The weather is getting colder, and the trees in Chang'an City have become bare with their yellowed leaves scattered in the streets and alleys in the wind. They lack the scenic scenery of the past and look desolate at this time.
The withered yellow leaves follow the footsteps of merchants from all over the world and continue to create a prosperous age for Chang'an City. Whether it is the already somewhat cold weather or the trees that have become bare, they cannot reduce the enthusiasm of the merchants for profit in the slightest.
Taiyi City also seemed to be much busier than in previous years. Carloads of goods slowly drove out of the gate of Chang'an City, leaving a shallow rut mark on the cement-paved official road.
The days are getting shorter and shorter. At this time in summer, the sun is still smiling, naughty and unwilling to fall down the mountain and go home.
But now, the stars are already in the dim sky, impatiently looking out their smart eyes, driving away the sun that has already set on the horizon, occupying the sky above Chang'an City.
The civil servants and military generals were all wearing brand new casual clothes today, carrying their servants, and holding congratulatory gifts in their hands as they slowly walked towards the Daming Palace.
There seemed to be more Jingowu at the gate of the Imperial City today than usual, and inspections had become more stringent.
Even the congratulatory gifts that are brought into the palace need to be carefully checked one by one and registered in a book.
It goes without saying that Xu Jingzong, Li Yifu, Shangguanyi, Yang Sijian, Zong Chuke, Jinghui, and several officials from the East Palace, Jingzhao Palace, and the Ministry of Households all know that these people have a very close relationship with the prince. .
Zhang Jianzhi also had a smile on his face. He had always been close to Di Renjie, so naturally he went to the Daming Palace with him today.
After the fish charms and tokens were verified to be correct, they slowly walked into the Linde Hall under the leadership of the courtesy officer and the eagle-eyed gaze of the Royal Palace Jinwu Guards.
This place used by the Tang Dynasty to entertain officials, envoys from various countries, and enjoy singing and dancing, etc., today is decorated with lights and colorful decorations, full of joy, but at the same time it seems to have an aura of chilling.
A hall that can accommodate a hundred people is filled with tables, chairs and benches. On each table are the name tags of various officials, arranged from front to back according to rank. It is not like before, if you drink too much, you will occasionally get underground. The officials rushed to the front.
The ten pieces of banquet music represent the Tang Dynasty's highest attainments in music. At this moment, the female music officer is in a corner of the hall, drizzling and silent, infiltrating the entire splendid, luxurious and noble hall with elegant music.
In two days, it is said that His Highness the Crown Prince will answer the prophecy and go to the four towns of Anxi to kill the enemy and make achievements. However, until now, no one knows, whether in court or in private, how His Majesty appointed His Highness the Crown Prince.
The general manager of Anxi Road March? The Tang army that commanded the entire Western Region? Or the deputy general manager? Follow the orders of Pei Xingjian, the Protector-General of the Anxi Protectorate
Or, like Xue Rengui and Hei Te Changzhi, lead all the troops and horses, let the prince lead the sixth general, and continue to obey Pei Xingjian's command and dispatch
Today is a happy and festive day. Wu Mei has black lines on her forehead, trying hard to suppress her unique skill of Nine Yin White Bone Claws.
Li Zhi, however, seemed invisible, holding the shoulders of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, who was doing the same thing as him, and didn't care at all about the ponytail that was spread behind his head and stood up.
"Today, my father and the ministers are going out to congratulate you for your rest, but please don't play any tricks on me." Li Zhi and Li Hong walked forward and murmured in a low voice.
The black line on Wu Meiman's forehead is behind her, and behind her are the princes Li Zhong, Li Shangjin, Li Sujie, Li Xian, Li Zhe, and even the youngest Li Dan.
The royal family now only has three princesses, Princess Yiyang, Princess Gao'an, and Princess Taiping, who has just learned to walk and babbling.
Today, the entire palace is busy preparing for His Royal Highness the Crown Prince Li Hong, who will soon go on an expedition to the Western Regions. The princes and princesses will naturally see off His Royal Highness the Crown Prince at today's banquet.
"Then why don't you just don't let me go? I don't want to go. As the saying goes: If your parents are here, you won't travel far. I can't bear to leave you and your mother." Li Hong held his mouth, as if he was really unhappy. As if willingly.
"Sigh... I can't help it. You saw the prophecy a few days ago. If you don't go out, I'm afraid there will be disharmony between your brothers in the future. My father doesn't want you to be like me, without a single relative after you ascend the throne. Brother is by my side." Li Zhi patted Li Hong on the shoulder and comforted him helplessly.
"No, Father, even if my son and I don't go out, we will get along very well. Can't you see? We often play together when nothing happens." Li Hong continued to pretend to decline.
"Don't you always hope to be like your grandpa, an emperor who is wise, spiritual, and good at civility and martial arts? If you don't go out, if you have never fought like my father, how will you convince the public in the future?"
"How could it be? You see, they don't listen to you the same way now. You are the emperor..."
Before Li Hong finished speaking, Wu Mei, who was listening behind her, stretched out her jade hand and grabbed his ear.
"Your Majesty, you and Hong'er have almost finished talking. I also want to give him a few words." Wu Mei grabbed Li Hong's ear, smiled charmingly at Li Zhi and said.
"Okay, then you can enlighten Hong'er for me. Although Hong'er is filial and filial, as the prince of the Tang Dynasty, how can he be in the East Palace all the time? Naturally, he needs to go to the battlefield to hone his skills." Li Zhi turned to look at it. The mother and son said solemnly.
After saying this, he motioned to Gao An to bring Taiping over, held him in his arms and teased him as he continued to walk towards Linde Hall.
Wu Mei and Li Hong had a heart-to-heart relationship with their mother and son, and they slowly came to the end of their relationship. The palace maids and eunuchs behind them were also kept far away by them.
Li Xian and others were naturally forced to follow Li Zhi and continue walking forward.
"Little bastard, why are you pretending to be like you? Don't think that I don't know your little thoughts. I just lied to your father, and you're going to cheat on me. What? You still want your father to beg you?" Wu Mei continued to hold Li Hong's ears and lectured him.
"How can the queen say such things to my son? I just can't bear to let him go... Ouch, oh, oh, it hurts. Please be gentle. If you pull my ears again, they will really grow very long." Li Hong bared his teeth and kept shouting that it hurt. Begging for mercy.
"You careless little bastard, how many times can I pull your ears? If you leave, no one will be able to come back for a year and a half? What's wrong with pulling your ears? If you want me to pull your ears in the future, I will pull your ears. Can't reach it." Wu Mei was seriously conflicted.
"Anyway, if you want to go, it's better to go now than later. Besides, there are no more troops in Liaodong now. Our Tang Dynasty's military strength is enough to cope with Anxi. Mother, you don't have to worry about your children." Li Hong looked at Wu Mei With a hint of reluctance and tenderness in his eyes, he hugged her shoulders and comforted her.
"Well, I don't know how I gave birth to such a careless person like you back then. That prophecy was made up by Li Chunfeng for you. Then tell me, was Li Chunfeng's later statement that the trip would be safe, made it up, or was it revealed by the stars? "The worry in Wu Mei's eyes still existed, and she continued to ask worriedly.
Li Hong stared at Wu Mei's eyes at this moment, feeling as if he had returned to his childhood, swimming in the warm ocean of maternal love. The warm embrace and the low whispers made him drunk both physically and mentally, and he wished he could just... Enjoy this all the time.
It wasn't until Wu Mei reached out and pinched his waist that Li Hong reacted.
"You little bastard is still distracted while talking to your mother. What are you thinking about? Let me ask you, Li Chunfeng watched the stars and calculated for you whether this trip will be auspicious or not unlucky. Is it true or false? Or did you instruct him to make this up?" Zhizi Mo Ruomu, Wu Mei stared at Li Hong and asked.
"How could I have instigated it? I don't understand the theory of astrology, and I can't instigate it even if I want to. What's more, even if I instigated it, if you ask him, would he dare to lie to you? He doesn't want to live. What about this astrology? The observation lied to you." Li Hong continued to put his arm around Wu Mei's shoulders and said comfortingly.
At this time, Wu Mei was like an ordinary loving mother, nodding thoughtfully and murmuring: "Then there will be no danger in this trip, right?"
"Probably. This guy's fortune-telling and astrology calculations have been rarely used in recent years, but they seem to come true every time. They should be quite accurate." Li Hong shook Wu Mei's shoulders and continued: "Okay Mother, don't worry. Are you still worried about my son's martial arts skills? Remember that day in the court, when Yang Wu and I fought in front of the ministers, we fought for hundreds of rounds, but my son did not fall behind at all... ”
"In the end, you weren't brought up to my palace like a little chicken? If you weren't the prince, would you try? Ten of you are not enough men to fight alone. By the way, your lawlessness, and Hua Menghe Mang Zhong, you have to keep them by your side. Jingzhe and Cheetah are not here, so I won’t say more. Plus Xia Zhi and Xiao Xue, the Queen Mother will send Banmei and Xunlan to you tomorrow, and let the four of them serve you. "Wu Mei became more attentive as she spoke and began to give instructions.
"No, mother, Xia Zhi and Xiaoxue are enough. Besides, it is not appropriate to lead a woman in the army..." Li Hong said awkwardly.
But she was interrupted by Wu Mei mid-sentence: "Hey, what's the matter with you Li Hong? Do you have to fight me? What's wrong with the woman? Who told you that women are not suitable to appear in the army? You Grandpa Huang’s sister, Princess Pingyang, followed Emperor Gaozu in revolting against the Sui Dynasty. Wasn’t her military exploits as good as those of other men? Or was her deeds of guarding “Weize Pass” still talked about today? He said, "What do you think about the reputation of a hero among women and a heroine? You are not allowed to refute. It's settled. Tomorrow Banmei and Xunlan will go there. If you dare to give me back, I will let you go to the Western Region." That’s weird!”
After Wu Mei finished speaking, she angrily poked Li Hong's forehead several times with her finger.
Li Hong's head was dizzy after being poked. He looked down upon a woman in front of a generation of queens. He was just looking for trouble and deserved to be scolded.
(End of chapter)