Iron Chain Silver Spear
The only thing overlooked was the uncertainty surrounding Sikong Zhao's fate.
No one knew better than her the importance of Sikong Zhao, Zhao Lingying, and Consort Chen in her mother's heart.
Everyone knows that Madam Pei is known as "The Ruthless Hell with Her White Hands," ruthless and merciless. Only she knows that her mother has always kept the people she cares about deeply hidden in her heart. Otherwise, she wouldn't have gone to such lengths to plan for her to enter the palace.
She is more like her father after all.
But when Sikong Zhao was injured by her Returning Dragon Spear, her heart was in turmoil.
Pei Yu hesitated for a moment before raising his right hand. Finally, after a brief pause, he gritted his teeth and ordered, "Release the tiger from its cage and charge the Shuofang army!"
When the white tiger is released from its cage and goes into battle, the enemy's horses will inevitably be startled and run wild, losing their formation.
As long as their formation is disrupted, the entire Shuofang army on the other side will be captured within half an hour, and those who disobey will be executed in public.
Marquis of Guannei, you've forced the Pei family to take action.
Before her eyes, she seemed to see scenes of blood splattered on the long street, swords and spears clashing, and the night wind howling.
This is the eve of the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet at the Changuang Palace in the tenth year since the founding of this dynasty. It is the eve of the reunion of the "Three Wonders" of the Southern Dynasties, symbolizing peace and prosperity: the Shaoshi Qin (a type of zither), the Junzi Jian (a type of sword), and the Qianjin Xiang (a type of incense).
Oh right, there's also the "White Silk Dance" by the former Empress Shangguan.
Why couldn't the Pei family's Returning Dragon Spear and Beast Taming Technique be included in the "Three Wonders"? If they had been added ten or twenty years earlier, perhaps none of this would have happened.
Now that the Pei family has unleashed this powerful counterattack, is everything lost? Will the Toad Light Banquet, symbolizing the gradual recovery of the Southern Dynasty's civil and military achievements, still be able to take place?
Destruction is indeed much easier than construction.
Tonight, Pei Yu is the one who changes the course of history.
The expected release of the white tiger from its cage did not occur.
Just as the escorting soldiers were about to open the iron cage, a gleaming silver spear with a red tassel, about ten feet long, shot from afar with a strong gust of wind and slammed heavily into the front of the iron cage.
Sparks flew, metal and stone clashed, the bluestone pavement was smashed into pieces, and the spearhead sank several inches deep into the stone surface, making a clear, ringing sound.
Unlike ordinary spears, this twelve-foot-long silver spear was wrapped with a dark, shiny iron chain, which made the spear itself even heavier.
Everyone fell silent, all looking towards the city gate.
Even the proud and headstrong Pei Yu couldn't help but reveal curiosity and a complex expression in his eyes.
The rider was a lone horseman, but the sound of his hooves echoed through the silent street. It was as if the entire city of Jianzhang was waiting for this one person to enter the city tonight.
The person who arrived immediately was clad in heavy black iron armor, with a bronze eagle mask concealing his face, revealing only a pair of silent and resolute eyes, and long hair flowing in the wind behind him.
Even if you can't see her face, the weight of this mask alone is more than enough.
The Divine Eagle emblem is a unique symbol belonging to the Northwest Army's Fanmen Gate.
Whether it was the Shuofang Army or the Jianzhang Division, as she galloped towards them, they all spontaneously dismounted, split into two lines, and raised their weapons in salute.
The shouts were like thunder and a mountain collapsing, resounding like an earthquake between the two armies.
"The Great Yan Shuofang Army respectfully welcomes General Xiao Fan into the city!"
"The Great Evolution Divine Hound Camp respectfully welcomes General Xiao Fan into the city!"
Every era has its heroes, whom people admire from the bottom of their hearts. Heroes are indomitable, upright, and live for the people, never caring about their own safety.
The female generals of the Fan family in the Northwest Army were such heroes. The Fan family precepts dictated that Fan women would never vie for power, seize influence, marry, or live out their lives alone, solely to safeguard the peace of the nation's borders.
The family of Marquis Yongding, Fan Ying, is a monument and a Great Wall on the northwestern border of the Southern Dynasty, and a legendary figure admired by the entire Dayan army.
The Northwest Army was not the strongest of the three armies of Dayan; on the contrary, it had the fewest troops. Yet, no one ever dared to raid the Northwest Army's territory.
The Northwest Army is a unique army in the world, cultivated by generations of the Fan family, and is recognized as a "righteous army".
Perhaps it wasn't until General Xiao Fan appeared that both the Shuofang Army and the Jianzhang Division remembered that their military titles had previously shared the same national name, "Dayan".
Being a fellow soldier of the Dayan Army with General Fan is a supreme honor.
General Fan Liancheng, also known as Xiao Fan, is the adopted daughter of Fan Ying, the Marquis of Yongding in this generation.
She rode steadily along, her eyes calm and devoid of any emotion.
When Fan Liancheng passed by Pei Yu, he didn't even glance at her.
She rode straight to the tiger cage and pulled out the twelve-foot silver spear stuck in the ground with one hand.
The black iron chains wrapped around it vibrated, emitting a piercing sound.
Fan Liancheng raised his silver spear high above his head and declared in a clear voice, "The Shuofang Army will follow me into the palace!"
Her voice was clear and crisp, even with a touch of childishness. Everyone could tell she was only a fourteen or fifteen-year-old girl, yet she possessed an unwavering and clear-headedness that no one could question.
With that shout, she took the lead and galloped towards the palace.
Wherever they went, the soldiers of the Divine Hound Camp automatically and spontaneously parted to the sides, making way for the middle of the road.
Meanwhile, the Shuofang army, under Zhu Mao's command, had already withdrawn from their attack formation and quickly followed her horse. The column galloped like a long dragon, fast yet orderly, and for a moment the sound of galloping horses thundered.
Under the firelight, standing alone outside the long line of the Shuofang army, Pei Yu, perched high on his horse, had an uncertain expression on his face, and unconsciously clenched his fists.
As dusk settles over Jinming Pond, the lanterns along the path light up, illuminating the area outside Jixian Hall as if it were daytime.
Officials and their families arrived in the palace from the previous dynasty in an endless stream, chatting and laughing all the way.
The most dazzling thing in the hall was the coral tree, four or five feet tall, in front of the throne. Under the palace lanterns, it shimmered and shone with extraordinary beauty. Some officials who had arrived early were already gathered around the tree, chatting and laughing, marveling at its beauty.
Among this group of officials, some with white hair and others middle-aged, the most eye-catching was the Right Chancellor, Gongyi Xiu. He was all smiles, dressed in a moon-colored brocade robe embroidered with silver thread depicting clouds, pine, and bamboo. He held a jade-framed fan with a hundred-flower design, and a jade flute hung at his waist, further emphasizing his tall and distinguished figure, as graceful as a solitary pine. Among the ladies surrounded by jeweled ornaments, many newcomers were already quietly inquiring about his background and marital status.
For the first time in his life, Gongyi Xiu secretly felt a headache coming on because of his lack of luck with women. While dealing with them, he kept glancing at the waterside pavilion and corridor below the right side of the Jixian Hall.
That was the only way for the Yuefu dancers to perform at Jixian Palace. A Qiu would definitely be among them.
Before him dazzled jewels and fragrant robes, and noble ladies frequently approached to strike up conversations, but Gongyi Xiu had lost all interest. For the first time in his life, his palms, holding the jade-ribbed fan, were covered in cold sweat.
The Toad Light Banquet and the "Three Wonders" were no longer important to him. He only wanted to find A Qiu as soon as possible and tell her something that could turn the entire Southern Dynasty upside down tonight.
Their master, Wan Qiqing, the head of the All-Union Assassins, will infiltrate the palace tonight.
Ever since his master told him that he should enter the palace on the night of the Toad Light Banquet to enjoy the "White Silk" dance performed by A Qiu and the others, Gongyi Xiu's heart had been on edge, never settling down for a moment.
In particular, the master casually mentioned, "By the way, go and meet that Gu Yi."
Gongyi Xiu glanced at the area behind the coral tree, near the throne.
At this moment, the seat next to the throne that belonged to Gu Yi was still empty.
According to Gu Yi's usual practice, he rarely attends banquets in the palace, and his seat is usually left vacant as a sign of respect.
But tonight is different; he will definitely be there because the "White Silk" dance requires him to play the zither.
When Wan Qiqing faces Gu Yi, it will be a clash between two of the greatest masters of our time, and no one knows how it will unfold.
Of all those present, he was probably the only one who knew the danger that awaited him at tonight's banquet.
He didn't even know how many people his master had arranged to enter the palace.
Today, after the court meeting, he immediately went to Lanling Hall to see if there was anything he could do to help.
The answer they received was that their master, Wan Qiqing, had left a short while ago and had not told anyone where he had gone.
The only thing to do now is to inform A-Qiu as soon as possible so that she can prepare. Whether it's to support her master or to protect herself, she needs to have a clear plan.
The palace lanterns under the right-hand corridor of Jixian Hall lit up one by one.
The white-robed dancers lined up in a long row, winding their way from the inner palace music hall to the rear hall, preparing for tonight's performance.
The leading geisha was tall and stood out from the crowd; from a distance, she looked remarkably like Aki.
The matter was of great importance and urgency, and could not be relayed by others. Gongyi Xiu, disregarding the attention he would receive, quickly closed his folding fan and headed towards the rear hall.
All the dancers, dressed in white silk dance costumes, led by A-Qiu, were walking up the long corridor to the rear hall to make their final preparations in the dressing room.
But as soon as the group stepped into the back hall of Jixian Palace, the leader, Sun Neiren, Xue Hongbi, and A Qiu stopped in their tracks, looking at each other in bewilderment, feeling quite lost.
In the middle of the empty hall, there were only two people, one sitting and one standing.
The woman stands with a sword on her back, her white robes flowing like snow, and her long, jet-black hair cascading down like a waterfall. The stark contrast between black and white makes her silhouette stunningly beautiful, even from behind.
The seated man, holding a zither, possessed a handsome appearance that exuded both gentle nobility. He wore a bright yellow robe embroidered with golden dragons and pearls, and his features were striking and refined. Who else could it be but Crown Prince Xie Tiao?
Although Lady Sun was the most mature among them, she had never had the opportunity to see the Emperor's face openly, let alone meet such an important person as the Crown Prince in private. She was stunned by the other person, whom she didn't recognize, and even forgot to bow.
As for A Qiu Lian Lian, the head of the six palaces, Consort Chen, and Gu Yi, the number one man in the Southern Dynasty, she was a regular there. She had even rescued the emperor from this place last night, so naturally she wouldn't be as flustered as Consort Sun.
Her stunned silence had another reason.
The white-clad beauty carrying a sword was graceful and independent, and even though her face was not yet visible, the unique temperament revealed in her silhouette was unforgettable.
But this figure from behind felt strangely familiar to her, as if she had seen it somewhere before.
Amidst the astonished stares of the crowd, it was Crown Prince Xie Tiao who spoke first.
Upon seeing the many well-dressed dancers entering, with two middle-aged women among them, he knew they must be the dancers from the Music Bureau who would be performing that evening.
His brow furrowed slightly, almost imperceptibly.
Xie Tiao disliked noise and commotion, especially vulgar people. However, this was not common knowledge in the palace, because the Crown Prince was always low-key, and his likes and dislikes were not like those of the authoritative and powerful Junior Tutor Gu Yi, which were the subject of much speculation, research, and gossip.
The fact that these dancers didn't bow or retreat when they saw him, but instead stood at the palace entrance staring at him in a daze, as if he were a peacock or a unicorn, made him feel that these people from the Music Bureau were extremely unruly.
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