Chapter 423 The Banquet
For the Lin family's housewarming banquet, every prominent figure in Taiyuan attended. Many people heard that the prince might also be attending, so the Lin family's invitations suddenly became very popular.
Lin Changning looked at the people who were coming in one after another, checked the names on the guest list again, and stood on the steps in front of the mansion with his second brother, frowning slightly.
The prince had already spread the word that he would attend the Lin family's banquet today, which was, to put it bluntly, an honor for the Lin family. After looking at the list, Lin Changning nodded slightly. Almost everyone had arrived; only the prince and princess should be left.
Not long after, a servant came running over, whispered a few words in Lin Changning's ear, and then quickly went back. Lin Changning looked at his second brother with a serious expression and suddenly said, "Second brother, you go back first. I'll take care of the prince. Go inside and look after those distinguished guests."
Lin's second brother glanced at Lin Changning, probably thinking that there were still guests at home that had not been entertained. As the host, he and Lin Changning were both out, and there were no men in the house. Leaving Shilang alone inside to help entertain the guests seemed a bit inappropriate.
After nodding, he said to Lin Changning, "Then I'll go back first. Once the prince arrives, you should take your men there as soon as possible."
Lin Changning gave a soft "hmm" and stood at the door watching his second brother walk away.
After the second brother of the Lin family left, there were almost no people at the gate. After a while, a rather luxurious carriage slowly drove from the direction of the Prince's Mansion.
Lin Changning recognized the carriage and quickly went forward to wait for it.
The King of Chu was the first to alight from the carriage, then turned around and reached out to help his queen down.
The princess stepped out of the carriage, took the prince's hand, and descended step by step. The two stood still, looking at Lin Changning with smiles on their faces.
"Greetings, Your Highness and Your Highness."
The King of Chu looked Lin Changning up and down and suddenly said, "Shu'er has a good eye."
The princess raised her eyes and glared at the prince with a hint of anger, then looked at Lin Changning and said...
"Changning's attire today is truly eye-catching. I had some trivial matters to attend to at the Prince's residence, so I arrived a little late. I hope I haven't missed the banquet."
Lin Changning smiled, her phoenix eyes curving into crescent moons, and said to the princess, "How can we start the banquet without the presence of the prince and princess? Everyone is waiting in the courtyard. Please follow Changning to your seats."
The King of Chu gave Lin Changning a look, and Lin Changning nodded almost imperceptibly to the King of Chu.
"Your Highness, there are banquets in the inner courtyard. Please follow the maid to the inner courtyard to take your seats. Your Highness, please come with me. The young master and the others are waiting."
After saying that, she turned her head and waved to someone behind her. A pretty maid stepped forward and led the princess into the mansion.
Seeing that Lin Changning had made proper arrangements, Princess Chu nodded and, accompanied by several maids, followed the lead maid into the house.
Lin Changning, standing beside the prince, noticed the prince's gaze and suddenly said, "As Your Highness suspected, some people did indeed sabotage the banquet today."
The Prince of Chu sneered, “My good nephew is still a troublemaker. Since everyone is here, don’t let any of them escape. I’ll go with you. Let’s keep a low profile so as not to dirty the banquet or disturb the Princess and the others.”
Lin Changning clasped his hands in a fist salute: "Yes, Your Highness!"
A few days ago, the prince spread the word that he would come to the Lin family to attend their housewarming banquet. Starting the next day, people began to inquire about the Lin family in secret. In the past two days, Lin Changning has completely let his family handle the preparations for the banquet.
Privately, he had someone keep an eye on every detail of the banquet. Sure enough, many assassins had infiltrated the Lin residence. Lin Changning was afraid of frightening his mother and the others, so he kept quiet about it.
The banquet proceeded as usual. Lin Changning knew the list of assassins and also had secret guards he had arranged in the mansion.
Wei Shao and several brothers, disguised as servants, were guarding several key locations. The reason why the King of Chu arrived so late today was to stage a trap to lure the king into a snare.
After exchanging a glance with the prince, Lin Changning led his men slowly toward the path the assassins were sure to take to ambush the banquet. As they passed the small garden, Lin Changning suddenly spoke in a low voice.
"Everyone should be here, Your Highness."
The King of Chu suddenly stopped and stood in the center of the small garden, his face slightly cold, and said, "Then let's deal with it all here."
No sooner had he finished speaking than a dozen assassins suddenly sprang out from the artificial hill and the walls of the Lin residence, frantically attacking the spot where the King of Chu was standing.
As Lin Changning stood still alongside the King of Chu, he raised his well-defined hand and waved it gently. Suddenly, a group of guards dressed as servants appeared behind the assassins, catching them completely off guard.
Lin Changning reached behind his back and pulled out a long sword hidden under his robe. He gripped the sword and stood protectively beside the King of Chu, his phoenix eyes flashing with a sharp light.
"Leave no one alive!"
No sooner had he finished speaking than a group of guards slaughtered all of the dozen or so assassins. The King of Chu frowned, looked at the guards, and after the massacre, suddenly spoke again: "Is this all the people who came?"
Lin Changning shook his head: "There should be two more waves. The young master and his men have dealt with the eastern side, and the commander of the western side should have been dealt with as well. There should be another wave here."
No sooner had the words left his mouth than seven or eight assassins suddenly leaped out from the artificial hill in the small pond behind King Chu and his group, charging straight toward Lin Changning and his companions.
As soon as they came out, they were ambushed by Wei Shao, who had been hiding there all morning. Wei Shao pulled out his spear from the bushes and wielded it with great force. Together with his brothers who were hiding in the pavilion, they subdued seven or eight assassins.
The group of people were dealt with before they could even get close to Lin Changning and the King of Chu. Wei Shao, with a few streaks of blood on his face, wiped his face and walked towards Lin Changning.
"Commander, everything has been resolved."
Lin Changning nodded to indicate that he understood, then turned to the prince and asked, "Your Highness, please take your seats. Don't keep those people waiting too long."
The prince glanced at the dead assassins around him, gave a soft "hmm," and walked away. Lin Changning glanced at Wei Shao and said, "Tidi up the small garden so as not to disturb the guests."
After saying this, he quickly followed the King of Chu to the banquet hall.
As the King of Chu saw that the man was about to arrive at the banquet, a smile appeared on his face, and his laughter echoed into the hall even before he arrived.
"I've been very busy lately, sorry to have kept you all waiting! Hahahaha!"
Those inside showed a few flashes of surprise upon hearing the King of Chu's voice, then quickly rose and bowed to him.
"Greetings, Your Highness!"
The King of Chu, accompanied by Lin Changning, walked straight into the main hall. Once they reached the head seat, he waved to everyone and said, "No need for formalities, everyone. Today is the housewarming banquet for General Changning. Please take your seats!"
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