In the evening, the ministers entered the palace and prepared to accompany the empress to the gate of heaven in the imperial city, and enjoy the lanterns with the people at night.

Those who can accompany the empress to celebrate the festive season today are not ordinary ministers. Prime Minister Shangshu General, counting from the third grade or above. Xue Shao found that Xue Chuyu was also among them. He rushed back to his hometown in Longmen for the New Year, apparently rushing back early after receiving Xue Shao's notice.

Wu Zetian also saw Xue Chuyu, and couldn't help but immediately remember the scene when the "Taitian official" accompanied Tang Gaozong to celebrate the Shangyuan Festival. Now it coincides with the empress who is about to establish the crown prince and intends to return to the Tang Dynasty. So she had a thought, and asked Xue Shao and Xue Chuyu to put on their uniforms together, imitating the old things of Gaozong back then, and letting the two of them accompany her to enjoy the lanterns tonight.

The empress's request was naturally difficult to refuse, and Xue Shao and Xue Chuyu had to hurry down to "dress up". Fortunately, there are many good Mingguang armor in the palace, and the two of them often carry the sword given by the emperor with them, so it is not troublesome to change clothes temporarily.

The two of them changed their clothes and armor in the same room, and when they were about to finish, the left and right attendants retreated. Xue Chuyu leaned into Xue Shao's ear very alertly and whispered, "When I came, I met a strange person. ”

"What's the weird way?"

"He said he was looking for Moneba."

Xue Shao's spirit suddenly froze, "What about people? ”

"I secretly placed him in the Bai Sima Han Post Station outside Luoyang City." Xue Chuyu whispered, "The people at the post station are only my relatives and stay there for a while." ”

"Relatives?" Xue Shao blinked, "Female? ”

"Yes." Xue Chuyu lowered her voice again, "Her henchman slave girl, a Han woman in her forties, is called Liu Erniang. ”

Of course, Xue Shao knew who the "she" in Xue Chuyu's mouth meant.

After pondering for a moment, Xue Shao said, "Do you have a reason?" ”

"I asked, but she wouldn't say." Xue Chuyu said, "She claims that she will only tell you in person." ”

Xue Shao frowned slightly, "Then did she say how she passed through the Surrendered City checkpoint and how she entered the interior of the Central Plains from Mobei?" ”

"She went south to Qinzhou with the Turkic horse-selling caravan, and then went south to Guanzhong on the pretext of visiting relatives." Xue Chuyu said, "Her customs clearance documents and the like are complete, even if she is caught by the government, she will not be counted as a spy." This is reassuring. ”

Xue Shao nodded and said, "That's it, after the Shangyuan Festival, you can take the moon slave to the post station, and let the moon slave take people to the Xuanyun Temple of Zhongnan Mountain to settle temporarily." Tell her I'll go see her. ”

"Good!"

After nightfall, the people rushed to the streets, and countless lanterns turned the whole of Luoyang into a starry city that never sleeps.

Wu Zetian, accompanied by important civil and military ministers and envoys from various countries, ascended to the gate of Zetian in the imperial city and shared the festival with the people. Xue Shao and Xue Chuyu each wore heroic uniforms to accompany her on her side, doubling the brilliance.

Compared with ten years ago, Xue Shao and Xue Chuyu, who are already in their prime, are no longer beautiful boys who are pure idols. But they not only have the appearance of an envious beautiful boy, but also have a heroic spirit that ordinary men do not have. Especially the latter, which was cast from more than ten years of iron and blood, which no beautiful boy could imitate.

As soon as Xue Shao and Xue Chuyu went to the Tianmen Tower, they explained what it meant to be a hero in front of the people of the world.

In today's parlance, invisible pretending is the deadliest. Tonight, Xue Shao and Xue Chuyu really made Wu Zetian look big in front of the people of Luoyang and the envoys of various countries.

However, the brothers Zhang Yizhi and Zhang Changzong, who could only hide in the dark and enjoy the lanterns, hated so much that the roots of their teeth hurt. Although everyone knew that they were the face of the empress, and although they all held a lot of official positions in the imperial court, they never dared to accompany the empress to appear in public. It made them feel like they were thieves all along. So they have been longing for an opportunity for the public to know and recognize their "identity", and from then on, they have rightfully entered the public eye, walked to the front of politics, and began to enjoy the real glory and wealth and taste the taste of power.

To do this, they put in a lot of effort.

Finally, the empress agreed to take his brothers to the gate of heaven on the night of the Shangyuan Festival to make them beautiful. The two Zhang brothers were very happy, they even had their armor prepared in advance. Unexpectedly, "Erxue" was killed in the middle of the road, and he stole the limelight that should have belonged to "Erzhang".

As the saying goes, not being envied is mediocrity, and there are many people in the world who are so jealous that they hate Xue Shao, and he is almost used to this. As for stealing the limelight from the second one now, Xue Shao himself was unaware of it, and he basically didn't put the two in his eyes. Except when he was disgusted by them, he didn't want to remember that there were still two people in the world.

But for Erzhang, this hatred and hatred of Shangyuan Festival is tantamount to killing their own father.

Two days later, the Shangyuan lanterns were still glorious, but Xue Chuyu had already taken his 3,000 jumping cavalry to Chang'an, preparing to conduct a brief training and rest in the Weishui camp, and then follow Xue Shao to the Fengzhou border pass.

Although there are not many people used in this "operation", they are all the top elite soldiers in the current Great Zhou army, and there are terrifying "black technology". As long as such a force is mobilized, it is absolutely a military secret, so Xue Chuyu took advantage of the hustle and bustle of the Shangyuan Festival as a cover and walked without a trace. Naturally, there were Guo An, a group of scouts, and the group of troops who had signed a life and death contract with Xue Shao, and Duan Feng was their leader.

At this time, Princess Taiping finally knew that Xue Shao was going to "go on a business trip".

Xue Shao's tone was very tight, and he was adamant, claiming that it was definitely not an expedition to go out on business, no, he didn't even bring the army.

But Princess Taiping is obviously not so easy to be fooled, she pierced Xue Shao's lie with one sentence - "What about Xue Chuyu? ”

"Well, just a routine tour of the north." Xue Shao had no choice but to say, "It's really not a war, it's really not a war, it's really not a war - say important things three times!" ”

Princess Taiping has always known in her heart that even if she has 10,000 reasons to stop Xue Shao's expedition, she still has to give up and compromise in the end. Over the years, he has almost become accustomed to his style, and it is impossible to change his original intention now. It's better to mess with him like this, it's better to send him away generously.

So she said: "Of course national affairs are important, but I still have to remind you that your marriage with Yu Hongye should really be done." In addition, I have thought about Linyu's affairs clearly, and I am willing to let him go from Rong Refining for a year or two. Aren't you going to Northern Xinjiang this time? Take him with you! ”

"Nope." Xue Shao replied very simply, "If he walks with me, everyone will treat him as a baby pimple." The so-called refining is to endure hardship. If you really agree, I will send him to the border pass in Hebei or Liaodong. ”

"You're so ruthless." Princess Taiping wrinkled her eyebrows, "When the time comes, won't even I be able to find out where he went?" ”

Xue Shao was silent for a moment, "If you really want to check, you will definitely find it." But I hope you don't look it up. ”

"What if he has something out there?" Princess Taiping's voice rose up.

"......" Xue Shao was speechless for a moment, and said softly: "If you are really reluctant, I will not force you." Then another year or two, when he's older. ”

Princess Taiping bit her lip and struggled for a long time, and threw a sentence with tears in her eyes, "Go, go!" Neither of you is a worry-free thing! ”

The next day, the hour.

After saying goodbye to Wu Zetian, Xue Shao left the palace alone. Princess Taiping stayed in the palace with Xue Linyu.

Hearing that Xue Shao planned to send Xue Linyu to the border pass to practice for a few years, Wu Zetian immediately expressed strong opposition.

Of course, she objected as a grandmother.

Therefore, the objection is invalid.

The adopted son is not the fault of the father, how to cultivate his son is Xue Shao's due power, and no one can interfere, including the empress. At the same time, Xue Linyu himself also strongly insisted on going to the border to experience a few years, or to study or join the army or travel around the world to increase his knowledge, in short, he was very determined to go. Moreover, he also had to follow his father's actions back then and go out incognito, which made Wu Zetian and Princess Taiping very helpless.

Xue Shao certainly loves his son, but he doesn't want his son to become a second-generation loser. So he had to play the role of a ruthless and strict father with an iron heart, and "forced" Xue Linyu to the road of hardship.

After leaving the palace, Xue Shao went straight to Yu Hongye's house. There are many things that he should have explained before leaving.

Yu Hongye seemed to be waiting for him.

"I've got to make a long trip." Xue Shao said to her straight to the point.

Yu Hongye smiled and nodded, "I'm pregnant with your flesh and blood." ”

Xue Shao was first shocked, then overjoyed, and then worried again.

"Why do you have that expression?" Yu Hongye smiled instead, "I thought you would be very happy."

"I'm really happy, but we're not married yet, and that's not good for you." Xue Shao said, "Originally, I should have told you the date of marriage today, but now I ......."

Yu Hongye immediately reached out and covered his mouth, "Needless to say, I understand." ”

"Hey......" Xue Shao smiled bitterly and sighed.

Very self-reproachful.

"The marriage is not tight. I only hope that you will return safely as soon as possible. Then, give your child a hand. Yu Hongye said, "Tell me, do you want to be a daughter or a son?" ”

"Daughter." Xue Shao replied without hesitation.

"Why?" Yu Hongye asked curiously.

Xue Shao was silent for a moment, and smiled slightly bitterly, "Son, it's too worry-free." ”

"Like you, standing up to the heavens and the earth?" Yu Hongye asked with a smile.

"That's a big problem." Xue Shao smiled even more bitterly, "It's better to give birth to a well-behaved daughter who is gentle and virtuous like you!" ”