Chapter 184 Unexpected Title +1
Ning Pavilion.
The air was filled with the refreshing fragrance of tea. Jiang Qingning was not wearing a cloak, but only a plain moon-white dress. Her black hair was loosely tied up and pinned with a simple white jade hairpin.
She sat upright behind her desk, with a miniature map of the Yonghe Palace spread out in front of her. The lines were so fine that even the hidden corner gates and the intervals between guard changes were clearly marked.
The flickering candlelight illuminated her pale yet unusually calm profile. Her eyes were bottomless, like two frozen pools.
An inconspicuous carrier pigeon landed steadily on the windowsill. Zi Su skillfully untied the thin copper tube tied to the pigeon's leg and poured out the tightly rolled paper inside.
Jiang Qingning took the envelope and unfolded it with his fingertips. It was written in Qin Xiu's strong and short handwriting: "Everything has been arranged."
Jiang Qingning's fingertips lightly stroked over a few words, and a cold light flashed in his eyes.
She picked up her brush, dipped it in the instantly disappearing ink, and quickly wrote on a piece of plain paper of the same size: "Move at 12:30 PM. Remember, be careful."
Before the ink had dried, she had already rolled up the note, stuffed it back into the copper tube, and tied it back to the pigeon's leg.
The carrier pigeon flapped its wings and once again merged into the boundless darkness outside the window.
After doing all this, Jiang Qingning picked up another secret report, his eyes fell on several names circled in cinnabar on the list, and his fingertips tapped the table unconsciously.
"He Ning's side..." she said in a low voice.
Zhiqiu, who was standing by the window, immediately turned around and whispered, "Miss, Prince He left the mansion half an hour ago. The secret guards reported that he and his men have already sneaked into the Chen Mansion."
Jiang Qingning nodded slightly, his voice cold and devoid of any warmth: "Chen Yuanli, the words you used to frame my father and brother for collaborating with the enemy were heartbreaking. Tonight, I will use the blood of your entire family to pay tribute to the injustice suffered by my Jiang family."
The Chen Mansion was surrounded by high walls and deep courtyards. The night patrol servants walked lazily along the fixed route, yawning continuously, and were completely unaware of several shadows that sneaked into the inner courtyard silently.
He Ning was wearing a nightgown and blended perfectly into the shadows.
Avoiding a team of yawning guards, He Ning slipped to the study window like a ghost.
The window frame was closed tightly. He took out a copper wire and inserted it into the keyhole, shaking his wrist very slightly a few times.
"Click." A crisp sound so light that it was almost inaudible.
The window was silently pushed open a crack.
He Ning shrank his body and slid in, followed closely by two secret guards. One stayed outside the window to keep watch, while the other quickly closed the window.
The study was pitch black, filled with the scent of old ink and sandalwood. He Ning avoided the tables and chairs and walked straight to the large rosewood desk.
With a clear purpose, he opened an inconspicuous drawer at the bottom left. According to Jiang Qingning's instructions, this was where Chen Yuanli stored important private letters and drafts of memorials that had not yet been archived. He Ning took out several letters that had been prepared long ago from his arms and put them in.
After doing all this, He Ning still felt it was not enough.
His sharp eyes swept across the desk, finally landing on a stack of ordinary documents under the inkstone.
He pulled out the bottommost, seemingly insignificant document and, in the blank space at the end, quickly added a few lines of small characters with a pen dipped in the pine soot ink Chen Yuanli often used: "...Success or failure depends on this one move. When my grandson ascends the throne, you will all be his loyal subjects."
Before the ink had dried, he stuffed the document back to the bottom layer and pressed it down with a heavy inkstone.
"Boss, it's done."
The guard in charge of searching another secret compartment reported in a low voice, holding a few seemingly ordinary account books in his hands, "As you instructed, within these salt, silver, and silk account books are several gold foil gift lists unique to the Northern Di royal court, as well as a small package of golden bird's nests, a specialty of the Northern Land."
He Ning raised the corners of his lips in satisfaction, his smile looking particularly cold in the darkness: "Very good, let's retreat."
The three of them left the study quietly, just as they had come, closed the windows, wiped away any traces that might have been left, and quickly disappeared into the deep night of the Chen Mansion.
Yonghe Palace.
Concubine Shu was wearing a peach-pink palace dress, which made her skin look whiter than snow and her face look radiant.
She was facing the diamond-shaped mirror, and the palace maid carefully put on a red gold and kingfisher hairpin. The eyebrows in the mirror showed an unconcealable pride and a hint of nervousness.
If I can please His Majesty tonight, perhaps I can arrange this marriage for Zhen'er. With my father's operations in the previous dynasty and Zhen'er's obedience in front of His Majesty, everything is developing in the best direction.
"Your Majesty, will His Majesty really come?" the palace maid asked nervously.
"Shut up!" Concubine Shu raised her eyebrows, then suppressed her anger and gave a determined smile to the mirror.
"I personally sent someone to invite His Majesty. How could he not come? Go quickly and wipe the glass cup again, making sure it is crystal clear. Also, keep the ginseng soup warm, at just the right temperature!"
"Yes..." The palace maid didn't dare to say anything more and quickly retreated.
Outside Yonghe Palace, the night was as dark as ink.
A sound of footsteps approached from afar, accompanied by the eunuch's distinctive shrill voice: "Your Majesty has arrived!"
When Concubine Shu heard the voice, she excitedly walked out of the bedroom and headed outside the palace. When she saw Lu Bin, she couldn't help but her eyes turned red.
"Your Majesty, I haven't seen you for a long time. I feel so wronged. Your Majesty only likes new people and doesn't like old ones like me and my sisters."
Lu Bin was supported by a eunuch, his steps were a little unsteady and his face was tired.
He had just come from Concubine Jiang's place, and was coaxed by Concubine Qin to walk around the plum forest for a few laps. He felt a little relieved, and when he heard that Concubine Shu had sent someone to invite him, Concubine Qin understood that it was not easy for Concubine Shu to come.
But he didn't expect to hear these words as soon as he got out of the sedan chair.
"Shufei, it was the Imperial Concubine who persuaded me to come here today. Don't say anything that will make me unhappy." Lu Bin opened his mouth and ordered.
Concubine Shu choked and bowed honestly, saying, "Yes, I misunderstood Sister Guifei. It's all my fault."
Lu Bin looked at the old man who had been with him for many years, and at the mature and steady Second Prince Lu Zhen, and his concern about Concubine Shu's words eased a little.
"Hurry up and get up. It's no use kneeling like that. Aren't you afraid that the servants will laugh at you?"
"Your Majesty! I know you are reluctant to punish me."
Concubine Shu cheered up and stood up, smiling sweetly, twisting her slender waist and moving forward, her voice so sweet that honey could drip out, "I have been looking forward to your coming for a long time, let's not talk about anything else today, okay~"
Lu Bin nodded lightly, and Concubine Shu took the opportunity to take his arm and lead him into the main hall.
"Some time ago, I passed by the Xinzheku and came across a stunningly beautiful palace maid. However, I didn't dare offer her to Your Majesty, so I brought her to Yonghe Palace to learn the etiquette. I'm sure she'll be able to appear before Your Majesty in less than a month."
Lu Bin was intrigued by Concubine Shu, and he laughed heartily with interest, "You have always been picky. If someone can be praised by my Concubine Shu, she must be a truly stunning beauty. So what's the harm in me waiting a few more days?"
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