The entire ceremony to complete the Dubhe was complicated and lengthy. Everyone who attended the ceremony had different feelings.
For the busy eunuchs and serving girls, what they looked forward to the most was the moment the ceremony ended.
For the countless people of Luoyang who had gathered, they looked forward to the spectacle of countless copper coins pouring down from the top of the city walls.
The scholars and legendary figures who were familiar with the rites of Zhou kept pursing their lips and nitpicking at which parts of the ceremony did not conform to the ancient rites or the Zhou system.
Some members of the royal family would only become excited when Ru Mei and the other high priests of the internal court performed their skills.
The empress cared about the most when she ascended the Iron Mountain and read out the decree of amnesty to the world. When she read the Chinese language of offering sacrifices to heaven, she would appear solemn, respectful, and meticulous.
Xue Huaiyi had been thinking about how to organize a grand ceremony. As long as he could invite the empress, with his strong body, he would definitely be able to win back the empress's favor.
Yang Fan was looking up at this towering pillar that had never existed since ancient times and probably would not exist in the future.
It was a hundred and five feet tall, ten feet wide, and had eight sides, each with a diameter of five feet. The base was an entire iron mountain. The iron mountain had a circumference of a hundred and seventy feet and a height of twenty feet. Giant dragons and qilins made of brass were flying on top of it. What a magnificent building! It was likely impossible to find another such pillar made of iron in the world.
It was incomparably large. Behind it was the magnificent "Ming Hall." Behind the "Ming Hall" was the "Heaven" that was as tall as the sky. In the "Heaven" was an unparalleled giant wooden Buddha. But in terms of visual impact, none of them could compare to this towering pillar that pierced the clouds.
If such a huge pillar was left for thousands of years, it would certainly be a precious cultural relic in the eyes of future generations. Future generations would be endlessly proud of it and use countless beautiful poems to praise the greatness of their ancestors. But they would never think of how much blood and tears of their ancestors had flowed into this towering pillar.
It had used up two years of the total steel production of the Tang dynasty. Because a portion of the steel had to be set aside to meet the needs of the army, countless commoners' hoes and kitchen knives had been mercilessly confiscated by the government and merged into this magnificent pillar.
Yang Fan was a little absent-minded. He only woke up from his stupor when he heard a roar that sounded like a tsunami. Yang Fan raised his head and saw copper coins being tossed down from the top of the city wall. Under the sunlight, the coins shone like golden dragon scales. The people cheered and rushed to the bottom of the city to pick up the newly minted copper coins.
Wu Zetian laughed out loud and announced in a clear voice, "Tonight, the curfew will be lifted. All the people in the city, join me!"
…
The grand celebration was not over yet. This was just the beginning!
The emperor had set up a curfew. Today, Luoyang City was destined to have a sleepless night.
The civil and military officials were dispersing, while the officials of the third rank and above, as well as the members of the Imperial Family, were walking into the palace. The Emperor had prepared a royal banquet to entertain them. Yang Fan only found his coachman after most of the people had left. His men were martial arts experts sent by the Succession Hall to protect his safety. These people were not familiar with the buildings in the palace, nor did they understand the procedures of the palace etiquette. That was why they were scattered by the crowd.
Yang Fan mounted his horse. Because he saw that the Tianjin bridge in the distance was still crowded, and the carriages and horses of many officials and nobles were still there, he was not in a hurry. He only lightly whipped his horse and slowly moved forward. Unexpectedly, before he could go far, he saw a few servants in front of him, escorting a light carriage. They were moving even slower than him.
Although the carriage did not have an official banner, it looked very familiar. Yang Fan took a closer look and saw that it was indeed Princess Taiping's carriage.
Princess Taiping had one hand on the window and slightly poked her head out, smiling sweetly at him. Seeing that Yang Fan had already seen her, Princess Taiping gently turned her head toward the carriage and let down the curtain. She also withdrew her hand that was covered with cardamom.
Yang Fan turned his head to look around. There were few carriages and horses left and right. He lightly coughed and jumped down from his horse. He quickly walked to the side of the carriage, and in a flash, he entered the carriage. His movements were incomparably skillful.
Although his subordinates had only been following this suzerain for a short time, they were already familiar with this suzerain's strange behavior when he saw Princess Taiping. One of the knights stooped, picked up the suzerain's reins without any surprise, and led the mount to his side.
Yang Fan got on the carriage and sat next to Princess Taiping. He began to inculcate: "If you have any problems, you can ask your subordinates to secretly pass on the message. If you act like this, it will inevitably fall into the eyes of some people, especially in this palace where there are many eyes and ears."
"It doesn't matter. Everyone should be careful, but I don't need to! As long as I'm with you, no one will think of anything serious. This … can be considered this consort's unique ability … "
Princess Taiping said proudly. She cutely hugged one of his arms and simply ignored his sullen face. Yang Fan did not know whether to laugh or cry. He had to say: "Things are going according to plan. You just need to wait for the news. Now you are looking for me. Is there anything else?"
Princess Taiping rolled her eyes at him and said: "If I look for you, can I only talk about serious matters?"
Yang Fan helplessly said: "Well, then why is Your Highness looking for me? Is there anything improper?"
As soon as the words came out, he also could not help but laugh.
Princess Taiping humphed: "Now … I am not telling you!"
She kicked the pedals and the carriage sped up.
Through the bamboo curtain, Yang Fan saw the carriage drive past the Tianjin Bridge. It did not follow the large group of officials and nobles to cross the bridge. Instead, it drove across the street in front of Chengfu Lane. He could not help but wonder: "Where are they going?"
Princess Taiping gently put her cheek on his broad shoulder and satisfyingly sniffed his scent. Then she said: "Today the curfew is lifted. The people of Luoyang City are having a party all night long!"
Yang Fan was somewhat surprised: "Ah! You want me to accompany you … "
He turned his head and was stunned to find that Princess Taiping, who was smiling sweetly a moment ago, was now weakly leaning on his shoulder with two lines of tears on her cheeks.
"Taiping, you …"
Princess Taiping gently closed her eyes and faintly said: "You said it yourself. Since that year's Chinese Valentine's Day, have you ever accompanied me for a day?"
Yang Fan was silent. Princess Taiping still closed her eyes. Her tears fell down and wet her clothes.
Yang Fan gently sighed. He opened his arms and gently hugged her. The carriage continued to move forward. There was only the rumbling of the wheels on the road in the carriage.
After a long time, Yang Fan let go of her and gently wiped the tears on her cheeks. He lifted a corner of the curtain and loudly ordered the guards outside: "Tell my family that I will not go back tonight!" One of the four bodyguards accompanying the carriage immediately reined in his horse, nodded slightly to him, and turned his horse to leave.
Yang Fan put down the curtain. As soon as he turned around, Princess Taiping cheered and threw herself into his arms. Full of joy and affection, she kissed him.
The carriage drove past Chengfu Lane. When it was about to reach Yuji Lane, it turned right and drove on Xinshi Bridge.
Inside the carriage, two people's voices faintly came out.
"Touch it. Does it look like it?"
"Oh, it really does look like it. What did you put in?"
"How can I scare people with stuff? I first padded something on my stomach and then wrapped it with layers of white cloth. Does it look like it? Fortunately, the weather is not hot now. Otherwise, it would really be fatal! "
"You are really good at lying!"
"What are you talking about? Have I ever lied to you?"
"Let me think … …"
"Humph!"
As the two people bickered, the carriage shuttled through the streets like a fish and finally drove out of Jianchun Gate. The bumpy road made Yang Fan feel that they were out of the city. He lifted the curtain and looked outside. The carriage was indeed out of the city. He could not help but ask Princess Taiping: "Where are we going?"
Princess Taiping smiled but did not reply. She lifted the curtain and walked out of the sedan chair. She said a few words to the driver, and the driver somersaulted down to the ground. He chased after Yang Fan's horse for two steps, and then he pulled the saddle and leaped up.
Princess Taiping sat on the carriage driver's seat. She grabbed the big whip and shook it in the air with a crisp sound. She shouted majestically: "Go!"
At this time, Taiping was like when she appeared in front of the Emperor and Empress in men's clothes for the first time when she was 15 years old. She gracefully told the two highest rulers of the empire that she wanted a son-in-law. She was a little playful, a little valiant, and a little manly.
Yang Fan smiled and shook his head. He simply lay down on the spacious couch.
The three guards of the Succession Hall rode their horses and followed him. They were secretly shocked. They knew about the love affair between their Sovereign and Princess Taiping, but they never thought that their Sovereign could be so awe-inspiring as to let Princess Taiping be his driver. Compared to their former Sovereign, this Sovereign was really much more awe-inspiring …
The carriage drove on. Yang Fan, who had been lying on the couch for a long time but was not sleepy, had already sat up. He rolled up the curtain and looked outside. The scenery changed along the way. Gradually, it seemed familiar. Yang Fan thought for a while and finally realized that this was the Golden Grain Garden. The Golden Grain Garden in late autumn … …
Xu Houde had been waiting at the entrance of the Purple Grain Garden since early in the morning. Since he was "sent" to the Purple Grain Garden to be a steward, he had put on a little weight in just a few months. He had also brought his wife and children here. In this manor, he was very leisurely every day. He lived like a hermit.
When he liked the liveliness, he would take his family to the city for a stroll. Anyway, it was not far. This autumn, the fruit forest of the manor had a big harvest. Those fruits were all picked and sold in the city. Some of the money was given to his subordinates. The rest naturally fell into his own pocket. It was even more generous than his previous salary as a driver for Her Highness.
Today, when he heard that Her Highness was going to the Purple Grain Garden to play, Xu Houde had been busy since early in the morning. He had prepared delicious and exquisite dishes. The Princess' house had been cleaned up. The road from the gate to the Princess' house had been swept spotless. Then he had been standing at the door until now.
From afar, he could see the Princess' carriage quickly approaching. Xu Houde was overjoyed. He quickly led a few of his men to greet the carriage. Seeing that the carriage had arrived in front of him, Xu Houde was just about to bow when he suddenly opened his mouth in shock: Her Highness … … was actually driving the carriage!
Xu Houde's face was full of surprise. Before he could think of what to say, the carriage had already passed by him like a gust of wind. Only Princess Taiping's happy words were left behind, "None of you are allowed to follow me!" Xu Houde blankly looked up, only to see the back of the carriage disappear at the end of the forest.
Almost at the same time, Lai Junchen returned to Luoyang. Three long-distance carriages entered from the Ding Ding Gate. Lai Junchen sat in the first carriage with the curtains rolled up. As soon as the carriage entered Ding Ding Long Street, Lai Junchen couldn't help but rush out of the carriage. Standing at the front of the carriage, he laughed loudly: "I, Lai Junchen, have returned!"
… …
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