Chapter 345 The Second Prince Would Not Listen to Her Persuasion
That night.
In the secret room of the Second Prince's Mansion, the candlelight flickered, illuminating Murong Xiao's sinister face in half light and half dark.
His slender fingers tapped lightly on the rosewood desk, the rhythm like a life-threatening drum.
"Your Highness, everyone is here."
Commander Guo, the Second Prince's confidant, bowed and reported.
Murong Xiao raised his eyes and glanced at the six men in black kneeling in front of him.
These people are the elite among the death squads he trained. The blood on their hands is enough to dye half of the imperial city red.
"Lu Jiangnian."
Murong Xiao slowly uttered the name, as if he was chewing a piece of pig iron.
"How dare this ignorant bastard slander my reputation in front of so many people."
On the day of the first birthday banquet of the Third Prince's eldest son, all the humiliations were still vivid in his mind. When he thinks back on it now, he still seems to be being laughed at by everyone.
He would not be able to sleep or eat well unless he killed Lu Jiangnian.
"I am willing to help Your Highness get rid of this great worry!" The leading assassin kowtowed heavily.
Murong Xiao sneered: "You must make sure to kill Lu Jiangnian, but don't let anyone suspect the Second Prince's Mansion."
He took out a roll of blueprints from the desk drawer and spread it out. "This is the layout of the Lu family's villa. Lu Jiangnian should live here. This is the main courtyard."
Under the candlelight, Murong Xiao arranged the assassination plan in detail.
Where to set the ambush, when to attack, how to disguise as bandits to rob and kill, and even how the assassins would commit suicide after the failure, all were arranged perfectly.
"Remember, if you are captured alive..."
Murong Xiao's eyes were cold.
"We subordinates will bite the poison sac in our mouths to pieces and will never let Your Highness get involved!" Several assassins responded in unison.
Murong Xiao nodded with satisfaction and waved his hand to signal them to leave.
Only he and Commander Guo were left in the secret room.
"Your Highness, would you consider..."
Commander Guo hesitated to speak.
"Hmm?" Murong Xiao's eyes narrowed.
Commander Guo immediately knelt on one knee and said, "Your subordinate is too talkative! But Lu Jiangnian just suffered a failed assassination attempt. If something happens again, I'm afraid the emperor..."
"Father is old."
Murong Xiao sneered, "He favors the prince and trusts treacherous people like Lu Jiangnian. If I don't take action now, there will be no place for me, Murong Xiao, to stand in this huge capital."
He stood up and walked to the wall, suddenly pulled open the curtain, revealing a map of Daliang's territory: "When I ascend the throne in the future, this world will be in my hands!"
Just as he finished speaking, light footsteps were heard outside the secret room.
Murong Xiao's eyes flashed, and Commander Guo immediately flashed to the door and pulled it open.
"ah!"
With a slight cry, the Second Prince's wife stumbled in, and the teacup on the tray in her hands shattered to pieces.
Commander Guo was stunned for a moment, "Prince's Consort."
The Second Prince's wife didn't look very happy.
"Your Highness, I have something to tell you."
Murong Xiao's eyes were filled with anger: "What are you doing here? Didn't I tell you to stay in your room?"
"How much of what you just said did you hear?"
The Second Prince's wife froze, her voice trembling slightly: "I just arrived a while ago, and didn't hear much."
"However, I have guessed a little about your Highness's plan."
She took a few steps forward and tried to persuade the Second Prince earnestly, "Your Highness, please do not act on impulse at this time. It is not a wise move to assassinate Lu Jiangnian in the capital."
Murong Xiao grabbed her chin and forced her to look up: "Ms. Lu, you and I have been married for several years. I always thought that you acted in a measured way. These past two days, you have disappointed me even more."
The Second Prince's wife had tears in her eyes, but she looked at him stubbornly: "Your Highness's temperament has changed a lot recently, and I am really worried. We have always been united as husband and wife, and have overcome all difficulties."
"Now, Your Highness treats me as an outsider and doesn't tell me anything. I feel very sad. Does Your Highness know?"
As she spoke, the Second Prince's wife burst into tears, looking pitiful.
Murong Xiao stared at her for a long time, suddenly let go of her hand and winked at Commander Guo.
Commander Guo understood, bowed, and left the secret room, closing the door behind him.
"Stop crying."
Murong Xiao turned back to the case and said, "Since I've heard it, I won't hide it from you. Lu Jiangnian must die."
The Second Prince's wife followed him slowly, stroking her red chin: "Your Highness, please think twice."
"Lu Jiangnian has just been assassinated, so he must be heavily guarded. If we take action now, it will be difficult to succeed, and we will suffer heavy losses. If something happens again, the government and the public will be suspicious."
"That's why I have to plan carefully."
Murong Xiao interrupted her impatiently.
The Second Prince's wife bit her lip but did not back down. Instead, she continued to persuade him, "I dare to speak frankly. Your Highness is aiming for the throne and should put the overall situation first."
"If we act rashly at this moment, and if the prince and his people catch us..."
"presumptuous!"
Murong Xiao slammed the table so hard that the teacup jingled. "Ms. Lu, are you questioning me?"
"You think that because I told you a few more words about the outside world in the past, you are very remarkable, right?"
"Remember, you are just a woman in the back house, what do you know about the affairs of the court?"
The Second Prince's wife did not retreat, but stepped forward: "I don't understand the court, but I know how to judge the situation."
"Your Highness, think about it. If Lu Jiangnian was so easy to deal with, our last assassination would have been successful. The Emperor has many spies around the capital. If we are not careful, we might end up losing more than we gain."
"Mrs. Shen wrote to me saying that Lu Jiangnian only brought a dozen people with him to the western suburbs this time. He probably thought that he was safe in the capital."
The Second Prince's wife paused and said, "Perhaps, this is a trap, and Lu Jiangnian is waiting for us to fall into it."
Murong Xiao's eyes moved slightly, but his face remained cold: "You experienced what happened that day yourself, do you think I should just swallow my anger?"
"No."
The Second Prince's wife said softly, "I just think that to take revenge on someone, you don't necessarily have to take his life."
She took out a list from her sleeve and presented it respectfully: "This is my family. We recently compiled a list of officials who have had a feud with Lu Jiangnian."
Murong Xiao flipped through the list, his brows gradually relaxed: "You mean..."
"Lu Jiangnian is arrogant and conceited. There are many people in the court who dislike him. Your Highness should contact these people more and let them rush to the front to deal with Lu Jiangnian."
The Second Prince's wife spoke softly, but every word was as sharp as a knife. "Your Highness, why don't you start with these people? They can serve as our vanguard and consume Lu Jiangnian's strength, and then we can slowly deal with him."
Murong Xiao closed the roster and looked at his wife thoughtfully.
The Second Prince's wife had a docile look on her face, completely devoid of the hysteria she had when facing Concubine Liao.
He suddenly smiled, "Madam is indeed my good wife, who can help me share my worries."
When he said yes, he reached out and held the Second Prince's wife's hand with a tender expression.
The Second Prince's wife lowered her head to hide the complicated look in her eyes: "I only wish to share your worries."
Murong Xiao stretched out his hand and pulled her into his arms, his fingers entwined with a strand of her black hair: "Okay, as you said, Lu Jiangnian's life will be spared for now."
The Second Prince's wife leaned against his chest and whispered, "Your Highness is wise."
However, what she didn't see was that the murderous intent in Murong Xiao's eyes as he looked into the darkness of the secret room had not diminished in the slightest.
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