Chapter - 431 The Brides Pale Arms Parts the Red Clothing (6) (1/2)
”Ah, you are Peng …” Zhang Wuji was very happy. It turned out that man was Peng Yingyu. His disguise was so ingenious that although he had been standing next to them for a long time, Zhang Wuji and the others did not have the slightest idea of his real identity.
In a low voice Peng Yingyu said, ”This is not a good place to talk. The Tartar Emperor must not be killed.” Zhang Wuji was aware of his wisdom and knowledge, therefore, he simply nodded and did not ask anymore questions. He only reached out to grab Peng Yingyu's left hand and gently shook it a few times.
In the meantime, the Emperor and the Crown Prince were followed by three thousand armored Yu Lin Jun. After them, the tens of thousands of crowds went down the street to watch the festivities. ”Let us go see the Empress, let us go see the Princess,” they said to each other while heading westward.
”Let us also go and see,” Zhou Zhiruo said. The four of them mingled with the crowd until they arrived outside the 'Yu De Dian' [Jade Virtue Palace]. They saw that seven beautifully decorated raised platforms erected outside the Palace. The platforms were surrounded by the Yu Lin Jun holding rattan sticks to prevent the people from coming too close. Although it was very crowded, Zhang Wuji and the others, four people, managed to squeeze their way through by gently pushing forward and before long they had reached at the front of the platforms.
The Emperor sat on the highest platform, with the two Empresses on either side of him. The Empresses were middle-age fat women, bundled inside robes inlaid with pearls, jade and precious jewels. Needless to say, they glittered with brilliant lights. On their heads, they wore ridiculously strange-looking tall crowns. The Crown Prince sat on the platform to the left of the Emperor, while on the right platform sat a young woman about twenty or so, wearing embroidered gown. She must be the Princess.
Zhang Wuji's eyes scanned the rest of the platforms; he saw that on the second platform on the left sat a young woman wearing sable fur coat, with a pearl necklace on her neck. Her smile was captivating, her eyes dreamy. It was none other than Zhao Min. On this same platform sat a long-bearded Prince with a majestic expression. He was Zhao Min's father, the Ruyang Prince, Khakan Timur. Zhao Min's brother, Kuku Timur, was pacing back and forth on the platform, with eyes like an eagle and steps like a tiger. He looked particularly imposing.
By this time the foreign monks were performing the 'Tian Mo Da Zhen' [Heaven and Devil Great Formation]. Five hundred monks with Buddhist religious articles in their hands circled around, to the left and to the right, jumping high and stooping low; the changes and variations were marvelously strange. The crowd broke into cheers and applause; everybody sighed in admiration.
Zhou Zhiruo kept her gaze on Zhao Min for half a day. Finally, she sighed and said, ”Let's go home!” The four of them squeezed their way out and returned to the inn.
Peng Yingyu paid his respects properly toward Zhang Wuji, and then they both recounted what happened since they parted. Zhang Wuji asked whether he heard any news about Xie Xun. Peng Yingyu had just arrived at Dadu from the Huai Si River area; he did not even know that Xie Xun had returned to the Central Plains. He told the accomplishments of Zhu Yuanzhang, Xu Da, Chang Yuchun and the others over the past year. They besieged and captured towns; they performed outstanding military successes and lifted the Ming Cult's prestige high.
”Peng Da Shi [lit. grand/great master, also used to refer a Buddhist Monk, Reverend],” Han Lin'er said, ”Just now if we attacked the platform, with one knife we could chop that Tatar Emperor; why did you let him go?”
Peng Yingyu shook his head, ”This Emperor is a stupid tyrant and he is precisely our biggest helper. How can we kill him?” he said.