Tibet

Although Ashina Chengxiu did not provide much information, he did meet his brother Ashina Chengqing in Youzhou, and he provided two crucial pieces of information to the inner guard.

First, Ashina Chengqing's eldest disciple is called Anan, about 30 years old, dark-skinned, of medium build, with a Turkic face, and a female disciple named Pinggu, who is over 20 years old, also a Tiele Hu people, and likes to wear a red skirt.

This information is correct. The first person to come to Cangzhou cloth shop should be Ashina Chengqing's eldest disciple Anan. The second female disciple appeared at the scene ten days ago. She was a Hu woman in a red skirt, but unfortunately she was let go.

The second piece of information is that Ashina Chengqing appeared in Youzhou as a Zoroastrian missionary and lived in a Zoroastrian temple in Youzhou, using the alias Xintila.

It can be said that the second piece of information is extremely important. It can basically be judged that Ashina Chengqing still came to Chang'an as a Zoroastrian missionary, using the alias Xintila.

Li Chenghua ordered Ashina Chengxiu to be taken away and detained. If his intelligence could lead to Ashina Chengqing's arrest, he could be pardoned.

Li Zengquan, the commander of the inner guards, suggested to Li Chenghua: "Ashina Chengqing has a high status. He will not go to ordinary Zoroastrian temples. He must go to the largest one in Buzhengfang."

Li Chenghua nodded, "I will report to His Highness. You must gather a thousand Jingwei brothers and attack Buzhengfang at two o'clock in the evening!"

"Should I send someone to investigate first to see if there is a person named Xintila in Guangming Temple?"

Li Chenghua shook his head, "It is easy to alert the enemy if you investigate now. Investigate before attacking at night!"

"I obey your order!"

Li Zengquan hurried away.

Li Chenghua sorted out his confession a little and hurried to the palace of King Qi.

Li Ye came back from the military camp, half drunk.

This year, due to safety issues, Princess Dugu Xinyue canceled the plan to take a bath with the whole family and changed it to the afternoon of the fourteenth day of the first lunar month.

But the custom of bathing to welcome the new year must be there, and everyone bathed with their children in their own rooms.

In fact, each of them had a large bathtub for daily bathing. For example, Yang Yuhuan had the habit of bathing every day, so how could she do without a large bathtub?

Of course, there was enough hot water. There were special healthy women responsible for boiling hot water outside the Zhen'an Tower, and the female guards carried it in buckets.

Li Ye had already drunk the sobering soup and was still in a daze. Qingyu and Shen Li were bathing him.

"Okay, no need to wash, soak with me for a while, I'll get up."

Li Ye held the two in his arms, one on each side, but only for a moment, Qingyu winked at Shen Li and pointed at Li Ye's hair. Shen Li understood, untied Li Ye's hair, and began to wash his hair.

Li Ye relaxed in the hot water, without any strength in his body. He squinted his eyes and felt that he was about to fall asleep.

At this time, the door opened and Yang Yuhuan walked in. She had already taken a bath, wrapped her hair that was not yet dry with a towel, and walked in lazily in a loose gauze skirt.

"Second sister, what's wrong?" Qingyu asked with a smile.

"Chenghua is here, and he wants to see his husband for something important!"

Li Ye opened his eyes and said quickly: "Let her wait a moment, I'll come after I wash my hair."

"I'll go right away!"

When Yang Yuhuan turned around, she took a closer look at the bride Shen Li last night. Her skin was amazingly white, comparable to hers, but she was still not as good as her in other aspects.

Yang Yuhuan turned and left. Qingyu smiled and said, "We thought our husband was drunk!"

Li Ye smiled and said, "I was a little drunk, but I felt sober after taking a bath. I have to hurry up and don't keep the guests waiting."

"It will be ready soon. Wash it again with clean water."

Li Ye put his arm around Shen Li's waist and gently sniffed the fragrance of her skin. Qingyu was watching with a smirk. Shen Li's face was flushed, but she didn't dare to break free, so she had to let her husband flirt with her.

After washing her hair, she dried it with a thick cloth towel and wrapped her hair with a dry towel.

Li Ye put on a loose robe and went to the temporary study.

He sat down on a large soft couch with a soft cotton backrest behind him, and the maid covered him with a quilt.

At this time, Dugu Xinyue took Li Chenghua into the temporary study. Li Chenghua stepped forward and bowed, "Excuse me, Your Highness!"

"You're welcome, please sit down!"

Li Chenghua sat down on the couch next to him. Dugu Xinyue smiled and knelt behind her husband. She took the comb from the maid and gently shaved Li Ye's scalp and combed his hair. She winked at the maid, and the maid immediately got up and left obediently.

Li Ye saw that his wife was thoughtful and patted her hands gratefully.

Li Chenghua bowed and said, "This morning, we met Shi Jingzhong and confirmed that the leader of the assassins was Ashina Chengqing."

Li Ye sneered, "Sure enough, he is not dead!"

"Has Your Highness guessed that it was him?"

Li Ye nodded, "When you mentioned the Turkic assassin, I thought of him."

"Shi Jingzhong did not provide much information, but he helped us find Ashina Chengqing's brother Ashina Chengxiu, who is currently selling wine in Chang'an. He told us two pieces of information that allowed us to confirm that the assassin was Ashina Chengqing, especially the second piece of information, Ashina Chengqing used the alias Xintila and came to the Tang Dynasty as a missionary priest of the Sogdian Great Guangming Temple. He lived in a Zoroastrian temple in Youzhou, so it should be the same in Chang'an."

"You mean he might be hiding in the Guangming Temple in Buzhengfang?" Li Ye reacted quickly.

Li Chenghua nodded, "That's what I think!"

Dugu Xinyue smiled and reminded, "There are three Zoroastrian temples in Chang'an!"

"What the princess doesn't know is that Ashina Chengqing has a very high status in the Sogdian Great Guangming Temple. He is one of the three high priests and is in charge of the East. When he comes to Chang'an, he must live in the Great Guangming Temple in Buzhengfang. The other two are too small and their level is Not enough."

Dugu Xinyue nodded, "It makes sense!"

Li Ye asked: "What's Dutong's plan?"

"I plan to attack at two o'clock tonight. If everything goes well, Your Highness can worship the ancestors tonight."

Dugu Xinyue was overjoyed, "Then I'll tell the butler to prepare immediately!"

Li Ye nodded, "Be decisive, I don't need prisoners!"

"I understand the humble position!"

Time gradually passed one o'clock, and a thousand elite internal guard soldiers surrounded Buzhengfang from all directions. The walls of Buzhengfang have been demolished, and every household in the square is brightly lit. Tonight is New Year's Eve. According to custom, every household must keep up the New Year's Eve. Wait until Yin Shi to start worshiping ancestors.

At this time, several internal guards ran out, bowed to Li Chenghua and said: "To the commander-in-chief, there is indeed a priest named Xintila in the Daguangming Temple. He just came from Samarkand half a month ago, and he brought him with him A group of disciples, about sixty years old, similar to Ashina Chengqing’s age.”

Li Chenghua does not necessarily have to attack twice, as long as he identifies the enemy, he will attack decisively.

She waved her hand and ordered: "Surround the temple!"

Thousands of internal guards rushed towards Daguangming Temple from all directions.

Daguangming Temple is located in the north of Buzhengfang, covering an area of ​​about ten acres. It is a medium-sized temple in Chang'an.

At this time, in the lobby of the inner courtyard, more than thirty warriors were fully equipped.

There is a map spread on the table. This map is exactly the map of Xingqing Palace. Tian Chengsi got it with great effort and asked Ashina Chengqing to bring it to him.

Ashina Chengqing endured it for half a month. He was waiting for this opportunity tonight. He believed that Li Ye would definitely worship his ancestors.

Ashina Chengqing pointed to the ancestral temple on the map and said: "Although this is not an ancestral temple, it is also the place where Li Longji worshiped his ancestors in the past. Li Ye must also be worshiping his ancestors here tonight. Yin Shi is starting, and tonight is New Year's Eve. The other party never expected that we would take action on New Year's Eve, so New Year's Eve is also the time when Xingqing Palace's defenses are at their most relaxed. This is our opportunity."

Ashina Chengqing still took it for granted. It was heavily guarded on New Year's Eve and there would be no chance at all. Moreover, Li Ye would never go to the ancestral temple in Xingqing Palace to worship. His sacrificial hall was in Luojinhua, the same as the ancestral temple. South and north, completely opposite directions. "

However, Ashina Chengqing had no chance to verify whether he was right or wrong. Just as he was about to make the deployment, a disciple suddenly stumbled in and shouted: "Master, the inner guards are coming!"

After saying that, the disciple fell to the ground and died, with five or six arrows stuck in his back.

There was a sudden chaos in the courtyard.