socalfunplaces Page 262
Page 262
"Keep playing music, keep dancing!"
Upon hearing Li Chang'an's order, the noise in the brothel gradually subsided.
The musicians' delicate hands touched the strings of the zither, and the dancers' jade-like feet slowly rose above their heads.
On Jincheng Street.
The children sang nursery rhymes happily as they chased each other past.
"Those who cultivate peaches and plums will gain the world!"
The prophecy was too blatant; it simply said that someone surnamed Li would gain control of the world.
There aren't many important figures in Jincheng with the surname Li, which is clearly an allusion to Li Chang'an.
Xu Weixiong, who had just entered the city, frowned upon hearing this.
"Someone is trying to kill Li Chang'an."
Not far from Xu Weixiong was a middle-aged man who was as round as a ball.
Chu Lushan, nicknamed Luqiu'er.
He held the official rank of Thousand Ox Dragon Martial General of the third grade and weighed 300 catties.
Chu Lushan said in a gruff voice, "Princess, about this matter..."
He had barely opened his mouth when he was interrupted by the stern-faced Xu Weixiong!
"you shut up!"
His words clearly indicated that he had no desire to speak with Chu Lushan.
Chu Lushan acted outrageously and was overly obsequious, which made him unpopular among the upper echelons of Northern Liang.
Chen Zhibao, who is also Xu Xiao's adopted son, once publicly declared that he would set Lu Qiu'er on fire!
Chu Lushan was in charge of the intelligence agency of Northern Liang and knew that there were many forces in Yongzhou that opposed Northern Liang.
After entering Yongzhou, he did several major things, which of course affected some innocent women.
As a woman herself, Xu Weixiong naturally had no liking for Chu Lushan.
She turned to the other side and asked, "Red Musk, you tell me."
Fourteen-year-old Red Musk had just mastered martial arts and was sent by the Fushui Studio to be trained by an assassin organization in the martial arts world, where he was known as Brocade Musk.
"Second Miss, this is a prophecy spread by Zhao Gou's spies. The new emperor wants to reduce the power of the princes and plans to start with the Prince of Tang."
"These prophecies were used to pin the crime of him harboring treacherous intentions and plotting to restore the kingdom, and then strip him of his title."
"So, if you ask me, why did you come to break off this engagement? Once he's stripped of his title, he might not even be able to save his life."
Hongshe is the niece of the city lord of Dunhuang City in Northern Mang. She came to the Northern Liang royal palace as a hostage. Dunhuang City is located on the edge of Northern Mang and only gained a foothold with the protection of Northern Liang.
Red Musk was graceful and fair-skinned, with a natural fragrance and elegant manners. She was the bed warmer that Wu Su had chosen for the prince when she was alive.
Xu Xiao's plan was to make Hong She a maidservant of Xu Fengnian, and at the same time, a bodyguard to protect Xu Fengnian.
However, Xu Fengnian must not know any of this yet, so Hongshe must hone her martial arts and killing skills before she can be by Xu Fengnian's side.
Red Musk is currently in the stage of training in martial arts and practicing to become an assassin.
If nothing unexpected happens, Hongshe will become Xu Fengnian's bed warmer and will be renamed Hongshu (Sweet Potato).
Upon hearing Hongshe's words, Xu Weixiong could only manage a weak smile.
They couldn't very well tell Hongshe that it was because Xu Fengnian couldn't swallow his anger.
“Red Musk, the reduction of the power of the princes and marriage are unrelated. It is possible that Li Chang’an could be demoted to a duke or marquis and then sent to the Northern Liang royal family as a prince consort.”
"This not only dealt with the cheap prince, but also tarnished the Northern Liang Prince's Mansion. This is a two-birds-with-one-stone strategy by the imperial court."
One hundred Northern Liang cavalrymen marched into the city in a grand procession, attracting a large crowd of onlookers.
In the teahouses and in front of the stalls, various discussions were taking place.
The princess of Beiliang has come in person!
The infamous Chu Lushan has also arrived!
"They are all princes, but the Prince of Beiliang doesn't give the Prince of Tang any face at all."
"The second princess of Beiliang is quite beautiful; it's such a pity to cancel the engagement!"
In Jincheng, there were many people discussing Li Chang'an.
There are many who curse Chu Lushan and despise Northern Liang!
"That butcher Chu Lushan, upon entering Yongzhou, slaughtered over a thousand people from five families on the pretext of colluding with mountain bandits!"
"Damn it, what collusion with bandits? It's just a fabricated excuse!"
"Aren't those five families the most powerful opponents of the Xu family?"
"That man surnamed Chu is so reckless, yet Governor Tian doesn't dare utter a single word!"
Regarding Chu Lushan, various news reports have been accumulating over the past few days.
"This man has been in Yongzhou for half a month, and several beautiful women from aristocratic families have already met with his wickedness!"
"When one of them was repatriated to his family alive, one of his breasts was cut off!"
"Two days ago in Dingxiang County, a fair-skinned and beautiful young lady was forcibly dragged onto that beast's carriage!"
"After an incense stick had burned, the disheveled corpse was thrown down!"
"What a beast!"
On this day, wherever people gathered in Jincheng, they were all denouncing Chu Lushan.
However, these people can only talk the talk; who would dare to offend Beiliang?
"Chu Lushan can be considered to have made great military achievements. On the battlefield, he carried Xu Xiao and blocked a total of eleven swords!"
"Therefore, after Xu Xiao was made a king, he promised his adopted son Chu Lushan that he could commit eleven capital crimes without being executed!"
"Moreover, this Chu Lushan slept with all his beautiful wives and concubines, including the heir of Beiliang, Xu Fengnian!"
"So, with Xu Xiao protecting him from above and the Crown Prince shielding him from below, what wouldn't he dare to do!"
Inside the Meisen-in.
The second of the eight exquisite guards brought the latest news.
"Your Highness, Xu Weixiong and Chu Lushan have already entered the Prince's residence!"
"Tian Zong has also come to the Prince's residence, and the two sides have already started chatting. Eunuch Cao is taking care of things at the residence."
Li Chang'an calmly replied, "Understood, investigate further."
In fact, Li Chang'an had already learned of the news when Xu Weixiong and Chu Lushan were preparing to set off.
At the same time, he was also very aware that the new emperor was planning to use him as an example to reduce the power of the princes.
However, Li Chang'an knew even better that the new emperor was far more wary of Xu Xiao than of him, a nobody.
Therefore, Chu Lushan's arrival in Jincheng is a good opportunity.
Li Chang'an wanted to take this opportunity to teach Chu Lushan a lesson.
Firstly, he really disliked this person and didn't want to tolerate this shameless scoundrel.
Secondly, over the years, no one has dared to openly oppose the Northern Liang Royal Palace.
However, Li Chang'an knew that if anyone opposed the Northern Liang Prince's Mansion, the imperial court would definitely support them.
This is a golden opportunity to seize power and strengthen ourselves amidst the chaos between Liyang and Beiliang.
Li Chang'an's status as a prince allows him to do many things legitimately.
Moreover, this identity is more conducive to him developing his own power, enhancing his authority, and accumulating wealth.
Then the system rewards points, which can be used to strengthen your power and rise step by step.
Therefore, taking action against Chu Lushan now would help preserve the title of Emperor of Tang.
Xu Wei and Xiong Lai's attempt to break off the engagement must be blown out of proportion; otherwise, Chu Lushan will not be able to leave alive.
Li Chang'an wanted the Emperor of Liyang to know that the Prince of Tang was of great use and could not be dismissed!
Tang Palace.
The officer who had been sent by Tian Zong to fetch Li Chang'an returned, and he reported the situation to Tian Zong with an embarrassed expression.
"Lord Tian, His Highness the Prince of Tang is currently enjoying himself in a brothel. He says he knows about this matter."
Upon hearing this, Chu Lushan flew into a rage!
"Got it? What do you mean, 'Got it'?"
"When can't I go to the brothel!"
"But just when the princess came to break off the engagement, he ran off to a brothel!"
"What do you mean? Are you looking down on the Northern Liang Royal Palace?"
Cao Zhengchun, a master of martial arts, pretended to be ignorant of martial arts and coldly watched Chu Lushan unleash his fury.