The next day, the imperial court began a multi-day suburban ceremony.

Most of the ministers of civil and military affairs will go directly to the suburb to wait at the place of worship. Xue Shao put on his armor early in the morning and entered the palace, and went to the Yingxian Palace to see Wu Zetian.

This is Wu Zetian's dormitory, and ordinary ministers are forbidden to enter. But as soon as Xue Shao reported, he was invited in. Because he also has a special task today, which is to serve Wu Zetian's side with the imperial sword, and act as a personal bodyguard in front of the emperor throughout the whole process.

Wu Zetian had already put on the sacrificial crown and was making final preparations. Seeing Xue Shao coming in, she smiled and said, "Chengyu, why did you appear." I thought you weren't coming. ”

Xue Shao stepped forward and arched his hand and said, "Weichen is late, Your Majesty forgives you." ”

"It's not too late, it's just right." Wu Zetian said, "It's really wronged to let your dignified Guogong and Sanpin Shangshu serve as my guards." ”

"Where, this is the great glory of Wechen." Xue Shao smiled and said, "Before I came, Her Royal Highness the princess specially instructed that you must let the ministers dress up handsome and energetic, and don't embarrass Your Majesty." ”

"My son Taiping is the most filial, and he has always understood the heart of a mother the most." Wu Zetian laughed, "Chengyu, this suburban worship is extraordinary, all the states will be there, and all foreign countries have sent envoys to watch the ceremony." I have watched the government and the opposition up and down, only your appearance and demeanor are the most outstanding, and the awe-inspiring and heroic style can not be chased. In addition, it is inevitable that there will be a mixture of fish and snakes in the crowd, or that there may be assassins in ambush. With you standing by my side, I am victorious and thousands of troops and horses come to escort me. In this way, I can rest assured. ”

"Your Majesty has overdone it." Xue Shao bowed, "But please rest assured, Your Majesty, the minister will ensure that Your Majesty is safe and sound." ”

"Okay." Wu Zetian nodded with satisfaction, still looking Xue Shao up and down, and couldn't help but admire: "Chengyu wears this military uniform, it is indeed magnificent and heroic, it is really like a heavenly general!" ”

Xue Shao was a little embarrassed to be praised, and said in his heart, Mother-in-law, what happened to you today, and now you found out that I am handsome? Could it be that I was all white and handsome in the past years?

After a while, Wu Zetian's Luan drove and went to the suburbs. The whole team is like an iron bucket with a tight defense, the outermost part is a thousand Yulin guards to open the way, there are five hundred thousand cavalry guards in the inner layer, and there are twelve guards and two generals of the thousand cow guards around the Luan drive. Xue Shao rode a horse with a sword and followed Luan on the left, he was the closest person to Wu Zetian and the supreme commander of the entire thousands of guards.

While walking, Wu Zetian also chatted with Xue Shao and told him about peace talks with the Turks. On the whole, the progress is relatively smooth, and the two countries have signed an agreement to reconcile with Nagong, but there is no consensus on the "trade" article for the time being. The Turks were a little unacceptable to the clause that they had to go to the border to trade. They hope to completely open the borders as before, allowing civilian caravans from the two countries to move freely. But because of Xue Shao's previous "trade suppression" words, Wu Zetian held this pass very tightly and resolutely refused to relax half a step. She also made it clear that she would severely crack down on border smugglers after the Great Zhou, whether they were Han or Hu, and they would be dealt with strictly once they were caught.

Xue Shao listened to it for a while, and said in his heart that the current mentality of the Turkic people must be - the baby is bitter in his heart, and he can't say it if he is bitter!

Moreover, Xue Shao estimated that Wu Zetian would at least wait until the suburbs were completed before mentioning Xu Jingzhen's matter. If you have time, you have to find Shangguan Wan'er to inquire about the relevant news.

The team went all the way out of the palace and out of the city to the sacrificial venue in the northern suburbs, and the Manchu Dynasty civil and military had been waiting here for a long time. Li Duozuo led another team of Yulin Guards, and he had already guarded this place without leakage.

The venue for the worship of heaven is very solemn and sacred, and the whole scene is even more magnificent and magnificent. It not only has the world-class style of a great country, but also has a trace of feminist characteristics.

Wu Zetian was obviously very satisfied with this venue, and specially called Shangguan Wan'er to her side and said to her: "Wan'er, you did a good job on this errand, and you really satisfied my heart." After returning to the palace, I have a big reward! ”

Shangguan Wan'er lowered her eyebrows and said obediently: "Your Majesty, this is Wan'er's business, and I dare not be rewarded." In fact, it is the ministers of the various ministries of the court and the craftsmen under their command who really work hard. ”

"You!" Wu Zetian pointed at Shangguan Wan'er with his right hand, and then pointed at Xue Shao with his left hand, "I've learned all his rhetoric." ”

Shangguan Wan'er's face suddenly turned red and she stopped talking.

Xue Shao laughed, "Your Majesty, don't always praise your ministers." The ministers will be proud. ”

Wu Zetian laughed, "Come on, accompany me forward!" ”

Xue Shao walked in front of the chariot and raised an arm, and Wu Zetian took his arm and walked down the chariot.

The civil and military officials and the envoys of all countries all bowed down, and the mountain shouted long live endlessly.

Wu Zetian smiled magnificently, "Everyone is alive!" ”

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

And they all got up in turn, and rolled like waves. Xue Shao saw it with his own eyes, and said in his heart that it was no wonder that everyone wanted to be the emperor. It's really a pleasure to watch these people honestly kneel together in front of me.

Wu Zetian walked forward, followed by Xue Shao one step behind him, and then followed by the guard of honor and twelve thousand oxen. Walking all the way, Xue Shao deliberately looked at Wu Chengsi and the others. Obviously, he was very unhappy to see that he was in the limelight again. Xue Shao laughed in his heart, who called you so ugly, even your own aunt was embarrassed to take you out? Otherwise, I'd be happy to give you this boring drudgery.

The festival itself was nothing unusual, and Xue Shao attended it almost every year. However, this year's suburban ceremony is extremely eye-catching. In the Tang Dynasty in the previous dynasty, the first person to offer sacrifices and sacrificial wine was, of course, the emperor of the Tang Dynasty, which was called the first sacrifice. Then there is Wu Zetian, which is called Yaxian, and then there are the three offerings of the prince.

Now it is the Wu Zhou Dynasty, of course, it is the empress's first offering. Who, then, will act as a devotee?

Obviously, this will be a big event with strong political overtones.

However, until the sacrifice began, no one knew who the two and three sacrifices were. It wasn't until Wu Zetian herself was about to come forward to offer a sacrifice that she said to Xue Shao: "Chengyu, you have to personally invite the imperial heir to come and serve as the second sacrifice." The emperor's grandson became a vessel and served as three offerings. ”

As soon as these words came out, the hall was full of surprise.

However, no one dared to say anything.

Xue Shao glanced at the corner of his eyes, Wu Chengsi's expression was dull, and his whole face was about to turn white. Wu Sansi and the others beside him were also stunned, falling into a state of surprise and panic.

Xue Shao strode up to Li Dan and bowed with his fists folded, "Your Majesty has instructed you to invite the imperial heir and the imperial grandson to come forward and serve as the second and third offerings." ”

Li Dan was obviously also shocked, nodded and took Li Chengqi, "There is Lao Xue Gong...... Be careful, you know? ”

Li Chengqi, who was less than ten years old, nodded sensibly, looking like that, he was not as nervous as his father.

Xue Shao led the father and son to the altar. The master of ceremonies stepped forward and handed over the sacrifices and other things that needed to be sacrificed to Li Dan's hands. Li Dan has long been familiar with this kind of thing, but he used to be the first offering, but now he has become the second sacrifice.

After Li Dan had sacrificed in a panic, it was Li Chengqi's turn. The master of ceremonies brought a large plate, on which were three animal sacrifices and wine, and it was quite heavy. After Li Chengqi took it in his hand, he had to walk up to the high platform, and after walking a few steps, his feet were crooked and he almost spilled something.

"Chengyu, help him." Wu Zetian called out on the stage.

Xue Shao took a few steps forward and walked to Li Chengqi's side, helped him hold the plate and supported his waist, and walked up to the altar step by step.

The civil and military officials in the audience, especially the sons and nephews of the martial family, were all stunned!

――What does this mean?

- What kind of signal is this?!

- Could it be that Li Dan is about to enter the East Palace, and even his son will be escorted by Xue Shao in the future?!

Xue Shao didn't think about it so much, he only felt that Wu Zetian was deliberately beating Wu Chenghe, wanting to frustrate his sharpness.

Not long after the establishment of the Wu Zhou Dynasty, Wu Zetian struggled for half a century before he became the emperor, and Wu Chenghei was anxious to compete for the crown prince. He is afraid that he has forgotten that since the Five Hu Rebellion and the Northern Dynasties, the king and the crown prince have been a pair of natural political enemies, and the resulting father-son vendettas are not uncommon.

Xue Shao thought to himself, Wu Tian had been struggling in the palace for so many years, and the protagonist of the Xuanwu Revolution was once her first husband. Her second husband, Emperor Gaozong, was often commented on by later generations as cowardly and incompetent. But didn't his uncle, Eldest Sun Wuji, who helped him ascend the throne, still be killed by him and Wu Zetian together?

In today's world, I am afraid that no one knows better than Wu Zetian the cruelty and ruthlessness of the struggle for imperial power in the court.

Nowadays, Wu Chenghe's desire to seize the heir is too obvious, and the move to seize the heir is too radical. This is hard to guarantee that Wu Zetian will not have such doubts in his heart: Being in such a hurry to become the prince, are you hoping that I will die early and take over? If you really want to succeed, are you going to force me to abdicate next?

Xue Shao couldn't help but think of what Princess Taiping said, "The Prime Minister of Dog Meat, he really did a good job!" ”

The facts of Yaxian and Sanxian in front of him prove that Wu Chenghei is far less clear than Princess Taiping about the rules of the game of "seizing the heir". Xue Shao believes that just the four words "no talent and no virtue" really overestimate Wu Chenghe, he is not even qualified to be a "conspirator", at most he is a blind clown.

The ceremony of worshipping the heavens on the first day was over, and Xue Shao escorted Wu Zetian back to the palace as he came. The civil and military officials followed back to Luoyang, and speculation and discussion had already spread among them. Many people feel that the imperial heir is still very promising to enter the East Palace. Follow him, maybe it's right!

Xue Shao followed Wu Zetian's side, occasionally glancing at her, and found that there was always an inexplicable smile on the corner of her mouth. This made Xue Shao feel that Wu Zetian had actually already figured out the thoughts of Wu Chenghe, Li Dan and the Manchu Dynasty. She just wanted to see the situation now.

Wu Chenghe's step was too big, and she shouted to stop. Li Dan's steps stopped, and she pushed it.

Wu Chenghe's power was too inflated, so she beat it. Li Dan gradually weakened, and she pulled again.

In short, Wu Zetian just hoped that the two factions of Wu and Li would be evenly matched. The last thing she wanted was for one side to completely overwhelm the other.

"The snipe and the clam compete, and the fisherman profits." Xue Shao couldn't help but sigh in his heart, "Li Dan is the prince, and he hasn't even written a word yet." Everything in front of him is just Wu Zetian's imperial mental trick at work! ”