Yutai Bi

Chapter 288 Trap 1
"Master!" A servant came in at the gate of the courtyard, whispered a few words into Wu Liang's ear, Wu Liang's eyes lit up, and he hurriedly waved to Zou Xiongjie.

"Master Uncle? Please come in!" Zou Xiongjie's eyes lit up, and he turned around and told Du Yanwan, "Master Uncle is here, rest when you are tired from crying, I will come as soon as I go."

Du Yanwan was tired from the fuss, she leaned against the door and cried, "Come back early!"

"Yes Yes!"

When Zou Xiongjie saw Cen Zhilin, he didn't dare to treat him like a child, so he asked him to sit down.

Cen Zhilin was a little embarrassed: "I was worried about Sanniang, so I didn't go back to the academy. The money is not enough, can I stay at the residence for a while?"

"No problem. Master Uncle can stay as long as he wants!" Zou Xiongjie asked Wuliang to take A Fu and his son to rest first.

Cen Zhilin heaved a sigh of relief, his eyes were clear, and he smiled maliciously: "I have trouble, I'll try you."

Zou Xiongjie was choked, and said with a wry smile: "My wife is a girl from the Duke's Mansion. Although the Zou family is a merchant, they are not people who are greedy for profit. Uncle and young master are overwhelmed."

Cen Zhilin was silent and said: "Does the Zou family have a westbound caravan?"

Seeing that Zou Xiongjie was puzzled.Cen Zhilin explained: "If the Zou family's caravan goes out of the city to the west, because the Zou and Du families are related by marriage, they must be strictly investigated. In this way, the caravan will attract the attention of the officers and soldiers, and it will be easier for Sanniang and the children to get out of the city. Although I don't know where she is hiding, I think she will try her best to leave Chang'an."

Zou Xiongjie just laughed: "I will tell you the truth, Uncle and Young Master. Ever since the victory news came from the West Expedition Army a few years ago, saying that He Lu had been sent to Zhexi City, Chang'an's business houses were ready to leave after the fifteenth day of the Lunar New Year. Selling goods in the Western Regions. According to Uncle, the caravans of the Zou family will be dispersed and set off in batches every day."

Cen Zhilin stood up and bowed: "Thank you, Big Brother Zou!" He straightened up, with a confident smile on his face, "Although my brother-in-law is incompetent, he is not a person who is so stupid that he can kill his small clan. There must be something wrong. Before he comes back, Sanniang can't fall into the hands of the government, and she will be tortured in vain."

Du Yansui...ineffective...Zou Xiongjie sweated profusely, bowed and said, "Yes, uncle and young master are wise..."

"Since I'm here, even though there are differences between men and women, I should also go and say hello to Sister Du." Cen Zhilin smiled.

Savior!Zou Xiongjie jumped up from the chair all of a sudden, and accompanied Cen Zhilin to the backyard with a humble expression: "...Young uncle is a scholar, you must go to persuade her, let her be sad, and don't throw things out to vent her anger. You can get wronged Zhaoxue, if something is broken, you have to buy it again with money, right?"

Cen Zhilin glanced at him, looking at Zou Xiongjie inexplicably, before he heard him raise his eyebrows and say, "Deal!"

What's the deal?Zou Xiongjie was stunned for a long time, and finally understood that what the boy was talking about was that he asked the caravan to set off in batches to attract the attention of the officers and soldiers of the gatekeeper city.He thought dumbfoundingly, this time he really didn't want to do business!

"Young lady. The Lantern Festival will be in a few days. The matter of the Duke's Mansion is nothing compared to the victory of the Western Army. The emperor appointed a new crown prince this year, and decided to go out of the palace to build a lantern tower and bring the queen and prince to watch the lanterns. Let the people have fun together. There will be no curfew in the city, so I guess Mrs. Xu will take advantage of the crowds and chaos to send the two mothers and the young master away from Chang’an. The officers and soldiers will go to protect the emperor because of the crowds that day, so you can get out of the city easily.”

Hei Qi softly analyzed it to Cen Sanniang.

Cen Sanniang thought for a while and said, "It's really convenient to sneak out of the city while there are so many people on the Lantern Festival."

Hei Qi said: "I plan to go to the West Turks to find the young master. You can go to Mrs. Xu. Since King Teng is willing to help, he will definitely hide you and the young master well. When I find the young master, whether he is born or not If you die, I will live to find you and the young master."

Followed by King Teng, was hidden by him, and quietly waited for news from Du Yansui.Sounds like a good idea indeed.But how tormented would those days be?

She didn't know why King Teng helped her at a critical moment.Cen Sanniang recalled that night in Shuiyue Nunnery, and Teng Dynasty stretched out his hand nervously.She saw the pity on his face, and also saw his sadness.She lowered her eyes.

"Young lady, you have an idea. I'll ask someone to contact Mrs. Xu."

Cen Sanniang raised her head: "Prince Teng can take my two children, so let them stay safely under his protection for the time being. If they don't find out the truth about the Duke's defection to the enemy, they will never have a bright future."

Hei Qi said: "I will definitely investigate and find out."

"No, you didn't understand what I meant." Cen Sanniang sighed softly, "The empress asked the servants to pass on the news in time. At least an hour earlier than the officers and soldiers. All the talents in the Duke's Mansion were dismissed. In this case, Yuanxiao The emperor took the queen and the prince out of the city to watch the lanterns. I want to find a chance to meet the empress."

Hei Qi was stunned: "This is too risky!"

"I never believe that Du Yansui would abandon my grandmother and our mother and son for the sake of Feng Zhong's master-student relationship! He must have some difficulties!" Cen Sanniang said firmly: "The imperial decree to confiscate the family and seal the mansion is from the emperor. If he doesn't take it back for a day, Even if the Duke has been wronged, it will inevitably be taken advantage of by those who want to make him die unjustly. What is the use of rehabilitating a person after death? I want to ask the empress for a pardon!"

She looked calm: "As long as he and his son are safe. Even if the empress handed me over to the government and went to prison, what's the point of using me as a hostage? Besides, the empress tipped off the news, so she might not agree to me!"

Hei Qi made up his mind, but the corner of his mouth turned into a hint of sarcasm: "Okay! I'll arrange it now. Don't worry, the Du family still has some contacts in Beijing. If the situation is not right, even if the subordinates risk their lives, they will kill them." There is one way to take you away. Don't be too naive, there are Cui family and a group of oppressed aristocratic families. You will be tortured to death if you enter the prison. If the queen does not accept you, there are only two words: escape! "

Cen Sanniang shuddered: "I see."

A few days passed quickly.On the day of the Lantern Festival, Chang'an City was lit up with bright lights and became a city that never sleeps.

Cai Guogong's mansion was confiscated and became a topic of conversation after dinner.People are talking more about the emperor bringing the new empress and prince and building a flower building on Zhuque Street.Relatives of the emperor, honorable ministers, and aristocratic families have also set up flower houses along the street.The theater troupe was recruited, dragon lantern dancers, and lion lantern dancers set off wave after wave of lively applause in front of the building.

Every family and mansion passed by the emperor's flower building with colorful lanterns, hoping to be greeted by the emperor, and the master of his own mansion would have a good face, and would become the envy of others for a year.

The markets around Suzaku Street were all open, taking the opportunity to sell snacks, lanterns, and people traveling with their families crowded shoulder to shoulder, and the city was very lively.

Cen Sanniang was wearing a Moheluo mask, her hair was tied up in a bun, she was dressed in men's clothes, and she was wearing a cloak. She was guarded by the masked Hei Qi and several others in the crowd.

The Flower House of the Empress is just a few feet away.The outside was full of Qianniuwei and Habayashi Army on duty.

The four lively lions were dancing to the open space outside the flower building, rolling on the spot, and standing up together, they made many difficult moves, which attracted bursts of applause.

Prince Hong sat beside Empress Wu, watching in amazement two scrolls of couplets spit out from the lion's mouth.On the left is: "Guotai Minan".On the right is: "God bless the Tang Dynasty".

The two lions exchanged their heads lively and parted again, but a horizontal couplet was pulled out from the lion's mouth: "The common people are happy."

As soon as the couplet came out, the four lions rolled over again on the spot, but they spewed fireworks from their mouths, which aroused everyone's amazement.

Gaozong was very happy to see it, and said with a smile: "Reward!"

The waiter took a plate of silver and went downstairs.

The four lions stopped, and all eight of them knelt down and thanked them for their reward.Dressed up again, looking for the next benefactor.

On the pretext of changing clothes, Empress Wu summoned her confidants and servants, and said: "Go and bring the lion dancer to see me."

The flower building built by the emperor was magnificent, and a temporary tent was set up on the open space behind the three-story building for the emperor to rest and change clothes.

Going out of Miyagi to watch the lanterns, Gaozong not only brought Empress Wu and the prince with him.The beloved concubines in the palace also brought a few of them.Empress Wu changed her clothes and let the emperor out.The concubines sitting behind the emperor lost the confinement of the empress, spoke interestingly, and were more lively and innocent that was rarely seen in the palace.Seeing the bright lights of Chang'an City and the people smiling, it was a scene of prosperity and peace.The dignitaries joined in again and put up gorgeous lanterns to make fun of it, and Gaozong became more and more happy.

Taking advantage of this spare time, the servant quietly led the two men in lion costumes into the big tent.

There is a screen embroidered with flowers in the middle of the large tent, and one can vaguely see the Empress Grace sitting on the couch behind the screen with a high crown and dress.

Cen Sanniang and Hei Qi took off their Moheluo masks and saluted.

Empress Wu behind the screen was amazed when she heard Cen Sanniang's voice. It was one thing to see the lion dance spit out her boudoir's name, but it was another thing to hear her voice with her own ears and see her boldly come to meet her.Aside from admiration, he felt it was funny: "Aren't you afraid that Ben Gong will turn his face?"

Standing around are two female officers and two servants.Outside the tent, there are Qianniuwei and eight court ladies waiting to listen to the biography.Empress Wu didn't repel anyone, which shows that these people are all her confidants.

Cen Sanniang remembered that two or three years ago, when the Wu family was still Zhaoyi, there were still old people from Prince Teng's mansion by her side.Time has passed, and Empress Wu has already had her own power in the palace.Empress Wu, who wants to expand her power, will not let go of any powerful help.

She begged in a low voice: "Your Majesty is merciful, please consider that the child is still young, and then give me grace."

Empress Wu did not call names.Cen Sanniang did not explain the reason.Both of them knew in their hearts that Cen Sanniang had come to ask Empress Wu for protection.Empress Wu had to think about whether Du Yansui was worth her help.

(End of this chapter)