Chapter 162 The walls have ears
She slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, understanding dawning on her mind.
The reason the other party didn't kill Wanqing immediately was probably because they also felt that Wanqing had been by their side since childhood, like a sister, and must know many of her secrets.
That's why they were willing to take huge risks to bring her out alive and torture her to extract a confession.
Shen Qingci's eyelashes trembled uncontrollably. She suppressed the lingering fear and anger in her heart, her voice frighteningly calm: "Tell me the details. On ordinary days, which door do the wooden buckets used to transport swill go out through?"
"Your Highness, all of them leave the mansion through the back gate."
"Is an inspection required when leaving the residence?"
Ye Lan shook his head: "The guards at the back gate are relatively lax. When such filthy things are transported out of the manor, the guards usually... don't check them carefully."
“Alright.” A sharp glint flashed in Shen Qingci’s eyes. “Since they have prepared such a good opportunity for us, then we… cannot waste it.”
"Pass on my orders immediately!" Her voice was cold and decisive. "Find a way to create chaos and stop them when they are transporting Wanqing out the back door!"
"Then, taking advantage of the opportunity to lure the tiger away from the mountain, they rescued the real Wanqing without anyone noticing!"
"Find another bodyguard with a similar build to Wanqing, disguise him as her, and replace him, so that the enemy... can continue to send this 'fake' Wanqing out of the manor!"
"Your subordinate... obeys!" A hint of admiration flashed in Ye Lan's eyes. He had thought the princess would order the two traitors to be captured immediately and Wan Qing rescued. But he hadn't expected... the princess would actually turn the tables and use the enemy's intelligence against them!
Such courage and strategy are truly...admirable!
Shen Qingci would never take down those two traitors so easily.
She had worked so hard to catch the fish, how could she easily put it away?
Moreover, she also wanted to make good use of this fake Wanqing beside her.
If she exposes them now and saves Wanqing, then the grand show she has carefully prepared for the future will be impossible to continue.
Shen Qingci's thoughts raced through her mind in an instant, but after learning that Wan Qing was safe and sound, her heart calmed down completely.
A more complete and more vicious plan quickly took shape in her mind.
She looked at Ye Lan, a meaningful smile curving her lips: "Ye Lan, would you... be willing to act in a play with this princess?"
...
Half an hour later, the fake "Wanqing" finally returned to the main courtyard silently from the direction of the kitchen backyard.
She had just stepped into the courtyard when she suddenly stopped!
Two figures were clearly visible through the brightly lit window of the bedroom ahead.
One of them was Shen Qingci's slender and graceful figure.
The other one was a tall, upright man dressed in a night-fighting outfit!
The man lowered his head slightly, his attitude respectful, as if he were reporting some confidential matter to Shen Qingci.
Wanqing felt a chill run down her spine. She subconsciously looked around and, seeing that no one was around, immediately slowed her pace and, like a cat, silently crept to the window frame, holding her breath and listening intently.
Inside the room, Shen Qingci's clear and decisive voice soon rang out, filled with an undeniable authority:
"...Pass on my orders! Immediately mobilize all available forces left by the Prince in the capital, break them up into smaller units, and secretly infiltrate key locations throughout the city! Also, send half of the elite troops to infiltrate the palace, ready to be at my command at any time! You must... ensure the Prince's safety in the palace!"
Ye Lan's voice rang out immediately, carrying a hint of composure: "Yes, Your Highness! Then... what should we do next?"
"To catch the thief, first catch the king!" Shen Qingci's voice carried a chilling killing intent. "Since this turmoil was instigated by that old fox Liu Wenyuan, then the first person we need to eliminate is naturally him!"
"Half of our men will infiltrate the palace to ensure the Prince's safety. The rest of you, keep a close watch on Liu Wenyuan! We must kill this traitor with a single blow!"
Ye Lan seemed hesitant: "Your Highness, Liu Wenyuan is cunning and treacherous, and he is heavily guarded. To assassinate him at close range would probably not be an easy task."
Upon hearing this, Shen Qingci laughed, a laugh that sounded particularly cold and cruel in the still night.
"Who said assassination was absolutely necessary?"
"It's not easy for an assassin to get close to him, so... we'll pretend to be one of those people around him who can easily get close to him."
"For example, his wife, his concubines, his children, and his capable subordinates."
"Don't we have so many experts in disguise? As long as we keep a close eye on the people around him, we'll always find an opportunity to kidnap him and take his place!"
"Besides," her voice held a wicked, playful glint, "it doesn't necessarily have to be a real assassination. Poisoning is such a good method, why not use it?"
“There are many more opportunities to poison him. It doesn’t necessarily have to be something he ingests. The writing implements he uses every day, the perfumes on his clothes, even… the people who serve him can all become channels for us to poison him!”
The sound of "Late Autumn" outside the window sent chills down my spine and made me feel cold all over!
She never expected that this seemingly gentle and harmless regent's wife would be so vicious and ruthless!
Ye Lan respectfully replied, "Yes!" and immediately, one of the figures on the window disappeared.
The fake "Wanqing" dared not linger any longer. She immediately bowed her body, turned around hurriedly, and disappeared into the shadows of the courtyard.
Not long after she left, Ye Lan's figure reappeared silently in the room.
“Your Highness,” he bowed, his voice filled with admiration, “the person… has already left. Presumably, they went to deliver a message.”
Upon hearing this, Shen Qingci nodded, a knowing smile playing on her lips: "It's just as well that she went to deliver the message."
Ye Lan looked at her, a hint of doubt flashing in her eyes, and couldn't help but ask, "Your Highness, then... should we really do as you just said and send someone to replace the person by Liu Wenyuan's side?"
Shen Qingci slowly shook her head, a sly glint in her clear phoenix eyes: "No need."
"Since Liu Wenyuan already 'knows' my plans, my scheme is already... halfway to success."
As night deepened, the situation became increasingly perplexing.
Shen Qingci smiled at his bewildered expression and patiently explained, "Put yourself in my shoes. If you were Liu Wenyuan, and you heard what I just said, and knew that I was about to use every means at any cost to kill you, how would you react?"
After a moment of contemplation, Ye Lan's expression turned serious: "Your subordinate... will immediately strengthen the guards inside and outside the mansion. At the same time, I will be extremely vigilant about everyone around me and everything I come into contact with."
“That’s right.” Shen Qing-ci nodded, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes. “Liu Wenyuan is suspicious by nature and cherishes his life like gold.”
"Upon hearing of my 'thorough' assassination plan, he will surely be paranoid and restless day and night! He will begin to doubt his closest wives and concubines, and become suspicious of his most trusted subordinates!"
"In this way, haven't I achieved my goal of making them distrust each other, as well as their rulers and subjects, fathers and daughters, and husbands and wives?"
She paused, then looked at Ye Lan with interest and continued to ask, "Then... if you were him, how would you deal with such a nerve-wracking situation?"
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