Even though the Duke of Zhenguo incited the people and used the people's mouths to confront the emperor, the emperor still lifted Princess Anyang's house arrest in advance and summoned her back to the palace.
The palace held banquets to entertain envoys from foreign countries, and first-rank ministers and clan members in the capital could bring their families into the palace to attend the banquet.
Wan Jinlan entered the palace with his father and mother.
The banquet was held in the imperial garden. In the evening, there was a cool breeze and dancers were dancing gracefully.
Concubine Chen Shu was dressed particularly radiantly today, interacting with the Empress and Concubine Wan. Anyone with a discerning eye could see that she was in a good mood.
The Queen Mother left early, and Wan Jinlan helped her walk in the garden.
Wan Qiuyu attended the banquet with Xiao Minghuan today. Sitting at the table, he watched Wan Jinlan supporting the empress dowager as they left, a cold smile appearing at the corner of his lips.
Seeing Prince An and Concubine Min leave under the pretext of changing clothes, and seeing Prince Rui winking at the eunuch beside him, and Prince Shun drinking with a smile of victory in sight, Xiao Minghuan and Wan Qiuyu smiled at each other, everything was said without words.
Princess Anyang naturally also attended today's banquet. The envoy from Beirong mentioned the matter of marrying the princess again. She heard her father's ambiguous answer, which was neither rejection nor agreement, and felt a little disappointed.
Concubine Lai has been neglected by her father recently, and the Eighth Princess has also had a hard time in the palace. She can't even attend occasions like today. Princess Anyang doesn't even have anyone to talk to, so she feels bored.
"Princess, Master Chen wants to meet you at Yifang Pavilion."
Princess Anyang was stunned. She really had no interest in today's occasion. When Chen Congbai was mentioned, she remembered how caring Chen Congbai was to her when they were at the imperial farm.
Yifang Pavilion is located at the junction of the inner and outer palaces of the imperial palace. Normally, it is a resting place for ladies from outside the imperial court who request to see the emperor on a regular basis. But during this time period, there is no one there.
Princess Anyang had no doubt that it was Chen Congbai who wanted to see her, and she supported the palace maid as they walked through the paths in the palace in a discreet manner.
On the other side, after Wan Jinlan sent the empress dowager back to Ci'an Palace, he left the palace, walked for a while, and turned a corner, and his vision became dark.
Suddenly, a figure appeared in front of them, and the eunuch's hurried voice echoed: "Oh Miss Wan, I finally found you. Princess Anyang was looking for you everywhere. The princess was in a bad mood today and wanted to talk to you."
The servant wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, "The princess is in Yifang Pavilion. Please go quickly. I have errands to do and don't have time to take you there."
The eunuch seemed to be really busy. After delivering the message, he left in a hurry, as fast as the wind.
The light was dim here, and she could not see anything except that the eunuch's face was very pale.
This eunuch's behavior was quite strange. Logically speaking, she was now considered a favorite of the Empress Dowager. How could this eunuch be so anxious that he wouldn't even be willing to lead her?
"Aunt Xia Liu, do you know this eunuch?"
She was accompanied by a senior maid from the Empress Dowager's palace, who looked to be in her thirties and had a rank in the palace. She was specially left behind by the Empress Dowager to send her back safely.
Xia Liu shook her head. "This person's behavior is suspicious. Miss, please be cautious."
"Please, aunt, take me to Yifang Pavilion."
Xia Liu was the female official beside the empress dowager, and she felt more at ease with her around.
Wan Jinlan was afraid that something might happen, so she walked very fast. Xia Liu had been in the palace for many years and was very familiar with the layout of the palace, so she took her through a shortcut.
When the two arrived, Wan Jinlan saw under the street light a red-faced man hugging a palace maid and about to push open the door of Yifang Pavilion.
Seeing that the man seemed to be about to turn around, Wan Jinlan hurriedly pulled Aunt Xia Liu and hid behind a tree.
Aunt Xia Liu frowned, "Young lady, please don't act rashly. I will report this to the Empress Dowager."
The man had a beard and from a distance looked like General Yelu Qi, the leader of the Northern Rong envoys.
The two of them had seen it clearly before, and both thought that it was the Northern Rong envoy who was impatient and wanted to do something indecent to the palace maids.
Wan Jinlan didn't know what Princess Anyang had to do with today's events. After Aunt Xia Liu left, he simply stood up and crouched down to the side of the palace wall of Yifang Pavilion.
She leaped up with all her strength and climbed onto the wall of Yifang Pavilion. She looked around and saw Princess Anyang squatting in the pavilion and sheltered by the grass and trees in front of her. She was looking inside and swatting mosquitoes. Her maid was squatting with her.
"Princess, let's go out." The palace maid advised in a low voice. It seemed that Prince An and Concubine Min were inside. The one who just came was an envoy from Beirong and a palace maid. If a quarrel broke out, His Majesty would lose face and would vent his anger on them, the princess. It was possible that these palace maids would be killed.
Princess Anyang was about to speak when she saw the palace maid who had been held in the arms of the Beirong people come out from the door. Her clothes were a little messy. She closed the door, looked around, poured the thing wrapped in the handkerchief in her hand into the pool water to stir it, and then staggered out with a panicked look on her face. She ran far away and shouted for help.
Wan Jinlan knew that someone would come soon.
She immediately jumped down quietly without making any noise.
The sound coming from the room made people blush.
Wan Jinlan felt puzzled. The palace maid had clearly come out, so who was the woman's voice in the room? Also, there seemed to be more than one man's voice in the room.
She came behind Princess Anyang and quietly covered their mouths.
"It's me, both of you, be quiet and follow me quickly."
Footsteps were heard outside the gate. Wan Jinlan pulled the two of them along the wall and went around to the back, then sent them to the top of the wall. Fortunately, the wall was not high, so she was able to lift them up with some strength.
The two men didn't dare to jump, so she climbed onto the top of the wall, jumped down, and then successfully caught them down.
The three of them quickly hid in the shadows of the flowers, plants and trees nearby.
Aunt Xia Liu had not returned yet, so Wan Jinlan asked about Princess Anyang.
Anyang whispered a few words in her ear, and Wan Jinlan didn't know what to say to her.
Anyang was obviously being plotted against, and the person who plotted against her must have known the relationship between Anyang and Chen Congbai.
The father-in-law who called her over obviously had bad intentions and wanted to involve her in this matter.
Concubine Min is having an affair with Prince An, and His Majesty has been cuckolded. How will His Majesty view the people who know the inside story?
Today's incident also involved the envoy from Beirong. It is obvious that the person behind the scenes wants to make a big deal out of this matter.
The maidservant beside Princess Anyang said, "I didn't even get a clear look at the eunuch who brought me the message earlier. He just lowered his head, handed me a note, and left."
Wan Jinlan said, "Princess, take the maid and leave here immediately. No matter who asks, just say you've never been here."
"What about you?" Princess Anyang also knew that she was almost involved in today's disaster, and she was still frightened.
Wan Jinlan said: "I will wait for Aunt Xia Liu here. When she comes, I will go back. Don't worry, I'm fine."
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