The old cripple looked sideways at the proprietress, and said softly after a moment of silence: "Actually, I envy you very much. You were able to travel west with the prince back then."
"envious?"
The proprietress was stunned for a moment, then shook her head: "If you saw your friends leave you every day, maybe you wouldn't envy me. Of the hundreds of people who traveled west that year, more than half of them didn't even remember their appearance. I don’t know the names of more than seventy percent of them. But at that time they were my friends, and they were friends who could trust their backs. Strangers who were originally strangers became people who shared life and death, and those who lived were more dead than dead I'm afraid it will be more painful."
She paused and said: "My man has always been unwilling to think about the past, and he didn't allow me to think about it."
The old cripple 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 sleeve move. Does he have any plans?"
"He intends to let me live."
The proprietress smiled and said: "That little guy, I think I'm very smart... I haven't been idle these days. I live in Prince Yi's mansion. In fact, I have been secretly investigating the matter of the prince's westward journey. So simple, because of Li Yuanshan's urgent report, the prince left Chang'an City in a hurry. After so many years, I can't help but think about what happened back then, could it be that the Mengyuan people really planned to assassinate the emperor?"
"You haven't experienced that fight, and we didn't notice anything unusual at the time. But every time I think about it later, I feel that something is wrong. The reaction of the Mengyuan people seemed to be very intense at that time, and they seemed to be more angry than us. At that time, we thought it was Because after their plot was seen through, they became angry from embarrassment. Anyway, they were killing people, and their eyes became red after the killing. We had the advantage, so the killing was very fun at the beginning. Later, more and more masters came from Mengyuan, and our casualties became more and more Bigger."
"Later, when I thought about it carefully, I found a lot of doubts."
The proprietress said: "Firstly, when I traveled westward, none of the Mongolian Yuan practitioners I met were very strong, but the Buddhist sects who came later were not good at cultivation. Second, this matter is a military incident. Fang’s people discovered it, but the military didn’t participate until the end. Third, who benefited the most when the prince traveled west?”
The old cripple thought for a while and answered: "You mean, the people of Mengyuan and the prince were both deceived?"
The proprietress nodded: "When Fang Jie told me that Prince Yi was about to turn against him, I finally understood. This matter, perhaps from the beginning to the end, was a scam. 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? It is definitely not His Majesty, but the prince! Only after the prince leaves Chang'an can he boldly plan and prepare... Although I don't know why he has been dragged until today, but I I'm sure that matter has something to do with Prince Yi."
The old cripple was stunned and asked, "That's why Fang Jie asked you to follow the red sleeve move?"
The proprietress smiled: "He is afraid that I will go directly to Prince Yi."
She straightened out the hair that hung down on her forehead: "That little guy knew my temper, so he begged me to come with you guys from Hongxiu Zhao, and he came up with a good reason. Thinking about it, I feel ridiculous."
"What reason?"
"He said that Hongxiu Zhao has the biggest stage, and it is the place closest to the emperor when it is performed. As Prince Yi, of course, you will not be far away from the emperor. He said that if you want to do it, it is best to follow Hongxiu Zhao, and Hongxiu Zhao It's full of women, and it can also cover up your identity."
The old cripple said: "That's right."
The proprietress smiled and said: "You are really stupid. If Prince Yi really planned to plot rebellion today, would he still sit with the emperor foolishly? If he will rebel today, then he will definitely not appear in the military ceremony. Fang Xie said this because he didn’t want me to go there and die.”
The old cripple was stunned, and then nodded.
"Why are you telling me this?"
asked the old cripple.
The proprietress smiled and said, "I tell you this because I want to tell you why I came. I also want you to know why I gave you the last pot of pear blossom stuffing."
The old cripple's face changed suddenly: "Are you going to..."
"yes!"
The proprietress said seriously: "If Prince Yi is really rebellious, he must stay in the palace to command the overall situation! And if he wants to kill the emperor, he must send out all the masters under him. The defense in Prince Yi's mansion must be the lowest now. If I don’t go now, I will regret it later. I want to ask him if he set up the prince’s westward trip. I have to ask him for an explanation for the hundreds of lives lost in the northwest!”
As soon as this sentence was finished, the figure of the proprietress suddenly flew up and floated away from the carriage.
"Don't lose my pear flower brew, if I can't die, I will ask you to get it back!"
The old cripple watched the proprietress leave, but he couldn't stop her. Although his cultivation is stronger than that of the proprietress, if a rank nine master wants to leave on purpose, how can he easily stop him? Moreover, today is a very important day, if he leaves Hongxiu Zhao, who knows what accidents will happen.
So he is in pain.
At this moment, the curtain of the car in front was lifted, and Mrs. Xi waved to the old cripple. The old cripple flashed, and he was already on the carriage in front of him.
"Master Luo, you can go."
Xi Huamei smiled and said: "Back then you failed to go west with the prince, and you regretted it for more than ten years. If you don't ask Prince Yi today, you will regret it for the rest of your life. The red sleeve move has tied you up for more than ten years. You have been unable to let go and do what you want. Today is the time to put it all together, and you don't have to worry about red sleeves."
The old cripple had a sore nose, and handed the pot of pear blossom wine to Xi Huamei: "Give it to Fang Jie, that brat. If Du Hongxian and I can't come back, let him give it to Su Tugou!"
Xi Huamei took the jug and nodded slowly.
The old cripple suddenly laughed out loud, and flew out like an eagle. Laughter floated in the sky, especially distant. At this moment, he was like a giant who had escaped the shackles, so heroic and free. Xi Huamei looked at the gradually disappearing figure, a trace of guilt flashed in his eyes.
"I should have let you go long ago, but I was just worried that you would die...Master Luo, take care!"
…
…
The emperor's guard of honor had been prepared long ago, and the brigade was waiting in front of the main hall of Tai Chi Palace. The huge imperial chariot was pulled by 18 horses and was three meters high. Around the imperial chariot were 500 imperial guards standing awe-inspiring. The imperial chariot is very large, and there are eight guards standing at the four corners. Although these eight people were wearing the flying fish robes of the Ouchi Guards, they were not from the Ouchi Guards at all.
In front of the imperial army team, there are flying fish robes and pumpkin warriors who clear the way. Behind are a large number of eunuchs and court ladies. At the end, there are one hundred and eight majestic knights.
Civil and military officials were all waiting at the gate of Tai Chi Palace, separated into two rows. The adults who were left behind by the emperor last night looked at each other with extremely ugly expressions. Perhaps they already had a premonition that their lives were coming to an end. But at this moment, they can only let fate pull them forward.
The emperor changed into a grand court dress, which was a very cumbersome matter just to put on it. Several maids tidied up carefully, lest they make another mistake. Not long ago, the emperor issued an order to kill a court lady with rough hands and feet. Because she actually dropped His Majesty's crown on the ground, even if she was rode to death, no one would speak for her. Although worthy of sympathy, I can't find anything wrong with the emperor's punishment.
So these maids were extremely careful, lest they would become the second person to be killed by the stick. They didn't even dare to look up at the emperor's face, let alone look at the white hair on the emperor's temples.
"Su Buwei..."
The emperor stretched his arms and asked the maids to fasten their belts: "Have all the officials arrived?"
Su Buwei bowed his head and said: "Go back to Your Majesty, all are here, just waiting outside the palace gate, the imperial chariot is also ready."
The emperor hummed and said: "Send someone to tell the queen mother that I will preside over the military dispatch ceremony today, so I won't go over to greet her. I will visit after I return from the military dispatch ceremony."
Su Buwei responded, and called a little eunuch to give some instructions.
"Has Prince Yi arrived?"
asked the emperor.
Su Buwei shook his head: "Not yet, but a steward was sent to say that Prince Yi is preparing a gift for His Majesty and will be late."
A trace of coldness flashed in the emperor's eyes, he hummed and said with a smile: "Let the steward tell Prince Yi that I am waiting for a gift from Prince Yi. On such an important day, Prince Yi's gift must be available." ah."
After the court clothes were put on neatly, the emperor put on the crown with his own hands. He walked to the front of 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's most suitable to wear on His Majesty's head."
The emperor laughed loudly, and strode out of the East Nuan Pavilion.
Su Buwei followed the emperor out, and when he reached the door, he shouted: "Get up!"
The soldiers of the imperial army who were ready shouted in unison, and then knelt down neatly. The emperor strode towards the imperial chariot along the road paved with bluestone slabs. At this moment, the confidence on his face was exceptionally clear.
…
…
Fang Jie watched the emperor stepping on the imperial chariot, and watched the emperor carefully combed and hid the white hair hidden in the crown, but there was still a little bit of white hair showing, and suddenly he felt a kind of sadness in his heart. He turned his head to look at Shen Qingfan and Mu Xiaoyao who were standing beside him, and the two women at the back nodded slightly to him at the same time.
Fang Jie smiled and let out a long breath of relief.
After waiting for so long, it finally arrived.
The flying fish robe in front of the imperial chariot rang the gong, and the gold melon warrior behind raised the guard of honor. The team started slowly and walked out of the gate along the main path of Tai Chi Palace. When hearing the sound of the gong, all the officials outside the palace gate fell to their knees. After the emperor's imperial chariot left the palace gate, all the officials stood up and joined the team. Hundreds of adults in official uniforms of various colors walked in a file, which looked quite spectacular.
Knowing that today is a big day, the people got up early and stood on both sides of the street waiting. The surrounding area of the huge and flat square was already full of people. Yamen servants from the Chang'an Mansion and soldiers from the Zuozuo Guard deployed defenses along the way, and more than a dozen platforms had been set up on the square, which were prepared for various singing and dancing parties.
Among them, the tallest and largest one, of course, belongs to the red sleeve move.
The stage of Hongxiu Zhao is facing the Dianjiang platform that has been set up two days ago. When the time comes, the emperor and important ministers sitting on the Dianjiang platform will be able to see the performance of Hongxiu Zhao most intuitively. Between Hongxiu Zhao and Dianjiangtai, there is a specially reserved passage about 50 meters wide. When the time comes, the army going out will pass through this passage to accept the emperor's review.
About three miles away from the square, the Zuowuwei troops who participated in the review today are ready to go. This is a very rare expedition by the Sixth Army of the Son of Heaven over the years since the founding of the Sui Dynasty, so the soldiers and generals of Zuo Wuwei were also a little excited and nervous. Riding on the back of a white war horse, General Yu Manlou of Zuo Wuwei 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 troops to pass in front of His Majesty today.
Yu Manlou, who hadn't fought for a long time, took a long breath, and then raised his arms high.
"Show the flag!"
With an order, the banner of Zuo Wuwei was erected at once, and the huge banner was fluttering in the wind.