White Horse, Silver Spear, Grand Commandant Gao

The third year of Qingtai, the eighth day of the first month, the year of Wuxu.

The Emperor visited the Longmen Buddhist Temple to pray for snow and issued an edict: "I, as the ruler, am not clear about the principles of governance. Since the beginning of winter, there has been no heavy snowfall. I am deeply concerned about the impending disaster that may affect the people. I hereby order all ministers and officials to go to various shrines and altars to pray for snow."

When Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty moved the capital to Luoyang, he began to excavate Buddhist grottoes and build the Longmen Grottoes, Lingyan, Qianyuan, Guanghua, Chongxun, Baoying, Jiashan, and Tianzhu, which together are known as the Eight Temples of Longmen and have a history of more than 400 years.

The winter before last, Li Congke went to this place to pray for snow because there had been no rain or snow since September. Compared with the bountiful years during the reign of the late emperor, the weather also showed signs of deterioration.

The thirteenth day of the first lunar month, the day of Gui Mao.

Lu Qi, a court official and academician of the Privy Council, was appointed as an academician of the Duanming Hall; Xue Wenyu, a judge of the Six Armies and a vice minister of the Ministry of Works, was appointed as an academician of the Privy Council.

Lü Qi, courtesy name Huishan, was a native of Anci, Youzhou. His childhood experiences were quite bizarre.

His father, Lü Yan, was a judge in the Heng Hai Army. Because Liu Shouguang and his brother Liu Shouwen were fighting each other, Liu Shouwen was captured alive by Yuan Xingqin on the battlefield. The officials and people of Cangzhou then installed Liu Shouwen's son, Liu Yanzuo, as their new ruler, with Lü Yan as their chief strategist. The plot failed, Lü Yan was killed, and Liu Shouguang's entire family was exterminated.

When Lü Qi was fifteen, he was about to be executed. His former retainer, Zhao Yu, falsely told the prison warden, "This is my brother."

The supervisor believed him and let Lü Qi go. The two changed their names, begged for food along the way, and escaped for hundreds of miles. Lü Qi was left with a foot ailment, which Zhao Yu carried on his back, thus managing to escape Liu Shouguang's sphere of influence.

Afterwards, Lü Qi traveled to the area between Fen and Jin, and when Li Cunxu was stationed in Taiyuan, he served as the military advisor of Daizhou. Later, he returned to Heng Hai Army and served as an advisor under the military governor Zhao Dejun. He was successively promoted to Palace Attendant Censor, Assistant Minister of the Ministry of War, Minister of Rites, and Compiler of the Imperial History.

Several years ago, Li Congke lost control of Hezhong and was forced to live in Qinghuafang. He lived in the same alley as Lü Qi and visited him frequently. Because of this friendship, he was promoted.

Zhao Yu rose to the position of Assistant Director of the Ministry of Personnel, and Lü Qi treated him as a father. When Zhao Yu fell ill, Lü Qi personally tasted his medicine and cared for him. After Zhao Yu's death, Lü Qi organized his family's funeral. Zhao Yu's son was orphaned at a young age, and Lü Qi taught him as if he were his own son. This is considered a beautiful story of gratitude and repaying kindness.

Xue Wenyu was established through a relationship with Xiangli Jin, the defense commissioner of Longzhou, who was the only one who responded when Li Congke raised troops in Fengxiang. He was sent to communicate and discuss matters with Xiangli Jin.

The fourteenth day of the first lunar month, Jia Chen day.

Gao Huaide finally got the curfew he had been longing for lifted.

The capital city usually has a strict curfew. Once the bells and drums sound at dusk, the city gates and ward gates are closed one after another, and there are no pedestrians on the streets. Only the brightly armored Jinwu Guards can be seen patrolling back and forth.

Therefore, when the curfew was lifted, the people's pent-up enthusiasm, which had been building up for a whole year, was released, and the evening in Luoyang City immediately turned into a sea of ​​people.

Several days ago, the North and South Markets had already begun displaying and selling various lanterns, known as the Lantern Market.

The lanterns depict figures such as Lao Tzu, beauties, Zhong Kui catching ghosts, the moon shining on prostitutes, and Liu Hai playing with the toad; the lanterns depict flowers and plants such as gardenias, grapes, bayberries, persimmons, and oranges; and the lanterns depict birds and insects such as deer, cranes, fish, shrimp, and galloping horses. The variety is dazzling and endless.

Among the exquisite items are glass spheres, mica screens, crystal curtains, cloisonné enamel, and glass bottles; wealthy families decorate their homes with silk threads, fish and carp, colorful beads, bright horn, carved sheepskin, and tassel belts, with countless varieties.

Although it wasn't the Lantern Festival yet, Gao Huaide was already very satisfied. Although he felt a little sorry for his older sister and younger brother, he quickly put that guilt behind him.

Today he wore a newly made long robe, a folded turban, and black boots, dressed like a young official, looking neat and efficient. The only thing that bothered him was the two maids beside him, which he found rather cumbersome.

Gao Xingzhou instructed that it was permissible to go out for fun, but the Fu sisters must be invited along.

"Is Father trying to set me up with them?"

Gao Huaide even had this thought and couldn't help but glance at the two girls.

Fu Yun wore a short, narrow-sleeved blouse, pale yellow with a touch of light green, embroidered with lotus flowers and auspicious clouds on the front, with the skirt reaching her ankles. She wore a ribbon tied around her waist and a pair of embroidered boat-shaped shoes, looking very charming and lovely.

Fu Rong was dressed up like a delicate porcelain doll, with her hair tied in two small buns and adorned with two exquisite pearl flowers.

The weather was still chilly, and the two girls wore light gauze shawls around their shoulders, which swayed gracefully in the wind as they walked. Fu Yun held a round fan, while Fu Rong carried a rabbit lantern. The two sisters chatted and laughed as they strolled and admired the lanterns, enjoying each other's company immensely.

As Gao Huaide walked out of the neighborhood, he happened to run into Song Yanwo, who was also leaving. The two had met frequently over the past few days and had become acquainted with each other. They nodded to each other in greeting and, each with their entourage, went their separate ways to blend into the crowd.

"So many people! No wonder it's the ancient capital of twelve dynasties."

"The total population of Qingzhou probably doesn't even equal the number of people in a single market in Luoyang."

The three of them weaved through the crowd, and despite being surrounded by attendants, they were still jostled and pushed around, like a small boat adrift on the water.

A group of people pushed and shoved each other, and suddenly surged forward like a tide. Gao Huaide was afraid of being separated, so he quickly grabbed the hands of the two sisters.

The delicate and soft sensation immediately entered the palm of the hand.

It was a wonderful experience completely different from the cold, hard barrel. Gao Huaide felt as if he had a cloud in his palm, or as if he were holding a flower petal blooming in early spring, or a butterfly fluttering its wings, light, soft and fragile.

So that's what it means when they say men and women are different.

Before they could even savor the experience, the crowd dispersed in an instant. Fu Yun blushed and pulled her hand back, tucking it into her sleeve, while Fu Rong, with an innocent expression, still let him hold her hand.

Gao Huaide coughed, then released his grip by pointing in a direction: "There are just too many people here. Let's go look somewhere else."

Amidst the hawkers' cries and the aroma of various delicious snacks, the group arrived at the Tianjin Bridgehead, on the banks of the Luo River.

This is actually where the crowds gather the most, because the main gate of the imperial city is right across the bridge. The lantern festival held by the imperial family is called the Duanmen Lantern Festival.

Legend has it that during the reign of Emperor Yang of Sui, a variety of performances were held here. The venue was 5,000 paces in circumference, with 18,000 musicians playing string and wind instruments. Envoys from various countries were invited to enjoy the show, and the sound could be heard for dozens of miles. One can imagine how grand it was.

The fireworks display blends seamlessly with the starry sky and the iron locks of the bridge open.

The poem "The Fifteenth Night of the First Month" describes the grand scene before our eyes.

Gao Huaide and his party traveled slowly along the Luo River, captivated by the magnificent scenery they were witnessing for the first time.

The banks of the river are ablaze with lights, and countless lanterns float on the water, like a galaxy fallen to earth. The willows along the riverbank are also adorned with lanterns, and under their glow, the Luo River shimmers in the night, creating a dreamlike scene.

A painted boat slowly passed by, carrying melodious music and the soft singing of a female singer, attracting people on the shore to stop and watch. Gao Huaide looked towards the painted boat, but in the sparse shadows of the lights, he saw a face that should never have been there.

How come the White Plague God is still alive!

Gao Huaide was filled with doubt and suspicion, thinking it was just a matter of similar appearance and that he had mistaken someone else for someone else. However, he couldn't shake the feeling of unease and quickly moved closer.

It really was that thief! On the Lantern Festival, while everyone else was enjoying the lanterns, Bai Wenshen was busy with his group of people.

They carried large and small boxes and bags, loaded them onto a small boat, and once it was full, they sailed to a cargo ship moored in the river bend and transported the goods aboard.

"Brother Gao, why aren't you looking at the lamp?"

The Fu sisters noticed that he was distracted and asked him about it.

Gao Huaide's mind was no longer on admiring the lanterns. He had no intention of continuing to stroll with the two young girls. He gave them a few perfunctory replies, but his eyes were always on that group of people, and he was thinking over and over in his mind.

"Why was the White Plague God still able to be released? And why did he dare to move valuables and take advantage of the lifted curfew during the Lantern Festival to commit crimes in the capital?"

"He ignores people."

Fu Rong was furious and was about to throw the rabbit lantern in her hand at Gao Huaide, but Fu Yun quickly stopped her.

"Presumably Brother Gao has something come up, so let's not disturb him and enjoy the scenery on our own."

Gao Huaide was completely unaware that Fu Rong was angry. He carefully observed the movements of Bai Wenshen and his group and discovered that they had been moving things out one by one from a house north of the Tongji Canal.

The imperial city is in the north, and the residences of meritorious officials and nobles are concentrated in a ring of neighborhoods around it. The inn where Gao Xingzhou and Fu Yanqing stayed was also located in that area.

How could someone be so blatant in what is supposed to be the most strictly guarded area? Are the Imperial Guards patrolling the streets blind?

Countless doubts welled up in Gao Huaide's mind.

"Have you looked carefully? It really is Bai Wenshen, isn't it?"

To ensure that they could meet in case of any unforeseen circumstances, he, Lu Qian, and Fu An confirmed the information again. The two had already noticed that the young master's expression was off, and they immediately recognized him as the former security commander who had committed the bloody crime.

"It really is that thief."

Fu An licked his lips: "To survive this, you're really tough."

"You two keep an eye on him, I'm going back to report to Father."

Not far from the inn, Lu and Fu felt comfortable letting him go back alone. Gao Huaide took off running back to his residence, but before he even got close to the door, he was stopped from afar.

"That child, don't stop! If he gets any closer, we'll shoot arrows!"

???

Gao Huaide then noticed that, for some unknown reason, the inn where he was staying was surrounded by layers upon layers of people.

Gao Xingzhou did not tell his son about the emperor's incognito visit, and sent him away to go shopping and have fun. Unexpectedly, Gao Huaide discovered that Bai Wenshen had escaped from prison, abandoned the Fu sisters, and ran back early.

While he was still in shock and uncertainty, a soldier stepped forward and reached out to grab him. Gao Huaide instinctively fought back, turning his gun into a fist and parrying.

The imperial guard had not expected that the child would know martial arts, and that he was strong and powerful. Caught off guard, he staggered back two steps.

"The imperial carriage is here! How dare you, ignorant child, trespass!"

The imperial guard drew his sword with a clang; it was a precious sword inlaid with gold and silver: "I am Guo Wei, the military commander of Ningwei. Name yourself, boy!" (Note 1)

Li Congke renamed the Imperial Guards, changing the name of the Imperial Cavalry to Zhangsheng and the Imperial Infantry to Ningwei. Guo Wei, who was selected as an elite member of the Imperial Guards, was naturally exceptional in martial arts. However, due to his carelessness, he suffered a minor loss at the hands of Gao Huaide.

If it weren't for the fact that he was just a child, and that today was the eve of the Lantern Festival, I would have already chopped him down.

Gao Huaide punched Guo Wei away, his mind a complete mess: Shouldn't the emperor be staying in the imperial city? How come he ran out of the palace in the middle of the night and ended up at his own home? (Note 2)

Adding to the fact that Bai Wenshen inexplicably escaped death and the Imperial Guards stood by and watched as thieves moved their valuables, he felt that the world was like the Lantern Festival, bizarre and incomprehensible.

Gao Huaide blankly gave his name and identity, and a general went inside to announce his arrival. Soon after, a eunuch came out and delivered the imperial decree in a shrill voice.

"Summon Gao Huaide, the Commander-in-Chief of the Zhangwu Army, to an audience with the Emperor!"