Night fell, and the largest city in the world, the imperial capital of Chang'an, was shrouded in brilliant lights and lively celebrations.

The Imperial City Suzaku Gate is, of course, the most lively core area in the city. In front of the tower, two huge lamp trees were erected at the same height as the tower, and more than 10,000 lamps were lit on each lamp tree. In the middle of the two lantern trees, there is a lifelike huge golden dragon, hovering over a pillar as thick as ten people hugging, the dragon head is facing the place where the Suzaku Castle Emperor is about to appear, and there is a huge lamp ball made of glass in his mouth.

Such a scene, in the eyes of Xue Shao, a person from the 21st century, is still shocking. In the Tang Dynasty, where there was no high-tech construction equipment, Xue Shao could not compare how those workers made these dazzling and eye-catching lights.

Xue Shao estimated that just these two fire trees and a golden dragon would require at least tens of thousands of manpower.

Tonight, all the people of Chang'an left their homes and flocked to Suzaku Street to have fun. Suzaku Street, which is more than 100 meters wide, is overcrowded and impassable. The trees on both sides of the street are full of colorful lanterns, and hundreds of thousands of Chang'an people walk on Suzaku Street, each holding a large or small lantern or lantern in their hands, illuminating the whole street as bright as day. All the other miles and squares, where there were trees, were all hung with lanterns. Lanterns are lit in every house.

Xue Shao stood on the tower of Vermilion Bird City and looked down, the entire huge ancient city of the Great Wall was shrouded in a brilliant light, as if the morning glow in the sky fell on the city, dazzling and colorful. The long Suzaku Street is like a starry and colorful Milky Way.

Xue Shao was shocked.

If you don't see tonight's scene with your own eyes, you can't imagine the strength of the Tang Dynasty, and you can't know what kind of prosperity the imperial capital Chang'an has become!

This is, Sheng Tang.

With the sound of several salutes on the head of Suzaku City, the most important part of the Shangyuan Festival is about to be staged.

As in previous years, Emperor Li Zhi was about to make a public appearance at this time to spend the Shangyuan Festival with the people of the city.

Hundreds of thousands of people on Suzaku Street let out a deafening cheer, like the roar of the sea at high tide.

Xue Shao and Xue Chuyu, one left and one right, were closely by the side of Emperor Li Zhi, each supporting the emperor's waist with a secret force, and helping him to the front of the Vermilion Bird Tower. Prime Minister Shangshu, who was an important minister of the dynasty, all went to the head of Suzaku City today to accompany the emperor to spend the Shangyuan Festival together.

The cheers are back, and they are endless!

Li Zhi raised his hand and waved to his millions of people with a smile on his face.

At this moment, Xue Shao could understand why Li Zhi was so ill, and he was desperate to show up on tonight's occasion.

Men, born for the country.

For the Ninety-Five, there is nothing more gratifying and joyful than receiving the cheers and worship of the people.

The cheers continued for a long time, and Li Zhi's waving hand never let go.

Xue Shao made a rough estimate in his heart, and this time lasted no less than twenty minutes.

"My country, my people......"

Li Zhi whispered, and Xue Shao was very close and heard it.

At this time, Xue Shao found that Li Zhi's eyes were moist.

Perhaps Li Zhi himself knows very well in his heart that this should be the last time in his life to enjoy such cheers and worship.

"Queen."

"The concubine is here."

Li Zhi said to Wu Zetian with a smile on his face: "You come to announce this year's new policy and distribute festival bonuses to the people in the city!" ”

"Yes......" Wu Zetian agreed, looking at Li Zhi worriedly.

Li Zhi smiled and said that he was fine.

Subsequently, Wu Zetian read out the new policies that Datang will implement this year above the city, from agriculture to business, politics to the military, and about 40 new national policies will be made public tonight.

There were actually very few people who could hear clearly, but after Wu Zetian finished reading it, the people once again let out a warm cheer, which lasted for a long time.

Xue Shao felt that the loyalty and support of the people of Chang'an to the two saints had almost become a habit. They don't need to listen to the content of the new policies to imagine that these new policies must be good policies that benefit the people and support the people. Because in previous years, every year on the night of the Shangyuan Festival, the imperial court would announce such a new policy.

Later, Wu Zetian sent a lot of palace people and sergeants to distribute red envelopes for the Shangyuan Festival to the people under Vermilion Bird City.

Being able to get the emperor's reward on a day like today is of course an excellent thing for the people of Chang'an. So the red envelope triggered a rush of scramble, and everyone scrambled to be the first to fall behind. If it weren't for the presence of a large number of troops to maintain order, it would not be possible to resemble the riots that would have been caused on Suzaku Street, where hundreds of thousands of people had gathered.

Xue Shao feels that this is more than a hundred times more popular than the concert scene of any emperor superstar in the 21st century.

Li Zhi had been standing quietly at the head of the city, squinting slightly at Yiqiē below, the corners of his mouth were slightly raised, and the smile on his face lasted for a long time.

At this moment, Xue Shao read from Li Zhi's expression that he had a strong reluctance and attachment in his heart.

He loves his country and his people so much!

Suddenly, Xue Shao and Xue Chuyu felt their arms sink at the same time, and Li Zhi stretched out his left and right hands and helped them on their arms.

Emperor, crumbling!

"Diva!" Xue Shao hurriedly called out urgently.

Wu Zetian suddenly woke up, "It's cold and the night is freezing, Your Majesty will drive back to the palace!" ”

"Yes!"

Xue Shao promised loudly, and all the thousand cavalry guards nearby moved when they heard the sound, and immediately came forward to surround the emperor at the core, and isolated those civil and military ministers outside!

At this time, Li Zhi's body suddenly weakened and fainted!

Xue Shao and Xue Chuyu gritted their teeth together and drank low to make enough dark power, using their shoulders to support and arms to maintain the emperor's standing posture. Then he "helped" him and walked step by step to the position of the stairs.

The more vigilant civil and military officials had already realized that the emperor might have left in a hurry because he was not physically supportive. But Xue Shao and the thousands of horsemen under his command surrounded the emperor like an iron bucket, not to mention getting closer to see what was going on, even if he jumped up, he couldn't see a rough idea.

Xue Shao and Xue Chuyu had just used all their strength to put the emperor off the city and lift him up to the imperial chariot, and the imperial doctor Qin Minghe had already arrived. He probed Li Zhi's pulse, took a needle on the spot, pricked it four times on the top of the emperor's head and neck, and stuffed a pill into his mouth.

"Please General Xue, send His Majesty back to the dormitory immediately! Remember, shelter from the wind! ”

"Good!"

The string in Xue Shao's heart immediately tightened again, and he ordered his thousands of horsemen to open the road before and after to guard it tightly, and then he and Xue Chuyu stayed in the imperial chariot to take care of the emperor, took off his cloak, and formed a small closed tent around the emperor to avoid any cold and night wind from invading the emperor.

The car drove away the lively crowd in the imperial city and hurried to the harem.

Emperor Li Zhi's face was like a blank piece of paper, without half a trace of blood. Qin Minghe always paid attention to the emperor's pulse, and from time to time moved needles or massaged, and was so busy that he was sweating profusely.

Xue Shao and Xue Chuyu also sweated profusely. If the emperor dies under his own guards, even if he has not derelict his duties, he cannot afford this crime!

When they arrived at Penglai Palace, Xue Shao and Xue Chuyu personally carried Li Zhi into the dormitory, and Qin Minghe immediately launched first aid.

Xue Shao gave an order to ask the Qiancai guards to surround the Penglai Palace's dormitory like an iron bucket, and no one was allowed to enter and leave at will, let alone leak any news.

Then, Xue Shao and Xue Chuyu stood in the door separated by only one screen from Li Zhi's hospital bed, standing guard left and right with their backs to the hospital bed.

They heard Wu Zetian inside constantly calling for his husband in a low voice.

It is not called Majesty, nor is it called the Emperor, nor is it even called Fujun.

But......

"Slave, slave, wake up!"

In the whole world, there may be only Wu Zetian left, and he will still call Li Zhi's name like this.

It's been a long, long time.

Xue Shao felt that his feet were about to take root and freeze, and finally heard Qin Minghe's extremely weak voice from inside.

"Your Majesty, it's okay!"

Immediately there was a plop, and the old imperial doctor himself fainted again.

"Xue Lang, come in!" Wu Zetian is calling again.

So Xue Shao went in alone, and began to clean up the mess as he did at the beginning.

This time, Li Zhi did not wake up immediately, but remained asleep.

"Xue Lang, this palace has a reluctant request." Wu Zetian said.

Xue Shao clenched his fists, "The queen of heaven commands!" ”

"The palace remembers that during the Zhenguan period, Emperor Taizong's majesty suffered from insomnia at night because of the ghosts in the palace. So he asked Wei Chi Jingde and Qin Shubao to guard the dormitory with troops. His Majesty Taizong can sleep peacefully until dawn. Wu Zetian said, "It's a bad night, you and Xue Chuyu are His Majesty's confidants, why don't you follow the example of the two generals of the door gods, Pei Taiyi, Tianguan Yudao, and guard the front?" ”

Xue Shao could hear it. Wu Zetian said so much and quoted scriptures, but in fact, to put it bluntly, it was one sentence - I'm scared, you stay here tonight to protect me!

The queen of Datang, no matter how wise and powerful she is, is just a woman after all. When her husband's life is on the verge of death, she will be afraid in such a lonely and helpless night!

Of course, Xue Shao knew that her fear would not be like that of ordinary women, she was afraid that once the emperor made a mistake tonight, no matter how powerful she was in the court, it would be far from the water. Then, the four hundred thousand cavalry guards who were ordered to guard His Majesty tonight can play an extremely important role!

Xue Shao had no reason to refuse such a request.

That night, thousands of horsemen were ordered to guard the Penglai Hall overnight. Even Feng Chenwei, who has been responsible for protecting His Majesty the Emperor, has been abandoned and not allowed to approach Penglai Hall for half a step!

Xue Shao and Xue Chuyu were dressed in military uniforms, wearing two Shangyuan treasure knives given by the emperor, Taiyi and Tianguan, guarding the gate of the emperor's bedroom like door gods.

In the dormitory, only the two saints and the imperial doctor Qin Minghe were left.

Xue Shao thought to himself, if the emperor died tonight, then any will he left behind would only be known by the queen of heaven......

In other words, the emperor's last order is in the hands of the queen of heaven!

Thinking of this, Xue Shao couldn't help but shudder...... Your Majesty, the Emperor hasn't explained the future yet, you must not die tonight!

Otherwise, Datang will really be a mess!