Chapter 384 Making Trouble
On their way home, Li San Niang and Qiu Xiang told Shi Jiu about the two suspicious people who had come to see them that day.
"I have already reported it, and I presume that you are aware of it now and will take some precautions."
Nineteen nodded, "Then we'll have to be careful if we go out tomorrow."
Recalling the perilous experience of the last birthday celebration, Li San Niang felt that what Shi Jiu said was absolutely right.
"How about we just stay home?"
In this way, will I not get involved in any trouble?
I was planning to take Dewdrop out to play and see the lanterns, but if anything happens, I'll regret it terribly.
The three of them went home, discussing the matter in hushed tones.
After dinner, Li San Niang spoke privately with her parents about what had happened. "...That's how it is. I'm wondering if we should go out again tomorrow?"
Li San Niang actually wanted to go, after all, the Lantern Festival, an annual grand event, was very attractive.
Moreover, Li San Niang had already promised Lu Zhu'er that she would change her clothes and tie her hair in new ties that day, take her out to play for a day, and take Lu Zhu'er to see the lanterns in the evening.
Mr. Li remained silent, while Mrs. Li spoke directly: "Go! Why aren't you going?"
How could those people possibly accomplish anything?
Why should we hide from them?
If they want to hide, do you think they'll stop causing trouble after the Lantern Festival?
How can you live a normal life if you're always hiding?
Li's mother was not one to passively accept her fate; she was someone who dared to fight and take risks. Otherwise, how could she have brought her eldest brother from the border to Chang'an in the first place?
They'll probably have no choice but to cower on the border and barely scrape by.
Brother Li finished his shift early today, and he picked up on what his mother was saying: "Third Sister, don't be afraid. We'll all be together then. Judging from the way these people act, they probably won't dare to do anything during the day. They'll probably cause trouble after dark."
When the time comes, we'll gather together and follow the pedestrians outside. Didn't they say that Qiu Xiang has already reported it?
There must be people secretly involved, so safety should be guaranteed.
Besides, as my mother said, we are upright and honest, why should we hide from them?
Furthermore, although I am just a lowly soldier and don't know the details, judging from the recent troop movements within the garrison, the higher-ups must have already become aware of the situation.
Li Erxiong chimed in, "Third Sister, we'll all be together then, don't be afraid."
"Besides, Third Sister, do you think that if you didn't go out and stayed home with Dewdrop, that bastard from the Temple Gate would let you off the hook?"
Li San Niang thought to herself, "Yes, how often do misfortunes happen when you're just sitting at home?"
"It might be even more troublesome and unsafe if I stayed home with Dewdrop then."
"Okay, I understand."
However, I still need to bring the necessary items when I go out tomorrow. I recently invented a new medicine that, when dispersed in the air and inhaled by the wind, can make people feel weak and sore.
I'll make a few extra tonight and share them with everyone, just in case.
The antidote is available, but it must be taken fifteen minutes beforehand.
Back in her room, Li San Niang quickly coaxed Lu Zhu'er to sleep, then began grinding medicine powder, making more than a dozen portions, intending to distribute them to the Li family the next day.
Mr. Bu Ke, who had received news of Qiu Xiang, had just come out of the Daming Palace.
Looking at the message written on the slip of paper in his hand, Mr. Bu Ke turned to his hunchbacked servant and ordered, "Add five more people to protect Li San Niang."
"The Holy Temple Sect is definitely going to cause trouble tomorrow. Besides the palace, their Holy Son will also surely not let Li San Niang, who has repeatedly ruined the Holy Temple Sect's plans, get away with it."
The hunchbacked servant agreed and went out.
Inside the Daming Palace, Emperor Wu, draped in a cloak, was still reading memorials by candlelight. Wang Da Dang, who was beside him, estimated the time and served Emperor Wu a cup of hot tea, then took away the teacup that had already gone cold.
"Your Majesty, it's already past 9 PM. Would you like some snacks to tide you over?"
Emperor Wu put down the memorial, rubbed his temples, and after hearing Wang Da Dang's question, he felt hungry and nodded.
Once the refreshments were served, Emperor Wu casually asked, "Is Taiping going out tomorrow?"
Wang Da Dang bowed his head respectfully and replied, "Yes, Your Majesty. Princess Taiping's mother reported that Wang Jia Shiba Niang, the princess's companion, invited the princess to a banquet at Zhenyi Tower and also said that she would go to the West Market to watch a show."
Emperor Wu frowned as he recalled the recent news, especially the messages sent by Xue Yao and Mr. Bu Ke yesterday and this afternoon.
Emperor Wu thought for a moment, then instructed Wang Da Dang, "Since Taiping wants to go and has already agreed, then let her go."
However, there will be many things to do in Chang'an tomorrow, so it's best to let her take more guards with her.
Secretly, they also sent some skilled men to follow them, just in case.
Emperor Wu had already received news that the Temple Sect would make a comeback, but he didn't know how the Temple Sect planned to cause trouble during the Lantern Festival.
But it was nothing more than those who committed murder and arson, causing chaos in the inner city, taking the opportunity to enter the inner court, and even kill themselves or others.
Emperor Wu obtained the throne through bloodshed and turmoil, and in the past ten years or so, how many assassinations have he not encountered?
Didn't he get assassinated once during the last Emperor's birthday celebration?
Therefore, Emperor Wu was not afraid of these people who did not follow the right path. However, Princess Taiping did not have Emperor Wu's martial prowess and was only thirteen years old. She was Emperor Wu's youngest child. How could Emperor Wu not care?
That's why, even amidst his busy work reviewing memorials late at night, he still remembered to care for his youngest daughter.
Meanwhile, throughout Chang'an, especially in bustling areas like restaurants and gambling dens, particularly in Pingkang Ward, many men who looked distinctly different from those from the Central Plains were sharpening their knives in the backyards and rooms of these places.
"Tomorrow, you must follow orders. Our Khan ordered us to work for this man, not to shed blood, but to eat meat and get money."
One of the leaders, with a small braid coiled on his head, reprimanded the dozen or so men in the room in the language of the Turkic tribe.
"We've been assigned to the West Market. When the time comes, we'll first rob the goods, kill anyone who resists with a single blow, and then, once we see the signal, we'll set it on fire and scatter towards the city gate."
Meanwhile, the Holy Son of the Temple Gate, who had organized these Turks, was drinking wine under the moon.
"The moon is indeed getting rounder and rounder."
The Holy Son found the small wine cup unsatisfying, so he picked up the wine pot, tilted his head back, and poured the wine into his mouth. Some of the wine flowed down his chin and neck, but some of it was unruly and dripped outside his mouth.
The little rabbit, who was standing nearby, quickly reached out to help the Holy Son wipe himself, but before she could finish, the Holy Son grabbed her little hand and pulled her into his arms.
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