Chapter 460: Confessing without a fight?

Emperor An was already exhausted after tossing and turning for half the night. His attention was diverted by the palace banquet, and his suspicion of Eunuch Feng was largely dispelled.

After he took the golden elixir and was helped to fall asleep, Feng Lai took his men to Concubine Yu and Concubine Zhao that night.

The two who were woken up inexplicably were almost dumbfounded when they learned that Emperor An asked them to host the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet. Not only did they not feel happy at all that Emperor An valued them, but they were completely crazy.

"Holding a palace banquet? Only three days?!"

"His Majesty has decreed that it should be grand and lively. Thank you for troubling the two ladies."

Concubine Yu's face turned pale. In the past, small banquets in the palace would take more than ten days to prepare. If there were palace banquets such as Mid-Autumn Festival and New Year's Festival to celebrate with the ministers, preparations would almost start a month in advance. But now there were only three days left until Mid-Autumn Festival. How could she have enough time to instruct all parties to prepare for the palace banquet?

Moreover, it had to be grand and lively. If it wasn't the emperor who spoke, she would have wanted to scratch Emperor Hua An's face and call him crazy.

Concubine Yu endured it again and again: "Eunuch Feng, why would His Majesty suddenly want to organize a palace banquet when there was no news at all before?"

Concubine Zhao also said, "Yes, in previous years, these matters were handled by the Empress, and we never interfered. Now... there are only three days left, how can we prepare in time?"

Eunuch Feng apologized, "This is Your Majesty's order. I have already advised you, but Your Majesty said that there are many things going on in the palace this year. If we cancel the palace banquet again, it will inevitably lead to speculation among the subjects. This seems too hasty, so I can only bother you two ladies tonight."

Upon hearing this, Concubine Yu and Concubine Zhao were so angry that they almost turned bald.

"But there are only three days, how can this be done well?!"

"Yes, His Majesty also wants us to make the event as lively as possible. Obviously, it can't lose to previous years. This... this is simply putting us in a difficult position!"

They said they valued the two of them, and even preferred the Concubine Xian because of the Cui family, but they would rather let the Concubine Xian get this "good job".

Eunuch Feng listened to the two people's complaints and said hesitantly, "This servant would like to help the two majesties, but I have been serving in the presence of the emperor. I am not familiar with the twelve eastern and western prisons and these banquets and entertainments, so I can't help the two majesties."

"Twelve Prisons?"

Yu Fei was stunned. Yes, the Twelve Wards! In previous years, the Empress presided over the palace banquets, but the real work was done by the people below. Those above were probably familiar with the procedures. She and Zhao Guipin found it difficult, but if they found someone familiar, they would get twice the result with half the effort.

Anyway, His Majesty has ordered a grand event, and time is so tight, so it won't matter if they make a little noise.

Seeing that Concubine Yu looked thoughtful, Eunuch Feng bowed.

"I have to go back and serve His Majesty, so I won't bother Your Majesty any more. I'll take my leave now."

Concubine Yu nodded and said, "Take care, Eunuch Feng."

As soon as Eunuch Feng left, Concubine Yu immediately ordered people to find the seal holders of the Twelve Prisons, along with some important palace maids. There were people coming in and out of the Yaohua Palace where Concubine Yu was staying all night long. Such a big commotion could not be concealed at all.

…

Back in Heli Hall, Jinyun hurriedly woke Xiao Yan and told him what was happening in the palace. Xiao Yan, dressed in white underwear, asked in a serious tone, "Are you saying that Emperor An suddenly asked Concubine Yu and Concubine Zhao to prepare a Mid-Autumn Festival banquet?"

"right."

Jinyun said, "There was no rumor in the palace about a banquet before. Everyone thought that the Empress was dead and Emperor An had no interest in this matter. There was no preparation at all. But who would have thought that the imperial edict would come suddenly."

"Concubine Yu and the others received an imperial decree in the middle of the night and summoned all the people from the Twelve Prisons. With so little time and a grand ceremony to be held, the palace is in chaos right now."

"Our people felt something was amiss, so they secretly sent a message."

Xiao Yan rubbed his fingertips, his eyes dark.

It happened so suddenly that it did seem a little strange.

"Has anyone seen Emperor An tonight?" Xiao Yan asked.

Jinyun was stunned for a moment: "Liu Tongen has been to Yulongtai... Could it be him?"

Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes slightly. Lu Chongyuan had just died, and Liu Tongen went to the palace overnight. He saw that Emperor An was most likely here for the Lu family's affairs.

Emperor An was worried about the Lu family affairs and remembered the humiliation Queen Lu had caused him. In addition, there had been a lot of chaos happening outside recently. If no one reminded him, Emperor An would not have suddenly thought of holding a Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet for no reason.

In other words, Emperor An suddenly issued an edict.

Either it was something Liu Tongen said, or it was because of Feng Lai who was able to be by his side.

If it was Liu Tong'en who persuaded Emperor An to hold the palace banquet, as a close confidant of Emperor An, he must have had some ulterior motives, otherwise the banquet would not have been left to Concubine Yu and the others to arrange in such a hasty and chaotic manner.

It was only Feng Lai. It was Feng Lai who reminded Emperor An for some reason. Emperor An suddenly had an idea and issued an order casually. Concubine Yu and Concubine Zhao were caught off guard, which led to such a big commotion.

Xiao Yan's face darkened: "I'm afraid Feng Lai is in trouble."

Jinyun looked stunned: "Eunuch Feng?"

Xiao Yan stood up and took two steps before stopping and saying, "I already doubted that Emperor An would allow me to execute Lu Chongyuan alone. There are people from Liu Tongen in the imperial prison tonight. He must have noticed something and rushed to the palace to see Emperor An, even implicating Feng Lai."

"He was afraid that he had aroused Emperor An's suspicion, and with more eyes around him, he couldn't pass on the news, so he used this method to remind me."

Xiao Yan frowned, clenched his hands and placed them on his lips, thinking.

Although he and Feng Lai had "interactions", he never showed any signs of it to the outside world. Feng Lai had almost never done anything for him in public, and it was even more impossible for Liu Tongen to catch him. He himself had always acted cautiously. The only risky and potentially traceable time was this trip to the northwest.

The only thing that could implicate Feng Lai was the day the Zhao family provoked him, when Feng Lai brought Imperial Physician Jiang with him to cover up his tracks and deceive the emperor...

Jiangji?

Xiao Yan paused, then lowered his hand and said to Jinyun, "The last time Jiang Ji covered up for me, Emperor An became suspicious. Did the Jiang family keep anyone there?"

Jinyun's expression changed instantly: "If I keep him, should I deal with Jiang Ji?"

"Don't touch him."

Xiao Yan said in a deep voice, "The fact that Feng Lai was able to deliver the message proves that Emperor An was just suspicious. If anything happens to Jiang Ji at this time, it would be like admitting guilt."

"Send a message to our people immediately and have him tell Jiang Ji to tell them that I was seriously injured and recuperating in the palace that day. He is from the Imperial Medical Bureau and has the trust of Emperor An. Without solid evidence, Liu Tongen will not be able to impose too severe a punishment even if he interrogates me."

"As long as he keeps quiet, the governor will guarantee his safe release within two days at most. But if he reveals even a single word about his previous deception of the emperor, no one in the Jiang family will survive."

Jinyun nodded quickly: "I will go right away."

"Wait."

Xiao Yan frowned, "You can't move. Liu Tongen has probably already sent people to keep an eye on Jiyun Lane, using the hidden sentries left by the Gu family. Don't alarm those who shouldn't be alarmed."

Jinyun quickly calmed down and said, "I understand."

Xiao Yan stood beside the bed, looking at the slightly flickering candlelight beside him with dim eyes.

Emperor An became suspicious of him, it must be because Liu Tongen found out something. If it was really because of the trip to the northwest, then Tang Ning might not be safe either.

Things in the South will be brought forward.

"Azure."

"Master Governor."

"Go to the Prince of Zan's mansion tomorrow and ask Xie Pingjia to make preparations. The Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet will begin in three days."

"yes."