Man Tang Huacai

Chapter 66 The Night Banquet
On the night of Shangyuan, the lanterns on Huae Xianghui's upstairs illuminated the square in front of the palace.

Li Xiu finally stopped, panting, and stood behind the officials who lined up in front.

Xue Bai was not as nervous as he was, and said, "Shiro, I have something important to ask..."

"Why can't we wait until after the imperial banquet?"

"Let Yang Shenjin and I become father and son, but someone gave Juro an idea?"

Li Xiu asked in surprise, "How do you know?"

Xue Bai frowned, recalling that day when he met Pei Mian in front of the Right Prime Minister's Mansion, he stared at him to show his openness, but as if he hadn't seen him, he just helped the king to board the car.

There is a conspiracy hidden in his heart, of course he is afraid of being seen out.

"Is it Pei Mian's idea?"

Li Xiudao: "I was talking to Wang Zhun about finding a family for you, and it happened that Pei Mian was there and gave me a good plan."

Xue Bai nodded, admitting that this is indeed a brilliant plan.

Let Yang Shenjin recognize his son tonight. In the future, the Yang family will be murdered for treason, not only his fake son, but also the Du family who adopted him.

At that time, all evidence pointing to Dong Gong and Pei Mian will naturally be destroyed, and all insiders will be silenced.

However, Xue Bai had evidence in his hand - the letter with the official seal of the Eastern Palace used to join Wu Kangcheng, as well as the two dead men.

But he only had this card, and once he played it, Li Linfu would take it all with his life and death.

Although it is necessary to prevent the father and son from recognizing their relatives, they cannot tell the whole story to the Right Prime Minister's Mansion, so they have to be careful in probing.

"Juro, I have something important to tell Prime Minister Right."

"It's too late, Yu Jia is coming soon."

As he said that, Li Xiu frowned, glanced at the direction where the red-robed officials were, and comforted him in a low voice: "I know you don't want to recognize Yang Shenjin as your father, but he is actually worse than most people in the court." Bad, nothing more than some supercilious, some do not take others seriously."

"Does Shiro know where the murderer I chased tonight is?"

"Let's not mention it, it's Li Wei who went too far tonight." Li Xiu was a little impatient, and reminded: "The imperial banquet is coming soon, so let's put everything aside. After the banquet, you will be Yang Xu, a distinguished man from a high family."

"They may not be the Jinwu Guard..."

~~
On the long street, a carriage was stopped. Li Jingzhong lifted the curtain and looked out, and asked the green-robed official who was blocking the carriage, "Who are you?"

"The servant Shang Yuan Ankang, the next official is Pei Mian, the judge of the Gyeonggi Interview Envoy. He was supposed to enter the palace with the Gyeonggi Interview Envoy Prince, but the next official came late..."

"Come on." Li Jingzhong said, "I'll take you for a ride."

Pei Mian quickly thanked him, boarded the carriage and said in a low voice, "Mr. Li, something has happened."

Li Jingzhong remained silent and waited for the next article.

"The plan was flawless. All witnesses and physical evidence were sent to Yang Shenjin. Once triggered, there will be no more Donggong case, only the Sui Yang rebellion case. But something went wrong, and Yang Shenjin should have silenced it." Six people...two people are missing."

"What do you mean by 'two people are missing'? If you run away, you will chase after them. If you hide, you will look for them. What's the use of you coming to me as an old slave?"

"After thinking about it, there is only one possibility. They were taken away by Xue Bai."

"Who?"

Li Jingzhong asked sharply as if he had been stung.

Pei Mian said: "Xue Bai, the only possibility is him."

"Pei Gong, you're going to be a prime minister in the future! Can't you handle such a small matter?"

"He is in Xue Bai's hands, and Xue Bai is in Xingqing Palace." Pei Mian said helplessly, "I am only an eighth-rank official, so I really can't interfere in Xingqing Palace's affairs."

Li Jingzhong sighed and said, "What do you want me to do?"

"Xue Bai has too much in his hands, which is extremely threatening." Pei Mian said, "I planned to trigger Yang Shenjin's case in two days, but it was too late. I have to settle this case tonight."

"Shangyuan night incident? How dare you spoil the sage's enthusiasm for watching lanterns?!"

"If it's too late, the situation must be controlled by Suo Douji."

Li Jingzhong's voice became thinner, and he asked: "If Xue Bai is not Yang Shenjin's son, can you still have a way to silence him?"

"Yes, there are too many plans." Pei Mian said, "But we have to get through tonight..."

~~
When he was a child, he drove to Xingqing Palace.

Xingqing Palace is the residence of today's sage when he was a vassal king. It was later rebuilt into Miyagi, occupying the entire Xingqingfang near Qingmen in the east of Chang'an City.

This place is located in the city of Chang'an, and it can indeed be said to have fun with the people.

"I have to go. You stay outside the building, don't move around, no matter how long, just wait for my arrangement."

"Inspection, Li Xiu, who will be the right school supervisor, allowed in!"

Li Xiu really didn't have time to listen to Xue Bai, so he handed over the fish charm and went straight into Huae Building.

Xue Bai watched his back disappear, turned around and left.

He first turned around where the horses were parked in the outer direction, observing the carriages and horses.

Originally, he was confident that he could recognize Yang Yuyao's tin chariot, but tonight the Xingqing Palace is full of dignitaries, and there are countless famous horses and carved chariots, so it is really hard to find.

After searching for a long time, someone suddenly called him.

"Mr. Xue Lang?"

Turning his head to look, he saw that it was a bright pearl.

No wonder Xue Bai couldn't find it. It turned out that Yang Yuyao had changed to another tin car.

"Miss Mingzhu hasn't entered the building with Yaoniang yet?"

"The women's relatives will come to the banquet a little later." Mingzhu winked and said, "Yao Niang said that she doesn't want to talk to you."

Xue Bai understood, walked to the front of the car and said: "Yao Niang went to Yuan Ankang, beautiful jade Kunrui, and has been blessed for a hundred years."

A maidservant lifted the curtain of the car, and Yang Yuyao, supported by Mingzhu, stepped on the car gracefully and slowly got out of the car, without looking at him, her face was indifferent, and she casually said: "So it's the prospective son-in-law of the right minister's mansion, what's the matter?"

"I'm here to congratulate Yaoniang on the festive season. If there's nothing else to do, I'll leave."

"Wait!"

Xue Bai had already turned around, but he stopped in his tracks when he heard the scolding.

"Come here, I have something to tell you." Yang Yuyao raised her hand in a gesture of amorous feelings.

When Xue Bai approached, she purposely leaned into his ear and whispered.

"I begged Yuhuan to arrange a family background for you. She entrusted a senior servant to do it. You must know that this matter is difficult. The high-ranking and powerful families are not under the control of you and me. The family status is too low and it will hinder your future. You must be willing to admit it. You still need others to find out the flaws. Fortunately, as long as you have a background, I will take care of you in the future, are you afraid that you will have no future?"

"As long as you can avoid being ostracized, an ordinary background is enough, but I didn't expect Yaoniang to bother so much, I am really ashamed."

"What's the use of being able to speak nicely? If you don't bother, how could you be willing to give up the son-in-law of the Xiangfu?" Yang Yuyao said angrily, "I have to go, look for me after the banquet."

The fragrance is drifting away.

Xue Bai was about to go back and wait, but when he was halfway there, someone called him again.

"Xue Bai?"

It was a simple carriage with only two wheels, and a servant was walking down with a copper pot. It was Li Jingzhong.

The surrounding lights were bright, and Xue Bai could clearly see the panic in Li Jingzhong's eyes, the surprise, annoyance, and fear of being bitten by a poisonous snake when he wanted to trample an ant to death.

Maybe another kick?
Xue Bai was vigilant. At this time, there were Jinwu Guards in the distance, but the surrounding carriages blocked their sight. Li Jingzhong brought four eunuchs with him, and he was the only one.

"Boom."

Li Jingzhong knelt down on the ground, put down the copper pot in his hand, raised his hand, and slapped himself on the face neatly.

"Snapped!"

"Snapped!"

After slapping his left and right cheeks, Li Jingzhong took two steps towards Xue Bai with both knees, and kowtowed twice on the head.

"The old slave deserves to die, please Xue Langjun kill the old slave, but please don't blame the prince again!"

Xue Bai's eyes narrowed, and he immediately became vigilant.

Li Linfu's disciples are full of intrigues and mediocre people, so he hasn't felt this kind of loyalty and forbearance for a long time.

"Damn old slave!"

Li Jingzhong was still talking, slapping himself every time he said a word.

"The crown prince ordered the slaves to settle Du Liangdi in order to protect Du Liangdi and Xue Langjun. The old slave deliberately misinterpreted the prince's intentions and ordered to silence him without authorization. The old slave deserves to die!"

"Looking back later, the old slave didn't know how he could bear it at that time. The old slave was over [-] years old, had no children, and was alone. The only elder sister in the family had a daughter who died at the age of five. No more, if the girl is alive, she is about the same age as the gentleman, the old slave can be so insane, I really lost my mind at that time, the old slave deserves to die!"

"Thousands of mistakes, all the faults of this old slave. There is only one thing that is absolutely true, the prince will never harm Xue Langjun's heart. This matter is unknown to the prince so far. Don't let the prince and Xue Lang marry each other because of me, a lowly servant girl. You misunderstood and the rift deepened!"

Weeping, he prostrated himself on the ground, begging for mercy, looking extremely pitiful.

Xue Bai said in a cold tone: "Enough, the more humble you are today, the harder you will kill me in the future."

"No, this old slave is born humble. I am willing to serve such nobles as Lord Xue Lang. It doesn't matter if this old slave kneels down, as long as the great Tang Dynasty can always be in harmony with each other, there will be no mutual suspicion."

Li Jingzhong climbed forward like a dog, hugging Xue Bai's boots and pleading.

Xue Bai kicked him away with one kick, and shouted, "Have you finished talking nonsense?"

When Li Jingzhong heard it, he felt that his flesh had been cut.

It didn't cost him anything to cry and kneel, but hearing Xue Bai's hard-hearted tone, he actually wanted Donggong to pay the price.

"Xue Langjun, if you tell the truth to Suo Douji, so what if you borrowed the dead man from the East Palace to kill someone? Once you stab it, everyone will die. If you sue the East Palace, you will kill yourself first."

"When I come out of the vat, I only focus on revenge. If I can drag the entire East Palace to be buried with me, it's worth it."

Hearing his serious tone, Li Jingzhong really wanted to cry without tears, thinking how could this matter get over it?
He had no choice but to kowtow like pounding garlic, crying and begging.

"What does Mr. Xue Lang want? This old slave will do his best!"

Suddenly, beautiful drum music sounded in Huae Building.

That was the end of the ceremony for the hundred officials to pick them up.

In the distance, the woman's laughter also faintly sounded, and the women's relatives also began to have a banquet, and even the wind blowing was fragrant...

~~
"Li Xiaoxian, hurry up, the Shangyuan Banquet is about to begin."

"Come out here."

Someone pushed the door out of a verandah room at the back of Huae Building, and Li Tengkong pushed the door out reluctantly.

She was wearing the clothes of Princess Li Niang of Xianyi, with a colorful skirt tied above her chest with a belt, and a thin silk cloth.

This dress is gorgeous and bright, the silk material is soft and fit, it can best outline a woman's figure.However, Li Tengkong felt very uncomfortable. Like other Tang ladies, she was holding a pair of ribbons with both hands, but she raised her hands higher and covered her chest.

When Li Niang saw her, she couldn't help but covered her mouth and smiled, instead of laughing at her immediately, she beckoned her to leave quickly.

"You will be seated with me in a while. My husband-in-law won't be able to sit tonight. He has to organize a banquet. Let's go... Xiaodou Miao."

"You said it!"

"Okay, let's not talk about it. Where did the noble lady get dirty?"

"That's what happened."

In front of them, there are countless maids passing through the corridor holding wine pots. They all wear jade conch buns and pink and white gauze skirts.

The two walked around the corridor and walked into the gorgeous back hall with high lanterns. At the Yimen, they met two other women. They were the two daughters of Shangzhu Guo Zhang Quyi, the eldest daughter Zhang Si and the second daughter Zhang Ting.

Li Niang pulled Li Tengkong forward, and introduced her: "The Seventeenth Mother of the Right Prime Minister's Mansion, her boudoir name is Tengkong, and her name is Xiaoxian. She will leave the court this year, and the wedding banquet will need the help of various families."

"Coincidentally, my second mother also married late, and she will leave the court this year. You should get close to each other."

As Zhang Si said, she pulled Zhang Ting to the front.

At Zhang Erniang's age, she was long past the age of marriage. She was very beautiful, except that her cheekbones were a little high, and she looked a little mean, but she had a lovely smile, which could cover up this little flaw in her appearance.

"Xiaoxian is similar to me. She only got married when she was young, so she must have a very high vision. I don't know which husband-in-law I have chosen now?"

"He's not a son of a high school." Although the marriage letter hasn't been issued yet, Li Tengkong agreed generously, "It's just a white body."

"So that's the case, then I won't be in the Huaca Building tonight." Zhang Ting smiled with her mouth covered: "Unfortunately, I wanted to take a sneak peek at first, but I didn't have the chance."

"In the future, I will invite Erniang to a banquet, and I will be able to see her."

Although Li Tengkong was polite, he seemed a little cold.

After chatting with each other for a few more words, the Zhang sisters left.Zhang Si was impatient to chat with these daughters, and turned directly to the temple where the enshrined people were, and said loudly: "Chicken boy, can there be a game after the lamp is lit?"

Here, Li Niang looked at Zhang Ting's back, and the smile on her face immediately cooled down.

"Do you know why Zhang Ting said that she is similar to you? She is over twenty-nine years old and hasn't married yet. She wanted to be a woman at ease. She can date any man she wants..."

"Talents are not similar." Li Tengkong said hastily: "Cultivating the Tao is to purify the mind and realize wisdom, and to help the world to accumulate goodness. Is it for the purpose of associating with men?"

"Who wants to talk about this with you? Zhang Ting said goodbye to you, can you hear it?" Li Niang said: "The implication is that although she was only married on the [-]th, she married the prince of the Tang Dynasty; But she only married one white body. Zhang Erniang is famous for her sharp teeth and never falling behind, have you seen it?"

"What did I do when I heard this? I'll just marry a white body, and there won't be so many twists and turns in the future."

"Tch, why does Prime Minister Right have such a daughter as you?"

The more Li Niang thought about it, the more unhappy she became, she continued to complain in a low voice, she knew that only by telling Li Xiaoxian about these concerns would she not get into trouble.

"The sage treats Zhang Quyi closer to his cousin than to his own children, but Zhang Quyi doesn't know what is good and bad, marrying a daughter of Donggong, this is a complete betrayal of us..."

Whispering all the way, Li Niang led Li Tengkong to the banquet.

There are many halls in the Huae Building, and the royal family and women are on the west side of the main hall. Through the heavy curtain, you can see a row of kings sitting in the main hall.

Among the kings, there was a figure who was particularly lonely. It was the elder brother of Li Niang's mother and compatriots, the Shou Wang Li Wei.

She couldn't help thinking in her heart, it's time for elder brother to cheer up, this Tianbao six years old Li Linfu should bring down Li Heng, there is still a chance...

~~
"What do you think of my husband's appearance?"

"what?"

Li Tengkong took his seat and was thinking about something with his head down. Hearing this, he looked in the direction of Li Niang's finger.

The dance and music for tonight's banquet is in charge of the dance and music of the banquet. At this time, he is standing in the hall and making the final arrangements for the maiko.

The next moment, a senior attendant came to the hall to remind Yang Hui that the sage was coming soon, and he immediately bowed down and gave an apologetic smile.

After the waiter left, Yang Hui looked down at the maids around her and scolded in a low voice, "I don't know how to move faster?!"

Li Niang felt satisfied, and said: "You have seen my husband-in-law, and then you will see Zhang Ting's husband-in-law."

As she said that, she landed on the top position of the kings with mocking eyes.

Prince Li Heng has just taken his seat. His appearance should be good, but his demeanor has long been worn away by pressure and anxiety, replaced by gray hair, slightly hunched back, fat figure, and timid behavior.

Li Niang really looked down on him and shook her head.

Li Tengkong was distracted again.

She had looked behind the window of choosing a son-in-law for a long time, but she still didn't understand where the boy's uniqueness came from. She was the only one who felt that he could be born and enter the world.If you are born into the world, all living beings, princes and generals will be treated equally, but if you enter the world, you will have a basis for advancing and retreating, and you can deal with it freely...

"Hey, Li Xiaoxian, you've annoyed me, what are you thinking?"

"Princess, you said that if there is a person who treats his wife very well, is willing to pay for it with his body when he dies, and is always considerate, how is this person?"

"It's good."

"But what if he doesn't know that the woman in front of him is his wife?"

Li Niang immediately said: "That's a romantic nature, you can chop it up and feed it to the dogs."

Li Tengkong was taken aback for a moment, pursed his lips, and his mood was not as high as before.

"You." Li Niang said, "I picked a white body, the character sounds bad, and I don't even have the qualifications to join the banquet. I can't even take a look at it. It's so good..."

At this moment, the hall fell silent.

Suddenly no one dared to speak anymore, and everyone got up one after another in unison.

"The saint is here!"

"Fu Wei my emperor, Shangyuan Ankang!"

"Fu Wei my emperor, Shangyuan Ankang!"

The sound spread layer by layer, the nearby royal family and important officials had finished shouting, and the distant ones began to shout.

And an old and hearty voice sounded in the hall.

"All the nobles are in peace and prosperity, and the common people celebrate together."

"Saint system, everyone celebrates!"

Because of the sage's words, the drums sounded from the towers of each square, spreading throughout Chang'an, and all the people in the [-] squares could hear the holy meaning.

No one can sleep, all have to celebrate with the saint.

"Saint system, everyone celebrates!"

At that moment, tens of thousands of people in Chang'an City saluted and cheered in unison.

The lights could be even brighter.

"Saint Shangyuan Ankang!"

"Saint Shangyuan Ankang!"

"..."

Between heaven and earth, only this one voice echoed.

On the throne, Li Longji was bathed in this magnificent splendor, and nodded with some satisfaction.

Throughout the ages, the rising of the sun and the setting of the moon have never been stopped by manpower, but every year on the night of the Yuan Dynasty, he can break the day and night, and his power is higher than that of the sun and the moon.

Because this is the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty that has never been seen throughout the ages.

He is the number one holy king in a thousand years that has never existed in the past and present!

Ordinary people babbled that Chang'an City is afraid of fire, the lights are dangerous, and there is no curfew, it is dangerous... The knowledge is like that of ants.

They don't know that only by going to the Yuan Ye like this can the world and all nations witness this miraculously culminating prosperity and sage!

(End of this chapter)