Wu Zetian paused and said to Ximen Shan: "Xiamen Ximen, I can promise you that when we get to Luoyang, I will send people to deal with Nanyang's affairs with you. How about it? In this situation, I really can't send anyone. Deal with it."
Feiyun also knew that the situation was critical and that he could no longer disperse his forces, so he suggested that Ximenshan should find a way to get to Luoyang as soon as possible. According to Feiyun's estimation, it would only take five or six days to reach Luoyang. It will be too late to rush to Nanyang by then.
Ximenshan actually didn't expect Wu Zetian to handle the matter at this time. He just wanted to get Wu Zetian's promise. Now that Wu Zetian has promised to send people to Nanyang, Ximenshan will say nothing more. He cupped his hands towards Wu Zetian, turned and left.
After Ximen Shan left, Wu Zetian asked what happened just now. Liangchen, who was standing nearby, hurriedly told Wu Zetian in detail what had just happened.
When Wu Zetian heard that Mrs. Wang's men suffered heavy casualties, she remained silent for a while. Feiyun handed Wu Zetian the list of those killed in battle. Wu Zetian took it and read it carefully.
Wu Zetian naturally knew Feiyun's intentions. After reading it, he said: "Young Master Lin, don't worry, I will not forget them. After returning to the capital, I will treat these warriors according to the standards of sacrificial bodyguards!"
Feiyun added: "Mrs. Wang asked me to tell you that she hopes you can keep your promise and fulfill your promise, and she will be satisfied."
Wu Zetian said calmly: "It seems she still doesn't believe me. Lin Shaoxia, next time you meet her, you can tell her that I will keep my promise and will not go back on my promise."
Feiyun nodded and asked Wu Zetian to prepare a little before setting off. Wu Zetian nodded slightly and agreed. Feiyun then told Lian'er that her aunt Hongxing had become Ximenshan's adopted daughter.
Lian'er was greatly surprised and quickly asked what was going on. Feiyun told Lian'er in detail about Ximenshan and Hongxing. After hearing this, Lian'er's face suddenly beamed with joy and she thanked Feiyun.
Feiyun then came to Tianxiang and Feixiang, who were talking animatedly with Lu Ying and the others. Only then did Feixiang know that Lu Ying was Lu Mei's brother and Zheng Yu was Zheng Bai's eldest sister. After several people found out about this, they naturally got along very well.
At this moment, Wu Wei came over and suggested to Feiyun that he should leave immediately. Feiyun nodded in agreement and told everyone to set off immediately. Everyone agreed in unison and flew onto their horses. Lian'er, Fu Rong, Ji Xiang, and Ruyi were riding in a carriage together, with Luo Hua driving the carriage at the front. Wu Zetian, Zhang Changzong, and Shangguan Wan'er continued to ride in the first carriage, with beautiful scenery driving the carriage.
Feiyun asked Zheng Yu, Jin Ding, and Liu Qiong to continue to lead the way, while Feiyun, Tianxiang, and Liangchen followed. Wu Wei and Wu Yuan were on both sides of Wu Zetian's carriage, and behind the carriage were Ximen Shan, Feixiang, Feiying and the Luo family. The third carriage contained several injured people, and the driver was an escort from the escort agency. Lu Ying and Zheng Song followed at the back.
After passing through Ma Tou Mountain, there is a vast field. The villages and towns along the way are not far from each other, densely populated and quite lively. Everyone knew that in such a busy place, the assassins would not take action, so they relaxed and moved forward slowly.
A few days later, everyone came to Qujia Town by the Qu River. Feiyun saw that the Baiyun Inn in Qujia Town was very good, so he took everyone to stay in the other courtyard inside.
After Feiyun arranged for everyone to stay, he asked Meimei, Lu Ying and others to take turns patrolling with the escorts from the escort agency and Wu Yuan's guards. The night was uneventful and passed peacefully.
Early the next morning, Wu Zetian had just gotten up, and Wu Wei was outside the door to report the arrival of someone from Di Ge. Wu Zetian was overjoyed and hurriedly asked Wu Wei to take the guests in. A middle-aged man came, tall and burly. That person was none other than Di Renjie's guard commander Li Fang.
When Li Fang saw Wu Zetian, she immediately knelt down to see her. Wu Zetian asked him to stand up and reply. Li Fang stood up and Wu Zetian asked, "Commander Li, how many people have you brought to escort him?"
Li Fang replied respectfully: "Reporting to the emperor, I have brought a thousand elite cavalry with me on the order of the elder. In the capital..."
Wu Zetian interrupted Li Fang and said: "There is no need to rush to report the matter in the capital. Let me ask you first, did Mr. Di Ge ask you to bring anything to me?"
Li Fang said quickly: "Yes, I am about to offer it." After saying that, he took out a gold medal wrapped in yellow cloth from his arms. Then he took off a soft sword from his waist and handed it to Wu Zetian together with the gold medal.
Wu Zetian took the gold medal and soft sword and asked Li Fang to arrange for soldiers to protect the inn and report any incidents at any time. Li Fang agreed and turned around to go out.
Wu Zetian came to the courtyard again and ordered Wu Wei to invite Fei Yun and others. Wu Wei obeyed and left, and soon Feiyun and others came to Wu Zetian.
Shangguan Wan'er already knew that reinforcements from the capital had arrived, and immediately told everyone Wu Zetian's true identity and asked everyone to kneel down and worship Wu Zetian.
Except for Feiyun and the Ximen family, everyone else was shocked. Although they felt that Wu Zetian had a special status, they did not expect that she was the current queen. Everyone was surprised and at a loss. Naturally, no one knelt down to pay their respects.
Zhang Changzong, who was standing aside, immediately yelled: "You still don't kneel down when you meet the emperor. Do you want to die?"
Meimei said angrily: "You bastard, don't think that you can bully others if you have someone to rely on. Mrs. Li didn't say anything, so it's your turn to make irresponsible remarks. If you continue to talk nonsense, I will never let you go." Pass you!"
Zhang Changzong has always been afraid of beautiful scenery and knew that she didn't even take Wu Zetian seriously. Although he now had the support of elite cavalry, he was still afraid of the beautiful scenery and quickly shut up.
Wu Zetian was worried that Meijing would make a move, so she quickly said: "You are all my benefactors and friends. I grant you the privilege of exempting you from the ceremony of kneeling and worshiping. We talk about friendship in common people's clothes without any restrictions. Miss Meijing, don't be angry either, okay. ?"
When everyone heard that Wu Zetian was exempted from the kneeling ceremony, they all breathed a sigh of relief and bowed and thanked Wu Zetian. Meimei was also very satisfied with Wu Zetian's performance and nodded in agreement.
Then Wu Zetian said to Lu Ying and the others: "Young Master Lu, I promised you before that I will repay you well after arriving in the capital. Therefore, I would like to ask the three people who will continue to take the escort agency to come to the capital with me. After arriving in the capital, , I will definitely satisfy you. What do you think?"
Lu Ying glanced at Feiyun, who nodded slightly. Lu Ying immediately said: "Since the emperor has an order, we must obey it!" Wu Zetian was overjoyed and asked them to leave first and prepare to leave for Beijing tomorrow.
After Lu Ying and other people from the escort agency left, Wu Zetian said to Liu Qiong and Jin Ding: "Liu Daxia and Jin Nuxia, you and your wife have helped each other this time. I am very grateful. I would like to invite you two to the palace to serve as my personal bodyguards." , I wonder what you think?"
Liu Qiong hesitated for a moment and said: "Your Majesty, we are just a gangster. We really don't understand the rules of the court. I'm afraid we can't take on such an important position. Please let us be a gangster!"
Wu Zetian sighed and said: "Since you and your wife are not interested in fame, I can't force you. After I return to Beijing, I will send someone to deliver the rewards to you by the local officials. Your entire village will be exempted from all taxes. Fu and corvee." Liu Qiong and Jin Ding quickly bowed to thank them and then retreated.
Wu Zetian looked at Furong, Luohua, Jixiang and Ruyi, and said: "Furong, you are Wuwei's apprentice, you should continue to stay with me. I will make you Princess Furong. After arriving in the capital, I will send someone to Qingfeng Mountain. Bring all your family members to the capital. Do you think it's okay?" Furong happily thanked Wu Zetian.
Wu Zetian nodded and asked Furong to stand up. She stood aside and said to Jixiang and Ruyi: "Jixiang, Ruyi, you have taken good care of me during this period. I have become accustomed to your care, and I want you to enter the palace. Are you willing to continue taking care of me?" Ji Xiang and Ruyi naturally had no objections.
Wu Zetian then said to Luohua: "Miss Luohua, are you willing to come into the palace with me?"
But Luo Hua shook her head and said: "Your Majesty, you have many people to serve you, and I am not the only one you need. My master only has one maid, so naturally I can't leave him."
Feiyun quickly said that he did not need a maid and asked Luohua to follow Wu Zetian into the palace. Unexpectedly, this made Luo Hua furious, turned around and left.
Feiyun was about to chase after him, but Liangchen held him back, telling him not to be anxious and that he would be fine if he would try to persuade him later. Feiyun knew that Liangchen, Meijing and Luohua had been getting along very well recently, so he had no choice but to nod in agreement.
Wu Zetian then said to Tianxiang: "Girl Tianxiang, I promised you before that I would seriously consider your request. I have already thought about it and decided to accept your request."
Tianxiang was overjoyed and said quickly: "Have you agreed to pass the throne to the prince?"
Wu Zetian shook his head and said: "That's not what I mean. What I mean is that I will seriously consider the issue of heirs. The current prince's brother is also one of the heirs. As their mother, I must treat them equally."
Tianxiang was a little disappointed, and her face suddenly became unhappy. However, Ximenshan knew that Li Xian, the elder brother of Prince Li Dan, was also the son of Wu Zetian. Li Xian had been an emperor before, but was deposed by Wu Zetian and demoted to King of Luling.
Wu Zetian's words undoubtedly meant that she would seriously consider letting the descendants of the Li family succeed to the throne. Ximenshan naturally doesn't care whether Li Xian or Li Dan succeeds, as long as the Li family succeeds.
Wu Zetian then said to Feiyun and the others: "Young Master Lin, Miss Liangchen, and Miss Mei Jingmei, I have two very important things that I would like to ask you to help with. I wonder if you are willing to help?"
Feiyun smiled slightly and said: "Mrs. Li, we have completed the task and we should rush back to report to the master as soon as possible. However, since you have spoken, I naturally want to hear what it is. Mrs. Li, please tell me in detail What is it?"
Wu Zetian immediately said: "The first thing is what the hero Ximen said last time about the Nanyang Boat Gang. I would like to ask you to be my gold medal emissary and go to Nanyang to investigate and deal with the matter. If it is found that corrupt officials and bullies are killing people, People, you have the right to kill first and report later. I wonder if you are willing?"
