Chapter 64: Murder and Arson on Lantern Festival (Part )

The fifteenth day of the first lunar month is the Lantern Festival.

The streets are brightly lit and crowded with people. Small lights are hung on the trees and eaves, just like blooming pear blossoms.

On the Imperial Street, following a shout: "The float is coming," pedestrians made way and cheered.

The flower carriage with gorgeous decorations and fluttering ribbons slowly passed through the wide Imperial Street.

On the high platform at the top of the float, graceful dancers danced lightly, waving colorful silks in their hands, just like the flying fairies in the murals.

There were several musicians below the high stage, playing the qin and flute together, and the pipa competing with each other.

The dance and music that only high-ranking officials could enjoy in the past can now be seen by people all over Chang'an.

This is the significance of the Lantern Festival to Chang'an.

From the emperor to the common people, everyone was immersed in the carnival of prosperity.

At the hour of Xu, the emperor arrived at the Suzaku Gate to enjoy the lanterns and the scenery.

The queen, concubine, princes, princesses and other royal family members were all by his side.

After the emperor ascended the tower, the officials below shouted, "May the emperor be healthy and happy during the Lantern Festival."

On both sides of the Imperial Street are lantern sheds from the residences of various royal nobles and court ministers. These lanterns are of various shapes and sizes, competing with each other in splendor.

Not far from the Suzaku Gate, the lanterns at the family of Duke Tang Li were carp lanterns, just like in previous years.

After Li Yuan led his sons to pay homage, he was summoned to the palace to attend the Lantern Festival Banquet. Originally, Li Silang's official position was not enough to allow him to attend the banquet, but the ten generals of the Xiaoguo Army were granted special permission to attend the banquet.

The banquet was lively and the emperor was in high spirits. He even showed off his musical talent by playing the flute.

He also asked Gao Xiaochang, the son-in-law of the emperor and the assistant musician of the Taichang Temple, to show off his musical skills and perform a duet.

Then, there is the chorus:

"A laugh from the sea surges across the Taiwan Strait

Ups and downs, follow the waves, only remember the present moment
The sky is smiling and the world is full of tides
God knows who will lose and who will win.
The country is smiling and the rain is far away
How much do you know about the worldly affairs after the waves wash away the worldly affairs

The breeze's laughter actually causes loneliness

There is still a glimmer of evening light left in the heroic spirit."

When Li Silang heard the piano and flute ensemble, he felt it was very absurd. He lowered his head, covered his forehead with one hand and his lower abdomen with the other, and laughed so hard that he couldn't straighten his back.

From The Thief's Adventurers to The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, right?

After listening to songs and watching dances, drinking and eating, and chatting with colleagues, more than an hour later, around 10 o'clock in the evening, the Lantern Festival dinner ended with the emperor's departure. Li Silang also left the palace with Aye.

Li Yuan knew that his son must have other plans that evening, probably to watch the lights and have fun with friends, so he left a message "Go home early".

Li Silang watched Aye leave, and then walked south along the Imperial Street. He walked all the way to the intersection between Kaihuafang and Anrenfang, looked around, and felt someone patting his shoulder from behind. He turned around and was about to speak, but was suddenly dragged into the dark alley.

All this fell into the eyes of a passerby, who was wearing a green round-necked robe with floral patterns, a fu hat on his head, a sword at his waist, and had a handsome face. His pair of phoenix eyes flashed with a cold light, and he followed after seeing what was happening.

On the other side, Prince of Liang Murongzhan left the palace from Yanxi Gate and returned to the Prince of Liang's residence in Changlefang. He immediately changed his clothes and quietly left from the side door. He got on a carriage, accompanied by Pu Bugu and seven or eight of his trusted warriors.

Even though he is a prince and an imperial son, he really doesn't have the ability to command the response of three thousand soldiers like Sima Shi.

In fact, the emperor kept a close eye on his princes.

On weekdays, he is escorted by the Jinwu Guards when he goes out. Although there are many guards in the mansion, there are less than ten of them who are really willing to risk their lives and not rebel.

They were all recruited and supported at great expense.

This was his secret. After all, raising guards and raising assassins were completely different. If he really had the ability to raise dozens or even hundreds of assassins, the first person who would be unable to sleep would probably be the emperor. Seven or eight people wearing robes of different colors followed the carriage in front, behind, left and right. They traveled all the way and arrived at Changxingfang.

At this time, the minor official Yoshira and his wife were sitting at home facing each other. His wife, Mrs. Du, looked very uneasy, and Yoshira comforted her softly, "Don't worry, nothing will happen."

Mrs. Du shook her head at him.

Yoshira continued to comfort her, "Then we will leave Chang'an in a few days and stay away from this place. You don't have to worry about anything in the future."

Mrs. Du smiled miserably and said, "But where else can we go? The world is in chaos right now, but Chang'an is relatively stable. There are no civil commotions, no bandit riots, and no wars. Where else can we go if we leave Chang'an?"

Kirara sighed when he heard this: "The world is so big, there is always a place for us to stay. Even if life is a little difficult."

Mrs. Du's tears flowed down her cheeks: "I am a burden to you, sir."

"We are a couple who can share the good times and the bad times, so we don't mind being a burden or not.

Kira said this very open-mindedly, and stroked his wife's temples.

Mrs. Du held her husband's hand and nodded vigorously.

This was a beautiful moment, but it was immediately broken.

With a "bang", Kira knew without even looking that the door to the house outside had been knocked open.

Kira stood up, pulling his wife behind him, and soon he saw the "noble man" he had already seen the night before.

"Hahaha, you guys are all at home? Are you waiting for me?"

After the "noble" Murong Zan entered the house, only his confidant Pu Bu Gu followed him into the house.

Kirara pulled his wife back continuously. He could feel his wife's body shaking constantly, so he could only hold his wife's hand tightly.

"Sir, can't you just let my husband and I go?" Yoshira begged humbly.

Murong Zhan smiled and said, "I'm here today, you can't let me come here for nothing, right? Let the lady behind you come out and have a good talk with me. Maybe if I'm in a good mood, I'll spare your lives. How about that?"

Seeing that Yoshira was unmoved, Murong Zan suddenly showed a regretful expression on his face, and sighed: "Look, I gave you a chance, but you didn't cherish it. Do you think you can protect the beauty behind you? Really, I don't like people like you who overestimate your own abilities. I prefer people who know the times. There is an old saying in the Central Plains that those who know the times are heroes. It seems that you are not one of them. What a pity, please get him out. Don't kill him first, you have to let him hear the sound of hehe."

Pu Bu Gu was about to step forward and drag Ji Liang out, and he had already thought about it. After dragging him out, he would break his legs first and then block his mouth, so that he would not be able to go out and ask for help like last time. . .

Just when Pubugu was about to catch Kira, a feather arrow flew from the yard in a flash, passed through the gate and hit him in the back of the head, killing him instantly.

Then three people appeared on the walls on both sides of the Kira family's house and on the eaves, shooting arrows one after another, and then five or six people holding sharp blades rushed into the yard.

Although Murong Zan spent a large amount of money to support his assassins, they were all ruthless characters who would kill without blinking an eye.

However, he was completely defenseless against these unknown men.

However, in just a few moments, seven or eight assassins were killed all at once.

Murong Zan, who was still in the house, was horrified by the scene. He really didn't expect that these trusted warriors would be so vulnerable.

Looking at these strong men in the courtyard, Murong Zan suddenly smiled. Judging from their figures, aren't these the same people from yesterday?

"Li Silang, we meet again. Stop hiding and come out."

Li Yuanhui, who was still at the end of the team, walked to the front, glanced at the corpses on the ground and said, "My lord, I am sorry for the offense."

Murong Zan had a smile on his face, and even at this moment he did not show any panic expression, maintaining the demeanor that a prince should have.

"Hahaha, good and good, you, Li Silang, are really brave."

　There is another chapter with this title, hahahaha I really can’t think of a chapter title.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)