Chapter 179 Cooperation again?

The night wind blew by, and the tassels of the red gold and kingfisher feather hairpin on the bun swayed gently, reflecting fine golden light.

A faint smile appeared on Jiang Qingning's face. She slowly raised her hand and casually stroked the red gold hairpin in her hair, her fingertips gently caressing the cold lines on the hairpin.

"Not as good as the eldest prince."

Her voice was clear and distinct in the dead of night, a voice of undisguised sarcasm, "Sitting on the mountain watching tigers fight, sitting on the Diaoyutai is a skill perfected."

"In the past, he addressed his father by his name in the Golden Throne Hall, using that method to save his own life. This allowed him to preserve his wealth and life even after his relatives were wiped out. He even went so far as to plant his men in the palace."

"The eldest prince's methods are the best. I'm sure it's the Duke of Fengguo... no, the true descendant of the Lin family who committed suicide out of fear of punishment."

Lu Cheng's face darkened, and a flash of murderous intent flashed across his eyes as he looked at Jiang Qingning, but he quickly retracted it.

"Noble Concubine Qin has been the most favored concubine in the six palaces for many years. A woman who has never experienced palace fighting will never be able to pull out the nails I have buried."

"Jiang Qingning, how about a deal? You want your father and brother to return from Lingnan, and I want the throne. How about we work together? You have Qin Xiu and He Ning behind you. As long as we practice, we can definitely secure the throne."

"This minister feels bad. If the eldest prince does the same thing as the current emperor after this is done, then this minister will truly become the culprit who harmed everyone."

Jiang Qingning's eyes were sharp, and his fingertips paused slightly at the sharp end of the golden hairpin, his action full of silent warning.

Lu Cheng's eyes suddenly darkened, with undercurrents surging in his eyes, but the playful smile at the corner of his lips deepened.

"I can make a promise..."

"ah!!!"

A frightened and fragile cry sounded, interrupting Lu Cheng's words unexpectedly.

Jiang Qingning's heart trembled and he turned around suddenly.

Lu Cheng frowned slightly and looked in the direction of the voice.

The corridor was dead silent, and the lights in the distant side halls flickered in the night wind.

Jiang Qingning no longer looked at Lu Cheng. She suddenly lifted up her skirt and turned to walk towards the direction where the scream came from.

"It's the Second Miss!" Zi Su exclaimed and immediately followed.

Lu Cheng stood there and chuckled, almost blending into the shadows in the corridor.

"It doesn't matter. If it doesn't work once, there's always a second time..."

He looked at Jiang Qingning's back as he walked away. The amusement in his eyes faded, replaced by an elusive darkness.

The side hall is not too far from the corridor, separated only by a small courtyard planted with dead trees.

At this moment, the entrance to the side hall at the other end of the courtyard was in chaos.

"What happened? Why did I hear my sister screaming?"

Jiang Qingning rushed here and hurriedly asked the palace servant beside him.

Several low-ranking palace maids and eunuchs guarding outside collapsed to the ground in fear, their faces pale as they pointed inside the palace and babbled incoherently: "The men in black... have kidnapped... Miss Jiang II..."

Jiang Qingning walked forward quickly. The door of the hall was wide open, and candles were brightly lit inside, but there was no one inside.

The floor was a mess with spilled tea sets and several plates of snacks scattered on it.

Under everyone's gaze, Jiang Qingning held onto the door frame, his body swayed, and he fainted.

The news of the assassination in the imperial city spread across the entire capital overnight as if it had grown wings.

In the streets and alleys, in teahouses and taverns, everyone was whispering to each other, with fear on their faces.

"Have you heard? There was blood on the throne in Qionghua Palace, and His Majesty almost..." The old man selling pancakes lowered his voice, his eyes widened, and he gestured as if wiping his neck.

"That's right. I heard that the dancer's dagger was only an inch away from His Majesty's heart. The commander in front of the emperor was so big, but he was pierced through by the poisonous arrow with a "whoosh" sound, and blood spurted high into the sky!" The idle man next to him was spitting, as if he had seen it with his own eyes.

"It's so scary! How could there be an assassin in the palace in such a peaceful and prosperous time? Are the imperial guards just there to eat and do nothing?" The woman with the vegetable basket patted her chest, her face full of shock.

"Hey, the young lady of the Anping Marquis's Mansion, the eldest daughter of the Jiang family knows about it, right?" The topic quickly turned to a new focus.

"I know, I heard that her sister, the second young lady of the Jiang family, was kidnapped by criminals in a side hall during the palace banquet. No trace of her remains, whether alive or dead!"

"What a sin! Miss Jiang fainted on the spot from anxiety. She's been carried back to Ning Pavilion for three days now, barely able to eat or drink, and still hanging on to her last breath. Prince He has been guarding her without taking off his clothes, and he's become emaciated!"

"Tsk tsk, Miss Jiang has such a miserable life. She just escaped the hellhole of the Anping Marquis's Mansion and was about to marry Prince He and enjoy a peaceful life as his consort, but then her sister is gone and she's so ill... This damaged heart meridian is a serious symptom that could be fatal. I'm afraid this beauty is doomed to a tragic fate..."

"Who says it's not true? It's really unpredictable, God is blind..."

Countless rumors spread freely in the streets and alleys of the capital.

At the same time, the atmosphere in the palace was ten times more depressing than that among the people.

The bloodstains in the Qionghua Palace had been washed away countless times, and the ambergris was so strong that it was almost impossible to dissolve.

In the emperor's bedroom, layers of bright yellow curtains hung low, blocking out the light from the outside world.

Lu Bin was wearing loose pajamas, half leaning on the huge dragon bed, with sunken eye sockets and dark circles under his eyes.

He held tightly in his hand a delicate little red sandalwood box with the lid open. Inside were three longan-sized, red pills that exuded a sweet fragrance.

"Your Majesty, it's time to take the pill."

An old Taoist priest wearing a gray Bagua Taoist robe, with three long strands of beard and an immortal look, holding a whisk, stood respectfully beside the dragon bed, with a calming power.

Lu Bin's cloudy eyes moved, and his bloodshot eyes were full of desire.

Without hesitation, he poured the three pills into his mouth and swallowed them.

After the pill entered his stomach, within a short while, a warm current quickly spread, as if dispelling some of the fear.

He sighed in contentment and his body relaxed, but the panic in the depths of his eyes lingered like a brand.

"Master Qingyang, do you think I can really achieve immortality?" Lu Bin's voice was hoarse and dry, with a strong sense of dependence.

"Your Majesty is the True Dragon Son of Heaven, appointed by Heaven. As long as you are sincere and diligent in practicing the Great Dao, supplemented by the magical elixir of life, you will be reborn and ascend to heaven in no time."

Qing Yangzi lowered his eyes and spoke in a firm tone, looking like a hermit.

"well……"

Lu Bin murmured, as if grasping at a life-saving straw, "Master, cultivating the Wuwei mental method requires a calm mind and concentration, ignoring worldly affairs. I have been feeling uneasy lately, and the government affairs..."

"Your Majesty is wise."

Qing Yangzi bowed slightly, "The great Dao naturally values ​​tranquility. Being entangled in worldly affairs wastes your true essence and hinders your cultivation. Your Highness Prince Yong is kind and steady, and can share your worries. Your Majesty only needs to steer the ship at the critical moments. Once your divine power is fully developed and you are as vigorous as a dragon and a tiger, you can personally manage the government affairs. This will be a blessing for the country."

A trace of struggle flashed in Lu Bin's drowsy and turbid eyes, but was immediately overwhelmed by the fanatical desire for immortality and the great fear of death.