Chapter 211 Emperor Wu

In fact, this was the first time Emperor Wu had held such a large-scale birthday celebration since he ascended the throne.

In previous years, it was nothing more than the emperor having a meal with his still-living children after the court officials presented their gifts.

Furthermore, other emperors did not actually ride horses to inspect the army on their birthdays.

After all, there are emperors who are brave and skilled in battle, can ride horses to become generals, can command battles, and also have extraordinary martial arts skills. Emperor Taizong was one of them.

However, during Emperor Taizong's reign, there was no mention of the emperor inspecting soldiers at the military camp outside the capital on his birthday.

Emperor Wu was no ordinary man.

Her explanation to her ministers was, "I seized the throne from Emperor Gaozong, and it was thanks to the hundreds of thousands of soldiers that I was able to secure my seat. I want to go and see on my birthday what is wrong with the soldiers who helped me solidify my throne?"

What could the civil officials say upon hearing this?

You can't reason with her; you can't beat her with force.

What else is there to say?

It was nothing more than the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of War engaging in a three-day, three-night war of words over the ceremony's procedures.

Therefore, the news was spread from the Jingzhao Prefecture.

On the first day of the Emperor's birthday celebration, Emperor Wu would not only appear in person, but would also come out from Zhuque Avenue to inspect the soldiers at the Jingbian Grand Camp, located ten miles north of the city.

Furthermore, it was later said that not only that, but they would also receive the people who presented gifts at the Imperial City Tower, which would be quite extraordinary.

Let alone the wealthy, even the people living in the outer three cities all dreamed of going to the roadside to catch a glimpse of what the emperor looked like.

Centered on Chang'an, radiating outwards, not to mention Shilipo, even a hundred miles outwards from Shilipo, many people would want to come and visit Chang'an someday.

Therefore, after the gate opened, Li San Niang and her family waited for nearly half an hour. The whole family bought some baked flatbread from a stall selling flatbread on the street and ate it. After waiting a while, the queue finally started moving.

Li San Niang held Lu Zhu'er and looked out the carriage window. Although there were usually constables in dark blue clothes, hats and swords at their waists patrolling the streets, there were five or six of them standing on one side at this moment.

Not to mention there were more than a dozen at the gate, and Li Sanniang had seen no fewer than three pairs of Imperial Guards along the entire road since the beginning.

After leaving the gate, Nineteen wanted to hurry up and catch the carriage, but the road was full of people and carriages. Although there were soldiers maintaining order and making people pass by in an orderly manner, it was impossible to speed up.

"If we wait until we get to Suzaku Avenue, we don't know if we'll even have time to find a place. Even if we do find one, we probably won't be able to see the Sage."

Li San Niang's sister-in-law, sitting opposite her, said this as she looked at the scene.

Brother Li then spoke up: "Sister-in-law, as long as we make it, that's fine. I paid the deposit at that teahouse a long time ago and reserved a table on the second floor."

"Hey, second brother, you're something else, you even planned ahead of time."

At this moment, Nineteen chimed in, "That's great! Which teahouse did Brother Li reserve a table at? I know a shortcut; we can take that and be faster than them!"

After a hurried and busy hour, we finally arrived at the gate of Anyefang.

The journey was crowded, and the donkeys didn't move very fast, so Li Dalang and the other two took turns sitting on the shaft with Li Erxiong, and they weren't too tired.

Koshiro, who was sitting inside the carriage, really wanted to run around the carriage outside like his older brothers.

It was Sister-in-law Li who pressed him down and patted his little bottom twice before Xiao Silang finally calmed down.

After a lot of trouble getting through the gate, they drove the cart to the teahouse that Brother Li had mentioned. Li San Niang immediately heard the sound of drums, not the small drums played by acrobats, but the large drums that soldiers beat before going to war.

The thumping sound grew clearer and clearer, and by the time they reached the street where the teahouse was located, Sister-in-law Li and the others could hear it too.

"It's the sound of drums!"

Li Dalang's words were met with a nod from Li Erxiong. "It seems the Emperor has already left the palace. Hurry up, let's pay the money and go upstairs to wait."

Li Dalang followed Shijiu to the teahouse to pay the servant for guarding the carriages and horses.

Of course, you can't just park your donkey cart anywhere in front of a teahouse. There's a designated area for carriages and horses. Just tell the servant and pay the money, and he'll lead it there for you.

That place is guarded by dedicated personnel who also clean up livestock manure and provide water for the horses and donkeys.

As soon as they entered the teahouse, a waiter came up to them and said, "Is Dr. Li here? Quickly, take a seat. Dr. Li has reserved a window seat on the second floor."

Li San Niang and the others followed the servant up to the second floor. As soon as Li San Niang reached the corner of the stairs, she looked up and saw that there were already three or four tables of guests sitting on the second floor.

The servant was very perceptive. Seeing Li San Niang's question, he quickly added, "Isn't this the way the Emperor is going to pass outside the city? Everyone wants to see him, so they came early."

Brother Li only booked one table, which, if squeezed in a little, can seat eight people.

There was no other way, so they asked the servant for two stools, which were just enough for the group of ten to sit on.

Everyone was seated, and the servant brought tea. Brother Li also ordered three plates of snacks.

Li San Niang held Lu Zhu'er and a teacup, but it was filled with water. Li Da Sao was next to Xiao Si Lang. The group chatted and looked out the window.

Only then did Li San Niang realize that both sides of Zhuque Street were already lined with soldiers in golden armor.

Li San Niang understood; the area was being cleared out.

I knew it! This is Emperor Wu, how could he let ordinary people come into contact with him so easily?

The drumbeats grew louder and louder.

When Emperor Wu arrived at the gate of Taiji Palace, he saw the officials and his children waiting there.

Emperor Wu did not dismount. He nodded to everyone and rode ahead towards the city gate.

Then, the ministers in their red round-necked robes were left looking at each other in bewilderment, along with Emperor Wu's sons and various princes who were already used to such things.

Prince Xiang shook his head, bowed to everyone, and then turned and left. He needed to go to the camp outside the capital a little earlier to wait for Emperor Wu.

The people were already familiar with Emperor Wu's way of doing things. After Lou Shide and a few other bigwigs said a few words, everyone dispersed. Everyone had their own duties and should go do what they were supposed to do, so as not to waste time and make mistakes.

Just as Li San Niang was answering Lu Zhu'er's question about why she couldn't take Xiao Huang out with her, she heard the sound of horses' hooves striking the ground in unison.

These are military horses! At least a hundred of them!

When Li San Niang was assassinated in Yongpingfang, the Imperial Guards arrived on horseback to save her, and that was the sound they made.

Emperor Wu is coming!

My heart is pounding with excitement, my hands are trembling!

That's none other than the Martial Emperor!

Li San Niang moved the stool closer to the window and craned her neck to look ahead.

It was still too far away; all that could be seen was a person in a black imperial robe riding a black horse, followed by a herd of golden figures.