Chapter 217 Assassination
It wasn't an ordinary dance; it was a sword dance.
Because Emperor Wu used force to quell the unrest after ascending the throne, and because he himself was a person who loved martial arts, he still maintained the habit of practicing boxing every day even after he was over fifty.
Following the example set by the superiors, the Tang Dynasty at this time could be described as extremely martial.
However, the law was also very strict. In Chang'an, any sharp blade longer than a foot required a detailed explanation of its origin and purpose.
For example, the weapons used by the镖师 (bodyguards/escorts) of镖行 (escort companies) were all registered with the Jingzhao Prefecture. Not only were their lengths recorded, but even the appearances of the users were documented.
At this moment, the nine women, dressed in light and thin dresses and each holding a sword that was about three feet long, were dancing gracefully in the center to the sound of string and bamboo instruments. The swords they used were probably unsharpened and only half the weight of a normal real sword. They were swords specially designed for sword dance.
Emperor Wu watched as the nine women performed various difficult movements with their supple waists. Although it was not as spectacular as the soldiers' martial arts performance earlier, it had a kind of graceful beauty, a beauty that combined strength and gentleness.
The Minister of Rites carefully observed Emperor Wu's face and, seeing that the emperor also appreciated the women dancing with swords, he felt relieved.
As long as you please the biggest boss, everyone else is insignificant.
As the music grew more urgent, the women wielded their swords faster and faster, leaving one unsure whether to watch the swords or the beautiful women themselves.
Most people in the arena did not notice that as the sword dance gradually entered its most exciting phase, two of the nine female warriors had slowly moved from the center toward Emperor Wu.
As the musicians played a high note on the pipa, bringing the sword dance to its climax, one of the two women who had separated from the main group suddenly lunged forward, her sharp blade aimed directly at Emperor Wu's throat!
Emperor Wu noticed something amiss shortly after the group of women entered the arena: the sound of unsharpened swords colliding with sharpened swords was different from the sound of unsharpened swords colliding.
Only a warrior who uses such a weapon would understand this, and Empress Wu happened to be someone who could use a Tang sword, so how could she not know that there was a problem?
Therefore, as the two women slowly approached Emperor Wu through their movements, Emperor Wu became even more certain that there was a trap involved.
Emperor Wu thought that this must be the intelligence that Wang Da Dang handed over to Xue Yao this morning, which probably described the tricks that the Temple Gate had pulled.
Haha, that's interesting.
When the woman's sword was pointed directly at Emperor Wu's throat, Wang Da Dang jumped out from behind Emperor Wu without thinking and stood in front of him.
The Prince of Xiang, who was sitting below Emperor Wu, first pulled Princess Taiping aside with his foot before pretending to move towards Emperor Wu. However, during this process, before Lou Shide, who was closest to Emperor Wu among the officials, could step forward, the hidden guard who had been hiding beside Emperor Wu suddenly stepped forward, knocked the sword away, and kicked the woman over.
Emperor Wu didn't move an inch, and said to Wang Da Dang who was blocking her way, "Dang, you're blocking my view of the show."
After watching as the other woman was also subdued by the guards, Wang Da Dang turned around, bowed to Emperor Wu, and then stood behind him.
However, at the third quarter of Shen time, the sun was still radiating heat overhead, and the Annamese envoy sitting at the end of the table was sweating profusely, as he was truly struggling to cope with the situation.
However, he was bolder than his colleague who had urinated in the camp outside Beijing that morning; at least he was only sweating from fright and did not let himself smell foul.
The entire hall was completely silent. The remaining seven dancers were so frightened by the scene that they dropped their swords and huddled together, trembling, not even daring to whimper.
"Haha, haha." Emperor Wu's two carefree laughs sounded particularly loud in the silent hall.
With a "thud," the Minister of Rites knelt down on one knee.
The Minister of Rites knelt and kowtowed, not daring to utter a single word, thinking to himself, "It's all over, I'm doomed."
At this moment, everyone heard shouts coming from outside the hall, and a foul smell from burning tung oil also wafted over.
A short while later, as Emperor Wu was drinking his third cup by himself, Xue Yao walked in, dressed in a black outfit and carrying a strong smell of blood.
Upon entering the hall, one could see that the path Xue Yao had walked on was covered in bloodstains.
The civil officials didn't say a word, but some were thinking to themselves, "Good heavens, how many people have been killed?"
Xue Yao knelt on one knee before Emperor Wu, bowed his head and clasped his hands, saying, "Your Majesty, all the rebels have been executed."
Before Emperor Wu could reply, an arrow, accompanied by a whooshing sound, flew towards his direction.
The sound of an arrow piercing flesh was heard with a "thud".
With two loud thuds, the two severed arrows fell to the ground.
"Everyone!"
"saint!"
"Mother!"
...
Li San Niang was now holding Lu Zhu'er and sitting down in the largest acrobatic troupe's arena in the West Market.
When Li San Niang and the others arrived, Shen Qiu Niang and Tuwa were just outside greeting people.
Judging from Shen Qiuniang's expression, Li Sanniang knew that Tuva treated Shen Qiuniang very well.
Shen Qiuniang's face was radiant with happiness, a rosy glow that suggested she was loved and cared for.
When Shen Qiuniang grabbed her and insisted on arranging a good spot for her, Li Sanniang took the opportunity to check Shen Qiuniang's pulse. Sure enough, her blood and qi were well replenished. Li Sanniang whispered to her, "You can try to have a child."
A blush spread across Shen Qiuniang's happy face. The Li family was then arranged to have a great view, though not in the very center.
Li's mother was always willing to spend money. Before leaving home, she specially took a purse and counted out two taels of silver when she arrived at the market, asking Li's second brother to take Li's eldest son to buy some snacks.
"The melons and pomegranates from last time were quite good. If you see any more, buy a few more and bring them home for your older brother to try."
This time, the ticket price for the Tuva troupe has increased by ten copper coins even for the worst seats, while the best seats in the seventh or eighth row in the very center cost one or two taels of silver.
However, after looking at a third of the site, Li San Niang felt that the price was quite reasonable.
After all, this time, in addition to that terrifying tiger, they also brought in a brown bear.
Although it is a young animal that has not yet grown up, its adorable appearance is indeed endearing.
But that still couldn't hide the fact that it was a carnivorous beast.
Li Erxiong was still saying to Li's father, "I never thought they could get their hands on such a ferocious beast. I guess they got it from somewhere in the north, I don't know how."
"The 'Rihuazi Materia Medica' says that bear paw is also a good medicine that is neutral in nature, sweet and spicy in taste, and can ward off wind and cold and boost energy."
Father Li remembered what the medical book said: bear paws were a rare medicinal ingredient.
Xiao Silang wasn't interested in any of that; he just felt that today was really interesting. Sitting in his father's lap, Xiao Silang looked up and interrupted Li Erxiong's conversation with his father, asking Li Erxiong, "Father, are we going to see the fireworks tonight? If not, how about we release river lanterns? I want to go."
Brother Li lowered his head and asked, "Where did you know there would be fireworks?"
Xiao Shilang pointed to another young man in the front row, about his age, and said, "He told me."
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