Chapter 99 Assassin
Wen Ziyi's nails dug deep into her palms.
A series of eavesdropping activities proved the authenticity of the news and the value of the map.
It's a godsend.
Fate was placed in her hands, how could she not grasp it tightly?!
Duke Qin's Mansion.
Qin Xiu stood with his hands behind his back in front of the huge map, his fingertips pointing at the location of Xiefang Garden in the west of the city.
Behind him stood his two trusted confidants, Qingzhi and Qingming, with calm auras and serious faces.
"Is everything arranged?"
Qin Xiu's voice was not loud, but it carried the sound of metal and stone.
Qing Ming bowed and said, "Your Excellency, we have deployed twenty-seven hidden agents inside and outside Xie Fang Garden. The servants, musicians, and even the maids serving tea and water have been dressed and replaced. They are all our best men."
Qing Zhi echoed, "The study in Lin Heng's courtyard is the only place where the map is stored. The mechanism has been rearranged according to your request, ensuring that it can just trap the intruder for a moment. The outer perimeter is patrolled by the commander of the patrol battalion."
"As soon as the signal sounds, we can immediately block all exits."
"A copy of the map has been forged exactly as it was. The silk, seals, and even a few secret markings known only to the Northern Di royal court have been copied perfectly to make it look real. The real map has been recovered."
Qin Xiu nodded slightly, his gaze still fixed on the map. "As for Wen Ziyi, Ning Pavilion has its own methods to lure her into a trap."
"Tell the people below to trigger the mechanism and capture the target immediately if they show up to steal the map. If she resists, life or death is the only option. The most important thing is to make sure she gets the map."
Qin Xiu paused, then curled his lips cruelly and said, "Let Lin Heng witness the theft with his own eyes, and make him panic and try to cover it up... The drama must be played to its full potential."
"Yes!" Qingzhi and Qingming accepted the order solemnly.
Qin Xiu turned around, his eyes stern. "Keep a close eye on Wei Zhai and Fu Boqian. If anything happens to Wen Ziyi, they will definitely react. If they make any unusual movements, we will catch them all in one fell swoop."
"Yes, don't worry, sir!"
Qing Zhi scratched his head and said, "Sir, your move is truly ingenious. After receiving Miss Jiang's letter, you began to plan this matter. If it succeeds, not only will the Fengguo Mansion suffer a heavy blow, but Miss Jiang's revenge will also be avenged."
"Uh...it's really killing two birds with one stone. If this thing succeeds, Miss Jiang will definitely fall in love with you!"
Qing Ming kicked him and reminded him: "Shut up, the adults are tired of you."
The candlelight flickered in the study, casting Qin Xiu's tall figure on the wall, like a beast waiting for its opportunity.
Ning Pavilion.
Jiang Qingning sat alone behind the desk with an account book spread out in front of him, but his eyes were not on it.
The moonlight outside the window is cold and clear, shining in the courtyard, creating a quiet atmosphere.
Zi Su walked in quietly and whispered, "Miss, the light in Miss Wen's room went out at the beginning of the night, and there has been no movement since then. However, the light in the guard room in the outer courtyard was on until midnight."
Jiang Qingning tapped lightly with his fingertips on the smooth rosewood table, making a slight tapping sound.
"Wen Ziyi turned off the lights early, perhaps to conserve her energy, or perhaps she had already made some moves."
"But is it just a coincidence that Wei Zhai stays up late, or has he noticed something? Fu Boqian, that old fox, has people keep a close eye on him."
Zi Su replied, "Yes, I have already instructed the guards in the outer courtyard to be alert these days, especially to patrol more frequently at night and make more noise."
Jiang Qingning nodded tiredly and waved his hand, saying, "That's good. You go back and rest first. I want to go out for a walk."
Zi Su knew that she couldn't persuade Jiang Qingning, so she bowed obediently: "Yes, you should rest early."
Jiang Qingning, wearing a light blue cloak, climbed onto the high platform in the backyard that had been repaired and decorated.
She stood at the highest point of Ning Pavilion, overlooking the nearby capital city. This was the place that her father and brother had tried their best to protect, but it did not belong to her family.
Even so, she chose to tell Qin Xiu the news as soon as possible, partly to protect herself and partly to not disappoint her father and brother.
"Why do we have to make so many choices just to live?"
Jiang Qingning laughed at himself, turned around and was about to leave, but his eyes met with the person on the other side of the wall.
Qin Xiu stood at the place where they first looked at each other a month ago, gazing into the distance and looking into the distance at Jiang Qingning.
Jiang Qingning felt as if she were in another world. She smiled and then realized belatedly that Qin Xiu seemed unable to see her.
So she bowed to him from a distance, just like she did on the day they first met, stopped to look at him for a while, and then left completely.
Three days later, at dusk.
To the west of the city, there is Xiefang Garden.
Xiefang Garden is famous for its summer lotus flowers.
At this moment, the lights are on, and the pavilions and towers are hidden among the lush flowers and trees. Exquisite glass lamps are hung everywhere, illuminating the courtyard with brilliance.
The garden is full of lotus flowers, which is indeed a beautiful scene.
The sounds of stringed instruments and orchestras mingled with the guests' laughter and conversation. In name, it was a private banquet hosted by Lin Heng, the eldest son of the Duke of Fengguo, to entertain several merchants from the north who had traveled from afar. However, the atmosphere in the Assassin's Garden was filled with a subtle tension.
"Young Master Lin, hello, Lord Lin!"
"Master Lin is here, our business today..."
"Don't worry, what belongs to you will definitely not run away. Young Master Lin is a very good man, so how could he miss out on your benefits?"
Lin Heng, wearing a brand new royal blue brocade robe, stood on the steps in front of the main hall with high spirits, accepting the compliments of the guests with satisfaction, feeling that his future was bright.
Thinking of the border map in his arms that the Northern Di envoy had just handed to him, Lin Heng's heart became even more excited, and the image of Jiang Qingning flashed before his eyes.
After this matter is accomplished, he will definitely go to Ning Pavilion to propose marriage!
It is almost three quarters past midnight.
Lin Heng left the noisy main hall under the pretext of changing clothes, and under the protection of two trusted guards, he walked through the winding corridors and headed towards his heavily guarded study deep in the courtyard.
There were many sentries and hidden guards around the study, all of whom were the elite of the Duke of Fengguo's Mansion.
Lin Heng stepped into the study and solemnly took out a red sandalwood box from under the desk. It looked ordinary but actually contained an ingenious mechanism. Then he checked the windows and door bolts and turned around with satisfaction to leave.
“Click…”
An extremely slight sound, like the crisp sound of a dead branch breaking, came from the east side of the study.
Lin Heng paused as he closed the door, then turned around abruptly and shouted, "Who?!"
The two guards behind him instantly drew their swords and looked vigilantly towards the source of the sound.
It was quiet outside the window, with only the rustling of leaves in the wind.
"Could it be that I heard it wrong?"
A guard asked doubtfully.
Lin Heng frowned and signaled someone to guard the door.
He took the other one and approached the window cautiously.
"Bang!"
The window was suddenly pushed open. The moonlight outside was like water. There was no one around. The flowers under the window swayed gently in the night breeze.
"He's really suspicious."
Lin Heng snorted and breathed a sigh of relief.
Suddenly, a black shadow as fast as a ghost hung down from the beam above their heads, and reached out with a clear purpose to grab the rosewood box under the desk.
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