Among Xue Huaiyi's trusted disciples, there were a few who had followed him to the palace. Most of the others had never been there before. Therefore, they were all very excited to be able to enter the palace. They were full of curiosity about the most honorable place in the world.
Ma Qiao was no exception. Although the palace was in Luoyang City and was very close to him, he had thought that he would never be able to step into that place in his entire life. But now, he actually had the chance to enter the Nine Layer Imperial Palace. It really felt like a dream.
Yang Fan was also very nervous and a little excited. He didn't expect to have the opportunity to enter the palace so soon. Xue Huaiyi had said that the cuju masters in the palace were mostly women, such as princesses, female guards, and palace maids. Even Shangguan Daizhao was among them. Would he be able to see her this time? If he had the chance to see her, how would he be able to ask for the whereabouts of Miao Shenke?
Because he was thinking about these questions, Yang Fan was a little silent. The others were discussing excitedly, guessing the situation in the palace, or listening to the senior and junior brothers who had accompanied Xue Huaiyi to the palace talk about the situation in the palace. Yang Fan's behavior was a little different from others.
Chu Kuangge saw this and thought that he was too nervous because he was concerned about winning or losing. After all, these teams were all formed by Yang Fan. The outcome of the competition had the most to do with him. Therefore, it was understandable that his performance was unusual.
Chu Kuangge hurried two steps forward and patted him on the shoulder, comforting him. "Erlang, don't worry. How long have you and I trained these people? In the past, they were not qualified to compete in the palace. Now, as long as they can hold on for a little longer, it will be your great ability. Moreover, with your superb cuju skills, I really don't believe that some women can be stronger than you! "
Yang Fan laughed and said, "Brother Chu is right. They are just a group of women. We are men, how can we be afraid of them?"
The two of them chatted and laughed as they walked forward with their arms around each other's shoulders. When they were about to reach the Lu Shun Square, suddenly they saw a group of people on horses coming slowly from the opposite direction. In front of the group were several government officials who were beating the gong to open the way and playing the signboard to clear the way. Behind them, there were many government officials holding their sabers and following them.
Luoyang Commandant Tang Zong rode on his horse with his saber in his hand. Behind him were many officials. Unexpectedly, Xue Huaiyi led a group of monks towards them. The officials were startled and immediately retreated to the side of the road to let the group of monks pass.
Yang Fan looked to the side of the road and saw several criminals being escorted by the officials. Among the prisoners, there were two prisoners with large shackles on their bodies. The shackles were six feet long, four feet wide, five cun thick, and weighed a hundred catties. Wearing these shackles, not to mention walking, even if they were tied to a carriage, after a long time, they would die without a doubt.
There were also a few people beside them who only wore light shackles, but they were wearing the clothes of prisoners on death row. There was even a "beheading" plaque on the back of their necks. All of them were tied up and their faces were ashen. Behind them, there were many men and women wearing prisoner clothes, wailing and cursing. They did not stop because of Xue Huaiyi's arrival. They had already become prisoners on death row and would die in an instant. Who was there to be afraid of?
"Hmm?"
Xue Huaiyi was riding forward when he suddenly saw a few familiar faces among the prisoners. He couldn't help but stop his horse and take a closer look. He couldn't help but be surprised: Assistant Minister of the Phoenix Pavilion Yuan Wanqing, Assistant Minister of the Heavenly Official Deng Xuanting, Inner Custodian Zhang Guangfu …
Xue Huaiyi was secretly shocked. He quickly beckoned Tang Zong to come before him and asked in a low voice, "Why are these people all arrested? What did they do? "
Tang Zong was originally very nervous when he saw Xue Huaiyi pass by, but when he saw Xue Huaiyi's friendly attitude, he couldn't help but feel relieved. He hurriedly cupped his hands and said, "Master Xue, these people are all related to Xu Jingye's traitors. Now that they have been arrested, the Empress is furious and is about to send them to the execution ground."
Xue Huaiyi clicked his tongue. Suddenly, he saw that Minister Qiu Guan Zhang Chujin was also tied up. He couldn't help but ask, "Minister Zhang is an important official in the imperial court. Didn't he issue a pardon? Why is he also being tied up and sent to the execution ground? "
This pardon was the legendary Death Exemption Medallion. In fact, it wasn't a gold medallion, but a pardon. The officials who received the pardon could be exempted from the death penalty once. There were only a dozen or so officials in the imperial court who had the pardon medallion. Xue Huaiyi himself had one, so he asked this question.
Tang Zong revealed a strange expression and said, "At the beginning of the year, Minister Zhang made a new law. He said that if someone committed a great crime of rebellion, even if he could be exempted from death with the pardon medallion, his family should also be severely punished. They could either be executed or be demoted to be servants as a warning to others. The Empress felt that it was very reasonable and allowed it. Who knew … that even though Minister Zhang has the pardon medallion and can be exempted from death and sent to the desolate border, all the males in his family above the age of fifteen will be beheaded. As for his wives, daughters, and maids, they will all be demoted to be servants in the palace. "
When Xue Huaiyi heard this, he couldn't help but reveal a strange expression. After a while, he said, "Isn't this lifting a rock and smashing it on his own feet?"
Tang Zong deeply agreed. However, Zhang Shangjin was originally the highest official in the judicial department, so even though he ended up like this today, it wasn't good for him to comment. Xue Huaiyi shook his head and sighed. "The cycle of the heavenly dao, retribution is not good!" After saying this, he kicked the horse's abdomen and walked forward.
Yang Fan and Maqiao were currently bald and wearing monk robes. They were among the monks, but Tang Zong didn't dare to cause any trouble. He watched as a group of monks swaggered past in front of him. He didn't even dare to raise his head, so how could he recognize them?
Chu Kuangge walked beside Yang Fan and couldn't help but sigh when he saw the miserable appearance of the condemned prisoners. "Zhang Chujin thought of this law to cater to the Empress. Who would have thought that he would bring about his own destruction. "
Hong Yi said with a smile, "That's nothing. Do you see those two wearing the big chain? Those two are Xu Jingye's younger brother, Seo Kyung-jin, and Luoyang's magistrate, Zhang Siming. They were dragged to watch the execution. The big chain they wore was thought up by Zhang Siming. It was specially used to punish serious criminals. Now, he himself has tasted the power of the big chain. "
When the ruffians heard this, they all sighed and spoke about the many stories they had heard about the cycle of karma and retribution. For a moment, these ruffians who fought and caused trouble everywhere seemed to be like monks who had seen through the world of mortals, and they all sighed with emotion.
…
The monks of the White Horse Temple were led by Xue Huaiyi into the palace through the Black Tortoise Gate. They then turned left and walked towards the Peaceful Blessing Hall. In front of the Peaceful Blessing Hall and the observation platform, there was a large flat and wide field. There was a basketball court here.
This place was located to the north of the Imperial Harem. It was close to the Imperial Garden in the backyard of the palace. Many concubines, female officials, and palace maids lived nearby. Therefore, they often gathered here and played.
Yang Fan and the others followed behind Xue Huaiyi and entered the majestic palace. When they saw the magnificent Imperial Palace, many people who entered the palace for the first time were in awe. Naturally, they didn't dare to speak loudly. They just looked around and curiously sized up everything they saw.
In this palace garden, the most common thing they saw were women. Young, brightly dressed women walked back and forth. When they saw a group of bald monks coming in, they would curiously stop and look at them in groups of three or five. They would whisper to each other. Occasionally, when they talked about some interesting topic, they would cover their mouths and laugh. When they laughed, their eyes would slightly curve into a pair of crescent moons, giving them a somewhat seductive feeling. Looking at them, the group of bald donkeys became restless.
"Xiao Fan, Xiao Fan, look, there are so many beautiful women!"
Maqiao came to Yang Fan's side and said with shining eyes.
Yang Fan said, "What's so strange about this? Ordinary people's back gardens are planted with flowers. The Emperor's back gardens are planted with women. What we see might not be a lot. In this palace, there are at least tens of thousands of women, and they are all selected from all over the world. Think about it …"
Ma Qiao imagined the scene of more than 10,000 one-in-a-million beautiful girls gathered together, and his mouth immediately gaped wide open. He was about to plunge three thousand feet straight into the abyss.
The observatory was a high platform in Luoyang's Imperial Palace for observing the celestial phenomena. It had always been under the charge of the Imperial Astronomer. Usually, there were not many people here. When it was not needed, the palace gates would be locked. Because it was within the Imperial Palace, its safety was absolutely guaranteed. Therefore, there was not even a guard.
The observatory and Serenity Hall intersected at a right angle, and in the middle was an extremely vast field. There was a Cuju field and other places for palace maids and eunuchs to play and exercise when they were free. As for the swings and fishing, they were in the rear gardens of the Imperial Palace, separated from this place by a palace wall that was thirty feet high.
Xue Huaiyi led them to the open field and ordered in a rough voice, "All of you wait here. I will go see the Empress first and ask her to send some Cuju masters to compete with you."
Xue Huaiyi was just about to leave when he turned back with worry. Glaring at his restless ruffian disciples, he ordered, "This is the Imperial Palace. All of you, behave yourselves."
Hongyi hurriedly agreed with a smile. Xue Huaiyi snorted heavily, turned around, and walked into the Imperial Palace. On the field, there were many palace maids holding hands as they walked and chatted. On the Cuju field, there were more than ten palace maids playing football. When they saw more than ten bald monks walking in and looking around, some palace maids came over and curiously sized them up.
"Hey, old monk, you're already so old, why are you still a novice monk?"
A lively, round-faced palace maid looked at Daoist Yi Zhuo. The old Daoist's face was full of wrinkles and he was very old, but he was wearing an ordinary monk's robe. Squeezed in the middle of a group of young monks, he didn't look like a monk of any status.
As she asked, the palace maid couldn't help but stretch out her hand as if she wanted to touch his goatee. Daoist Yi Zhuo hurriedly took a step back, cupped his hands in front of his chest, and loudly said, "Supreme Heavenly Lord Taiyi, female benefactor, please don't do this."
The palace maid was shocked. Her eyes widened, and she covered her mouth as she laughed. "Old monk, what kind of Buddha do you worship? Why are you chanting the Heavenly Lord of Daoism?"
Daoist Yi Zhuo's face turned red, and he was momentarily speechless.
Beside him, a palace maid giggled and said, "Old monk, you're so useless. Look at that monk in the red kasaya. He's so young, but he's already the head of Buddhism."
The round-faced palace maid followed her gaze and saw Yang Fan. Her eyes immediately turned red. "Wow! What a handsome little monk! "
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