Yang Fan didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "I really don't know where your prejudice against me comes from. Have I ever done anything bad? Go back and rest. You look drunk. Do you want me to send you back? "
Xie Xiaoman shook her head. "It's fine! This little bit of wine won't make me drunk. "
She raised her head and gulped down another mouthful of wine. She stuffed the wine bag and rabbit meat into Yang Fan's arms. "Alright! I'm going back. I'll do as you said. Drink a bowl of soup to sober up, take a hot bath, have a good sleep, and forget about these things! "
"Hey!"
Yang Fan reached out to grab her, but before he could do so, Xie Xiaoman had already jumped down.
Yang Fan saw that she was already drunk and was afraid that she would lose her balance and fall. But he didn't expect that even though she was drunk, her jump was still smooth. Seeing her land firmly on the ground, Yang Fan was relieved.
Xie Xiaoman waved at him and said, "I'm leaving!"
She turned around and took a step, then turned back and said, "And the rabbit meat you smoked, that smell … it's very close …"
Looking at her receding figure, Yang Fan shook his head and smiled. He whispered to himself, "This girl is really drunk. She even said it smelled very close!"
Yang Fan looked up at the bright moon in the sky. He pulled out the cork of the wine bag and drank a mouthful of wine. He tore off a mouthful of meat and drank another mouthful of wine. Leaning against a tree, he recited, "When the melon is planted, it's yellow under the stage. When the melon is ripe, it's separated. One pluck makes the melon good, another pluck makes the melon thin. Three plucking is enough, but the last plucking is enough. "
This "Huangtai Melon Ci" was written by Crown Prince Zhang Huai, Li Xian, before he was exiled to Guazhou. On the surface, he was inspired by the sight of the melon fields, but in fact, it was a lyric poem because of his elder brother's "sudden death" and the uncertain future of himself and his two younger brothers. At that time, he let the music score prevail and sang this poem to Empress Wu, hoping to move his mother's heart. But it did not have the slightest effect. Instead, this poem was widely spread.
Now, Li Xian had been forced to commit suicide. Although his two brothers, Li Dan and Li Xian, were still alive, they were in a precarious situation. Instead, his two sons had been forced to commit suicide. His branch of the family could be considered to have come to an end. This poem could be considered to have become a prophecy, only that it had happened to his own family.
In terms of state affairs, this was a monarch killing a minister; in terms of family affairs, this was a grandmother killing her grandson. It seemed that no matter what, no one had the right to say anything. Then, under the illumination of the cold moonlight, Yang Fan actually felt a sense of desolation in his heart …
…
The last of Crown Prince Zhang Huai's bloodline — eleven-year-old Li Shouyi and eight-year-old Li Guangshun — were whipped to death by their own grandmother because they "cursed the monarch's father and committed treason." This matter did not affect Wu Zetian's traveling mood at all. The next day, the news that the Empress would hold a large-scale traveling banquet on the banks of the Yi River spread.
In the Fragrant Hill Temple, in a meditation room temporarily used as the administrative office, Shanghai Wan 'er carefully made arrangements. "The famous musicians and dancers of the Royal Palace's Musical Houses and the Left and Right Musical Houses must be arranged in advance to avoid any mistakes during the rush. In addition, several famous music and dance troupes in Luoyang must also be invited. You can transfer a few pleasure boats here and let them live on them. They are not allowed to wander around. "
The steward of the Musical House respectfully responded. Shanghai Wan 'er said, "What you said just now, make a more detailed plan. The Empress likes grandeur, so the scene must be grand and lively. Start building the colored houses and colored houses now. You can borrow some soldiers from General Qiu Shenji to help. "
The steward of the Musical House responded again. Shanghai Wan 'er waved her hand and dismissed him. Then she said to Senior Captain Zhu Bin, "In the Dragon Gate section of the Yi River, there are checkpoints on both sides. Ships and people entering and leaving must have a' pass' jointly signed by the internal guards and the Musical House before they can pass through. Ships and ships must be strictly inspected, and there must be no negligence!"
"Yes!"
Zhu Bin answered and hurried to make arrangements.
Shanghai Wan 'er then said to the Imperial Officer of the Food Bureau, "Within the four seas, all kinds of delicacies on land and water must be prepared. Make a list of all kinds of ingredients and send them to the palace as soon as possible. If there is not enough, buy them as soon as possible. Tell Tuan 'er to hurry up on this matter. In order to facilitate the supply, a temporary kitchen needs to be built on the bank of the Yi River. The location must be hidden and downwind, so that the Empress won't smell it. I have decided on a place for you. You can go and have a look first. If there is nothing wrong, prepare it as soon as possible. "
After Shanghai Wan 'er finished speaking, she asked a little eunuch to leave with the Imperial Officer of the Food Bureau. Then she inquired and made arrangements for the officials of the Imperial Clothing Bureau, the Imperial Carriage Bureau, the Imperial Carriage Bureau, the Imperial Household Bureau, the Imperial Household Bureau, and so on. When these people were all sent out, Shanghai Wan' er took a breath and sat down to carefully review the invitation list from the Imperial Household.
Shanghai Wan 'er read the invitation list from beginning to end, picked up a pen, added a few names, pondered for a moment, and crossed out a few names.
Imperial banquets had never been a simple banquet. An invitation list, an order of seats, in the eyes of observant people, was a clear signal.
Other people didn't know, but as the Shanghai Wan 'er who assisted Wu Zetian in handling court affairs, she knew many secrets that others didn't know. She knew that long before Lai Junchen impeached Crown Prince Zhang Huai's two sons, Wu Chengsi and Zhou Xing had jointly submitted a memorial to impeach Emperor Gaozong's sons, Li Shangjin the Prince of Ze and Li Sujie the Prince of Xun for plotting rebellion. The Empress Dowager had issued a secret edict to arrest them all and bring them back to Luoyang to be punished.
The reason why Lai Junchen impeached Crown Prince Zhang Huai's two sons was obviously because he heard the news and saw that he had fallen behind Zhou Xing, so he couldn't wait to step forward. But the Empress didn't even blink, didn't even investigate, and didn't care whether the crime of 'cursing the monarch's father' was appropriate for the two children. She instructed Qiu Shenji to execute them. It was clear that a great purge of Li Tang's royal family was about to begin.
The people that Shanghai Wan 'er crossed out were all princes, princes, and relatives of Li Tang's royal family in the capital, as well as ministers who were openly close to Li Tang's royal family. There were also a few princesses of the Tang dynasty, such as Eldest Princess Dongyang. Eldest Princess Dongyang had once married Zhangsun Wuji's uncle, Gao Shengxing. Empress Wu hated the house and its crow, so how could she possibly like her?
Only a few people remained on the list, such as Princess Taiping and Eldest Princess Qian Jin. The few people she added were ministers who originally didn't have the qualifications to attend the banquet, but had recently been in frequent contact with the Wu family.
Shanghai Wan 'er knew that although the addition and deletion of a few people in a grand banquet didn't seem to be a big deal, in the eyes of some people, it would inevitably increase the arrogance of some people, adding fuel to the fire. But the reason why she was used by Empress Wu, wasn't it because Empress Wu needed such a person?
It was easy for Empress Wu to find another female official who was good at understanding people's intentions. But if she left Empress Wu, she would just be a dodder abandoned by a big tree. She knew very well what fate awaited her at that time. So every day, she would be very careful, not allowing herself to make a single mistake, because she couldn't afford to make a mistake.
Wan 'er looked over the list again and handed it to a servant next to her. She ordered, "Send the message!"
After the servant left, Wan'er was the only one left in the crowded meditation room. She let out a sigh and stretched her body tiredly. She stared at the large "Zen" character on the wall across from her and began to daydream.
Ever since she was kissed by Yang Fan, Shanghai Wan 'er had been avoiding him, because she didn't know what to do. However, once her emotions were stirred up, they would grow rapidly and crazily like weeds in spring. This little girl, who had always been reserved and introverted, barely managed to build a dam in her heart, but her emotions broke the dam again and again.
She didn't dare to be idle. Once she was idle, she couldn't help but think of that person and that kiss. She finally knew what the feeling of lovesickness in the poem was: "Picking leaves, not seeing each other for a day is like three months! Picking leaves, not seeing each other for a day is like three years! Picking leaves, not seeing each other for a day is like three years! "
"Come!"
Shanghai Wan 'er clutched her wrist. She suddenly gathered her courage and called out loudly.
"Waiting, what orders do you have!"
The servant, Little Hai, appeared at the door. Shanghai Wan 'er quickly waved her hand and said, "There's nothing else. You can leave!"
"Yes!"
Little Hai bowed and moved away from the door of the meditation room.
Shanghai Wan 'er was restless in the room. After struggling for a while, she called out again, "Come!"
Little Hai suddenly appeared at the door. She bowed and said, "Waiting, what orders do you have?"
Shanghai Wan 'er thought for a moment and waved her hand. "There's nothing else. You can leave!"
Little Hai was confused. She quietly moved away from the side of the door.
Shanghai Wan 'er stood up and paced in the room. After pacing for a while, she gritted her teeth and lightly stamped her foot. She called out, "Come!"
Little Hai faintly appeared at the door. She had a strange expression on her face. "Waiting, what orders do you have?"
Shanghai Wan 'er's face was taut. She solemnly said, "Go and call Imperial Bodyguard Yang Fan in. I have orders!"
Little Hai bowed and said, "Yes!" Then, he habitually moved to the side of the door. His figure flashed and disappeared. Then, they heard him cry out as if he had just woken up from a dream. Then, they saw him run back, running along the stone steps in front of the door.
Shanghai Wan 'er hurriedly rushed back to the table and sat down. She grabbed a brush and a memorial to the throne.
When Yang Fan entered the meditation room, there was only Wan 'er inside.
She was bent over and sitting behind the table. Her hand was holding a weasel hair brush. Her small face was completely red. She looked like a primary school student being forced by a strict teacher to write a poem, but the content of the poem had already been completely forgotten by her.
When Yang Fan walked in, he couldn't help but feel a bit nervous. Most youngsters who had their first awakening of love were like this. Yang Fan had experienced many things, so his mentality could be considered quite calm. But he still couldn't completely avoid this. But when he saw Shanghai Wan 'er's appearance, his nervousness was completely replaced by curiosity.
He curiously looked at Shanghai Wan 'er. He had never seen such an expression on her face before. He really didn't know what she meant.
Shanghai Wan 'er had just summoned the stewards of the Inner, Left, and Right Halls, as well as the officials of the Six Ministers and the Twenty-Four Divisions. She had arranged all kinds of affairs in an orderly and confident manner. Even the fate and future of some members of the royal family had been easily completed by her without the slightest difficulty. But when Yang Fan came in, she was as nervous as a rabbit under the gaze of an eagle.
She lowered her head and gripped her brush. She stared at a memorial to the throne on the table without saying a word.
She didn't speak, but Yang Fan couldn't not speak. Yang Fan coughed and saluted, saying, "Shangguan is waiting for an imperial edict to summon your subordinate. What's the matter?"
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