Xue Huaiyi's meticulously planned series of preparations were all ruined during lunch. For a moment, Xue Huaiyi was at a loss as to what to do. His original plans were all ruined, and he didn't know how to react. The so-called Great Spell Conference turned into a boring inspection of the White Horse Temple by the Empress.
The Empress lit incense in the main hall and prayed silently. Then, Xue Huaiyi embarrassedly ordered the monks to chant the "Great Cloud Scripture" in the spacious courtyard.
Some ingenious actions had to be taken at the right time in order to have a refreshing effect. Xue Huaiyi originally planned to use surprise after surprise to arouse the Empress's interest. Then, he would use the powerful "Ode of a Thousand Monks" to reach the climax of today's Great Spell Conference.
But now, there was no foreshadowing or ambush. He directly used the "Ode of a Thousand Monks", which was dull and dull. Moreover, the "Thousand Monks" no longer existed. Now, there were only about two hundred monks who could make a grand entrance. They came very early in the morning and didn't eat breakfast or lunch. The group fight made them angry. Therefore, the chanting lost some of its solemnity and holiness, leaving only a drowsy hum.
Wu Zetian didn't have any expression on her face. She didn't show any joy or displeasure. She just indifferently looked at the monks who were chanting. Xue Huaiyi tried to muster up the courage to say a few words, but he didn't dare to say them.
At this moment, a sonorous and powerful sound of gongs and drums suddenly came from outside the White Horse Temple. The sound of the drums was loud and powerful. Every time the drum was hit, not only the leather covering the drum trembled, but also the hearts of the people.
This kind of exciting drum sound immediately attracted the attention of everyone in the White Horse Temple. It was impossible to go to the White Horse Temple at this time and beat the drums and gongs. There were soldiers guarding outside, but not only did the sound of the drums and gongs sound, but it also came closer and closer. It was as if it was coming towards the inside of the White Horse Temple.
No one was watching the monks chanting anymore. Everyone was looking outside. The monks who were chanting also stopped their weak chanting and turned their heads to look outside.
"Dong, dong, dong, clang …"
The sound of gongs and drums was loud and powerful, filled with a festive atmosphere. The sound got closer and closer, but before the people could see the people who were beating the gongs and drums, they saw a young man with a red headband, dressed in colorful clothes, and holding a red embroidered ball in his hand appear at the door. He began to dance, his movements vigorous and powerful.
The man waved the red embroidered ball, and a red-maned lion with golden eyes, silver teeth and red mane leaped in from the door. The sound of gongs and drums turned into the familiar 'peace music'. The lion man led the lion, which was more than ten feet tall, to leap, tumble, jump, stand on its hind legs, and bow, looking extremely heroic.
Following that, a second lion, a third lion … One lion after another entered the courtyard under the guidance of the lion men, squeezing the monks to the side and emptying the entire courtyard.
Wu Zetian stared fixedly at the first lion man. After a long time, her face slowly revealed an expression of astonishment and extreme joy.
That was Zhang Yizhi. Zhang Yizhi had a red headband on his head, dressed in colorful clothes, and held a red embroidered ball in his hand. He looked valiant and indescribably cute.
Today, these two brothers also attended the palace banquet. However, although everyone in the court knew that they were the Empress' gigolos, in such a grand occasion, they could not attend the banquet as palace people. Just as they said, they had no status.
However, they were still officials. They originally had idle official positions that were inherited from their fathers. After receiving Wu Zetian's favor, they continued to be promoted and were already qualified to attend the palace banquet. However, they entered the palace as officials and officially attended the palace banquet. They could not stay by the Empress' side, and the Empress could not always look after these two little lovers.
When Wu Zetian was about to come to the White Horse Temple, these two people disappeared. Wu Zetian thought that they felt uncomfortable coming to the White Horse Temple and did not come with her. Only now did she understand that they wanted to give her a surprise.
Although Wu Zetian was pleasantly surprised, Xue Huaiyi was so angry that his face turned pale. His skin was originally white, and at this time, it was even more pale, without any color of blood.
According to Xue Huaiyi's usual temperament, at this time, he would have already clenched his big iron fist and rushed down to hit people. However, times were different. He did not dare, especially when the one who was performing the lion dance was Zhang Yizhi. Especially when the Empress's face showed a happy expression.
The Shangyuan Festival was a celebration. If he wanted to make the Empress happy, others could naturally make the Empress happy. What reason did he have to hit people?
"The Fifth Wolf is here, then where is the Sixth Wolf?"
Wu Zetian subconsciously took two steps forward and looked at the male lion dancers. She looked down one by one until her eyes were filled with tears, but she still could not find Zhang Changzong. At this time, Zhang Yizhi was leading a lion closer and closer. The female guards on both sides of Wu Zetian immediately took a step forward, but before they could stop them, they were reprimanded by Wu Zetian.
The lion came to the step in front of Wu Zetian and began to dance on the spot, scratching, shaking, and licking. It was vivid and charmingly naive, making Wu Zetian laugh loudly.
Suddenly, the lion's head was lifted, and a young man wearing a lion's sweater and a pair of lion's claw boots stood in a horse stance. Another handsome young man wearing a red warrior's suit supported the lion's head and stepped on the young man's leg. The young man winked at Wu Zetian and said loudly to Wu Zetian, "The Shangyuan Festival is a celebration. Changzong wishes His Majesty good health and boundless longevity!"
Zhang Changzong's handsome face was flushed, and his forehead was full of sweat. Seeing this, Wu Zetian felt distressed and happy. If it was not really inappropriate, she would have taken a handkerchief and come forward to wipe his sweat. Wu Zetian hurriedly said, "Good, good, good! Fifth Wolf, Sixth Wolf, you are really considerate! "
Wu Zetian was so happy that she forgot that there were many noble relatives and courtiers following her. She directly called out to them intimately. Zhang Yizhi raised the embroidered ball and said to Wu Zetian, "Your Majesty, we have also arranged for the Dance of the Hundred Lions and the Dance of the Fish and Dragon on Ding Ding Long Street. Your Majesty, the royal relatives, civil and military officials, please enjoy it together!"
"Good, good, good!"
Wu Zetian beamed with joy and said to the accompanying officials, "Set off, all officials, follow me to Ding Ding Ding Long Street to watch the Dance of the Hundred Lions and the Dance of the Fish and Dragon!"
Xue Huaiyi was so angry that smoke was coming out of his nostrils, but he did not dare to flare up. He could only say awkwardly, "Your Majesty … should you first listen to the Thousand Monks … ah no! The Hundred Buddha Song, rest in the meditation room for a while before going. This humble monk is worried that Your Majesty's dragon body … "
Wu Zetian's face darkened, and she said lightly, "I am in good health and do not need to rest. Set off!"
"Your Majesty, set off!"
Amidst the sound of gongs and drums, the nine male lions were led by Zhang Changzong and Zhang Yizhi's lion heads, followed by the Emperor and the civil and military officials. Just like that, they left Xue Huaiyi behind and walked out.
Xue Huaiyi stood there with his back straight, watching the crowd leave in disorder. No one turned back to look at him, not even with a mocking gaze or a mocking expression.
The light in Xue Huaiyi's eyes gradually dimmed, and he stood there like a stone statue. In the distant corridor, the few remaining people in the temple had gone to watch the Dance of the Hundred Lions and the Dance of the Fish and Dragon. Only Yang Fan was left standing there.
Xue Huaiyi and the other disciples looked at each other. After a long time, Hongyi came forward with trepidation and timidly said, "Master, we …"
Xue Huaiyi turned around and picked up a scripture scroll from the incense table, about to throw it at Hongyi's head. Hongyi was so frightened that he did not dare to dodge, only shutting his eyes firmly. A while later, before the scripture could hit his head, Hongyi quietly opened his eyes and could not help but jump in fright. He saw that Xue Huaiyi's large eyes were filled with tears, which were swirling in them.
Hongyi had never seen Xue Huaiyi cry before, so he dropped to his knees in fright and said with a trembling voice, "Master!"
Xue Huaiyi slowly lowered his head and looked at the scripture scroll in his hand. This was the Great Cloud Scripture that he had asked the Sanshan master and the other eminent monks to transcribe with ox blood. Of course, to outsiders, he still claimed that he had transcribed it with his own blood. He had originally planned on offering it to the Empress after the Ode to a Thousand Monks, but unfortunately …
Xue Huaiyi's tears fell onto the scripture, dyeing it red.
The disciples gathered around him and called out to him timidly, "Master!"
Xue Huaiyi suddenly laughed aloud. As he laughed, he tore the scripture apart with all his might, tearing it into pieces and tossing them into the air.
The scripture danced in the air like blood-red butterflies.
Xue Huaiyi slowly made his way to the backyard. His shoulders slumped down powerlessly, and his tall figure was filled with loneliness and desolation.
Hongyi crawled to his feet and stared at Xue Huaiyi's back blankly. Hong Liu whispered, "First senior brother, should we … go and comfort master?"
Hongyi glanced at his senior brothers, and they all took a step back subconsciously. Xue Huaiyi would hit people when he flew into a rage, but his behavior right now had never been seen before. It was probably not as simple as just hitting people. Who dared to persuade him at a time like this, and what could they do?
A large hand patted Hong Liu's shoulder. Hong Liu turned his head and saw that Yang Fan had already arrived before him at some point in time.
He patted Hong Liu's shoulder and said to the others, "Go to the corner and send away those monks. I'll go persuade Master Xue."
The disciples were overjoyed. They all knew that their master treated this seventeenth junior brother differently, so they nodded and agreed in a hurry.
Xue Huaiyi walked into the backyard in a daze and stood in the middle of the forest of steles and pagodas. His eyes were blank.
Yang Fan slowly walked to his back and stood ten feet away from him. He accompanied him in silence for a while before asking slowly, "Why is Master Xue sad?"
Xue Huaiyi trembled and said, "I … accompanied her for more than ten years, more than ten years!"
Yang Fan said coldly, "So what? Has Master Xue ever truly liked her for a day? "
Xue Huaiyi suddenly turned around and glared at Yang Fan with eyes that seemed to be spewing fire.
Yang Fan was not afraid at all. Instead, his words became even colder, "I still remember that Master Xue once told me the truth after he was drunk. You hated her, hated that old woman very much. When you shared a bed with her, you pretended to be fascinated and excited to please her, but at the same time, you endured the disgust and disdain. If she no longer dotes on you, wouldn't that be a relief? "
Xue Huaiyi roared, "I can't accept it! I can't accept it! I accompanied her for more than ten years … "
Yang Fan smiled and his tone became even sharper, "So what? Didn't you get anything? What kind of person was Master Xue back then? She was just a street drug dealer. If the princess hadn't introduced you to her, what would you be now? What's more, he's just a medicine seller! "
Xue Huaiyi seemed to have been punched by an invisible fist in the air. He staggered two steps back and his face became even paler.
Yang Fan said, "For more than ten years, you accompanied her and obtained endless wealth, power, and status. Nobles led the horse and fell the stirrup for you, and the prime minister let you beat, scold, and humiliate him. Did you suffer any loss? Since you only used your beauty to entertain people and never had a day of true love with her, then why are you sad when you are replaced by someone else? "
"I understand what you mean!"
Xue Huaiyi was originally trembling with anger, but he suddenly calmed down and silently turned around. He said, "I know you want to wake me up, I know …"
He slowly raised his head and looked at the moss-covered pagoda. After a moment of silence, he slowly said, "Let me calm down, let me … think about it!"
Yang Fan nodded, turned around, and walked out. When he reached the edge of the pagoda forest, he stopped and said to Xue Huaiyi with a straight face, "Isn't falling out of favor a kind of release for Master Xue? As long as you are willing, from this moment on, you can live the life you truly yearn for! "
…
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