersome task. Several palace maids arranged it carefully, lest they make any more mistakes. Not long ago, the emperor ordered a palace maid with rough hands and feet to be killed with a stick. Because she actually dropped His Majesty's crown on the ground, and no one spoke for her even if she was beaten to death with a rod. Although it is worthy of sympathy, there is nothing wrong with the emperor's punishment.
Therefore, these palace maids are extremely cautious, lest they become the second person to be killed with a stick. They didn't even dare to look up to see the emperor's face, let alone the white hair on his temples.
"Su Buwei"
The emperor opened his arms and asked the maids to fasten their belts: "Are all the officials here?"
Su Buwei lowered his head and said, "Your Majesty, everyone is here and waiting outside the palace gate. The royal chariot is also ready."
The emperor hummed and said, "Send someone to tell the Queen Mother that I will be hosting the troop dispatching ceremony today, so I won't go over to pay her respects. I will visit her after I come back from the troop dispatching ceremony."
Su Buwei responded and called a young eunuch to give some instructions.
"Has Prince Yi arrived?"
The emperor asked.
Su Buwei shook his head: "Not yet, but I sent a steward to say that Prince Yi is preparing a gift for His Majesty and will be late."
A hint of coldness flashed in the emperor's eyes, and he smiled and said: "Ask the steward to reply to Prince Yi, just say that I am waiting for Prince Yi's gift. On such an important day, Prince Yi's gift must be available. ah."
After the court clothes were neatly dressed, the emperor put on the crown with his own hands. He walked to the bronze mirror, looked at himself in the mirror, carefully arranged his clothes, and then smiled: "Su Buwei, do you think my crown is beautiful?"
Su Buwei lowered his head and said, "It is most suitable to wear it on your Majesty's head."
The emperor laughed loudly and strode out of Dongnuan Pavilion.
Su Buwei followed the emperor out and shouted when he reached the doorA voice: "Get on the road!"
The Forbidden Army soldiers who had been prepared shouted in unison, and then knelt down in unison. The emperor strode towards the royal chariot along the road paved with bluestone slabs. At this moment, the confidence on his face was particularly clear.
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Fang Jie watched the emperor step onto the chariot, and watched the emperor carefully comb and hide the white hair hidden in the crown but still showing a little bit, and suddenly felt sad in his heart. He looked back at Shen Qingshan and Mu Xiaoyao who were standing next to him. The two women behind him nodded slightly at him at the same time.
Fang Jie smiled and let out a long sigh of relief.
After waiting for so long, it¡¯s finally here.
The flying fish robe in front of the royal chariot sounded the gong, and the golden melon warrior behind raised the guard of honor. The team started slowly and walked along the main path of Tai Chi Palace towards the gate. When they heard the sound of the gong, all the officials outside the palace gate fell to their knees. After the emperor's chariot left the palace gate, all the officials stood up and joined the team. Hundreds of adults wearing various official uniforms filed in, which looked quite spectacular.
Knowing that today was a big day, the people got up early and stood on both sides of the street waiting. The huge and flat square was already filled with people. The government officials of Chang'an Prefecture and the soldiers of Zuo Zhenwei were patrolling along the way. More than a dozen platforms had been set up in the square, which were prepared for various singing and dancing houses.
The tallest and largest one among them is of course the red sleeve move.
The stage of the Red Sleeve Moves is facing the stage that has been set up two days ago. The emperor and important ministers sitting on the stage will be able to see the performance of the Red Sleeve Moves most intuitively. Between the Red Sleeve Moves and the Pointing General Platform, there is a specially set aside passage about fifty meters wide. When the time comes, the army will walk through this passage to be reviewed by the emperor.
About three miles away from the square, the Zuowuwei troops participating in today's review are already ready to go. This is an extremely rare event for the Emperor's Sixth Army to go on an expedition in the many years since the founding of the Sui Dynasty, so the soldiers and generals of Zuowuwei were also a little excited and nervous. General Zuo Wuwei Yu Manlou, who was riding on a white war horse, looked back at his soldiers with a solemn expression.
He didn¡¯t know what would happen today.
But he knew that he had to lead his men and horses past His Majesty today.
Yu Manlou, who had not fought for a long time, took a long breath and then raised his arms high.
"Spread the flag!"
With the order, Zuo Wuwei's flag was erected all of a sudden, the huge flag fluttering in the wind.