Chapter 98 Map

Jiang Qingning's eyes were filled with a hint of amusement, and he chuckled softly, "Once this case is exposed, it will shake the court and the country. The Duke of Fengguo's Mansion, the Eastern Palace, and even the Central Palace will all suffer heavy losses."

"The Imperial Concubine is the most favored of the six palaces. If the Empress falls, the Imperial Concubine will surely take the throne. Lord Qin really has a good plan. It would be better to say that we are allies. This is a good thing that will benefit both of us."

Qin Xiu was stunned and laughed helplessly: "Jiang Qingning, you really don't give yourself the slightest chance to owe me anything."

"Master Qin, thank you for your kindness. It's getting late, Qingning will take his leave first."

Jiang Qingning said nothing more and nodded slightly, "Zi Su, let's go."

Zi Su responded immediately and packed up quickly. The master and servant walked out of the pavilion. Jiang Qingxi and the others were already waiting by the carriage.

They boarded a carriage not far away, and the curtain dropped, blocking Qin Xiu's deep gaze.

The carriage went along the official road into the city.

Inside the carriage, Jiang Qingning leaned against the cushion with his eyes closed to rest. The two people around him looked at each other and tacitly did not speak.

The shock and gaffe that Jiang Qingning had deliberately shown in front of Qin Xiu just now receded like a tide, leaving only endless calmness.

"Oh…"

Jiang Qingning couldn't help laughing out loud, and opened his eyes to meet the puzzled gazes of the people on both sides.

Jiang Qingxi said naively, "Sister, have you thought of something interesting? Why don't you tell me about it?"

Jiang Yuerou didn't say anything, but had the same attitude. She looked at Jiang Qingning's reaction curiously, feeling itchy.

Jiang Qingning shook his head. "Nothing. I was just thinking that there are indeed fewer servants in the mansion."

Not only does her mansion hide the orphans of the previous dynasty, but it also harbors a she-wolf who is always coveting the Central Plains border and has the blood of the enemy country flowing in her veins.

But Qin Xiu's plan is more ruthless and direct. If it succeeds, he will kill two birds with one stone.

But the young Wen Ziyi has been able to survive from the destruction of his country to this day, and is definitely not someone who can be easily deceived.

How to make her know the news naturally and believe it and take the risk to steal the pictures still requires careful planning.

"Ning Pavilion has quite a few servants, but few are brave, resourceful, and able to come up with strategies. We are looking for servants, not talented individuals."

Jiang Yuerou shook her head and said, "It still requires careful selection."

Jiang Qingning came back to his senses and turned his gaze to Jiang Yuerou.

Just half a month ago, she was a taciturn person with a lingering gloom between her brows, but now she has become much more lively and cheerful.

"You're right, there's really no rush."

Jiang Qingning responded casually, his eyes falling on the embroidery frame in her hands.

"The needlework on this butterfly's wings could be more dynamic. Go back and ask Zisu to go to the storeroom and find the booklet of Gu embroidery from the previous dynasty and give it to you. I think you can find some clever ideas in it."

"Thank you, big sister." Jiang Yuerou thanked her in a low voice, with happiness in her voice.

The carriage stopped at the gate of Ning Pavilion and Jiang Qingning got off.

Jiang Yuerou and Jiang Qingxi followed behind, and the three of them walked into the mansion.

"Yue Rou."

Jiang Qingning smiled and spoke in a softer voice, "I need your help."

Jiang Yuerou was wearing a newly tailored pastel-colored summer dress and a delicate pearl hairpin in her hair, which made her face look delicate and beautiful.

"Big sister, please speak."

Jiang Yuerou's eyes lit up and she was very happy.

"There's a lotus party going on at Xiefang Garden in the west of the city. They've invited a famous opera troupe to perform excerpts. It's no use staying stuck in your house all day. Why don't you come with me to relax?"

Jiang Yuerou suddenly raised her head and said hesitantly, "Isn't Xiefang Garden the property of the Duke of Fengguo's Mansion? Young Master Lin is trying to please Big Sister. Is it okay for you to go there now?"

"Of course not."

Jiang Qingning paused slightly, leaned forward, and lowered his voice, "There will be a private banquet at Xiefang Garden in three days. It's nominally to entertain merchants from the North, but in reality, the Crown Prince has something extremely important that needs to be delivered through Lin Heng's hands."

"We don't know exactly what it is. We only vaguely heard that it's something crucial to the northern border defense, brought here personally by Beidi Shichen. If it weren't so serious, Lord Qin wouldn't have specifically reminded me not to leave the city these days, especially to avoid the Xiefang Garden area west of the city."

Her voice was just a hint, but Jiang Yuerou seemed to understand, "What does big sister need me to do?"

Jiang Qingning chuckled, "What do I need you to do? This kind of news isn't something a girl like me should worry about. Yuerou, listen to what big sister says. Stay in the mansion for the next few days and don't go out, especially away from the west of the city."

"Yes, sister knows."

Jiang Yuerou's eyes flashed with understanding, and she responded obediently.

"What about me? Sister, don't you have anything to ask of me?"

Jiang Qingxi was dissatisfied and took Jiang Qingning's arm and acted coquettishly, "Sister, you can't be partial. I am obviously the youngest sister..."

Jiang Qingning pinched her nose and said lovingly, "You are right next to me. I will naturally watch over you personally. I have also hired a female teacher for you. Tomorrow is your class time."

"Ah? No, sister!" Jiang Qingxi was shocked and felt the gap between them was as big as the sky and the earth.

Jiang Qingning and Jiang Yuerou smiled at each other, then walked through the hanging flower gate and along the winding corridor towards the hospital.

A gentle breeze blew down the corridor, bringing the fragrance of flowers and plants in the courtyard. Jiang Qingning glanced towards the west wing as if unintentionally.

The window frame was half open, and it was quiet inside, as if no one was there.

"What are you looking at, big sister?"

Jiang Yuerou followed the line of sight and seemed to have a guess.

"Nothing, just curious about how my business is being done."

Jiang Qingning chuckled lightly, his voice lazy, as if he didn't care about the few hundred taels of silver at all.

Jiang Qingxi followed with a smile: "Is it the teahouse opened by Wen Ziyi? I heard that it is doing very well and has already established a good reputation. She really knows how to run a business."

The moment the three figures disappeared behind the moon-shaped door, a slender figure appeared silently from behind the half-open window of the west wing, sticking to the wall. It was Wen Ziyi.

She was wearing a half-worn green cloth skirt and was dressed in an inconspicuous manner. She really looked like the proprietress of a teahouse, but her face no longer had the usual gentle and innocent look.

Wen Ziyi's eyes were filled with shock. She had just been sorting dried herbs by the window, planning to make some new teas that would be able to relieve the summer heat in a few months, but she happened to overhear Jiang Qingning and Jiang Yuerou's private conversation in the corridor.

Three days later, at Xiefang Garden in the west of the city, the envoy from Beidi and an important object related to the northern border defense, in the shape of a scroll, were handed over to Lin Heng for safekeeping.

Every word was like a heavy hammer, hitting Wen Ziyi's heart hard. Her seemingly gentle almond eyes were now flashing with disbelief and an almost fanatical desire.

Border defense map, definitely a border defense map.

Apart from this, what else could the envoy hand over in person, and why did he have to hand it over to Lin Heng!