After Wu Zetian finished speaking, he smiled and asked: "After listening to this story, you should understand why I have been talking to a farmer for so long!" Most people lowered their heads and remained silent, obviously not thinking clearly. Only Shangguan Wan'er suddenly raised her eyebrows and said, "Tell the master, my maid understands!" Wu Zetian smiled and said: "Wan'er, if you don't know this, people will laugh at you for your reputation as a talented woman. Okay, it's time to set off. !" She seemed to glance at Feiyun and the three of them intentionally or unintentionally.
Although Feiyun and the others didn't read much, they understood what Wu Zetian meant. Wu Zetian just wanted to show her concern for the people and hinted to Feiyun and the others not to judge her randomly. But Feiyun and the others would not forgive Wu Zetian's evil deeds because of her good deeds. He didn't want to argue with her, so he kept silent.
Wu Zetian said no more, and with the support of Wan'er and Zhang Changzong, she turned around and got on the carriage and entered the carriage. Wu Yuan returned to the front of the carriage, whipped his horse whip, and the carriage moved forward slowly. The guards were still guarding both sides of the carriage, and Feiyun and the other three also mounted their horses to follow.
After walking for more than an hour, we entered a village. There are many shops on both sides of the street and they are crowded with people. It can be seen that this is a relatively prosperous town. Wu Zetian's carriage stopped in front of a restaurant.
The waiter in the restaurant saw the scene and knew that the visitor must be from a wealthy family, so he hurriedly greeted him. Wu Yuan said: "Man, we want to dine at your place. You go and tell the shopkeeper that you are not allowed to receive other guests within an hour. The diners who are already inside must leave immediately, and we will compensate you."
The waiter nodded in agreement and turned back to tell the restaurant manager. Wu Yuan waved his hand, and the four guards followed him in. After a while, several people hurried out of the restaurant and dispersed. Wu Yuan then jumped off the carriage and invited Wu Zetian and the others down. Under Wu Yuan's guidance, Wu Zetian took the lead. The two guards who were guarding the carriage were left behind, and everyone else entered the restaurant.
There are more than a dozen Eight Immortals tables in the restaurant, which have been cleared away. The guards who came in first, two stood at the door leading to the backyard, and two stood by the door to the kitchen. The shopkeeper and the four waiters stood aside nervously, glanced at Wu Zetian and others, then hurriedly lowered their heads and remained silent.
Wu Yuan respectfully asked Wu Zetian to sit at a table against the wall, with Shangguan Wan'er and Zhang Changzong on both sides. Wu Yuan asked Feiyun and the others to sit at the table by the window on Wu Zetian's left, and the remaining six guards sat on Wu Zetian's right. Feiyun thought that his arrangement seemed appropriate and was very convenient for dealing with emergencies.
After Wu Zetian sat down, he said: "Shopkeeper, please come here!" The shopkeeper of the restaurant hurriedly came to Wu Zetian, bowed and said, "Excuse me, distinguished guest, what are your orders?" Wu Zetian smiled slightly and said, "It's affected. Please forgive me for your business!" The shopkeeper hurriedly replied: "I dare not accept it! It is our honor for you to come to our restaurant. Our restaurant is the largest restaurant in the town, with a complete range of dishes from the north and south, and the taste is exquisite. What do you want to eat? I’ll make arrangements right away!”
Wu Zetian thought for a moment and said: "Since you have both northern and southern dishes, just pick the best ones, five each of the northern and southern specialties, and the three tables are the same. After you explain, come and talk to me again!" The shopkeeper agreed! With a sound, he turned and left.
Wu Zetian turned to Feiyun and said, "Young Master Lin, are you willing to sit across from me?" Feiyun waved his hand and said, "Mrs. Li, we can better protect you by sitting here, so we won't sit over there!" Wu Zetian didn't either Reluctantly, he said: "That's okay. I'm from the north and I don't know your taste. Just tell the shopkeeper what kind of food you like!" Feiyun thanked him, stopped talking, and looked at him warily. outside the window.
Wu Zetian said to Wu Yuan: "Wu Yuan, please arrange for someone to buy a carriage for the injured to ride on. Buy some horses for the guards, so that we can speed up our speed." Wu Yuan said quickly: " Thank you Master for your kindness. I will repay it with my life." He immediately ordered the two guards to buy it.
At this time, the shopkeeper came over and said: "Dear guest, I have handed over to the kitchen. The dishes will be served in a moment. I wonder if your guest has any other instructions?" Wu Zetian waved his hand and said: "There is no rush to serve the food. Wait for my order." That’s right. I see that this town is very prosperous and lively, so your restaurant must be doing a prosperous business.”
The shopkeeper said: "This town is the largest town with a radius of fifty or sixty miles, and there are many merchants. Our restaurant is cheap and good, so customers come in like clouds, and the business is not bad." Wu Zetian continued: "If the business is so good, will it attract the attention of our peers? Jealousy and blackmail from officials?"
The shopkeeper said: "Don't worry about the jealousy of your colleagues. Who makes them poor in their studies? As for the officials, even if they take advantage of it, they don't dare to go too far." Wu Zetian asked strangely: "It seems that there is someone above you. Officials don’t dare to go too far?”
The shopkeeper said: "Your distinguished guest has misunderstood. As a restaurant owner, I have never known a high-ranking official. However, I have heard many things from the guests who come and go. If the officials do too much and make it difficult for me to survive, I will So I went to the capital to falsely accuse him and his superiors of treason. As soon as the cruel officials in the capital hear about the treason, they are like a greedy cat seeing a fish. They will definitely accuse them and put them in jail to avenge me."
Wu Zetian thought for a while and said: "Although you are angry, you have gone too far. It seems that you can't stay with the cruel staff to avoid endless troubles." The shopkeeper said: "This is not what I want to think about. I just want to feel at ease." Do my business. As for what I just said, it’s just a thought.”
Wu Zetian then asked: "Shopkeeper, we are going to Dangyang. How many days will it take to get there?" The shopkeeper thought for a while and said, "If you all ride horses, it will probably take five or six days. If you walk, it's hard to say. ." The shopkeeper was very enthusiastic and told Wu Zetian the route to Dangyang in detail.
At this time, the guard who went out to buy carriages and horses came back and said that he had bought a carriage and eight horses. The horse owner helped deliver the horse, settled the account, and left. Wu Yuan went out to take a look and was overjoyed. With horses, it only takes a few days to become a sun.
Wu Zetian said no more and ordered the shopkeeper to serve the dishes. Soon after everyone finished eating, Wu Yuan handed the shopkeeper a piece of gold and said, "If anyone comes to inquire, just say that we went to Yichang, and don't say that we went to Dangyang!" When the shopkeeper saw the gold, he was immediately overjoyed and naturally hurriedly promise.
When the group of people left the restaurant, Wu Yuan asked the five injured people to sit on the newly purchased carriage to clear the way. He personally drove the second carriage with Wu Zetian and three people behind. The remaining guards rode on horseback to protect both sides of the second carriage, with Feiyun and the other three still following behind. The group of people hurried out of the town.
