The Qide Hall in the Taiji Palace of the Tang Imperial City is a special place for state banquets, which is generally used to entertain foreign envoys or be used on major festivals.

Since the death of the former emperor Li Zhi, it has not been useful here for a long time. Today, it is a prosperous scene of singing and dancing, and the Tang Dynasty set up a banquet to "farewell" the envoys of the Turkic country.

All Beijing officials above the fifth rank must participate in this banquet.

It's not an invitation, it's a "must".

This is the third major event that Wu Zetian has done after taking out Pei Yan and quelling the Yangzhou rebellion. If the first two major events are more aimed at Empress Wu herself (at least on the surface), then the reconciliation with the Turks can be regarded as a political achievement she has accomplished for the Tang Empire, which is worthy of her special mention and glory.

The civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty are very well aware of it, and now above the Tang Dynasty, the Empress Wu has no opponents. She had enough confidence to say the word "must".

Therefore, all the officials above the fifth rank in the capital, the clan, and the honorable all brought their wives to the banquet. There are thousands of tables in the Qide Palace, which is a grand sight.

Xue Shao was naturally among them, and his seat was very forward. On the opposite side is where the Turkic envoy and his party are seated.

The banquet began.

Wu Zetian raised his glass, and there was an overwhelming sound of gratitude and blessings. This voice made the smile on Wu Zetian's face look extraordinarily young, extraordinarily proud, and inexhaustibly heroic.

It's as if you have the whole world.

The eunuchs and maids who shuttled non-stop presented classic palace delicacies one by one, and the enchanting and beautiful singers and dancers performed on stage one after another.

Silk and bamboo are pleasant, long-sleeved and good at dancing, and the jewels and beauties are alluring.

The people who came from afar from the bitter cold land of Saibei were completely shocked by the splendid prosperity of the Tang Dynasty. That feeling is not something that Grandma Liu can describe when she enters the Grand View Garden, it is like Shengdou Xiaomin soaring in the day and seeing the Heavenly Court.

Xue Shao drank the wine quietly, and looked coldly at the group of hungry Turkic wolves on the opposite side of the seat, who were devouring nothing and not eating, and were still shining green in the eyes of the graceful maiko.

He was thinking viciously in his heart, eat, eat! No matter how much you eat now, you're going to have to spit it all out for me sooner or later!

Halfway through the feast, the Turkic envoys appeared en masse and danced their Hu Xuan dance to help the atmosphere of the feast.

Speaking from the heart, the dance of the Turkic people is full of movement and passion, and it is still very good-looking, and they have always been a horse people who can sing and dance. There were also many Datang officials present who praised and applauded, whether it was sincere or false.

But the generals Xue Shao and Li Duozuo were all indifferent. No matter what, they can't pretend to be hypocritical and flattering to their enemies of life and death.

After the Turks finished dancing, they returned to the table in turn, and took out a beautiful gift box with an exotic style and presented it to Wu Zetian. He said that it contained a magical pearl of the night, which was the treasure of the Ashina tribe of the Turkic Khan, and was once owned by successive Turkic khans. Today, it is dedicated to the "most holy and bright" Empress Dowager Wu.

Xue Shao got closer and saw clearly at a glance what kind of virtue the bead was. Although I am not an expert in jewelry, I am better than being well-informed. With his eyesight, it was not difficult to tell that the bead was also an ordinary color. In the treasure cabinet of his own home, he can search for a dozen at any time.

Xue Shao still saw the clue at such a glance, not to mention Wu Zetian, who had been accompanied by precious jewelry all his life. However, Wu Zetian was very happy, and very happily accepted the tribute from the Turks, and announced in public that he would reward him with a batch of silk, gold utensils, good horses, and beautiful women in return. By the way, they were also rewarded with a copy of the Khan's Gulu and Quanchen Yuanzhen.

This kind of thing is not uncommon in the diplomatic relations between the two countries. The state of Chinese etiquette has always been rude and not rude. The Heavenly Empire's shots have always been arrogant, for fear that others will say that we are shabby.

When he heard about the reward, he knelt down and bowed on the spot. Xue Shao clearly saw that the palace dancers who were kneeling on the ground and bowing squinted their eyes and glanced at the court dancers next to him with graceful and crisp breasts half exposed, and he almost swallowed his saliva.

Maybe it was because he drank a few more glasses of stuffy wine, and Xue Shao, who was already very bored in his heart, couldn't bear it.

He stood up and walked into the hall, bowed to Wu Zetian, "The Empress Dowager Qi, the minister has a play." ”

In front of everyone's eyes, Xue Shao stood up so abruptly, which really surprised everyone. And what he said was still "the courtier's own music", as formal and solemn as if he was in the previous dynasty. Seeing that his demeanor is even more serious, it doesn't seem like he is going to congratulate and please.

In the Qide Palace, it suddenly fell silent. It's eerily quiet.

The arrogant who was still kneeling on one knee to thank him looked up at Xue Shao in surprise, blinking his eyes in confusion...... Familiar, this person has appeared in the talks in recent days, but it seems that he has never heard his opinion.

- Who is it?

Wu Zetian faintly felt a trace of unease, but his tone was still relaxed with a pleasant face, "Aiqing has something to say, you might as well speak up." ”

"Minister, our court should give the Turkic Ye Protector Envoys, as well as their Khans and Apodagan and others. Because of the continuous war, peace is not easy to come by. Xue Shao arched his hand and said with a clear look, "But the minister suggested that we should not give our people out as well." ”

As soon as these words came out, the hall was full of surprise.

Wu Zetian's expression changed slightly, as if he was a little caught off guard, and he was speechless for a while.

He speaks Chinese quite fluently, and he has no problem understanding it. He first raised his head and looked at Xue Shao in surprise, and then slowly stood up and looked at Xue Shao head-on, not avoiding it.

That look was like a hungry wolf about to eat people.

Xue Shao smiled disapprovingly, "Your envoy, angry?" ”

Just like a Sichuan opera changing face, he immediately changed his smile to a kind and wealthy face, "How come?" How could it be! ”

"That's good." Xue Shao replied lightly, and bowed to Wu Zetian again, "The minister invites the Queen Mother to be judged!" ”

Wu Zetian frowned, obviously a little unhappy. But it was not good to attack in public, so he motioned to Xue Shao with his eyes, "Don't mess around, go down."

"Wait." He suddenly spoke, and bent down at Xue Shao's chest, and then said, "Your Excellency, please forgive me for saying more." It's just that the envoy is very puzzled, why did you want to prevent the queen mother from giving us a beautiful woman? As far as the envoy knows, the Tang Dynasty has always had a practice of rewarding beauties to kings or khans, generals, and ministers. And not only to reward beauties, but also to marry princesses of the royal family. Why do you have to change when you come to the Turks? …… Could it be that Your Excellency is despising my Turks on behalf of the Tang Dynasty? ”

Provocation!

Everyone present heard that he was provoking, and it could even be said to be a threat!

So, once again, the house was full of shock.

Wu Zetian's face became even more ugly, and he hurriedly said: "Your envoy doesn't have to think about it, Datang has no such intentions - Xue Shao, don't you retreat?" ”

"Are you...... Xue Shao?! He was taken aback.

"Yes, I am." Xue Shao turned around and looked at Du Xilu coldly, "Xue is a courtier of the Tang Dynasty, and it is my duty to give advice to the country's strategy." Whether to accept it or not is not under Xue's control. But Xue must express the thoughts in his heart. Otherwise, you will lose your duty as a minister! ”

Xue Shao...... Nightmare! He looked at Xue Shao with round eyes, nodded a few times, and took a deep breath, "No wonder, no wonder!" ”

Xue Shao smiled, "No wonder what? ”

"No wonder you haven't said a word these days. No wonder today, you will prevent the Queen Mother from rewarding beauties. Du Xiluo also smiled, "It turns out that you are Xue Shao." It was not surprising that Xue Shao did this. ”

"Xue Shao, this palace will tell you to step down." Wu Zetian gave the order again, and his voice was a little cold.

"The Queen Mother is groomed, and the minister was originally going to retire immediately. But the Turkic nobles suddenly got into a relationship with their ministers. In order not to lose respect for the Turkic Khanate, the minister had to hastily stop and deal with it. Xue Shao waved his sleeves and made a solemn pilgrimage, "Minister, retire." ”

With that, Xue Shao turned around and left. Instead of returning to the direction of the seat, it is walking out of the Qide Hall!

Thousands of people were stunned!

In the Qide Palace, there was a sudden silence!

"Stop!" Wu Zetian stood up abruptly and shouted loudly.

Xue Shaodouran stopped and turned his hand to bow, "What does the Queen Mother command?" ”

There was already a trace of anger on Wu Zetian's face, "Xue Shao, this is a major occasion for diplomatic relations between the two countries. You are ignoring state affairs by brushing your sleeves away like this. As an important minister of the Tang Dynasty, is this your duty? ”

Both the Solsy and the Turks began to sneer.

The scene in front of them is definitely what they want to see.

"Back to the Queen Mother, the duties of the minister have been fulfilled. The banquet was also full. The queen mother ordered the ministers to retreat, and the ministers retreated. The minister had no other intentions. Xue Shao stood neither humbly nor arrogantly, without even a trace of ups and downs in his voice, and spoke very calmly.

Wu Zetian's eyebrows sank and his anger rose again, "Is it your duty to openly scorn and anger foreign envoys on diplomatic occasions, so as to cast an unfavorable shadow on the peace between the two countries?" ”

"Back to the Empress Dowager...... Xue Shao's brows slowly locked, and his expression became very serious, "When the minister first joined the army, he once made a bloody oath to defend the land under our feet, to defend our compatriots, and to defend the dignity of our Tang Dynasty. This is not only the oath of the minister, but also the duty of the minister. Minister, never dare to forget! ”

"......" Wu Zetian frowned and was silent.

The hall was silent, and the birds were silent.

"That's not right!" Xue Shao suddenly said in a high-pitched voice, as if he was scolding and cross-examining himself, "It's not that the minister doesn't dare to forget, the minister doesn't have the face to mention it!" …… No face, no face!! ”

"Xue Shao, don't go too far." Wu Zetian did not reprimand angrily, but there was obviously a strong sense of dissatisfaction in his voice.

"The Queen Mother is angry." Xue Shao bowed his hand, but his body stood more straight, and said, "The minister drank a few more cups today, and he dared to say what he didn't dare to say." The queen mother wanted to punish the crime, and the ministers all confessed. But there are some words that are not allowed to be said today, and the minister will be even more uncomfortable than dead. ”

Everyone present was stunned. Li Duozuo and these generals were all shocked, and they all pinched a cold sweat for Xue Shao. Xue Chuyu wanted to jump up and drag Xue Shao back, but was choked by the black-toothed Chang Zhi and others beside him.

In front of everyone's eyes, Wu Zetian, who should have been furious, sat down calmly, "Then you can say it!" ”