Chapter 177 Plan in Progress
She didn't even look at the servants wailing on the ground, or at the old lady of the Anping Earl who was so amiable that she almost fainted.
"Old lady."
Jiang Qingning's voice was clear and cold, like a cold mountain spring, and it reached the ears of the old lady of Anping Earl and the ears of the scattered passers-by who came rushing over after hearing the sound.
"Take care of yourself and the people in Anping Marquis's Mansion. If there's a next time..."
She paused slightly, and her eyes swept coldly across the pale old face of the old lady of Anping. She didn't need to say the rest of the words. The warning and murderous look in her eyes were enough to make the old lady of Anping feel like she was falling into an icy cave.
"Let's go."
Jiang Qingning did not stop and calmly got into the carriage with Zisu and Zhiqiu looking at him with admiration.
The driver shook the reins, and the carriage slowly drove away from the devastated battlefield under the gaze of everyone, leaving behind only the wailing and stunned old lady of the Anping Earl.
The door of the private room by the window on the second floor of Fumanzhai was closed, blocking out the curious eyes of those downstairs.
The air was filled with the rich aroma of braised pork elbows and eight-treasure duck, but the three people at the table were clearly not paying attention to the delicacies that had just been served.
He Ning picked up his chopsticks, picked up a piece of refreshing lotus root slices and placed it on the plate in front of Jiang Qingning. His movements were natural and considerate. "Qingning, try this. It's refreshing."
His eyes were gentle, filled with unconditional trust. "The Emperor has requested that I take you and Qingxi with me to the harem banquet in three days. This is the first grand banquet since the beginning of autumn. Imperial family members, nobles, officials of the fourth rank and above, and their families will all be present, so it's going to be quite a big event."
Qin Xiu didn't move his chopsticks, but just picked up the teacup and took a sip. His eyes fell on Jiang Qingning's calm profile, with a hint of barely perceptible tension.
Jiang Qingning's gaze lingered on the snow-white lotus root slices for a moment. They were very fresh, cut evenly, and dotted with a bright red wolfberry.
An inopportune moment flashed through her mind: Jiang Qingxi holding the same plate of lotus root slices, eating them in small bites with a smile on her face.
He Ning...always remembers his sister's favorite snacks very clearly.
A hint of coldness flashed across the depths of her eyes, so fast that He Ning, who was just feeling relieved, was unaware of it.
She stretched out her ivory chopsticks, picked up the lotus root slices, put them into her mouth gracefully, and chewed them slowly.
The sweet and crisp taste melted on her tongue, but her face remained calm. She only looked up at He Ning and said in a steady tone, "The palace banquet is a good opportunity."
Qin Xiu put down the teacup and gently tapped the porcelain bottom against the table, making a crisp and short sound, breaking the brief silence of the meal.
His brows knitted together, and his voice lowered even more: "Murong Feng is already suspicious, and the palace banquet is full of people and eyes, and it is even more dangerous. Are you really sure?"
He paused and added, "Your Majesty may not have been secretly watching you."
"No problem."
Jiang Qingning put down his chopsticks, picked up the white handkerchief and pressed the corner of his lips, his movements calmly and unhurriedly.
"He was just testing my luck. The palace banquet was a good opportunity for him to watch the show, and it would save him from being suspicious all day long."
Her tone was calm, as if she were discussing the weather. "I will make all the arrangements. There will be dancers performing at the palace banquet, and close-range assassinations."
She glanced at He Ning and Qin Xiu's suddenly solemn faces and continued, "At the same time, an archer will be ambushed behind the bracket in the southeast corner of Qionghua Palace. We don't aim to kill him with one strike, but just want to make Lu Bin embarrassed and frightened, so that he can have a taste of panic first."
You could hear a pin drop in the private room.
The hustle and bustle of the street outside the window seemed to be separated by a thick curtain, becoming distant and blurred.
The gentleness on He Ning's face disappeared in an instant, leaving only solemnity.
Qin Xiu leaned forward slightly, his eyes fixed on Jiang Qingning, not missing any subtle expression on her face.
He Ning repeated in a low voice, his Adam's apple rolling, "The risk is too great. If we fail, the investigation will begin..."
“So we need support.”
Jiang Qingning interrupted him and looked at the two of them calmly, "When the dancer attacks, regardless of success or failure, she will die. After the archer strikes, regardless of success or failure, you must retreat immediately."
"I need your men to meet the archer at the palace wall outside Xihua Gate when the chaos at the palace banquet begins. Make sure he disappears without a trace."
Qin Xiu nodded and said succinctly, "Leave the alley to me. I have people guarding Xihua Gate, so we can create a gap of half an hour."
He Ning took a deep breath, suppressed his turbulent emotions, and solemnly agreed: "Okay, let's make peace. I will try to attract the attention of some guards to buy time for Qin Xiu."
He couldn't hide the worry in his eyes, "You must be extremely careful when you are in this situation."
"I know my limits."
Jiang Qingning picked up his chopsticks and picked up a piece of Eight Treasure Duck. He said calmly, "Let's eat. The food is getting cold."
Three days later, there was a palace banquet.
As dusk fell, the towering palace walls cast shadows in the embers of the setting sun, like a dormant beast. One after another, ornately decorated carriages rolled across the smooth palace road and drove into the solemn palace gate.
When the carriage curtain was lifted, the pearls and jade shone brightly, the rings and bracelets jingled, and a faint fragrance floated in the air.
The curtain of the carriage was opened, and Zi Su put down the footstool neatly. Then, a pair of embroidered shoes decorated with round oriental pearls stepped out steadily, and then Jiang Qingning's figure appeared in everyone's sight.
She was dressed extremely solemnly today. Her purple palace dress exuded a deep and restrained brilliance in the twilight. The hem of her skirt was embroidered with intricate twined passionflower patterns with extremely fine gold and silver threads. She shone with brilliance and exuded nobility as she walked.
Her black hair was tied up in a high bun, with a red gold hairpin inlaid with kingfisher feathers and rubies pinned in the middle, and several red gold hairpins inlaid with jade emeralds symmetrically inserted on both sides. A pair of ruby earrings hung on her earlobes, which made her skin look whiter than snow and her appearance so stunning that people dared not look at her closely.
Jiang Qingxi, who got off the car right after him, was in a completely different situation.
The fifteen-year-old girl is at the age of blooming. She is wearing a delicate goose yellow satin long dress with gold cloud threads, and her hair is decorated with a few small pink silk flowers and a few pearl hairpins. She looks lively and smart.
As soon as the two sisters appeared, the eyes of the many female relatives waiting to enter the palace gate were involuntarily attracted to them.
"Sister..." Jiang Qingxi felt a little uncomfortable being stared at and gently tugged at Jiang Qingning's sleeve.
Jiang Qingning's expression changed slightly, and he raised his hand and gently patted the back of his sister's hand, with a soothing gesture.
She swept her eyes calmly over those gazes, without joy or anger, as if all the noise around her had nothing to do with her.
"Qingning, Qingxi." A gentle voice came from behind him.
He Ning and Qin Xiu walked side by side.
He Ning was wearing a royal blue brocade robe with a Qilin pattern, and his hair was tied up with a jade crown, looking gentle and elegant.
Qin Xiu was wearing a dark black suit with dark cloud patterns and a cloak of the same color. He stood tall and straight like a pine tree and had a stern face. The two had very different styles, but were equally eye-catching.
When He Ning's eyes fell on Jiang Qingning, a look of surprise flashed across his eyes. He then looked at the charming Jiang Qingxi and smiled gently, "You've been waiting for a long time. Let's go in."
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