Tang Dynasty: The seventh rank of official residence, and you will be given the Ten Thousand People

Chapter 92 Confession!

Shangguan Wan'er smiled slightly and said with relief: "The state affairs have been busy recently. Maybe you are too tired. You should be fine after a few more days of rest."

"I hope so." Wu Zetian sighed, stood up and looked at the bronze mirror and said.

"After you go to Hanguang Temple to offer incense, remember to summon Xue Huaiyi into the palace. I want to listen to his lectures on Buddhism for a few days."

"Weichen made a note of it."

"Well, let's go."

Wu Zetian nodded and walked out of Guanfeng Hall, glanced at the accompanying ministers and walked straight towards Yuhu.

Everywhere along the way, all the civil and military officials bowed down and paid homage, shouting "Long live the Queen Mother!"
Amid the roar of the ministers, Wu Zetian climbed up on the imperial chariot and waved her sleeves majestically.

"Get off!"

"Yes!"

Shangguan Wan'er bowed and said coldly to the ministers: "The Queen Mother has a decree to drive to Hanguang Temple!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the convoy started moving slowly, with nearly a thousand majestic Qianniu Guards riding horses leading the way.

The civil and military ministers and the chambermaids followed behind the imperial driver, and the group marched towards Hanguang Temple.

In order to ensure safety, the Luozhou government sent a large number of officers and soldiers to patrol along the streets to block the curious onlookers.

Seeing this scene, Wu Zetian, who was sitting in the imperial chariot, smiled slightly and slowly closed her eyes.

Soon the team arrived at Hanguang Temple. Xue Huaiyi, who had received the news in advance, was wearing cassocks and led a group of monks to stand in front of the mountain gate.

Seeing the Queen Mother's chariot coming, he quickly walked down the steps and bowed his head.

"Amitabha, poor monk Xue Huaiyi meets the Queen Mother."

The bead curtain opened, and Wu Zetian walked out. She first looked at the monks lined up to greet her, and finally looked at the white monk in front of her.

"Master, there is no need to be polite."

"Thank you, Empress Dowager."

After straightening his back, Xue Huaiyi put up one hand and said: "Amitabha, it is a blessing for the Buddhist community that the Queen Mother can come to this temple to offer incense despite her busy schedule. If the Buddha knew about it, he would definitely send you great auspiciousness."

Although the relationship between the two is special, they still have to follow the etiquette of a monarch and his ministers in formal occasions, so Xue Huaiyi speaks very measuredly, without the frivolity of the past.

Wu Zetian smiled and said: "As long as the people of Li can have enough food and clothing, what's the problem if I go to the temple a few more times?"

"It's so good that the Queen Mother can have such great compassion. I think everyone in the world will be grateful for your kindness."

Xue Huaiyi recited the Buddha's name and stepped aside to make a gesture of invitation.

"According to your request, all the monks of this temple have entered the Main Hall. As soon as you arrive, they will sing the Ksitigarbha Sutra to save the souls of the world."

"Please!"

Seeing this, Wu Zetian walked straight to the Main Hall without hesitation.

Behind her, dozens of accompanying ministers followed closely.

Whether intentionally or unintentionally, the Qianniu Guards closed the door when entering the middle courtyard, blocking out the escorting officers and guards.

"General Liu Xun, what do you Qianniu Guards mean by this? Why are you blocking me from the door?" A general in armor frowned.

"I'm sorry, General Yuwen. The Main Hall is an important place of Buddhism and cannot be disturbed. The middle courtyard should be guarded by our Qianniu Guards." Liu Xun explained with a smile.

Although the armored general was reluctant, he could only garrison in the front yard with a sullen face as the other party was a member of the emperor's own army.

Watching the officers and soldiers leave, an imperceptible sneer flashed across Liu Xun's lips, and then he turned to his subordinates.

"Guard the gate of the middle courtyard. No one is allowed to step in without my general's orders!"

After that, he crossed the threshold and came to the outside of the Main Hall. At this time, there were many ministers standing here, all bowing and listening to the singing inside.

"His Royal Highness the King of Han is back." Liu Xun whispered.Li Yuanjia glanced at him and lowered his voice: "How are things arranged?"

When it came to his family and life, he was willing to risk everything this time, determined to keep Wu Zetian's life in Hanguang Temple.

"Don't worry, Your Highness, the general has mixed a small amount of poison into Qian Niuwei's meal. As long as our people enter Hanguang Temple, we will ensure that they have no resistance at all."

Hearing that Liu Xun had done something to Qian Niuwei's food, Li Yuanjia's tense nerves slowly relaxed a little.

"This will put the king at ease. By the way, when will our dead soldiers arrive?"

"This..." Liu Xun hesitated and said, "In order to avoid the eyes and ears of the inner guards, the general disguised them as the Qianniu Guards who came to change defenses. They can't arrive until three quarters at noon at the earliest."

"It doesn't matter, let's let the Demon Queen live for one more hour first, and then we'll kill her!" Li Yuanjia narrowed his eyes as he looked at Wu Zetian who was standing in the hall listening to the Ksitigarbha Sutra.

……

Dali Temple, prison.

"Come here, use pliers to pluck out fake Huineng's nails one by one, and then use bamboo sticks to pierce the nail flesh." Fan Xin shouted as he signaled Zhang Huan to carry the salt water out.

Facts have proved that he overestimated the waterboarding. After two days and two nights of suffocation cycle, although Jia Huineng admitted his fake identity, he did not reveal the purpose of hiding in Hanguang Temple.

So he planned to find another way to destroy the opponent's psychological defense.

"Shaoqing, isn't this good? Our Dali Temple has never used such cruel methods." Si Cheng looked at Fan Xin with fear in his eyes.

He had never used these criminal methods in Dali Temple, but Fan Xin looked like he was obviously a veteran in this field.

"What's there to be afraid of? If he doesn't reveal his purpose, we'll all die and go!"

"Yes, yes, I'm going to get the torture tools right now!"

After Si Cheng left, Fan Xin came to Fake Huineng, raised his head and said calmly.

"I know you can withstand the punishment of armor removal, but it doesn't matter. This is just an appetizer. Next, I will disembowel you and sew it up with needle and thread, then take it apart and sew it back up..."

"Finally, when you are dying, I will use a red-hot iron rod to kill you with an iron rod."

"You know Liu Feichang, right? It's through the valley..."

Before Fan Xin could finish speaking, Fake Huineng suddenly raised his head and collapsed.

"Stop talking! I'll do it!"

"I recruit them all!"

"Oh, oh, oh, you inhuman lunatic, why did you let me meet you!"

Looking at Fake Huineng crying loudly, Fan Xin secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, he did it, otherwise he wouldn't be able to bear it if he kept talking.

The ensuing interrogation went extremely smoothly, Jiao Huineng confessed in despair.

"My name is Blood Snake, and I am an orphan rescued by His Highness King Lu from childhood."

Hearing the word "King Lu", Fan Xin suddenly stood up from his chair and stared at Fake Huineng.

"Are you saying that King Lu ordered you to sneak into Hanguang Temple and pretend to be fake monks?"

This news was like a bolt from the blue to Fan Xin. King Lu arranged for a killer to sneak into Hanguang Temple. Needless to say, he knew who he was targeting.

If this is the case, I'm afraid something big will happen to Datang.

Jiao Huineng nodded slightly: "Yes, it is King Lu."

"He asked us to kill Qian Niuwei and blockade the entire Hanguang Temple while Wu Zetian was going in to offer incense."

(End of this chapter)