Knife splashing

Chapter 688 Peach Banquet

"Peaches ripen once every three thousand years.
All the immortals gathered at the Yao Chi Banquet.

Today is the Queen Mother's birthday celebration.

I, Magu, am here to offer my birthday wishes!"

Clang clang clang~
On the stage, the woman playing the role of Magu walked gracefully with her sleeves fluttering.

As expected of a famous opera troupe in Beijing, their movements and singing styles are all unique and charming.

If it were in other places, even a low-class actor would have many people supporting him.

But in this British palace, I couldn’t even have a hot meal.

Of course, no one in the troupe dared to complain.

The King of England at that time was a military man. Although he was brave in battle and followed the emperor in many campaigns and made great contributions, he was too poor when he was young. So, he married a notorious fierce woman in the village according to the matchmaker's parents' advice.

As the King of England rose to power, this shrew gradually became a princess and became even more arrogant and domineering.

If the King of England were still alive, this old princess would not be able to cause any trouble.

But the King of England was covered with wounds on the battlefield, and he died not long after returning to Beijing and handing over his military power.

Now, the family tradition of the British royal family has completely gone astray.

Many distant relatives came to seek refuge, but they were all people of questionable character. They would say flattering words to please the old princess, and then rely on the reputation of the British palace to do evil things outside. How could these descendants of the palace not be affected?

Just like the princess before, she ran directly to the side door, shouting and urging the troupe to perform.

Which lady from a noble family could do such a thing?
The key point is that the old princess didn’t feel embarrassed and even came to see it herself.

Of course, their tyranny and notoriety are all directed at the lower-class people.

The British royal family has frequent contacts with the real dignitaries and is very courteous during festivals.

Because of this, after the death of the King of England, the royal palace was able to roam freely in the capital for such a long time.

No matter how big a star in a troupe is, no one dares to offend him.

Of course, Li Yan doesn't care about this.

The moment he saw Yu Wenhai, he knew that the end of the British Palace had come.

This man is in charge of the Jinghai Gang and is also a disciple of the "trashy scholar" Kong Hui.

Where does the British royal family get such courage?
Li Yan was confused but did not say anything.

There is a pond in front of the stage, with dense bamboo forests on both sides.

Li Yan leaned back calmly, hiding in the bamboo forest and observing through the gaps.

The attic terrace opposite was open, and the old princess sat in the middle. She was a little fat, and her face was full of wrinkles and age spots even with heavy makeup. Her silver hair was combed meticulously, and her gold headband was inlaid with an emerald the size of a thumb.

The women on both sides were all dressed in gorgeous clothes, with pearls and jade swaying in the wind. They said they were watching a show, but most of the time they were turning sideways and saying compliments. The old princess was surrounded by everyone and was also smiling happily.

Unlike others, Yu Wenhai did not have a seat, but stood respectfully aside.

Because of the long distance and the interference of the troupe's gongs and drums, Li Yan couldn't hear clearly what was being said.

"Manager Liu, please help me."

Li Yan looked at the palace guards on the opposite side who were wearing goose-feather knives on their waists and looking at him with a fierce look, and whispered instructions.

Liu Sanhuai understood immediately, and leaned forward, "Everyone, where are we going to eat later?"

"Eat, where is the time?!"

A guard scolded, "The guests will arrive later, keep singing until the party is over!"

While the two sides were talking, Li Yan had already pinched his fingers to make a magic gesture and closed his eyes.

With a flick of his little finger, several Chu Ling paper figures flew out.

The British palace also invited a Feng Shui master to arrange the arrangements and placed talismans in the courtyard to suppress the monks' investigation.

Li Yan could certainly break it, but the noise would be too loud, so Chu Ling paper man would be more convenient.

With his current level of skill, he can control several paper figures at the same time.

I saw a paper figurine of a straw spirit flying into the gap between the rockery, shuttling back and forth between them, heading towards the direction of the ancestral hall.

That was what Hu Yuanyuan said, the possible hiding place of Uleji.

Although Li Yan was not clear about how the other party judged, he had already accepted the task from the underworld. He noticed that a small area was slightly hot, and the direction was exactly the ancestral hall of the Prince of Ying's Mansion.

The other paper figure floated in the dark corner of the corridor and landed under the attic.

Through the paper figures, the images and conversations of the people on them all appeared in Li Yan's mind:
The old princess was lying on the couch, with a maid behind her waving a pheasant feather fan.

The middle-aged woman next to him flattered him, "Your complexion is getting better and better. The monk at Daxiangguo Temple said that your face is the blessing of the reincarnation of the Bodhisattva."

"More than that? The Taoist priest from Longhu Mountain said that the longevity star in your life palace is dazzlingly bright, and you have clearly eaten the peaches from the Queen Mother!"

Seeing this, another middle-aged woman quickly took over the conversation.

However, the old princess's expression immediately darkened. "Zhao, the amount of your family's silver last month is not right, right?"

After hearing this, the middle-aged woman's face turned pale, "Grandma, this is unfair..."

"do not talk!"

The old princess glanced at him calmly and said, "It's a happy day. I don't want to bother with you."

Seeing this, everyone dared not say anything.

The old princess had always been moody, and they didn't know how to say the wrong thing.

However, this appearance attracted Li Yan.

Through the Chu Ling paper figurine, he could see clearly and discover more details.

When the female relatives mentioned "Peaches", the old princess's reaction was extremely abnormal. The wrinkles that had been relaxed due to the flattery instantly tightened. A trace of panic flashed across her cloudy eyes, and her skinny fingers suddenly pinched the armrest of the scented couch.

Li Yan had already made a judgment in his mind.

This eighty-year-old princess is a "Peach" eater, and her glamorous appearance has long been hollowed out by evil magic!
No wonder…

A sneer appeared on Li Yan's lips.

Outside the palace, the people in charge are the King of England and his brother.

But the one whose words really count is still the old princess.

At the age of eighty, he was still greedy and domineering by nature, and could not resist the temptation of the peaches.

"Old Ancestor, please calm down."

Yu Wenhai, who was standing next to him, suddenly spoke up, smiling and bowing, "Today is a big day for the palace, and we are all here for your sake. When the guests arrive later, we must not make any mistakes."

These words were extremely unreasonable and even felt like an order.

When the women nearby heard this, they were all a little surprised and didn't dare to breathe.

But what surprised them was that the old princess was not angry, but rather looked expectant. "Can it really work?"

Yu Wenhai smiled, "Don't worry, we all get together to help each other, right?"

"That's good."

The old princess breathed a sigh of relief, "Where's your master?"

Yu Wenhai bowed respectfully and said, "My master has other important matters and cannot come."

"Who is there?"

"The ancestors will know about it later..."

The conversation between the two left the women around them confused.

However, Li Yan got the point.

Many people from the "Peach Banquet" will come to this gathering. With the help of these powerful people, the British Palace will be able to survive the disaster.

Moreover, the people at this "Peach Banquet" did not seem to know each other.

What an unexpected surprise!

Li Yan didn't expect to encounter such a good thing.

Long Yan'er and the others will come with the guests later, and Luo Mingzi's men are also surrounding them outside.

If it is confirmed, all the people from the "Peach Banquet" can be caught in one fell swoop.

I just don't know whether Zhao Qingxu will show up.

Never mind. Even if I don’t come, I can’t miss this opportunity.

All those present at the "Peach Banquet" are the dignitaries in the capital, and they are all serious threats.

If he could get rid of these people, he wouldn't have to hide his identity anymore.

……

Before I knew it, it was sunset.

The afterglow of the setting sun cast a layer of golden red on the vermilion lacquered gate of the British palace, just like burning charcoal.

The shadow of the stone lion in front of the mansion was stretched very long, and people who came to celebrate the birthday came in an endless stream.

"Mother, a guest has arrived."

A middle-aged man hurried upstairs. It was Xiao Jingyan, the younger brother of King Ying who had brought Prince Hai home the night before.

"it is good."

The old princess slowly stood up and said, "You go to greet the guests and let Jing Yuan entertain them."

"Yes, mother."

Xiao Jingyan quickly turned around and headed towards the door.

The first to arrive was a plain carriage with green curtains. The curtains were lifted, and a hand wearing a jade ring came out first, followed by a middle-aged man in brocade clothes.

"Meet Mr. Zhou."

Xiao Jingyan's eyes showed surprise and he quickly stepped forward to greet him.

To be honest, given the current situation of the palace, he was not sure who would come back.

But unexpectedly, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue Zhou Mingyuan arrived first.

This man has been promoted all the way from county magistrate. He is young and energetic, and his future is limitless.

"It is the princess' birthday, so naturally I have to ask for a glass of wine."

Zhou Mingyuan smiled slightly, with anticipation and a hint of fear in his eyes.

"Master Zhou, please come in."

The palace and Zhou Mingyuan had never had any contact before. Xiao Jingyan didn't know why the other party came, but he still invited him into the palace with a happy face.

The sedan chair of Zheng Shi'an, a doctor from the Ministry of Works, followed closely behind.

This man, who was always afraid of the cold, wore only a single layer of clothing, but his neck was tightly wrapped in a fox fur collar...

The wife of the salt transport envoy, Mrs. Lin, arrived in a fragrant carriage decorated with bells.

Her abdomen was bulging, and she had to hold her waist and gasp for breath every time she took a step, but her face was covered with thick lead powder and her lips were bright red...

The most ostentatious one was the sedan chair carried by eight people, Xiao Jinghuan, Marquis of Anping.

When the alcoholic and prodigal royal relative lifted the curtain of his sedan chair, the whole street was filled with the strange smell of alcohol mixed with sandalwood.

His swollen cheeks were glistening in the sunset, and the jade pendant on his waist was jingling...

Xiao Jingyan's face was filled with joy.

He didn't expect that his mother had such a great reputation.

With the help of these people and the favor of the deceased British king, any disaster can be overcome.

All of this was recorded by the spy Captain Sima who was watching from a distance.

In a wing of a nearby house, Luo Mingzi checked the list one by one, and his expression became increasingly ugly.

Because among them were two abbots of the Taixuan Orthodox Taoist temple in the capital.

At this moment, he had only one thought in his mind:
Things are going to get out of hand!

News came from the palace that the Royal Guards were ready and were gathering here.

If so many powerful people were all members of the "Peach Banquet", the capital would surely be hit by a bloodbath.

When the carriage of Zou Yanli, the chief academic officer of the Imperial College, arrived at the last ray of daylight, the palace was already brightly lit.

"Zou Jijiu."

The smile on Xiao Jingyan's face could no longer be concealed, and he quickly stepped forward to support her.

This Zou Yanli was a great scholar in the capital, and he had countless disciples among the officials.

But before he could do anything, a young man next to him grabbed Zou Yanli's arm.

He was dressed in a Confucian robe and had a cold expression on his face. It was Lu San in disguise.

In addition, Long Yaner and Sharifei also dressed up as maids and servants.

Only Wu Ba, because his size was too conspicuous, stayed two streets away to help protect Wang Daoxuan who was setting up the altar.

"You're welcome."

Zou Yanli stroked his beard and smiled, "This is a young man from the clan. I brought him here to see the world. I am not feeling well, so the maids and servants have to follow him into the mansion to serve him. I wonder..."

"Master Zou, you are joking. Of course you can."

Xiao Jingyan was so excited that he didn't care about these trivial matters and immediately invited the person in.

"Senior brother."

In a house in the distance, seeing that the number of guests was decreasing, a Taoist priest asked in a low voice.

"Not urgent."

Luo Mingzi quietly wiped the magic sword and said, "Once Miss Long is sure, we will start arresting him!"

……

As dusk fell, the British palace was brightly lit.

The glazed palace lanterns hanging under the vermilion lacquered corridor made the blue bricks look slightly golden.

In the main hall, King Xiao Jingyuan of England sat in the main seat wearing a crimson purple python robe. Although he was nearly fifty years old, his face was as ruddy as that of a middle-aged man. Only the fine lines at the corners of his eyes revealed his fatigue.

"Everyone, please do me a favor and I will offer you a toast first!"

He was in a very good mood, too.

This is the first time that the royal palace has encountered such a predicament since he inherited the throne of England.

He has been naughty since childhood and is a well-known playboy in the capital. He has never suffered any hardship since childhood, so he can't help but feel worried and frightened in the past two days.

Now that he saw a room full of dignitaries, he finally let go of the worry in his heart.

After three rounds of drinks, the singing on the stage remained the same.

Suddenly, the sound of bells and ornaments was heard, and it turned out that the old princess was supported by two maids.

"Greetings, Princess. May you be blessed with great fortunes."

Upon seeing this, many officials and dignitaries immediately raised their glasses to welcome him.

"My longevity is entirely due to your care..."

The old princess looked very kind and even drank a glass of wine to thank the guests.

"No, the princess looks very good."

"I am waiting for this blessing..."

Everyone started to flatter him.

After three rounds of drinks, some people immediately said goodbye and left.

They are all officials and businessmen trained by the royal palace. They came here just to keep up the occasion and show their support.

Some people were led into the west wing by maids.

The waterside pavilion in the west wing of the palace has been converted into a secret room.

The window frames were covered with blood-stained talisman paper, and there were seven bronze oil lamps on the ground, the flames of which were actually a faint green.

More than ten guests sat around, including Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue Zhou Mingyuan and Marquis of Anping Xiao Jinghuan.

They looked at each other first, then smiled and raised their glasses to chat.

Everyone has a tacit understanding.

This is the first time that all members of the "Peach Club" have gathered together since its establishment.

Just then, when the old princess pushed the door open, everyone stood up at once.

"Everyone..."

The old princess smiled slightly, "We are all family, there is no need to hide anything, I guess you are all tired."

As he spoke, he waved his hand gently.

Immediately, maids came in one after another, carrying sandalwood plates in their hands.

The plate was filled with large pipes and a small celadon bowl.

Without further ado, everyone took it and scooped out a ball of black paste from the small celadon bowl.

After lighting them, they puffed out smoke and looked relaxed.

"Ugh~"

Suddenly, Mrs. Lin, the salt transport envoy’s wife, bent over and retched.

There were actually several clusters of snow-white hyphae in the spitted out mucus.

He took a few more puffs, then leaned back in his chair with his eyes drooping...

……

"I see."

Not far away in the hall, Long Yan'er fiddled with the Gu worm and whispered, "They all use Fushou ointment to relieve the pain."

"There's no rush yet."

Lu San shook his head and said, "I haven't seen Brother Yan yet. I'll send a signal after he confirms."

As they were talking, they suddenly saw Li Yan slowly walking out from the stage in the distance and making a gesture to them.

"Do it!"

Lu San gave a low shout, and Shalifei took out a bamboo tube from his arms without saying a word.

There was a flint mechanism hidden inside. When it was pulled suddenly, smoke immediately came out from under the bamboo tube.

call out! Snapped!
Fireworks shot out from the doors and windows, into the night, followed by a loud bang.

"Do it!"

Luo Mingzi suddenly opened his eyes, picked up the magic sword and stood up.

Suddenly, a group of soldiers from the Duwei Division appeared in the dark alleys, holding knives and rushing towards the palace...

(End of this chapter)