Tang Palace, Changsheng Hall.

There were bursts of music in the hall, and clouds and smoke filled the air. Thousands of giant butter candles were either hung on the top of the hall, or placed on the two walls, but in this grand and far-reaching hall, the brilliance they radiated was far from enough. However, in the middle of the hall

In the half-darkness, the candlelight reflected on the golden silk on the painted wall and carved beams emitted a blurry halo, which also made people feel as if they were in the human world.

There are three rows of seats on each side of the hall, where hundreds of officials, including civil and military officials, are seated.

There is a winding culvert hidden in front of the banquet. The clear spring mixed with special spices slowly flows from the culvert. The scent of rosin is constantly rising from the carved copper grid on the culvert, like smoke and mist, adding a bit of fairyland to this mortal palace.

Home weather.

The center of the Hall of Eternal Life is lined with white jade inlaid with blue-patterned stones. It is warm in winter and cool in summer. At this time, hundreds of palace maids are dancing to the sound of drums. Except for the slow and sudden drum beats, there is no other companion.

Music. The sound of drums is like a big river. On the surface, the waves are slow and calm, but under the water, there are turbulent undercurrents. The sound of the drums may be ahead or behind, and they all fall in the heartbeat of everyone. Along with the maid's swinging arms and raising her feet, the sound continues.

It's like holding a person watching the dance and speeding through the water, shuttling back and forth between the reefs and the mermaids. They may be surprised or delighted, unable to control themselves.

After the dance, the aftertaste of the drum sound still echoed in the ears of all the officials. For a moment, there was a dead silence in the palace, everyone held their breath. I don't know who could not hold back and shouted loudly, "Good drums!" The sound in the palace was like thunder!

What is placed on the high platform at the end of the Hall of Eternal Life is not a golden table with a dragon chair, but a large drum mounted on two golden lions. Emperor Ming was dressed in red gold silk clothes, holding a mallet in both hands, and raised it to the sky, still immersed in the aftertaste of the drum.

.

Yang Yuhuan stood up, holding the golden cup in his hand, and said with a sound like pearls and jade falling on a plate: "Your Majesty's drumming skills are unparalleled, I would like to congratulate Your Majesty with this cup!"

At this time, Emperor Ming let out a breath that had been hidden in his chest for a long time, put away the drumsticks, took the golden cup from Yang Yuhuan's hand, gave a long smile, and said: "Okay! Come, all your lords, drink this cup with me, and wait until the wine is over."

After three rounds, I will appreciate the unparalleled pipa in the world with its jade ring!"

After the civil and military officials had a round of drinking, they all sat down one after another. Only Yang Guozhong stood and said loudly: "Since your Majesty took charge, the world has been peaceful, the foreigners have been subdued, the heavens have sent good omens, and the people live in peace. Your Majesty's drumming skills are unparalleled, and you have shown them to the world.

Your majesty is majestic, and your Majesty is only good at playing the pipa. With your Majesty, the dragon is soaring and the phoenix follows you. Your Majesty is accompanied by your Majesty today, which is already a very auspicious sign for the dragon and phoenix. I, Yang Guozhong, would like to congratulate your Majesty!"

Hearing these words, Emperor Ming was very happy. He looked at Yang Yuhuan and laughed: "Well said! Please drink again, gentlemen!"

After this round of drinking, the important ministers and generals who had the opportunity to speak in the palace all spoke, praising His Majesty for his incomparable music and art, and that His Majesty is really a fairy descended from the earth, etc. The flattery naturally differs in finesse and grossness, and is generally similar to one's personal status. Then

For older officials, the flattery seems to be more useful. Although the flattery skills of the ministers are almost the same, but over time, the differences in official salaries will gradually show up.

In the Palace of Eternal Life, singing and music are blazing, flattery is flying, and the emperor and his ministers are enjoying themselves.

When the wine is not drunk and everyone is drunk, they can only hear the sound of armor. A fierce general has stood up in the generals' bench. He is wearing a gold-plated lion's heart armor, with a black face, eyes like lightning, and a thick beard.

It must be clean and neat, with a hint of shrewdness amidst the mighty killing.

His lion heart armor was mottled with scratches from swords everywhere. As he stood up, a vast aura of wind and sand immediately hit his face. He was obviously a fierce general who had been fighting on the battlefield for many years.

He held up the wine cup and said loudly: "General An Lushan, I wish you the immortal beauty of Concubine Yang. I specially offer ten bottles of snow jade ointment made from the heart blood of arctic ferrets to the empress. It has the effect of lasting forever. I will give you eternal beauty."

I wish your majesty a long life and a prosperous future. This time I bring you an iron-backed dragon colt as a tribute!"

As soon as An Lushan said this, the ministers began to discuss in a low voice. Although the ministers were all well-informed people, the two tributes offered by An Lushan were unheard of. However, he was the governor of the three towns.

Shi, with one hundred thousand troops, could be said to have overwhelming power, and it was unusual for him to collect rare treasures. However, when he presented congratulatory gifts, he first placed Yang Yuhuan in the front, and put Emperor Ming in the back, which was a disrespectful move.

Sure enough, Emperor Ming narrowed his eyes slightly, looked at Yang Yuhuan with a smile, and said to An Lushan: "There are rules and regulations in court. I ask you, why did you put Concubine Yang before me when you paid tribute to the rare treasure just now?"

As soon as Emperor Ming uttered his words, there was a sudden silence in the palace. Some of the ministers were worried, some were gloating about misfortune, and some were sitting firmly on the Diaoyutai. Their mentality varied, all depending on how An Lushan responded.

An Lushan said solemnly: "I am originally from the Hu people, and because of your majesty's love, I have a place in this palace. We Hu people only know that there is a mother but not a father in our customs. Concubine Yang and your majesty are one and the same, so I am

Only then did I place Concubine Yang before His Majesty."

Yang Yuhuan was startled when he heard this, covered his mouth and chuckled: "I'm not your mother, why are you like this?"

Unexpectedly, An Lushan suddenly left the table, knelt down, and said loudly: "If the empress will not give up, I, An Lushan, would like to be the adopted son of the empress! I am the queen, please accept the child's worship!"

When Yang Yuhuan and Emperor Ming were stunned, An Lushan kowtowed several times. Emperor Ming couldn't help but smiled and said to Yang Yuhuan: "Yuhuan, what do you think?"

Yang Yuhuan smiled slightly and said: "This child is very smart, I like him very much."

Emperor Ming laughed loudly and said: "That's the case, I will allow you to accept this adopted son! Let's all drink together!"

The ministers burst into flames, and everyone was cursing An Lushan. He was really much older than Yang Yuhuan, but who would have thought that he was so shameless that he would recognize Concubine Yang as his godmother! And An Lushan's words

The queen mother is also very knowledgeable. It should be noted that although Yang Yuhuan is only a noble concubine, the position of queen in the palace has been vacant for a long time. In fact, she is the master of the harem. When An Lushan calls her like this, Yang Yuhuan is naturally happy. An Lushan

He has been guarding the border for a long time and is a barbarian. Although he dominates the three towns, the powerful officials in the palace looked down on him at first, thinking that he was just a warrior. They did not expect that he was also so scheming.

While the ministers were scolding each other, they felt a little lonely. If they had known the outcome earlier, they might have taken the lead in taking this risky move.

The palace was full of joy for a while, but I don’t know how many people except Emperor Ming had their own evil intentions. Just as the singing and dancing were peaceful, Gao Lishi, who was standing in front of the steps, suddenly caught a glimpse of a young eunuch behind the curtain of the hall who kept winking at him.

Color. Gao Lishi took a closer look and recognized that the man was his trusted young eunuch Li Fuguo. Gao Lishi knew that he was always smart, capable of doing things, and had general knowledge. If he dared to come to him at this time, something must have happened.

event.

Gao Lishi looked back and saw that Emperor Ming was still immersed in the singing and dancing of silk music and did not notice him at all, so he quietly withdrew from Emperor Ming's sight, walked quietly behind the curtain, and followed Li Fuguo out of the Palace of Immortality.

As soon as he left the palace, Gao Lishi grabbed Li Fuguo's shoulder, pulled him over, and whispered: "What big thing do you have to say at this time? How many heads do you have to disturb His Majesty?"

Is it enough to cut?"

Li Fuguo hurriedly smiled and said: "Eunuch Gao, this is such an urgent matter. I am too weak to bear the responsibility of missing something. Only you can make the decision on such a big matter!"

Gao Lishi's face softened, but he still said: "Stop talking nonsense, if it's not a big deal, our family will have to beat you to death personally!"

Li Fuguo looked around and saw no one around, so he whispered: "Eunuch Gao, just now General Pan of the Imperial Guard asked to see him, saying that the City Guards found this from the post station where the Tao De Sect immortals originally lived, and he did not dare to specialize in it.

, specially sent this thing, please make your decision."

With that said, Li Fuguo took out a black silk bag from his arms and carefully handed it to Gao Lishi.

Gao Lishi opened the bag, took out a painting scroll, opened it only three inches, and immediately closed it with a snap, put it back into the silk bag, and tied the bag tightly. Even though Gao Lishi had been through the wind and waves for a long time, his hands were shaking a little at this moment.

, it took a long time to tie the mouth of the bag tightly. He put the silk bag into his arms, then stared at Li Fuguo and asked: "Where did this thing come from?"

Li Fuguo immediately replied: "According to General Pan, this was found from the room where Ji Ruochen and Ji Shaoxian lived in the inn."

Gao Lishi nodded expressionlessly and said, "Have you seen what's inside?"

Li Fuguo immediately broke out in a cold sweat and said: "No! Absolutely not! This is what General Pan told you to give to you. How dare you take a second look at it?"

Gao Lishi did not comment, but took a look inside the palace first, and saw that the dance had finished, and a palace maid was bringing up the pipa played by Yang Yuhuan. Knowing that the banquet would not be over for a while, he headed outside the palace first. Li Fuguo hesitated for a moment.

, bit the bullet and followed.

In a short time, Gao Lishi was sitting alone in a lonely side hall, closing the doors and windows. He then took out the scroll from the silk bag, slowly unfolded it, and looked at it carefully with the weak candlelight of a red candle.

The painting depicts a woman who has just come out of the bath, with green silk piled on her shoulders. She is lazily leaning on a stone couch, hugging a silk quilt, her breasts are half exposed, and her charming eyes are as silk as silk.

Indescribable style.

Looking at her picturesque features, it turned out to be Yang Yuhuan!

Gao Lishi thought for a moment, then carefully rolled up the painting and put it back into the silk bag. He had met Yunfeng and Ji Ruochen, and based on his decades of discerning people, he judged that Ji Ruochen was definitely not that good.

People who are addicted to female lust. Not to mention that Ji Ruochen is a disciple who has been carefully cultivated by the Taoist Sect. How could he not have the determination to secretly paint a portrait of Concubine Yang and paint it in such an ambiguous and explicit way? Even this one

The painting was really painted by Ji Ruochen. With his concentration and cultivation, how could he forget to take it with him when he left and leave a huge clue to others out of thin air? Although the great monastic sects such as Tao De Sect did not put the imperial court on the throne.

In my eyes, the imperial court is not something that can be insulted casually.

By this point, Gao Lishi already understood that this must be an attempt to blame the Daodezong, and the target was pointed directly at Ji Ruochen. It was easy to explain the blame on the Daodezong, but the key point was that it was pointed at Ji Ruochen, which was really intriguing. This kind of blaming strategy was not very good.

It's clever, but it's enough to deceive Emperor Ming, and it's extremely sinister.

Gao Lishi narrowed his eyes and thought carefully about who planned to kill Daodezong and Ji Ruochen like this. As he thought about it repeatedly, Yang Yuhuan's face suddenly flashed before his eyes. When he thought of her charming smile, there was no smile in her eyes.

, Gao Lishi suddenly felt a chill in his heart, and couldn't help but shudder a few times.

He had made a decision in his mind, clapped his hands, and Li Fuguo walked in lightly. Gao Lishi pondered for a moment and asked: "How many of the immortals of the Taoism Sect are still in Chang'an?"

Li Fuguo said: "I heard that there was a big event in their sect, so most of the immortals went back to the mountains. Currently, only six of them are staying in Chang'an, surveying Feng Shui and building conservatory towers."

Gao Lishi nodded and said: "Go and ask General Pan to wait in the palace, and tell him that I will go see him in a while. In addition, find out which post houses the imperial army went to inspect, and who were the envoys of the post houses that day.

, don’t let anyone get away.”

After Li Fuguo was ordered to leave, Gao Lishi immediately got up and left.

When the bright moon turned to the west, the night banquet in the Changsheng Palace was just about to end. Emperor Ming took Yang Yuhuan on his arm and walked to the bedroom surrounded by the palace maids. He was obviously still in a high interest, discussing new poems by people of the time, and talking to Yang Yuhuan.

Laughing. After a while, they arrived at the bedroom. Emperor Ming had just dismissed his servants, leaving only four considerate maids serving in the palace. Suddenly, he heard Gao Lishi outside the palace asking to see him.

Emperor Ming was displeased and just said he had something to do tomorrow. Yang Yuhuan immediately said that state affairs were important. If Eunuch Gao asked for an audience at this time, there must be something important. His Majesty must not miss state affairs because of her. Emperor Ming then announced that,

But a face has pulled the old man.

Gao Lishi walked in with his head lowered, not daring to look in the direction of Yang Yuhuan. He only presented a black silk bag and said: "This was found in Ji Ruochen's room in the Tao Te Sect's post house. The old slave didn't dare to do anything about it.

Please let your majesty decide."

Emperor Ming took out the scroll and only opened it for a glance. Immediately, Long Yan became furious. He tore several scrolls into pieces, threw them on the ground, and shouted: "These demons are so brave! How dare they take advantage of Yuhuan! I

So blind!"

After hearing this, Yang Yuhuan came over to pick up a fragment of a scroll and take a look at it. His pretty face turned white and he was already wet with tears. He shouted: "Your Majesty, I only sent Daodezong Ji Ruochen to come to see you and ask about the secret of beauty and longevity.

But who knew that these Taoist priests had evil intentions, and actually...acted to paint me like this! It’s a waste that they are still cultivators of immortality!"

Hearing what Yang Yuhuan said, Gao Lishi felt a chill in his heart again, and he lowered his head even lower.

Emperor Ming was already furious, but after hearing this, his face turned livid, but he could not see the anger. He was silent for a moment and asked Gao Lishi: "Who has seen such a thing?"

"General Pan, deputy commander of the Imperial Guards, twenty people from the Eighth Battalion of the Imperial Guards, and sixty-six people from the post house." Gao Lishi bowed his head and said.

"Behead!" Emperor Ming almost squeezed out the word through his teeth.

Gao Lishi's body trembled slightly and said: "I obey the order!" Different from the past, this time Gao Lishi did not have any advice to Emperor Ming, nor did he advise him to think twice before acting.
Chapter completed!