Chapter 425: Capture the person and hold the banquet as usual
She waited until the wet nurse's footsteps faded away, then carefully opened the door and walked straight to the cradle.
A hint of crazy pleasure flashed in Gu's mother's eyes. She pulled out the sharp knife she had prepared long ago from her bosom, raised it high, and stabbed it fiercely at the cradle...
However, where the tip of the knife touched was a piece of soft cotton.
Mother Gu was stunned for a moment, and quickly pulled open the brocade quilt, only to find that there was no baby in the cradle, only a pillow wrapped in the brocade quilt!
"Oh no! We've fallen into a trap!" Mother Gu was horrified and turned around to escape, but she ran into Gu Junze standing at the door and the guards behind them.
Gu Junze had a murderous look on his face and shouted sternly, "Come here, take her down!"
Two guards immediately stepped forward and held Gu's mother's arms.
Mother Gu's face turned pale, her legs gave way, and she fell to her knees. She knew she was doomed this time.
"General, the backyard has been taken under control, and Du Ruoling's maid has also been captured." A shadow guard came to report quietly.
Gu Junze nodded, gently caressing his daughter's tender cheek, a hint of tenderness flashing in his eyes: "Now that the affairs of the backyard have been dealt with, the full moon banquet in the front hall must continue."
He picked up his daughter, walked out of the room and headed towards the front hall.
The front hall was still bustling with wine and the guests were still immersed in the verbal battle between Chu Ruohan and Du Ruoling. The sound of stringed instruments and singing and dancing continued, as if nothing had happened in the backyard.
When Chu Ruohan saw her husband coming towards her with their daughter in his arms, she finally felt relieved.
She took the child and asked quietly, "What's wrong?"
Gu Junze nodded slightly, and Chu Ruohan understood, knowing that the thief had been caught.
Chu Ruohan looked down at the little girl sleeping in her arms, and a surge of tenderness welled up in her heart.
No matter how many bumps in the road ahead, today is her daughter's big day, and this important moment cannot be ruined by those bad people.
Du Ruoling stood aside, waiting and waiting, but there was no sign of the person she had arranged, and no news of success came, and she began to feel anxious.
Fine beads of cold sweat oozed from his forehead, and the hand holding the teacup was trembling slightly.
"The princess doesn't seem to be feeling well?" Chu Ruohan looked at her with a half-smile. "Are you waiting for some good news?"
Du Ruoling forced herself to remain calm: "I don't know what the general's wife is talking about."
At this moment, there was a commotion outside, and Chu Ruohan's mother, Madam Chu, walked in slowly, followed by several maids, each holding an exquisite gift box in her hand.
"Han'er," Mrs. Chu smiled as she stepped forward and gently patted her daughter's hand. Her eyes fell on her granddaughter's pink face, full of love. "Grandma's little darling..."
The maids spread out the gift boxes one by one and opened the lids. Suddenly, they shone with golden light, which amazed all the guests present.
It was a complete set of red gold, kingfisher feather, and seven-treasure longevity locks, bracelets, and anklets made by famous craftsmen from Jiangnan. It was exquisite and priceless.
"This is the gift mother prepared for her granddaughter. I hope she will be safe, healthy and blessed with good fortune." Mrs. Chu said lovingly.
Everyone looked at the lavish gift with their eyes wide open, and once again lamented that the former richest man in Beijing had an extraordinary background.
"Thank you for your love, mother." Chu Ruohan whispered her thanks, tears glistening in her eyes.
Just as everyone was still admiring the Chu family's generosity, a solemn voice came from outside: "Announce the decree--"
The guests quickly stood up and straightened their clothes.
A eunuch strode into the hall, holding a yellow edict in his hand.
"On the occasion of the full moon of the daughter of General Gu Junze, the Emperor has specially gifted her a pair of jade ruyi, ten pieces of brocade cloth symbolizing peace and health, and a pure gold medallion with the inscription 'Peace Every Year'. May she live a life of peace and happiness, free from disasters and misfortunes."
Gu Junze and Chu Ruohan quickly put down the children in their arms, stepped forward and knelt to receive the decree: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace."
The eunuch handed the gifts to the servants one by one and added, "The emperor said that the general has made great contributions in defending the border, and the general's wife is virtuous and kind. This girl will surely bring long-lasting blessings to the general's wife. I hope the general's wife will raise her well."
This decree undoubtedly gave enough face to the General's Mansion.
Chu Ruohan picked up her daughter again and stood in the middle of the hall with Gu Junze, accepting everyone's blessings.
The delicate little girl in her arms actually opened her eyes at this moment, and her big black eyes looked around curiously, attracting everyone's admiration and love.
The scenery is so beautiful that others are envious.
Du Ruoling stood in the corner, seeing this scene, and thinking about the fact that there was no movement in the backyard, she knew in her heart that the crazy woman must have failed!
She was so angry that she secretly cursed Mother Gu for being a good-for-nothing who only caused trouble. She couldn't even handle such a small matter, and her arrangement was wasted!
"How abominable!" Du Ruoling gritted her teeth, squeezing the teacup in her hand until it was deformed.
Seeing that the situation was not good, Du Ruoling could no longer stay. She just wanted to sneak away while everyone's attention was on the emperor's reward and Chu Ruohan's child to avoid getting into trouble.
If Gu's mother were caught and gave herself away, the consequences would be unimaginable.
She moved lightly, blended into the crowd and slipped out of the hall, but before she had taken a few steps, she was stopped by Song Ruyan.
"Oh, isn't this Princess Anping? The banquet isn't over yet, why are you in such a hurry to go somewhere? Did you do something wrong and you're in such a hurry to get away?"
Song Ruyan crossed her arms over her chest, blocked her way with a half-smile, her eyes full of mockery.
Du Ruoling panicked, but she pretended to be calm on the surface, trying to use her status as a princess to intimidate others.
"This princess is not feeling well and needs to leave first. What does this have to do with you? Song Ruyan, you are just a commoner, how dare you block this princess's way? If you know what's good for you, get out of the way!"
Song Ruyan sneered, not buying her tricks at all: "Feeling unwell? I think you're just feeling guilty and want to run away!"
Before she finished her words, without waiting for Du Ruoling to refute, Song Ruyan attacked like lightning, and a precise knife-hand strike chopped Du Ruoling's neck, so fast that Du Ruoling had no time to react.
Du Ruoling felt a black screen before her eyes and a sharp pain in her neck. Without even a groan, she fell down softly.
Song Ruyan quickly supported her and winked at the maid next to her: "Drag her away and tie her up tightly. Don't pollute the ground of the general's mansion."
The maids immediately stepped forward, carried the unconscious Du Ruoling, and pretended to be helping the unwell princess leave. Their expressions were natural and their movements were skillful, not attracting any attention at all.
Song Ruyan spat in disdain: "Bah, you evil and stupid thing, you really think you are someone important!"
After dealing with Du Ruoling, she turned around triumphantly, came to Chu Ruohan, and winked to indicate that the matter had been settled.
Chu Ruohan nodded slightly, the smile on her face became even brighter, and she continued to entertain the guests while holding her daughter.
The banquet lasted until the evening and ended. The guests said goodbye one after another and left the General's Mansion with envy and admiration.
No one knows what kind of thrilling undercurrents are hidden behind this seemingly peaceful full moon banquet.
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