tallest building

Chapter 362 The Living Person

The dishes were now all served, and the Emperor told everyone to make their own way.

Grand Tutor Dong sat there, looking relaxed, a smile on his lips.

He had already set up the trap and was just waiting to watch the show.

He glanced at Gong Chang'an without making a sound, his pupils slightly contracting.

It's not worth going to great lengths to kill this bastard; there are plenty of people willing to risk their lives, and of course, there will be plenty of benefits.

The steward of the Dong family found someone from the Eighth Bureau, and the steward of the Eighth Bureau passed the message to the chief steward of the Fourth Division, asking him to recommend this variety show troupe to Consort Jing.

The reason for taking several detours is, of course, to avoid giving anyone a handle to use against them.

More important than harming others is clearing oneself of wrongdoing, a point that the old fox Dong Zhuo understood well.

When it came to Consort Jing, she naturally had no idea what connection this acrobatic troupe had with the Grand Tutor.

In fact, before this troupe even entered the palace, someone had already spent a lot of money to bribe the troupe leader.

He was told what to do after entering the palace. Of course, at first, the troupe leader didn't dare to do it. Asking for someone's life in front of the emperor was a capital offense.

But the men sent by Grand Tutor Dong quickly made him realize that he had no choice at all. If he obediently followed orders, he could still save his life by insisting that it was an accident.

If he doesn't agree, then the entire troupe of jugglers won't survive the Mid-Autumn Festival.

This is no different from holding a knife to someone's neck and forcing them to comply.

"Since we've entrusted you with this task, we're at least 90% confident in its success. Just go to the palace, and someone will naturally come to your aid."

After the acrobatic troupe entered the palace, before they went on stage, a eunuch came over and whispered to the troupe leader, "Remember, it's the child in the blue arrow sleeves."

The troupe leader didn't speak, but nodded.

After watching the eunuch leave after delivering the message, he knew that these people had to avoid suspicion.

If something happens later, everyone present will inevitably become a suspect.

"I never expected the palace to invite our troupe to perform again this year. It's going to be so lively and interesting," the guests discussed among themselves.

“I’ve seen it. They have a special skill called ‘the magic of making people disappear.’ They put a box there, someone goes in, closes the box, and when they open it again, the person inside is gone.”

"That's all a smokescreen; the person is still inside the box."

"No, no, the box is only so big, and then they'll lift it up! How could anyone possibly lift it?"

Amidst the murmurs of the crowd, the acrobatic troupe's performance began.

It all starts with warm-up activities: fire breathing, jumping through hoops, and self-binding and self-untying.

It gradually became more exciting, with tightrope walking, face-changing performances, and an eight-person ladder.

The audience was engrossed in the watch, and people occasionally cheered.

The Empress asked the Emperor with delight, "Your Majesty, what do you think?"

The Emperor nodded: "Not bad, it's more lively than in previous years."

“After the acrobatics, there will be a play,” the Queen said. “There will be both new and old plays. Although the stories and songs are familiar, it’s not good if there’s nothing new.”

Consort Jing was also very happy. She sat next to Wen Mingqian and whispered to him, "It seems our hard work wasn't in vain. I was a little worried before!"

"This is all thanks to Your Majesty. I see everyone at the banquet is very happy," Wen Mingqian said. "Even the Emperor and the Empress are all smiles."

"I dare not ask for any credit, I only hope to avoid any mistakes." Consort Qing said this, but she was still very pleased with herself. She knew the Empress's temperament, and if the banquet today was well organized, the Empress would definitely reward her later.

Just then, a clattering sound came from the stage, and the troupe leader said loudly, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress, and distinguished guests, I have traveled all over the country for nothing more than this one mouth. Although my apprentices have some skills, they are nothing special. There is only one treasure that is most important. With it, we can eat and drink well. Without it, we can only eat thin porridge every day."

"Gentlemen, if you want to know what my treasure is, look up at the stage! Come, my little minions, bring my treasure chest up!"

His words piqued everyone's interest, and as they looked up at the stage, they saw several children carrying a box up.

The box was nothing special; it was just an ordinary person's box for storing clothes.

The square base has a cover and a copper button on the outside for locking.

The troupe leader was still shouting at the top of his lungs, "Don't let my old, worn-out box fool you; it holds a secret within. Please look—"

He put a lantern into the box and then closed it.

He walked around the box, muttering incantations, and when he opened the box again, the lantern inside was gone.

"I'm quite adept at moving things around. Whatever comes in, it's gone in no time," the troupe leader said with a smile. "Some people have asked where the things here end up. Well, everyone, look over there."

He pointed behind him, and everyone turned around to find that the lantern was already hanging under the eaves.

"How strange, how did it end up there?" Many people were puzzled.

"Come on, let me put this flower back in." The troupe leader said, putting another pot of roses in full bloom into the box.

After circling the box twice, I opened it again, and the potted plant was gone.

"Where did these flowers go?" Everyone searched everywhere.

"These flowers are probably already in the Imperial Garden; someone will deliver them later," the troupe leader said with a smile.

"Really? Let's send someone to check it out," someone suggested.

"That's nothing. The most amazing thing is that it can conjure up people." The troupe leader continued, "If you don't believe me, I'll invite someone down from the table first, so you won't think it's my own people colluding with this."

"Can it really bring people back to life?" Some people don't believe it.

"Could such a large person just fly away out of thin air?"

The troupe leader had already noticed the child in the blue arrow sleeves on the stage, and he found that the child was very interested in the magic tricks he was performing.

He stepped forward and extended his hand to Feng Tianzhu: "Young master, please do me the honor!"

Feng Tianzhu, being the most playful person, had been eager to try it out for a long time.

So when the troupe leader invited him, he immediately stood up.

Grand Tutor Dong frowned slightly upon seeing this scene. Why was it Feng Tianzhu? Could there be a mistake? But then he thought again, that was probably impossible.

Presumably, Feng Tianzhu was invited first, followed by Gong Chang'an, which would better eliminate any suspicion.

Moreover, there was nothing he could do but watch and wait and see.

Feng Tianzhu followed the troupe leader onto the stage. The troupe leader, all smiles, said, "Young master, please make do and sit in the box first."

"No problem," Feng Tianzhu agreed and went into the box.

The troupe leader then closed the box and muttered incantations around it.

"Ouch!" A scream came from inside the box when he reached the third lap.