"Looking at His Majesty, you still admire him. Will it affect our plan?"
Shangguan Wan'er was a little worried when she saw the domineering look of Xue Huaiyi, who was sitting slumped behind the desk in an awkward position.
"Don't be afraid, he will look good soon. Let him be arrogant for a while longer."
Princess Taiping seemed to be at ease with her plan and comforted Shangguan Wan'er with gentle words.
However, Shangguan Wan'er could still judge from the fact that the left hand that the princess held tightly to her was trembling slightly all the time. This seemingly noble princess was actually nervous about whether today's plan would succeed.
Because the venue for the banquet was occupied by Xue Huaiyi, the end of this year's Lantern Festival banquet was a little sloppy. However, His Majesty was very happy today, as he was not deposed in public as in previous years.
Of course, it may also be because there are really not many relatives named Li in the court.
After the banquet, as usual, His Majesty went to the Five Phoenix Tower of Yingtianmen to enjoy the lanterns to show his intention to have fun with the people.
The lights this year are extremely lively, even more lively than last year when His Majesty held his 80th birthday.
After all, a lot of copper was brought back from Yangzhou this year, which made His Majesty's money bag much richer.
In addition, the Great Baoen Temple allocated a large area of land south of Tianjin Bridge, and specially invited craftsmen from Suzhou to decorate it. The lighting is extremely exquisite.
The lamp oil used to light the lamps was even more luxurious. It was not even the fragrant oil used to worship Buddha on weekdays. Daigo was used, and the rich aroma could be smelled even when standing on the Five Phoenix Tower.
Wu Zetian did not wear a dragon robe or the emperor's crown today. Instead, she wore a phoenix crown from when she was still the queen and a bright red palace dress.
A lifelike phoenix was embroidered with gold thread on the palace dress. It soared down from the shoulders and circled around the body, as if it was about to fly away in the clouds at any time.
"Huaiyi spent a lot of money."
Wu Zetian smiled and stroked the bald head of Xue Huaiyi, who was kneeling under her knees to salute her. Her green-white fingers hooked his chin and helped him up.
Xue Huaiyi fell into Wu Zetian's arms. The smile on his face was still as flattering as before. However, when his eyes glanced at Dr. Shen who was accompanying His Majesty behind him, there was a hint of ferocious light.
"I knelt down and painted a Buddha statue for Your Majesty, and I would like to invite Your Majesty to take a look." The lights outside the palace became brighter and brighter. Xue Huaiyi saw that the Emperor was in a very good mood, so he took the opportunity to present the surprise he had prepared.
"What is kneeling painting? This is the first time I have heard of it." Wu Zetian was aroused by him.
"I cut my own knee, used my knee as a pen and my blood as ink, and prayed to the Buddha for His Majesty's blessing."
Xue Huaiyi lifted up the cassock and monk's robe he was wearing, revealing two bare thighs without underpants. As expected, there were two scars on his knees, which looked like they had been injured not long ago and had just healed.
"It's rare that you have filial piety, so let someone present it to you."
"This painting is so huge that I'm afraid I won't be able to see it in front of Your Majesty. I hope Your Majesty will come to the viewing platform to take a look."
When the emperor's guard of honor was moved to the observation deck, lights were lit up layer by layer on a newly built wooden tower on Luoshui River Island across from Luoshui and south of the Tianjin Bridge.
The tower is more than ten feet high. Even though it is some distance from the Five Phoenix Tower, it still looks majestic. The star-like lights stand in the night sky like a ladder, which is spectacular.
After all the lights were lit, a huge roll of white silk unfolded from top to bottom on the wooden pagoda, and a blood-red Buddha statue was revealed to the world bit by bit.
The Big Buddha of Lushena looks like it was painted in the likeness of Wu Zetian. Although it cannot be called lifelike, it is quite majestic. As soon as it appeared, it attracted a lot of admiration.
The sounds of countless Sanskrit chants and loudspeakers sounded at the same time, coupled with the reflection of countless lights behind the Buddha statue, the majesty of the Buddha statue increased greatly, and it really seemed as if the Buddha had descended into the world.
Countless subjects knelt down one after another, chanting the Buddha's name, and bowed endlessly to the Buddha statue, including the princes and nobles on the Five Phoenix Tower.
Only Wu Zetian was not very happy when she saw this portrait. Instead, she frowned, as if she felt something was wrong.
"You said this was painted with your blood?"
Unlike others who were shocked and respectful, Wu Zetian was not very happy when she saw this Buddha statue.
Although the smile on his face has not weakened at all, the feeling between his eyebrows is already much colder than before.
"Your Majesty, these are all painted with blood from the knee of a young monk."
"Do you think I am a fool? The total blood of each person is only five liters. How many times will you die if you want to paint such a big Buddha statue?" Wu Zetian's expression became colder and colder, and he flicked his sleeves, regardless of whether Xue Huaiyi was on the ground.
Kowtowing was like pounding garlic, and kicked him to the ground. "Get out of here, I don't want to see you!"
Knowing that they were right in guessing His Majesty's thoughts, Shangguan Wan'er and Princess Taiping looked at each other and smiled, knowing that their plan was half successful.
Since the plan was going according to her own plan, when the lantern viewing party was about to break up in great excitement, Princess Taiping stepped forward.
"Mother, my daughter has bought some novel gadgets from her nephew, and she would like to see your majesty."
Wu Zetian originally wanted to refuse, but when she turned around and saw Divine Doctor Shen with a gentle smile on her face waiting behind her, she relaxed and casually sat down on the phoenix chariot, gesturing for Divine Doctor Shen to massage her.
Wu Zetian put on a smile and said, "Since it is Taiping's filial piety, I will take a look."
Princess Taiping clapped her hands, and a guard blew a conch, and the whining sound spread far away.
Also on Jiangxin Island south of Tianjin Qiao, as a few dull sounds rang out, several fireworks bloomed in the night sky of the capital city.
The sounds of sound instruments and Sanskrit chants accompanied by the Buddha statue had not stopped yet. It was a lively moment. The devotees kneeling on the ground were just about to get up, but they were frightened by the flowers scattered by the goddess all over the sky, and they quickly fell to the ground.
They kowtowed one after another.
"This little thing is a bit interesting."
Wu Zetian said it lightly, but she ignored Doctor Shen who was massaging her. She stood up from the phoenix chariot and walked quickly to the observation deck. Because she was walking too fast, there were no yellow umbrellas in the ceremony.
There was no time to keep up.
Several more fireworks rose, and the colorful fireworks bloomed between the sky and the earth, like a dream.
"What's the name of this spell?"
"In reply to Your Majesty, this is not a magic spell. It is a gift from King Linzi to Your Majesty for the Lantern Festival. According to his letter, these things are called fireworks."
"Fireworks, this name is too vulgar. Even the wine that was offered last time is also true. My grandson is very talented in literature, but why did he name it so vulgarly?"
Wu Zetian was in a much better mood and could start joking with Princess Taiping: "Wan'er, please change your child's name to something nicer. That kid won't dare to say anything."
"Your Majesty, Yi Wan'er thinks it's better to ask the Goddess to scatter flowers. What do you think, Your Majesty?" Shangguan Wan'er came up with an idea on the side. The Goddess Scattering Flowers originally came from Buddhist allusions, so it was placed here to suit the occasion.
"The Goddess Scattered Flowers, what a name. It's much better than those fireworks." Wu Zetian clapped her hands and laughed, brushing away the sullen anger just now. "The Taiping Presentation of the Goddess Scattering Flowers is a reward. When the lantern festival is over, you can live in Yaoguang today.
Come on, my mother and I haven’t seen each other for a few days, let’s have a good talk.”
"Yes, Your Majesty."
While a few people were discussing merit and rewards on the Five Phoenix Tower, a few black figures quietly moved to the bottom of the tower supporting the Buddha statue.
Several monks who were guarding the tower were cut into several pieces by extremely long swords before they had time to warn them.
With a flash of light, the long knife struck at the rope holding the Buddha statue under the tower.
Several tensing sounds were heard, and the huge portrait, which had been so docile against the tower, was bitten by the cold wind and wrapped tightly around the tower.
There were originally countless lights burning on the high tower. The huge statue of Lushena touched some flames. The few flames quickly connected into a ring of fire. Then, the huge wooden tower quickly ignited into the sky.
of fire.
When the third round of fireworks dissipated, everyone inside and outside found with some horror that the Buddha, which had been worshiped just now, had burned like a torch.
Watching her face gradually turn into ashes in the flames, Wu Zetian's hand holding the viewing platform was slightly exposed with some blue veins.
"Pass, tell Xue Huaiyi to meet me at Yaoguang Hall tonight!"