Chapter 456: Conspiracy Concubine
Yu Gui and Yu Lan were both smart people. As soon as they heard what Xie Wanruo said, they understood what she meant.
"What do you need us to do?"
Xie Wanruo had already thought about it on the way to Zhongling Palace.
She pursed her lips, looked at Concubine Yu Gui and said, "I want to ask the Concubine to hold a palace banquet to entertain the wives of officials and nobles."
Concubine Yu Gui frowned and said, "If we hold a palace banquet at this time, it will sound like a banquet for Hongmen. I'm afraid most people will make excuses and say they are sick."
This year, the palace did not hold banquets during the New Year and the Lantern Festival. Now, there is no reason to hold a banquet. Anyone can know that there is an ulterior motive.
"Then make them come." Xie Wanruo said in a firm tone, with a hint of coldness on her face.
Yu Lan and Yu Guifei were shocked.
Xie Wanruo was so smart and resolute, with amazing courage. She was worthy of being the daughter of the prime minister and a role model of a lady.
She should have been the crown princess and the destined empress.
Although Yu Guifei had lived in the palace for many years, the affairs of the palace were handled by the empress. She rarely intervened, and she had been cautious for many years. Unexpectedly, she was not as foresighted as Xie Wanruo.
However, after just a few words, Yu Guifei looked at Xie Wanruo with a new eye and was convinced by her.
Taking a deep breath, Yu Guifei said in a serious voice: "If you need anything, we will fully cooperate."
Hearing this, Xie Wanruo breathed a sigh of relief, her expression relaxed, and she spoke out her thoughts.
This matter was of great importance. Concubine Yu Gui and Yu Lan were very concerned and listened very seriously.
After Xie Wanruo finished speaking, Yu Lan praised sincerely: "The emperor's sister-in-law is very wise." Xie Wanruo
was startled by the title of emperor's sister-in-law.
According to the rules, only the crown princess can be called this.
Her eyes flashed, and Xie Wanruo said softly: "Although I have ideas, I can't do it alone. I need the help of Concubine Gui and the princess."
Not taking credit for herself alone, highlighting the importance of others, making people willing to cooperate and contribute.
This skill of manipulating people and grasping the worldly affairs can be said to be the pinnacle.
Even Yu Lan, who was born in the royal family, admired it sincerely.
"It's all for Dazhao. The emperor's sister-in-law is thoughtful." Yu Lan responded with respect.
Listening to Yu Lan calling her "Imperial sister-in-law" again and again, Xie Wanruo said nothing.
They were all smart people, there was no need to be hypocritical.
She came to Zhongling Palace today and took the initiative to bring up this matter, which had already exceeded her duty as a concubine. If she said that she did not dare to be called that, it would seem too hypocritical.
If one has a will, there is no need to hide it.
Cao Muxue is dead, and no one can compete with her anymore.
Xie Wanruo turned her head to glance at the sky outside the house, thinking: "It has been sunny for several days, and the weather should change in the next few days."
"Now the affairs of the palace are managed by the Royal Concubine, so please trouble the Royal Concubine to organize this banquet. As for the invitations to each family..."
"I'll send them."
This palace banquet was the Hongmen Banquet, and sending invitations was naturally an offensive thing. But one cannot just seek credit without taking responsibility, Xie Wanruo decided to take the responsibility.
Concubine Yu Gui did not compete with her politely, but Yu Lan took over and said: "I am familiar with several officials and noble families. I will write to clarify the reasons later and ask them to cooperate and lead."
"Okay." Xie Wanruo readily agreed.
Yu Lan is a princess. If she takes the lead by example, and Mrs. Zhou and Sun Yijun and others respond, she can put pressure on others.
In addition, the strategy they discussed should be able to achieve the goal smoothly.
Since Xie Wanruo entered the palace, she has almost cut off contact with the outside world. Except for her own family, she has no close friends.
Therefore, Yu Lan can only take the lead.
The three of them have a clear division of labor, and they will get busy after the discussion.
There were many officials and noble families, and to show her sincerity, Xie Wanruo wrote the letter herself. It took her two days to write, and her wrist was sore from writing.
The next day was the last day of the first lunar month. The rain stopped in Yicheng and the sky cleared up. Yu Zheng received a reply from Yu Cheng.
At the beginning of the letter, Yu Cheng asked a few questions and briefly explained the situation at the border. Then he got straight to the point and discussed with Yu Zheng how to deal with Mobei and Nanyan.
Yu Cheng's idea coincided with Yu Zheng's and Zhou Boxu's, but due to the short time and the tense situation at the border, he had not thought of a specific method.
Yu Zheng put the letter down after reading it.
In the letter he wrote to Yu Cheng a few days ago, he had already stated the strategy, and all he needed was Yu Cheng's cooperation. The next thing to do was to wait.
The sun was shining, and Yicheng and Shuncheng were under the same sunlight.
"Ahem..." Xiao Lin had been ill for a few days. He just got better today and was still taking medicine.
The ink-black medicine was so bitter that it was hard to swallow. Xiao Lin finished it in one breath, frowned and asked in a hoarse voice: "Any letter from Mobei?"
His subordinates replied: "No."
Xiao Lin's brows furrowed even deeper when he heard that.
It's been almost a month, how come there is no news from Mobei?
No, he has to write a letter to ask Xiao Shu.
Xiao Lin forced himself to get up, went to the desk and wrote a letter.
In order to prevent Zatai from being dissatisfied, Xiao Lin wrote two letters. One was to Zatai to discuss the alliance to capture Dazhao, and the other was to Xiao Shu to inquire secretly.
After a while, the letter was written, and Xiao Lin ordered someone to send it out immediately.
The two places are far apart, and it will take at least more than twenty days to go back and forth.
Xiao Lin sighed, knowing that the most important thing at the moment was to capture Yicheng before planning other things.
The messenger rode north with the letter, but in the evening after two days, he encountered a group of bandits robbing him.
Both the people and the letters disappeared silently.
Zhu Feng looked at the three letters in his hand and decided to go back to Yicheng to report in person.
A few days ago, they intercepted a letter from Zatai to Xiao Lin, and today they intercepted two letters from Xiao Lin to Mobei, and robbed dozens of taels of silver by the way, making a rich harvest.
After ordering the elite to stay and continue to wait, Zhu Feng returned to Yicheng alone.
The weather in the south has gradually warmed up, but the north is still covered with ice and snow.
It has snowed heavily for several days in a row, and the sky and the earth are all white.
The snow was up to his calves, and every step would leave a pit.
Zatai inspected the military camp and returned to the tent cursing.
He was eager to attack the city, but the heavens were against him. Such thick snow might take half a month to melt.
If the temperature remains cold, the snow may accumulate for a month.
Zatai was extremely angry, but he could do nothing about it. No matter how
powerful a person is, he can never beat the heavens.
That night, Zatai ate meat and drank wine in the tent with Balu as usual.
After eating and drinking, Balu looked at the maids who were clearing the cups and remembered Xiao Shu's maid, who mentioned it to Zatai with a lewd look on his face.
Zatai, who was drunk, also became interested after hearing this and said with a wicked smile: "General Baru, it's a good idea."
The two hit it off immediately. Zatai immediately ordered someone to ask Xiao Shu's maid to send it to Baru, and he went directly to Xiao Shu's tent.
"Thank you, Prince." Baru returned to the tent impatiently and waited.
Xiao Shu and several maids, who were preparing to rest, saw Zatai coming and their faces suddenly turned pale.
It's only been five days, and these two beasts can't bear it anymore.
Xiao Shu and Linhua were trembling with fear, but they knew there was no escape, so they could only endure it with disgust.
Before Linhua left, Linxue grabbed her hand and said reluctantly: "Or, I'll go for you."
Linhua was tortured too badly in the past few days, and the wounds on her body have not healed yet. I don't know how painful it will be to be destroyed again this time.
Lianhua shook her head sadly and said, "No, you have to do it cleanly and don't make it dirty."
According to the plan they agreed on, tonight is a fight to the death, but even if it means death, Lianxue and her friends must leave cleanly.