Chapter 4888 Searching the Forbidden Palace
The snow is falling, and the reed-like snowflakes are falling. The halo of the lanterns in the distant corridor is split by the snowflakes, flickering in confusion. The tall roofs of the palaces are hidden in the darkness. Li Anyan is wearing a leather armor and leading a group of forbidden soldiers. Walking in the East Palace, the snow crunched softly under my feet, and I filed in the direction of Li Zhengdian.
Heading south from Xuandemen, passing by the Bafeng Hall, Cheng'en Hall, Guangtian Hall, etc., it can be seen that even under the heavy snow, the security is still tight. There are sentries everywhere, and soldiers stand motionless in the wind and snow. Li Anyan and his party are seen in front of them. After passing by, they will kneel on one knee and perform military salutes.
With an expressionless face, Li Anyan led his team straight to the north side of Li Zhengdian, but was blocked by the imperial guards who were on duty.
This is already the prince's palace, and the Suwei are the prince's personal guards. They belong to a different system from the Qianniu Guards on the left and right of the Forbidden Army in the East Palace, so even Qianniu Guards Li Anyan is not allowed to enter the main hall without permission.
The people responsible for the crown prince's bodyguards are his personal guards, and those responsible for guarding the East Palace are the left and right Qian Niu Guards. However, the six leaders of the East Palace directly under the prince have to be stationed outside Chang'an City... In short, today's His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has no one around him. There were more than a hundred personal guards, but they could not directly command their troops. The huge East Palace was like a cage that imprisoned the prince, and his life and death rested in the hands of the emperor.
"The prince's chamber, general, please stop."
The guard of Li Zheng Palace pressed the handle of the knife with his hand, his face expressionless.
Li Anyan stopped and looked up at the tall roof of Li Zheng Palace, which was looming in the wind and snow, and said slowly: "I just received the news that a convoy with a mysterious whereabouts entered the East Palace. I am responsible for guarding the East Palace, so naturally I have to ensure that the prince For safety reasons, please inform the prince and allow me to enter Li Zheng Hall to search.”
The imperial guard of Li Zheng Palace shook his head: "After nightfall, unless there is an emergency, no one is allowed to enter the crown prince's palace without permission. General Li should know the rules when he is staying in the East Palace of the Guard. Besides, the so-called mysterious motorcade you said is just the clothes of Princess Jinyang. It’s just jewelry and daily necessities. There’s nothing to search. General Li, please take it back.”
Li Anyan frowned, very dissatisfied with the attitude of the imperial guards of Li Zheng Palace, and said angrily: "Every entry and exit of the East Palace must be strictly searched. Now, several cars entering the palace in the middle of the night are acting strangely. The prince's safety has been threatened, but you and others are Is it possible that you have been obstructing me from exercising my authority with evil intentions and are trying to harm His Highness? Get out of the way. No one can stop me from searching those vehicles tonight no matter what!”
Seeing that he was so aggressive and unrelenting, the guards of Lizheng Palace looked at each other, and more than ten of them drew out their horizontal knives and stood them in front of them in a defensive posture. The blades shone coldly in the wind and snow, and the leader said solemnly: "Lizhengdian is the prince's palace, and the general repeatedly tried to break in late at night. Could it be that he has disobedient thoughts and wants to do evil things?"
The Imperial Guards behind Li Anyan were a little wary and hesitated to draw their weapons. If a confrontation occurred, it would be a big deal and would not end well.
However, Li Anyan showed no fear. He stood with his hands behind his back and said calmly: "Please go in quickly and report. It is related to the safety of His Highness. I will definitely search inside tonight!"
After hearing these words, the imperial guards behind them all showed their weapons and confronted the Li Zhengdian imperial guards in front of the palace gate.
The imperial guards of Li Zheng Palace had no choice but to send one person inside to report the matter.
Soon he turned back and said: "The Queen has an order. Since General Li insists on entering and searching, please invite someone to go. Your Highness has already rested. Princess Jinyang also lives in the palace. We cannot disturb others."
Li Anyan hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said: "That's exactly what it should be!"
He repeatedly asked for entry and search. This was his authority. Neither the queen nor the prince could stop him unless his majesty issued an order to remove him from his official position. But after all, it was already late at night, and the queen, the prince, and Princess Jinyang were all wealthy people. They must not be disturbed, otherwise it would be a huge scandal, and no one could bear this responsibility.
……
The roof of the palace is hidden in darkness, the lanterns in the corridors sway in the wind and snow, and the light shines from the windows of Li Zhengdian.
Li Anyan entered the side hall and saw the queen in a palace dress with a head full of pearls. She was sitting on the floor with a straight waist and a dignified bearing. The snow-white collar made her neck and sleeves long and white, as elegant as a swan. She was using her bare hands. He picked up the tea cup and brought it to his red lips, taking a sip.
Opposite her, the beautiful Princess Jinyang raised her delicate white hands to cover her face and yawned secretly, trying to cheer herself up.
"The general has seen the queen and the princess."
"Excuse me. The general will go into Li Zhengdian to search during the night. He is really doing his duty."
Faced with the Queen's ridicule, Li Anyan looked as usual and bowed and saluted again: "Your Majesty has given me the important task of guarding the East Palace. The General feels deeply that the heavy responsibility is on his shoulders and will not slack off at all. If there is any rudeness, I hope the Queen and Princess will understand." ”
His expression was very respectful, but his attitude was very tough.
Princess Jinyang was also energetic now. She looked at Li Anyan curiously, her beautiful eyes flashing twice: "I heard that the general is very curious about my clothes, accessories and daily necessities, so you have to search it yourself?"
Li Anyan had a headache. He had always heard that Princess Jinyang seemed to be well-behaved, but was actually naughty. Even Emperor Taizong often had trouble with her in the past, especially because she was so sharp-tongued and cunning in thinking. It was indeed the case today when she saw her.
The phrase "personally search the princess's clothes and accessories" is a big pitfall. Although the reputation of the princesses of the Tang Dynasty is not good, Princess Jinyang is still a young girl who has not yet left the palace, and was "searched" by him, a military commander, as her personal daily use. Materials will inevitably be suspected of being "obscene". When the time comes, the government and the public will criticize them both verbally and in writing, who can withstand it?
"The general will never dare to be rude to His Highness, but he will not neglect his duties. Please send someone to accompany the general to inspect."
Is it okay if you send someone to take out all the things and I just take a look?
Princess Jinyang's pretty face was slightly red, a little shy, and she whispered: "Even just looking at the things in my daughter's house is very disrespectful."
Li Anyan: "..."
He simply kept silent, but his attitude was firm and unyielding.
According to the plan, the East Palace will be the top priority. If the prince cannot be controlled, the situation may overturn at any time. Therefore, the defense force of the East Palace must be well understood in case those vehicles are transporting not Princess Jinyang’s clothes and accessories. Armor, crossbows or even firearms will greatly enhance the defensive power of Li Zhengdian, causing huge variables in the situation of ensuring victory.
Queen Su waved her hand and said to a chamberlain behind her: "Take General Li to have a look. Be careful not to damage His Highness's things."
"Here."
The waiter walked from the shadow of the light to Li Anyan, straightened his waist that had been bowing, and looked at Li Anyan with a pair of gray eyes like dead fish, without any agility, and his tone was even more jerky, as if he had not spoken for many years. Cold and hard.
"General Lee, please."
Li Anyan knew that this was an old chamberlain in the Taiji Palace, and he was probably one of the masters who had been around Emperor Gaozu at the time. Although they had gone through many mutinies since the time of Emperor Gaozu and had long been withered and broken, not many of them were left, but they were all great masters.
"I will retire for the time being."
After saluting, Li Anyan and the old chamberlain walked out of the side hall, walked around several walls and corners, and came to a relatively remote house.
In the middle of the night, the snow fell silently, and Li Anyan was walking behind the old chamberlain. When he saw that the other party was walking slowly but only leaving a line of shallow footprints on the snow, he became even more alert.
I just don’t know how many of these masters will accompany the Queen to Li Zheng Palace. If there are too many people, the defense of Li Zheng Palace may be greatly strengthened...
Dozens of carts were placed in the courtyard. The old waiter said: "The vehicles are all here and the items are in the house. Please follow me."
Li Anyan glanced past the cart and stepped forward to take a closer look. However, the light was dim and he did not look at it carefully.
There were soldiers stationed outside the room. The old chamberlain waved the soldiers away and stepped forward to open the door. He held a lantern in his hand, made an "invite" gesture to Li Anyan, and stepped into the room first.
Li Anyan followed closely behind.
The boxes and cages in the house were piled high and filled with the aroma of powder.
The old chamberlain stopped and said expressionlessly: "Please point out which box the general wants to see. I will open it for you to check, but the general is not allowed to touch it."
Li Anyan shook his head and looked around: "It's just that I don't dare to slack off in my duties. Now that I have seen these things, I have no doubts anymore. How can a rough and unscrupulous person dare to desecrate the belongings of Her Highness the Princess? I'm going back now, please. Please apologize to the queen and princess for me.”
After saying that, he turned around and exited the room.
Although the cart in the courtyard was covered with a layer of snow, it could still be seen that it was wiped clean. The boxes and cages in the house were mostly made of thin bamboo or vines and were incense-scented. They were obviously used by women, and there was nothing suspicious about them. .
But if there is nothing suspicious, it is suspicious in itself. What kind of items have to be transported to Li Zhengdian in the middle of the night, quietly avoiding the night patrol of the imperial guards?
Why do vehicles delivering goods need to be wiped down in the snow?
Obviously, the boxes and cages in the house are definitely not what were sent to Li Zhengdian tonight, but he is a military commander and a foreign minister after all, so it is impossible for him to be allowed to search in Li Zhengdian.
The old chamberlain looked as if he was not surprised. He exited, locked the door, and sent Li Anyan out of the main hall with a lantern. He watched Li Anyan lead the imperial army to the north, and then returned to the side hall to report to the queen.
"Reporting to your Majesty, General Li has left."
"Well, have you ever seen any clues from him?"
Under the light, the queen sits with a dignified posture, her skin is as white as snow, and there is worry in her eyebrows. Li Anyan is not a vulgar and reckless man. He is extremely thoughtful and resourceful. If he discovers the firearms transported into the Li Zheng Palace and the hidden Cen Changqian and Fifty students, so as to take precautions in advance, lose the initiative.
"I haven't noticed anything unusual, but I still have some suspicions when I think about it."
The old waiter replied respectfully. In any case, transporting things to the East Palace in the middle of the night is extremely abnormal behavior, but Li Zhengdian had to do it like this. After all, it was impossible to deceive others during the day.