Tiantang

Chapter 143 The New Year's Eve: Either You Die or I Die

Happy New Year, I wish you all a happy holiday and a happy family.

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Chapter 151 The New Year's Day: Either You Die or I Die
"General, our family has something important to report, please excuse me a few steps." Zhang Defu lowered his voice, the tone was hurried and anxious.

Zhang Xuan's heart skipped a beat, because there was something wrong with Yang Yuhuan, so he nodded, waved his hand to stop the guards from following, and then led Zhang Defu to the side of the palace road. purple bamboo forest.

The bamboo grove rustled with the chilly spring breeze, a bird flew up in fright, and dropped dead leaves all over the ground.

"Eunuch Zhang, what's the matter?"

"General, something is wrong. Li Jingzhong sent the news urgently, and my mother asked the little one to report to the general immediately..." Zhang Defu spoke softly incoherently. .

Li Jingzhong wanted to personally report such an important and confidential matter.But he couldn't leave the imperial study room, once he left for too long, it would definitely arouse Gao Lishi's suspicion.

In desperation, he had no choice but to rush to Yang Yuhuan's bedroom while Gao Lishi was out to make some preparations, and secretly reported to Yang Yuhuan in person.It was Li Jingzhong's scheming to choose to secretly report to Yang Yuhuan.

He knew that Yang Yuhuan had a close relationship with Zhang Xuan, and Yang Yuhuan must be very concerned about Zhang Xuan's safety.

On the other hand, Yang Yuhuan is still the nominal mother of Prince Li Heng. Li Heng's reign is very important to Yang Yuhuan, because at least he can keep the glory and wealth for the rest of his life.Therefore, Yang Yuhuan must support Li Heng 100%.

What's more, if Gao Lishi and Li Lin are allowed to do this this time, the Yang family will suffer a fatal blow, or even be uprooted.The Yang family is gone, and Yang Yuhuan, the noble concubine, is also having a hard time.

In view of this, Li Jingzhong chose to act through Yang Yuhuan.

In fact, he did see it.

Yang Yuhuan was shocked when he heard the report, and quickly dismissed Li Jingzhong, telling him to continue to return to the imperial study to serve as an servant, and not to show his feet; and then, he ordered his confidant eunuch Zhang Defu to rush to report to Zhang Xuan.

At this crucial moment when either you die or I die, if you delay for just one minute, there may be an abyss of destruction beyond redemption.

After hearing Zhang Defu's words, Zhang Xuan's face changed suddenly.He really didn't expect that such a side issue would suddenly appear.

The old emperor!Gao Lishi!
The corner of Zhang Xuan's mouth twitched, and he waved his hand abruptly and said in a low voice, "I'm bothering Eunuch Zhang... If Zhang Xuan can escape from this calamity, I will be grateful in the future! I beg you Eunuch Zhang to go back and tell the empress, please rest assured in the palace and don't go out tonight. Don’t attend the New Year’s Eve banquet.”

"Here. General, take care." Zhang Defu bowed his hands in salute, and ran away in a hurry.

Zhang Xuan turned around suddenly, his face became extremely gloomy.

Old emperor, old emperor, since you want to put me to death, don't blame me for turning my face and denying anyone.Gao Lishi, you old mad dog who can't get enough to eat, I'll see how you bark today!

"Just relying on the old emperor's so-called secret edict, you want to achieve something? It's just a fool's dream!" Zhang Xuan sneered in his heart as he strode out, "Old emperor, you shouldn't underestimate me, let alone underestimate me. Yang Guozhong."

For Zhang Xuan, this incident was indeed sudden and unprepared.However, even if there was no secret report from Li Jingzhong, Gao Lishi and Li Lin would definitely not be able to succeed with Zhang Xuan's ability to respond to danger.

The hundreds of forbidden guards in the palace may be under the control of Gao Lishi for various reasons, but the seven or eight thousand Yulin guards outside the palace who are loyal to Zhang Xuan are not fancy vases-at a time of crisis, Xiao Shi Saburo will definitely protect Zhang Xuan and escape from the palace. Once Zhang Xuan escapes from the palace, with his decisive means, he will immediately raise troops to break into the palace and directly capture Gao Lishi, Li Lin and others.

The emperor's secret decree?edict?To admit it is an imperial edict, but not to admit it is a piece of waste paper.Zhang Xuan can make a big fuss about the old emperor's half-dead situation.

Anyway, this so-called imperial edict must have been "concocted" by Gao Lishi according to the general intention of the emperor, and there are corresponding "congenital defects" in itself.

However, this incident also reminded Zhang Xuan. He felt that after all, because his soul came from a modern civilized society, he had too many scruples about some things, and his heart was not cruel enough.Being in the vortex of ruthless dynastic power disputes, this may be a fatal wound.

For example, for the guards in the palace, Zhang Xuan originally thought that this was where the inner palace was after all, and it was not easy to intervene too much, so he didn't replace all the guards, but kept the part of the guards that had protected Li Longji from Li Wan's forced palace. guard.

Unexpectedly, this became his shortcoming, and was pinched by Gao Lishi.

Xiao Shisanlang was waiting on the side of the road with a group of soldiers. When he saw Zhang Xuan coming out with a bad face, he came to meet him.

"Brother, I will trouble you again this time." Zhang Xuan lowered his voice.

Xiao Shisanlang was startled for a moment, and immediately said sternly, "Brother, if you have something to say, just say it, don't be so polite between us!"

"The old emperor wants to dethrone the crown prince, and he will attack me tonight...Brother, the matter is urgent, and I can't go into details. Brother, go out of the palace immediately, and call five thousand guards to lie in ambush beside the palace gate until night falls Then he took over the defense of several palace gates—afterwards, Rang Lang and Gu Xi personally led a team of Habayashi guards to attack the East Palace!"

Xiao Shisanlang was taken aback, and just about to leave, he suddenly said worriedly, "In this case, brother, why don't you follow me out of the palace immediately, and personally mobilize people to enter the palace..."

"Otherwise, brother. If I'm not in the palace, they may not launch it. If they don't launch it, I will lead an army into the palace and become rebellious. Brother, don't worry and leave, I have my own opinion." Zhang Xuan waved his hand and said .

Xiao Shisanlang still hesitated, "But a certain family is leaving, brother's safety...you can't worry about it!"

"Brother, don't worry, they will have to struggle for a while. Even if they want to force the crown prince to abdicate and attack me, it will take a process. After their performance is over, brother's soldiers will arrive." Zhang Xuan smiled coldly, "I Let's see, who can have the last laugh!"

……

……

In the evening, the East Palace was lit up with lanterns, and it was full of joy.

Civil and military ministers above rank five, clan kings, princes and princesses' consorts, and dignitaries of the Tang Dynasty rushed to the East Palace with their families to attend the New Year's Eve banquet convened by the Prince Jian.

The banquet will be held in the main hall of the East Palace, and this grand banquet will last for a whole night.

Li Heng's seat is at the high place in the center, on the right side are the nobles of the royal family below Princess Yuzhen, and on the left side are Yang Guozhong, Zhang Xuan and other important court officials.

There is a brand new red carpet in the center of the main hall, and a group of dancers dance gracefully. The dance and music complement each other, which makes people feel refreshed.

Zhang Xuan stood on the side of the entrance of the hall, staring silently at the familiar or unfamiliar faces that entered the arena one after another.

It's coming, it's coming!
Accompanied by the rush and lack of confidence of the eunuchs at the entrance of the palace, Princess Huo Guo, the daughter of Emperor Ruizong Li Dan, took the lead, followed by Li Lin, King Si Ning, and behind Li Lin were the other sons and daughters of Emperor Li Xian, Li Longji's younger brother. The son of Shen Wang Li Tuan, the son of Shen Wang, the foreign minister of Honglu Temple Li Xuan, the son of Tang Ruizong's fourth son Qi Wang Li Fan's son Si Qi Wang Li Jin, and so on.

Today's banquet is probably the most complete gathering of the Li family.After this wave of royal family entered the seat, the princes and daughters of the current emperor, headed by Princess Yongmu, also joined in, and each found a seat to sit down.

Zhang Xuan looked at the crowd silently, at this moment, the little eunuch at the door suddenly sang loudly: "His Royal Highness Princess Yuzhen is here!"

Princess Yuzhen, Li Chiying, wore a brand-new Taoist robe, without a maid, and Cui Ying, who was even more delicate and charming in a gorgeous palace attire, walked in hand in hand.

In fact, Li Chiying was very reluctant to let Cui Ying come over, because tonight in the main hall of the East Palace, there will be a power grab involving Zhang Xuan, and Cui Ying's presence will obviously be irritated.But Cui Ying insisted on coming, and Li Chiying couldn't find a reason to refuse, so he had no choice but to bring her here.

Because she knew that if Cui Ying wanted to come, if she didn't follow her, she would follow her mother, Mrs. Zheng.

Li Chiying didn't notice Zhang Xuan, but Cui Yingxin belonged to her, and she saw her husband at first sight.Smiling and beckoning, "Husband!"

Zhang Xuan walked over with a faint smile, and said softly, "Ying Er."

Li Chiying's charming face became a little complicated and awkward, but she quickly covered it up.

Zhang Xuan stared closely at her eyes, but he was not as respectful as before.

It's just that Yuzhen had something on his mind, so he didn't pay attention to these details, so he sat on it without saying hello to Zhang Xuan.

Seeing that everyone was sitting down, Zhang Xuan walked along the red carpet to his own seat.

Flicking the sleeves of his robe, he sat down indifferently, with a calm expression.

Li Heng looked around the crowd, chuckled, raised his glass and invited them to drink, "Dear clansmen, ministers and workers, it's the Spring Festival, the day of the New Year's Eve, and according to the imperial father's order, I invite you to a banquet in the main hall of the East Palace to keep the year old. "

Li Heng had just finished speaking, when he was interrupted by a shrill voice, "The prince wants to talk—following the emperor's will? May I ask the prince, where is the emperor now? We want to see the emperor!"

"Of course. Even if the father is recuperating from his illness and Xingqing Palace, how can he not come out to enjoy the New Year's Eve banquet with all the ministers." Another princess stood up and echoed.

"Yeah, the emperor's brother is sick, but it's been so long, how come you haven't seen him in the palace. I have been to the palace three times to visit the sick, but I have been blocked - I would like to ask the prince, what are you selling in the gourd?" medicine?"

Li Longji's younger sister, Princess Huo Guo, also got up slowly and asked directly with a sneer.

It's hard, it's started.Zhang Xuan cast his cold eyes on the head of Princess Yongmu, and a trace of coldness flashed away in his eyes.

Except for Li Lin'an who sat silent, many princes, daughters and royal family members stood up and questioned the prince, especially the sons and daughters of Emperor Li Xian, who spoke fiercely, and the scene in the hall was chaotic for a while.

Zhang Xuan noticed that Li Sui, the king of Liang whom he had warned, did not participate.

This is a smart guy.Zhang Xuan nodded secretly.

Li Heng was so questioned that his face turned red, he gritted his teeth and said in a deep voice, "Father is seriously ill, and he is still taking care of his body..."

Yongmu sneered, "Since father is seriously ill, why don't you let me wait to visit? What is the prince's intention?"

"From this palace's point of view, the prince is clearly controlling the family, confinement, and hijacking the father, in an attempt to usurp the throne!"

(End of this chapter)