Xu Yixing thought about it for a moment and said, "They are probably looking for minerals. I know about this. It's okay."
"Yes. Also, when I set out, the Second Prince only brought ten personal guards with him to the capital. However, it seems that there were unusual movements of troops stationed in the Weeping North after I left. However, the reason for the mobilization is still unclear."
Ying Qi pulled out a finger-width slip of paper and read it carefully. It was the carrier pigeon Ying Liu had sent him later. Unfortunately, to avoid leaking the information, the contents of the carrier pigeon were very concise and full of pseudonyms. As a result, he couldn't explain what Ying Liu was trying to tell him.
"This is quite strange. He is not going to rebel, is he?" Xu Yixing shook his head. It is unlikely. Who has ever seen a rebellion started with less than ten days of preparation?
Even if the Second Prince started preparing as soon as he arrived in Qibei, it would only take two or three months, which is definitely not enough.
"Okay, thank you for your hard work. I know all this." After sending Ying Qi away, Xu Yixing felt uneasy, but if the second prince really raised an army, there would not be much difference between going back now and going back tomorrow to tell Lu Anyuan.
She didn't sleep well that night. The wind was strong and whistling in the mountains, and there were even unknown wild animals howling, waking her up several times.
I really don't know how the students of Wansong Academy can endure this environment! And this is the suburbs of Beijing. There are wild animals in the suburbs of Beijing, so these residents are in great danger.
Early the next morning, Xu Yixing said goodbye to Yiwen with dark circles under her eyes. Yiwen originally wanted to keep her for two more days, but seeing how tired she looked, he gave up.
He asked his sister to take a letter home to his father, and he managed to get away with the wedding banquet.
Xu Yixing rushed back to the capital in a carriage. As soon as he arrived at the mansion, he heard people talking about this matter. He quickly called the general over and asked him about it in detail.
"Oh! I was indeed discussing the Second Prince. I heard that he rushed into the city before curfew last night, and upon his return, he knelt at the palace gate. However, the palace gates were already locked by then, and he knelt there all night. He was only summoned to the palace this morning with the other ministers, and there's still no news."
"So stubborn?" Leaving one's fiefdom without permission was a crime, and kneeling at the palace gate was a way of remonstrating with a tyrant. His presence was a clear rebuke of the Emperor's dethronement of Concubine Ying, a direct slap in the face. No wonder His Majesty ignored him all night.
"Who says it isn't?"
Just as he understood the situation, a voice came from the door announcing that the Seventh Prince had returned. Xu Yixing stood inside the door, pretending to be just a maid who happened to come to pick up His Highness.
Lu Anyuan had walked past her without even glancing at her, but then he suddenly felt something was wrong and turned back: "What are you doing?"
"Hey, let's see if your eyesight is good."
"Just got back?"
"Yes, I'm waiting to hear your stories about the palace!"
"Tsk!" Lu Anyuan took Xu Yixing's hand and returned to the main hall. As soon as he took off his court robes, he began the daily storytelling session. "What do you know now?"
"The Second Prince returned to the capital without permission and knelt at the palace gate upon his return. That's all."
"Yes, it's true. This morning when I went to court, I saw my second brother kneeling at the door. I was really shocked."
Xu Yixing looked as if he knew everything. "You're just smiling for joy, right? He went to kneel at the palace gate last night. Even the Shangshu's dog probably knew about it this morning. How could you be so frightened?"
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Lu Anyuan smiled. "But when I first heard about it last night, it was really unexpected. Who knew he would be so stubborn and go back to the capital directly?"
"So what was the result this morning?"
"The Emperor angrily rebuked him for leaving the country, but he didn't impose a heavy punishment. He confined him to the Zhaode Palace, where Concubine Ying once lived."
"Why is this?" The emperor unexpectedly became merciful and pretended to be kind.
"My second brother was so worried about Mother that he traveled all day and night, kneeling all night, and fell ill. Father confined him to his room to recuperate."
"Uh... this is a self-torture tactic. Did the Emperor punish Concubine Ying in any way?"
"No, not a word."
"Well, you guessed wrong. You said the Second Prince would write a petition or draw a line in the sand, but he refused to follow your lead. What do you think?"
"No problem, no problem. He's back now with a bigger and better crime."
Xu Yixing hesitated for a moment, then continued with Ying Qi's words: "My people sent a message last night saying that the troops stationed in Qibei had made unusual movements after the Second Prince left. What do you think?"
Lu Anyuan glanced at her with a hint of admiration. He hadn't expected her to be so concerned about the military garrison. "I've already gotten the message. Everything is under control. Don't worry. My second brother won't bring his troops directly to attack the capital, so there's no need to worry."
"That's right. If he really rebelled, it would be fine. He would probably become the first prince to rebel since the founding of our Great Xia. Whether he succeeded or not, it would go down in history."
Lu Anyuan came closer, hugged Xu Yixing and rubbed her chest a few times, smelling the lingering scent of grass and trees on her body, and suddenly felt a little happy for no reason.
"Why do I hear your tone? Are you envious of this?"
"Of course. Others can just do something and be recorded in history. As for me, after such a wonderful life, all I'll have is a name and date of birth and death in your family tree. I really can't accept that!"
Lu Anyuan understood that Yixing was spurring him on. If he became emperor, her name would naturally appear in history books. Moreover, a temple would be built for her, and all generations of descendants would burn incense and worship this queen. How glorious!
"I understand. I will try my best."
"Huh?" Xu Yixing looked up and asked, but her mouth was temporarily sealed by the kiss. In the end, she didn't understand what Lu Anyuan meant when he said that he should work hard.
The Second Prince's deeds today were quickly spread throughout the official circles in the capital. Although the Emperor ignored his request, he did not severely punish him for disrespect, nor did he hold him accountable for leaving the country without permission. Many ministers speculated that the Emperor's favor for the Second Prince was probably increasing.
Faced with the second brother's surprise attack, the princes and princesses reacted differently. The fourth prince went to Zhaode Hall to look after the second prince first, and the others also went to inquire about his condition.
The Fourth Princess and her husband acted as if they hadn't heard anything about it. They continued to recuperate at home, while those who needed to recuperate also worked as officials. Concubine Gong, however, made a rare visit to the Emperor to complain, but His Majesty consoled her with a few kind words and allowed her to return without any punishment.
On this day, several princes agreed on a time and brought their concubines to the palace to pay their respects, meet the empress dowager, and also meet the second prince.
Zhaode Hall seemed to have changed a bit compared to the past, but Xu Yixing couldn't tell where the change was yet.
The second prince lay sickly on the couch, greeting those who came to greet him.
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