Tang Dynasty Hidden Guards

The rules for the royal palace banquets are very strict, with a set reporting time that cannot be too early or too late.

The report was made at the hour of Wei, which is between 2 pm and 4 pm. Just after the hour of Wei, a large procession of carriages headed to Shen Du Yuan.

Shendu Garden is the Western Garden of Luoyang. It was first built by Emperor Yang of Sui, called Fanghua Garden in the Tang Dynasty, and renamed Shendu Garden by Empress Wu Zetian. Now it is the most prosperous period of the entire Western Garden. It has a circumference of 200 li and an area of ​​400 square kilometers. The Luo River flows through the garden, and there is also a very large lake called Ningbi Pond.

The Shangyang Palace, where Wu Zetian currently resides, is located here, and the Qilin Pavilion, where Wu Zetian receives Xue Wei, is also within the Shangyang Palace.

However, this banquet was limited to the Mingde Palace on the south bank of the Luo River, which was the residence of Emperor Taizong of Tang when he inspected Luoyang. There was also an archery range and an official horse field next to it.

Only first-class and second-class guests were allowed to dine in the palace, while third-class guests could only dine in a temporary tent outside.

At the hour of Wei (1-3 PM), Xue Wei and Yuan Min arrived at the West Garden gate by carriage.

Today, Xue Wei was dressed in a white robe, with a gold belt around his waist and a gauze hat on his head. He looked handsome and exceptionally dashing.

Yuan Min wore a dark red, high-waisted ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) with gold thread embroidered floral patterns. She wore a three-layered crystal necklace that neatly concealed a large area of ​​her fair skin. She wore a purple, narrow-sleeved short ruyi (another type of traditional Chinese dress) over it, and a light, thin gauze scarf was wrapped around her arm. Combined with her stunningly beautiful face, she exuded a noble and elegant aura.

She wore a white jade pendant given to her by Empress Wu Zetian at her waist, but she didn't treasure it; she treated it as just an ordinary ornament.

Private carriages were not allowed inside and had to be parked outside. Guards were also not allowed inside, so Xiaoluo and the four female warriors had to wait outside.

Weapons are not allowed inside, and knives are not permitted. The banquet itself will provide meat cleavers, so there is no need for individuals to bring their own knives. As for long swords and knives, they are even more prohibited.

After having their invitations verified, they entered the main gate and boarded a royal carriage to proceed to the banquet venue.

Several people were sitting in the palace carriage, none of whom knew each other. Yuan Min stood close to Xue Wei, and the two admired the beautiful scenery of the West Garden.

"It would be quite awkward for me to attend the banquet alone!" Yuan Min whispered in Xue Wei's ear.

Xue Wei nodded. Within the palace, only nobles could enjoy comfort; for others, comfort had to give way to security.

Soon, a field surrounded by colorful silk appeared ahead. Looking at this silk wall that stretched for several miles, Xue Wei realized the extravagance of the royal family.

Upon entering the palace, Xue Wei was directly led to the first-class VIP area. He didn't leave but waited for Yuan Min to join him. However, Yuan Min encountered trouble. An official on duty checked the list, shook his head, and said to her, "The invitation may be wrong. Master Yuan is in the second-class VIP area. Please go that way."

Xue Wei was stunned. He stepped forward and questioned, "Did the royal banquet send the wrong invitation?"

The official shook his head. "I don't know either. This is the first time we've made a mistake, but the guest list is very clear. Yuan Min is indeed in the second-class guest area. The first-class area is for high-ranking officials of the third rank or above, those with titles of county duke or above, members of the royal family, and relatives of the empress. Merchants are not allowed to enter the first-class area."

Xue Wei was furious. "If she had been placed in the second-class section from the beginning, that would have been one thing, but they clearly gave her a first-class guest invitation and then changed their minds at the last minute, demoting her to a lower class. Who did this humiliating thing?"

The official from the Court of Imperial Sacrifices on duty trembled with fright and quickly clasped his hands in a fist and said, "This humble official is only responsible for carrying out the orders from above, and this humble official cannot answer Commandant Xue's question."

Yuan Min stepped forward, took Xue Wei's arm, and said softly, "Second class is fine, it's okay. Maybe I'll meet a lot of friends! Besides, the rules for first class are too strict, and I don't feel comfortable there."

Xue Wei nodded silently, "I'll go to the second-class VIP area too."

Xue Wei was seething with anger. He knew someone was up to something, and he was determined to find out what was going on. This matter couldn't be left like this.

Yuan Min took Xue Wei's arm and walked towards the second-class VIP area on the west side. She whispered, "It's strange. I specifically inquired and found out that the invitations were sent out three days ago, and the emperor had already signed off on the seating arrangements. How come they've suddenly changed? I don't think this is a mistake; they've deliberately adjusted it."

Xue Wei nodded slightly, "I know, I will make them give me an explanation for this matter."

"I'm wondering if it was when you killed Zhu Ling in Chang'an and then left without saying goodbye, making Prince Xiang and his son uncomfortable."

"It's possible, but in any case, demoting you from the first-class zone to the second-class zone is too humiliating!"

Yuan Min smiled and said, "Actually, I don't want to go to the first-class area. It's either a bunch of old men or members of the Wu family. Wu Chongxun and Li Guo'er are there. If you're not sitting next to me, it'll be too uncomfortable. I can meet many good friends and Yuan family sisters in the second-class area."

The second-class area was very large, with hundreds of tables and desks. Since families were allowed to bring their children, many families shared a table and desk.

Yuan Min's invitation clearly stated that she was allowed to bring her family to the birthday banquet.

Xue Wei smiled slightly, "Now I am your family member, and I will sit with you."

They quickly found Yuan Min's desk, which was a separate table with a blanket on the floor where people could sit.

If it's a large family, like the Yuan family with dozens of members, they can sit at a long table.

"This place is great, right by the Luo River!"

Yuan Min pulled Xue Wei down to sit down happily. A cool breeze blew across the river, making them feel refreshed. The unpleasantness they felt about changing seats gradually disappeared, and they started chatting and laughing again.

"Amin, over here!"

Yuan Min heard someone calling her, turned around, and was overjoyed. She saw Dugu Jiao waving at her, with Hou Mochen Fairy and Dou Wenniang beside her.

"Oh! They're all here, that's great, honey, I'm going to join them."

Go!

Xue Wei had long noticed that Yuan Min would call him Lao Xue when she was serious, and call him husband when she was being affectionate. He actually preferred Yuan Min to call him husband. Tang Ren didn't feel anything when he heard the word "husband," but when it reached Xue Wei's ears, it made his heart flutter.

His wife in his previous life never called him "husband," but always addressed him by his name, Xue Wei. He always thought it was his wife's habit from his previous life, but later he realized that she just didn't want to.

"Brother Xue!" Dugu Yizhi walked up with a smile.

Xue Wei stood up and bowed, saying, "Brother Dugu, it's you! Didn't I hear you went to Hexi to join the army?"

Dugu Yizhi sighed, "We were going to go anyway, and the Ministry of War had issued the transfer order, but my grandfather used his connections to cancel it."

Why?

"My grandfather wants me to get married, saying that I am twenty-five years old and still unmarried, and I have been thinking about it recently."

"I wonder which girl Brother Dugu has taken a liking to?"

Dugu Yizhi gave a bitter smile. "I've only ever loved Amin in my life, but it's impossible for us. So I can only choose a suitable girl, the one who can drink."

"Dou Wenniang?"

Xue Wei glanced back and saw Dou Wenniang pouring wine for Dugu Jiao, laughing heartily and displaying a tomboyish air.

"Yes! It's her."

"I thought she was already married. She's not young anymore!"

"She was the oldest among them, twenty years old, and still couldn't get married. She could drink, was very outgoing, and was a good match for me, so I decided to marry her."

Who is the youngest of them?

"you guess?"

"I can't guess?"

"It's neither Ah Min nor Ah Jiao, it's a candidate fairy, only fifteen years old."

Xue Wei shook his head. "I can't tell! You look much older than you are."

Dugu Yizhi blinked. "Don't say that. It will hurt her feelings, especially for you."

Why?

Dugu Yizhi laughed loudly, "Don't you know how good you are at polo? So many young ladies are attracted to you! She's one of them!"

Xue Wei was so frightened that he quickly clasped his hands together, "Please don't say that, I'm most afraid of this kind of thing right now."

Dugu Yizhi nodded. "If you want to marry Amin, you have to be mentally prepared. She will never share you with any woman. Not only can you not take a concubine, but you can't even go to brothels. That's why I can't do that, and that's why we're not meant to be."

Xue Wei said slowly, "I can completely accept monogamy."

Dugu Yizhi sighed softly, "Indeed, with Yuan Min by your side, who else would you even look at?"

At this moment, a young general ran up to Dugu Yizhi and said with a smile, "Brother Dugu, let's play some horseback archery!"

"good!"

Dugu Yizhi nodded and said to Xue Wei, "You should go too!"

Xue Wei was intrigued. Although he had shot arrows in the Tang Dynasty, he had never tried archery on horseback. He readily agreed, "I'll go and tell Amin."

He strode over, and the women laughed, "Commander Xue, you're already reluctant to part with your wife?"

"It's okay, you guys have fun. Amin, I want to go and try archery with Yizhi."

Yuan Min's beautiful eyes lit up, and she smiled at the other women, "Let's go take a look together!"

"Alright!" The women all stood up and walked together toward the archery range.