That night, the sky was still gloomy and there were sporadic raindrops.
The heat was about to pass and autumn was coming, but the rain suddenly became heavier. Recently, the Yi River and Luo River's water level had risen. Luo Yang Prefecture had already sent people to patrol both sides of the river to prevent the water from overflowing. In the past, there was an incident where the water overflowed into the palace.
With the communication capabilities of this era, it was impossible to send people upstream to warn them in time. Once the water came, it would be a hundred times faster than them. Luo Yang Prefecture had to take precautions and piled up a large number of sandbags along the river at the side of the palace to prevent any accidents.
Although the rain was not heavy, the continuous rain caused a large amount of water to accumulate on the ground. Other than the iconic Ding Ding Street, the other streets in Luo Yang were made of yellow soil. After being drenched by the rain, the streets became muddy, especially some alleys which were muddy and slippery. It was difficult to pass during the day. Therefore, most of the patrolling Marquis Wu were lazy and did not come out at night.
With Tin Aino's skills, even if Marquis Wu and the others patrolled seriously, she could still climb roofs and vault over walls. At this moment, there were not many patrolling Marquis Wu, and A Nu was like a fish in the water.
Tin Aino knew where the Censorate Courtyard was. In order to assassinate the Emperor, she had carefully studied the layout of the entire palace. She had even thought of using the Censorate Yard as a springboard to enter the Imperial Palace through the palace walls. Later, the Young Master arranged a spy for her in the Imperial Palace, so that she had a more convenient way to enter, so she gave up on this idea.
In the past, Tin Aino saw Young Master Jiang as her master and the only person who could control her. As long as she obeyed and executed, she would never question Young Master's decisions. Therefore, she never questioned any of Young Master's arrangements. But now, it was different. Some problems that she had neglected in the past started to raise suspicions in her heart.
That day when she tried to assassinate Empress Wu, the key to her failure was that she did not know that Empress Wu's last line of defense came from the two female guards by her side. They were actually the two little palace maids who fanned Empress Wu. However, the existence of the Plum Blossom Inner Guards wasn't an absolute secret. Although the outside world didn't know much about them, from what Ah Nu had learned, the important figures in the palace knew about them.
Young Master arranged for her to sneak into the palace secretly, and there was a general of the Imperial Army secretly receiving her. This general of the Imperial Army was in charge of the safety of a large area, so his position must not be low. How could he not know that the palace maid with the fan beside the Emperor was her female bodyguard?
Young Master wanted to assassinate Empress Wu. How big of a deal was this? He knew everything beforehand like the back of his hand. He even knew how many secret guards were arranged by Empress Wu's side. However, he had left out these two most crucial but not absolutely secret people. Was this intentional or unintentional? Does Young Master really want to assassinate Empress Wu or does he have other motives?
Although these questions had been raised, there was no need for her to find out more. Tin Aino had already disappeared from this world. She was now a nun in the Tranquil Sect who had severed her ties with the mortal world. What was the use of knowing about these things?
However, this nun of the Tranquil Lotus Sect who had severed her ties with the mortal world was now dressed as an assassin. Moreover, it was a very unusual assassin. She didn't carry a sword at her waist, but a copper candlestick.
This unusual female assassin leaped up the high wall. Her movement when she leaped up was very strange. It was as if she slid up the wall. Once she reached the top of the wall, she stuck to it and didn't jump higher. After pausing for a moment to see what was going on inside the wall clearly, she slid down like water.
Tin Aino stood quietly at the bottom of the wall for a moment. After seeing the situation in the courtyard clearly, he flew over. Relying on the corridors, the corners of the walls, the bushes of flowers, and the pillars of the hall, he moved forward quickly and cleverly.
She had seen the map of the Council of Censorates. Although this was not her target and she couldn't remember it clearly now, she still had a general idea of the layout. She knew where the prison was.
Soon, she came to the entrance of the prison.
Two pale lanterns swayed gently in the wind. On both sides of the courtyard stood two servants who guarded the prison. Each of them held a knife and leaned against the doorpost, as if they were dozing off.
The walls of the prison were very thick. There were no doors or windows, only rows of small air vents. This was the only entrance and exit. There was a corridor in front of the prison gate area. There was a door in the corridor, which could only be opened to enter the real prison area. There was also an iron gate outside. The iron gate was built in a house, and the door of the house was guarded by the two servants.
Anu glanced to the left and right. There was no one. She listened carefully, but she didn't hear any sound. Her hand quietly reached to her waist.
On her waist, there was a candlestick. The candlestick was made of brass. It was solid and had a circle of thread from thick to thin. About the width of a palm, there was a circle of brass cast handle. In fact, it was a circle that was curved upwards to hold the candle tears. Above the candlestick, there was still a spiral steel pillar. Until it was about a finger's length from the top, it was sharp and smooth.
The whole candlestick was only about a foot high. If the top part of the "brass handguard" was extended twice, and all the threads became sharp and smooth, it would be a sword.
The guard Tang Mao, who was leaning against the doorpost on the right, closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep. At this moment, he yawned and opened his eyes slightly, as if he saw something. The opposite house stood quietly, and the shadow of the lamp was projected on the ground about five feet in front of him … That's right! It was light and shadow. Between the light and shadow, there seemed to be something flashing.
If there was such a zoomed-in, slow-motion scene, a small caterpillar would pass through the stamen of the flower, and the breeze raised by its wings would blow the pollen on the stamen. The pollen would float up like fireworks, and it would be so beautiful that it would be intoxicating. What was the most easily neglected at this time?
That's right, it was that caterpillar's high frequency vibration of up to 1000 times per second.
When Tang Mao opened his eyes and saw the scenery in front of him, he ignored Tin Aino's strange figure. He only saw a flash of light and shadow, and then a sudden pain in his heart. It was just a moment, and although it was intense, it disappeared very quickly. It was so fast that just as he felt the pain, the pain disappeared.
Then he saw a figure standing in front of him, with his back facing him, his right hand pulling something out of his companion's chest. The person pulled out a very strange weapon and turned to look at him. The lamp was high up, so Tang Mao could not see the person's face clearly. He only felt that the person's eyes were very bright. Then, the man pushed open the door and walked in confidently.
The light shone on the person's back. Tang Mao leaned against the doorpost and looked at the person's back. Ah Nu's clothes were very loose. Although her hands, feet, waist and other important parts were tied up to make it easier to move, the whole robe was very loose, so the lines of her body could not be seen at all.
But with just a glance, Tang Mao felt that there was a kind of liveliness and agility, as if she was about to fly, flowing through the sleeves of her robe.
"This person must be a woman! Her figure must be very, very … "
Tang Mao's consciousness froze here. He died.
… …
The bell and drum on the Gate of Heaven sounded, and a new day had begun. The sky that had been quiet for a night began to rain again, as if the heavens were just taking a breather, and after resting enough, they would continue to pour the rain.
Fortunately, these few days were not as torrential as the previous day, so the possibility of the Luo River flooding was not too high. It was just that the prices of rice, flour, oil, salt, vegetables and fruits on the market had risen due to the inconvenience of transportation.
On such a rainy day, the common people still had to go out to work, and the peddlers still had to open their businesses. Regardless of the storm in the court or the storm in the sky, nothing could stop them from making a living.
Food had to be eaten.
There was a very well-dressed and pretty woman. She was holding a lotus umbrella with a picture of a fish playing with a lotus. In her arms was an expensive raccoon, and she was leading two young maidservants in green as they slowly walked in the rain. Her face was a little pale, but her footsteps were slow and leisurely, as if she was taking a leisurely stroll in the courtyard. The passersby who were in a hurry couldn't help but cast surprised glances at her.
Palace, Changle Gate.
Xiao Man held a lotus umbrella and stood at the palace gate. The deputy general guarding the city stood in front of her with a difficult expression.
"Xie Duwei, you … this is making things too difficult for me. His Majesty has been living in seclusion recently, and the court meetings have all been stopped. Unless it is an important matter or an official above the rank of assistant minister asks to see him, he will not see anyone. The commandant is no longer an official of the court, and has no duties in the palace. How can I make an exception? "
Xiao Man smiled faintly and said calmly, "Brother Fu, of course Xiao Man won't make things difficult for you. I only ask Brother Fu to help Xiao Man. If His Majesty is not willing to see Xiao Man, Xiao Man will naturally leave."
The deputy general guarding Changle Gate was called Fu Chen. When Xie Xiao Man was a palace guard, they had a small friendship. Now that Xiao Man had come to ask for help, Fu Chen really wanted to make things easier for her, but he really didn't dare to overstep his authority.
Fu Chen said awkwardly, "Xie Duwei, the Emperor has already issued an edict. If I go to report it, wouldn't I be violating it knowingly? Moreover, if I break this rule, won't all the palace guards have to go in and report to the Emperor if they want to see him? Won't that annoy the Emperor? "
Xiao Man said lightly, "Brother Fu, Xiao Man's situation is different from others. Xiao Man's husband is the Yulin General of the Imperial Guard, a fifth-rank official of the court. Xiao Man is a noblewoman, and as a noblewoman, I am asking to see His Majesty, not a court official! In His Majesty's edict, did it say that the noblewomen of the Ming Dynasty will not be seen? "
Fu Chen grinned and thought, "Miss Xiao Man is quibbling. Does the Emperor have to think of all possibilities when he gives the edict? Just one sentence, 'unless it's an important matter or an official above the level of assistant minister, I will not see anyone' is enough to explain the problem. But if she is really serious about this, this loophole is indeed … "
Xiao Man said again, "Also, Xiao Man is not here for national affairs, but to thank His Majesty for a private matter. Therefore, Xiao Man's request for an audience is not prohibited by His Majesty. "
Fu Chen was startled, "Xie Duwei … what matter do you need to thank him for?"
A sweet smile appeared at the corner of Xiao Man's mouth, but in Fu Chen's eyes, he didn't know why, but he only saw a touch of bitterness and a kind of desolation.
Xiao Man said, "I want to thank the Emperor for giving Xiao Man such a good husband. His Majesty is Xiao Man's matchmaker, do you think this is considered a private matter? "
Fu Chen looked at Xiao Man in shock, but he couldn't see a trace of mockery on her face. She spoke very seriously, and her originally pale and haggard face suddenly bloomed with happiness, satisfaction, and sweetness following her words.
"Okay … wait, I'll go right now!"
Fu Chen was intimidated by the strange light on Xiao Man's face and couldn't help but agree, turning around and walking into the palace.
At this time, there was another person in the distance, walking over cowardly …
…
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