As the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet drew closer, the atmosphere in the palace grew increasingly tense. Xiao Chengyu and Qi Mingxuan continued to handle affairs as usual during the day, but often stayed in their study late into the night, carefully checking for any potential security risks.
That morning, Xiao Chengyu was checking the seating arrangements for the palace banquet when he suddenly noticed something unusual.
"Mingxuan, come and look." She pointed to the list presented by the Ministry of Rites. "Didn't Minister Li commit suicide by poison during the last sacrificial ceremony? Why is his name still on the list?"
Qi Mingxuan took the list and examined it closely, his brows gradually furrowing: "It is indeed strange. And look, his seat is arranged very close to Father Emperor."
The two immediately sent people to investigate, but the reply they received was that this Minister Li was not the same Minister Li as before, but a newly appointed Minister who had just been transferred from Jiangnan, and it just so happened that they shared the same name.
"It's too much of a coincidence," Xiao Chengyu pondered. "I remember my father once said that officials from Jiangnan should be notified at least three months in advance before being transferred to the capital. Why did we only find out about this now?"
Qi Mingxuan's expression was solemn: "I will go to the Ministry of Personnel to check the transfer documents immediately."
After he left, Xiao Chengyu looked at the list again carefully and found several unfamiliar names. She ordered people to bring up the files of these people and check them one by one.
An hour later, Qi Mingxuan brought back even more unsettling news: the seal on the transfer document for the newly appointed Minister Li seemed to have some problems.
"The ink is lighter than normal, and the edges of the seal are somewhat blurry, like a fake." Qi Mingxuan spread the document on the table and pointed it out to Xiao Chengyu.
"Can you tell when it was forged?"
"It shouldn't have been long ago, the ink is still very fresh. But I asked the officials in the Ministry of Personnel, and they said that this document has been archived for a month."
Xiao Chengyu's heart sank. This meant that either the people in the Ministry of Personnel were lying, or someone had secretly replaced the documents.
“Let’s not alert them,” she said after a moment’s thought. “Since they want us to believe that Minister Li’s transfer is normal, let’s pretend to believe it. But on the day of the palace banquet, we must keep a close watch on him.”
Qi Mingxuan nodded: "I will arrange the necessary personnel."
Over the next few days, Xiao Chengyu and Qi Mingxuan outwardly proceeded with preparations for the palace banquet as usual, but secretly intensified their investigation of all officials who might be connected with the Northern Di. They discovered that, in addition to Minister Li, the whereabouts of several other officials were also quite suspicious.
That afternoon, Xiao Chengyu was trying on his palace banquet attire when he suddenly received a report that Qin Sang had urgent business to discuss with him.
Qin Sang walked in, her face pale. After bowing, she hurriedly said, "Princess, today when I was preparing medicine at the Imperial Medical Bureau, I overheard two eunuchs talking. They said... they were going to put poison in the wine at the palace banquet."
Xiao Chengyu's heart skipped a beat: "Do you know what kind of medicine it is? And whose wine did you put it in?"
“They spoke very softly, and I only vaguely heard words like ‘colorless and odorless’ and ‘takes effect in three hours.’ As for whose drink it was put in…” Qin Sang shook her head, “They didn’t say for sure, but I heard them mention the word ‘main seat’.”
The main seat—that's where Father Emperor and Mother Empress sit!
Xiao Chengyu immediately sent people to investigate the two eunuchs, only to find that they had disappeared.
"It seems they've realized they've been discovered." Qi Mingxuan's expression was grave. "We must act now."
That evening, Xiao Chengyu and Qi Mingxuan secretly requested an audience with the emperor and reported their recent discoveries one by one.
After listening, Xiao Xun remained silent for a long time before slowly saying, "I had already anticipated that they would make their move at the palace banquet. Since they want to play, then I will play along with them to the very end."
He looked at Qi Mingxuan: "Mingxuan, I hereby appoint you to be fully responsible for the security of the palace banquet. If necessary, you may act first and report later."
"I obey the order."
After leaving the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Xiao Chengyu said to Qi Mingxuan with a worried expression, "I still feel uneasy. Since the other party was able to replace the transfer documents and arrange for people to infiltrate the Imperial Medical Bureau without anyone noticing, there must be an inside agent in the palace."
Qi Mingxuan held her hand: "Don't worry, no matter what happens, I will protect you and Her Majesty's safety."
The day before the palace banquet, Qi Mingxuan made final adjustments to all security arrangements. He doubled the number of guards in the kitchen and beverage room, and all personnel entering and leaving had to undergo strict checks. At the same time, he also arranged for a group of secret guards to infiltrate among the guests, ready to deal with any emergencies.
However, on the morning of the palace banquet, an unexpected message arrived: a large number of troops had suddenly gathered on the border of the Northern Barbarians, seemingly showing signs of an invasion.
"A diversionary tactic!" Xiao Chengyu immediately understood. "They're deliberately creating tension at the border to prevent Second Brother and the border troops from returning to provide reinforcements!"
Xiao Chengrui was indeed preoccupied with the unusual activity at the border. He sent a messenger with urgent news that it would take at least three days to resolve the border crisis, making it impossible for him to return to the capital on time for the palace banquet.
“Not only that,” Qi Mingxuan added with a grave expression, “news has also come from the camp outside the capital that suspected Northern Di spies have been discovered in the vicinity, forcing us to send troops to search for them.”
Xiao Chengyu clenched his fist: "What a meticulous plan. First, they sent people to infiltrate the palace, then they created trouble on the border to distract my second brother, and finally they created chaos in the capital region to disperse the Beijing garrison. They are determined to make their move tonight."
“But they overlooked one thing.” Qi Mingxuan’s eyes were firm. “You’re in the palace.”
The palace banquet began on time. As dusk settled, the palace was adorned with lanterns and decorations, and the atmosphere was filled with singing and dancing. Officials and their families took their seats one after another, exchanging greetings and pleasantries, creating a harmonious scene.
Xiao Chengyu and Qi Mingxuan, dressed in formal attire, sat below the emperor, smiling as they greeted the guests, but their eyes constantly scanned the entire room with vigilance.
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