Luoyang, the capital of the gods, is known as the "City of Flowers", which has a lot to do with Wu Zetian's love for peonies and their extensive planting in Luoyang. Another reason why Luoyang has won such a reputation is the city full of lanterns during the Shangyuan Festival.

The Shangyuan Festival of the Tang Dynasty was extremely important, no less than the Spring Festival. According to the practice of the imperial court, on this day, all officials who returned to their hometowns and provinces should return to the court and resume their normal work. The emperor will go to the imperial city in person at night to have fun with the people and enjoy the lanterns. If the imperial court has any major measures or new policies to benefit the people, it will also be announced to the people on this day.

Xue Shao had spent several Shangyuan Festivals in Chang'an, and the most profound memory was the time when he and Xue Chuyu helped the first emperor Li Zhi to climb the Vermilion Bird Gate in person. Every time he visits the Shangyuan Lantern Festival, Xue Shao will be shocked by the bright lantern night market. That kind of scenery is far more wonderful than the night view of the modern city illuminated by neon and car lights, and it is not like a miracle that can be created by man.

But it wasn't until Xue Shao saw the night scene of Shangyuan in Luoyang that he suddenly felt that the Shangyuan Festival in Chang'an was really a little inferior. This beauty and magnificence, which cannot be described in words and words, made Xue Shao feel that he had suddenly broken into the world of fairy tales and fairy tales. The ancient capital of Luoyang, which was originally enchanting and unparalleled, was decorated with countless lanterns like a heavenly palace, which was so beautiful that it was intoxicating and obsessive.

Xue Shao told a gap in the court in advance and did not enter the palace to accompany the emperor, but took Princess Taiping and the whole family to mingle among the people of Luoyang, and enjoyed the original Shangyuan Lantern Festival.

It's indescribably beautiful.

It is said that the high places are unbearable, and after Xue Shao enjoyed the fun that only civilians have, he finally realized this meaning. If you are in the palace to accompany the emperor and the queen mother for the festival, you can only stand on the top of the Tiancheng Tower and watch the fireworks in the sky stupidly. And how can you experience the true joy of the holidays?

Shangyuan Lantern Festival, through the sky.

In the middle of the night, even a physically energetic person like Xue Shao walked around until his legs were weak, and he saw less than one-tenth of the lanterns in the city. The whole family was still unsatisfied but couldn't walk, so they walked with the flow of people to the North Market and settled into an orchid restaurant to rest.

"I'm so tired!"

"But it's fun."

"Luoyang's lanterns are really more beautiful and spectacular than those in Chang'an!"

Princess Taiping and the women of Xiao Shi, Chen Xian'er, and Linlang got together and chatted happily. At this moment, none of them temporarily put away the dignified and reserved dignity of the noblewoman, and everyone's interest was quite high. As soon as Xue Shao, Xue Yi, and Xue Xu, the three brothers, sat down, they couldn't help but talk about some political affairs.

"Erlang, foolish brother heard that the emperor announced in public at Zetianmen today that the queen mother will be in the dynasty again from tomorrow, and His Majesty the emperor himself will still return to the harem to recuperate." Xue Yi asked, "Is there such a thing?" ”

Xue Shao nodded, "It shouldn't be bad." ”

"Oops...... The situation in this divine capital is really unpredictable! Xue Yi was full of emotion and regret. From a standpoint, of course, he hopes that the emperor can always be in power. It's just that due to Xue Shao's pressure, he won't express it clearly on any occasion. At most, it will only be mentioned slightly at home.

The two brothers talked, but Xue Xu remained silent and did not interject.

"Third brother, will you participate in this year's Spring Festival?" Xue Shao asked.

Xue Xu hurriedly replied, "Junior brother participates." ”

"Are you sure you'll win the championship?"

Xue Xu's face showed a hint of embarrassment, "The little brother is not talented, and he is not ten percent sure." ”

Xue Shao smiled: "If you promise to say yes, I won't believe it." There is no first and no second, and there are too many variables in such a thing as the imperial examination. I heard that in the current Guozi Prison, you and Xue Ji are the most famous, right? ”

"It's all a fallacy from outsiders, how can the younger brother dare to compete with Sitong (Xue Ji's words)?" Xue Xu is quite modest.

Xue Shao smiled and said: "Sitong is extremely talented in calligraphy and painting, and the young man is famous and famous. I heard that his call for winning the champion in the spring was extremely high. You were originally good at reading the scriptures, but you decided to take the entrance examination with him, didn't you just want to compete with him? ”

"This ......" Xue Xu blushed a little, embarrassed.

Xue Shao patted him on the shoulder, "Unwilling to admit defeat and dare to challenge the strong, this is a good thing, I appreciate it, I agree!" Whether you win the title or not, I'm proud of you! ”

"Thank you, second brother!" Xue Xu was very excited and hurriedly got up.

"Sit down, sit down!" Xue Shao hurriedly smiled and said, "If you go out in public, we brothers don't have to be formal. ”

Xue Yi was a little lonely and silent. He could see that Xue Shao was reluctant to talk to him about the emperor's pro-government and the queen mother's system. So he didn't mention this layer again, and the three brothers just drank wine and chatted about some gossip, only focusing on Xue Xu's studies and exams.

At this moment, the sharp-eyed Lin'er saw the figures of two acquaintances walking outside the wine shop, and hurriedly said, "Isn't that Master Wu and Yue Nu?" ”

Everyone looked back, and it was true.

"Go and call them in." Xue Shao sent Lin'er to call someone, thinking to himself that I didn't just ask them to go to Xianyang to contact Helian Guchuan and inquire about Mengjin Shuixiao, Li Xiantong and Feng Cheng's affairs, why did they come back so quickly?

Wu Ming and Yue Nu entered the wine shop to attend the ceremony first, and Xue Shao saw that both of them were in dusty riding clothes, obviously Luoyang, who had just rushed back overnight, and it must be urgent.

"Something?"

Wu Ming nodded.

Xue Shao called Wu Ming to a secluded place alone and asked him what was the matter.

"Helian Guchuan inquired that Mengjin Water Owl may have a big move recently." Wu Ming said.

"What do they want to do?"

"It's supposed to be an assassin." Wu Ming said, "It's not clear who it is for. Helian Guchuan's eyes and ears that had finally been inserted into the Mengjin Water Owl were recently discovered by Li Xiantong and his mouth was extinguished. That's just what he could tell. ”

Xue Shao's brows suddenly furrowed, "Since the Mengjin Water Owl is the minions of the Turkic mastermind Yuan Zhen, most of the people they want to assassinate are important ministers of the imperial court or important generals of the army. Whoever is injured will be a great scourge. ”

"So I rushed back to Luoyang in the starry night, and brought back all the troops and scouts to strengthen the defense of Gongzi's side and Princess Taiping's mansion." Wu Ming said.

"I don't think it's very likely that they'll do it against me again." Xue Shao said, "I'm afraid, if they do something to other ministers, it's really impossible to prevent it." ”

Wu Ming said: "Luoyang ordered Wei Yuanzhong to unite with Helian Guchuan to fight against the Mengjin water lords very effectively, and they suffered heavy losses, and there were not many people left. Now they are just jumping over the wall in a hurry to make a last stand, and they have to pull a few important ministers or generals to back their backs. ”

Xue Shao woke up in his heart, "From this point of view, it is very likely that Yuan Zhen issued a death order - is the Turks about to tear up the peace treaty and start a war again?" ”

Wu Ming was silent, he never intervened in this kind of thing.

Xue Shao's brain quickly calculated, if I were Yuan Zhen, who would I most want to assassinate when I decided to wage war against the Central Plains again?!

Being able to directly kill the border generals and leave the border guards of the Tang Dynasty leaderless is of course the most effective, but it is also the most difficult. Because the general of the border is in the barracks every day, and there are many guards around him.

When the prime minister? The various books? Even me Xue Shao himself? ——The impact on the victory or defeat of the war is not too direct, and this is not of great significance to Yuanzhen.

- Wu, Ze, Tian!

These three big words popped up in Xue Shao's mind, even if he killed the emperor now, the impact on Datang would not be great. Only Wu Zetian died suddenly, then the court of the Tang Dynasty will be completely out of control and fall into unprecedented chaos, and no matter how much the generals at the border pass can fight, they will not be able to make up for the huge chaos within the Tang Dynasty.

If Mengjin Water Owl really has such a plan and succeeds, it will undoubtedly bring an unprecedented catastrophe to Datang!

But it is not easy to assassinate Wu Zetian, who is guarded by thousands of horsemen in the inner court. But...... Today's Shangyuan Festival, Wu Zetian will walk out of the imperial city and come to the Zetian Gate Tower to enjoy the lanterns with the emperor and the people!

"Wu Ming!!"

"In!"

"Enter the palace with me immediately!" Xue Shao shook his robe and strode away, saying as he walked, "Big brother, Taiping, you go home right now." Yuenu Linlang, leading the troops to take care of the house. Guo An and all the scouts, come with me! ”

Everyone was stunned, but Xue Shao didn't give a second explanation. He, Wu Ming, Guo An, and the group of people all ran out of the wine shop like the wind, and flew away with the electric switch!

When the night approached, there was still a crowd of people on Luoyang Street today. Xue Shao and his entourage of more than 20 rode horses and galloped wildly, causing a lot of commotion. There is no shortage of people who complain and accuse, and even jump to scold their mothers. The Jinwuwei soldiers who patrolled the market to maintain law and order, the county government officials, and the bad people in the neighborhood tried their best to intercept Xue Shao or shout and chase after him, but Xue Shao ignored them and didn't care about it at all, so he just rushed forward and went straight to the Zetian Gate Tower.

Fortunately, Weilong BMW is full of spirit and agility, and it sprinted along the way without killing anyone, which is really a miracle.

While running wildly, Xue Shao tightened in his heart: no matter what grievances there are in history and the past, no matter whether they are friends or enemies in the future, in short, Wu Zetian must not die now! Even if I can't be sure that Li Xiantong is going to assassinate her tonight, even if it's a one-ten-thousandth risk, I can't take it!

The Imperial City of Taichu Palace has arrived, and what is in charge of martial law here today is the right guard field army transferred from outside the city, which is full of 10,000 people.

Seeing Xue Shao and his party coming on horseback, hundreds of sergeants shouted in unison and waved their spears to form an iron man wall in an instant, and countless archers behind them pulled their bows in unison.

"Stop coming, shoot whatever!"

"Dang Jinbi, get out of the way!! Xue Shao shouted, and the horse didn't stop like a bolt of lightning.

Dang Jin Bi was suddenly shocked, and he didn't have time to think about it and waved his hand, "Withdraw!" ”

The wall of iron men collapsed in an instant, and almost at the same time, Xue Shaolian and his horse flew up, almost grazing the top of Dang Jinbi's head. Immediately after that, more than 20 horsemen rushed into the wind and lightning, and entered the gate of heaven.

On the tower of the Tianmen Gate, Wu Zetian, Emperor Li Dan and the prime minister's ministers were all enjoying the lanterns and juggling downstairs in a relaxed and happy manner. At this time of the year, Qilin Xianrui and Dragon and Phoenix Chengxiang are both fixed programs. Now, dozens of people are waving huge unicorns (similar to lion dances) and the lively dragon and phoenix double dances are being carried out to a wonderful point, and the people are cheering and laughing, and the atmosphere is just high.

Xue Shao's horse rushed over and crashed directly into the dragon dance team, stopped suddenly, and even the people and horses stood upright, drew the sword out of the sheath and shouted-

"There are assassins!!"